That night, Xin Mei was wrapped in blankets by Lu Qianqiao and rolled around in bed all night. When they woke up the next day, both their faces were somewhat pale and their spirits low.
When Si Lan came in to deliver hot water, his face alternated between red and green, his expression looking as if he planned to gouge out his own eyes.
“General, General Bai rushed back to the capital overnight to request an audience with His Majesty about retiring to his hometown.”
Yesterday they had been making such a commotion all day that they hadn’t paid attention to others’ reactions within Jiaping Pass—this was truly inappropriate. Think about it: first, the Emperor forcibly sent over a half-dead general to steal credit, then they were tormented nearly to death by the suddenly mad general. Before they could catch their breath from that ordeal, the general’s mother forcibly broke into Jiaping Pass, brazenly fighting with her son as if no one else existed, reducing nearly half the tents in the pass to dust…
General Bai’s fragile heart couldn’t withstand such tremendous pressure. That very night, he tearfully removed his armor and returned to the capital to request retirement—this was absolutely human nature.
Lu Qianqiao expressed understanding: “I see.”
Si Lan watched him rise with a pale face, his thin robe sliding from his shoulders, revealing his bare chest marked with suggestive red traces. His nose and chin also bore similarly suggestive wounds, and worse still, his mouth corner was broken. Si Lan couldn’t help but glare viciously at Xin Mei, who was still wrapped in blankets like a silkworm, only her head visible as she looked back at him innocently with wide eyes.
Detestable! He knew this girl was no good! How could she be so wolfish with the general’s first night! Moreover… moreover, the general had just awakened during the day and fought a great battle with Li Chaoyang—how could she have the nerve to force herself on him that very evening?!
“…I’ll change a bucket of hot water for you. Please bathe in peace.”
Si Lan tearfully carried out the basin of hot water he had just brought in.
Lu Qianqiao shook his head: “No need. Si Lan, return to the Imperial Tomb and handle something for me.”
“Please give your orders, General.”
Lu Qianqiao’s expression was somewhat unnatural, carrying a trace of embarrassment. He cleared his throat softly before slowly saying, “You go back… well, arrange a wedding. Red paper, bridal sedan, and such… not a single thing can be missing.”
Si Lan looked up in astonishment, not quite understanding. Arrange a wedding? Whose wedding?
Lu Qianqiao handed over a piece of paper: “These are mine and Xin Mei’s measurements. Go order wedding attire and phoenix crown.”
Si Lan’s eyes widened. The general wanted to marry that little demon star again?! Weren’t they already husband and wife, having been wed by imperial decree?! Could it be… could it be that because of last night’s activities, the general felt guilty toward that girl, so he…
“Go.” Lu Qianqiao didn’t wish to say more and rose to put on his outer robe.
Si Lan left with a pale face.
Lu Qianqiao arranged his hair and looked back at Xin Mei on the bed. She hadn’t spoken the entire time, only rolling her eyes to watch him.
He thought for a moment and spoke earnestly: “Still… wait until after the wedding.”
Xin Mei’s face pouted again: “We’re already married.”
“That doesn’t count.”
“Stop talking nonsense—you just won’t do it.”
“…Xin Mei, I’m a man. I don’t want you to feel wronged.”
“I feel very wronged right now!”
Lu Qianqiao sighed and sat on the bedside, reaching out to touch her tender, soft cheek: “Xin Mei, stop making trouble.”
She bared her white teeth, glaring at him fiercely: “You’re the one who tied me up—you stop making trouble!”
Last night she had only nibbled him twice and hadn’t even harbored wicked thoughts when he couldn’t wait to release the demon-binding rope, directly tying her up from head to toe, then rolling her up in blankets, making her roll around all night as if she were a big bad wolf about to attack a pitiful little white rabbit! Was this some mistake?! Why were their positions always so confused?!
Lu Qianqiao remained completely unmoved: “If you stop making trouble, I’ll release you.”
“Hmph, I don’t want to bow to heaven and earth with you! You’ll never get to consummate this marriage!”
Clearly a little white rabbit, yet she always liked to imitate a big bad wolf’s snarling, revealing her adorable fierce expression. Lu Qianqiao patted her full forehead and withdrew the demon-binding rope. Xin Mei wriggled out of the blankets, her clothes and hair in complete disarray, and immediately jumped down from the bed to put on her shoes.
“I’m going back to my maternal home! Lu Qianqiao, you’re not allowed to come find me!”
She pushed open the window, glaring as she prepared to jump out.
“Xin Mei, come back.”
A gentle call filled with laughter.
She stopped, stubbornly refusing to turn around, crossing her arms and defiantly looking up at the sky.
“Be good, come back.”
…In the end, she obediently turned around and walked over.
He leaned against the headboard, eyebrows slightly raised, his expression gentle and smiling. Even those somewhat discordant red eyes didn’t look so frightening anymore. Before, he was like an unsheathed peerless blade—coldly brilliant and completely unapproachable. Now the blade was properly sheathed and no longer pointed at her, appearing much gentler, even possessing a trace of elegance.
Xin Mei felt his beauty was quite remarkable. Though it couldn’t compare to Zhang Dahu, whom she had first fancied for his manliness and rugged righteousness, he could still be considered one in a hundred.
“Sit down.” He pointed to the bed.
She obediently sat facing him, unable to resist extending her claws to pinch and touch his very attractive face.
Lu Qianqiao caught her wrist and smiled helplessly: “Turn around.”
She felt him take a wooden comb to brush her hair, the teeth gently scraping her scalp with a tingling sensation.
His voice was low and soft: “Not even combing your hair… does pulling hurt?”
She shook her head randomly.
His hair-combing movements were completely unskilled—slow, careful, and hopelessly clumsy. When encountering even slightly tangled spots, he would hesitate for ages, as if using the slightest force would tear off her scalp. Xin Mei opened her mouth to criticize this cautiousness, but for some reason, after opening her mouth, she couldn’t say anything.
His fingers were very warm, resting on her neck. Though motionless, that once strange and peculiar feeling returned.
Xin Mei raised her eyelashes in confusion, her little heart in her chest disobediently racing.
She wanted to… hug him, get closer to him, even closer. Not playfully nibbling him, but… but… she couldn’t clearly express what it was.