The next morning, the balding doctor used the excuse of needing to personally select some herbs from the pharmacy. When informed, Qing Yan, seeing the heavy snowfall, didn’t suspect anything and even arranged a carriage to take him.
Shortly after his departure, Mei Lin, wrapped in a cotton cloak and wearing a bamboo hat and straw rain cape, boldly walked out through the side gate. By now, even the most oblivious knew that Murong Jinghe treated her differently, and there were no restrictions on her movements, so she passed through without hindrance.
Once outside the prince’s residence, Mei Lin headed straight for the carriage depot. Due to the heavy snow, no one was willing to operate carriages, so she had to buy a horse and carriage outright and drive it herself. Before leaving, she had the stable master wrap thick cotton around the horse’s knees, hooves, and belly to prevent frostbite. She also packed fodder, a charcoal stove, and charcoal. After buying a package of braised meat buns from a nearby food stall, she set off towards the city’s largest pharmacy.
All these expenses came from the money she had earned selling games. During her two months in the prince’s residence, she had either eaten, slept, or been in a daze, gaining no financial benefit. Now she regretted not asking for gold or silver.
The snowstorm was fierce. The few pedestrians on the street hugged the buildings’ eaves. Looking up, all one could see was a sea of white, with only the gray buildings providing contrast.
Mei Lin had asked for directions at the carriage depot. Driving swiftly, she soon spotted a modest two-horse carriage parked by the roadside, its driver warming his hands against the shaft and occasionally stamping his feet. A few steps ahead was the sign for Renhui Pharmacy. She slowed down, passing the pharmacy’s entrance and stopping on the other side. She jumped down from the carriage, lowered her head slightly, and walked straight in, lifting the thick door curtain.
Moments later, she emerged wearing a snow-cyan cotton cloak and carrying two packages of medicine. She climbed into the carriage. The balding doctor, now wearing the bamboo hat and straw cape she had brought, came out shortly after, slouched onto the driver’s seat, cracked the whip, and took on the role of driver.
The original carriage driver, due to his status, had never seen Mei Lin, which allowed for this switch. It wasn’t until more than two hours later that the driver realized something was amiss, by which time the pair had already passed through North Jing’s city gate and were traveling on the official road heading south. Before leaving, the doctor had left a letter in the room, expressing his homesickness and stating that his business was concluded, thus making their departure seem above board.
Mei Lin kept the charcoal stove burning brightly. Although the carriage was somewhat drafty, it was still warm inside. Once they passed the city gate, she switched places with the doctor, letting him ride inside while she drove, wearing the straw cape and hat. If not for her promise to help him cultivate jade and her desire to have him remove the poison from her body, she might have left on her own.
Due to her previous experience with jade cultivation, she had paid special attention to how the internal energy flowed through the meridians and jade. Gradually, she learned to control the surging internal force within her body. Although she couldn’t yet wield it as easily as moving her arms, at least she no longer feared being overwhelmed by it. Therefore, her greatest wish now was to eliminate the poison that bound her.
Snoring sounds came from inside the carriage, indicating that the doctor, having risen early, had fallen asleep due to the monotony of the journey and his inability to converse with Mei Lin.
Mei Lin’s earlier unease had completely dissipated. She smiled slightly and cracked the whip in the air with a loud snap. Although it didn’t touch the horse, it still made it run faster.
Initially, she followed the official road, but after about twenty li, they encountered a fork, and she turned off onto a side path.
Once the initial tension of escape faded and the cold wind and snow cleared her head, she became more alert. Over the past few months, she had unknowingly learned many of Murong Jinghe’s hidden facets. Not long ago, he had used the excuse of being lovingly entangled with her to stay indoors, but in reality, he had secretly left North Jing, barely making it back before Muye Luomei could break down the door. This knowledge alone was enough to warrant her death ten times over. Although he had told her not to let him see her again, how could he allow her to leave alive?
The more she thought about it, the colder her heart grew. She instinctively became more cautious, avoiding the main roads and heading into the remote mountain areas. Even if it meant taking a detour of several hundred li, it was better than traveling exposed on the main road.
At noon, they stopped to rest in a sizable village, fed the horse, bought some food and warm clothing, asked for directions, and continued their journey. They spent the night in a small town. After two days of meandering east and west, with no one pursuing them, they finally relaxed, slowed their pace, and began to find their way towards the Central Provinces.
The old doctor, sitting inside the carriage, was relatively warm but struggled with the constant travel due to his age. However, he didn’t complain as much as usual, only occasionally grumbling when snow and wind gusted into the carriage. Mei Lin paid it no mind.
One afternoon, a sudden blizzard forced them to seek shelter in a nearby village. Surprisingly, despite its small size, the village had an inn. Later, they discovered that this was a shortcut frequently used by travelers from northern cities heading to Ye City in the south, which they had stumbled upon by chance.
In the heavy snow, there were no travelers on the road. It took a long time of knocking before someone finally came to open the inn’s door.
The man looked like a country bumpkin, or perhaps a waiter, but he could have been the innkeeper. He hugged his clothes against the draft while squinting lazily at the two people standing outside. When he saw the doctor’s clothes from the prince’s residence and the carriage behind them, his eyes immediately widened, gleaming with interest.
“Oh, honored guests, please come in, come in…” he said, shouting over his shoulder, “Qizi, go unload the guests’ carriage and take the horse to the back. Take good care of it.” He spoke slowly, and seeing that the two didn’t object, he knew they intended to stay, becoming even more enthusiastic.
“Traveling in such heavy snow must be tiring,” he said casually, his gaze falling on Mei Lin as she removed her bamboo hat and straw cape, shaking off the snow. Noticing her beautiful features, he couldn’t help but look twice, his face breaking into an uncontrollable smile as he turned to greet the balding doctor.
The doctor maintained his lazy demeanor, sitting spread-legged by the stove and pulling out his pipe.
“Who told us, father and child, to have such hard luck, rushing like this just to get home before the new year?” he replied to the man while yawning so hard tears came to his eyes. Although he had slept a lot in the carriage, the constant jolting had made his sleep restless and left him more tired. “Innkeeper, give us two of your best rooms.”
“Certainly! Please warm yourselves by the fire and let me know if you need anything to eat,” the innkeeper said happily before turning to the back room.
Mei Lin sat down, watching the man’s excited retreat with confusion.
For dinner, they had a stew of sauerkraut, pork, and noodles, bubbling away in a clay pot on the stove. With some strong liquor and a few steamed buns, it warmed them from head to toe, leaving them comfortably drowsy. After eating, sleep overcame them, and they retired to their rooms, falling asleep on the heated kang beds without even washing their faces or feet. The kang was very hot, and as soon as they lay down, they began snoring loudly.
Not long after, there was a light tapping at the door.
“Guest, guest, I’ve brought you some hot water,” came the innkeeper’s muffled voice from outside. The person on the kang remained oblivious, turning over in deep sleep.
The next moment, something slipped through the door crack, reflecting the snow light from the window. It deftly unlocked the latch, and the door opened. A hand quickly caught the falling latch before it could make a sound.
“Boss, you said we’d only take their money, not their lives,” a hushed voice said, filled with unease.
“Shut up, who’s taking lives? I’m getting you a wife, Little Qizi,” the innkeeper’s voice scolded irritably as the light from an oil lamp spilled into the room.
The innkeeper entered, holding a long knife. He straightened his back, suddenly appearing much more imposing and menacing. Behind him, carrying the oil lamp, was a boy of fifteen or sixteen, his thin frame hesitating as if reluctant to enter.
The innkeeper didn’t bother with the bundle on the table, instead walking straight to the kang, clearly more interested in the person sleeping there than in the luggage. However, just as he was about to lift the quilt, it suddenly flipped over, enveloping him completely. He felt a numbness in his waist and found himself unable to move.
The boy holding the oil lamp reacted with surprising quickness. Sensing something was wrong, he threw the lamp and twisted his body, his foot pushing off the just-closed door as he shot like an arrow toward the person leaping up from the bed.
The oil lamp arced through the air, but Mei Lin swatted it away before it could hit her. However, the light briefly illuminated her face. The boy let out a surprised “Eh?”, suddenly halting his charge mid-air and flipping to land on the ground.
The oil lamp crashed to the floor and went out with a “puff.”
Mei Lin was prepared for an attack but hadn’t expected the attacker to stop halfway. Just as she was about to strike first, she heard an incredulous yet joyful cry.
“Sister?”
Her heart skipped a beat. That voice… that form of address… could it be that fool Yue Qin?
Before she could confirm, there was another “puff,” and the room lit up again. The boy had lit a fire stick from his pocket. The firelight revealed Yue Qin’s handsome face.
“Sister, sister, it’s me!” The young man bounced over, gesticulating wildly, unsure how to express his joy. The fire stick waved about in the air with his movements, its light flickering.
Mei Lin couldn’t help but smile as she got down to pick up the oil lamp. Yue Qin, realizing he had gotten carried away, scratched his head embarrassedly and went to light the lamp.
Just then, the door creaked open, and the balding doctor’s head poked in.
When they saw the innkeeper’s expression, both Mei Lin and the doctor sensed something was amiss. The doctor was no ordinary person; how could a little knockout drug escape his notice? Mei Lin was even less afraid. So they had enjoyed their meal heartily, then slept peacefully, waiting for the thieves to fall into their trap. Fortunately, the thieves came quickly; otherwise, Mei Lin couldn’t guarantee she would have stayed awake. She never imagined that Yue Qin would be here, and as a bandit no less.
Now she realized that the innkeeper hadn’t been calling “Qizi,” but “Qinzi.”
After this unexpected encounter, the four of them sat around the blazing stove, chatting casually.
The balding doctor, having been quiet for several days, was now in high spirits and no longer tired. He regaled the innkeeper with tales, from the grand Prince’s residence of North Jing to the chickens he raised at home, leaving nothing out.
The innkeeper, named Zheng San, was intimidated by these two and, though annoyed, didn’t dare listen. He could only respond with occasional “mm-hmm”s and “ah”s, his gaze constantly drawn to Mei Lin as she listened to Yue Qin. He lamented inwardly that such a pretty young woman was mute, but then, remembering her skills, any lustful thoughts quickly withered.
When Yue Qin discovered that Mei Lin couldn’t speak, he was genuinely dejected for a long time, to the point where Mei Lin had to comfort him. Although he eventually smiled again, his eyes still couldn’t hide his sadness.
“Sister, I followed your instructions and waited for you in Lu City, the closest city to Zhao Jing,” he said, getting up to pour tea for everyone from the kettle boiling on the stove before sitting down again. “I found work as a laborer in a restaurant there, hoping every day that you’d come find me.”
Mei Lin’s face warmed slightly, feeling both guilty and touched. She thought that she could never tell this innocent young man that she had never actually intended to find him. Regardless of her reasons, they weren’t enough to face such sincerity.
Yue Qin had indeed waited patiently for Mei Lin in Lu City until wanted posters with her portrait were plastered all over the city’s gathering places, big and small. At that point, he panicked and began searching for news of her everywhere. When he learned that she had been captured and sent to North Jing, he immediately left Lu City, intending to find a way to rescue her in North Jing.
However, when he arrived in North Jing, he couldn’t find a trace of information about her. He didn’t know if she was in North Jing’s prison or the prince’s residence, let alone how to rescue her single-handedly. Just as he was at a loss, he encountered Zheng San and his brothers, who had come to North Jing to purchase goods. Zheng San had fallen victim to a pickpocket, and Yue Qin, with his agile movements, helped chase down the thief. That’s how they met. Only after going back with them did he realize they were a group of mountain bandits. They promised to help him rescue her, so he joined them.
After hearing Yue Qin’s account, Mei Lin couldn’t help but tap his head, her eyes full of disapproval. How could people like them, mere mountain bandits, hope to deal with someone like Murong Jinghe?
Yue Qin, far from being annoyed by the tap, became cheerful. He grinned and took Mei Lin’s hand, wanting to express relief at her safety. Suddenly remembering her muteness, his face fell.
“Sister…” His eyes reddened as he tried to comfort her, but found himself more distressed before he could speak.
Zheng San, watching from the side, grew envious seeing Yue Qin dare to hold Mei Lin’s hand. As he was about to make a sarcastic remark, the sound of hoofbeats suddenly came from outside. As he wondered about this, he noticed Mei Lin’s face change slightly as she stood up.
Balitou sighed deeply, leaning back in his chair and puffing on his pipe without further comment.
As Yue Qin was about to ask what was happening, a loud “bang” resounded as the main door was forcefully shattered.
Snow and wind rushed in unimpeded through the doorway, making it difficult to keep one’s eyes open. Murong Jinghe, clad in a black sable cloak and covered in snow, entered slowly with a cold expression, like a god of death.
It turned out that when Murong Jinghe received news of Mei Lin and Doctor Balitou leaving North Jing, Mu Ye Luomei was trying to persuade him to lead troops against the enemy.
“Forget about how the Emperor has favored you so much, and you show no gratitude. As a man of Da Yan, how can you hide in North Jing while strong enemies invade? How will you face the people of the world?” No matter how Mu Ye Luomei reasoned or analyzed the situation, Murong Jinghe remained indifferent, even poking at sweet potatoes roasting by the fire. Finally, Mu Ye Luomei lost her temper and berated him sharply.
Murong Jinghe accidentally pierced the skin of a sweet potato with his fire tongs, releasing a tempting aroma. He sniffed, suddenly realizing he had never tasted Mei Lin’s roasted sweet potatoes, though he was tired of wild yams and mountain potatoes.
“Murong Jinghe…” Mu Ye Luomei, who had been admiring plum blossoms by the window, felt her anger surge. She was about to stride over and overturn the fire basin to fully capture his attention.
“Marry me.”
These four short words froze her in place.
“Marry me. As soon as the wedding is over, I’ll go to Zhaojing to request permission to go to war.” Murong Jinghe slowly raised his head and spoke calmly, though a hint of nervousness flickered in his dark eyes. Although confident, his obsession with Mu Ye Luomei had become a habit, and her answer still mattered greatly to him.
Mu Ye Luomei came to her senses, her beautiful face slightly flushed, yet incredulous.
“Are you mad? Do you realize what time it is?”
Murong Jinghe wasn’t surprised by her reaction, but he couldn’t help feeling disappointed. He laughed softly, his gaze falling on the snowflakes outside.
“Ten years ago, you said you couldn’t settle down while the barbarians remained. So I gave you five years. But when the borders became peaceful and neighboring countries came to pay tribute, you started to distance yourself from me. Though I, Murong Jinghe may be unworthy, heaven and earth can attest to my feelings for you. This time, I demand a clear answer from you, or we’ll end this discussion altogether.” By the end, his voice had become extremely stern.
Mu Ye Luomei initially felt guilty hearing his heartfelt words, her attitude softening and her eyes even showing tenderness. However, upon hearing his final threatening statement, her expression changed and she laughed coldly: “Have you forgotten how you’ve spent these five years since becoming a prince? Why should I, Mu Ye Luomei, lower myself to marry a man who spends his days in debauchery, drinking, and womanizing? If you were a true man, why not drive out the foreign enemies before talking to me about this?”
Drive out the foreign enemies… Murong Jinghe smiled self-mockingly. By then, he’d likely be discarded like a hunting dog after the cunning rabbit is caught. If they missed this chance, they might never be together.
“If you don’t agree, feel free to return to the capital or go to the southern frontier.” He set aside the well-roasted sweet potato to cool and dusted off his hands. He was about to say more when he noticed Qing Yan hesitating outside, frowning, “What is it?”
Relieved that Murong Jinghe finally noticed him, Qing Yan entered with a slight bow, presenting the letter Balitou had left with both hands.
Murong Jinghe glanced suspiciously at Qing Yan’s nervous expression and pulled out the inner page. It was a light yellow paper typically used for prescriptions, with just a few simple words.
It was merely about that doctor leaving, which was fine by him; he had long disliked that bald head. Murong Jinghe thought to himself, about to chide Qing Yan for overreacting when he suddenly remembered something, his face darkening.
“Where is she?” That woman lived with Balitou, and Balitou chose this time to leave… The more he thought about it, the more ominous it seemed. He stood up abruptly.
“My lord…” Qing Yan discreetly wiped away cold sweat, staring fixedly at his toes with the composure unique to a eunuch. “Miss Mei Lin was not seen.”
“What do you mean she wasn’t seen?” Murong Jinghe raged, crumpling the envelope and letter into a ball and throwing it into the charcoal fire. The fire flared up brightly, much like his current temper.
Qing Yan’s downcast face showed no expression, but inwardly he thought, “Young miss, you’re courting death.”
“Issue orders immediately to seal the entire city. Allow entry but no exit!” Murong Jinghe said through gritted teeth. “Then have my men search house by house. I refuse to believe she can escape to the heavens.”
Qing Yan acknowledged the order and was about to leave when Murong Jinghe called him back: “Prepare my horse and have the Tiger Wing Seventeen Riders wait at the gate.” With that, he made to leave.
“Murong Jinghe, what’s happened? Where are you going?” Mu Ye Luomei surprised that he would leave because of a letter while they were in the middle of an important conversation, quickly stepped forward and grabbed him, asking with concern.
Seeing his chance, Qing Yan hurried to the inner room to fetch the great cloak.
As if suddenly remembering there was another person in the room, Murong Jinghe suppressed the indescribable anger and panic in his chest. Striving to remain calm, he turned his head stiffly and asked, “I’ll ask you one more time: will you marry me or not?”
Mu Ye Luomei was a proud person who didn’t want to rush into marriage under duress. However, she did have feelings for Murong Jinghe; otherwise, she wouldn’t have avoided entanglements with others for so many years. Touched by his declaration of love, she didn’t outright refuse but softened her tone slightly: “Can we discuss this after you’ve calmed down?”
Hearing this, Murong Jinghe felt disheartened. Preoccupied with Mei Lin’s situation, he no longer wished to argue. He laughed coldly, “The wedding preparations are almost complete. If you won’t marry me, others are willing to be my wife.”
Mu Ye Luomei, immune to both soft and hard approaches, changed color at his words. She abruptly withdrew her hand and returned his cold laugh with a sneer, “Then go find a woman willing to marry you.”
“That’s exactly what I intend to do.” Murong Jinghe gave her a long, deep look, his eyes freezing over. He suddenly turned and strode out into the wind and snow.
That woman had abandoned him again. How dare she… Did she think he couldn’t control her? Did she believe he would allow a second Mu Ye Luomei to exist in this world? In his anger, Murong Jinghe failed to notice that he had already placed Mei Lin on equal footing with Mu Ye Luomei.
Qing Yan, who had been standing by like an invisible man, hurriedly followed, draping the great cloak over Murong Jinghe while calling people to carry out his orders.
Mu Ye Luomei stood rooted to the spot, watching their silhouettes gradually swallowed by the swirling snow. She clenched her fists, her beautiful eyes dimming. In truth, she didn’t believe he would marry another woman; he was just trying to upset her. But using such tactics was rather childish. He was always like this, his frivolous behavior making it impossible to entrust oneself to him.
She had waited a full five years. If not to marry him, who else would she marry? She only wanted him to show some ambition. Was that so wrong?
Murong Jinghe, his eyes cold and stern, left Qing Yan to handle affairs at the prince’s mansion. He led the Tiger Wing Seventeen Riders out through the south city gate, following the official road in hot pursuit.
After a period of intense riding, the cold wind and biting snow gradually calmed his boiling emotions, allowing reason to return. As he rode without stopping, he mentally reviewed the terrain of North Jing, along with the complex network of roads, large and small, and the strategic passes in the surrounding areas.
Although he had been under house arrest in the capital since becoming a prince, he still had people reporting on the situation here at regular intervals. The map of the North Jing area had been so frequently handled that even the writing on it had become blurred.
Finally, he fixed his gaze on Ye City. Balitou had mentioned going home in his letter, and Murong Jinghe remembered his men had caught them in Anyang, so they must be heading south.
From north to south, whether taking the official road or shortcuts, they would have to pass through Ye City. The city’s unique terrain, flanked by cloud-piercing mountains, formed a natural barrier between north and south. Bypassing it in this snowy weather was impossible. Rather than wasting time chasing that woman skilled in evading pursuit on the road, it would be better to reach Ye City first and wait for them. As long as they were in a hurry to leave North Jing within these few days, they would inevitably come to him. And if they chose to linger in the countryside… well, this was his territory. How could she escape him?
After a day and a half of hard riding, Ye City loomed into view. They hadn’t seen any sign of the two along the way, indicating they hadn’t taken the official road.
Using his status as the Prince of North Jing, he imperiously took over the Ye City Garrison Command and ordered the entire city to be on high alert, strictly examining all travelers. On the third day after leaving North Jing, as he reclined on warm pillows in the Garrison Command, waiting for his prey to fall into the net, he received a message from Qing Yan.
The message was nothing more than a half-drawn route map.
Upon seeing it, he couldn’t help but reveal a wry smile. He immediately got up, leaving two riders to continue waiting in Ye City while he led the remaining fifteen to a bandit hideout half a day’s ride away.
This hideout had originally been an ordinary village, but due to its strategic location, it had been coveted by a group of mountain bandits who eventually occupied it, using it to rob travelers seeking shortcuts. He had always known about it but hadn’t ordered his advisors managing North Jing to eliminate it. When he lacked freedom, it wasn’t wise for his fief to appear too peaceful and prosperous.
It turned out that Qing Yan hadn’t been idle after Murong Jinghe’s departure. While sealing off the entire city and dispatching men to track Mei Lin and her companion, he also had to placate the increasingly ill-tempered Mu Ye Luomei. Even with three heads and six arms, he would have been overwhelmed. Moreover, given the unstable situation, the sooner Murong Jinghe returned, the better. Therefore, Qing Yan dared not hold back any effort.
He compiled the daily tracking clues into a map, and by the second evening, seeing the direction the route indicated, he sighed but dared not delay, immediately sending someone to deliver it to Ye City. It must be said that Qing Yan’s position as Murong Jinghe’s confidant was no accident; at least in understanding his thoughts and methods, he was unparalleled.
Although the route on the map initially zigzagged, sometimes even doubling back, making it difficult to discern the true destination, by the second evening, it unmistakably pointed towards the bandit village.
Thus, Mei Lin was unaware that their arrival at the village had been predicted even before they reached it. As they entered the village, fully engaged in dealing with the suspicious inn, Murong Jinghe was leading his men through the blizzard into the village, silently taking control of all the bandits.
“A room,” Murong Jinghe demanded as he entered the unobstructed doorway of the inn, ignoring the various expressions on the faces around him. He brushed the snow from his clothes and spoke in a deep voice.
Though everyone could see his simmering anger, aside from initially shattering the door, he showed no other signs of it.
Zheng San eyed him warily, unsure how to handle the situation. Before he could deliberate too long, Murong Jinghe had already approached, unfastening his cloak while glancing at him. Zheng San shuddered and quickly stood up, making way. Yue Qin also rose, but Balitou remained seated, puffing on his pipe with an air of nonchalance.
“G-guest, j-just one person?” Zheng San stammered.
Murong Jinghe looked at no one, merely surveying the room, which was neither spacious nor too cramped. He then called out to those outside, “All of you, come in.” As he spoke, he removed his cloak.
Mei Lin flustered, instinctively reached out to take it, but he avoided her hand and tossed it to Yue Qin, who looked delighted. At the same time, over a dozen robust men, also wearing black sable cloaks, entered one after another. They had already shaken off the snow at the door. Upon entering, they merely bowed to Murong Jinghe before removing their cloaks and finding places to sit. Despite their numbers, only the sound of rustling clothes could be heard.
Zheng San, stunned by the scene, remained rooted to the spot.
Murong Jinghe, now seated, frowned at Zheng San’s inaction. “Light the stove for my brothers here and bring out whatever food you have,” he ordered. Glancing at the snow still blowing fiercely into the hall, he suddenly regretted his initial rashness and added, “Find a board to seal off the door.”
“Oh, oh, yes… yes…” Zheng San snapped back to reality and tugged at Yue Qin. “Qin-zi, come help.”
Yue Qin, both surprised and delighted to see Murong Jinghe again, had been staring at him with bright, eager eyes, wanting to speak but hesitating due to the circumstances. He had taken a few steps, pulled by Zheng San, before coming to his senses. Just as he was about to agree, Murong Jinghe suddenly turned his head.
“Yue Qin, stay.”
At his words, two of the men who had removed their cloaks, revealing blue brocade robes embroidered with gold thread and silver tigers, immediately stood up to assist Zheng San. This left Zheng San both terrified and unable to resist casting curious, envious glances at the two men.
Ignoring them, Murong Jinghe turned his attention to Yue Qin, gesturing for him to sit.
Yue Qin, awed by Murong Jinghe’s imposing presence now that he was fully conscious, couldn’t help but feel a surge of admiration. He grinned at Murong Jinghe, brimming with questions. He wanted to ask how Murong Jinghe knew his name, how he had recovered, why he had come here, and more. With so many questions, he didn’t know where to begin.
“Foolish boy,” Balitou seemed unable to bear Yue Qin’s dumbstruck expression. Shaking his head, he tucked his pipe into his waist and cupped his hands towards Murong Jinghe. “Your Highness, please make yourself comfortable. I’m off to bed.” Without waiting for a response, he walked away with his hands behind his back, swaying with each step.
Murong Jinghe’s eyes darkened, but he didn’t look at Balitou. Instead, he glanced briefly at the woman standing motionless with downcast eyes, lost in thought. Suddenly, he reached out and pulled her into his arms. Under Yue Qin’s startled gaze, he subtly suppressed her reflexive struggle while explaining with a gentle smile, “She is my bride-to-be.”
With these words, he successfully froze the woman in his arms and caused the naive young man’s bright black eyes to widen in disbelief. Though finding it somewhat incredible, Yue Qin couldn’t help but feel happy for them both.
(End of Chun Hua Yan – Chapter)