Chapter 143: Now You Guard Me

Gongshen Ling'er could not help but glance in the direction of Ji Wuqing and Zuoqiu Liye. She saw Ji Wuqing’s eyes, which appeared gentle yet held an air of detached indifference, while Zuoqiu Liye had already vanished without a trace.

"Your Majesty, are we not going to pursue them?" Qinghe asked from the side. Seeing them escape was hardly the King's style; shouldn't they be beating the fallen dog and pressing their advantage?

"No rush. Someone will pursue them," Ji Wuqing replied, the corners of his lips curling into a smile that held a trace of coldness.

Indeed, on the opposite bank of the Tan River, a man in full armor was already leading his troops. He seemed to glance in the direction where Xue Xue was before leading his forces in pursuit of Gongshen Ling'er.

Xue Xue tilted her head. Had she just felt Linyin's gaze?

As she stood lost in thought, Ji Wuqing walked to her side and wrapped her in his cloak. "Are you tired?" He knew that every time she used her supernatural arts, her body would grow weak.

"A little." Xue Xue leaned into his embrace and placed her hand over the back of his. She tilted her head and asked softly, "Are you alright?"

She felt something was strange. During the fight between Ziqing and Zuoqiu Liye, she had sensed a peculiar fluctuation. Was that something Zuoqiu Liye had unleashed, or Ziqing?

Ji Wuqing looked down at her and brushed a damp lock of hair from her forehead. "I am well. As long as Xue'er is by my side, I am perfectly fine."

His words seemed to carry a deeper meaning.

Before Xue Xue could probe further, he swept her up into his arms.

"Don't act so recklessly next time. I will worry."

"Mm," she responded, burying her face in his chest.

The woods were damp, likely from the recent rain.

Gongshen Ling'er and Elder Yue walked in the middle, while the guards in front used their blades to clear the dense foliage and weeds, reducing the moisture so they would not soak their robes again.

The group moved at a high speed, swift even in the pitch-black night.

"Elder Yue, is your hand alright?" Gongshen Ling'er remained worried about his hand; the force Ji Wuqing had used was not light, and he had caught it directly with his palm.

"It’s nothing, just a torn sleeve." He touched his cloud-patterned sleeve, which was ragged where it had been shredded by the jade flute.

He had not expected Ji Wuqing’s internal energy to have reached such a pinnacle of perfection, which left him somewhat startled.

"What is actually going on? Why have the Crown Prince of Dan and that Linyin suddenly turned to the side of the Ji Kingdom?" Were they not their allies?

"I fear they had long since formed an alliance with the Ji Kingdom, which is why they defected, leading to today’s situation," Elder Yue said slowly. "In the end, King Ji was simply more cunning. We underestimated them."

Underestimated the human heart...

"Is that so?" This scene felt like a betrayal of all sides. She wondered what state of mind Zuoqiu Liye was in now. "By the way, where did the King go?"

She suddenly realized this question. Zuoqiu Liye had abruptly vanished by the banks of the Tan River. Where could he have gone?

"Young Mistress, Elder, those behind us are likely to catch up soon," a guard reported.

The commotion behind them was significant, and the pursuers were clearly hostile and numerous.

"Young Mistress, the Gu insects you’ve been researching should come in handy now," Elder Yue said gently, as if the suggestion were not a malicious plot, but a harmless piece of advice.

In Tan City, although the fire had been brought under effective control in time, a portion of the houses had sustained damage, especially the thatched ones, which were burnt beyond recognition. However, the timely rain was unanimously praised by the townspeople, who believed it had been sent by the gods.

Ji Wuqing rode his horse to return Xue Xue to the Yishouli Mansion, as life in the military camp was inconvenient, and the mansion was not far away.

Xue Xue was indeed tired and drifted into a half-sleep in his arms. Ji Wuqing held her waist as he helped her off the horse. She leaned softly against him, wrapped in his cloak, but her exposed cheeks were flushed with a feverish heat.

Feeling her breathing grow rapid and the hot air escaping her lips, he quickened his pace. He carried her back to the bedroom and laid her gently on the bed. He pressed his hand to her forehead; it was quite hot, and her little face was as red as an apple.

He tapped her cheek lightly. "Xue'er."

Xue Xue felt a cool sensation on her cheek and nuzzled against it, finding it quite comfortable.

"It seems she is muddled with sleep." Seeing her so obedient and dazed, he couldn't help but curve his lips. He ordered hot water to be brought in, personally undressed her, wiped her body, and changed her into clean inner garments.

Finally, he tucked her into the warm quilt, and she drifted into a soft slumber.

After finishing, he sat by the bed and watched over her for a while. Finding her face still burning, he rose and left the room.

Qinghe was guarding outside; seeing him emerge, he hurried forward.

"Send someone to fetch Luohua," Ji Wuqing commanded, adding, "Tell Yu Bufan to manage the affairs in Tan City properly. If there are any issues, report them to me."

"Understood." Qinghe nodded and immediately went to see to it.

Before long, Luohua, dressed in pale green robes, entered the courtyard and was led by a maid into the Empress's bedchamber.

"You summoned me so late—has something happened to the Empress?" If Ji Wuqing himself were injured, he would never have allowed him into the bedchamber. This man preferred to lick his own wounds in private; how could he let himself be exposed in front of the Empress?

"She got caught in some rain. See if she needs to take any medicine." He was sitting by the bed, gently tucking the quilt around the person sleeping there before standing up.

"It seems to be a minor issue, yet you are so nervous," Luohua teased him. "The King Ji who was once only superficially gentle has now learned to cherish his Empress."

"It is not easy to find a beloved woman to grow old with, so I cherish her dearly." His words were sincere, his face filled with infinite tenderness. "So, when are you returning to the Cheng Kingdom? Your little Princess is likely missing you."

"Tsk, it sounds quite strange coming from you." Luohua looked at him, his refined, handsome face showing surprise. "However, King Ji has indeed become much gentler since falling in love; you even know how to care for my affairs now."

"You and I are long-time friends. How could I be the only one who knows the true meaning of cherishing one's beloved? That would be rather unkind." Ji Wuqing patted his shoulder, his smile undiminished.

Luohua smiled, then drew a conclusion regarding Xue Xue’s condition. "Rest assured, the Empress only has a slight cold, compounded by weakness. She does not need medicine; a good night's sleep will be enough. Set your heart at ease."

"Since you say so, I am indeed much relieved." Ji Wuqing nodded and walked out of the room with him.

"Speaking of which, you are the one who truly needs treatment," Luohua said once they were out of the room. "You exerted your internal energy today, and the toxins in your body have been exacerbated. Even the medicine I prepared for you can only provide relief. I do not know how long you can hold out. Are you prepared?"

"In any case, I won't die yet," Ji Wuqing said dismissively. "Only when the matter with the Wu Kingdom is settled will I have the leisure to seek the antidote."

"This is an opportunity. However, only the sacred medicine of the Wu Kingdom can cure the poison in your body. If the poison hadn't dragged on for so long, the Soul-Leaving Herb would not have been useless." Luohua nodded, unable to help but lecture him. "Ultimately, you should let your Empress keep you in check."

"..." Ji Wuqing was silent.

After seeing Luohua off, he returned to the room, moving quietly for fear of waking Xue Xue.

She was sleeping soundly, curled up and motionless, only the sound of her breathing audible.

He removed his outer robe and lay down behind her, pulling her into his arms through the quilt. "Xue'er, if one day I cannot watch over you like I did today, what will you do? Perhaps then, it will be your turn to protect me."

He whispered as he held her, watching the unsightly marks on his wrist in the flickering candlelight.

The next morning, the sun gently spilled over, covering the quiet Tan City. Everything was in order, with no chaos or casualties from the sudden events of the previous night.

Instead, the fact that the Ji Kingdom had defeated the Wu Kingdom in one fell swoop became the talk of the town and a source of pride for the citizens.

"If you ask me, it must be the merit of the immortal who sent the rain last night."

"Indeed, the gods must be blessing our Ji Kingdom. Didn't we beat the Wu Kingdom into a rout?"

"I heard that even the arrogant King of Wu fled in a panic..."

The townspeople chatted happily; after all, the King of Wu was no ordinary figure—he was someone on par with their own King.

Their words reached the ears of a man in black. He was holding a cup of tea, a wicked, charming smile on his lips.

"Is that so? The rain-making immortal?" he whispered, his tone seemingly interwoven with strange emotions. "Xue’er, if you can help him, why could you not help me?"

It hurt his heart a little.

How should this debt be settled?

Meanwhile, in the Yishouli Mansion, Xue Xue woke up feeling a bit dazed, sensing that her body was much lighter, though still somewhat weak.

She turned over and realized that the King was sleeping right beside her, his large hand gently holding her small one.

She nuzzled into his chest and slowly opened her eyes, meeting the sight of a perfect jawline.