She almost growled out this sentence.

  It was all over, except for the sound of his rapid breathing, there wasn't a single sound. Xia Qi had an urge to bite her own tongue off. She suspected that in this world, besides herself, there wasn't another girl as shameless and thick-skinned. It wasn't that she didn't know how to be ashamed, it was just that she couldn't help but do so.

  She knew too well that Zhao Jin was a stubborn person. If she didn't take the initiative, he would really be able to make her wait for several years before coming back to talk about it again. But how many years is that? Several years were enough for her to travel through countless times and spaces. What if she accidentally went back again? What if he went fishing by the river when he was on an expedition, and accidentally caught another girl, and she took him away? Zhao Jin was a man of his word, once he promised something, he would definitely take responsibility. So, she had to get him first before anything else.

  "Zhao Zhu, say something! Have you become mute?" She pushed him.

  "What did you say?"

  Seeing him pretending to be stupid, she was so angry that she couldn't help but say, "Don't pretend anymore, my neck is itching to death... answer my question properly, this is your only chance, don't miss it."

  "A Qi is so nervous?" He answered irrelevantly and buried his head in her neck.

  "It's not that I'm anxious about you, it's just that I miss you, are you satisfied?"

  She had abandoned all her dignity, but he just sighed and held her face in his hands.

  "Wait for grandpa to come back. Eat more at home and get plump and fair..."

  Wait for him to come back? The meaning of his words, Xia Qi heard and understood, after all, it was still a "wait" word. But how could she let him have his way? One hand stroked his shoulder, and she suddenly pounced over, taking a fierce bite.

  "What a wonderful thought! What's the basis for it?"

  Knowing she was angry, Zhao Zhuo hugged her tightly, letting her bite him, hit him and kick him. He remained silent, no longer explaining himself, but the kisses on her neck were more intense, passionate and dense, each one a testament to his own desire for her, even stronger than hers.

  "Zhao Zhuo, you've gone too far! By the time you get back, I'll be an old maid."

  Xia Zhiqiu knew about this "urgency", it wasn't dignified, but she had a feeling that if tonight passed, before the army departed, Zhao Zhuo might not come again. So whatever she wanted to do, she had to get it done tonight. Good things, only when eaten and in her belly could she be at peace.

  "Listen!"

  He lowered his voice, and all the sighs were piled up in those black eyes. Looking at her, his gaze was focused, helpless, and a little lost, still so deep and enchanting, tempting her to let go of everything, like a gecko clinging tightly to this thick wall, a pair of big eyes staring unblinkingly at his face, with a tone full of spoiledness.

  "Is it something wrong with me? You don't want me that much?"

  Her tone was soft and gentle, with a hint of spoiledness and an inexplicable sense of dejection and melancholy. Xia Qi generally didn't get depressed, no matter how big the situation was, it was hard to hear her sigh, and she rarely had negative emotions, but at this moment, her eyes were filled with silent despair.

  "A Qi, it's not like that..."

  She heard the hoarse sound from his throat, her eyes lit up, and she stuck to him with a mischievous face, winking at him with a smile, "What's wrong? Don't you think I'm good-looking or my figure is not hot enough? Let me tell you, there's no other shop like this in the village..."

  "Ah Qi." Zhao Zun lowered his head, "You spat on my face."

  At the beginning of summer, Xia didn't dare to imagine that Zhao would say such a big-hearted and windy phrase at this time. She was stunned for a second, then she got angry, gritted her teeth, and mercilessly pinched his head, imitating Yuan Xiao Gong's gentle tone, tilting her chin up to his face, "Disdain me? Let you disdain, see how I deal with you, saliva is it? Today, let you eat saliva..." She was furious, pouting, her eyes rippling, densely and disorderly kissing him, a sly tongue like a snake entwining him.

  "Should you or shouldn't you?"

  “……”

  "Believe it or not, I'm using force?"

  "Ah Qi!" Zhao Zun gritted his teeth.

  He eagerly wanted to break free, but she was reluctant to let go, her hands grasping his neck, the small snake crawling on his lips, coming and going, trying to force him to open his mouth and let it in. He finally couldn't bear it anymore, and with a low, muffled "hmm", he grabbed the back of her head, took her in, and turned from being passive to active. It wasn't just a light taste, but a strong invasion, like a battle with an enemy. The palm of his hand holding her spine grew hotter, counting the bones on her back through her clothes, one by one, each time making her shudder uncontrollably.

  "Take me..."

  She called out to him in a low voice, her eyes narrowed as if veiled by a layer of mist. Zhao Zun was still able to hold on, but he was after all a young man with vigorous blood and energy, how could he withstand her passionate enthusiasm? He kissed her lips, held her buttocks, and pushed her into his arms, walking while kissing, taking big strides towards the inner room, until he pressed her heavily onto the bed, then lifted his head, panting and staring at her.

  "What's wrong?!" Hanging his neck, Xia Chuyi felt nervous and wanted to find something to say. She didn't want to be hypocritical, so she frankly admitted, "If we hadn't gone that far, I wouldn't feel at ease." Seeing him not speaking, she smiled slyly.

  "Come on and eat, once you've eaten, everything will be all right."

  He was still just panting, staring at her intensely. Xia Chuqi's ears were slightly burning, and she took the initiative to kiss him. Zhao Zun's black eyes ignited with passion, but he turned his face away, looking like he was struggling rather than refusing. She let out a giggle, her face flushing red, thinking that his expression looked silly, and no longer feeling embarrassed, she added a hint of teasing, and leaned in to kiss him again. He suddenly turned his head, gazing deeply into her eyes, as if he had suddenly gone mad, and pressed down on her with a flurry of kisses, passionate like a starving wolf in the desert encountering a delicious piece of meat.

  "Grandpa." Her heart contracted, and she stuck to him, slowly closing her eyes. His lips were as warm as ever, kissing her into a trembling fit, every tiny pore opening up like being tickled by feathers, excitedly, joyfully, eagerly awaiting his further advances.

  She is indulging in romance. Indulging in this person's embrace, this person's kiss, because of the indulgence, she dare not think about the long years of separation, or the uncertain fate of separation, the separation that cannot communicate with each other. Under his control, her heart beats like a drum, feeling shy, yet fearing he will retreat, having to put aside her reserve and try harder to please him. But after a while, he didn't go any further.

  Is he still hesitating?

  She wouldn't let him resist, tightly hugging his neck.

  "Grandpa..."

  "It's okay." He panted in response, his low voice falling into her mouth. His gentle and dense kisses were both soothing and teasing, leaving a trail of kiss marks on her neck. His kisses were heavy, causing her some pain, yet she was deeply enthralled, closing her eyes dazedly as if she had returned to the Clear River under the moonlight, wanting to bloom completely and reveal her most beautiful self in front of him.

  Her idea was too good to be true, she had imagined too much, so that she didn't notice at all, and didn't know when Zhao Zhuo used her clothes to tie up her hands and feet. Wearing only a thin undergarment, she felt the chill and opened her eyes with a red face.

  "What's this?"

  She looked at him with a puzzled expression, her lips slightly parted. Her face was a mixture of confusion and curiosity, like a small fox spirit that had been carved out over thousands of years. Wild yet clear, fiery yet pure, the corners of her mouth trembled slightly as she asked these words, and only then did she seem to suddenly realize something, letting out a soft "oh".

  "Zhao Nineteen ah Zhao Nineteen, so you're quite foul-mouthed? SM?"

  He furrowed his brow, apparently not understanding what "heavy" and "SM" meant, but he moved away from her, lying heavily on her side, speaking with a breath that was like the struggle of eight years of war, each word and sentence coming out with great difficulty.

  "Don't blame me! I can only have a good talk with you if I tie you up."

  What? Xia saw a ghost staring at him, and then looked at his own bound body.

  "Zhao - you scoundrel! Let me go."

  Zhao Zhu looked at her, the light in his eyes like stars floating in the black night. A thick and dry palm stroked her face, as if suppressing a struggle from the bottom of his heart. He panted softly and said: "Little slave girl is now good at seducing people, let go of you. I'm afraid I won't be able to hold on!"

  "What the hell is this?"

  At the beginning of summer, she was so angry that smoke was about to come out of her head. She bit her mouth and struggled for a few times, with a low curse. But no matter how she scolded, Zhao Zun was not annoyed, listening to her scolding without retorting or explaining, only waiting for her to scold until she was out of breath, he lowered his head again, kissed her tongue once more, and merged himself into her mouth, soothing every bit of her anger.

  After a warm and evil battle, she finally calmed down, but her chest was still throbbing with anger.

  "I'm so angry, I could kill... You don't want me? Fine! But then you tie me up and make it seem like... like I'm the one who wants you too much. Zhao Zhu, you're going too far!"

  He gently held her, along her spine, and waited for her to finish scolding before saying in a low voice: "Ah Qi, war is not child's play, the battlefield is not a playground. The people there hold sharp weapons, they chop at anyone they see, life is as cheap as grass. There is only bloodshed, either you die or I perish, it is a graveyard that humans have created for themselves. Anything can happen on the battlefield, and there has never been a true winner. Do you remember how I looked when we first met by the Qingling River? You saw my wounds, if not for meeting you, if the wound had been an inch deeper, I would have been gone... Ah Qi, you are a good girl, what I can do for you now is to keep your body intact, and if anything happens to me, you can still marry a good man."

  "Zhao Zhu... damn it, are you trying to be sentimental?"

  On the seventh day of summer, her eyes turned red, she arched her body and glared at him fiercely. The moist spot at the corner of her eye was obviously a thing called "tears" that she had forgotten for a long time.

  "You've hugged me, kissed me, bitten me, and touched me. Now you're telling me to be virtuous? Ha! If I were an ordinary woman, if you didn't want me now, I would have no choice but to throw myself into the river and hang myself to preserve my chastity. Do you understand?"

  "You're not an ordinary girl." He didn't look at her, his arm wrapped around the back of her neck, pulling her into a hug. As she trembled with indignation, he held his breath, suppressing the turmoil that seemed to come from the depths of his soul for a long time before finally restraining himself from taking possession of the trembling girl in his arms.

  "Zhao Zhu, you're really going too far..."

  She sniffled quietly, but Xia Zhi still didn't cry. She didn't like crying, what was the point? She wasn't someone to be easily bullied, nor was she someone to be easily controlled. Lifting her head, her eyes were wet, but her tone was firm.

  "No way, I'm going with you."

  She said it very simply and clearly, but he was stunned.

  "The battlefield is no place for women."

  "I said I'm going with you." She confirmed again.

  He held her tightly in his arms, with his palms pressed against her back.

  "I said the battlefield is no place for women."

  She was so angry that she couldn't move her hands or feet, and could only breathe heavily to balance her grievances. The way she endured the tears made her look a bit pitiful. He furrowed his brow, his hand on her back slowly stroking and comforting her, his body motionless. After a while, when she had calmed down, he grasped her hand tightly, making her palm touch his, and gently caressed it.

  "Stay at home and wait for grandpa to come back and marry you."

  "Cut the crap, untie me first, I'm uncomfortable..."

  No strength to struggle anymore, Xia Qiuzi glared at him, feeling so uncomfortable that she wanted to curse.

  "Zhao Zhu, I've lived for so many years, seen tens of thousands of men, and heard countless stories. But I've never seen a man like you, who would tie up his own woman on the bed just to keep her from getting close to him. If you're not an idiot, then you must be crazy, a scoundrel, a neurotic, or brain-damaged..."

  She used every swear word she could think of on him.

  His eyes were warm, but he didn't respond, just patted her comfortingly.

  "Don't be angry anymore. Tomorrow I'll have to stay in the camp and it's probably not convenient for us to talk again."

  "You damn bastard!" Xia Qi's voice was trembling with tears, full of grievances. Those grievances were pent up in her heart, unable to find a way out, but she had to vent them, or else she would go crazy. She lifted up her bound feet and kicked him with all her might, not caring where, just kicking, kicking, until Zhao Zhu grabbed hold of her feet and stopped her.

  "You little rascal, where are you kicking? If you kick it broken, how will I pamper you in the future?"

  He suddenly made a rogue remark, making her grit her teeth in anger, but she couldn't help bursting into laughter.

  "I'm going to kick you to death, so you won't go to the north and sleep with women again."

  Seeing her finally smile, Zhao's lips curled up, "With such a lively princess at home, how dare father?"

  "On the seventh day of summer, I want to cry and laugh at the same time: 'Who knows? Remember, when you go north, don't go fishing.'"

  "Huh?" He didn't understand.

  "What if another Chu Qi is caught again?"

  "As soon as I caught it, grandpa cooked and ate it."

  Xia Chuqi was taken aback for a moment, seeing the hard lines on his face, a forced smile, obviously trying to make her happy, she couldn't help but pout and glare at him, her heart burning with anger. "Let me go first, let me go before we talk, I promise not to touch you again, isn't that enough?"

  What she said, how can she be like a vicious tyrant who bullies a poor young woman?

  But she said so, Zhao Zun did not believe her "moral integrity".

  "If I don't let go, Grandpa will be unable to handle it."

  On the seventh day of summer, I was so annoyed that I couldn't take it anymore. With a mischievous raise of an eyebrow, "Zhao Zun, can I beat you up?!"

  He thought seriously for a moment, then handed his face over.

  "Hit him."

  "How can you fight without hands?"

  "Can't kiss with mouth?" He leaned his face a bit closer.

  Zhao Zun has always been elegant and cold, rarely losing his composure like this. Xia Chuyi stared at him, feeling both angry and amused, her heart a mess of emotions, many complex feelings bursting forth in her chest, making her throat feel congested. The congestion made her act impulsively, and with a lowered head, she bumped into him, her forehead hitting his chin. Only when she heard his pained "hiss" did she lift her eyelids.

  "Know how formidable it is?"

  "The female knight is quite formidable, spare the little one this time?"

  He still wanted to make her happy, but Xia Qiqi was getting more and more uncomfortable.

  "Hurt yourself?"

  He didn't answer, but looked at her with a hint of a smile, "As long as you're happy, it's all good."

  At the beginning of summer, Xia Qi's lips were pursed, her head leaned in, and she kissed him on the chin, then on his nose, cheeks, and forehead, slowly, from bottom to top, and from top to bottom, finally landing on his lips, comforting him like a wronged little dog, kissing him, trying to please him. Then, in his shortness of breath, she slid down from his lips, fell into his throat, and slowly slid down again.

  He panted heavily and hastily, "A Qi, don't be like this, it's hard for Grandpa!"

  She muttered under her breath, "Serves him right."

  "He sighed, 'Why don't you make sense?'"

  She glared at him, "No way!"

  "He scolded her, 'If you go on like this, I'll get angry!'"

  "Go ahead and get angry! You'd better be angry; if you're not, I'll be angry to death!"

  At the beginning of summer, there was a fierce mouth. Scolding was damaging, laughing was beautiful, and the small dimples on the curved lips seemed to be able to absorb people's souls. However, this mouth, apart from its usual functions, could also skillfully tear open his robes, heavily biting him without being affected by his bound hands and feet. With just two thin weapons, it could provoke a fire that engulfed his entire body, burning even more fiercely than before. Each flame shot up to his abdomen, as if he was being roasted on a bonfire, steaming and scorching him, making him shudder with suffering.

  He started threatening, "Make another sound and I'll shut your mouth."

  "You can't bear it, you want to hear me talk."

  She didn't respond, starting to look for the place where he was most emotional, his breathing quickened and became disordered, in the end, he couldn't bear it, turned over and pressed her down heavily, grasped her shoulders tightly, stared at her eyes like a wolf staring at its prey.

  She had a pair of eyes that were different from others, such eyes he had never seen on any woman's face. Especially at this moment, the lights in the house were warm, her eyes were very black and deep, reflecting the flames of a small cluster of lamps, evil like a little witch who could eat people.

  "Ah Qi......" His voice was almost a moan, "Don't force me."

  "Never mind." Xia Chuqi's tone softened as she watched his struggles, "I've already thought it through, tomorrow you'll be leaving, let's not waste any more time. Actually, between men and women, there are many things we can do besides that. For example, before you leave, you can give me all your assets? How much money do you have? How many houses? The Jin Wang Fu still has a few women, those also count as your private property, right? I'm thinking, after you leave, I'll take your money and find a few good-looking men... that is, if I accidentally do something, don't blame me?"

  "How dare you!" He gritted his teeth.

  "What am I afraid of?"

  She pouted, and Xia Qi's smile grew more mischievous, like a disobedient child who wouldn't listen, but also wouldn't obey him. She lazily sprawled out, her eyes fixed on the mosquito net, as if in a daze, muttering softly: "Don't expect me to keep the festival for you, you know I'm not that kind of woman who cares about such things. As long as I've got my eye on someone, maybe it's Zhao Mianze, or maybe it's Dongfang Qingxuan..."

  She suddenly paused, her eyes lit up, "Oh right, I forgot about that. You said you wanted to protect my innocence... Hmm, isn't it strange? Didn't I already tell you that I've had that kind of relationship with Dongfang Qingyun before? So, you really don't need to bother."

  Zhao You deeply looked at her and sighed, "Do you really think I would believe that?"

  "So you never believed me?"

  "At first, I believed you were a good person, but what kind of person are you? I have my own thoughts. He held her tightly and lowered his voice, 'Take good care of yourself for me, unless I'm not around, otherwise, whoever touches you, I'll slaughter their whole family.'"

  “……”

  On the seventh day of summer, Zhang opened his mouth silently and couldn't say a word.

  Before, she didn't deliberately explain the things between her and Dongfang Qingxuan to Zhao Zhu, mainly because she had said it before and forgot about it. But unexpectedly, he originally didn't believe her at all, so that's why Mei Zi and Qing Lian gave her black chicken soup and red sugar water?

  Thinking about it, she's also quite amusing.

  Actually, what happened tonight wasn't her acting on impulse, she had thought it through carefully. She likes Zhao Zhu, this stubborn and rigid Zhao Zhu. He's a traditionalist, inflexible, and adheres to his moral principles, yet he still wants to marry her, who is supposed to be his "niece-in-law". This kind of Zhao Zhu is contradictory, he knew she was Xia Chu long ago, and according to his personality, he should have pushed her away. But he clearly cares about her identity, yet still tries every means to marry her. So, she believes he likes her, but few men in the world would like a girl without sleeping with her. Yet this Zhao Zhu, the one she likes, can actually do it, even if it kills him, he wouldn't take that step, just because he might end up dying and leaving her incomplete.

  But he didn't know that she had already been incomplete since she invaded his world, or rather, he invaded her world. The missing corner needed him to fill it. With him, she could get true completeness.

  Only one night left, she had a lot to say and didn't want to waste it on arguing anymore.

  The room was quiet for a long time, and the candle went out.

  The little horse on the windowsill let out a "neigh" and heard an eerie conversation coming from inside.

  "Don't be on good terms with other women."

  "Uh-huh."

  "Three wives and four concubines, are you still not satisfied?"

  "Don't want to."

  "Is the concubine still not obedient?"

  "Not paying."

  "Does the concubine still want to stay?"

  "No."

  "I asked if there were military prostitutes in your barracks?"

  “……”

  "Is there?"

  "No."

  "Are you kidding me? The book didn't say it was like this." She leaned against him, her breath hot on his ear as she whispered, "Is it or isn't it?" He didn't respond, so she giggled and gently kissed and licked his ear. "Does it or doesn't it?" He still didn't answer, so she bit his ear lightly and asked in a low voice, "Sleep or not?"

  "Not sleeping."

  "Those who don't sleep are big fools."

  She muttered a low curse, and her tone suddenly choked. He didn't speak, holding her tightly. The two of them said many words, most of which were hers, and he just listened. Whatever she said, he agreed, no matter how unreasonable her demands were, he wouldn't refute them. Later, she said she was tired and fell asleep in his arms.

  On the eve of their separation, she had a good dream without thinking. In the wild wind of Mobei, she rode her horse wildly, in the endless grassland, he was wearing armor, his black cloak flying high in the wind, she rushed towards him, he opened his arms and held her tightly in his embrace, spinning around, round and round, until she suddenly opened her eyes.

  The sky is still dark, and outside the window it's pitch black.

  There was only one small dim lamp in the room.

  He stood with his back to her, dressing by the bed. It seemed he was preparing to head directly to camp, wearing the armor she had seen in her dreams. The narrow sleeves and cloud-patterned shoulders, the long, dark blue robe with a crimson lining, the outer layer of shining steel plate armor fastened with gold buttons, the two sides and back of which were open, the hem decorated with colorful tassels, the chest adorned with a protective mirror, the two shoulders covered with red shoulder pads, and on top of it all, he wore a black cloak with golden trim. His tall, lean figure was illuminated by the lamp light, yet at the same time, he seemed to be the one illuminating the light. She had always thought that men in military attire were more charming, but this charm was even more pronounced on Zhao Zhen's body.

  He was a man she both loved and hated.

  His heart is cold and hard, yet timely soft. He never makes promises, but every word is a promise. She doesn't know how to describe him. Sometimes using overly elaborate language to describe something is blasphemy. If it needs to be embellished with words, it represents its own weakness. Truly good things, in the end, can only be described with one word - good. Besides good, there's nothing else.

  She narrowed her eyes slightly and didn't make a sound calling him.

  Even when he turned his head around, he closed his eyes and pretended to sleep.

  She felt him lower his head, gaze at her quietly for a moment, and then kiss her.

  Then he tucked her in, and before long, the window creaked open, and when she opened her eyes again, she only saw the candle flame swaying gently in the breeze, and the room suddenly cooled down.

  "Floating thoughts of others, all without a place to settle."

  On the way to the palace, Xia Chuyi had been pondering this sentence all along.

  She thought of this sentence and felt sad. But she didn't want to be sad, she never believed in fate.

  Only two days left, forty-eight hours, she had to count on her fingers to use them.

  Zhang Huanggong's body was much better than before. People sometimes live on a kind of faith. Because Xia Chuiqi existed, she believed that she could be cured. Due to her illness, Hong Tai Emperor came to see her every day, and she believed in love. A woman, no matter how old she is, can't get rid of the nature of pursuing love, with these two points, even lung cancer can be reborn.

  Ke Xia was very clear in her heart on the seventh day of the lunar month that her illness could no longer be cured.

  The difference lies in how much longer she can live.

  The atmosphere in the Kunning Palace is different today, knowing that a war is about to break out and that Zhao Zhen is going to lead the expedition. Empress Zhang's words are more than usual. Most of them are women, all strong men's women, she suddenly finds herself having a lot to say with Xia Chuyi. But Xia Chuyi's mind is restless today, often distracted, until he walked out of the Kunning Palace without saying a few substantial things to Empress Zhang.

  She didn't know how she walked into Yunyue Pavilion, Zhao Ziyue was very happy when he saw her.

  "Chu Qi, come quickly and take a look at the tiger head shoes made of green wisteria..."

  Zhao Ziyue was originally a lively and carefree princess. In her anticipation of new life, she also regained her "rebirth". With eighteen kinds of martial arts, she finally persuaded Emperor Hongtai to keep the child in her belly. Now, she has begun secretly preparing clothes for the child, and what she is holding in her hand is a pair of tiger-head shoes.

  "The tiger's head was embroidered by me, Chu Qi, what do you think?"

  Zhao Ziyue excitedly pulled her, as if she had grown up overnight, and in the still tender girl, there was an added maternal glow. But Xia Chuyi took a glance and wasn't interested.

  "Tiger? It's just a cat!"

  Zhao Ziyue unhappily pouted, but her temper was not as spoiled as it used to be. After thinking for a moment, she turned around and comforted Xia Chuyi, saying that her nineteenth brother had fought many battles but never lost one, and would definitely return triumphantly to marry her, telling her not to worry. Everyone will grow up, and Xia Chuyi actually liked the change in Zhao Ziyue.

  "Zi Yue, the two ghosts are back, did you know?"

  Her words were a bit cruel, but she still said them. Every scar needs to be stripped away before it can fully heal. Zhao Ziyue was taken aback, avoiding her gaze, and clenched the tiger-headed shoe in his hand, "Whether he's dead or alive has nothing to do with Princess Ben."

  At the beginning of summer, she glanced at her for a moment. "He seems to be going with your nineteenth brother to the north again. Your father emperor appointed him as the commander-in-chief, but he refused, saying that he was familiar with Haxa and the northern terrain, and volunteered to lead the vanguard camp into battle. Zhao Ziyue, isn't the vanguard camp the one that takes the lead?" She spoke casually, observing Zhao Ziyue's expression carefully. Sure enough, her eyes kept darting around, and eventually she got angry, throwing down her tiger-head shoes.

  "You are no longer allowed to mention his name in front of me, otherwise I will fight you to the death."

  "......haven't you misused an idiom?"

  "No! It's just one move to determine the winner."

  At the beginning of summer, Qī supported her cheek with a smile, "It seems to be very serious, so I won't say it." After speaking, her gaze swept towards Zhao Zǐyuè's belly, and she suddenly let out a long sigh, "Little baby, your father is about to go to war, whether he will live or die is still unknown. Do you want to see him? If he dies in this battle, meeting him would be forever goodbye."

  "You also said you want to force this princess to kill a chicken to scare the monkey, is that right?"

  Xia Chuqi looked up at her strangely, "I was talking to Xiaobao, did I offend you too?"

  "You're doing it on purpose!"

  Summer nodded at seven points, "Right, I did it on purpose."

  Zhao Ziyue glanced at her and lowered her head, "I don't like him, my child has nothing to do with him. Don't mention him again, or I'll cut ties with you."

  At the beginning of summer, Qi Xi was delighted that she had used the right words, but still just talked about the matter at hand. "One person can't give birth to a child, and things related by blood can't be changed in this life. Zhiyue, unless you don't want this child, otherwise it's impossible for you not to have a relationship with him, because you have a common child together. The baby has your blood flowing through his body, and also his blood..."

  Zhao Ziyue got angry, covering her ears, "I don't want to listen, stop talking."

  Xia Qi smiled and said, "Why do you dislike him so much? Is it just because he's the father of your child?" She had to bring up this topic, Zhao Ziyue was furious, her face turned bright red with anger, she glared at Xia Qi and said, "That person is dead evil, why are you still speaking for him?"

  "What's wrong with him? You still remember?"

  "... " was teased by Xia Chuyi like this, Zhao Ziyue's face turned red, "Anyway, it's all your fault."

  "He's not bad, he's just been drugged. Hmm, didn't you administer the drug yourself? In my opinion, the most pitiful one is Guī Gē (Ghost Brother). He lost his body out of nowhere and nobody has taken responsibility for it yet, but instead, you're getting angry?"

  Talking about this, Zhao Ziyue felt resentful. According to her recollection after the incident, she was indeed the one who lit the incense. At that time, she had a quarrel with Xia Chuyi and came over in a daze, taking out the incense from the drawer and putting it in the incense burner without much thought. Now that Xia Chuyi mentioned it again, she thought about it and felt that it was probably all her own fault, and she couldn't help but lower her head in grievance.

  "Even if I was poisoned, he shouldn't have treated me like that, biting my mouth, and biting me, and biting my... anyway, just a bad and annoying person."

  "...licking your mouth, and what else did you lick?"

  On the seventh day of summer, she teased her, seeing her face almost turning red like a monkey's buttocks, and finally couldn't help but burst out laughing. Sweeping away the gloom from the bottom of her heart, she tightly hugged Zhao Ziyue, and after a long sigh, she finally asked a question that had been on her mind for a long time.

  "Zi Yue, there's something I've been wanting to ask you, but your health hasn't been good, so I haven't had the chance. Can you tell me, who instructed you to drug Nineteen Ge that time?"

  Zhao Ziyue puckered up her mouth and looked at her with some apologetic eyes, but shook her head.

  "No one told me to... At that time I hated you and didn't want you to be good with my nineteenth brother, so I secretly ran into your house and stole the medicine."

  "But how did you know that was the carefree pill? Who told you?"

  As soon as she said that, Zhao Ziyue's face turned even redder, and after glancing at her, he carefully said, "It was Mei who said it."

  "What did Mei Zi tell you?"

  "She didn't tell me, but many people know, Qingteng also knows..."

  As soon as he heard this, Xia Chuyi's black line on her forehead circled around and around. There was a big-mouthed girl beside her, which was really an extremely frightening thing. It seemed that not only Qingteng, but also the carefree powder in her house might be an aphrodisiac, and everyone in the Jinwang Mansion knew about it.

  When she walked out of Yunyue Pavilion, she pulled Qinglan over.

  "From now on, pay attention to Mei Zi's mouth! That mouth of hers can rival a hundred thousand troops!"

  The weather was unclear, so on the seventh day of summer, he didn't explain anything and walked out in big strides.

  Outside the steps of Yunyue Pavilion, there was a person wandering around. Seeing her coming over, he bowed to greet her.

  "Princess."

  It's been a long time since I saw Er Gui, he had lost weight and darkened, probably the wounds on his body hadn't healed yet. He was wearing a suit of hard armor, but his face looked a bit pale, and his whole person seemed to have become more refined, losing some of the usual smoothness, looking much more mature. Xia Chuqi glanced at him, startled in her heart, made an eye signal to Qing Lian, and led him to a corner.

  "Ghost Brother, how did you come? Yunyue Pavilion, you also arrived?"

  The two ghosts said in a hoarse voice, "I am here specifically to see you, County Master."

  "Afraid it's not because you want to see me? Or have you heard something?"

  The two ghosts were slightly stunned, as if they didn't quite understand her meaning. Xia Chuqi originally wanted to tease him a bit more, but thinking that he would be leading the vanguard again and didn't know if he would still be alive when he returned, she couldn't bear it. Life is power, an unborn life may bring him even more power to live on.

  She slowly walked a few steps closer and said in a low voice: "Ghost brother, make amends and come back, marry one and send one off."

  The two ghosts suddenly lifted their heads, with a look of shock on their faces, "I don't understand what you mean, Princess."

  At the beginning of summer, Qī collapsed and pouted, "Stupid!" After saying that one word, she smiled and raised an eyebrow, "You once sowed a seed in winter, by autumn, shouldn't it have borne some fruit?"

  After she finished speaking, she raised her lip with a hint of meaning and nodded towards the Cloud Moon Pavilion. The Second Ghost was stunned for a moment, then a thick layer of joy floated up in his eyes. But it wasn't entirely joy, as there was also a hint of tears in that joy, which made Xia Chuqi feel like he had a fishbone stuck in his throat.

  "Ghost brother, want to see her?"

  The two ghosts nodded excitedly, their Adam's apples bobbing up and down, as if the words were being squeezed out of their throats.

  "Think... maybe... will she see me?"

  At the beginning of summer, Qi looked around and lowered his voice, "I have conditions."

  Digression

  Special thanks to the following people:——

  Dear [Small Yin ￡23_09], upgraded to San Ding Jia - Banger Jun.

  Dear [13773898446] has been upgraded to San Ding Jia - Tan Hua Lang.

  Dear [Laughing More Expensive] and [Blue Tears 130], you have been upgraded to become a successful candidate in the imperial examination.

  Dear [joyfulpea], [18923858525] has been upgraded to Yuan.