Du Gu Luanyue stopped in her tracks, her jade-like eyes darkening slightly. "I'm not going to jump into the river. Even if I did, I can swim. I'm from Southern Chu."
Seeing Huo Wei still holding the food tray, she walked over and took it from him. "Why did you get up? Doesn't your wound hurt?"
Huo Wei replied, "Aren't you hungry? You haven't had your meal yet."
His black eyes were fixed on Du Gu Luanyue. The woman had dark circles under her eyes, clearly a result of not sleeping well these days. And she wasn't even eating. It seemed she didn't care much about herself.
Du Gu Luanyue placed the food tray on a rock by the river. She was indeed a bit hungry. Looking back at him, she asked, "Have you eaten?"
Huo Wei slowly sat down against a smoother rock. His cold and fierce eyebrows showed little emotion. He casually said, "You eat first. Leave the rest for me."
Du Gu Luanyue's wrist trembled slightly. Huo Wei was becoming more and more shameless. She didn't know what had triggered this change outside Danyang City. Then she said,
"I'll ask someone to bring another serving."
She immediately got up and walked back to the camp, but Huo Wei, who was sitting, suddenly grabbed her wrist. "Why are you deliberately distancing yourself from me?"
Du Gu Luanyue stood in the mountain forest and grassland. It was late spring, and the evening breeze in the mountains was a bit cold, seeping into her clothes. She felt a sharp pain in her heart.
"No, you're overthinking.
You're injured. I have to go out and take charge of things for you so that we can transport the supplies into the city as soon as possible and put an end to the plague."
Huo Wei tugged at her wrist, signaling her to sit down. "Sit next to me. I'll watch you eat until you finish."
Du Gu Luanyue obeyed his words and sat down beside him, starting to have her meal.
Huo Wei stared at her intently, his dark eyes never leaving her.
His gaze went from intense to possessive, and then to burning hot, as if she were his private property and he was thinking about when he could truly own her.
He was like a hungry wolf that had spotted a piece of sizzling roast pork, its fangs bared and drool dripping.
Du Gu Luanyue felt her cheeks burning. She could feel Huo Wei's intense gaze, but at this moment, she didn't know what to say.
She wanted to keep a distance from Huo Wei. If things continued like this, it would be hard to control.
She quickly finished her meal and then said, "I'm done. Let's go back. I'll change your dressing."
Huo Wei took out the gauze and medicine from his bosom and started to take off his upper clothes. "Change it here."
Du Gu Luanyue gave him a resentful look. He was really...
Without saying a word, she took the things and started to change his dressing.
Huo Wei was sitting against the rock. Du Gu Luanyue leaned over, wrapping the gauze around his waist one by one in front of his chest.
Mu Rong Jue had been observing Huo Wei and Du Gu Luanyue's movements. After he found that Huo Wei wasn't in his tent, he started looking for him everywhere.
When he saw this scene, he suddenly widened his eyes and covered his mouth with both hands.
He was standing behind Huo Wei and Du Gu Luanyue. He could clearly see Huo Wei sitting.
Although the rock behind them blocked part of their bodies, he could still see Du Gu Luanyue leaning over, lying in front of his abdomen!
My God! In broad daylight, the two of them were actually having an affair by the river. They didn't even bother to find a secluded place. It was really an eyesore.
"Have I done it right? Does it feel uncomfortable?" Du Gu Luanyue asked if the gauze around his waist was wrapped properly.
Huo Wei raised his eyebrows at her. "It was done by you. Of course it feels comfortable."
Mu Rong Jue's mouth was wide open, and his eyes were about to pop out.
My God! What dirty words! Didn't they have any bottom line? It was really too much!
Mu Rong Jue gritted his teeth behind them and clenched his fists tightly. Huo Wei was still injured, and yet this Empress Du Gu was seducing him again!
Du Gu Luanyue said, "That's good. I'll come back when it's time."
Huo Wei didn't want her to leave. "Stay with me for a while. Is it too heartless to leave right after you're done?"
Mu Rong Jue couldn't stand to listen anymore. Come back again?
He knew that Du Gu Luanyue was extremely beautiful, but she was also his father's step-empress. If the Empress of the country was having an affair, it would be a disaster!
His elder brother was also so stupid. Once he was seduced by a woman, he lost his mind!
Wang Huyang was looking for Du Gu Luanyue everywhere to discuss the delivery of supplies for the next day. He couldn't find her anywhere. Aunt Mei Jiang said that the Empress was by the river, so he came looking for her.
Seeing someone coming, Mu Rong Jue immediately turned Wang Huyang's head away. "What are you looking at? There's nothing to see!"
Wang Huyang was stunned. "Third Prince, I'm here to find Empress Du Gu. I have something important to discuss."
Mu Rong Jue said coldly, "The Empress isn't by the river. Hurry up and leave. I'm here to relax!"
Wang Huyang left silently. Mu Rong Jue found a place and guarded the exit, not allowing anyone to get close.
He was so afraid that Huo Wei and Du Gu Luanyue's affair would be discovered. He was shivering in the cold mountain wind, like a pure white puppy beside the big wolf dog, the kind that was responsible for guarding the door.
Behind the rock, Du Gu Luanyue smoothed the hem of her dark green dress with her hand and sat down beside the rock again.
She watched the sky gradually darken and the stars twinkling in the ink-black sky. The mountain forest became even more quiet and peaceful.
The gentle breeze ruffled the calm surface of the river, creating ripples. A fish jumped out of the water, breaking the last bit of tranquility.
Huo Wei grabbed her hand and held it tightly in his. His hand, which was calloused from years of holding a long spear, held hers firmly. His voice was a bit low.
"Don't suddenly be cold to me. I feel so miserable that I want to die."
Du Gu Luanyue looked up into his deep black eyes. There was no trace of killing intent in them. Instead, they were as clear and bright as a lake.
They were so transparent, so straightforward, without any concealment.
She frowned slightly and then relaxed. Smiling, she said,
"Why are you more sensitive than a woman? I'm not being cold to you. Didn't I still remember to change your dressing all the time? I've just been busy these days. It will be okay after I'm done."
Huo Wei felt that she was indeed ignoring him. He was feeling stuffy and unhappy in his heart.
"I'm a man who has been fighting on the battlefield all year round. I like to be direct and straightforward.
When it comes to a person, if I like her, I like her. If I don't like her, I don't like her. Once I like someone, I'll be determined, no matter who she is.
If I don't like someone, I'll kick her far away, no matter who she is.
There's no so-called playing hard to get or being coy in the middle."
Du Gu Luanyue didn't dare to look into his bright and aggressive eyes. She slowly lowered her head. "I know."
Huo Wei asked again, "What about you?"
Du Gu Luanyue looked up at him again, a bit confused. "Ah?"
Huo Wei licked his dry thin lips. A dangerous smile spread across his lips, revealing his sharp silver tiger teeth.
"Your old man is saying that if you keep ignoring me for no reason, being sometimes proactive and sometimes distant, your old man will..."
Du Gu Luanyue suddenly looked at him with a smile. A faint charm appeared at the corners of her eyes. Her voice became clear. "What will you do? Kill me?"
Huo Wei's tone was domineering. He brought his face closer to hers. "Come here and kiss your old man."