I quickly grabbed a handkerchief and went over to wipe his face, worried that he might catch a cold in this weather.
"Even if a bucket were thrown at me, I wouldn't dodge it. Have you forgotten who I am now?"
He chuckled and pinched my nose; the texture wasn't very pleasant, it felt prickly.
"If this causes you to get sick, you'll be the one suffering."
"It's not the dead of winter... Lian'er, what are you doing?"
Of course they're taking off your clothes. Aren't you uncomfortable with them being cold and wet against your skin?
"Why didn't you think to change your clothes first? It wouldn't have made a difference if you hadn't taken a little longer."
“I wanted to, but there was nowhere to change. The place where they were spraying water to put out the fire is where I’m staying now. Everything is burned.” He took the handkerchief from my hand and pressed my hand down. “You go eat first, I can do it myself.”
"No." She reached out to snatch the handkerchief back, but he dodged her hand.
"Honey, I can't stay here too long. Someone set fire to the Xuan Room; my identity must have been exposed..."
"Not bad, not bad. He is indeed the Supreme Heavenly Lord. He is not so easily fooled."
The person who had left earlier was now standing silently at the door again. It was unclear what magic he had used when he disappeared, but he looked much more radiant than before. He had probably changed into a pale yellow robe and tied his hair up with a purple crown, which made him appear more energetic.
"...It's not easy to make small moves under Lord Guan's nose."
When Nangong Ling said this, his eyes became strangely bright, and even his ordinary face became lively.
“These eyes really do resemble…” Li Mu squinted at him for a moment, “When you were little, you were clearly a beautiful, delicate child, how come you’ve grown up to be so different?”
Nangong Ling simply forced a smile, and unknowingly used his internal energy to dry his clothes, and the temperature in his hands returned.
There's just one question, "Do you know each other?"
"I don't know him."
The two of them spoke in unison, clearly lying through their teeth.
"Didn't you say he was incredibly beautiful as a child? How do you know if you've never seen him?!"
"Having met someone doesn't necessarily mean you know them."
This is probably the first person, besides Nangong Ling, who has left me speechless.
I touched my nose, turned around and leaned on the person's shoulder. Why is it still so cold today?
"Let's go home, it's so boring here."
"good."
"You think you can get out of here all by yourself, with one person in tow?"
"Why not?" Nangong Ling asked with a look that said, "Your question is really nonsensical."
"Ha, a newborn calf is not afraid of a tiger."
Why all this nonsense? I've noticed that once Lord Guan starts talking, he just won't stop.
"Let's go!" I pinched someone's thick cheek.
Seeing my impatience, he smiled helplessly, then put one arm around me and lightly leaped out of the window.
But after flying for a few moments, he stopped again, landing on the gate of Tianshou Palace.
Without even asking him why, I already knew. Looking out, the long steps in front of the palace gate were already lined with archer cavalry, their long arrows gleaming with a sharp, cold light, all pointing in this direction.
"What is this, a thousand arrows piercing the heart?"
"Judging from this setup, it looks quite like it."
"You still have the nerve to laugh? You were so full of confidence and spouted all sorts of nonsense. Look how you're going to clean up this mess now."
"What's the point of ending this? We really can't break through."
You change so quickly; when you look into his eyes again, there's not a trace of fear, only a flicker of mockery.
"So what do we do now?"
"Of course, we should obediently surrender."
The one who said this was Li Mu, who had just arrived. He was dressed in fine clothes and a magnificent crown, standing with his hands behind his back, exuding a very dignified air.
The person next to her sighed and habitually pinched the bridge of his nose. "Lian'er, I didn't expect him to have this trick up his sleeve. A few thousand archer cavalrymen—only royalty can command the people of the world. We don't have a thousand troops."
"...Go ahead, they'll definitely throw you in jail first, a mere dungeon won't hold you."
And what about yourself?
"You won't die." She hooked her arm around his neck and kissed his lips deeply. "Remember, if you live, I live; if you die, I will live for you."
He held me quietly, his fingertips repeatedly tracing my lips, his gaze as gentle as water.
"Take good care of yourself."
Little did they know that this parting would be separated by countless mountains and rivers.
Chapter 89
It was midnight, moonless, dark and windy, and I was so bored under the candlelight that I started making effigies.
That damned Lord Guan is such a chatterbox. He comes over every day at the same time for a chat, even more so than a rooster crowing at dawn.
Are all men this bored and have so much free time? I never see my Yunzhi so idle. Or is it that once you're married and have someone in your life, you don't care anymore? When I asked him to come with me to release lanterns during the Lantern Festival, he just brushed me off.
Thinking about this made me even angrier, and I became more and more ruthless in stabbing the effigies.
"I was wondering why I suddenly felt pain all over my body. I guess I've been caught red-handed."
I can't even muster the energy to lift my eyelids. Without that person around, everything is boring. What kind of weird problem is this?
"Hey, at least you can't just ignore me, a dignified marquis like me."
"How annoying! Go play with your son."
"This kid has been acting up lately, he's not behaving at all, and he's not fun to be around."
So you're just using me to kill time? "Speak, what exactly do you want?"
"We won't force you; just nod your head and we'll take you back to the capital immediately."
If you don't call this forcing someone to do something they can't, then what is? A robber even claims that robbery is justified.
"What if I keep refusing to agree?"
"Then you'll never see Nangong Ling again."
This person also has a flaw: he is so confident that it's unreasonable. I often feel that his skin is so thick that no one can surpass it.
"Can't you be a little more creative? It's always the same thing. If I can't see him, I can't see him. I find it annoying that he's always trying to control me."
"...Really? I saw you two so inseparable and so deeply in love before..."
"Fake." Finally winning for once, "Are you ever going to stop? You're so bored, aren't you? Didn't we say we were going to fight a war? Are you just sitting here as a marshal for show?"
He was stunned for a long time without reacting, probably still processing what was happening.
"How dare you speak so disrespectfully to the Marquis!"
A sweet, soft voice called out from outside.
Looking up, I saw a beautiful woman from Jiangnan, her movements graceful and elegant, like a woman who had stepped out of a painting. I was so captivated that I almost drooled.
"Why are you here?" Li Mu turned around, his eyebrows slightly raised.
"I wondered who had captured the Marquis's heart; it was indeed you, you vixen."
"Qiuhe." The voice was slightly lowered, and it actually sounded quite convincing.
"So you're going to protect her? Is it wrong for me to tell the truth?"
She has a fiery personality, not at all like her seemingly gentle nature, but her straightforwardness suits my taste.
Seeing that Li Mu was about to speak, I interrupted him, "That's right, that's right, so please take him away."
Before he could finish speaking, Li Mu suddenly turned around, his eyes wide open, disbelief followed by resentment.
"Don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a penalty shot. If you wear down my patience, you'll be sorry!"
I don't know if this counts as him showing his power, but I've never seen him like this before. However, Qiuhe's face turned completely pale, so it seems my ability to offend people is still as good as ever.
"Sigh, the weather hasn't warmed up yet. If I go north to the capital, I'll freeze to death. What use will you have for a corpse then?"
"...What?" He was a little confused by me. "It's almost the end of March, and people can still freeze to death?"
Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
He was stunned for a long time, then suddenly smiled in an ambiguous way, "Then I'll leave after Qingming Festival."
Whether you stay or leave is your decision, isn't it? Why are you accommodating me like this, especially in front of your concubine? What are you really thinking?
I raised an eyebrow and saw Qiu He behind him turn from white to green, her eyes fixed intently on Li Mu.
"It's late, please go back to your room and rest, Your Excellency." I put down the little figure in my hand, walked to the door to greet and see off my guest, and smiled.
He looked at me for a while, then casually picked up the little figure I had placed on the table and muttered something before leaving.
"So that you won't hurt me and make me upset."
Her amber eyes were filled with profound meaning, the messages within complex and difficult to decipher. I turned my head and gestured to Qiuhe, too lazy to try and understand.
After watching them leave and closing the door, I sighed. The night was cool and I couldn't fall asleep.
"Madam, please do not worry. His Majesty will arrange everything and come to pick you up before Qingming Festival."
Shaoyou's voice came from outside the window. He had appeared since the day Yunzhi was taken away.
Qingming Festival is just around the corner.