Jiang Shouzhong smiled, gently wiped the dust off the woman’s cheek, and began speaking at his own pace.
He didn’t tell cold jokes; instead, he recounted amusing little stories that matched the atmosphere of ancient tis, occasionally mixing in folk tales or musings about the "fantasies" of future worlds.
Toward the end, he started rambling about innovative systems, such as those involving the military, law, education, and people’s livelihoods.
Xiao Lingqiu wasn’t interested in so-called joke stories, but she was deeply intrigued by Jiang Shouzhong’s visions of the future.
Especially those societal structures devoid of imperial power.
For soone like the Empress Dowager, who was accustod to the primacy of monarchy, this concept was baffling.
Xiao Lingqiu initially wanted to denounce the man’s absurd fantasies, but part of her secretly longed for them. In the end, she rationally responded:
"What you’re talking about is very unrealistic. Even if such a future could be realized, it certainly won’t be anyti soon. Everything progresses step by step. The evolution of imperial and civil rights cannot be changed overnight.
Take your Dazhou, for example. Several previous emperors attempted reforms, but they all ca to nothing. Each policy announcent shakes the foundation; to say it’s earth-shattering wouldn’t be an exaggeration.
How will resources be distributed? How many people will benefit from your proposed policy, and how many noble families will suffer losses?
The world belongs to all people, but the people at the top determine its trajectory. If you can’t secure the interests of the upper class, how can you improve the lives of the masses...?"
Jiang Shouzhong hadn’t expected his casual remarks about the future to trigger such a lengthy rebuttal from the woman. Helplessly, he said, "These things have nothing to do with ; I was just rambling. Besides, I’m not the Emperor."
Xiao Lingqiu realized she’d gotten overly engrossed, discussing such topics with this man was clearly beating a dead horse.
When she heard his final statent, Xiao Lingqiu laughed and said:
"It’s a good thing you’re not the Emperor; otherwise, the crazy ideas in your head would plunge the entire world into true chaos."
However, the woman’s tone shifted:
"But so ideas are worth referencing. Why don’t I recomnd you to the Empress Dowager? You could make a good advisor."
She tentatively extended an olive branch.
Her gaze instinctively dropped, avoiding the man’s eyes.
At this mont, the woman had completely forgotten her earlier vows about how she’d make Jiang Shouzhong suffer, how she opposed Yelü Miaomiao having Jiang Shouzhong serve Yanrong.
She genuinely wished this man could stay by her side.
Perhaps it was an admiration for his talent, or maybe... well, it was just admiration—nothing else!
Xiao Lingqiu thought so.
It certainly wasn’t because she’d been protected by the man during this journey and started to feel fond of him.
She was nothing like Miaomiao, who fell in love so easily.
Even now, with the two of them holding each other, even with the kisses they shared earlier, she wouldn’t experience any emotional turmoil. She absolutely refused to be swayed by romantic feelings.
She was the Empress Dowager; she had no emotions.
Her blood was frozen cold.
Thinking this, Xiao Lingqiu decided to boldly et the man’s gaze and seek the answers she wanted.
But as soon as her eyes t his, she felt a pang of guilt and quickly looked away.
The woman’s heartbeat quickened slightly.
Jiang Shouzhong shook his head and said, "Forget it, I have no interest in politics. If Miaomiao is willing to live in seclusion with , that’d be ideal. If not, I’ll just stay nearby."
Such a response undoubtedly disappointed Xiao Lingqiu.
Perhaps what disappointed her even more was the man’s attitude.
Driven by her emotions, the woman pushed him away forcefully and said coldly, "Then don’t ever go to Yanrong for the rest of your life!"
Seeing the woman suddenly flip her mood, Jiang Shouzhong was completely dumbfounded.
What just happened?
This woman’s temper was truly absurdly foul and unpredictable.
Worried she might be freezing, Jiang Shouzhong tried to pull her into his embrace, but as soon as his hand touched her shoulder, she threw it off.
Seeing this, Jiang Shouzhong decided not to bother further.
By midnight, the cold had beco piercing, and the temperature continued to drop. The sound of the woman’s chattering teeth beca increasingly audible.
Jiang Shouzhong originally intended to let this bad-tempered woman suffer a bit. But under the moonlight, he noticed spots of blood on her feet tied with skirt fabric, and his heart softened once again.
After hesitating for a mont, he tentatively tried to hold her again.
This ti, the woman did not resist.
As their previously chilled bodies pressed closely together once more, the shared warmth gradually grew between them, creating a faint sense of comfort.
"I’m sorry."
The woman’s apology ca again, her mood bleak.
Jiang Shouzhong smiled and said, "The one who should apologize is ; honestly, I’m just taking advantage of you."
Xiao Lingqiu’s lips curled into a smile, her delicate face flushing slightly as a faint tint of rosiness blossod.
In this mont, the woman was undoubtedly beautiful.
Unfortunately, in the darkness, the man couldn’t see the enchanting scene.
"Jiang Mo."
"Hmm?"
"You..."
Xiao Lingqiu opened her mouth to say sothing jokingly, but as the words ca out, she realized they weren’t appropriate and swallowed them back.
"Never mind, I’m going to sleep."
"Sleep well."
Jiang Shouzhong shifted into a position that made the woman more comfortable.
In the process, he inadvertently strained one of his injuries, wincing in pain before forcing himself to press his back against the sands of the desert.
Hearing the man’s muffled groan of pain, Xiao Lingqiu’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she sighed softly before closing her eyes.
...
Jiang Shouzhong and Xiao Lingqiu were awakened by the sound of cal bells.
They opened their eyes to find daylight had arrived.
Even in the morning, the desert was still cold, though the rising sun offered so warmth.
Jiang Shouzhong brushed off the sand covering his body and helped Xiao Lingqiu climb out of the sandpit. Following the direction of the cal bells, they spotted a caravan walking away not far from them.
There were about thirty or forty people in the caravan.
This discovery brought a sense of relief and excitent to the two struggling travelers.
But before Jiang Shouzhong had a chance to call out, the caravan noticed the two strangers who had erged from the desert.
Perhaps accustod to being attacked, they responded with a sharp whistle. The caravan’s guards imdiately drew their weapons, so pulling out bows and crossbows, while positioning themselves defensively around the goods.
Cold and hostile gazes locked onto Jiang Shouzhong and Xiao Lingqiu.
A burly man shouted at Jiang Shouzhong in a language he didn’t understand—it was the language of Nanjin Country.
"Relax, we’re not bad people; we just got lost," Jiang Shouzhong quickly explained.
Xiao Lingqiu stood behind him, her sharp eyes observing the caravan.
When she noticed that so of the guards carried weapons and arrayed armor tied to their limbs, she gently patted Jiang Shouzhong’s arm and whispered, "It looks like there are soldiers from Nanjin Country among them."
Soldiers?
Jiang Shouzhong froze, a sinking feeling taking hold.
Their worst fear was encountering soldiers from Nanjin Country now.
At that mont, several guards began advancing on them cautiously while others drew longbows, aiming at them. The leader continued his incomprehensible yelling.
Xiao Lingqiu managed to catch a few of the words: "He’s asking if we’re Scorpions."
Scorpions?
Jiang Shouzhong was utterly baffled.
What on earth are Scorpions?
Seeing Jiang Shouzhong remain silent, the leader shouted again, raising his arm and preparing to order an attack.
Jiang Shouzhong cursed under his breath, readying himself to summon his flying sword.
"Are you Jiang Shouzhong!?"
Just as tension reached its peak, a familiar voice suddenly rang out.
One of the guards broke into a broad grin and ran forward in haste.
Jiang Shouzhong fixed his gaze on the man and found him vaguely familiar. Studying him more closely, he was stunned: "Liao?"
Liao Feihu, forrly the chief constable of Capital County.
Back in the capital, this constable had looked after Zhang Yunwu like a brother.
He had also been instruntal in solving the Demon case.
But later, this constable left to join the border army, saying that as soone from a long line of soldiers, he couldn’t sit idly by while the nation was humiliated by foreign invaders. He’d decided to join the battle at the border to fight Yanrong and protect the country.
Eventually, Liao Feihu beca a Fengzi stationed at Fengcheng, Dazhou’s border outpost.
But now he was wearing a guard’s armor from Nanjin Country...
Jiang Shouzhong’s expression grew complicated.
Well, well, this guy defected to Nanjin Country. Guess you’re taking lessons from Zhao Jingzhong.
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