Song Lianhe contentedly settled into the carriage returning to Ling’an.
At the city gates, Manager ng and the others had co to see them off. Aunt Li held her grandson Pang Hu’s hand, waving reluctantly.
High on the city wall, Duan Shanmian stood with his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance. Zhu Liao was at his side. "For King Qing to return to Ling’an at this ti..."
Zhu Liao trailed off, hesitating.
"If he were returning alone, he would undoubtedly burn his boats and sacrifice himself for his cause. But with Princess Qing by his side now, he won’t disregard her life. He will eliminate even the slightest hint of danger."
Zhu Liao was skeptical. "Can he really abandon years of planning for a woman?"
Duan Shanmian smiled. "All his years of planning can’t compare to a single mont of thinking about her. Isn’t that amusing?"
Zhu Liao couldn’t bring himself to smile. His expression was filled with regret.
’In his eyes, Zhou Cangyan was soone who could have beco a great and ruthless leader! How could he stumble over sothing as trivial as romance?’
Zhu Liao turned to look at Duan Shanmian and said seriously, "City Lord, let’s not be like him. We must still prioritize our great cause."
Duan Shanmian covered his lips with his hand, laughing helplessly. "Brother Liao, are you misunderstanding sothing?"
"...I saw the restorative tonics you brought back."
Duan Shanmian looked up at the sky, speechless. He knew there was no explaining this.
Inside the carriage, Zhou Cangyan’s face was dark. He sat with his arms crossed and his eyes closed, resting.
"Sister, eat this! Granny Li next door made it, and it’s delicious!" Ah Jun said with a grin. He didn’t ask for much, only to be by his sister’s side.
"Sister, are you thirsty? Have so fruit tea! Aunt Zhang brewed it. It has five or six kinds of dried fruits, plus more than a dozen herbs that are good for the lungs and spleen..."
Before he could finish, the man across from them sneered, "Aren’t you afraid you’ll drink so much you get a nosebleed?"
Song Lianhe let out a puff of laughter and looked at him with amusent.
Ah Jun wasn’t afraid of him. He retorted irritably, "Prince Qing, you’ve never had to lift a finger in your life, what would you know? These dicinal ingredients are all complentary, so they won’t cause a nosebleed! If you don’t believe , ask Sister. She’s a doctor, she knows more!"
Having said that, he imdiately turned to Song Lianhe for confirmation. "Sister, am I right?"
"Er, well..."
Zhou Cangyan chuckled dryly. "Heh, hurry up and say he’s right. Otherwise, the tail behind his backside is going to wag right off."
Song Lianhe looked at him, speechless. ’In a battle of words, he never ca out second best.’
Ah Jun realized he was being mocked. His face flushed with anger, and he turned to loop his arm through Song Lianhe’s, saying pitifully, "Sister, I know he’s your husband, so it’s not convenient for you to say anything on my behalf. I understand! You don’t have to feel troubled. I’m fine, really!"
Song Lianhe was taken aback, her gaze sweeping over him from head to toe.
’Wow, what a masterful display of feigned innocence. I had no idea this kid had gotten so good at it!’
’Truly a master at work!’
’But honestly, who could say no to such a harmless, devoted puppy?’
Song Lianhe imdiately patted his shoulder. "It’s okay, it’s okay. Sister will protect you!"
SWOOSH—
A throwing dart shot straight through the space between their arms and embedded itself in the carriage window fra.
Song Lianhe sucked in a sharp breath, her head whipping around to glare at him. "Zhou Biwu! Are you serious?!"
Ah Jun, also fuming, added, "Exactly! You almost hurt Sister!"
Zhou Cangyan’s brows furrowed. He reached out a large hand, grabbed Ah Jun by the collar, and threw him right out of the carriage.
"AH—"
Ah Jun scread in terror. Luckily, a Shadow Guard was quick-eyed and nimble-handed, leaping up to catch him before he could roll under the carriage wheels.
"AHHH!" Ah Jun was badly frightened, his eyes wide and round, his heart still pounding in his chest.
The Shadow Guard and the others couldn’t stop laughing. They pinned him onto a horse and teased, "Look at you. You’ve been around the boss for so long, how have you still not learned to read the room?"
"Ah, he’s bullying ! I’m going to find Sis—MMF—"
The Shadow Guard clapped a hand directly over his mouth. "Be good now, we’re not doing that!"
Inside the carriage, Song Lianhe only patted her chest in relief after seeing that Ah Jun was safe. She turned back and said angrily, "How can you be so reckless? Ah Jun doesn’t know any Martial Arts! What if he had fallen and gotten hurt?!"
Zhou Cangyan propped his chin on his hand and looked at her, letting out a humorless laugh. "He may be useless, but my n are not."
"You..."
From outside the carriage ca Ah Jun’s muffled voice, "Who’s useless... MMF..."
Slightly irritated, Zhou Cangyan pushed open the carriage window. "If he dares say another word, throw him off."
The Shadow Guard replied with crisp energy, "Yes, sir!"
Ah Jun: "MMF! MMF!!"
Zhou Cangyan shut the window, then reached across and pulled her over to sit beside him. "I should have thrown him out long ago. He’s such an eyesore."
Song Lianhe tsk-tsked. "You should take a look at yourself. Do you still look anything like the ’Heavenly Kill Slash’?"
He rested his head comfortably on her shoulder, his eyes half-closed as he asked lazily, "And what should the ’Heavenly Kill Slash’ look like?"
"Of course, it’s ’In all of heaven and earth, you alone are supre. Those who follow you prosper; those who oppose you perish!’"
He chuckled softly and poked her forehead. "You’ve been reading too many storybooks."
Song Lianhe was unconcerned. "In any case, you shouldn’t stoop to Ah Jun’s level."
The man’s handso eyes narrowed dangerously. He gripped her chin. "If you say one more word in his defense, I will have him thrown into the barren wilderness!"
"Alright, alright, I won’t say any more!" Song Lianhe quickly tried to soothe him, her small hand patting his chest. "You’re a grown man, why are you acting like a child? To , he’s just a little brother! A little brother, you understand? He’s family."
"And what about ?" He looked at her through half-lidded eyes. "What am I in your heart?"
"You..." Song Lianhe bit her lip, a little shy.
Before, when she was the one pursuing him, it was a ga of cat and mouse where he, even with wings, could not escape. Now that he rembered everything and was taking the initiative, she was the one who felt timid.
Still, she leaned close to his ear and whispered sothing.
Zhou Cangyan’s eyebrows rose, and his expression instantly brightened. "Don’t forget what you said today."
She was terribly embarrassed and kept her head down, just waving her hand. "I won’t forget, I won’t forget!"
"Good."
He leaned against her, satisfied, and rested his head on her shoulder. "Let lean on you for a while."
Knowing he hadn’t slept well these past few days, she shifted her position to let him rest more comfortably.
Gradually, the man’s head slid down until it was resting in her lap.
Song Lianhe couldn’t help but stroke his cheek. "Go to sleep."
The carriage swayed and rocked, never once stopping along the way.
When Song Lianhe opened her eyes, she was asleep on the seat, covered with Zhou Cangyan’s black cloak. He was no longer in the carriage.
She sat up and realized that it was already dark outside.
She poured herself a cup of tea. Just as she finished it, soone suddenly entered the carriage.
It was Zhou Cangyan, a sword in one hand. Blood was still dripping from the blade, and his face was also spattered with a few drops of blood.
Song Lianhe was startled. Before she could speak, Zhou Cangyan grabbed the cloak, threw it over her head, and hoisted her onto his shoulder.
Song Lianhe was suddenly upside down, plunged into darkness. All she could sll was the cool, pine-like scent on his body, mixed with the stench of blood.
"Don’t be afraid," he said. "Just bear with it for a mont."
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