In the back courtyard of the dical hall, Song Lianhe and Zhou Cangyan sat facing each other at a stone table.
On the table was the pair of snake-shaped gold wrist bracelets from Mrs. E.
At this mont, the bracelets were unclasped, clearly revealing the dense, script-like characters engraved on the inside.
"This is the script of the Huigu Tribe," Zhou Cangyan said.
Mrs. E was originally the daughter of the Huigu Tribe’s chief. She gave up her future position as chief because she chose to marry Governor E.
Song Lianhe looked up at him, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Biwu, I have a bold theory."
Zhou Cangyan looked at her, the corners of his lips curling up slightly. "Then let’s wait and see how your theory pans out."
A short while later, the back door opened.
"My Lord, it’s the City Lord."
"Show him in."
Soon, Duan Shanmian walked in at an unhurried pace.
His coughing could be heard before he even stepped through the door.
"COUGH, COUGH—"
Song Lianhe turned her head and asked with a smile, "City Lord Duan, is this sickly constitution of yours just a persona?"
Duan Shanmian walked over slowly and asked, puzzled, "What is a persona?"
"For example, this frail, otherworldly air you have."
Duan Shanmian understood.
He chuckled lightly. "In that case, I suppose it must be a persona."
Enough with the pleasantries. After sitting down, he took a thick, ancient to from his robes. It looked ancient, its pages already damaged.
"This is what you asked for."
He pushed the old to in front of Zhou Cangyan. "All known extant script of the Huigu Tribe can be found annotated in here."
Zhou Cangyan nodded. "Thank you."
"You’re too kind, Prince Qing."
Although Duan Shanmian didn’t say so, Zhou Cangyan knew that finding this item in just half a day was no easy feat. It must have taken a great deal of effort.
Just then, Manager ng ca out from inside. Seeing Duan Shanmian, he quickly said, "City Lord! I’m glad I caught you. Now I don’t have to make a trip to the City Lord Mansion."
He had soone bring over a package of dicinal herbs, then leaned in conspiratorially and whispered, "This is all good stuff!"
Duan Shanmian assud they were ordinary tonics and was about to refuse, but Manager ng insisted, shoving the package directly into his hands. He lowered his voice and said, "The City Lord Mansion has never had a lady of the house. Even if you don’t say why, City Lord, we all have a pretty good idea."
He patted the herbs twice and winked. "This dicine is extrely effective for you, City Lord. It’s from the outer regions, my personal prized collection! I guarantee you’ll have two children in three years!"
Duan Shanmian was stunned. He clearly hadn’t expected such... well-intentionedness from Manager ng. He held the dicine, at a loss and thoroughly embarrassed.
anwhile, Song Lianhe was pressing her lips together, afraid she would burst out laughing. She had diagnosed Duan Shanmian before; his condition certainly didn’t fall into the category of "low virility."
Song Lianhe cleared her throat and said slowly, "It’s a token of Manager ng’s goodwill. You should accept it, City Lord."
Manager ng: "Yes, yes, yes! Accept it!"
To people like them, Manager ng’s identity was an open secret, and he didn’t bother hiding it anymore.
He had laid his cards on the table!
He was a spy!
And he was the type of spy who loved his job!
Not only did he love his work, but he had also grown fond of the life here. He had no family and wasn’t married in Da Cheng anyway, so there was nothing wrong with staying. Besides, they had all been through trials and tribulations together, so his sincerity toward Duan Shanmian was genuine.
Duan Shanmian was also a magnanimous person. He was taken aback for a mont before breaking into a smile. "Well then, thank you very much."
After seeing Duan Shanmian off, Zhou Cangyan summoned a Shadow Guard and handed him the book and the pair of bracelets.
"He should be able to read this to. Have soone deliver it to Ling’an imdiately."
"Yes, sir!"
’He?’
Song Lianhe propped her chin on one hand and watched him with a grin. "Just how many inside contacts do you have in Ling’an?"
Zhou Cangyan poured her a cup of tea. "Do you want to know?"
But Song Lianhe shook her head. "I was just asking casually, I don’t really need to know. After all, you’re a big shot. What big shot doesn’t have a few trusted confidants and inside contacts?"
"’Big shot?’" He suddenly looked at her. "Is that a word from your world?"
Song Lianhe was taking a sip of water and nearly choked.
"You..."
Zhou Cangyan, however, was perfectly calm and composed. He had beco much more open when talking about her origins.
"I’ve simply co to terms with it."
Song Lianhe gazed at him and slowly leaned closer. "Then what if, one day, I..."
The man across from her suddenly closed the distance, his lips landing on hers.
Song Lianhe froze.
He only touched her lips for a mont before pulling away. "There is no ’what if’."
"But what if it really..."
Zhou Cangyan’s brows furrowed, and he kissed her again, quickly.
"Are you going to keep saying it?"
"..."
Song Lianhe shook her head, her face flushed red.
A smile finally appeared in Zhou Cangyan’s light brown eyes. He had simply co to understand one thing: there was no need to panic about a future that hadn’t arrived yet. That would be a disservice to the present mont.
"Oh, my, oh, my~"
Manager ng had returned from seeing off Duan Shanmian and walked into the courtyard just in ti to see this. He quickly raised a sleeve to cover his face. "This lowly one saw nothing! I saw absolutely nothing!"
As they watched Manager ng go inside, Song Lianhe laughed and gave him a light punch. Zhou Cangyan seized the chance to grasp her hand, enveloping her small fist in his palm.
"The Holy Emperor will not let Sui Bei off the hook this ti."
Song Lianhe’s heart skipped a beat. They had been busy with the aftermath for the past few days, and he hadn’t ntioned this much. But she knew in her heart that this was a perfect opportunity to justifiably wage war on Sui Bei.
"I will have soone escort you away," he said.
She looked him straight in the eye. "And you?"
"I, naturally, have things I must do."
Song Lianhe suddenly snatched her hands back, her expression turning cold.
Seeing she was upset, Zhou Cangyan raised an eyebrow slightly, the corners of his lips turning up. "What’s wrong?"
"What do you think?"
Song Lianhe planted her hands on her hips, looking thoroughly indignant. "Let ask you, why did I show up in Sishui City? And why was I trapped in the city, to the point that you almost lost your beautiful, gentle, and virtuous again?"
Zhou Cangyan stared at her for a long mont before saying slowly, "Because..."
"Because you left all alone!"
Song Lianhe glared at him as if she had been deeply wronged, pointing at him, then at herself. "You! Left! !"
"Heh."
He chuckled, his voice tinged with indulgence. "Then it seems it was truly this prince’s fault."
"You think?"
Song Lianhe said with a serious expression, "Tell , what would you have done if I hadn’t woken up this ti?"
Without a second thought, he said, "I would have followed you."
"You—"
The scene of her first waking up flashed through her mind. Song Lianhe couldn’t help but shiver, and she imdiately stood up and hugged him.
Zhou Cangyan smiled and opened his arms, pulling her into his embrace.
"Don’t say such scary things again. If you followed , what would happen to your maternal grandfather? And all these people who follow you, would you just abandon them?"
The man holding her didn’t speak.
But she knew he was listening.
’Zhou Cangyan isn’t so irresponsible villain; I’ve seen how well he treats his subordinates. When I first "died," he made his choice based solely on his heart’s desire. But things are different now. I’ll give him ti to slowly accept it. To slowly accept that one day...’
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