Chapter 114: Is He Really Stupid Or Just Pretending?

  Songzi Slope is a notorious slope in Yingtan Prefecture.

  Several tens of miles away from the city, there is a steep slope with strange rocks. As its name suggests, Songzi Slope is covered with wild pine trees, and at the foot of the slope, there is a river that flows into the Qinhuai River. Standing on the precipitous slope, one cannot hear the sound of running water in the river. In this season, the grass has not yet fully grown, birds are chirping shrilly in the forest, and the rustling of the mountain wind makes it even more desolate.

  "Will Chen, the second master of the house, come?"

  Behind a boulder that blocked the wind, sat a tall and sturdy man in black clothes. He was Fu Chenghuang, the second master of Jin Gong. After glancing at Zhao Runa who was tied to a pine tree, he flipped his steel knife.

  "He'll come! Such a little concubine like Tianshen, it's strange if he lets her go."

  Zhao Runa's face was pale, and her body had long been stiff. The green girl sitting next to her had been crying softly and depressingly all along. The broken finger on her hand was simply wrapped in a piece of blue cloth, the bleeding had stopped, but she still looked weak like a wounded sparrow, her shoulders shaking and twitching constantly.

  "Madam... will the young master come?"

  Lu'er was afraid in her heart, she had asked this question more than once, but Zhao Runa couldn't answer her. In her private heart, she actually hoped he wouldn't come. If he came and saw her "private affairs", it would only make her even more embarrassed, and her future days wouldn't be better than death. But on the other hand, she still hoped he would come. No matter what, Lu'er was innocent and had suffered, a good girl who had lost a finger, it was really too cruel.

  Seeing her not responding, Qing'er moved closer, "Madam, I'm scared..."

  Zhao Runa's heart was uneasy, and he comforted her with a glance.

  "Master Hou will come, don't be afraid."

  "Oh. But if Master Hou doesn't come..."

  The two men who were acting as masters seemed to have lost their patience, and the steel knife "swished" onto the stone.

  "Shut up! Say one more word and I'll chop off another finger!"

  Lu'er's face turned pale and she quickly shut her mouth, but Zhao Runa looked over calmly, "Why must you treat a girl like this? If it's just silver you want, I can think of a way to get it for you..."

  "Silver!" Fu Chenghao suddenly stood up, glaring at her fiercely. "Can silver buy back my brother's life? Can silver buy back the lives of so many brothers in Jin Palace?" He sneered and continued, "To be honest with you, Chen Daniu came today, I had no intention of letting him leave alive, I must twist off his head to sacrifice to my Jin Palace brothers who died unjustly."

  Zhao Runa understood, they wanted to use her as bait to lure and kill Chen Daniu.

  "Life and death are destined, wealth and honor are in heaven, hatred will only bring more killing." She paused for a moment, looking at another pine tree where Gu Hui was tied up, pale-faced and not daring to breathe, "This matter has nothing to do with him, let him and Lü'er go, having me as a hostage is enough."

  Fu Chenghao snorted, "Really didn't expect it? The concubine's courage is not small, quite righteous. To be honest with you, if it were usual times, my brothers and I wouldn't have to make things difficult for a woman like you. But today is different, without him, how can we let the Ding An Marquis see his green hat?" Ah, haha!

  As soon as he finished speaking, a group of people on the hill burst out laughing.

  There was a person who went to kick Gu Hua's leg, "Hey, I'm asking you, little white face, come and listen, is the young lady of Jinghua County sleeping well?"

  That guy asked, and the others burst out laughing again. "Is this thing useful? Can it sleep with women like a real man? I'm very suspicious."

  The men were all at one place, and they were all rough men from the mixed road. The words inside and outside were naturally not taboo, and only Qiuluo was left with a trembling mouth, wishing to drill into the ground seam. With a pale face, he looked at Jinghua for a moment, and then summoned up his courage to defend his man's dignity.

  "Everyone, you heroes, be kind and release Xinghua. I'll be your hostage instead."

  "Hey, not bad, huh?" Fu Chenghao burst out laughing, a vicious kick landed on his body, followed by another foot stepping down, directly on his thigh. With great force, he ground his foot down, amidst the miserable screams of Gu Huaisheng, his face still wore a smile, "Little white face, being a hostage isn't that easy, huh? Do you want to be a hostage or not?"

  "My... ah...... my... hand..."

  "Speak! Do you want to or not?"

  Gu Huai let out a miserable cry, his face completely drained of blood.

  "No, don't..."

  "Let her go or let you go."

  His lips trembled nonstop, Gu Huai's face turned pale with pain, he didn't dare to look into Zhao Runa's eyes again. Sweat rolled down his forehead, "Let... let me go, great hero... please let me go. I'm just an ordinary imperial physician, I haven't offended you, I haven't done anything wrong. Great heroes, spare my life, spare me, I have no relation to Princess Jinghua, I... have no relation."

  Hahaha...

  Another burst of laughter, Fu Chenghao cursed under his breath.

  "Look at you! You still dare to mess with other people's women? Haha!"

  In the midst of everyone's teasing and laughter, Zhao Runa tightly pursed her lips. She watched as Gu Huai struggled, shouted, begged for mercy, and tried to distance himself from her, crying and wailing that he still had parents at home, and over a dozen mouths to feed, begging them to spare his life. Her heart felt like it was stuffed with cotton, unable to say anything, she leaned against the pine tree, motionless.

  In her sixteen years of life, she had never seen a man cry.

  Her grandfather, her father, her brother, the guards in the East Palace... not one of them begged for mercy like Gu Hui did. But Gu Hui cried so loudly that a ridiculous bubble even came out of his nose as he wept, making her feel no sympathy, only finding it comical, like a clown on stage.

  This man once said that he would take good care of her, not let others bully her, and cherish her like a treasure. Just recently, under the big tree in the Ding'an Marquis's mansion, he even said that he would take her to the ends of the earth and fly high with her... But what can someone who can't even protect himself use to protect her? She couldn't tell if it was disappointment or something else, but she felt a chill in her entire heart.

  "Second Master of the House—"

  At this time, someone who was lying in wait at the foot of the slope climbed up.

  "Here comes Chen Daniu."

  Fu Chenghao turned his head sideways, revealing a menacing glint in his eyes, "Alone?"

  He nodded, "One person."

  Fu Chenghao let out a "Pfft" and spat out a wad of phlegm.

  "Like a man. Go and meet him."

  On the top of Songzi Slope, the wind was howling. The people from Jin Palace stood on it, looking down at Chen Daniu who was riding his horse and rushing over. They burst out laughing. Fu Chenghuang spoke first, "Duke Ding'an! I've long admired your great name. Did you bring what I want?"

  Chen Daniu's eyes gleamed brightly as he patted the bundle of cloth on his horse.

  "It's here! Let him go."

  "Good, now! But let's get one thing straight, don't try any tricks. Your life is in my hands, so be honest and put down your weapon. Bring the gold up here by yourself. One hand for the money, one hand for the goods."

  Chen Daniu looked at him, dismounted, dropped the reins, and suddenly slapped the horse's buttocks hard. The warhorse was startled and let out a long whistle, carrying the sacks as it galloped away quickly. Amidst Fu Chenghui's puzzled anger, he said in a loud voice.

  "I'm alone, you're a lot of people. Paying first and then getting the goods is a losing business, I won't do it. The gold is on the horse, in a moment I'll blow a whistle, and the horse will naturally bring it back."

  "What makes Grandpa believe you?"

  "Second master's house, honest people don't speak in riddles. The person you want isn't me? Why bother with a woman? Let her go and I'll let you handle it."

  "Well said!" Fu Chenghao sneered, "However, you're alone and can only exchange one person. But I have three people here, I wonder which one you want to exchange, Lord Hou?"

  As soon as he finished speaking, the people under his hand pushed up Zhao Runa and Gu Huai who were tied up. Looking at Zhao Runa's pale face, Fu Chenghao burst out laughing, "I'm telling you, Duke Hou, this time you really have to thank our brothers from Jin Palace. If it weren't for my brothers helping you bring back your concubine, I'm afraid that by now, your beautiful concubine would have already run off with some wild man, hahaha..."

  Chen Daniu looked around in a circle at the foot of the slope, his emotions unclear as he walked forward with his knife in hand. He stared straight ahead for a while, then suddenly raised his arm and let go. With a "clang", he dropped the dagger in his hand and took off the heavy armor on his body, stretching out both arms towards the people on the slope.

  "Cut the crap! You just want to avenge your brother, right? The person who killed him was my man, so come after me! What's the point of tying up women? If you're brave enough, let her go and tie me up instead."

  "How dare you?! Alright, come here with your hands up."

  Chen Daniu no longer made a sound, step by step walking up the mountain slope. Just as he reached halfway up, several people from Jin Gong rushed down, pinning his hands behind his back and holding a knife to his neck. He did not resist, his footsteps steady and calm, and Fu Chenghui saw this and narrowed his eyes, letting out a cold snort.

  "Master Hou, it's not that you're forcing us too hard, but we in the Brocade Palace don't do things like this. Brothers, let those two women go."

  These gangsters value their words, and what they say counts. Seeing that Chen Da Niu had already been subdued, Fu Cheng Hua didn't waste any more words and directly ordered his underlings to untie Zhao Ru Na and Lu Er, pushing them down the slope.

  "Get out of here, consider yourselves lucky."

  Zhao Runa stroked her sore arm, glanced at Chen Daniu, and didn't say a word. She lifted her feet and ran down the slope, so fast that Fu Chenghui whistled and laughed loudly, "Hou Ye, did you see? This woman not only mixes with wild men, but also has no conscience left, haha!"

  Chen Daniu's face was gloomy, and he didn't make a sound. Lu'er was embarrassed by what was said, and with tears in her eyes, she ran over and grabbed Zhao Runa's uninjured hand.

  "Madam, Master Hou, Master Hou he..."

  Zhao Runa pulled her hard and said, "Go!"

  Green skirt under her feet a stumble, but dragged her unwilling to go.

  "Madam, what about Master Hou if we leave?"

  Zhao Runa lowered her eyelids, her tone was harsh, and she growled at her, "Will you fight or will you kill? What can you do if you stay?" After that, she tightly grasped Lu'er and ran down the slope without looking back. A woman should have self-awareness, if she can't help, at least don't become a burden to others.

  "Tsk, tsk, tsk!" Fu Chenghao looked at her back, then glanced at Chen Daniu and Gu Huai. "The green hat on the Marquis's head is... I, brother, can't bear to look at it anymore. Alright, today I will definitely take the Marquis's life. But, I'll also help you solve your problem for free, Marquis." After saying that, he glanced at the person under his hand.

  "Come on! Kill that coward!"

  "Yes!" someone responded, and carrying a knife, walked towards Gu Huai.

  Chen Daniu glanced over and growled in a low voice, "Hold on."

  Fu Chenghao was slightly stunned, looking at him with a hint of a smile, "Lord Hou really has a broad mind? Still siding with the adulterer?"

  Chen Daniu looked at him and said, "If I'm going to kill you, I'll do it myself. How can I trouble the second master with such a thing? Does the second master want to help me out?"

  At this time, on the mountain top, there were about a hundred people from Jin Palace, while Chen Daniu was alone. Fu Mahuang, who had long known that he was a brave general on the battlefield, wasn't afraid that he could fly away in front of so many people. With great interest, he looked at Chen Daniu's cold face and then glanced at Gao Bai's pale face, shaking his head.

  "Let him go."

  Chen Daniu glanced at Fu Chenghao, relaxed his muscles, and suddenly drew out a dagger from beside him, walking towards Gu Huai who was sitting on the ground with his back against a pine tree. Every step Chen Daniu took, Gu Huai retreated one step, until he couldn't retreat any further. Looking at Chen Daniu's fiercely slashing knife, he let out a sharp cry of "ah", and urine flowed down his pant legs, wetting his crotch.

  The expected knife did not come down, only the wrist-thick pine tree behind him was snapped in half at the waist.

  "Kill you, dirtying Lao Zi's hands." Chen Da Niu cursed in a low voice, one hand grasped his collar and flung him to the side. He rolled down the slope as if sliding on snow. Just then, from below the slope came the sound of horseshoes "clattering", accompanied by an earth-shaking "killing" sound that filled the air, and Fu Cheng Hua's face changed instantly.

  "Chen Daniu, are you trying to cheat me? Are you still a man?"

  Chen Daniu held up his knife and turned around to look at him.

  "I won't bully you, I respect you as a man. Today, I'm alone and didn't let them help me. If you have the ability to kill me, it's just my bad luck. But if I were to kill you, it would be your evil deeds coming back to haunt you. Come on! I've taken a look, the feng shui of this Songzi Slope is not bad."

  Fu Chenghao looked at the Jin Wei army that had already charged up, his eyes were red.

  "Brothers, kill him to avenge Big Brother!"

  For a time, the sound of weapons clashing, the cries of slaughter and shouting were incessant. But Geng Sanyou, who had brought the Golden Guard to reinforce them, had just shouted "Kill!" when he was sternly stopped by Chen Dabao. He knew Chen's temper, so with red eyes he retreated outside the circle, surrounding it from a distance without going forward.

  Zhao Runa, who had run down earlier, also climbed to the top of the slope and stood in the middle of Jin Weijun's army. She was speechless, her lips tightly pursed. What it meant to be surrounded by a hundred enemies, she had only read about in books or heard from stories of heroes like Zhao Zilong and Zhang Fei, but today, the chaotic sounds of slaughter on Songzi Slope left her stunned and foolishly standing there.

  "Madam, the young master is truly extraordinary, a real great hero."

  Lu'er tiptoed, her eyes full of admiration, but Zhao Runa didn't make a sound, lost in thought. However, just then, amidst the shouting and killing sounds carried by the wind, several riders came galloping over from the slope below, with Xia Chuqi and Li Mo leading the charge.

  Watching Jin Weijun surround Songzi Slope with his troops, Li Miao's face turned white.

  "Chu Er, what's wrong? You're late!"

  At the beginning of summer, on the seventh day, he rode to the top of the slope and shouted "Halt!" He jumped off his horse and ran towards Zhao Runa. After understanding the situation roughly, he looked at Li Mo who was anxious and said: "Sister, I think if we continue fighting like this, no matter what the outcome is, there will inevitably be casualties on both sides, and the hatred between us will only grow deeper...".

  As soon as she finished speaking, Geng San You also rode over on horseback, his face full of anxiety.

  "The young master, that Big Cow is a stubborn guy, he said not to let anyone help, so we can't go and help. But he's alone, this sword is blind, it makes me worried... I'm not at ease."

  All the way with Xia Qi, Er Huizi saw so many Golden Guards and knew that Jin Gong's disaster had arrived. Suddenly, he knelt down with a "thud" and kept kowtowing, "Princess, save Jin Gong! Brother Yuan is gone... For the sake of Brother Yuan's friendship with you, please save Jin Gong's brothers!"

  Looking at Chen Daniu surrounded by the Jin Palace guards, looking at Songzi Slope which had become a slaughterhouse, Xia Chuyi furrowed her brow and exchanged a glance with Li Mo. She hastily asked: "Sister, can you get the people from Jin Palace to hold back first?"

  Li Mian's face turned pale, "I'll try."

  She took a few steps forward, but the fighting in the crowd did not stop. Chen Daniu, surrounded by the Jin Palace gang, was covered in blood, like a demon with a thirst for blood, his knife slicing through flesh. The Jin Palace gang had old and new grudges to settle, and they rushed forward one after another, as if they wanted to devour him alive.

  "Fu Da Ge, stop hitting, you guys hold back first."

  Li Miao's voice fell, and Xia Chuyi also shouted loudly, "Big Brother Niu! I'm Chu Qi. After they stop, can you also pause for a moment? Let's stop first and talk carefully."

  Two women were shouting at the edge of the field, but what effect could they have on the man whose eyes had turned red with killing? No one paid attention to them, and the slaughter continued. The people from Jin Palace didn't stop, and Chen Daniu alone wouldn't stop either. As person after person fell down injured, Li Mu steeled himself and suddenly slapped his horse's rump, charging forward and shouting loudly.

  "Listen up, people of Jin Palace! I am Li Mo. I was entrusted by Big Brother Yuan before his death to temporarily take charge of the affairs of Jin Palace. I order you all to stop what you're doing for now. If you don't believe me, look at what's on my hand!"

  She rode on horseback, high and raised in her hand was an ivory-made baton.

  That was something that Yuan Xing never left his side, and could be said to be his token. Some people looked over in surprise, some were suspicious, some exchanged glances, but no one responded on the spot. At this time, Er Hu Zi got up and stumbled forward, kneeling on the ground.

  "Second master's wife, she is telling the truth, I can prove it. He is indeed the Li Mei that the eldest master mentioned, who saved him in Cheng'an. You must believe me, this is what big brother meant..."

  Fu Chenghao's throat moved slightly, his eyes reddened as he looked over, and finally gritted his teeth and stomped his foot.

  "Stop it, all of you just stop it."

  A massacre and chaos came to an end, Chen Daniu held a blood-stained knife, panting heavily, apparently exhausted. He looked at Xia Chuqi, then at Fu Chenghao and the corpses on the ground, without waiting for Xia Chuqi's words of comfort, he dropped his knife and stared at these people.

  "You killed my wife who had not yet entered my door, and I have also killed many of you. We are even now, whoever wants to take revenge in the future, watch out for me, don't bother others."

  After finishing speaking, he pushed away the people in front of him and strode out, with Fu Chenghao watching him.

  "Are we clear? What about the ransom of 100 taels?"

  Chen Daniu turned around and said, "A sack of stones, do you want it or not?"

  A fight came quickly and went away quickly, looking very dramatic, but also a real reflection of the temperament of the people at that time. Whether it was Chen Dabull or Jin Gong's followers, they were actually all men in their bones. Blood flowed, people were killed, and after saying a word, everything was cleared up, although the blood on the mountain top had not yet dried, but the conflict really subsided like this.

  The scene of the massacre is nothing but blood. In reality, there's only blood and pain, not a shred of poetry. When Chen Daniu walked out of the crowd, all the Jin soldiers were cheering loudly, but he didn't say anything, just walked over and picked up Zhao Runa who was thrown on the horse, with only one sentence.

  "I'll send you back."

  The warriors burst into another loud laughter, and after the laughter, both sides began to disperse. Xia Chuyi rode on horseback, looking at the Golden Guard Army retreating like a tide, as well as the Jin Gong Gang crowd retreating from the slope, feeling that some emotions were peeling off in his chest for a while.

  She used to be obsessed with love and hate, good and bad, and had to clearly distinguish between black and white in life. But now she feels that these boundaries are becoming increasingly blurred. Everyone lives hard, big trees have their own way of living, small grass has its own way of living, people in this world each have their own loneliness, silence and coldness. It all depends on one's heart to dominate life, so the world has never been too peaceful.

  ……

  ……

  Chen Daniu brought Zhao Runa back to the mansion when it was already misty. The fresh blood on his body stained her skirt red, and also scared the people of Ding'an Hou Mansion half to death. His mother came forward, his brother and sister-in-law also came forward, but he didn't say anything. Zhao Runa also tightly pursed her lips, letting him hold her as she got off the horse, without struggling, and under everyone's gaze, entered the small courtyard where she lived.

  It's not that she wasn't nervous, being watched by countless people, Zhao Runa was actually very nervous.

  He galloped back from Songzi Slope, his face dark and his brow furrowed, without saying a word. She had hoped he would get angry and ask her why she was being so intimate with Gu Huai. But he didn't ask, and she couldn't explain either. Because explaining this kind of thing depends on the person - those who can be explained to clearly don't need your explanation, while those who need an explanation generally won't understand anyway.

  Chen Daniu walked just like he was, with big strides, not as elegant and refined as the princes she was used to seeing. It could be said that his entire being was a primitive, barbaric, warlike force that seemed to have the power to tear people apart at any moment.

  He carried her into the house and laid her on the couch, still without a word, then turned around and left.

  Zhao Runa looked at his back, couldn't help but smile bitterly. He had already given her a lot of face, in front of so many people from the Golden Guard, she "stole" someone and "eloped", yet he brought her back without yelling or scolding. By doing this, at least after he went to war, when the news of her having an affair with Gu Huai spread in the capital, the people in the Hou Mansion wouldn't casually say that he didn't want her anymore?

  She thought he had left and would never come back.

  He waited for her in the house until she came out after bathing in the clean room.

  He seemed to have taken a bath and treated the wounds on his body, and the strong bloody smell was gone. He sat upright in front of her bed, in the chair where she often sat reading, several feet away from her, speaking in a low voice.

  "In two more days, I will be going on a northern expedition. Before the expedition, military affairs are busy, so I won't be back. After I leave, take good care of things at home."

  Zhao Runa looked at him, but he averted his gaze. She smiled wryly to herself, thinking of the farce on Songzi Slope and the expression on his face when he carried her back. It seemed that he didn't ask or pursue her, but treated her kindly, just so that after he left, his family in the capital would have a shelter, after all, she was someone from the East Palace.

  After a long while, she lowered her eyelids and smiled, "As it should be. Thank you, Lord Hou, for today's affairs."

  "Uh-huh."

  One person finished speaking, and it seemed like there was nothing else to say. The next time they met, maybe in two years or three years, no one would know. After a battle, what kind of changes would occur, Chen Daniu understood, and Zhao Runa naturally also understood.

  "I'm leaving!"

  He finally got up with his hands on his knees, turned around and walked out in big strides.

  "Master Hou!" Zhao Runa's heart skipped a beat.

  She didn't know why she called out to him, it was completely an unconscious impulse, feeling that there were some things she wanted to make clear. But when he turned around and stood at the door looking at her, she twisted the handkerchief, but didn't know what else to say to him. Should she ask him if he also thought she had a private relationship with Gu Huai? But she really did have some past with Gu Huai, although it was before she entered the Ding An Hou Mansion, but now explaining it to him, wouldn't that be slapping his face too much?

  She smiled awkwardly and struggled to get up, making an excuse for her behavior.

  "Wait a moment, Lord Hou."

  She hasn't made fewer embroidered things these days, such as shoe pads and the like. Even on the seventh of this summer, she sent some, naturally having prepared them for him. It's just that previously she hadn't had the opportunity to give them to him. Now those things happened to be able to relieve her of this awkwardness.

  She rummaged through a box and pulled out several insoles, walked up to him, and lowered her eyelids.

  "Master Hou is about to leave, I don't have anything else to give you. This insole was made by me, it's not very well-made, if you can use it, take it and wear it..."

  She heard her own voice trembling, and couldn't quite put into words what it was like. She thought that maybe she was feeling guilty, which is why she was afraid of him. But after she finished speaking, there was a long pause before he reacted. She swallowed some saliva, lifted her head, and saw his uncertain expression.

  He didn't intentionally show anything, but he was a man with a strong presence, just staring at her made her feel uneasy. She bit her lip and lowered her head, suddenly realizing that the two of them were still strangers, despite being husband and wife in reality. She didn't understand him, and he didn't understand her, like two people who had coincidentally met at some point and were forcibly tied together.

  "Master Hou doesn't like it, never mind, you can go..."

  She slightly shrunk her shoulders, took a step back, tightly grasped the insole of her shoe, and prepared to turn around. But until her body left the ground and she was rolled onto the wooden bed by him, she still hadn't reacted to why he wanted to do this. He heavily pressed her down below, roughly tore at her clothes, nibbled at her face and neck, and from his mouth came a low, muffled panting sound.

  She was familiar with this sound, knowing what he was going to do, and subconsciously, her body hair stood on end. It wasn't any different from the last time; his movements were still rough, his bites hurt, but she strangely found that apart from the pain, she had an inexplicable sense of joy, a joy that made her lose herself, until she was once again possessed by him in his low, husky gasps, and only then did she close her eyes, tilt her head back, feeling as if some emotion at the bottom of her heart had burst open, spreading like poison throughout her entire body from the place where they were joined.

  He still didn't speak, and she also didn't know what to say.

  When she was a maiden, she yearned for the tender affection of lovers, yearned for love poems that promised "till death do us part", and admired those fierce women who could abandon everything for love. But at this moment, she couldn't describe her own emotions, she just slowly hugged him, amidst his strong and powerful heartbeat and increasingly urgent breathing, with a low sigh that was either painful or joyful.

  "Lord Hou..."

  His body stiffened slightly and he stopped.

  She was breathing with difficulty and didn't open her eyes, but she could feel his gaze sweeping across her face.

  Then she heard her own heartbeat, and his primal rhythm starting up again.

  ……

  ……

  A great war is imminent, and the court and the people are in an uproar.

  The shadow of war almost enveloped the entire Ying Tianfu.

  The old emperor has issued an edict, ordering the King of Jin, Zhao Zun, and the Marquis of Ding'an, Chen Daniu, to lead their troops northward. The army will depart in three days. This war will bring about profound historical significance, but Xia Qi doesn't know that yet; all she knows is that her long-awaited grand wedding is really going to be ruined.

  Zhao Zun goes north, how long will it take to meet again?

  Years later, are people still the same? Having seen the emotional drift of future generations, she firmly believes that not only do things change, but people also change. After the war is over, perhaps he will no longer be him, and she will no longer be her. She does not allow such a situation to happen. At least, if there was no Zhao Zhu in her world now, she felt it would be too flavorless.

  Only three days are left, Zhao Zun needs to prepare for battle, what can she do?

  The courtyard was quiet and deserted, with only her left alone.

  The maids of the concubine were all driven out by her, she knew that Zhao Zun would definitely come tonight.

  They were together for just three days, how could he not come?

  Sitting by the window, watching the little horse graze, she quietly waits.

  She thought back carefully, and felt that every time he came, it was always without a sound, as if he suddenly appeared out of thin air. Every time, this "suddenness" would make her feel a strong sense of joy. This time was no exception, he stood behind her, and she only sensed his presence then.

  "Finally willing to come?" She didn't turn her head, panting as she stroked the little horse's mane.

  Zhao Zhu paused for a moment, walked over and placed both hands on her shoulders.

  "Who got you upset?"

  "Who else could it be?" Xia Chuyi turned her head around and glared at him fiercely.

  She knew her face must look terrible, but who could tell her that there was a bride-to-be in the world whose wedding had been ruined and jilted, and still had a good face to show for it? Seeing him silent, she raised her chin like a debt collector.

  "Your Highness, King of Jin, don't you have anything to say to me?"

  A ripple of light in Zhao's eyes.

  After a moment of silence, his dry hand finally touched her face, "I'm going on a northern expedition."

  Xia Chuqi curved her lips and nodded at him, "And then?"

  "Ah Qi." Zhao Zun's arms tightened, pulling her into his embrace, "I'm sorry."

  Sorry? Did she want to hear that? Xia Chui's gloomy face suddenly filled with black lines, her heart indignant, and she pushed him away with a force so great that it knocked over a blue porcelain vase on the table.

  "What's wrong with me? What's the point of apologizing now? Zhao Zhu, you could have done it, couldn't you? We can get married three days earlier and then go to war. Why didn't you tell the emperor - let's get married first, then go to war?"

  That vase is very sturdy, it spun around on the floor several times and didn't break.

  Zhao Zun looked at her deeply, bent down to pick it up, and carefully placed it on the table. He stretched out his hand to hug her, but she refused, pushing him hard. He hugged her again, and she became furious, struggling in his arms. He held her tightly and wouldn't let go, and she was like a wounded beast, using all her strength to tear at his clothes and punch him. He sighed helplessly, grasped her wrists, and pressed her firmly against his chest.

  "Ah Qi, on the battlefield there is no general who always wins, whether it's life or death is unknown, how can I leave and still bring disaster to you?"

  At the beginning of summer, I got angry and my eyes were hot, so I couldn't move. Then I took my head to bump him.

  "Zhao Shi Jiu, you damn bastard! Is there no one else available? Must it be you? What's on your father's mind? When in use, he's all smiles; when not in use, he's scolded!"

  "Ah Qi..." Zhao Zun called out softly, his body pressed against hers, his head lowered to kiss her neck. "I promised the Emperor, I have no choice but to go." His breath was hot, his kisses were hot. Xia Qi's body trembled slightly, her neck felt itchy and numb, but her heart felt sour.

  She leaned against him, feeling that this man's body was really warm. Although his chest was as hard as iron, it was so good to hug, making her want to drown in his arms forever and never let go of such warmth. As the thought came to mind, she suddenly had an idea, wanting to leave something behind before he went on expedition.

  "Zhao Zhu, you've got me now?" She muttered in embarrassment.

  "What's wrong?" he asked, continuing to kiss her.

  "Are you really stupid or just pretending? Do I need to teach you something like this?" She was getting angry.

  "...He didn't say a word, just kissed her, and kept kissing."

  "Did you hear what I said? Are you going to do it or not?"