*Unedited
After that question came out, the atmosphere of the entire hall changes.
Xue Mu looks at him for a long time, not answering. Tang Zhibo is not panicking as well, rather, he is secretly delighted. It seems like Liu Qinghuan is still Xue Mu’s soft spot seeing how his expression changes.
Looking at Tang Zhibo pleased smile at a small corner of his mouth, Xue Mu’s gaze turns chilly.
” Qing Qing is doing great, there is no need for Brother Tang to worry for her. ”
Liu Qinghuan sneezes out of the blue.
In this hot summer, she actually feels a sudden chill in the air….. Did she eat too much yogurt?
Qing Zhi glances over at her, before walking over.
” Madam, are you okay? ”
Liu Qinghuan shakes her head, as she sinks into her thoughts.
” Is there anything going on in the mansion today? ”
Qing Zhi thought about it for a while.
” Sir went to the palace a moment ago and was bestowed a lot of good stuff from the Emperor. ”
Liu Qinghuan smiles haplessly.
” Anything else? ”
” And…. ”
Qing Zhi tilts her head, trying her best to recall.
” Oh yes, the adopted son of Duke Ling Nan came over to visit Sir. ”
” Duke Ling Nan’s adopted son?! ”
Liu Qinghuan chokes on her yogurt. No wonder she is feeling a chill in the air!
Tang Zhibo actually dares to come all the way over here in broad daylight. Could it be that it is because she didn’t listen him and finally angers him?
Liu Qinghuan stands up from her seat, hesitating for a while before finally deciding to sneak over to the main hall to take a peek.
The last time when Xue Mu was at the hall with Princess Fu Yong, she could hear music from far away yet this time, it is all eerily quiet, not even the slight sound of eating and drinking can be heard.
…..It can’t be that they have already finish their battle?
Liu Qinghuan sneaks from the back and takes a peek inside, only to meet with Tang Zhibo’s gaze. Seeing her, Tang Zhibo calls out in surprise.
” Qinghuan? ”
Liu Qinghuan ” ……. ”
She must have pa.s.s a black cat on her way over….. Who are you, I have no idea who you are so please stop calling like we are so close to each other.
Xue Mu’s face turns dark when he heard the word ” Qinghuan. ” coming out of Tang Zhibo’s mouth. He turns behind and as expected, he sees Liu Qinghuan hiding sneakily.
His gaze turns sharp and when Liu Qinghuan feels like she can no longer takes it and is about to leave, he speaks up.
” Since you are here, why don’t you come in? ”
Liu Qinghuan freezes in her steps. This is her first time hearing him speak to her in such a cold tone.
Having no choice, she braces herself and walks into the main hall. Tang Zhibo keeps his eyes on her the entire time and after she sits down besides Xue Mu, he ask her happily.
” Qinghuan, how are you lately? ”
Liu Qinghuan looks at him for a while, a face full of puzzlement.
” I’m sorry, you are..? ”
Tang Zhibo’s face changes color a few times within a short moment, as if he cannot believe what he have just heard. Liu Qinghuan has always been seen as a piece of chess in his hands, and has always obey his orders. He had never once thought that this piece of chess would turn her back on him once she is married over.
Tang Zhibo clamps his lips together, trying to force himself to smile.
” Qinghuan, is this a joke? ”
Liu Qinghuan frown, and said a little unhappily.
” Sir, Qinghuan have never seen you before. It seems a little unappropriated to call my name in that manner, don’t you think? ”
Liu Qinghuan is satisfied how Tang Zhibo looks at her, finally shutting up for good. He suppresses the anger boiling in him and turns to the silent Xue Mu.
” Brother Xue, I feel a little unwell, so I shall take my leave for today. ”
Of course, Xue Mu does not persuade him to stay. But even after Tang Zhibo flip his sleeve and left, the atmosphere in the main hall does not improve.
Xue Mu stay silent for the entire time and since Liu Qinghuan can’t find a suitable topic to chat about, she could only sit down silently by his side. After the time equivalent to drinking a pot of tea have pa.s.s, Xue Mu finally speaks up.
” You and him have always been old acquaintances, why did you pretend not to know him just now? ”
Liu Qinghuan lowers her gaze, her tone of voice heavy.
” Knowing him is the thing I regretted most in my life. ”
Xue Mu clamp down on his lips and stands up. Just as when he is leaving the hall, he turns to a servant.
” Pour all the wine he gave away. ”
Liu Qinghuan ” ……. ”
Now she has done it. The Marquise’s temper is actually quite big.
After leaving the main hall, Xue Mu heads for the Lotus pavilion on his own. Following Nuo Yan out of the hall, Peng Peng could not stand it and complain.
” I can’t stand that b.a.s.t.a.r.d Tang Zhibo! What a Moranza! Tischmo! Arumoni! ”
He cried, using 3 Mongolian words to express his disgust.
” Did you see how he looks at Wu lala? His eyes is about to pop out! If he really dares to touch even a hair on Wu lala, I would love to see how the Marquise fights with him! ”
” Should be how the Marquise takes his life. ”
Nuo Yan corrects him. Peng Peng pauses for a bit before agreeing.
” You’re right! ”
His long arm then slings over Nuo Yan’s neck, saying excitedly.
” Today’s the Dragon Boat, I’ll invite you over the Ping Kang Courts! ”
Nuo Yan brush aside his hand, not interested in his proposal at all.
” Go on your own. ”
” Come on! ”
Peng Peng hook his hand over once more.
” Even if you don’t like the ladies in Ping Kang, I’ll treat you to drinks at the bar! I heard there a new dancer called Anaye and she is rather good! ”
Nuo Yan simply uses his qinggong and fly onto the streets of Chang-An city.
Peng Peng ” ……. ”
Liu Qinghuan returns to her room, feeling uneasy the entire time. The expression Xue Mu had on before he left wasn’t good and if worst comes to worst, she is not his match if they ever do fight.
The sky under her worries begin to slowly turn dark, and the originally quiet room suddenly heard a *BANG* on the door.
Qing Zhi and Ci Tao both jump up in surprise. Glancing at the two of them, Liu Qinghuan heads towards the door. Seeing that, Qing Zhe hurriedly block her way.
” Madam, let me do it. ”
” It’s okay. ”
Liu Qinghuan walk past her. These two girls don’t know any martial arts so if it turns out to be a burglar, it’s the best for her to go herself.
She opens the door, and instead find Xue Mu standing outside.
Liu Qinghuan is surprised. Ever since she marries into this family, apart from the day of her marriage, Xue Mu have never once step into their bedroom. To appear all of a sudden today… is really quite unusual.
But the even more unusual thing is that she have never once seen such a solemn Xue Mu before. Even though there is still a hint of smile on his lips, his gaze is chilly.
” Marquise? ”
Liu Qinghuan call out cautiously. Xue Mu does not answer, and keeps staring at her. She swallows and tries calling him in a tiny voice again.
” Mar….quise? ”
All of a sudden, Xue Mu raises his arms and grabs her shoulder. His grip is on the strong side as Liu Qinghuan frowns a little from the pain. He look at her, his black pupils glittering under the moonlight.
” You’re so happy just from hearing he’s here? You can’t even wait to see him? ”
Liu Qinghuan’s heart sinks and just when she is about to explain, Xue Mu collapse by her side with a huge *Bang*.
Liu Qinghuan ” ……. ”
A slight whiff of wine surrounds his body as Liu Qinghuan comes to a realization. Who says he can never get drunk? This person is obviously drunk right now!
It’s just that he is not a noisy drunk, he simply pulls a long face and stays silent. Plus, everyone in the army is afraid of him, and dares not approach when they see him like that, which is how the rumors comes about.
Liu Qinghuan let out a light sigh and walks into her room, calling out.
” Qing Zhi Ci Tao, help the Marquise up and onto the bed. ”
After helping Xue Mu get onto the bed, Ci Tao Qing Zhi then proceeds to help him remove his outer garments and shoes. Liu Qinghuan gets them to prepare a basin of water to help him wipe his face. The slight wrinkle in between his brows has not let up even when Xue Mu is asleep, as if he is still unhappy. Looking at him, Liu Qinghuan suddenly feel quite amused.
After getting everything done, it already late into the night. Liu Qinghuan cleans and wash up after herself and lies next to Xue Mu.
Before the sun rises up, Xue Mu wakes up by himself. As it is still dark outside, he slowly get use to the darkness before noticing something is not right.
This is not the Lotus chamber, but the bedroom he had been staying before. As if remembering something, he whip his head to the side.
As expected, Liu Qinghuan is laying there.
Both of her eyes are tightly shut, her breathing steady, obviously asleep. Xue Mu looks at her, his gaze softening. He gently touches her face with the back of his hand as the person next to him continues sleeping, oblivious to what he is doing.
Xue Mu’s gaze turns deeper and he prop himself up with one arm, bends and kiss her on the lips.
That very soft and sweet feeling proves to be very difficult to part with.
” Umm…. ”
Liu Qinghuan sounds out confusingly, awaken by Xue Mu’s action. Seeing the redden lips due to his kiss, the corners of Xue Mu’s lips curls up.
” Qing Qing. ”
Liu Qinghuan stays dazed for a while. Seeing such a beauty smiling at her the moment she wakes up is a bit…. simulating.
She turns to the other side, trying to hide her burning face, her voice so soft that it is hard to hear.
” The Marquise is up so early? ”
Just as that sentence left her lips, the gong reporting the time resound throughout the city. Xue Mu looks at her, stroking her soft and silky black hair.
” There is a morning court session today, so I would need to enter the palace. You can sleep for a while more. ”
” Un….. ”
Liu Qinghuan watches through the corners of her eyes as Xue Mu flips down the bed, get dressed and till he heads out of the room, before she even dares to release the breath she have been holding in.
The way his hot breath blows onto her face when he is speaking is as if it is trying to lit her up on fire. Subconsciously, she touches her face. Luckily this mask is fire-proof.
She lies on the bed for a little while more, but just can’t seem to get back to sleep so she might as well get up.
And when she gives her usual morning greetings to Madam Ning, she looks at Liu Qinghuan, smiling ambiguously.
” I heard Mu-er spend the night at your room yesterday? ”
Liu Qinghuan nods.
” The Marquise was drunk yesterday. ”
Oh oh oh! Drunk! The Old Madam’s eyes are glowing brighter by the minute. Liu Qinghuan laughs.
” So he fell asleep the moment he enters the room. ”
Madam Ning ” ……. ”
TN: Such a trolllllll. And that is not actual Mongolian, just so you know.