Impératrice douairière Xiaoxuan

Chapitre 184

The tears were cool and wet.

The man's hand tightened slightly, then he gently wiped away her tears, letting out a barely audible sigh. In the dim, flickering red light, only their shallow breathing could be heard as the two quietly stayed together.

After a long while, one could faintly hear voices coming from outside, as if guards on night patrol were passing by.

Knowing he shouldn't linger, the man reluctantly withdrew his hand...

"Big brother, don't go!"

Mo Yan's hand suddenly reached out from under the covers and grabbed his tightly. Her eyes snapped open, bright and clear. Because the tent was too dark and Mo Yan was still weak, although she couldn't see his face clearly, she was already convinced that he was Zhan Zhao. The man didn't expect her to be awake and hurriedly turned around. But Mo Yan was holding on very tightly, and his turn was so sudden that he dragged Mo Yan off the bed and threw her to the ground.

Before Mo Yan could even cry out in pain, he was already heartbroken. He quickly turned around, picked her up, and gently placed her on the couch. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pressed her cheek against his, and her breath lingered in his ear.

"Big brother, are you willing to acknowledge me as your brother?"

Her voice was extremely soft, but to him it was like a thunderclap. He had a thousand words in his heart, but he couldn't utter a single one.

After a long pause, he finally spoke slowly: "Little Seven..."

The words had barely left her lips when a sharp pain shot through her shoulder blade. Mo Yan was biting down hard, with all her might, until her two rows of pearly teeth pierced through her robes…

She held on tightly, tears streaming down her face, soaking his clothes.

Tears burned his skin, and the pain pierced his heart.

How could he not want to acknowledge her? He could only hold her tightly, letting her bite and cry...

After a long while, Mo Yan finally relented, leaning on his shoulder and sobbing, "Big brother, you're not good."

"Yes," Zhan Zhao replied softly.

You shouldn't have left me alone.

"yes."

"You shouldn't have kept it from me that you were still alive."

"yes."

"You shouldn't disown me."

"yes."

"If you... if you continue to treat me like this, see if I'll let you off the hook!"

Zhan Zhao hugged her tightly, tears streaming down his face, and smiled bitterly: "You'd better not forgive me."

Upon hearing this, Mo Yan couldn't help but burst into laughter through her tears. She lifted her head from his shoulder and turned his face towards the dim charcoal fire. Zhan Zhao also looked at her, no longer needing to be as reserved as before, nor needing to hide his emotions. He could stare at her directly and without restraint.

After a long while, Mo Yan sighed softly, "I'm so stupid. Even if you're disguised, only you, brother, have that kind of look in your eyes. How come I couldn't recognize you?"

Zhan Zhao smiled and asked, "How exactly did you recognize me?"

“On the way to Zhongjing, Prince Ning and I made a bet in the carriage about whether you would step out with your right foot first or your left foot first. At that time, I thought I was sure to win, because I clearly remembered that Yelü Pusa Nu usually stepped out with his right foot, but that day you stepped out with your left foot first, which I found a bit strange.”

Upon hearing this, Zhan Zhao shook his head and smiled bitterly. Even though he tried his best to hide it, it was difficult to notice such a small detail. No wonder Mo Yan noticed something was wrong.

"Later, on that night at Datong Inn, when I held your hand, I felt it was you..." Mo Yan pouted, recalling what Zhan Zhao had said back then, and glared at him angrily, "Brother, what you said back then was really hurtful."

Zhan Zhao remained silent, his words echoing in his ears: "Your marriage that day was so hasty, it doesn't really count. Besides, you haven't consummated your marriage. Wouldn't it be better for you to continue being Miss Mo and be happy and carefree? I believe that's what Zhan Zhao would want too."

These words hurt her deeply, but for him, they caused him double the pain.

"I just want you to live a happier life, why bother with me..."

Before he could finish speaking, Mo Yan bit him on the neck again, but this time it was much lighter than the previous bite.

"You're not allowed to say things like that again," she whispered.

"Okay." Not wanting to upset her, Zhan Zhao had no choice but to agree, then changed the subject and asked, "Where did I slip up later?"

Mo Yan did not answer, but silently rummaged through the quilt for a long time before taking out the small jade comb and placing it in his hand.

Zhan Zhao then realized that she had taken the comb, and the thief was naturally her. He realized he had been slow to notice; how could he not have thought of her? No wonder he had noticed something was off about Ning Jin's expression when he delivered the furs that night, but hadn't considered this possibility.

"You asked them to catch a thief, but what if they actually catch me?" Mo Yan tilted her head and asked with a smile.

Zhan Zhao smiled but did not answer, only asking, "It's fine that you're carrying this comb, but why are you carrying so many other things? Don't you find it cumbersome?"

“If I had only taken the comb, you would naturally have become suspicious. At that time, my mind was in a mess, and I hadn’t figured things out yet, so of course I couldn’t let you suspect me.”

"It seems your years as a constable haven't been in vain," Zhan Zhao said with a slight smile.

"You took this comb that day, and I didn't even notice. I just thought it was lost." Mo Yan leaned against him and asked slowly, "Brother, where did you go then? Since you had a way to detoxify, why didn't you tell me?"

"That day..."

Zhan Zhao sighed, intending to tell her everything, but then he heard the footsteps of the night patrol guards outside the tent. He could only say, "I can't stay any longer. I'll tell you another day when I have time."

"We're husband and wife, but we can't sleep together," Mo Yan said, sounding both helpless and apologetic to Zhan Zhao.

Fortunately, she was only annoyed for a moment, and then smiled and said, "But we have plenty of time in the future, there's no rush. Brother, please be careful."

"You too, don't make any more mistakes. The water here in winter, even if you survive, you'll still get sick if you fall in. Be very careful." He was really frightened by her today.

Okay, I understand.

"I'm leaving."