At this thought, a hint of panic flashed across Yun Xi's face. Ignoring the pain in her body, she immediately got out of his embrace, grabbed his hand and was about to rush outside.
"Where are you going?"
Looking at the pitch - black night outside the window, Qi Rong sat on the edge of the bed without getting up. He hooked her waist and pulled her back into his arms.
"No! You must go back to Lingchuan right away. It'll be too late if you delay!"
Yun Xi was extremely anxious. She stretched out her hands and tried her best to push Qi Rong.
Thinking that the emperor might have already discovered Qi Rong's unauthorized absence from his post and was ready to behead him in a fit of anger, Yun Xi's eyes were brimming with tears.
"Are you afraid I'll die?"
Understanding what was on Yun Xi's mind, Qi Rong remained unmoved. Instead, he enjoyed the anxious look on her face leisurely, feeling quite pleased.
Seeing his teasing expression and that he didn't take his own life seriously at all, Yun Xi was so angry that she pounded on his chest and glared at him.
"I don't want to live with self - blame for the rest of my life!"
Although he could be really annoying sometimes, she couldn't even imagine what her life would be like without this person.
The suffocating feeling that came just from thinking about it was something she disliked very much.
"Then come back to Lingchuan with me!"
Qi Rong smiled. He wrapped his arms around Yun Xi's waist, raised his black eyes and stared at her intently, seizing the opportunity.
If he had to force Yun Xi to choose between her father and him, he wouldn't accept any answer other than choosing him.
Meeting Qi Rong's burning gaze, Yun Xi moved her cherry - like lips, but in the end, she still found it hard to make a choice. Looking extremely reluctant, she was on the verge of tears the next moment.
Seeing her pitiful look, Qi Rong's heart softened. He couldn't help but give in.
"Okay, stop torturing yourself."
Qi Rong sighed helplessly. He gently pulled her into his arms and stroked her back.
"I guarantee your father's safety. You come back to Lingchuan with me to recuperate."
Yun Xi was stunned and wanted to say something else, but Qi Rong sighed.
"This is my biggest concession. No arguments."
After a mental struggle, Yun Xi finally nodded.
"Okay."
Because she also understood that this was the best arrangement for the time being. If Qi Rong didn't still care about her, she wouldn't even have the chance to make this choice.
She believed that he would keep his promise and surely protect her father's life.
Originally, Qi Rong wanted to stay overnight at the farmer's house and let Yun Xi rest for a night before setting off. But Yun Xi was worried that there might be more troubles as time passed and wanted Qi Rong to return to Lingchuan quickly. So she made an excuse that she was scared of this place and urged Qi Rong to hurry on their journey.
When passing through the courtyard and seeing the innocent couple who had died because of her and Qi Yu, Yun Xi couldn't help but feel self - blame.
She wanted to simply bury the bodies, but Qi Rong sneered.
"Greed is like a snake trying to swallow an elephant. It was their greed for money that killed them!"
It turned out that when the farmer saw that they had something valuable on them, he immediately took the jade pendant to exchange for money. Coincidentally, he ran into those men in blue. After the men in blue gave the farmer some benefits, the farmer lost his conscience and led them straight to the door!
And it was based on this clue that Qi Rong had found her.
In Qi Rong's opinion, first of all, Qi Yu was too stupid. She shouldn't have easily shown her wealth when she couldn't recognize people clearly, which led to her own death. And the farmer deserved his death even more!
Yun Xi turned pale after hearing this and didn't insist anymore. Then she set off with Qi Rong.
To reduce the jolts for Yun Xi's injury, Qi Rong didn't hesitate to exchange his precious steed for a ox - cart. When they reached the town, he got medicine for Yun Xi and changed to a spacious carriage. Afraid that Yun Xi would be uncomfortable lying down, Qi Rong directly renovated the inside of the carriage and laid several thick layers of quilts in it.
Knowing that Yun Xi had a sweet tooth, he specially prepared a lot of snacks for her, filling a big box!
Yun Xi was stunned. She never knew that Qi Rong could be so considerate. After seeing all kinds of snacks, she couldn't help but smile, and half of her worry disappeared instantly.
She thought that since she couldn't change the current situation, she might as well enjoy the moment. Anyway, if the sky fell, Qi Rong would hold it up!
Yun Xi was originally worried about Hong Luo and Ye Ying. But after learning that it was Ye Ying who had told Qi Rong about her accident, she immediately felt relieved.
Qi Rong told her that the two of them were already on their way to Lingchuan and that she didn't need to worry about others.
At this moment, Yun Xi was lying in the carriage, eating snacks and watching Qi Rong fishing with a fork by the stream not far away. But the idyllic scene made her feel a sense of uneasiness.
If she had never experienced this moment of beauty, she wouldn't be so greedy like now. She was afraid that once she lost it, she wouldn't be able to bear it.
If she had never fallen in love with Qi Rong, she wouldn't be so insecure, sad and self - indulgent because of the other women around him, constantly struggling in her heart.
But since everything had happened, she had no way to avoid it. She could only nervously embrace all the unknowns!
Qi Rong skillfully gutted the fish, scaled it, coated the outside with a layer of salt, and finally handed the crispy - on - the - outside and tender - on - the - inside roasted fish to Yun Xi.
"Try my cooking. It's definitely better than any fish you've ever eaten anywhere!"
Qi Rong smiled proudly, his smile as bright as the sun. He was just like an ordinary handsome young man showing off to the girl he loved.
Looking at the golden - brown roasted fish and smelling the fragrant aroma, Yun Xi could already imagine how delicious it would be even before taking a bite.
But she didn't want Qi Rong to be too proud. So she deliberately smelled it first, then immediately pinched her nose and said with a look of disgust.
"Ugh, it smells so fishy! Didn't you clean it properly?"
Qi Rong raised his eyebrows and looked at Yun Xi teasingly.
"Really? Then I'll eat it myself!"
Saying so, he stretched out his long arm and reached for the fish in Yun Xi's hand. But Yun Xi's face changed. She immediately turned around and hugged the roasted fish tightly in her arms, shouting.
"This is my fish!"
She looked just like a greedy cat protecting its food!
Seeing Yun Xi's cute look, Qi Rong burst into laughter. His laughter was so loud that it startled a few birds on the branch.
Realizing that she had been tricked, Yun Xi blushed instantly. She opened her big black - and - white eyes wide and glared at Qi Rong fiercely.
"Just keep laughing. Laugh yourself to death!"
But she just wouldn't let go of the roasted fish in her hand. As much as she was in a huff, the food was innocent!
Qi Rong saw through Yun Xi's thoughts. He reached out and tapped the tip of her small nose, his eyes full of doting.
"Little greedy cat! Don't you think it smells fishy?"
Yun Xi pouted and didn't say a word. She silently took a bite of the fish. The moment it entered her mouth, she almost flew with joy at how delicious it was.
What kind of divine delicacy was this? This annoying guy was so good at roasting fish!
Yun Xi closed her eyes contentedly but still refused to admit it. Qi Rong smiled slyly again.
"As long as you say 'delicious' once, all these will be yours. How about it?"
Yun Xi's eyes followed the two roasted fish in Qi Rong's hand and she was drooling.
After wavering between her pride and her hunger for just a second, Yun Xi finally gritted her teeth and nodded.
"Delicious."
In life, one should enjoy oneself to the fullest. Everything else was illusory. Only the food in one's stomach was real!