Chapter 38: Can’t Out-Flirt This
Wan Yunliu finally went home. Lord and Lady Wan were overjoyed, happier than they were during the New Year. Wan Yunliu had made a name for himself, and Lady Wan was so excited she wanted to tell everyone how amazing and capable her son was. But since they were a prominent family, she could only express her joy to acquaintances.
A welcome banquet was naturally held, and it was incredibly grand.
Li Jianyu was inevitably on the guest list. Lady Wan knew that her son had liked this beautiful and delicate City Lord since he was a child. Thinking that if the two could get married, it would be a hundred benefits and no harm to the Wan manor, she naturally did her best to set them up, chattering with Li Jianyu all night.
The main hall was bustling and noisy, with guests coming and going to toast and exchange pleasantries. Lady Wan and Li Jianyu sat at the main table, talking.
“Our boy is really good. Don’t look at him as just a martial artist, but he’s definitely gentle to his wife! He’s also very considerate.”
Li Jianyu responded with a word here and there, his eyes wandering, his mind long gone.
Zhao Linxu had left this morning.
Now, only he and Meng Qingshu were left in Luoye Garden, just like before. Zhao Linxu had left with Zhao Zhanqi and Xue Ni, so the North-South army had also left with them.
Chen Zhishu had taken Zhao Jiangxue back to the imperial capital. Early in the morning, Li Jianyu and Meng Qingshu had gone to see them off. Meng Qingshu and Chen Zhishu were reluctant to part. Chen Zhishu said he would definitely come back to find him and told him not to be sad. Meng Qingshu said he would definitely write often. The two of them were very sweet. In contrast, Li Jianyu and Zhao Linxu were speechless. Besides a “take care,” they didn’t know what else to say.
“Jianyu?”
“Jianyu!”
Li Jianyu was stunned. He came back to his senses and saw Wan Yunliu standing in front of him, looking at him with concern.
“What’s wrong, Jianyu? You don’t look well.” Wan Yunliu patted his mother’s shoulder, telling her to stop talking for a moment, and then said to Li Jianyu, “It’s noisy and stuffy here. Why don’t I take you back first?”
Li Jianyu looked around and then nodded.
He had never liked lively places, and now, because of his stomach, he was even less comfortable in such a scene. His head was a little dizzy, so he had wanted to leave early.
Wan Yunliu escorted Li Jianyu out of the manor gate, insisted on calling a carriage for him, and even wanted to accompany him back to Luoye Garden.
The carriage rumbled along on the snowy ground. Li Jianyu lifted the window curtain, wanting some fresh air to circulate, and snowflakes drifted into the carriage.
“Thank you,” Li Jianyu said, knowing that Wan Yunliu was helping him out of a difficult situation.
“It’s no matter,” Wan Yunliu said with a grin.
Li Jianyu paused for a moment, then couldn’t help but repeat, “I can really go back by myself.”
“Jianyu… I want to talk to you.”
There was some distance between the Wan manor and Luoye Garden. I can speak slowly, Wan Yunliu thought.
“I know I can’t compare to His Majesty, and it was my fault back then.”
Li Jianyu couldn’t help but interject, “It wasn’t your fault. I never had any intention of asking you to stay. Besides, even if you had stayed, it wouldn’t have changed anything.”
“Jianyu, you’re really direct. That’s more hurtful than you being angry with me,” Wan Yunliu said with a bitter smile, rubbing his nose. “But whether it changed anything or not, I still lost to him. I can’t get your favor no matter what. However, not accepting me is your business, and continuing to like you is my business.”
Huh?
Li Jianyu raised an eyebrow.
“I will still protect you in the future. If you need me, I will definitely be there. This time, I will definitely not neglect you for other things. I will wait for you. If you and His Majesty don’t get along, I will always be here. And if you and His Majesty live happily ever after, then just pretend I don’t exist.”
Wan Yunliu’s heart was sour.
He was sincere when he said he wanted to marry Li Jianyu. He admitted he had ambition, but leaving Luoye City to go to the Arrogant Dragon Gang was more for Li Jianyu. He had thought that after he returned, he would be able to make Li Jianyu look at him in a new light. Who knew that there was someone else by Li Jianyu’s side, and they even had a child.
Wan Yunliu did not regret his choice, but he was still disappointed.
Li Jianyu didn’t know how to reply. After a while, he said in a low voice, “You don’t need to do this for someone who can’t repay you.”
“It’s not for you, it’s for myself,” Wan Yunliu said with a sigh, lowering his head. “Just let me do this. Besides, His Majesty even asked me to take care of you before he left.”
Li Jianyu’s eyes widened.
“He came to see you?”
“You didn’t know?” Wan Yunliu shook his head with a smile. “He specially came to the Wan manor to visit, saying that he wanted me to take good care of you while he was away.”
Li Jianyu stared blankly at the hands on his lap.
Zhao Linxu…
Zhao Linxu, Zhao Linxu, this person…
Why was he so annoying!
Li Jianyu gritted his teeth.
What was he supposed to do?
XXXXXX
The forest was covered in white snow, a vast expanse of white. On the official road surrounded by the forest, a team of horses was slowly moving forward. Zhao Linxu and Zhao Zhanqi were riding at the front of the team, with a carriage behind them.
The person sitting in the carriage was Xue Ni, whose wound had not yet healed.
At this moment, they were heading for the border.
Because the North-South army was large, the team moved a little slowly. Zhao Linxu and Zhao Zhanqi rode side by side for a while. Zhao Zhanqi smiled. “Everyone here is my man. Is Your Majesty not worried at all being here alone?”
“When you use someone, don’t doubt them. If you doubt them, don’t use them. Since you have sworn an oath to Us, and We have also allowed you to keep your title as the General of the North and South, why can’t We accept the escort and protection of the North-South army with a clear conscience?”
Zhao Zhanqi’s lips curled.
Fine.
Zhao Linxu said, “The Imperial Preceptor is also on his way to the border. He will probably arrive before us. Does your deputy general in the border camp know?”
Zhao Zhanqi nodded.
The common people had always held a sense of awe for these demons, ghosts, and mythical beasts. This time, with the Taotie causing trouble and so many people dying, it had long since caused a panic, with people saying that the gods were angry. At a time like this, it was most appropriate to have the Imperial Preceptor, who was known as a divine messenger, go and calm the people’s hearts. Dan Xi would surely have his own way to stop the rumors.
As the two were talking, they saw a scout from the front ride back to report, “Reporting to Your Majesty and the General, at the nearest watchtower, a man claiming to be the third Princess Consort of the Great Xi is blocking our way on horseback, saying he wants to see His Majesty.”
Zhao Linxu asked, “Is he alone?”
“He has a few guards behind him, and the scouts have also noticed that he has shadow guards by his side.”
Zhao Linxu nodded.
It seemed that Feng Ju Qianli had sent Chong Xi to go with him to the border to help. After all, Chong Xi and Feng Ju Qianli understood the Taotie better than the Great Gong and could offer them advice. Besides, sending Chong Xi was also a sign of their trust in the alliance.
“We know. Don’t harm him.”
“Yes.”
When they arrived at the watchtower for supplies, they indeed saw Chong Xi, dressed in a water-blue robe, waiting with his horse in a shady spot. Chong Xi was also holding a small wolf cub, which he had probably picked up on the way.
“Greetings, Your Majesty. Ah… this must be the famous General of the North and South!”
Zhao Zhanqi was slightly stunned when he saw Chong Xi clearly, then he came back to his senses, nodded, and cupped his fists. “It is I.”
“Qianli sent me to help you kill the Taotie and provide you with intelligence,” Chong Xi said. “Please give me your guidance.”
Chong Xi had originally wanted to follow them on horseback, but Zhao Linxu had insisted on getting him a carriage so he could travel comfortably.
After Chong Xi fell asleep in the carriage, Zhao Linxu couldn’t help but say to Zhao Zhanqi, “He looks very similar, right?”
Zhao Linxu hadn’t missed the surprise and flicker of astonishment on Zhao Zhanqi’s face when he first met Chong Xi.
“Yes.”
Zhao Zhanqi frowned slightly. Chong Xi’s eyes and brows were somewhat similar to the Zhao Linqing of the past. Especially his eyes, which were like a vast ocean, with lively, distinct waves and an unfathomable bottom, exactly like the Zhao Linqing of the past.
But Zhao Linqing had long since died in a fire. Zhao Jiangxue could testify to that.
Zhao Zhanqi said, “It’s probably a coincidence. There are always a few people in the world who look similar.”
“Probably. Otherwise, it’s impossible. It was Us who was overthinking.”
After saying this, Zhao Linxu suddenly realized something and let out a low laugh.
He and Zhao Zhanqi had been fighting for so many years, but now they could actually ride side by side, chatting on the way. There was no deliberate sarcasm or ridicule, no hidden barbs.
Although there was an unavoidable awkwardness and reasonable wariness between the two, it was already not easy. It was strangely harmonious.
Bang—
Just as Zhao Linxu was lost in thought, a firework suddenly exploded in mid-air. It was a golden signal flare.
Huh?
This was…
Zhao Linxu’s eyes widened, somewhat in disbelief.
Then he heard a “crash” from a distance, like something heavy falling to the ground.
Someone came to ask Zhao Linxu if he needed to send a small team and scouts to investigate, but Zhao Linxu shook his head.
“Don’t act rashly and don’t follow! Zhao Zhanqi, you lead everyone forward first. I will catch up with you on horseback later.”
After saying this, Zhao Zhanqi saw Zhao Linxu turn his horse and charge into the forest at the side, a hint of excitement on his face.
What was going on?
Zhao Zhanqi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
And in the forest, Zhao Linxu followed the sound and the signal to an open space and saw a golden phoenix desperately squeezing its massive body into the open space so that its master could get off its back.
The phoenix had snapped the branches and grass at the side, and the green grass under its feet had withered and turned black from the high temperature.
Zhao Linxu stood to the side, staring blankly as Li Jianyu leaped off the phoenix. Li Jianyu had a pack on his shoulder, was dressed in practical travel clothes, and his long hair was tied up high, looking extremely handsome.
“Little Carp…”
Why had Little Carp come…
“I made it,” Li Jianyu said with a smile, touching the black hair by his ear. “I lost.”
