Chapter 174 Winter Night as Warm as the Spring Sun
Her eyes shifted and dodged and didn’t have their usual calm. Shangguan LingRan was extremely happy.
He leaned close to her and tried to curry favor. “I brought you a holiday gift. I still haven’t given it to you yet.”
He gently whistled. Something flew in and landed on her shoulder.
Zi You turned to look. It was a pure white eagle. “Is this a gyrfalcon?”
Zi You then understood what was going on. The snow-white bird on her shoulder was clearly the gyrfalcon that people described. And it was a difficult-to-find gyrfalcon. Its snow-white feathers and snow-white claws meant that it was a high-quality gyrfalcon: Yuzhao!
This gyrfalcon was difficult to find even with millions of gold taels. It was simply a treasure. Gyrfalcons were already difficult to find in Great Yan. Not to mention this was a white gyrfalcon? It would be difficult to find even in the north.
This rascal saw that she wanted a gyrfalcon and actually gave her one. And it was such a precious Yuzhao.
But it was absolutely impossible for this gyrfalcon to take the initiative to submit to her. She really didn’t know how Shangguan LingRan did it. Even if the gyrfalcon understood human words, Shangguan LingRan couldn’t possibly have shown it her portrait so that it could recognize her. It recognized her probably by scent. It must have smelled her scent.
Zi You reached out to stroke the gyrfalcon’s feathers. It indeed sniffed her palm and didn’t move. Zi You quietly stroked its feathers. She was very touched, but was also so angry that she wanted to stomp her feet.
After Shangguan LingRan’s injury was better and he had left the General’s Manor, she discovered that she lost a pearl earring. She had a lot of jewelry, but she didn’t like wearing it. She had thought that she dropped it accidentally somewhere and didn’t care too much about it. But now, it seemed like that it was taken by that rascal.
Zi You thought of what had happened before he left that day and her face suddenly reddened. She didn’t know whether she was indignant or angry.
Shangguan LingRan didn’t know what she was thinking. He had said, “This is something I got from Mufei with difficulty. I have one that’s a pair with this one. We can use them to communicate with each other. They can quickly pa.s.s messages no matter how far away they are. They can fly and are much faster compared to Xiaoqing and Xiaoyu.”
“Thank your Mufei for me!” Zi You’s thanks was very gentle.
Shangguan LingRan felt much better. His long phoenix eyes exuded tenderness and he smiled. “Why are you being so polite with me? You’er, your matters are my matters. I will do my best for you.”
Shangguan LingRan took a deep breath and carefully said, “You’er, I want to ask you something. If Zhao HongXiang is not the person for you. If there is another man who is willing to have only you in his life; but he is infamous and in lots of danger. He is always on the cusp of the storm and dances on the edge of a knife.
“But no matter how difficult it is, he is willing to fight with you side by side and stand next to you. As long as he has one breath left, he will not allow anyone to hurt you…… You’er, if there is such a man, are you willing to marry him?”
“Are you willing to marry him?” Zi You sat in a chair and thought about what Shangguan LingRan had asked her. Even after he drank medicine and had left, she still couldn’t calm down. Her eyes were wide open in the middle of the night and she couldn’t sleep. She couldn’t help but blush again.
She couldn’t really like that rascal, right? Why else would she think of him at the drop of a hat now? Not only that, but maybe it was because he came over every night, she felt that something was wrong if he didn’t come over.
Zi You was shocked. She couldn’t help but shake her head. This couldn’t go on like this. Mu Zi You, you can’t forget your previous life’s lessons. Liking a man is very dangerous.
Even if Shangguan LingRan is serious, you cannot accept him because his ident.i.ty is too special. Like he said, he lives on the cusp of the storm and dances on the edge of a knife.
Whether it was him or her, their marriage was not up to them. Even if Zhao HongXiang dissolved the engagement, she couldn’t be with Shangguan LingRan. That would bring a disaster to the General’s Manor and An w.a.n.g fu.
If he wasn’t sincere, then she shouldn’t like him. She had made up her mind that she wouldn’t want a man who was not wholehearted towards her in this lifetime.
Zi You suppressed the churning waves in her heart and began to cultivate her spiritual power.
Just as she was cultivating, Shangguan LingRan came.
He looked at all the flowers rustling in the room. The spirit pets were floating in the air in a circle. Even the air flow was difficult to get close to.
Shangguan LingRan then knew that her spiritual power was stronger again. He was happy, but concerned for her.
If the Emperor and his sons found out Zi You’s secret, they would be even crazier to obtain her. Then she and the General’s Manor’s situation would be in more danger.
But no matter how difficult it was, he would stand guard by the little yatou’s side and not let her get hurt. Over these few days, after returning from Zi You’s place, he had been desperately practicing his martial arts. He knew that he must become stronger to protect her.
She would leave the capital and go to Mount Yunmeng to train. Mount Yunmeng was chosen because of its dense forests. Its geography was similar to Nanjiang’s.
However, this training would take at least six months. If he couldn’t see his You’er for six months, he would go crazy from missing her.
Shangguan LingRan’s affectionate and loving eyes were hot as fire and seemed to penetrate her barrier. It made Zi You so hot that she could no longer practice. She retracted her steady and gushing stream of spiritual power to look at Shangguan LingRan.
Shangguan LingRan’s handsome face looked depressed. He rapidly hid it and smiled lazily and casually. His narrow eyes rippled like orchids. “Done? Your spiritual power is stronger again. It looks like I have to work harder. Your husband cannot be left behind by you.”
Zi You seemed to be used to him being impudent. She wasn’t angry and went over to a table. She opened a sandalwood box and took out a small blue and white porcelain bottle. She handed it to him. “I’m leaving tomorrow. I can’t decoct medicine for you anymore. Your pulse is reading a lot better. Take this pill on time. I especially made it for you……”
She didn’t finish speaking before Shangguan LingRan pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly. Zi You quickly struggled. Shangguan LingRan almost begged. “Don’t move. Let me hug you for a moment. Just a moment. You’re leaving tomorrow, but I can’t send you off. I’m afraid I also can’t go see you.
“You’er, people say that ‘One day without seeing each other is like being separated for three autumns.’ How many autumns is six months?”
His voice didn’t hold his normal frivolity. Instead, it contained dense emotion. His voice was low and hoa.r.s.e with some magic in it. It bewitched Zi You so that she actually stopped struggling and didn’t push him away again.
Shangguan LingRan was happy that Zi You was no longer struggling. Then he couldn’t help but sigh. “Ai…… You’er, if you never push me away, I will go crazy with happiness.”
This sigh contained endless grievance and helplessness. It was like a hand thrust into Zi You’s chest and wrung her heart.
Zi You felt her heart hurt. As if a ghost possessed her, she couldn’t help but reach out and hug his waist.
Shangguan LingRan’s was ecstatic at this point! His muscular body clearly stiffened and he hugged Zi You tighter. He whispered, “YouYou……”
His voice contained endless emotions. This wasn’t the first time that he had called her that. It was on the second night of the New Year. “You’er, I’m going to call you ‘YouYou.’ I don’t want to use the same name as other people.”
She was aware of his mischievous personality and hadn’t said anything. But he hadn’t called her as serious and lingering as he did now.
Zi You had never known that the same words would sound so different if a person’s tone was different.
Her heart jumped. She looked up at Shangguan LingRan. He looked serious. His normal cynicism, carelessness, and mockery were all swept away. Instead, he was overbearing and warmly earnest and affectionate. “When you can’t see me in the mountains, you still can’t forget me. You should always think about me. You can’t talk to the male soldiers or exchange letters with that Zhao HongXiang. I will burn him to death if I find out about it!”
Zi You was startled by him and looked stunned at him. She saw Shangguan LingRan’s deep eyes land on her lips. Zi You thought that his expression changed and exuded a firm determination. His eyes also resembled a wild beast that was about to enjoy a gluttonous meal as it stared at prey. She was so shocked that her body stiffened. She hadn’t reacted when a warm face covered her own.
Warm breath sprayed on her lips. Zi You’s heart contracted. She instinctively closed her mouth and hid her lips. She tightly shut her eyes and looked away. But the expected kiss did not happen. A hateful and light laughter sounded in the silence against her cheek.
Zi You knew that she had been teased by Shangguan LingRan again. She suddenly opened her eyes and turned angrily to glare at Shangguan LingRan. But at this time, Shangguan LingRan quickly bent his head and bit her hard on the tip of her nose.
Warm tears welled up in Zi You’s eyes from the pain. She was baffled, but still glared angrily at Shangguan LingRan. Through her hazy eyes, she saw Shangguan LingRan smiling so much that his phoenix eyes brightened. His black gem-like eyes shone brilliantly.
She didn’t have time to get angry before she was caught by his overbearing right hand. He intertwined his fingers tightly with hers.
Her hand was clutched tightly in his dry, but hot palm. She could even clearly feel the rough calluses on his palm.
She blinked her eyes and stubbornly and angrily forced her tears back. Shangguan LingRan took her hand and placed it on his chest. His heart was beating vigorously and violently. It was as if it wanted to jump out of his chest against her fingertips. Zi You was once again speechless.
Shangguan LingRan saw that Zi You didn’t speak and only glared at him. His deep eyes filled with laughter. The laughter became deeper and deeper under Zi You’s brightly burning eyes. After a while, he said, “Is YouYou disappointed? You don’t have to be so angry. If you want me to kiss you, you just have to say it. You don’t have to be like this……”
Zi You was originally angry, but now she gnashed her teeth in anger. “Who’s disappointed?! It’s obviously you, you lecher! Hurry and let me go!”
Shangguan LingRan nodded again and again. “Yes, yes. I am very disappointed. YouYou understands me the most! You know that you’re leaving tomorrow, so you can’t bear to reject me. My YouYou is the kindest!”
Shangguan LingRan bent his head to kiss her. Zi You angrily lifted her leg to kick him. Who knew that her foot would land in his palm again?
Shangguan LingRan grabbed Zi You’s small foot and gently pulled. Zi You fell into his arms again.
Zi You was about to push him away, but Shangguan LingRan’s magnetic baritone enchanted her again. “Don’t be angry, YouYou. I really don’t want to let you go. Promise me that you will take good care of yourself. There are a lot of poisonous insects on the mountain. Although you know how to protect yourself, you still have to be careful.
“The mountain is cold in the mornings and evenings. Remember to wear more clothes. Although the Mu army’s discipline is strict, it is inevitable to have one or two bad eggs. You are a girl. You have to be careful and even more careful. Don’t act alone.
“Also, swords have no eyes. When you act with the army, you……”
Shangguan LingRan said a lot. Zi You was struggling nonstop in the beginning. But as she listened, she no longer struggled, but slowly relaxed. She leaned her body into his warm and broad chest.
It made her feel safe and secure. She listened to the strong thumping of Shangguan LingRan’s heart beating. The tightly closed door to her soul since her birth opened a sliver.
His ordinary urgings weren’t vigorous like pledges of eternal love. But Zi You could see Shangguan LingRan’s sincere heart. Think about it. If he didn’t truly care for her, how could he think so meticulously?
Zi You suddenly felt that she was no longer alone in this world. There was a person in this world who had no blood relations with her, but cared deeply for her. Although it was a cold wintry night, she felt as warm as spring.
The body of the little woman in his arms wasn’t stiff anymore. Instead she softly snuggled into his arms. She was as docile as a kitten. It made Shangguan LingRan’s heart soften even more and almost turn into a puddle of spring water……