L'hibiscus comme peinture

Chapitre 12

"I'm fine." Ao Jun chuckled as he removed Yue Ying's hand, momentarily forgetting to let go, and held it in his hand as he asked Wei Ziqi, "What do you need me for? When can I see Ouyang Jinxuan?"

Looking at the soft little hand held in Ao Jun's hand, feeling the warmth from his palm, Yue Ying lowered her blushing face, not daring to look at Ao Jun, but her heart was full of sweetness. Did her brother also have her in his heart?

"It's nothing, I just came to see you... I hope you're not used to it. As for His Highness? The camp has been quite busy these past few days. I'll inform His Highness when the time is right," Wei Ziqi said apologetically. He was already used to Mo Jun addressing the prince by his given name. He had come here only because of that lingering, indifferent figure in his heart.

"Yes, we're doing well here." It's just that our freedom is a bit restricted.

"Yueying, what's wrong with you? Your face is so red!" Ao Jun turned around and realized that Yueying's face was as red as a boiled egg. Could it be that he had caught her face?

"No...it's nothing." She lowered her head even further, almost burying it in Ao Jun's chest.

"Are you really alright?" Ao Jun asked, somewhat disbelievingly. Little did she know that her question would lead Yue Ying to mistakenly believe that Ao Jun truly cared for her, a mistake she would later deeply regret.

"Young Master Mo, Ziqi still has military duties to attend to, so I'll take my leave now." Seeing Ao Jun nod, Wei Ziqi turned and left the tent. These two siblings are really strange; they've both blushed for no apparent reason.

Inside the main tent of the military camp, Ouyang Jinxuan sat at his desk, deep in thought. He had been looking at a book on the desk all morning but hadn't finished a single page. Yi Tian and Yi Han exchanged a glance beside him: What's wrong with Your Highness? The prince has been in this position all morning. They've never seen the prince so absent-minded.

"Speak! Who are you? What is your purpose in infiltrating the military camp?" Zhao Zhiyang's angry voice came from outside the tent, followed by a burst of noise.

"What's going on outside?" Ouyang Jinxuan asked in a deep voice, pulled back to his senses by the commotion.

"I'll go out and take a look." With that, Yi Tian was about to walk out when Zhao Zhiyang walked in angrily, followed by two soldiers and a man dressed in white.

"General Zhao, what has happened?"

"Your Highness, this man dared to trespass into the military camp. I discovered him, but no matter how I questioned him, he remained silent. Therefore, I brought him here for Your Highness to decide his fate," Zhao Zhiyang said respectfully. However, his eyes were fixed on the person behind him.

After listening to Zhao Zhiyang's words, Jinxuan remained silent, only looking up at the person behind Zhao Zhiyang. At the same time, that person also looked up at him.

"It's you!"

"It's you!"

They both exclaimed in surprise. It was that 'heartless man' (that 'strange man')! Their eyes met, and sparks flew between them. What a small world!

"Your Highness, do you know him?" It seems the prince knows this person. Judging from the affectionate look in their eyes (which eye sees them as affectionate? That's clearly an angry look), could they be old acquaintances?

"You are Ouyang Jinxuan." It wasn't a question, it was a statement. I never expected that he was Ouyang Jinxuan, the man who deeply loved Xue. For some reason, I suddenly felt a tightness in my chest. Why do I always act strangely whenever I see him?

"How dare you address His Highness by his name!" Zhao Zhiyang's anger intensified at the man's disrespect towards his prince. This brat was utterly arrogant. However, judging from the man's tone, he clearly did not recognize His Highness.

Jin Xuan waved his hand, stopping Zhao Zhiyang from continuing. His sharp eyes were fixed on Ao Jun. After a long while, he slowly said, "It is I, the King. If I remember correctly, your name is Mo Jun. May I ask what brings you, Young Master Mo, to the military camp?"

"I've come to see you." The cold tone caused everyone present, except for Jin Xuan and Yi Tian who had seen her before, to gasp. No one had ever dared to speak to the prince in such a tone.

Ao Jun fearlessly met Jin Xuan's gaze. She hadn't expected to see Ouyang Jin Xuan under these circumstances. She had gone to the pond last night to look for the gun, but couldn't find it anywhere, so she had to return. Unexpectedly, this burly-looking man named Yang had spotted her, mistook her for an assassin, and forcibly brought her here. But it was thanks to him, otherwise, who knows when she would have seen this so-called 'God of War' again.

"Oh, I wonder what business Young Master Mo has with me?" Jin Xuan asked with a playful expression. He was quite curious to know what this 'heartless and ungrateful man' wanted, daring to barge into the military camp like this. Wasn't he afraid of death?

"Mo Jun, are you alright?" Before Ao Jun could speak, a figure rushed in, looking her over from head to toe without a word. Seeing that she wasn't injured, the figure breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It's good that you're alright, it's good that you're alright." Then, the figure scolded, "Didn't I tell you not to run around? Why were you so disobedient?" (The tone sounds a bit like a lover's.)

"I...I just went out for a bit." Faced with Wei Ziqi's reproach, Ao Jun lowered her head guiltily, like a child caught doing something wrong, and whispered. For some reason, she felt that she cared more and more about Wei Ziqi in front of him.

"Ziqi," Jinxuan called out. Watching the interaction between the two, he felt a dull ache, as if something was gnawing at his heart.

"Ah! Ziqi greets Your Highness." Wei Ziqi heard Jinxuan's call and then remembered that the prince was here, as well as the purpose of his visit.

"Ziqi, do you know this person?" Jinxuan asked, his eyes still fixed on Aojun. The others present looked at Wei Ziqi with puzzled expressions, not understanding why the usually gentle General Wei would be so flustered over this stranger, even the Prince hadn't noticed. Zhao Zhiyang, in particular, had been staring at Wei Ziqi with wide eyes and disbelief ever since he entered.

"Ziqi was just about to report to Your Highness that his name is Mo Jun, and he is from Mo Family Village. After Mo Family Village was destroyed, Ziqi brought him and his sister back to the military camp. It was Ziqi's fault for not consulting Your Highness beforehand. Please do not blame Young Master Mo."

"Oh, he's from Mo Family Village? Even if he is, why did Ziqi bring him and his sister to this military camp? Don't you know that military camps are restricted areas and not for just anyone to enter?" Jinxuan deliberately said with a stern face. Although he said this, Jinxuan's interest grew stronger. He was actually an orphan from Mo Family Village, and Ziqi was always a man of principle. What could have made him do this?

"This humble general is guilty," Wei Ziqi knelt on one knee and begged for forgiveness.

“It has nothing to do with General Wei. I have something to discuss with you,” Ao Jun said hastily before Jin Xuan could speak.

"Oh, Young Master Mo just said he had something to discuss with me, but I wonder what it is?" Jin Xuan raised an eyebrow, looking at Ao Jun and Wei Ziqi with amusement.

"I want to seek justice for Mojia Village."

"Even if Young Master Mo hadn't said anything, I would have done it anyway."

"No, I want to seek justice myself," Ao Jun said resolutely.

"In person? Does Young Master Mo want to join the army?" Jin Xuan asked with a smile. Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhiyang burst into laughter without giving him any face: "The way you want to join the army, haha... that's hilarious, haha..."

Ignoring Zhao Zhiyang's mockery and the confusion on everyone's faces, Ao Jun said calmly, "I don't like killing people. Besides, the soldier I killed was only a few of the enemy's soldiers. They were innocent and could not truly avenge themselves."

"Oh, not a soldier? Or do you intend to become an assassin to kill Yelü Ying?"

"I said I don't like killing, Your Highness, didn't you hear me?" A mocking smile appeared on Ao Jun's lips. Why is talking to this person so tiring!

"How dare you speak to me like that?" Jin Xuan's face darkened, and he said coldly. This Mo Jun seemed to completely disregard him as a prince, or rather, he had no concept of hierarchy whatsoever. Apart from Wei Ziqi, he showed no courtesy to anyone else.

"My courage is normal, just like any other person, no greater than yours, Your Highness." So what if you're a prince? Is that so great? As a modern person of the 21st century, would I dare not speak to an ancient person like you?

“You…” Jin Xuan was speechless for a moment, his face cold as he pointed at Ao Jun.

Just as Ziqi was sweating profusely with anxiety, secretly blaming Ao Jun for her recklessness, and Zhao Zhiyang and the others were furious at Ao Jun's rudeness, they heard the usually composed Prince Jin burst into laughter: "Hahaha... What a joke, Mo Jun! I didn't expect you to be so humorous. Alright, then tell me, how do you intend to seek justice for the people of Mo Family Village?" Ouyang Jinxuan suppressed his anger. This Mo Jun was truly capable; she always managed to infuriate him. This time, he wouldn't let her have her way. Besides, this person seemed to possess an air of mystery. He wanted to see who she really was—was she truly just an orphan of Mo Family Village, or...?

"Helping the Prince defeat Yelü Ying." Humorous? This is the first time someone has ever said that about her.

“Help me? Do you think I need your help?” Jinxuan said confidently.

"I know you are the 'God of War,' but I also know that the 'Flame Devouring Evil Lord' is no less powerful than you. Therefore, a protracted and arduous war between our two nations is inevitable. With my assistance, the Dragon Xuan Dynasty will surely prevail within three months." Ao Jun stood proudly before the crowd, radiating a confident and intimidating aura. Zhao Zhiyang, who had initially wanted to mock her upon hearing her words, could only stare at her dumbfounded, as if she were a monster.

Jin Xuan stared intently at Ao Jun, a strange light flashing in his eyes, his expression terrifyingly calm. After a long while, a captivating smile slowly curved his lips. He leisurely stood up, walked to Ao Jun's side, and looked her up and down. Just as Ao Jun was about to lose her patience, he said in a highly magnetic voice, "From this day forward, you, Mo Jun, are the strategist of my Longxuan Dynasty—Strategist Mo."