Gu Moran woke up just as dawn broke.
He moved his arm, Shen Ling'er hummed twice, then snuggled closer to him.
He didn't move, just lay there, staring at the bed canopy.
My mind is wandering.
The system panel floated before my eyes, with lines of data jumping on a semi-transparent light screen.
[ Kim Seon-a's favorability rating: 76]
[Current Status: Psychological defenses have weakened again, and emotional needs are strong]
Gu Moran looked at the line of text, somewhat puzzled.
no.
How can this woman conquer herself so quickly?
This is what true cold exterior and sweet interior look like, isn't it?
But I want to win her over.
We must first resolve her emotional distress and remove her barriers.
Ling'er had already told him the plan, but Ling'er couldn't get close to Kim Seon-a and couldn't perform acupuncture on her.
But I can! I possess the Divine Finger Flick.
Hehehe~
Princess Goryeo, don't worry.
Your inner desires.
Just give it another push, and it will take the bait.
This king is so kind!
As he was thinking, there was a knock on the door.
"Brother, are you up?"
It was Gu Moli's voice.
Gu Moran sighed and quietly got out of bed.
Shen Ling'er turned over and fell asleep again.
He put on his outer robe, walked to the door of the outer room, and opened it.
Gu Moli stood outside the door, holding a food box in her hand.
So early?
"I had the kitchen prepare some porridge and sent it over to my elder brother."
Gu Moli spoke, she walked straight into the house.
She sniffed, smelling the scents of various women, and her lips twitched.
"Brother, you really are..."
"What's wrong?"
Gu Moran the door and sat down at the table in the outer room.
Gu Moli opened the food box, took out a bowl and chopsticks, and handed over a bowl of porridge.
"Brother, please restrain yourself. Speaking of which..."
"The way that Goryeo princess looked at you last night was strange. Are you plotting against her again?"
Gu Moran took the bowl of porridge and took a sip.
"You noticed?"
"Nonsense, I'm not blind."
Gu Moli sat down opposite him, resting her chin on her hands.
"So, tell me, how do you plan to deal with her?"
Gu Moran put down the bowl and wiped his mouth with a handkerchief.
"It's not about settling things down, it's about cooperation."
"Cooperate?"
Gu Moli raised an eyebrow.
"Brother, I don't believe what you're saying."
Gu Moran smiled but didn't reply.
He picked up his chopsticks, took a bite of the side dish, and put it in his mouth.
Gu Moli stared at him for a while, then suddenly said, "That woman has been untouchable for twelve years, and now that she finally sees hope, you're just going to lie to her like this? You really can cure her?"
Gu Moran looked up at her.
"Who said I lied to her?"
So how do you plan to treat it?
"Treat it slowly."
Gu Moran put down her chopsticks and leaned back in her chair.
"Her illness is rooted in her heart meridian, affecting the circulation of her meridians. It can't be resolved with just one or two doses of medicine. It requires long-term treatment, including daily acupuncture to regulate qi and blood, combined with internal breathing exercises. It will take at least three months."
After listening, Gu Moli remained silent for a while.
So you plan to keep her with you for three months?
"Right."
"Then what?"
"Then it's up to her."
Gu Moran picked up the teacup and took a small sip.
"We've secured command of the Goryeo army and obtained the right to use Incheon Port. All that's left is to get her to willingly stand on my side."
Gu Moli stared at him for a long time.
"Brother, you are truly ruthless."
"Hmm? Is it harsh? But it doesn't matter, little sister, let me ask you something."
In this place where people eat people
How can you survive without being ruthless?
Gu Moran put down his teacup, tapped the table with his knuckles, and continued speaking.
"In this world, it's either you scheme against others, or others scheme against you. I simply struck first."
Gu Moli smiled and looked down at the bowl of porridge on the table, "Whatever brother says is right!"
But that woman... she's quite pitiful.
"Pitiful?"
Gu Moran chuckled.
"She is the Goryeo princess of Goryeo, possessing the Eastern Peak Tiger Spirit Bloodline, and a cultivation level at the Peak Second Rank. The entire Goryeo reveres her like a goddess. Do you think she's pitiful?"
"But no one has been able to touch her for twelve years."
Gu Moli looked up at him.
"Brother, have you ever thought about what would happen if one day you became like that, with no one able to get within three feet of you?"
If it were me, I would go crazy, because I can no longer cling to my brother's arm and act like a spoiled child.
Gu Moran was taken aback.
There was no response.
Gu Moli didn't press the matter further and got up to pack the food box.
"Alright, I'm leaving now. You can handle it yourself. You've always known how to behave."
Brother, whatever you do, Li'er will help you.
After she finished speaking, she picked up the food box and walked towards the door.
He walked to the door, then suddenly turned back.
"Brother, there's something I still want to say."
"Um?"
The way that woman looked at you didn't seem like she was looking at a business partner.
After Gu Moli finished speaking, she opened the door and walked out.
The moment the door closed, the room fell silent.
Gu Moran sat at the table, staring at the bowl of still steaming porridge.
After a while, he picked up the bowl and took another sip.
The porridge was so hot that it made my tongue numb.
He put down the bowl and leaned back in his chair.
A rustling sound came from the inner room. Shen Ling'er turned over and mumbled something under her breath.
Lin Qingdai also woke up, rubbing her eyes as she sat up.
"Husband, why are you up so early? What time is it?"
"It's just dawn."
Gu Moran got up and walked to the bedside in the inner room.
"Sleep a little longer, no rush."
Lin Qingdai nodded and lay back down.
Gu Moran stood by the bed, watching them sleep peacefully.
Gu Moli's words from earlier suddenly popped into my head.
"If one day you become like that, with no one able to get within three feet of you, what would you do?"
He thought about it.
have no idea.
They'd probably go crazy too.
He turned around, walked to the window, and opened it.
A cold wind blew in, causing the curtains to flutter into the room.
It was just getting light outside, but some people were already up in the camp.
Soldiers were drilling, and the sound of horses neighing came from the stables.
Gu Moran looked at the inn in the distance.
The window in Kim Seon-a's room was still closed.
He stared at the window for a while.
Then he closed the window and went back to the table.