He lifted the beauty around her slender waist and placed her on the horse, then he himself swung onto the blood - sweating thoroughbred.
The two of them rode with their faces covered, galloping towards Danyang City. Du Gu Luanyue asked, "Where are you taking me?"
Huo Wei's hands went through her waist as he tightly held the reins all the time. He leaned over and whispered in her ear, "Sit tight. You'll know when we get there."
The guards at the south gate of Danyang City first heard a series of rapid and powerful hoofbeats clattering towards them. They all looked in the direction of the sound.
They saw a red - maned fiery horse galloping towards them under the golden sunlight. There were two people on the horse, but they couldn't tell who they were.
Just as the horse got closer to the south gate, the person sitting at the back of the horse showed a pass token in his hand. The golden token glistened in the sunlight.
Wang Huyang quickly ordered his men to open the city gate a bit wider. "Let them through quickly!"
Under the golden crown, the dark - green brocade robe fluttered as the rider galloped through the pass on the blood - sweating thoroughbred.
Huo Wei laughed and said, "We'll be able to cross the border of the Northern Yan tonight and head for your homeland. Are you happy?"
Du Gu Luanyue suddenly stared wide - eyed. "You're sending me back to the Southern Chu?"
Huo Wei said, "I'll send you to see your father and mother. That old maid of yours told me the address.
You once said that if there was anything, you'd ask me for help. I thought this must be it. Since I promised you, I'll keep my word."
Hearing this, Du Gu Luanyue's heart softened.
The man who used to kill ruthlessly in the Eastern Palace, the one who boasted of his toughness, at this moment no longer wanted to be like a hard rock. It seemed that he had become a reliable, trustworthy and worry - free haven for her.
She tilted her head back and said coquettishly, "I don't know how to thank you for a moment."
Huo Wei gave her a sidelong glance. "We might have to camp in the wilderness tonight. You'll have plenty of time to thank me."
Du Gu Luanyue turned her face away and said with a hint of disgust, "There might be only those kinds of things in your mind."
Huo Wei hugged her tightly, urged the horse to gallop on, and didn't forget to give a hard kiss on her fair and charming cheek. "If you don't like this, what else can you like?"
Du Gu Luanyue asked worriedly, "We've secretly crossed the border just the two of us. How are we going to explain the days we've delayed on the way?"
Huo Wei said, "Don't worry. I've arranged everything. Murong Jue will disguise himself as me and set off back to the imperial capital. I'll first send you to the Southern Chu to meet your father and mother, and then we'll speed up and take a shortcut back.
However, I can only buy you one day's time."
Du Gu Luanyue nodded. "I'm already very satisfied. Then I have a small request. Can you promise me?"
Huo Wei: "Sure, go ahead."
She said seriously, "Let's not rest tonight and speed up. Then we can gain one and a half days' time."
Huo Wei sneered. "Oh, you've got a good imagination. What about my reward?"
Du Gu Luanyue shut her mouth and didn't say another word. She thought she should consider Huo Wei's feelings. After all, he had done so much for her.
However, that night, Huo Wei didn't intend to stop. He took her across the border himself, and she was so exhausted that she could hardly catch her breath.
She only slept for half a moment before dawn. When she woke up, she found him observing the surrounding environment like an owl, his dark eyes full of vigilance.
Huo Wei saw that she was awake. "Did you sleep well?"
Du Gu Luanyue nodded. "Um... Did you stay up all night?"
Huo Wei led the horse over. "Get on the horse. I don't need to sleep. I've been working non - stop for a woman. But this woman is so heartless that she didn't even give me a little comfort."
Du Gu Luanyue's slanting eyes were filled with a charming smile like spring water. After getting on the horse, she leaned over and kissed Huo Wei's thin lips. She held his cheeks and passionately intertwined her tongue with his.
She said coquettishly, "I've even asked you if you want to go back to the Southern Chu with me in the future. Isn't my meaning obvious enough? How can you say I didn't give you comfort?"
Huo Wei felt a little happier in his heart. But when that passionate kiss came, he was obviously a bit clumsy. He felt something strange in some parts of his body and didn't know what was going on for a moment.
He swung onto the horse and said, "Who wants to go back to the Southern Chu with you? I'm not going to be your male consort!"
Du Gu Luanyue said, "How about making you a vassal king with a different surname?"
Huo Wei: "No way!"
Wushui Town at the Border of the Southern Chu
Huo Wei didn't expect that just crossing a border would make such a big difference between the Southern Chu and the Northern Yan.
It was summer in both places, but in this small town of the Southern Chu, there were serene stone - paved paths, small bridges over flowing water everywhere, and wooden windmills slowly turning. The huge green shades covered part of the streets, and one didn't feel the scorching heat of summer at all.
A cool breeze blew from the small river, which was extremely refreshing and swept away all the fatigue.
In contrast, in the Northern Yan, when the wind blew, there would be sand flying all over the sky. Except for buildings, there were very few green plants in the city. The whole city looked dull at a glance.
Du Gu Luanyue and Huo Wei both got off their horses. She slowly explained,
"The people of the Southern Chu are naturally leisurely. Usually in the afternoon, they either drink tea in the teahouse or play in the water by the small river.
We in the Southern Chu advocate doing things according to our nature, not competing or snatching, but working hard silently. So most of the people in the Southern Chu are kind - hearted. If you're tired from walking in this weather and go to a yard to ask a commoner for a cup of tea, they'll be very generous."
Huo Wei looked at these houses with black - tiled roofs and white walls. Against the backdrop of rows of small green bamboo, the scattered yards came into view. He said with a sigh,
"If I could live to be old, I'd like to lie in a yard like this and soak up the sun."
Du Gu Luanyue smiled. "Then you still have to come to the Southern Chu. In our Jiangnan area, there are all such yards."
Huo Wei gave her a disdainful look and said nothing.
The two of them went to a yard in Yuncui Alley in the small town according to the address. Before they got close, they found the secret guards of the Southern Chu royal family surrounding them.
Most of these secret guards knew Du Gu Luanyue. They said in surprise, "Your subordinate pays respects to Your Highness. Why have you come back, Your Highness!"
Du Gu Luanyue smiled kindly. "The time is limited. I've come specially to see my father and mother. Where are they?"
The secret guard said, "They're inside. Please come in, Your Highness."
Du Gu Luanyue lifted her light - green skirt and walked in. But at this moment, Huo Wei's steps became heavy. He felt a bit awkward.
What was his identity?
Her lover?
That woman was, after all, of royal status. If he just walked in like this, it would surely be embarrassing for both sides. He leaned against the wall and didn't follow Du Gu Luanyue in.
The secret guard looked at Huo Wei. He had just seen this extraordinary and powerful - looking man walking shoulder to shoulder with the Crown Princess. It was obvious that they were very close.
The secret guard quickly knelt on the ground and said, "Your subordinate pays respects to the Emperor of the Northern Yan. Long live Your Majesty, long live, long live!"
Huo Wei stiffened. His body that had been leaning softly against the wall suddenly straightened up. He was a bit at a loss for words.
But he couldn't just say that he was Du Gu Luanyue's lover outside. He cleared his throat and said, "Be excused."
After the secret guard got up, he said extremely politely, "We didn't expect that the Crown Princess would bring Your Majesty back with her. Your subordinate will go and inform our Emperor and the Queen Mother right away. We'll surely receive Your Majesty with a state banquet tonight."
He excitedly turned around and rushed in. Huo Wei wanted to stop him. He didn't want his identity to be made public, but it was too late.
Huo Wei secretly thought it was bad. Oh no, he didn't want to meet Du Gu Luanyue's parents in this identity. What should he do? Run?