Romance

Xu Qi'an picked Mu Nanzhi up and carried her into the bedroom, lifting the quilt as he put her down.

While she was cooking in the kitchen, Xu Qi'an had already made the bed.

When I left the capital, the bed sheets and quilts were neatly stored in the wooden cabinet, along with insect-repelling sachets, and now they can be taken out and used directly.

"Go to sleep!"

Xu Qi'an silently absorbed the anesthetic gas emitted by the poison, sat down on the edge of the bed, grabbed Mu Nanzhi's ankle, and gently took off her embroidered shoes.

Then came the white socks.

Soon, a pair of fair and delicate feet were exposed in front of him.

It was about the size of Xu Qi'an's palm, with a smooth arch on the instep, rounded toes, neatly trimmed toenails, and faint blue veins visible beneath its fair skin.

Her feet were pink, and when held in my hand, they felt like the most delicate and soft jade in the world.

Xu Qi'an pressed his thumb against her heel. Unlike his own heels, which were calloused from years of martial arts training, her heels were soft.

"Enough is enough, enough is enough."

He forced himself to put down his bound feet, pulled back the quilt, and covered the princess's infinitely beautiful body.

Next, I put the little white fox in the bed as well.

After thinking for a moment, recalling the past when Bai Ji suffocated and kicked her legs wildly, she took it out of the quilt and wrapped it in a robe.

He blew out the candles, closed the door, Xu Qi'an went into the courtyard, where he stroked the little mare's cheek.

"Little mare, the task of looking after them is entrusted to you."

The mare, who had just finished eating beans, was in a good mood and rubbed her face against the back of his hand.

Shaoyin Palace.

In the spacious and luxurious bedroom, steam rises from behind a three-tiered screen that resembles the painting "Peony and Cranes".

The water splashed in the red lacquered bathtub. A pair of jade-like legs stepped out of the tub. Two palace maids, dressed in light gauze, were serving beside her. One of them immediately unfolded a silk cloth and carefully wiped the water droplets off her mistress's body.

Another person took down the clothes hanging on the screen and helped the master change.

A moment later, Lin'an, with her hair piled high, emerged from behind the screen, wearing a light blue silk inner garment and a royal blue long skirt that trailed on the ground.

She sat cross-legged on the bed and asked:

"Have you retrieved all the pills I asked you to get from the Imperial Pharmacy?"

The palace maid on the left said in a sweet voice:

"The pills, the silver, the clothes—everything is ready."

The palace maid on the right covered her mouth and laughed:

Why did Your Highness prepare these things?

The palace maid on the left nudged her and teased:

"You dare ask a question you already know the answer to? You dare mock His Highness? I'll tear your mouth off!"

The two palace maids giggled.

His Highness said he wanted to sever all ties with that person, but in reality, he was secretly preparing medicine, silver, and clothes, fearing that the person might be injured and have no medicine, lack money while traveling the world, or have inconvenient clothes while wandering.

Clothing, food, housing, and transportation have all been taken into consideration.

They had served His Highness for so many years, and they had never seen her like this before.

Who is Princess Lin'an? A spoiled princess deeply favored by the late emperor. People who are too pampered are usually heartless and carefree. When has she ever cared so much about a man?

Biao Biao glared at them and casually asked:

"Has any news come back from the manor today?"

The residence she was referring to was Lin'an Prefecture in the imperial city, the mansion bestowed upon her by the late emperor.

Biao Biao's tone was calm, as if it were a casual question, but there was expectation in her charming, watery eyes.

The two palace maids fell silent, exchanged a glance, and cautiously replied:

"No news has been sent from your residence."

The hope in Tao Hua's eyes dimmed, and she forced a smile and nodded, saying "Oh."

She waited in the palace all day, but he didn't come to explain. Ever since they parted ways at the Bureau of Astronomy that night, she seemed to have been forgotten.

Now, no news has been sent from the princess's residence in the capital, indicating that Xu Qi'an did not leave a message there either.

She paused for a moment, then said softly:

"I'm tired."

The two palace maids tactfully left the bedroom and went to the outer room.

They could tell that His Highness was in a bad mood and might have to hide under the covers and secretly wipe away his tears later.

Although the palace maids knew Lin'an well, they still underestimated her backbone. She didn't hide under the covers to wipe away her tears, because the tears were still welling up in her eyes and hadn't fallen.

She was curled up on her side, covered with a soft quilt.

Biao Biao still can't understand how the Imperial Preceptor, a woman even her father couldn't have, could be so blind as to fall for her lackey.

The thought of Luo Yuheng's arrogant and domineering attitude that night filled him with rage, and he wished he could tear that old woman apart with his bare hands.

But I only dared to think about it in my heart.

If her rival in love were Luo Yuheng, Lin'an would have no confidence whatsoever. Although Luo Yuheng was a princess and arrogant about her beauty, Luo Yuheng's status as merely the head of the Human Sect was enough to crush her.

She couldn't help but recall the past, the times Xu Qi'an spent chatting and playing chess with her, and tears finally rolled down her cheeks.

Biao Biao felt like she had been dumped, even though she didn't know the word.

Tears streamed down her face as she lay on her side, half her face buried in the soft pillow.

"Don't cry before bed, or your eyes will get inflamed."

Just then, someone handed over a handkerchief from the inside of the bed.

Biao Biao said "Oh," took the handkerchief to wipe her tears, and then her body stiffened as she realized something was wrong. She suddenly jumped up from the bed and let out a piercing scream.

As she screamed, she saw the person on the other side of the bed, dressed in a blue robe and wearing a jade crown, looking like a wealthy young master.

He's her lackey.

"Bang bang!"

A knock sounded at the door, and two palace maids pounded on it from the outside, calling out:

"Your Highness, Your Highness?"

Lin'an glared fiercely at Xu Qi'an, pulled the blanket over him, and whispered:

"Don't make a sound"

He sniffed, cleared his throat to make his voice sound normal, and said, "Come in."

That scream was too terrifying to be dismissed with a simple "I'm fine," because the palace maid would wonder if her mistress had been coerced inside.

They were all rigorously trained palace maids, and not easily fooled.

The bedroom door was pushed open, and a palace maid rushed in with a panicked expression, while another palace maid remained outside, cautiously staying out so that she could run out of the room to call for help at any time.

The palace maid who entered looked around for a moment, then looked at the bed and asked:

"Your Highness, what's wrong?"

Lin An said calmly, "I had a nightmare just now, but I'm fine now."

The palace maid stared at her red-rimmed eyes for a few moments, then suddenly realized and began to believe her somewhat. She then took another look at the large bed.

Fortunately, since the national treasury was empty, Emperor Yongxing reduced the expenses of the concubines and members of the royal family, including the expensive animal-shaped charcoal.

Charcoal could no longer be used as indiscriminately as before, so the blankets and quilts used for coverings in Lin'an were changed from thin silk and quilts to thicker quilts.

The quilt, filled with wool and down, was thick and fluffy, perfectly concealing Xu Qi'an.

"Your Highness, is it too hot? Your face is burning."

The palace maid asked with concern.

"I am fine."

The more panicked Lin'an was inside, the more indifferent he had to appear on the surface.

"The princess is breathing heavily; is it too stuffy?"

"Yes, open the windows a little."

"Perhaps I should stay inside the room," the palace maid suggested.

"No need. I'm in a bad mood and just want some peace and quiet."

Upon hearing this, the palace maid did not insist, swept the room once, and then withdrew.

After she left and closed the bedroom door, Lin'an threw off the covers, pushing away the head that was resting on her chest. She was filled with shame, anger, surprise, and joy, her eyebrows furrowed in anger.

"Dog slave."

The two words that had just escaped her lips were covered by Xu Qi'an, who raised an eyebrow toward the door and lowered his voice:

"They haven't left yet."

Lin'an turned his head and saw a shadowy figure pressed against the door, seemingly eavesdropping on the sounds inside.

Xu Qi'an pulled the blanket up, covering the two of them, and chuckled in a low voice:

"I didn't realize your servant was so alert."

I hadn't noticed that before.

"They were all trained by the palace maids; the head maids around the empresses are even more astute."

Lin'an echoed this, then blushed and angrily said:

"You dog slave, how dare you! You even dare to get into my bed!"

"Go away, go to Luo Yuheng's bed."

She stretched out her little hand and pushed hard.

Xu Qi'an grasped her wrist, leaned closer, and brought them so close that their breaths could touch each other's faces.

"Your Highness, I have been traveling for many days, and I have been thinking of you every moment. Every day and night I regret that I didn't have wings, otherwise I could ride the wind to see you."

During his time with the scumbag Shengzi, Xu Qi'an mastered the art of charming girls and grasped a core principle he hadn't understood before.

To win a girl's heart, you must first put yourself in her shoes, then figure out what she wants to hear and what kind of attitude she desires.

You can't just look at things from your own perspective.

If you try to appease someone from your own perspective, you've already lost.

For example, from Xu Qi'an's perspective, the Imperial Preceptor risked being burned by karmic fire to help stop the Black Lotus. Now that her karmic fire has relapsed, she will die from the heavenly tribulation if she doesn't engage in dual cultivation.

If he had any humanity left, he should have taken off his pants to uphold morality.

If that's the explanation, Lin'an would be in chaos right now.

From her perspective, what does she want to hear? What attitude does she want?

"Your Highness's every smile and frown is deeply imprinted in my mind, haunting my dreams." Xu Qi'an reached out and embraced Lin'an's small waist, his eyes sincere and his tone earnest.

"But I know I've done something wrong, and I'm filled with sorrow at home today, unable to face you. Yet, I cannot go against my heart, the heart that yearns for Your Highness."

Lin'an's heart raced and her cheeks burned as she listened to the sweet words whispered in her ear.

All the grievances in my heart vanished, and my fierce determination was dissolved by sweet words.

She snorted, forcing herself to harden her heart, pushed away his arm around her waist, and turned her head away.

"Does Lord Xu use the same method when he's seducing other women?"

She tried to suppress the man with her cold attitude.

Xu Qi'an stared at her delicate, translucent earlobe, barely suppressing the urge to lick it, and sighed:

"Alas, it seems that no matter what I say, His Highness will not forgive me. I am leaving the capital tomorrow, and I have no other request but that His Highness grant me one thing."

The first part of the sentence made Lin'an's heart sink, and a feeling of anxiety welled up inside him. After hearing the second part, he quickly asked:

"What's up."

She immediately realized her tone lacked backbone and snorted, "I will handle this at my discretion."

"I would like to request that the princess accompany me to see the most dazzling lights in the world."

Upon hearing this, Lin'an was stunned for a long time, not understanding what he meant.

But the next moment, she saw the dog servant pull up the blanket and cover their heads.

Then, Lin'an was plunged into boundless darkness. She didn't know how much time had passed when light appeared before her eyes and she heard the howling wind.

Night fell, and a lone moon hung high in the sky.

She stood between heaven and earth, facing the cold wind, feeling empty and lonely, yet free and unrestrained.

Lin'an looked around in surprise. She was standing on a floating cannon platform, with the moon casting a cool glow above her head and below her feet.

She suddenly opened her eyes wide, and in her moist and charming eyes, she saw the lights of thousands of homes.

Below is the entire capital city; the outer city is mostly dark, with only occasional scattered lights.

The brightest and most dazzling sight is the imperial palace, like a giant cluster of fireworks. The outer ring of the fireworks is the imperial city, which is equally dazzling and bright, with thousands of lanterns surrounding the imperial palace.

The inner city, inhabited by wealthy and well-off families, resembled the outer flames of a fire, with clusters of buildings like scattered stars.

Lin'an had never seen the night view of the capital before, and was momentarily mesmerized.

The most romantic thing she could think of was Xu Qi'an's poem, "A boat full of dreams presses down on the Milky Way," but now, this man has shown her a different kind of scenery.

"Don't catch a cold."

Xu Qi'an walked over, took off his robe and draped it over her, then casually pulled the beauty into his arms.

Lin'an seemed to be drunk, her eyes were alluring, her cheeks flushed, and she was intoxicated with pleasure.

Xu Qi'an was not surprised by this feedback; in fact, it was expected. Lin'an was romantic and almost impossible for her to resist such an advance.

"Return the cannon to Sun Xuanji later; this trick won't work on Huaiqing. We should treat the Holy Son better from now on; after all, we learned something from him." Xu Qi'an's thoughts wandered, and he heard Lin'an's dreamlike voice in his ears:

"You dog of a servant, why don't you propose marriage to my brother, the Emperor?"

In Lin'an's view, their relationship was already established during the passionate kiss Xu Qi'an shared when he left the capital.

This man is not someone with whom she has romantic feelings, but rather her lover.

Yes, it will.

Xu Qi'an looked at her charming oval face. "But not now."

Both he and Great Feng will face enormous challenges.

He won, and sat on the right flank of the Imperial Advisor in Lin'an, with the Princess Consort hidden behind him.

If you lose, then you'll have to go through the cycle again.

It's late at night.

The palace maid carefully pushed open the door, tiptoed into the bedroom, and came to the bedside.

Prince Lin'an was wrapped in a quilt, sleeping soundly with a slight smile on his lips, as if he were dreaming of something happy.

The palace maid breathed a sigh of relief and was about to leave when her expression suddenly changed. She noticed that His Highness's snow-white neck was covered with hickeys.

The palace maid felt a chill run down her spine and looked around in terror.

After a while, she seemed to have figured something out, and her expression softened.

In the same night, in a small town.

Ji Xuan stood on the rooftop, looking down at the battle below.

That was Liu Hongmian toying with her opponent, a wandering swordsman whose dragon energy was scattered.

In recent days, relying on the channels of the Heavenly Mystery Palace's secret agents, they have found several hosts of dragon energy.

There were wandering swordsmen, refined scholars, even clerks on duty in government offices, and unmarried women.

Ji Xuan's plan is to collect as many scattered dragon energies as possible, accumulating them little by little, in order to attract the hosts of the nine dragon energies.

Of course, this might also attract Xu Qi'an.

"Hongmian, don't waste time," Ji Xuan reminded her.

Liu Hongmian immediately knocked her opponent unconscious.

Ji Xuan took out a small bronze cauldron, about the size of a palm, from his robes, and chanted incantations. A clear light shone from the cauldron's mouth, drawing the dragon energy host into it.

The small bronze tripod is called the Four-Sided Tripod. It was one of the gifts sent by the Imperial Advisor after he learned about the events in Yongzhou City.

Unlike ordinary storage Law Artifact, which can only store objects, this one can also store people.

Ji Xuan carefully put away the small cauldron, looked towards the northwest, and murmured, "Xu Qi'an!"

The next day!

Lingbao Temple in Beijing.

In the quiet room, Luo Yuheng, who had been asleep for a day and two nights, slowly opened her beautiful eyes.

PS: I'll continue writing the next chapter and read it tomorrow.