Le Jianghu de Feng Qingcheng et Mo Xibei

Chapitre 102

"Xiao Jie! What are you saying! What do you take me for?" Xuan Yuan finally couldn't hold back any longer. He shook the hands that were holding Xiao Jie's shoulders involuntarily a few times. Then he growled softly.

"I was saying, if I were like Lin Yin'er, and you felt uncomfortable whenever you were around, how would you treat me?" Leng Jie asked again. She herself didn't understand why she was so fixated on this. She felt like she hadn't paid attention to this issue before, had she?

"You mean Yin'er?" A delighted smile appeared on Xuan Yuan's lips. Was she finally jealous of him? He asked excitedly, somewhat incoherently, "You care about Yin'er, don't you?"

But his expression presented a completely different picture to Leng Jie. The spark that had just been lit was instantly extinguished by his excited expression. Her face darkened abruptly, and she coldly replied:

"You're happy just from mentioning Lin Yin'er? In that case, I have nothing more to say. Just pretend I was going crazy." With that, she slapped his hands off her shoulders and stormed off.

Xuanyuan's smile had spread to his eyes; he was now certain that Xiaojie was jealous of Yin'er for him. Although she herself still didn't understand, the most important thing was that he understood her feelings. As for her being clueless about love, let her figure it out slowly! Xuanyuan felt indescribably relaxed! Looking at the surrounding scenery, it seemed that spring had already arrived.

"Xiao Jie! The road is slippery, walk slowly!" He quickly caught up with her and gently reminded her.

"I'm not a three-year-old," Leng Jie replied coldly without turning her head. Her pace quickened, however.

Xuanyuan quickened his pace, staying close to her. He still smiled and said:

"Of course you're not a child. But you're pregnant! That's why you need to be careful, isn't it?"

"Hmph! It's none of your business if I have a baby in my belly! Why should you interfere?" Her tone had become almost like she was arguing.

"Who says it's none of my business? No matter what, I'm determined to be his father," Xuanyuan told himself. His face still smiling, he replied, going along with her wishes.

"Yes, it's none of my business. I didn't intend to interfere! I was just reminding the child's mother that she should think more about him!"

What's the most infuriating thing? It's when you're so angry you want to argue or fight, but you can't find an opponent. What's even more infuriating is that she doesn't even know what she's angry about! Therefore, Leng Jie felt a surge of anger welling up inside her, making her heart feel like it was about to explode. She suddenly stopped and shouted at Xuan Yuan:

“We’re back in Jinghe now. From now on, you go your sunny path, and I’ll cross my narrow bridge.” With that, she turned and walked away.

This time, Xuanyuan dared not let her have her way any longer. He grabbed her arm and pulled her into his arms. Still furious, Leng Jie wouldn't obediently comply. She delivered a sharp punch to Xuanyuan's stomach. Although Xuanyuan was prepared, he knew she wouldn't stop until he vented his anger. Therefore, he didn't dodge and took another punch from Leng Jie. This time, Xiao Jie didn't use her inner strength; compared to the all-out attack she delivered at the palace last time, this was practically nothing.

Xuanyuan simply held her tightly in his arms until her anger subsided. Only then did he lean close to Xiaojie's ear and gently ask:

"Xiaojie, do you know why you were so angry just now?"

"You're despicable!" Leng Jie thought Xuan Yuan was deliberately mocking her, and gritted her teeth in hatred. At the same time, she bent her legs again, preparing to attack again, but this time Xuan Yuan didn't let her succeed. He suddenly clamped his legs between Leng Jie's bent knees. Leng Jie immediately lost her balance and leaned backward. A pair of large hands around her waist naturally lifted her up and carried her horizontally.

The two, already drawing attention, made such a gesture on the main road, immediately causing a stir. "Wow!"

"oh!"

...

Xuanyuan had originally intended to explain things to Xiaojie here, but it seemed they couldn't linger any longer. He simply pressed her pressure points, picked up Shan Lengjie, and used his light-footed skill to fly away from the scene, leaving behind a chorus of screams from passersby…

Xuanyuan led Xiaojie to the foot of a deserted mountain and stopped. But he still showed no intention of putting her down. He still gazed with a smile at the lovely girl in his arms, who was glaring at him angrily. He said apologetically:

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to laugh at you! I laughed because I was happy, but my happiness wasn't what you think."

"Do you know what I'm thinking?" Leng Jie rolled her eyes at him dismissively, deliberately turning her gaze away from his eyes.

Xuanyuan turned her body to face him, so that her gaze could only be directed at him. Although all she could see was his chest, this way she could still feel her feelings. He continued:

"I'm happy because you've finally started to care about Yin'er's existence! Do you know what that means? It means you've started to care about me. How could I not be happy?"

Does she care about him? Leng Jie involuntarily looked up at Xuan Yuan, her gaze clearly filled with disdain, "You narcissist!"

Xuanyuan, disdainful of her, continued speaking to himself:

"As for how much I love you, I don't know how to say it. Because I feel that saying it would be insincere. The most important thing is to prove it with actions, isn't it? I've always thought I've tried very hard. But since you still don't seem to feel it, then I'll keep trying. Until you feel it yourself, okay? However, I have to be with you during this time! So, I can't agree with what you just said about parting ways. Okay, stop glaring at me. Let's go catch up with Yangpu now." After saying that, he flew off onto the official road.

Chapter 130

Xuanyuan carried her and soon arrived at the border town ahead. The town wasn't large, but because many herders from Beifeng came here to exchange for necessities, the streets were lined with all sorts of shops. The narrow streets were packed with people, making it seem quite prosperous.

Leng Jie nestled in Xuan Yuan's arms, lost in thought about his words. She was still reluctant to admit that she was jealous of Lin Yin'er because she cared about him. Had she really fallen in love with him? She hadn't figured that out yet. And then, one troublesome thing after another arose.

The inn wasn't hard to find, as there was only one in the entire town. Moreover, Leng Jie and Zi Ying had stayed there when they went to Beifeng. As soon as Xuan Yuan and his companion appeared at the inn's entrance, Yang Pu greeted them with a middle-aged man. Both their faces were filled with profound sorrow. Before they could speak, Xuan Yuan preemptively said:

"Is the hot water ready in the room? Let's go in first."

"Ready! Sect Master, please!" Yang Pu, having received Xuan Yuan's prompting, quickly led the way. The middle-aged man immediately stepped aside, waiting for Xuan Yuan to carry Xiao Jie inside before following him in.

Upon entering the guest room on the second floor, Xuanyuan released Leng Jie's acupoints. The perceptive Leng Jie naturally sensed Yang Pu's unusual behavior. At times like this, she wouldn't prioritize matters of the heart. This was what distinguished her from other women. Love was always her last priority. For her, love was something she only thought about when all troubles had subsided—something dispensable. This was also the tragedy of all the men who loved her.

See? The first thing she said after gaining her freedom was:

"Yangpu, what happened?"

Yang Pu unconsciously looked up at Xuan Yuan, his eyes asking if he could speak in front of the Third Master, because he was worried about whether the Third Master could handle the matter at this moment.

Xuanyuan nodded unconsciously. He didn't want her to worry about troublesome matters anymore, but he also didn't want to cause her any more misunderstandings. Besides, she was the third sect leader of the Dragon Gate. How could he keep sect affairs from her?

Just as Yang Pu and Xuan Yuan were exchanging glances, Leng Jie directly pulled out her sect leader's token and showed it to the middle-aged man who had followed her in. She then asked urgently:

"This must be one of our brothers from Longmen! Has something happened in the capital?"

This was the issue she had been worried about, even though Xuanyuan always said everything was fine. She still felt uncertain.

The middle-aged man following behind didn't see the glances exchanged between Xuanyuan and Yangpu. Upon seeing Leng Jie's token, he immediately bowed respectfully.

"I am Mu Ping, the branch master of Wancheng, and I greet the two sect masters!"

Leng Jie remained silent, returning the greeting with clasped hands. She gazed at Mu Ping expectantly, awaiting his reply.

"Now it's not just the capital that's in trouble. A few days ago, the Xiping military camp's supplies were attacked, and many soldiers were inexplicably poisoned. After being poisoned, the Prince of Ying was also assassinated. His fate is now unknown. Then came the news that the Emperor had been murdered. This news spread like wildfire, reaching the capital overnight. The court was thrown into chaos. Suddenly, a former crown prince appeared, and Empress Dowager Shui and the ministers of the Shui family immediately wanted to support him to ascend the throne. Then they would lead troops to avenge the Emperor. The acting prime minister, Leng Xiang, disagreed. So they detained him and stole the Five Dragon Tokens that could mobilize the Imperial Guards. The brothers of the Dragon Gate, concerned for Leng Xiang's safety, dared not act rashly. So everyone is waiting for the three sect leaders to return and take charge." Mu Ping explained the whole incident clearly in one breath.

Leng Jie's expression suddenly changed drastically. Her sharp gaze swept towards Xuan Yuan, only to find that he seemed to have little reaction. He remained calm and composed, as if everything was under his control. A strange light flashed in Leng Jie's eyes, and she asked:

"You knew about this all along? Did you set this up on purpose?"

Leng Jie's question startled Yang Pu and Mu Ping, and four pairs of surprised and puzzled eyes turned to Xuan Yuan in unison.

Xuanyuan was also taken aback for a moment, then nodded and smiled:

"I knew I couldn't hide anything from you. Only Leng Xiang, Shi Yu, and I knew about this. But you saw right through it. You really make me feel like I've accomplished nothing!"

Xuanyuan's last sentence sounded quite helpless.

"You played that move very well," Leng Jie praised without reservation. At the same time, she looked at Xuan Yuan with a scrutinizing gaze. Now she was certain that Zi Ying was right; he had indeed matured. However, she still said with concern:

"But you're worried about your godfather's safety!"

She had initially thought Xuanyuan's plan was to prevent the Crown Prince from entering the capital. But now it seemed that the capital and the Cold Prime Minister were clearly being used as bait. She wasn't worried about the capital; Xuanyuan's throne had been taken from him. At worst, he could simply fight his way back, as Ziying had suggested. But there was only one Cold Prime Minister. How could she not be worried?

"Don't worry, they now believe the emperor is dead, and no matter how things develop, they're the winners. They still need Prime Minister Leng to stabilize the court. Therefore, Prime Minister Leng is not in immediate danger," Xuanyuan analyzed confidently.

"So what are your plans next?" Leng Jie pressed on. Seeing how confident Xuan Yuan was, she figured they must already have a foolproof plan.

Xuanyuan glanced at the large bucket of water steaming behind the screen. He turned back, smiled, and looked at Leng Jie, who had given an irrelevant answer:

"Xiaojie, the bath water is getting cold. Why don't you take a bath first, eat something, and then we can talk slowly, okay? Anyway, this isn't something that can be resolved in a short time."

As he spoke, he gave the other two people a look, signaling them to leave. The two of them obediently left.

Leng Jie knew there was no point in rushing things. After all, there was no means of transportation in this era that could get them back to the capital quickly. When she and Zi Jing went to Beifeng, it took them three days of fast horseback riding across the plains. Their return journey, however, took a full half-month. She couldn't compliment the speed of the carriage. Moreover, having not bathed for half a month, she felt shivering all over. Leng Jie got up, picked up the bundle Yang Pu had placed on her bed, and walked towards Pingfeng. With her back to Xuanyuan, she said:

"You smell bad too, go take a shower. Make sure the door is closed when you leave."

Does he smell? Xuanyuan couldn't help but raise his arm and sniff himself. But this only drew a sneer from Xiaojie.

"Hehe, you don't need to smell it anymore. I smelled it a few days ago. I just wanted to save face for you, so I kept quiet."

"No way! It's clearly the scent you left on it!" Xuanyuan replied, feigning surprise.

In fact, he wasn't wrong; he was covered in the scent of Leng Jie's drool while she was asleep. Leng Jie turned and glared at Xuan Yuan, angrily snapping:

"Get out of here right now!"

"Hahaha..." Seeing Xiaojie's anger and embarrassment, Xuanyuan laughed and slipped out, closing the door behind him. He then gave instructions to Yangpu and Muping:

"Yangpu will stay here and guard the place. Muping, go and prepare the meal. It would be best if it were a bit spicy."

"Doesn't the sect leader dislike spicy food?" Yang Pu asked, puzzled, earning him a glare from Xuan Yuan. He then realized that it must be the third sect leader who liked spicy food.

"Yes, sir, I'll go prepare right away," Mu Ping replied respectfully. Although Mu Ping was only a branch hall master, this was the first time he had met the two sect leaders. What surprised him was that the two sect leaders, who looked like celestial beings, were so approachable. However, he quickly dismissed this impression.

Xuanyuan and Leng Jie emerged from their respective rooms almost simultaneously after showering. Perhaps tired of the white world, neither of them wore white clothes. Leng Jie wore a pink dress with red plum blossoms, her long, glossy black hair loosely draped over her shoulders, making her appear exceptionally beautiful and captivating.

Xuanyuan wore a dark green brocade robe, his hair styled with a matching jade crown. He appeared noble and elegant. The two of them standing together were like a perfect match of flowers and green trees. Yangpu and Muping, who were waiting at the door, couldn't help but exclaim in surprise!

Wow! What an amazing couple!

Leng Jie raised an eyebrow, rolled her eyes at them, and asked casually:

"Where should we eat? If we don't eat soon, I'll almost forget what rice tastes like."

"The food is ready. It's in my room," Yang Pu said, pointing to the door on his right.

Leng Jie rushed inside. The rich aroma of the food made her eyes light up, and her mouth watered uncontrollably. She practically sprinted towards the table. Immediately behind her came Xuan Yuan's exclamation.

"Xiao Jie, slow down!"

"Whatever you want!" By the time they came in, Leng Jie had already started eating. Between bites, she asked:

"Xuanyuan, tell me quickly, what are your plans next? Are you going straight back to the capital?"

"We'll talk after you've eaten." For the past two weeks, seeing her want to vomit at the sight of food had been breaking his heart. Now, finally, he could see her appetite again. Xuan Yuan watched Leng Jie stuffing food into her mouth with satisfaction and replied with a smile.

"Hurry up and tell me! Consider it an appetizer for me," Leng Jie urged. Seeing that they were all watching her eat alone, she added:

"You all sit down and eat too! Don't just watch me eat. Jinghe's dishes suit my taste the best."

Needless to say, they already figured it out. How could they possibly be wolfing down their food if it wasn't to their liking?

"Sit down and eat!" Xuan Yuan said to the two men who were still staring at Xiao Jie. He sat down next to Xiao Jie himself, picked up his chopsticks to serve her food, and of course, offered her another appetizer:

“If everything goes smoothly, by the time we return to the capital, things should have calmed down. Didn’t I tell you? I left 30,000 Imperial Guards in the shadows. I also gave the eldest son of the Shui family a secret decree. Once the Crown Prince shows up, he will directly mobilize 30,000 Imperial Guards to take control of the palace.”

"You left the Ministry of War official in the capital? So none of the Shui family members went to the battlefield this time?" Leng Jie asked in surprise. She had always assumed he would send Shui Rong'er's man to lead the troops. After all, the officials in the Ministry of War were all generals, weren't they?

"If we don't send them to the battlefield, how can news from the battlefield reach the capital so quickly?" Xuanyuan Xiao placed a piece of dried bamboo shoot in Leng Jie's bowl and replied mysteriously.

Leng Jie took a mouthful of rice, looked up and asked:

"You didn't send the old man from the Shui family to the battlefield, did you?"

Xuanyuan still shook his head with a smile.

Leng Jie looked directly at Yang Pu. Yang Pu, receiving Leng Jie's questioning gaze, naturally blurted out:

"It was the second young master of the Shui family who became a military advisor, even though there was no such person."

"You appointed the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel as a military advisor?" Leng Jie asked in surprise. Then she said knowingly, "You really are something. This kind of information-gathering is indeed more suitable for that good-for-nothing Second Young Master Shui."