Huo Wei's expression faltered for a moment, as if in a slight panic, but he quickly regained his cold and fierce look.
Du Gu Luanyue didn't say a word. She walked out from under Sheng Yunqi's umbrella and disappeared from everyone's sight.
Sheng Yunqi felt secretly delighted. "Luanyue, I've brought you your favorite rose - filled flower cakes from Southern Chu. Do you want to try them?"
Du Gu Luanyue said softly, "Okay."
Shen Guilan picked up his wet robe and quickly left. He was planning to huddle with Murong Jue for warmth tonight. He wondered if his life would be in danger...
Huo Wei had such a bad temper since childhood, and Shen Guilan could foresee that his days in the next few days would be tough.
A day passed. Du Gu Luanyue ignored everyone. She just wanted to solve the problems in Danyang City and then quickly return to the Northern Yan Palace. She was afraid that if she delayed too long, everything would change when she got back.
However, she thought it was worth it. As long as the south gate was blocked and the people of Southern Chu were safe, it didn't matter if she had to go through some troubles.
Aunt Meijiang pushed the door open and lifted the lotus - green curtain. "Your Majesty the Queen, the eldest young master of the Sheng family said he's waiting for you at the back mountain of the government office and wants to have a talk with you."
Du Gu Luanyue was sitting in front of the desk under the window, looking through the memorials about the recent plague situation in the city. Hearing this, her ink pen paused, and her voice turned cold.
"I'm busy. If he has something to say, let him come to the government office."
Aunt Meijiang whispered, "The young master said it concerns the emperor and empress of Southern Chu and can't be discussed in the government office for fear of being overheard."
Her clear and cold eyes darkened. She put down the ink pen, lifted her skirt, and hurried into the small forest behind the back mountain.
Murong Jue had been paying attention to Du Gu Luanyue and Huo Wei these days. He wished he could throw one of them to the grasslands in the north of Northern Yan and the other to Nanhua Island in Southern Chu.
One in the south and the other in the north, never to meet again, that would be safe.
So he had been wandering not far from the main hall of the government office. Just then, he saw Du Gu Luanyue secretly going to the back mountain. Wasn't she going to have a tryst with Huo Wei?
Were they going to reconcile again?
His eyes twinkled. No, he had to separate them immediately!
So he quietly followed her.
After the rain, the green mountains and the whole world were brand - new. The fragrance of grass and trees wafted from the lush and green forest.
She was wearing a light purple long dress and stepped on the bluestone path. The green jade hairpin in her coiled hair shone gently against the greenery of the forest.
Sheng Yunqi was standing in the pavilion on the mountainside, holding an oil - paper umbrella. He looked down.
That charming figure was still like a cinnabar mole, brightly imprinted on his chest and couldn't be shaken off. She was still as beautiful as ever.
Her coiled hair was black as ink, her complexion was as white as jade, and the charm at the corners of her eyes was naturally seductive.
At this moment, Sheng Yunqi felt that Du Gu Luanyue still belonged to him. He had learned last time that Du Gu Luanyue had never served the emperor in bed and had only pretended to be in love with Huo Wei. He thought she must still be completely his.
However, his parents had long advised him to give up. They said Du Gu Luanyue might stay in Northern Yan for the rest of her life and told him to choose a noble girl from Southern Chu as soon as possible and stop waiting.
But he was unwilling and reluctant. With the status of the Sheng family, it was naturally worthy of a princess. And with their years of affection, how could it be cut off so easily?
Du Gu Luanyue walked into the pavilion, dragging her light purple silk skirt. She looked at him calmly, still as gentle as before.
"Yunqi, tell me. Do my father and mother have any instructions?"
Sheng Yunqi had always been like the white jade on the high mountain, elegant and gentle. But at this moment, his eyes were tinged with scarlet.
He stared at Du Gu Luanyue quietly and said in a cold voice,
"You've been in Northern Yan for less than a year, and you've completely changed from your former self.
But now, you still care about Southern Chu, your father and mother, and you've just left me behind, right?"
Du Gu Luanyue frowned slightly, and there was a look of guilt in her eyes.
"Sorry, Yunqi. I didn't leave you behind. I just can't face you.
I don't even know where my life will end. How can I make any promises to you?
But the past and the friendship between us will always be there. I admit that your position in my heart is just the same as that of my twin brother."
Sheng Yunqi felt his breath catch. "What did you say? You regard me as your relative, and our relationship is just family affection?"
The oil - paper umbrella in his hand trembled and was broken in two and thrown on the ground.
Du Gu Luanyue looked down at the broken umbrella. Her long eyelashes fluttered, and her beautiful face was full of confusion. "Yunqi, I don't think I said anything wrong."
Sheng Yunqi took her soft hand and held it tightly. "I've never regarded you as my relative. I can tell the difference clearly. Family affection is one thing, and love between a man and a woman is another.
My feelings for you are those of a man for a woman, not family affection."
He pulled the purple - clad figure into his arms and whispered in her ear,
"Before, when I hugged you and kissed you, didn't you feel anything?"
Du Gu Luanyue didn't resist in Sheng Yunqi's arms. She just felt a sense of familiarity and peace, as if she was under the protection of an elder. Hadn't it always been like this since childhood?
She and Sheng Yunqi were so familiar with each other that they could sleep soundly in the same bed without thinking of anything else.
"Have you never had any other improper feelings for me?
Luanyue, I never paid attention to the way you looked at me before. But later, when I saw the way you looked at Huo Wei, I realized there was a difference."
Sheng Yunqi held her tightly in his arms. She didn't resist, but he couldn't stir up her heartbeat.
Du Gu Luanyue leaned motionless on his chest. Sheng Yunqi's kiss landed on her forehead, but her face remained calm.
Such kisses had happened when they were very young.
Later, during their teenage years, Sheng Yunqi only kissed her forehead and held her hand.
She was already used to such behavior. She didn't feel her heart race but was as calm as still water, as natural as it could be.
When Sheng Yunqi's kiss was about to fall on her red lips, she suddenly panicked and quickly pushed him away.
"Yunqi, calm down. If I have the chance to return to Southern Chu, can we talk about this later?"
Sheng Yunqi grabbed her arm and pulled her over. His eyes were full of anger and a bit of grievance.
"I risked my life to enter Danyang City. Do you think I did it to be your elder brother?
If it weren't for the marriage alliance with Northern Yan, we would have been married long ago and would have been husband and wife.
You married Murong Min and endured humiliation. I accepted it because I knew you didn't love him.
But what's going on with Huo Wei now? You must give me an explanation."
While struggling with him, Du Gu Luanyue didn't notice the danger approaching from behind.
A bamboo viper as thick as an adult man's arm crawled out of the wet bamboo - filled ground, spitting its dangerous forked tongue, and bit at Du Gu Luanyue's feet.