During the remaining time, Qi Rong put aside all his affairs at hand and almost accompanied Yun Xi around the clock.
With the great battle looming, Qi Rong remained calm, but the emperor and his ministers were extremely anxious. They went to the Prince Xian's Mansion several times to summon Qi Rong to the palace to discuss strategies, but each time Qi Rong declined with various excuses.
The emperor even paid a personal visit to the Prince Xian's Mansion, only to find Qi Rong roasting fish for Yun Xi!
The emperor flew into a rage. He even drew out the sword from his waist and held it to Qi Rong's neck, but Qi Rong remained as calm as ever.
"Fighting on paper only leads to misjudgment. The situation on the battlefield is ever - changing, and adjustments must be made according to the actual situation at any time."
Qi Rong openly asked the emperor to give him enough time to rest, otherwise, he could not guarantee that he would go to war!
The emperor gritted his teeth in anger. He wished he could kill Qi Rong with one stroke, but thinking that Qi Rong was indispensable for this battle, he suppressed his anger and sheathed his sword.
After seriously admonishing Qi Rong, the emperor flounced away.
Seeing the emperor leave, Yun Xi finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"You've openly defied him. Have you already planned your next move?"
Yun Xi couldn't help but worry. In the past, Qi Rong knew how to restrain himself, but now he seemed to have thrown caution to the wind and revealed his true self.
Obviously, he had left himself no way out.
After the war, the emperor would surely discard him like a worn - out shoe and put Qi Rong to death!
Looking at Yun Xi's worried face, Qi Rong smiled and pulled her into his arms. His tone was nonchalant:
"Let nature take its course."
So, he didn't want Yun Xi to worry about his plan, because the dangerous and difficult situation ahead required him to stake his life!
"Just wait for me to come back and marry you."
Qi Rong kissed Yun Xi's hair. Thinking of the upcoming separation, he tightened his arms around her involuntarily, filled with deep attachment.
Yun Xi was the very reason he had to win this bet!
As the remaining time grew shorter, Qi Rong showed his love for Yun Xi more openly. He made Yun Xi experience unprecedented happiness, but at the same time, she became even more reluctant to part with him.
There were only three days left before Qi Rong's departure for the war. Yun Xi even thought sleeping was a waste of time. She wished she could spend every moment with Qi Rong.
One night, Yun Xi woke up and found the space beside her empty. Looking at the cold moonlight in the room, a sudden sense of panic welled up in her heart. She softly called Qi Rong's name twice, but there was no response. So she got out of bed, wrapped herself in a robe, and walked out of the bedroom.
Searching the quiet courtyard, Yun Xi noticed a faint light in Qi Rong's study. Her heart softened, and she quickly walked towards it.
Yun Xi opened the door of the study and tiptoed in. She saw Qi Rong sleeping at the desk under the dim light. There were several letters beside him, and one even fell to the ground.
Looking at this peaceful scene, Yun Xi's lips twitched into a faint smile. She wished time could stop at this moment forever.
Then Qi Rong wouldn't have to go to the battlefield and face an uncertain fate...
Qi Rong was sleeping soundly. Usually an extremely vigilant person, he seemed to have gotten used to Yun Xi's scent and didn't wake up from his sleep. Yun Xi tiptoed over and bent down to pick up the letter on the ground.
She originally planned to put it back on the table and tidy up for Qi Rong, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw her father's name on the letter!
Yun Xi was filled with suspicion. She carefully read the content and her face instantly turned pale. She then continued to read the other letters on the table. As she read, the color gradually drained from her face, and she grew paler and paler...
It turned out that these were several secret letters for Qi Rong, which stated that the death of the former crown prince, Qi Xiao, and the sudden death of the old Duke Luo were both related to her father!
Moreover, in the letters from the Luo family to Qi Rong, it was repeatedly mentioned that her father had betrayed the late emperor and might have secretly hidden the lost military tally of the late emperor!!
"This can't be true!!"
Yun Xi couldn't believe it. She felt cold all over, and a chill ran down her spine. Her body couldn't help but tremble slightly.
She would never believe that her father would do such a faithless thing. There must be a misunderstanding!
What made her even more panicked was that if Qi Rong had known all along that the military tally was in her father's possession. Did it also mean that:
Qi Rong had approached her with a purpose from the very beginning?!
Realizing this possibility, Yun Xi was suddenly overwhelmed with grief. A wave of despair made her almost stagger.
"Yun Xi."
A soft call suddenly made Yun Xi tremble. The letter in her hand fell to the ground. She stood there stiffly, looking at Qi Rong with a sad expression.
Meeting Qi Rong's sharp and deep black eyes, Yun Xi instantly felt as if she had been cut open by a cold blade.
At this moment, her mind was in a whirl, and she ignored the intense uneasiness hidden beneath Qi Rong's cold eyes.
Qi Rong glanced at the letter on the ground. He already knew what was going on.
Suddenly, he reached out his hand. When Yun Xi instinctively tried to avoid him, he firmly grasped her hand. His gaze locked onto Yun Xi like a hook, and he asked softly:
"I'll only give you this one chance."
Yun Xi was confused:
"What?"
At this moment, her mind was in a complete mess, and she almost lost the ability to think normally.
Qi Rong pursed his thin lips. His voice was hoarse:
"I can let you go. You can go anywhere you want."
He didn't deny that he had initially approached Yun Xi with the intention of restraining Yun Sheng, but that was just a passing thought. As he got to know Yun Xi, he had long since cast it aside!
He had schemed against Yun Sheng, but he had never thought of hurting Yun Xi, let alone using her to take revenge on Yun Sheng.
But even if he said these words, would Yun Xi accept them?
He wasn't sure.
Yun Xi opened her mouth and suddenly took a deep breath. Seeing his furrowed brows and the hidden pain in his eyes, her heart ached.
It seemed that if she really chose to leave, the ice in his eyes that was just starting to melt would freeze again...
"I've said that I'll always be by your side. The Prince Xian's Mansion is my home. Where else do you want me to go?"
Yun Xi was helpless. No matter whether he had approached her with a purpose or not, his kindness to her was real, and she could feel it.
Moreover, she firmly believed that her father would never do such things. If Qi Rong had misunderstood her father, she couldn't just leave like this.
Because that would only make the situation worse.
She had to find a way to uncover the truth of that year and clear her father's name!
Because of Yun Xi's words, the tension and uneasiness in Qi Rong instantly melted away. He pulled Yun Xi into his arms, pressed his lips tightly against hers, and kissed her fiercely. His tone was almost savage:
"You must remember these words. You don't have another chance. As long as I'm alive, I'll never let you go!"
Qi Rong's words were like a spell that bound Yun Xi tightly. Yun Xi also hugged him tightly, responding to his passionate kiss.
"I'll say the same thing to you. For the rest of your life, you can only belong to me!"
One man and one woman for a lifetime. She wouldn't allow him to have other women!
"Okay, all for you."
Qi Rong smiled indulgently. His black eyes were burning. He tightened his arms around Yun Xi, giving in to his long - awaited desire. He made Yun Xi so lost in the moment that she could only cling tightly to his neck.
For the first time, she gave herself to him.