Du Gu Luanyue struggled to push him away. Blocked by others, she could only move deeper into the room. There, she noticed a booklet on the floor. Its cover read "Topographic Map of the Southern Chu Border".
Du Gu Luanyue bent down to pick it up and flipped through it. It not only recorded the topography of Southern Chu but also detailed how to invade Southern Chu from the outside. The handwriting clearly indicated it was written by Huo Wei.
Huo Wei's face darkened rapidly. He rushed over to grab it. Du Gu Luanyue clung tightly to the booklet. Her eyes turned blood - red. "Huo Wei, is this how you repay me?"
Huo Wei snatched it away, as if it were a precious treasure. "Such an important thing. Don't damage it."
Du Gu Luanyue glared at him fiercely. "Aren't you going to explain this? Huo Wei, you've been secretly investigating the topography of the Southern Chu border. Do you plan to attack Southern Chu?"
Huo Wei calmly placed the booklet into his box. He smiled. "Getting anxious? If you want an explanation, sit down and let's talk."
Du Gu Luanyue stared at him with red - rimmed eyes. "I can't joke about this."
Huo Wei said playfully, "If I were to attack Southern Chu, would you regret giving me the golden pill that day?"
Du Gu Luanyue walked over and sat down at the table. "From that smug look on your face, I can tell it's not what I thought. You're taking this back to report to Murong Min, aren't you?"
Having been through life - and - death situations together, Du Gu Luanyue no longer distrusted Huo Wei as she used to. She knew he wouldn't suddenly turn against her.
Huo Wei stretched out his long, cold - white fingers and poured her a cup of tea. "I like how smart you are. It's great that we're so in sync and can speak our minds."
Du Gu Luanyue averted her tired gaze. She pursed her lips and said with some concern,
"Huo Wei, we've gone to great lengths to save the lives of the people in the city. This goes against Murong Min's wishes.
I still haven't figured out how to deal with Murong Min's suspicion and anger when we return.
It won't be too hard for me. I can feign ignorance. But you, you're in for a tough time."
Huo Wei stood beside her. He reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"Where there's a will, there's a way. We'll deal with it when we get back. Don't worry."
Du Gu Luanyue looked at him seriously.
"I mean, if... if I asked you to go back to Southern Chu with me, would you be willing?
Southern Chu may not be as powerful as Northern Yan, but I would never treat you like Murong Min. If you want to be a general with real power, I can make it happen."
Huo Wei's fierce eyebrows drooped.
"Du Gu Luanyue, what are you thinking?
You're still Murong Min's queen, but you're already thinking about going back to inherit the throne and become the empress, and start selecting male concubines?
I'm from Northern Yan. If I went to your harem in Southern Chu, wouldn't I have to be ranked behind Sheng Yunqi?"
Du Gu Luanyue stood up and frowned at him. "What are you thinking? I'm talking about giving you an official position. How did you get to my harem?"
Huo Wei pulled her slender waist towards him and pressed her against his chest. He said hoarsely, "You'll live and die under my watch for the rest of your life, and you'll be mine alone."
Just thinking about Du Gu Luanyue having to serve Murong Min in the palace made him wish that old man would die soon. It was like being eaten away by ten thousand ants.
He paused for a moment and then brought the topic back. It was most important to solve the current problem.
Huo Wei's deep, powerful voice came. "The city gate is about to open. Don't worry. If there's any troublemaker, I'll be dead before you."
Du Gu Luanyue had been exhausted for days. She always felt like she was adrift in the wind and rain. Hearing Huo Wei's words, she felt as if she had taken a sedative.
She blinked at him and opened her arms, hugging Huo Wei.
"I don't know why, but when you said that, I felt at ease. Huo Wei, this time, I really risked my life."
In the past, as the crown princess in Southern Chu, she had many officials under her. She didn't dare to show weakness and always presented herself as strong.
Because she was always the one to take responsibility for everything. But after coming to Northern Yan and meeting Huo Wei, she realized that Huo Wei had covered for her many times.
Huo Wei tightened his arms and hugged her tightly. He raised his eyebrows. "Go back and sleep. The sky won't fall."
Du Gu Luanyue watched Huo Wei put on his armor. His features were so distinct.
She found it strange. Sometimes she thought Huo Wei was extremely good, and sometimes she wanted to strangle him...
Thinking about the matter of the golden pill the other day, she was really furious.
The south gate of Danyang City opened. The common people were waiting to see if what the court said was true. They wanted to know if those eight hundred spots would really be available every day.
Huo Wei personally led the troops to guard the gate. His silver armor glistened. With a solemn expression, he stood under the golden sun. The oppressive and intimidating atmosphere filled the hot air.
With Huo Wei there, no one dared to cause trouble.
Ten days passed. The situation in the city changed. The common people were vying for those eight hundred spots every day.
In order to leave this plague - ridden city as soon as possible, they started to actively seek treatment and stopped wandering around. The number of new plague cases in the city began to drop sharply.
The officials and generals in the city gradually breathed a sigh of relief and started to plan for the reconstruction of the city.
Du Gu Luanyue stood on the south gate every day, looking at Huo Wei standing below. Their eyes would occasionally meet.
Huo Wei's deep, black eyes were still as pure as ever, and he didn't hide the mischievous smile in them.
Half a month passed. The order in the city was being restored.
Sheng Yunqi was in a desolate village on the Southern Chu border. The Southern Chu military camp had provided a lot of food and daily necessities. Everything was going smoothly.
As long as people showed no signs of the plague after a few days of observation, they were considered healthy. It was okay for them to flee to Southern Chu.
When Du Gu Luanyue saw that the situation in the city was gradually easing and wanted to tell Huo Wei that she was going to see her father and mother in Southern Chu,
a decree came from the palace, ordering the queen to return to the palace immediately without any delay.
Before Du Gu Luanyue could react, the imperial guards from the palace and Murong Min's trusted servants had already brought the phoenix carriage of the Northern Yan queen to Danyang City.
"Your Majesty, His Majesty orders you to set off immediately. The phoenix carriage is outside the Danyang City government office. Please get on it." Hua Yin, with his hook - nose, looked at the queen with a half - smile and made a gesture of invitation.
Du Gu Luanyue glanced at this fierce - looking man. His face was really unkind.
She probed, "What's wrong with His Majesty? The plague in Danyang City has just started to ease, and His Majesty wants me to go back?"
Hua Yin smiled. "His Majesty misses you, Your Majesty."
Aunt Meijiang had just received a secret letter from Sheng Yunqi. It said that the emperor and empress of Southern Chu were now near the desolate village on the border.
Her father was in poor health and just wanted to see his daughter. He could only wait for three days at most.
Due to their special status, the emperor and empress would definitely not cross the border into Northern Yan. So they could only wait within the territory of Southern Chu.
She covered her mouth with her hand and whispered a few words to Du Gu Luanyue. Du Gu Luanyue's expression changed. She didn't want to leave like this.
Du Gu Luanyue whispered, "Go and find Huo Wei."
Suddenly, Hua Yin shouted, "Guards! Take Her Majesty to the phoenix carriage immediately. Hurry!"