An Unconventional Love (Part Two: Iron Will and Tender Heart) (21-30)

Word count: 40953
Part Two: Iron-Willed Tenderness, Chapter Twenty-One: Relief. The beautiful girl also withdrew, closing the door behind her. She hoped Miss Keren could persuade Young Master Gu. "Are you trying to persuade me to give up Xiaodie?" Gu Junyou poured Keren a glass of water before sitting down and speaking. "I won't advise you, nor can I advise you. After all, your feelings are your own. But I hope you can think it through. You've seen that Zuidi's heart is entirely with the Imperial Envoy. A relationship between two is just right, but three people might be a bit too crowded!" Ye Keren said tactfully. "Do you think they're a good match? Yehenalan has a wife and children, and he even beat Xiaodie up when she was over twenty. They're simply not compatible! How can Xiaodie be someone's concubine? If you can't give her complete love, why keep her locked up?" Gu Junyou always felt that Cangqiong wasn't good enough for Zuidi, because in his heart, the perfect Zuidi deserved the best, even if it wasn't him, it couldn't be a man old enough to be her father. "Haven't you seen it from your interactions with Xiaodie these past few days? She's definitely not a lifeless porcelain doll that can be manipulated. She's an independent, thoughtful, even self-reliant woman. Although she has a feminine side, it's only for one person. Don't you understand?" "What good does understanding do? Things aren't settled yet, are they? Besides, we don't even know what's really going on." Can a heart already given be taken back? They all thought he was just playing around, after all, he didn't seem that caring. But who could know the turmoil in his heart? If it weren't for his concern about not wanting to ruin their relationship or Xiaodie's happiness, he probably would have already displayed his usual toughness. But now he hesitated, feeling a genuine sense of helplessness in the face of these people. They were different from everyone he had ever known, leaving him unsure how to deal with them. "Actually, you two are both my saviors. You not only saved me but also my baby. I can never repay this immense kindness, but that's why I don't want either of you to get hurt. As an outsider, I might be meddling, but I just want to remind you that if you want to keep fighting for Xiaodie, you must be prepared to get hurt at any time, and even end up shattered. Your relationship is your own business. We outsiders can only advise you on the potential good and bad outcomes; ultimately, the final decision rests with Xiaodie." Ye Keren knew he wasn't someone who gave up so easily, especially for a man who exuded charm and even charisma. Perhaps Xiaodie was just a challenge for him. Gu Junyou toyed with his cup and smiled forlornly. "Heh... I know all of what you're saying, and I've thought about it all. Although I don't want to admit it, I have to say that the imperial envoy is indeed a formidable opponent. But I'm not bad either. No matter what the final result is, at least I tried. Even if I suffer a crushing defeat in this war, I won't regret it. That way, I won't regret not having the courage to fight for happiness. I only know that if I fight, I might have a one percent chance of winning, but if I don't fight, I have no chance at all." This time, Ye Keren truly looked at him with her heart and realized that she had been misled by a preconceived notion that had blinded her usually shrewd eyes. The person in front of her was not as indifferent as she thought. Even when facing another savior, she was biased. Her heart leaned towards Zui Die because his unusual appearance and attire gave her a subconscious sense of rejection and prejudice, just like everyone else. He was seen as just a passerby, a playboy who wouldn't take relationships too seriously. But in just three days, he'd fallen deeply in love. He must be desperately suppressing his feelings, but those occasional jokes and seemingly casual words revealed his true desires. No wonder Cang Qiong was so jealous, losing all composure and wanting to compete with him—the person in question had already seen through him. Lovers are naturally most sensitive, seeing threats everywhere, especially when they sense an intrusion. And his opponent was a man whose heart was entirely focused on his lover. Wherever Xiao Die was, Cang Qiong's eyes were glued to her, unable to look away. And he wasn't the only one like that. Gu Junyou, though outwardly calm, couldn't ignore the unwavering gaze fixed on someone. How could someone already so suspicious not notice? So today's fight wasn't entirely without reason; it just brought forward a conflict that should have been postponed. Cang Qiong's action also caused Gu Junyou, who had been struggling to suppress his emotions and was caught in a contradiction, to stop hiding his true feelings… In the courtyard, Zui Die sat on the pavilion's veranda, sulking, not wanting to pay attention to the man who kept nagging in her ear. He walked over, and she turned her head away, refusing to look at him. "Die'er, say something!" "…" "I was wrong!" "…" "It's my fault, I deserve to die!" "…" "Why don't you slap me!" Cang Qiong said, grabbing her hand and slapping it against his own face. The loud slaps startled Zui Die awake, and she pulled her hand away. "You're being unreasonable!" Zui Die cursed angrily. "Okay, it's all my fault, it's all my fault, please don't be angry with me anymore!" Cang Qiong pleaded. "Dream on! You attacked people without even knowing what happened. What's the difference between you and a barbarian? Besides, Gu Junyou is my friend. You've really gone too far." Zui Die's face turned red with anger. She couldn't understand why he, who was always calm and composed, had suddenly become so barbaric. "I know I shouldn't lose my temper, but I don't know why I became like this. I feel really uncomfortable when I see the way he looks at you." It's all that kid's fault. He shouldn't have hit someone else's woman. His eyes were wandering around. I really regret not gouging out his eyes and using them as a snack, to see if he would dare to seduce people again. "That's just you being petty and making a fuss. I didn't see anything wrong with his eyes. We're just friends! At most, we're good friends who share common interests and get along really well. But you beat him up because of that. You're making me feel really bad!" The reason she gets along so well with Gu Junyou is twofold: first, they are currently working together on a way to completely eradicate the plague in Bronze Town; second, they both share a hometown, Provence, France, a beautiful and charming city. In her previous life, she was born there and didn't return to mainland China until she was eighteen. Before that, she traveled all over the world, but she spent most of her time growing up in Provence, so she naturally had a special feeling for the place. It just so happened that Gu Junyou was also from there, so they got along very well. After arriving in the Qing Dynasty, she always wanted to see how Provence was more than three hundred years ago and how it was different from it now, so his arrival was perfect. "That look in his eyes is absolutely not the look a friend should have. It's the look a man gives a woman—focused and possessive. Butterfly, I can tell you, I'm not exaggerating, it's the truth. No friend would look at another woman like that. Call me petty, call me rude, whatever, I'm just jealous, I'm just uncomfortable. Seeing you two chatting and laughing makes me jealous, seeing you flirting makes me even more jealous, jealous, jealous, I'm practically going crazy with jealousy, I'm going insane, I even want to kill someone, do you know that!" Cang Qiong shouted, his emotions running high. "What nonsense are you talking about? When did I chat and laugh with him, or flirt with him? How can you say that about me! Don't you know my heart? For him, I only have friendship, brotherly love, absolutely no romantic feelings. Or do you think I'm the kind of woman who falls in love with every guy I meet? You...you're really infuriating me!" Although Zui Die was happy with his honesty, she was also angry that he couldn't trust and understand her. Hearing Zui Die's words, Cang Qiong's emotions calmed down somewhat. He hugged Zui Die tightly, his voice filled with anxiety as he said, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, don't be angry with me anymore. What's wrong with me? I wanted to apologize properly, but I only made you angrier. It's all my fault. Even if I didn't believe him, I should have believed you. It's all my fault. My 'butterfly syndrome' has flared up again. Whenever it comes to anything related to you, my little butterfly, all my rationality and composure vanish without a trace, leaving only suspicion and timidity. It's all because of my damned inferiority complex. Just think of me as crazy, okay? Don't be angry with me." He simply couldn't bear the thought of losing her; even the thought of it felt like his heart was being torn apart. When he was uncertain about their feelings for each other, he could perhaps convince himself not to care, not to think about it, that he only wanted to protect her. But the human heart is...Greedy people always want more and more after they get something, and the more they get, the more afraid they are of losing it. "Inferiority complex, why are you insecure?" Drunken Butterfly finally looked up at him, puzzled as to why he, who was always brave and extraordinary, would also be insecure, because in her mind, the word "inferiority complex" should never have appeared on him. "Yes, I'm insecure, very deeply insecure. I'm afraid I'm not good enough for you. I'm insecure because the gap between us is so huge. I'm so old, I even have a family and children, while you're still so young, so beautiful, flawless like a piece of fine jade. I'm a man who's already past forty, you could say I've lived more than half my life. How can I not feel insecure? Seeing the men around you all so young, so talented, and so well-matched with you, makes me even more jealous. In the capital, there's Qiongfeng and a group of suitors similar to you. And now in Lingzhou, there's Gu Junyou, a half-Chinese, half-Western man. They're all so outstanding. I ask myself, what can I do to surpass them? The only thing I can do to win is probably being older!" Cang Qiong's heavy, painful voice drifted into Zui Die's ears, word by word. She felt both heartache and sorrow. Are external factors really that important? Even the ever-confident and mighty heavens could not overcome it. Why couldn't he understand that she never cared about these things? After all, these were like "flowers in a mirror, the moon in the water," illusory and fleeting, fading away with the years. Shouldn't true love possess infinite power, capable of overcoming everything? Zui Die patted Cang Qiong's shoulder, urging him to let go, then pulled him to sit down on the side of the corridor. She cupped his face in her hands, her thumbs gently tracing his features. "I never knew you cared so much about these things. Youth can fade, beauty can wither, but I won't change my heart because of them! If I really cared about these external factors, even the age gap, I have plenty of men to marry in the capital, don't I? Even Qiong Feng would be a good choice. We grew up together; he should be my first choice. But I didn't. Although you look alike, I knew him before you, he's younger, and his future is limitless. Even though you're related, I still didn't choose him. Because I only saw him as an older brother, a childhood friend. I would fight to the death for him, even lose my life, but I couldn't love him then. I don't know why..." "Why would I fall in love with you? Actually, think about it, you're about the same, and he even has more advantages than you, doesn't he? Love is love, there's no right or wrong, so I hope you won't overthink it anymore, okay?" Cang Qiong looked at her, his eyes filled with emotion, tenderness, and love, even a few tears welling up. "Yes, I'll never be so insecure again, Die'er. Do you know how moved and excited I was by your words today? I promise I'll never have my 'butterfly syndrome' again, and I won't feel inferior about my own conditions anymore. From now on, I'll only know one thing: how to love you and cherish you wholeheartedly—you're simply a miracle in my life, my darling." Seeing that he was finally no longer frowning and his mood had brightened, Zui Die started joking again, "Are you reciting poetry? So cheesy, aren't you ashamed!" She then started giggling. "You silly girl, when I'm feeling so sentimental, I finally managed to come up with such heavy and affectionate words, and you dare to tease me like that? Just wait till I get my hands on you!" Cang Qiong laughed at her teasing, but still deliberately put on a witch's face. "That's true! It's really strange for a great general like you to say such cheesy things." Who could imagine a great general, wielding a great sword to fight the enemy, wise and brave, majestic and awe-inspiring, especially since he is also a calm, steady, and unyielding person, turning around and acting all affectionate and sweet-talking? It really does feel strange. "You're right, but it seems that since I met you, all these things that I would never say in my entire life have been said to you all at once. I wonder what even more cheesy things I can say in the future." Cang Qiong thought for a moment and nodded in agreement. "I've lived half my life and haven't talked as much as I've talked these past few days. I never imagined I had this potential. I'm almost a Casanova! This proves that human potential is indeed limitless; it can develop infinitely." "I think you're mistaking cheesiness for romance!" Drunken Butterfly continued to tease him relentlessly! "You dare say that to me? If you hadn't said such a long string of words that moved me to tears, would I have said such disgusting things?" Now the two of them were arguing about who was the most cheesy. It was really too much. Hearing this, Charmaine and Little Bean, who had just returned, rolled their eyes. The two of them were evenly matched, each more cheesy than the other. They didn't even need to argue; it gave them goosebumps. "Who do you think will win?" Charmaine asked Little Bean, whom she considered the smartest. Little Bean gave her a look that said, "Of course it's a tie. They're both more cheesy than each other. Although the princess might have the upper hand verbally, but..." Little Bean smiled mysteriously at this point. "But what? Tell me quickly!" Jiaowa asked anxiously. "Little kid, why ask so many questions? You wouldn't understand the adult world." Xiaodouzi's face turned slightly red, and he deliberately rushed forward. "You stinky bean, you brat, so what if you're two months older than me!" "Two months is still older than you, what are you complaining about!" "Hmph, I think you're the one who's not, boohoo..." Before Jiaowa could finish her sentence, Xiaodouzi covered her mouth and squatted down. Jiaowa forcefully pried his hands off. "What are you doing! Trying to take advantage of me!" "Idiot, what advantage do you have that someone can take advantage of you? You're not some beauty, and besides, what advantage could I possibly take from you? If you shout again and the princess finds out, I won't care if you live or die." Don't blame him for not being loyal then. What advantage could a lowly eunuch like him possibly have over a mere palace maid like her? What an idiot woman! Actually, how could the two chosen by Zui Die from among thousands of palace maids and eunuchs truly be idiots? Having spent so much time with their master, they've developed a duality—sometimes confused, sometimes incredibly shrewd. Fortunately, they always know when to be confused and when to be meticulous. On missions, they all have the same cunning expression as their master! But when faced with everyday matters, they become incredibly confused, always clueless. Xiao Douzi is somewhat better; she's definitely a clever little bean. As for Jiao Wa, to borrow a phrase from Qiong Feng, let's not even mention her! She's basically a simpleton. Sometimes she seems mature, yet she's incredibly careless. Her only redeeming quality is probably her exceptional domestic skills. Not only is she an excellent cook, but she also keeps Zui Die comfortable and well-fed. Sometimes Zui Die feels she really can't live without her! Because few could satisfy her discerning palate like Chihuahua, her culinary skills improved daily under the tutelage of Drunken Butterfly. Unfortunately, while the teacher had produced a skilled apprentice, she herself was a complete culinary idiot. She herself said that she was born into wealth and privilege and didn't need to know anything about cooking. She knew about all the basics of firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea, but she couldn't recognize them because they all looked the same to her; she couldn't distinguish one from another. The one time she went to the kitchen, she almost burned down half the palace—that shows how terrifying it was!She sat down in the corridor, cupping his face in her hands, her thumbs gently tracing his features. "I never knew you cared so much about these things. Youth may fade, beauty may wither, but I won't change my heart because of them! If I really cared about these external factors, even the age gap, I have plenty of men to marry in the capital, don't I? Even Qiongfeng would be a good choice. We grew up together; he should be my first choice. But I didn't. Although you look alike, I knew him before you, he's younger, and his future is limitless. Even though you're related, I still didn't choose him. Because I only saw him as an older brother, a childhood friend. I would fight to the death for him, even lose my life, but I couldn't love him then. I don't know why I fell in love with you. Actually, thinking about you..." "Our conditions are similar, and he even has many advantages over you, doesn't he? Love is love, there's no right or wrong, so I hope you won't overthink it anymore, okay?" Cang Qiong looked at her, his eyes filled with emotion, tenderness, and love, even a few tears welling up. "Yes, I will never be so insecure again, Die'er. Do you know how moved and excited I was by your words today? I promise I will never have my 'butterfly disease' again, and I will no longer feel inferior about my own conditions. From now on, I will only know one thing: how to love you and cherish you wholeheartedly—you are simply a miracle in my life, my darling." Seeing that he was finally no longer frowning and his mood had brightened, Zui Die started joking again, "Are you reciting poetry? So cheesy, aren't you ashamed!" She then began to giggle. "You silly girl, when I'm feeling so sentimental, I finally managed to come up with such heavy and affectionate words, and you dare to tease me like that? Just wait till I get my hands on you!" Cang Qiong laughed at her teasing, but still deliberately put on a witch's face. "That's true! It's really strange for a great general like you to say such cheesy things." Who could imagine a great general, wielding a great sword to fight the enemy, wise and brave, majestic and awe-inspiring, especially since he is also a calm, steady, and unyielding person, turning around and acting all affectionate and sweet-talking? It really does feel strange. "You're right, but it seems that since I met you, all these things that I would never say in my entire life have been said to you all at once. I wonder what even more cheesy things I can say in the future." Cang Qiong thought for a moment and nodded in agreement. "I've lived half my life and haven't talked as much as I've talked these past few days. I never imagined I had this potential. I'm almost a Casanova! This proves that human potential is indeed limitless; it can develop infinitely." "I think you're mistaking cheesiness for romance!" Drunken Butterfly continued to tease him relentlessly! "You dare say that to me? If you hadn't said such a long string of words that moved me to tears, would I have said such disgusting things?" Now the two of them were arguing about who was the most cheesy. It was really too much. Hearing this, Charmaine and Little Bean, who had just returned, rolled their eyes. The two of them were evenly matched, each more cheesy than the other. They didn't even need to argue; it gave them goosebumps. "Who do you think will win?" Charmaine asked Little Bean, whom she considered the smartest. Little Bean gave her a look that said, "Of course it's a tie. They're both more cheesy than each other. Although the princess might have the upper hand verbally, but..." Little Bean smiled mysteriously at this point. "But what? Tell me quickly!" Jiaowa asked anxiously. "Little kid, why ask so many questions? You wouldn't understand the adult world." Xiaodouzi's face turned slightly red, and he deliberately rushed forward. "You stinky bean, you brat, so what if you're two months older than me!" "Two months is still older than you, what are you complaining about!" "Hmph, I think you're the one who's not, boohoo..." Before Jiaowa could finish her sentence, Xiaodouzi covered her mouth and squatted down. Jiaowa forcefully pried his hands off. "What are you doing! Trying to take advantage of me!" "Idiot, what advantage do you have that someone can take advantage of you? You're not some beauty, and besides, what advantage could I possibly take from you? If you shout again and the princess finds out, I won't care if you live or die." Don't blame him for not being loyal then. What advantage could a lowly eunuch like him possibly have over a mere palace maid like her? What an idiot woman! Actually, how could the two chosen by Zui Die from among thousands of palace maids and eunuchs truly be idiots? Having spent so much time with their master, they've developed a duality—sometimes confused, sometimes incredibly shrewd. Fortunately, they always know when to be confused and when to be meticulous. On missions, they all have the same cunning expression as their master! But when faced with everyday matters, they become incredibly confused, always clueless. Xiao Douzi is somewhat better; she's definitely a clever little bean. As for Jiao Wa, to borrow a phrase from Qiong Feng, let's not even mention her! She's basically a simpleton. Sometimes she seems mature, yet she's incredibly careless. Her only redeeming quality is probably her exceptional domestic skills. Not only is she an excellent cook, but she also keeps Zui Die comfortable and well-fed. Sometimes Zui Die feels she really can't live without her! Because few could satisfy her discerning palate like Chihuahua, her culinary skills improved daily under the tutelage of Drunken Butterfly. Unfortunately, while the teacher had produced a skilled apprentice, she herself was a complete culinary idiot. She herself said that she was born into wealth and privilege and didn't need to know anything about cooking. She knew about all the basics of firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea, but she couldn't recognize them because they all looked the same to her; she couldn't distinguish one from another. The one time she went to the kitchen, she almost burned down half the palace—that shows how terrifying it was!She sat down in the corridor, cupping his face in her hands, her thumbs gently tracing his features. "I never knew you cared so much about these things. Youth may fade, beauty may wither, but I won't change my heart because of them! If I really cared about these external factors, even the age gap, I have plenty of men to marry in the capital, don't I? Even Qiongfeng would be a good choice. We grew up together; he should be my first choice. But I didn't. Although you look alike, I knew him before you, he's younger, and his future is limitless. Even though you're related, I still didn't choose him. Because I only saw him as an older brother, a childhood friend. I would fight to the death for him, even lose my life, but I couldn't love him then. I don't know why I fell in love with you. Actually, thinking about you..." "Our conditions are similar, and he even has many advantages over you, doesn't he? Love is love, there's no right or wrong, so I hope you won't overthink it anymore, okay?" Cang Qiong looked at her, his eyes filled with emotion, tenderness, and love, even a few tears welling up. "Yes, I will never be so insecure again, Die'er. Do you know how moved and excited I was by your words today? I promise I will never have my 'butterfly disease' again, and I will no longer feel inferior about my own conditions. From now on, I will only know one thing: how to love you and cherish you wholeheartedly—you are simply a miracle in my life, my darling." Seeing that he was finally no longer frowning and his mood had brightened, Zui Die started joking again, "Are you reciting poetry? So cheesy, aren't you ashamed!" She then began to giggle. "You silly girl, when I'm feeling so sentimental, I finally managed to come up with such heavy and affectionate words, and you dare to tease me like that? Just wait till I get my hands on you!" Cang Qiong laughed at her teasing, but still deliberately put on a witch's face. "That's true! It's really strange for a great general like you to say such cheesy things." Who could imagine a great general, wielding a great sword to fight the enemy, wise and brave, majestic and awe-inspiring, especially since he is also a calm, steady, and unyielding person, turning around and acting all affectionate and sweet-talking? It really does feel strange. "You're right, but it seems that since I met you, all these things that I would never say in my entire life have been said to you all at once. I wonder what even more cheesy things I can say in the future." Cang Qiong thought for a moment and nodded in agreement. "I've lived half my life and haven't talked as much as I've talked these past few days. I never imagined I had this potential. I'm almost a Casanova! This proves that human potential is indeed limitless; it can develop infinitely." "I think you're mistaking cheesiness for romance!" Drunken Butterfly continued to tease him relentlessly! "You dare say that to me? If you hadn't said such a long string of words that moved me to tears, would I have said such disgusting things?" Now the two of them were arguing about who was the most cheesy. It was really too much. Hearing this, Charmaine and Little Bean, who had just returned, rolled their eyes. The two of them were evenly matched, each more cheesy than the other. They didn't even need to argue; it gave them goosebumps. "Who do you think will win?" Charmaine asked Little Bean, whom she considered the smartest. Little Bean gave her a look that said, "Of course it's a tie. They're both more cheesy than each other. Although the princess might have the upper hand verbally, but..." Little Bean smiled mysteriously at this point. "But what? Tell me quickly!" Jiaowa asked anxiously. "Little kid, why ask so many questions? You wouldn't understand the adult world." Xiaodouzi's face turned slightly red, and he deliberately rushed forward. "You stinky bean, you brat, so what if you're two months older than me!" "Two months is still older than you, what are you complaining about!" "Hmph, I think you're the one who's not, boohoo..." Before Jiaowa could finish her sentence, Xiaodouzi covered her mouth and squatted down. Jiaowa forcefully pried his hands off. "What are you doing! Trying to take advantage of me!" "Idiot, what advantage do you have that someone can take advantage of you? You're not some beauty, and besides, what advantage could I possibly take from you? If you shout again and the princess finds out, I won't care if you live or die." Don't blame him for not being loyal then. What advantage could a lowly eunuch like him possibly have over a mere palace maid like her? What an idiot woman! Actually, how could the two chosen by Zui Die from among thousands of palace maids and eunuchs truly be idiots? Having spent so much time with their master, they've developed a duality—sometimes confused, sometimes incredibly shrewd. Fortunately, they always know when to be confused and when to be meticulous. On missions, they all have the same cunning expression as their master! But when faced with everyday matters, they become incredibly confused, always clueless. Xiao Douzi is somewhat better; she's definitely a clever little bean. As for Jiao Wa, to borrow a phrase from Qiong Feng, let's not even mention her! She's basically a simpleton. Sometimes she seems mature, yet she's incredibly careless. Her only redeeming quality is probably her exceptional domestic skills. Not only is she an excellent cook, but she also keeps Zui Die comfortable and well-fed. Sometimes Zui Die feels she really can't live without her! Because few could satisfy her discerning palate like Chihuahua, her culinary skills improved daily under the tutelage of Drunken Butterfly. Unfortunately, while the teacher had produced a skilled apprentice, she herself was a complete culinary idiot. She herself said that she was born into wealth and privilege and didn't need to know anything about cooking. She knew about all the basics of firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea, but she couldn't recognize them because they all looked the same to her; she couldn't distinguish one from another. The one time she went to the kitchen, she almost burned down half the palace—that shows how terrifying it was!"Of course it's a draw," Little Bean said with a "you're so stupid" look. "They're both so cheesy! Although the princess might have the upper hand verbally, but..." Little Bean smiled mysteriously. "But what? Tell me!" Jiaowa asked anxiously. "Little kid, why ask so many questions? You wouldn't understand the adult world." Little Bean's face turned slightly red, and he deliberately pressed on. "You brat, you stupid bean, so what if you're two months older than me!" "Two months is still older than you, what are you complaining about!" "Hmph, I think you're the one who's not, boohoo..." Jiaowa's words were cut short when Little Bean covered her mouth and squatted down. Jiaowa forcefully pried his hands away. "What are you doing! Trying to take advantage of me!" "Idiot, what advantage do you have that I can take advantage of? You're not some beauty, and besides, what advantage could I possibly take from you? If you shout again and the princess finds out, I won't care if you live or die." Don't blame him for being disloyal then. What advantage could a lowly eunuch like him possibly take from a lowly palace maid like her? What an idiot woman! Actually, how could the two chosen by Zui Die from among thousands of palace maids and eunuchs really be idiots? Having spent so much time with their master, they had developed a dual nature, sometimes confused, sometimes incredibly shrewd. Fortunately, they always knew when to be confused and when to be meticulous. During missions, they all had the expression of little foxes, just like their master! But when faced with small things in life, they were extremely confused, always unable to understand the situation. Xiaodouzi was a little better; he was indeed a clever little bean. As for Jiaowa, to quote Qiongfeng, let's not even mention her! She's basically a clueless goofball. Sometimes she seems quite mature, yet she's incredibly carefree. Her only redeeming quality is probably her exceptional domestic skills. Not only is she an excellent cook, but she also manages to keep Zui Die completely comfortable and at ease. Sometimes Zui Die feels she can't live without her! Few people can satisfy her discerning palate like Jiao Wa. Jiao Wa's culinary skills improved daily under Zui Die's tutelage, but unfortunately, while the teacher produced a great apprentice, she herself is a complete culinary idiot. She herself says she was born into wealth and doesn't need to know anything about cooking. She knows everything about firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea, but she just doesn't recognize them. To her, they all look the same; she can't distinguish one from another. The one time she went to the kitchen, she almost burned down half the palace—that shows how terrifying she is!"Of course it's a draw," Little Bean said with a "you're so stupid" look. "They're both so cheesy! Although the princess might have the upper hand verbally, but..." Little Bean smiled mysteriously. "But what? Tell me!" Jiaowa asked anxiously. "Little kid, why ask so many questions? You wouldn't understand the adult world." Little Bean's face turned slightly red, and he deliberately pressed on. "You brat, you stupid bean, so what if you're two months older than me!" "Two months is still older than you, what are you complaining about!" "Hmph, I think you're the one who's not, boohoo..." Jiaowa's words were cut short when Little Bean covered her mouth and squatted down. Jiaowa forcefully pried his hands away. "What are you doing! Trying to take advantage of me!" "Idiot, what advantage do you have that I can take advantage of? You're not some beauty, and besides, what advantage could I possibly take from you? If you shout again and the princess finds out, I won't care if you live or die." Don't blame him for being disloyal then. What advantage could a lowly eunuch like him possibly take from a lowly palace maid like her? What an idiot woman! Actually, how could the two chosen by Zui Die from among thousands of palace maids and eunuchs really be idiots? Having spent so much time with their master, they had developed a dual nature, sometimes confused, sometimes incredibly shrewd. Fortunately, they always knew when to be confused and when to be meticulous. During missions, they all had the expression of little foxes, just like their master! But when faced with small things in life, they were extremely confused, always unable to understand the situation. Xiaodouzi was a little better; he was indeed a clever little bean. As for Jiaowa, to quote Qiongfeng, let's not even mention her! She's basically a clueless goofball. Sometimes she seems quite mature, yet she's incredibly carefree. Her only redeeming quality is probably her exceptional domestic skills. Not only is she an excellent cook, but she also manages to keep Zui Die completely comfortable and at ease. Sometimes Zui Die feels she can't live without her! Few people can satisfy her discerning palate like Jiao Wa. Jiao Wa's culinary skills improved daily under Zui Die's tutelage, but unfortunately, while the teacher produced a great apprentice, she herself is a complete culinary idiot. She herself says she was born into wealth and doesn't need to know anything about cooking. She knows everything about firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea, but she just doesn't recognize them. To her, they all look the same; she can't distinguish one from another. The one time she went to the kitchen, she almost burned down half the palace—that shows how terrifying she is!
It's said that anything made by her is more potent than the finest arsenic or poison; eating it guarantees you'll be able to play chess with the King of Hell. However, the reason she's able to train such a skilled apprentice is entirely due to her talk of good cooking—yes, talk. She's a classic example of someone who only talks, never acts, born with the life of a princess. "Ah..." The girl covered her mouth, ducked back down, then peeked out again, trying to see if the princess and general had noticed. Strange, why was there no sound? When she looked, the two were already glued together, oblivious to whether they were peeping! The girl stared wide-eyed, finally understanding the stinky bean's "but." "They...they..." her finger trembled as she pointed. "What are they? They're gone! It's not like it's the first time." At least it wasn't the first time he'd encountered them. These two really didn't hide their enthusiasm for each other at all. Xiao Douzi was now torn between worry and joy. Thinking about his situation in the capital, he was really having a headache. But that was after he returned to the capital. It was too early to think about it now. The reason people die young is because they bring trouble upon themselves. Xiao Douzi wanted to live to be a hundred years old. He didn't want to go to see the King of Hell so soon and play chess with him. Part Two: Iron Will and Tender Heart, Chapter Twenty-Two: Infant Tears. In Bronze Town, Gu Junyou was diligently examining the refugees' conditions. Their painful groans, swollen and red bodies, and scratches all over their faces made him determined to find the elixir as quickly as possible, for these refugees wouldn't last much longer. Looking at Zui Die weaving through the crowd in the distance, he realized she hadn't had a proper rest for almost three days. Her beautiful eyes were sunken, and she hadn't even had a proper meal. The number of refugees was far greater than they had imagined; the initial clearing work alone would take a considerable amount of time. The previous doctors had only provided basic treatment and then passively waited, unanimously concluding that they were all beyond saving. Zui Die straightened up slightly, rubbing her stiff waist, and wiped the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve. The veil covering her face made her feel somewhat stuffy, but she didn't say anything, taking the medicine from Jiao Wa and continuing to administer it. "Miss, please rest! I'll take care of things here. Continuing like this isn't a solution!" Jiaowa felt sorry for the princess's exhaustion. The princess had never worked so hard before, yet she hadn't had a proper rest for three days straight in order to treat the refugees as quickly as possible. Zui Die smiled slightly at her and said, "It's alright. Besides, I'm not the only one suffering. None of you have rested either. Don't worry about me!" They were all sharing her hardships. Meeting Gu Junyou's concerned gaze, she smiled at him, telling him not to worry, that she was fine. Gu Junyou's handsome brows furrowed slightly. "Miss, it's nothing for me to be tired. Besides, when the master left, I promised to take good care of you, but look at you now." Her eyes were sunken, her face haggard, and her complexion pale. She looked terrible. The master would be heartbroken when he returned. "I told you, it's alright. Besides, he's already busy distributing disaster relief funds and raising more money, he doesn't have time to worry about me, so don't worry!" No wonder she was worried. The adult came here every night, no matter how late, to check on the princess. Knowing the princess wouldn't allow him in, he deliberately gave her a lot to do, so she secretly watched from the sidelines until she was sure the princess was alright before leaving. "Miss, at least you should rest for a bit, eat something before continuing... Miss... Miss..." Jiaowa turned around and saw Zui Die cleaning up some vomit from a child. "Miss, how can you do this? I can do it!" Jiaowa quickly ran forward, snatched the cloth from her hand, and started wiping. "Jiaowa, I..." "You really should rest. I'm here. Go take a nap, eat something, don't stay here." Gu Junyou came over, took off his gloves, and helped her push him into the tent so she could get some rest. "Gu Junyou, please don't be like this. I'm really fine. Besides, you're all just as busy as I am. Don't treat me like a fragile porcelain doll, okay?" Zui Die said helplessly as she turned around. "No, look at you! What have you done? Are you going to treat yourself like a doctor? As a doctor, you should know how dangerous your condition is." This time, he wouldn't compromise no matter what. "Gu Junyou!" "You don't need to say anything now. Except that you can rest, everything will be discussed in person." He also had his own insistence. "No, I want to ask you, do you think our prescription this time is correct? I feel like something is missing! Otherwise, they should have been under control by now after drinking three doses of medicine! Is there something wrong with our prescription?" They've used both Chinese and Western medicine, so why is it still ineffective? That means they've prescribed the wrong medicine, or they've diagnosed the problem from the wrong angle. "It shouldn't be. Their symptoms do seem to be from a flu virus." Gu Junyou felt a bit strange after hearing her say that, but all their symptoms resembled a viral flu. Adding to that the recent locust plague and floods, the already malnourished people naturally had weaker immune systems, which explained why the entire town was infected. "I just checked them again, and it doesn't seem to be the flu virus, but rather a collective poisoning. I remember reading a book about a similar disease before... Ah... I know what it is!" Zui Die suddenly shouted, then grabbed Gu Junyou and ran outside. They bumped into Xiao Douzi, who had just returned with medicine, and Zui Die nearly fell over. Luckily, Gu Junyou caught her in time, preventing her from kissing the ground. Unfortunately, Xiao Douzi wasn't so lucky and fell flat on his back. "Which one is short... Um, Miss, it's you! Where are you going?" Xiaodouzi was about to start cursing when he realized the person who bumped into him was his young mistress, and he swallowed all his words. "Don't ask yet, we have something to do and need to go out for a while. You and Jiaowa can take care of things here." Without waiting for Xiaodouzi's reaction, she grabbed Gu Junyou and ran out. They happened to see a horse strolling there, and without thinking, she leaped onto it. Then, with a pull, Gu Junyou sat behind her. "Giddy up—" With a soft shout, the two quickly disappeared from everyone's sight. Zui Die hadn't noticed the figure beside her at all. Watching them leave, her clenched fists and eyes filled with anger, she didn't even see his presence. She even rode his "Nuchi" and disappeared from his sight with the man, completely ignoring him and being so intimate with someone else. The first time he realized how painful, unacceptable, and even murderous it was to be completely ignored, he felt a surge of jealousy. His concern for her had reached a point where it could destroy the world. He suddenly realized how terrifying and even frightening his feelings were. He was even more afraid that this intense emotion and burning possessiveness would one day hurt Zui Die, and that he would ultimately lose her completely. Oh God, what should he do? "My lord, don't worry. The princess and Young Master Gu must have something important to do, which is why they were in such a hurry and didn't inform you," Xiao Douzi approached, trying to comfort him. He couldn't understand what was wrong with the princess. She had grabbed Young Master Gu and run away, completely ignoring the lord who had come to her aid. To make matters worse, they had even ridden away together on a single horse. Xiao Douzi really wanted to faint. Cang Qiong didn't finish speaking, turning and entering the tent. His eyes were dim and lifeless, his back so forlorn that Jiao Wa and Xiao Douzi sighed helplessly. Love truly is a cruel thing; they would rather never encounter it again, for it could easily transform a person into someone completely unlike themselves. The two rode swiftly up the mountain, following a river upstream. Zui Die dismounted first, Gu Junyou following beside her, asking in confusion, "What are we looking for here?" "I'm not entirely sure yet, but I think we'll have the answer soon. Look…" Suddenly, Zui Die pointed to a spot. Gu Junyou glanced at it and froze. He hadn't expected to see such a scene. A patch of large, vibrant red flowers grew on the riverbank, so beautiful and alluring, yet they were oozing drops of red liquid, like drops of blood—seductive and alluring, yet giving off a chilling feeling. "This is 'Baby's Tears,' also known as 'Flame Enchantress.' It can be said to be both a life-saving medicine and a deadly poison. Its petals and roots are excellent antidotes, but on the seventh day after its petals fully bloom, it releases a toxin called 'Blood Droplets.' This toxin is extremely deadly; anyone who comes into contact with even a single drop will begin to slowly rot, but will not die. Instead, they will slowly torment the person for forty-nine days before the body withers and dies from decay. I never expected to find such a plant here." It should grow in a corner of the underworld. It doesn't belong to the mortal realm, yet here it is, growing in vast quantities. Truly..."It's terrifying. No wonder no matter what medicine they use, it's all ineffective." "All the residents of Gutong Town drink water from this river, which has long been contaminated with toxins. No wonder there's a mass plague, and even ordinary doctors think it's just a common epidemic." "How can 'Baby's Tears' have such a strange name? It really sends chills down my spine. What do we do now? It means those villagers don't have many days left to live. They've already lived forty-five days. Where can we get the antidote?" Gu Junyou said anxiously. "No, you should say they're saved. Didn't I just say that it's both poison and an antidote? Its petals and roots are all antidotes." "You mean, the antidote is the petals and roots of these flowers?" Seeing Drunken Butterfly nod, Gu Junyou said happily, "Then what are we waiting for? I'll go pull them all up right now." He was about to step forward to start when a voice said, "Wait! You can't do that! Those 'blood droplets' are still dripping. If you get even a drop on your skin, your whole body will be ruined and rotten." "Then what should I do! I can't leave them unpicked!" "!" Zui Die smiled sweetly, revealing a pair of pure white silk gloves on her smooth, delicate hands. "That's fine." She then began to work, uprooting each 'Baby's Tear' to prevent it from sprouting again next year. When she felt the amount was enough, she had Gu Junyou burn the remaining fire. The fiery red flames created a ghostly scene in the sky, like countless crying babies. Moments later, only a pile of ashes remained on the once fiery red shore. Zui Die then had Gu Junyou collect all the ashes before the two hurried back. "Miss, Young Master Gu, you're finally back!" As soon as they returned to the village, Jiaowa and Xiaodouzi rushed to greet them, looking very anxious. "What's wrong? We were only out for a little while, not for long. Why are you so nervous?" Zui Die dismounted, straightened her clothes, and said. "Miss, it's the adult!" "Cang Qiong, what happened to him?" Without waiting for Jiaowa's reply, she handed the 'Baby's Tears' to Xiaodouzi. "Go and boil these petals and stems together into a pot of medicine, and distribute it to everyone. Gu Junyou, disperse the ashes and have them scattered around the entire Bronze Town. That should do the trick." "Don't worry, leave it to me," Gu Junyou assured her. "Then I'll trouble you." Zui Die flashed her most relaxed and charming smile in days, looking at Gu Junyou, who was captivated by her smile, staring blankly at her. The two laughed together, their joy stemming from the fact that their combined efforts could finally help everyone escape this 'plague,' a sense of relief washing over them. After all, staying here for so long had been truly stifling, and they longed to return to bed for a good night's sleep and rest. However, this scene was interpreted very differently by others, especially by a pair of deep eyes filled with jealousy and sorrow. They seemed to be exchanging flirtatious glances. Jiaowa looked at the two of them, puzzled, then glanced at the adult standing outside the tent with a slightly annoyed expression, becoming even more anxious. "Cough cough... Miss..." Jiaowa suddenly shouted, startling the two of them. Gu Junyou waved a bag of cigarette ash at Zui Die, then smiled and left. Zui Die returned his bright smile. "Miss!" "Jiaowa, you don't need to shout so loudly, I can hear you." Zui Die's ears tickled from her shout, and she scratched them with her hand. "Miss, the master is here." Jiaowa rolled her eyes before speaking again. "Cang Qiong is here, why didn't you say so sooner? Where is he? Oh, I know, he must be waiting for me in the tent! Okay, I'll go in first." Saying this, she happily went inside. Jiaowa was dumbfounded. How come the princess didn't know the master was there? She was riding the master's 'Crossbow'! Could it be that the princess was so confused that she hadn't noticed? This time, she really felt a sense of helplessness. Princess, you'd better pray for yourself! Part Two: Iron-Willed Tenderness, Chapter Twenty-Three: Three Days of Bitter Longing. The drunken butterfly excitedly rushed into the tent, seeing Cang Qiong sitting there with his back to her. She giggled, then rushed over, hugged his neck from behind, and planted a kiss on his cheek. "You've been waiting long, haven't you? I'm sorry, I just went out for a bit. How long have you been here?" Hearing her words, Cang Qiong's body stiffened, his eyes growing even darker. He knew she had gone out; she had even pulled that person past him, yet she hadn't noticed his presence at all. And what about 'Nu Chi'? Even if she hadn't noticed it, riding 'Nu Chi' all the way here should have made it aware! Was she deliberately feigning ignorance, or was she trying to embarrass him? Such neglect and disregard left him utterly humiliated. "Where did you go?" "What's wrong? Are you angry?" Seeing his somewhat displeased expression, Zui Die kissed him on the lips again. "Okay, don't be angry. I suddenly thought of something, so I asked Gu Junyou to come out with me. You know, we finally..." Before Zui Die could finish speaking, Cang Qiong interrupted her, "You went out together." Zui Die didn't notice his strange tone. Instead, she released his neck, went to the side, poured herself a glass of water, and gulped it down. "Yeah, didn't I already say? I was so thirsty. I haven't eaten for days, and my nerves have been on edge the whole time, so I forgot I was hungry. Now that I'm relaxed, my stomach is rumbling, hehe..." Zui Die talked to herself, picked up a pastry that Jiao Wa had left there that morning, and started eating it. Cang Qiong, who was originally angry with her, heard her words and then saw that she was even eating that kind of thing. He felt extremely sorry for her and suppressed all his anger. "I'll go ask Jiaowa to prepare some more food for you, don't eat that stuff anymore." "Hehe, I knew Cangqiong still loves me the most." After saying that, she kissed his face again with her mouth full of food scraps. "You know what? Now even leftovers seem like delicacies to me, I even feel like I could eat a whole cow." Zui Die said in a cute and innocent way. "Are you that hungry? Haven't you eaten anything for three days?" Jiaowa and Xiaodouzi had taken good care of you, no wonder you were so thin. He immediately transferred all his anger to Jiaowa and Xiaodouzi. "Gu Junyou and that traitor Jiaowa probably forced me to eat some food, but seeing them suffering there, how could I eat!" Now that the matter was resolved, he felt relieved and his appetite returned. It was Gu Junyou again. Why was that kid always so persistent? However, Cang Qiong suppressed his dissatisfaction. After all, he couldn't really say anything. With her working so hard to rescue the refugees, it would be too awful for him to say anything about this. He should believe her, shouldn't he? Hua Qiong told himself again to believe her. There was nothing between them, and what happened just now was just a coincidence. "Alright, wash up a bit and rest. I'll go ask Jiaowa to prepare some food and even fetch you a tub of bathwater." "Mmm, I knew you were the best. I'm really a little tired." As she spoke, Zui Die's eyes began to mist over. Cang Qiong patted her face and left. Zui Die felt utterly exhausted and wanted to lie down for a nap. But as soon as her head touched the pillow, she drifted off to sleep. When Cang Qiong returned, he saw her fast asleep on the couch. He sat beside her, gazing at her sleeping face, so beautiful yet innocent. It was impossible to imagine that this still-childish girl was the same Princess Gulun who had stood before the officials in the palace, silencing them with her golden whip. It was even more unimaginable that this frail and thin girl had spent three days and three nights alone among these refugees, striving to free tens of thousands from their suffering. This pampered princess had endured three days of hardship alongside them in such harsh conditions, accepting it without a word of complaint. Whatever the people ate, she ate; whatever they slept, she slept. But she had no time to eat or sleep, her entire focus was on saving those people. Every time he specially brought her back from outside, she gave it all to the children and the elderly. Good heavens! How could she endure such hardship and then exclude him? Thinking back to the day they were about to enter this place, they had a huge argument about whether he should come in with them. "Butterfly, let me go in with you, maybe I can help!" Cang Qiong tried to persuade her. "No, we can't be sure what the situation is there. What if it really is a plague and you get infected? I absolutely won't allow it," Zui Die insisted, refusing to compromise. "You've already taken so many precautions, have some confidence in me, okay? Besides, do you think I can just stand by and watch you suffer inside while I do nothing outside? Precautions only reduce the chance of infection, but they don't completely eliminate it. You...""Don't make me worry, okay? Besides, you have your own things to do. If you go, what will happen to these disaster victims outside? Who will raise funds? Who will rebuild the villages submerged by the flood? Who will distribute rice, food, and clothing to them? Wouldn't it be better if we divided the work and cooperated? We can achieve twice the result with half the effort. Maybe by the time I come out, your dike will be almost finished!" Zui Die cupped his face and said solemnly. "I know, I know, I know all that you're saying, but how can I not be anxious, flustered, and confused when I think about you going in alone! Xiao Douzi, Zhao Hu, and Mu Ge can handle everything here. Xiao Douzi is clever and quick-witted, and Zhao Hu and Mu Ge have followed me for so long; they are all capable generals who can stand alone. They are absolutely competent!" "Cang Qiong, are you going to blur the lines between public and private matters? If so, you'll disappoint me greatly. What will the people think when they find out? What will they say when the news reaches the capital? Are you trying to make things difficult for me? Or are you planning to ruin your future? This is the time when you are needed here, but you're willing to take the risk because you're worried about me. What if something happens to you? What will happen to your family? Your elderly mother, your wife Ye Rong, and what will happen to Qiong Feng and Ya Feng? You can't be so selfish. They need you now, the country needs you, and the people here need you even more!" Seeing that she wouldn't listen to anything, Zui Die became serious and cold. "And what about you? Don't you need me? I admit I'm selfish. I selfishly only want to protect you, only want to wholeheartedly guard you. But damn it, I actually let momentary emotions cloud my judgment, washing away all my rationality. Loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, righteousness—I forgot them all, abandoned them all. I even forgot that I'm a man with a family, a wife and children. I've gone mad." Cang Qiong said somewhat incoherently, finally even slamming his fist on the wooden table in the room. Seeing this, Zui Die quickly stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his hand, pressing a kiss to his lips. Then, the two slowly warmed the kiss, making it more tender. Cang Qiong sucked on her lips forcefully, his arms tightly embracing her, as if he wanted to melt her entire being, her whole body, into his. Their deep, lingering kiss lasted a long time before they finally parted, breathless. A strand of hair remained between their lips, making the room's temperature rise even higher. The ambiguous atmosphere lingered in the air. "Remember, this is my kiss, my taste. I will love you forever and ever. If you miss me, take out this 'Ice Butterfly.' I'll feel the warmth of the Ice Butterfly from another place, and I'll know you're thinking of me. I'll be thinking of you there too. We're only separated for a few days, not for long. Believe me, I'll soon control the epidemic there. Once the people's condition is stable and I'm sure nothing else will happen, I'll rush back to reunite with you, okay?" Drunken Butterfly said, lightly kissing his lips a few more times. Cang Qiong looked at the Ice Butterfly around his neck, which, along with the one around Drunken Butterfly's neck, emitted a faint glow after they both took it out. "Alright then! Three days. If you haven't come out in three days, I'll go in to find you," Cang Qiong said, having to compromise. "Three days? How can that be? It should take at least ten days to half a month!" Drunken Butterfly exclaimed. Did he really think she was a goddess? How could the illness be completely cured in three days? "Three days is my bottom line. If it's any less, then two days. I absolutely cannot endure any more days without seeing you or even knowing how you are doing. I would really break down." He didn't know how he would get through three days. Drunken Butterfly tilted his head and thought for a moment before speaking, "Alright then! But we have many tasks to complete this time. I hope you can finish everything in these few days. I'll have Xiaodouzi help you. He'll do some liaison work. Here's a list. This is a list of people that I had Xiaodouzi collect. Go and gather these people together and get them to donate money. We need to renovate the houses, build protective dikes, rebuild the village, and do other work. I hope you can finish these tasks in these few days before coming to see me. You know, these things..." "It's urgent and can't be delayed any longer. After all, none of us know what will happen next." Cang Qiong glanced at the contents; all the tasks and the list of people who needed to donate were recorded in detail. He also understood that she could easily have Xiao Douzi handle this alone, since they had obtained these lists without his knowledge. It seemed that Xiao Douzi was definitely a hidden talent. No wonder Xiao Douzi had been working long hours these past few days, sometimes even more hardworking than him, the imperial envoy. So that's why. Trying to trap me with these things? You overestimate me! "Don't worry, I will definitely finish within three days. I promise you a surprise when I get out." Cang Qiong readily accepted her challenge. He was already working on these things, but she had simply given him a greater advantage. He hadn't expected that they would be so in sync, thinking the same thing. "Don't be in such a hurry. There are so many things to do. Take your time. Don't put too much pressure on yourself or work too long," Zui Die said with a charming laugh. "How could that be? To see you as soon as possible, I will definitely finish all of this in the shortest amount of time." Cang Qiong kissed her little face affectionately and said with a bright smile. And he really did it. He ran around every day, planning everything. Not only had Zui Die not eaten or slept well these past few days, but he had been the same. He completed everything that would take others at least ten days to half a month in three days. During some spare time, afraid that Zui Die would not eat well, be tired or hungry, he had some things made and had Xiao Douzi give them to her. He himself hid to the side, just hoping to catch a glimpse of her. Just seeing her from afar, all the hard work of the day miraculously disappeared. Finally, on the third day at noon, he finished everything and made arrangements. Those harsh officials also returned all the money they had squeezed from the people over the years. After all, with Zui Die's account book, how could they escape? The money was used for reconstruction, repairing fields and building dams. The maid brought in a plate of food and saw this scene: the adult and the princess were lying down fully clothed, their fingers intertwined, heads resting together, both fast asleep. The maid gently put the food down, covered them with a small blanket, and went out again. The two continued to sleep sweetly together, their dreams filled with happiness and contentment as they dreamt of each other. (Part Two, Iron-Willed Tenderness, Chapter Twenty-Four: A Drunken Retreat) Cang Qiong opened his eyes and saw Zui Die still sleeping soundly in his arms. He smiled slightly, placed a kiss on her forehead, and saw that she still didn't react, continuing to sleep. He looked around and realized they had been sleeping for so long. The room was lit by candles, the dim light creating a hazy atmosphere. There were some dishes on the table, unlike what they would have in the capital; these were simple meals, seemingly recently served. The maid had probably already brought one, but since they were asleep, this one looked like it had just been changed. Looking at her contented sleeping face, he wanted her to rest a little longer! Now was the perfect opportunity to take a good look at her face. How long had it been since he had looked at her so closely? Three days, a full three days, felt like three centuries to him. The ancients said, "A day apart feels like three autumns," but for him, "A minute apart feels like three autumns." Her features were exquisite; her eyebrows weren't the typical willow-leaf shape of a noblewoman, but rather a sharp, spirited brow. Long eyelashes, a high, delicate nose, and even breathing completed her look. Her cherry-like lips, lovely yet subtly sensual, remained rosy even without makeup. Everything about her apple-shaped face was harmonious and perfect—any more or less would be too much or too little. Even the legendary Chen Yuanyuan and Consort Dong'e paled in comparison. This stunning beauty possessed both the heroic spirit of a woman who wouldn't yield to men, and the innocent charm of a child. She should have been the center of attention, the object of every noble's desire. Yet, she chose him, someone who had already lost everything. Perhaps twenty years ago, he would have felt no inferiority, unafraid of any competition as long as there was mutual affection. But now, to have her favor was something he never dared to dream of; how could he ask for more?"The thought of you going in alone makes me anxious, flustered, and confused! Everything here can be handled by Xiaodouzi, Zhao Hu, and Muge. Xiaodouzi is clever and quick-witted, and Zhao Hu and Muge have followed me for so long; they are both capable generals who can handle things independently. They are absolutely competent!" "Cang Qiong, are you going to blur the lines between public and private matters? If so, you'll disappoint me greatly. What will the people think if they find out? What will they say when the news reaches the capital? Are you trying to make things difficult for me? Or are you planning to ruin your future? This is the time when you are needed here, yet you are willing to take risks because you don't care about me. What if something happens to you? What will happen to your family? Your elderly mother, your wife Ye Rong, and what will happen to Qiong Feng and Ya Feng? You can't be so selfish. They need you now, the country needs you, and the people here need you even more!" Seeing that she wouldn't listen to anything, Zui Die became serious and cold. "And what about you? Don't you need me? I admit I'm selfish. I selfishly only want to protect you, only want to wholeheartedly guard you. But damn it, I actually let momentary emotions cloud my judgment, washing away all my rationality. Loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, righteousness—I forgot them all, abandoned them all. I even forgot that I'm a man with a family, a wife and children. I've gone mad." Cang Qiong said somewhat incoherently, finally even slamming his fist on the wooden table in the room. Seeing this, Zui Die quickly stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his hand, pressing a kiss to his lips. Then, the two slowly warmed the kiss, making it more tender. Cang Qiong sucked on her lips forcefully, his arms tightly embracing her, as if he wanted to melt her entire being, her whole body, into his. Their deep, lingering kiss lasted a long time before they finally parted, breathless. A strand of hair remained between their lips, making the room's temperature rise even higher. The ambiguous atmosphere lingered in the air. "Remember, this is my kiss, my taste. I will love you forever and ever. If you miss me, take out this 'Ice Butterfly.' I'll feel the warmth of the Ice Butterfly from another place, and I'll know you're thinking of me. I'll be thinking of you there too. We're only separated for a few days, not for long. Believe me, I'll soon control the epidemic there. Once the people's condition is stable and I'm sure nothing else will happen, I'll rush back to reunite with you, okay?" Drunken Butterfly said, lightly kissing his lips a few more times. Cang Qiong looked at the Ice Butterfly around his neck, which, along with the one around Drunken Butterfly's neck, emitted a faint glow after they both took it out. "Alright then! Three days. If you haven't come out in three days, I'll go in to find you," Cang Qiong said, having to compromise. "Three days? How can that be? It should take at least ten days to half a month!" Drunken Butterfly exclaimed. Did he really think she was a goddess? How could the illness be completely cured in three days? "Three days is my bottom line. If it's any less, then two days. I absolutely cannot endure any more days without seeing you or even knowing how you are doing. I would really break down." He didn't know how he would get through three days. Drunken Butterfly tilted his head and thought for a moment before speaking, "Alright then! But we have many tasks to complete this time. I hope you can finish everything in these few days. I'll have Xiaodouzi help you. He'll do some liaison work. Here's a list. This is a list of people that I had Xiaodouzi collect. Go and gather these people together and get them to donate money. We need to renovate the houses, build protective dikes, rebuild the village, and do other work. I hope you can finish these tasks in these few days before coming to see me. You know, these things..." "It's urgent and can't be delayed any longer. After all, none of us know what will happen next." Cang Qiong glanced at the contents; all the tasks and the list of people who needed to donate were recorded in detail. He also understood that she could easily have Xiao Douzi handle this alone, since they had obtained these lists without his knowledge. It seemed that Xiao Douzi was definitely a hidden talent. No wonder Xiao Douzi had been working long hours these past few days, sometimes even more hardworking than him, the imperial envoy. So that's why. Trying to trap me with these things? You overestimate me! "Don't worry, I will definitely finish within three days. I promise you a surprise when I get out." Cang Qiong readily accepted her challenge. He was already working on these things, but she had simply given him a greater advantage. He hadn't expected that they would be so in sync, thinking the same thing. "Don't be in such a hurry. There are so many things to do. Take your time. Don't put too much pressure on yourself or work too long," Zui Die said with a charming laugh. "How could that be? To see you as soon as possible, I will definitely finish all of this in the shortest amount of time." Cang Qiong kissed her little face affectionately and said with a bright smile. And he really did it. He ran around every day, planning everything. Not only had Zui Die not eaten or slept well these past few days, but he had been the same. He completed everything that would take others at least ten days to half a month in three days. During some spare time, afraid that Zui Die would not eat well, be tired or hungry, he had some things made and had Xiao Douzi give them to her. He himself hid to the side, just hoping to catch a glimpse of her. Just seeing her from afar, all the hard work of the day miraculously disappeared. Finally, on the third day at noon, he finished everything and made arrangements. Those harsh officials also returned all the money they had squeezed from the people over the years. After all, with Zui Die's account book, how could they escape? The money was used for reconstruction, repairing fields and building dams. The maid brought in a plate of food and saw this scene: the adult and the princess were lying down fully clothed, their fingers intertwined, heads resting together, both fast asleep. The maid gently put the food down, covered them with a small blanket, and went out again. The two continued to sleep sweetly together, their dreams filled with happiness and contentment as they dreamt of each other. (Part Two, Iron-Willed Tenderness, Chapter Twenty-Four: A Drunken Retreat) Cang Qiong opened his eyes and saw Zui Die still sleeping soundly in his arms. He smiled slightly, placed a kiss on her forehead, and saw that she still didn't react, continuing to sleep. He looked around and realized they had been sleeping for so long. The room was lit by candles, the dim light creating a hazy atmosphere. There were some dishes on the table, unlike what they would have in the capital; these were simple meals, seemingly recently served. The maid had probably already brought one, but since they were asleep, this one looked like it had just been changed. Looking at her contented sleeping face, he wanted her to rest a little longer! Now was the perfect opportunity to take a good look at her face. How long had it been since he had looked at her so closely? Three days, a full three days, felt like three centuries to him. The ancients said, "A day apart feels like three autumns," but for him, "A minute apart feels like three autumns." Her features were exquisite; her eyebrows weren't the typical willow-leaf shape of a noblewoman, but rather a sharp, spirited brow. Long eyelashes, a high, delicate nose, and even breathing completed her look. Her cherry-like lips, lovely yet subtly sensual, remained rosy even without makeup. Everything about her apple-shaped face was harmonious and perfect—any more or less would be too much or too little. Even the legendary Chen Yuanyuan and Consort Dong'e paled in comparison. This stunning beauty possessed both the heroic spirit of a woman who wouldn't yield to men, and the innocent charm of a child. She should have been the center of attention, the object of every noble's desire. Yet, she chose him, someone who had already lost everything. Perhaps twenty years ago, he would have felt no inferiority, unafraid of any competition as long as there was mutual affection. But now, to have her favor was something he never dared to dream of; how could he ask for more?"The thought of you going in alone makes me anxious, flustered, and confused! Everything here can be handled by Xiaodouzi, Zhao Hu, and Muge. Xiaodouzi is clever and quick-witted, and Zhao Hu and Muge have followed me for so long; they are both capable generals who can handle things independently. They are absolutely competent!" "Cang Qiong, are you going to blur the lines between public and private matters? If so, you'll disappoint me greatly. What will the people think if they find out? What will they say when the news reaches the capital? Are you trying to make things difficult for me? Or are you planning to ruin your future? This is the time when you are needed here, yet you are willing to take risks because you don't care about me. What if something happens to you? What will happen to your family? Your elderly mother, your wife Ye Rong, and what will happen to Qiong Feng and Ya Feng? You can't be so selfish. They need you now, the country needs you, and the people here need you even more!" Seeing that she wouldn't listen to anything, Zui Die became serious and cold. "And what about you? Don't you need me? I admit I'm selfish. I selfishly only want to protect you, only want to wholeheartedly guard you. But damn it, I actually let momentary emotions cloud my judgment, washing away all my rationality. Loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, righteousness—I forgot them all, abandoned them all. I even forgot that I'm a man with a family, a wife and children. I've gone mad." Cang Qiong said somewhat incoherently, finally even slamming his fist on the wooden table in the room. Seeing this, Zui Die quickly stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his hand, pressing a kiss to his lips. Then, the two slowly warmed the kiss, making it more tender. Cang Qiong sucked on her lips forcefully, his arms tightly embracing her, as if he wanted to melt her entire being, her whole body, into his. Their deep, lingering kiss lasted a long time before they finally parted, breathless. A strand of hair remained between their lips, making the room's temperature rise even higher. The ambiguous atmosphere lingered in the air. "Remember, this is my kiss, my taste. I will love you forever and ever. If you miss me, take out this 'Ice Butterfly.' I'll feel the warmth of the Ice Butterfly from another place, and I'll know you're thinking of me. I'll be thinking of you there too. We're only separated for a few days, not for long. Believe me, I'll soon control the epidemic there. Once the people's condition is stable and I'm sure nothing else will happen, I'll rush back to reunite with you, okay?" Drunken Butterfly said, lightly kissing his lips a few more times. Cang Qiong looked at the Ice Butterfly around his neck, which, along with the one around Drunken Butterfly's neck, emitted a faint glow after they both took it out. "Alright then! Three days. If you haven't come out in three days, I'll go in to find you," Cang Qiong said, having to compromise. "Three days? How can that be? It should take at least ten days to half a month!" Drunken Butterfly exclaimed. Did he really think she was a goddess? How could the illness be completely cured in three days? "Three days is my bottom line. If it's any less, then two days. I absolutely cannot endure any more days without seeing you or even knowing how you are doing. I would really break down." He didn't know how he would get through three days. Drunken Butterfly tilted his head and thought for a moment before speaking, "Alright then! But we have many tasks to complete this time. I hope you can finish everything in these few days. I'll have Xiaodouzi help you. He'll do some liaison work. Here's a list. This is a list of people that I had Xiaodouzi collect. Go and gather these people together and get them to donate money. We need to renovate the houses, build protective dikes, rebuild the village, and do other work. I hope you can finish these tasks in these few days before coming to see me. You know, these things..." "It's urgent and can't be delayed any longer. After all, none of us know what will happen next." Cang Qiong glanced at the contents; all the tasks and the list of people who needed to donate were recorded in detail. He also understood that she could easily have Xiao Douzi handle this alone, since they had obtained these lists without his knowledge. It seemed that Xiao Douzi was definitely a hidden talent. No wonder Xiao Douzi had been working long hours these past few days, sometimes even more hardworking than him, the imperial envoy. So that's why. Trying to trap me with these things? You overestimate me! "Don't worry, I will definitely finish within three days. I promise you a surprise when I get out." Cang Qiong readily accepted her challenge. He was already working on these things, but she had simply given him a greater advantage. He hadn't expected that they would be so in sync, thinking the same thing. "Don't be in such a hurry. There are so many things to do. Take your time. Don't put too much pressure on yourself or work too long," Zui Die said with a charming laugh. "How could that be? To see you as soon as possible, I will definitely finish all of this in the shortest amount of time." Cang Qiong kissed her little face affectionately and said with a bright smile. And he really did it. He ran around every day, planning everything. Not only had Zui Die not eaten or slept well these past few days, but he had been the same. He completed everything that would take others at least ten days to half a month in three days. During some spare time, afraid that Zui Die would not eat well, be tired or hungry, he had some things made and had Xiao Douzi give them to her. He himself hid to the side, just hoping to catch a glimpse of her. Just seeing her from afar, all the hard work of the day miraculously disappeared. Finally, on the third day at noon, he finished everything and made arrangements. Those harsh officials also returned all the money they had squeezed from the people over the years. After all, with Zui Die's account book, how could they escape? The money was used for reconstruction, repairing fields and building dams. The maid brought in a plate of food and saw this scene: the adult and the princess were lying down fully clothed, their fingers intertwined, heads resting together, both fast asleep. The maid gently put the food down, covered them with a small blanket, and went out again. The two continued to sleep sweetly together, their dreams filled with happiness and contentment as they dreamt of each other. (Part Two, Iron-Willed Tenderness, Chapter Twenty-Four: A Drunken Retreat) Cang Qiong opened his eyes and saw Zui Die still sleeping soundly in his arms. He smiled slightly, placed a kiss on her forehead, and saw that she still didn't react, continuing to sleep. He looked around and realized they had been sleeping for so long. The room was lit by candles, the dim light creating a hazy atmosphere. There were some dishes on the table, unlike what they would have in the capital; these were simple meals, seemingly recently served. The maid had probably already brought one, but since they were asleep, this one looked like it had just been changed. Looking at her contented sleeping face, he wanted her to rest a little longer! Now was the perfect opportunity to take a good look at her face. How long had it been since he had looked at her so closely? Three days, a full three days, felt like three centuries to him. The ancients said, "A day apart feels like three autumns," but for him, "A minute apart feels like three autumns." Her features were exquisite; her eyebrows weren't the typical willow-leaf shape of a noblewoman, but rather a sharp, spirited brow. Long eyelashes, a high, delicate nose, and even breathing completed her look. Her cherry-like lips, lovely yet subtly sensual, remained rosy even without makeup. Everything about her apple-shaped face was harmonious and perfect—any more or less would be too much or too little. Even the legendary Chen Yuanyuan and Consort Dong'e paled in comparison. This stunning beauty possessed both the heroic spirit of a woman who wouldn't yield to men, and the innocent charm of a child. She should have been the center of attention, the object of every noble's desire. Yet, she chose him, someone who had already lost everything. Perhaps twenty years ago, he would have felt no inferiority, unafraid of any competition as long as there was mutual affection. But now, to have her favor was something he never dared to dream of; how could he ask for more?"Selfish, I selfishly only wanted to protect you, only wanted to wholeheartedly guard you, but damn it, I actually let momentary emotions cloud my judgment, washed away all my rationality, loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, righteousness, I forgot it all, abandoned it all, I even forgot that I am a man with a family, a wife and children, I'm really crazy." Cang Qiong said somewhat incoherently, and finally even slammed his fist on the wooden table in the room. Seeing this, Zui Die quickly stepped forward and wrapped her hand around his, pressing a kiss to his lips, and then the two slowly warmed the kiss, which began to become lingering. Cang Qiong sucked on her lips forcefully, his arms tightly holding her, as if he wanted to melt her whole body into his body. The two kissed deeply and lingeringly for a long time before they finally separated, panting, with a strand of ambiguous hair between their lips, which made the temperature in the room rise even more, and the ambiguous atmosphere lingered in the air for a long time. "Remember, this is my kiss, my taste. I will love you forever and ever. If you miss me, take out this 'Ice Butterfly.' I'll feel the warmth on the Ice Butterfly from another place, and I'll know you're thinking of me. I'll be thinking of you there too. We're only separated for a few days, not for long. Believe me, I'll soon control the disease there. Once the people's condition is stable and I'm sure nothing else will happen, I'll rush back to reunite with you, okay?" Drunken Butterfly said, lightly kissing his lips a few more times. Cang Qiong looked at the Ice Butterfly on his neck, which, along with the one on Drunken Butterfly's neck, emitted a faint glow after they both took them out. "Alright then! Three days. If you haven't come out in three days, I'll go in to find you." Cang Qiong had no choice but to compromise. "Three days? How can that be? It should take at least ten days to half a month!" Drunken Butterfly exclaimed. Did he really think she was a god? How could the disease be completely cured in three days! "Three days is my bottom line. If it's any longer, then two days. I absolutely cannot endure any more days without seeing you, or even knowing how you are doing. I would really break down." He didn't know how he would get through three days. Drunken Butterfly tilted her head and thought for a moment before speaking, "Alright then! But we have many tasks to complete this time. I hope you can use these few days to finish everything. I'll have Xiaodouzi help you; he'll do some liaison work. Here's a list; it contains a list of people I had Xiaodouzi collect. Go and gather these people and get them to donate money. We need to renovate houses, build protective dikes, rebuild villages, and do other work. I hope you can finish these tasks in these few days before coming to see me. You know, these things..." "It's urgent and can't be delayed any longer. After all, none of us know what will happen next." Cang Qiong glanced at the contents; all the tasks and the list of people who needed to donate were recorded in detail. He also understood that she could easily have Xiao Douzi handle this alone, since they had obtained these lists without his knowledge. It seemed that Xiao Douzi was definitely a hidden talent. No wonder Xiao Douzi had been working long hours these past few days, sometimes even more hardworking than him, the imperial envoy. So that's why. Trying to trap me with these things? You overestimate me! "Don't worry, I will definitely finish within three days. I promise you a surprise when I get out." Cang Qiong readily accepted her challenge. He was already working on these things, but she had simply given him a greater advantage. He hadn't expected that they would be so in sync, thinking the same thing. "Don't be in such a hurry. There are so many things to do. Take your time. Don't put too much pressure on yourself or work too long," Zui Die said with a charming laugh. "How could that be? To see you as soon as possible, I will definitely finish all of this in the shortest amount of time." Cang Qiong kissed her little face affectionately and said with a bright smile. And he really did it. He ran around every day, planning everything. Not only had Zui Die not eaten or slept well these past few days, but he had been the same. He completed everything that would take others at least ten days to half a month in three days. During some spare time, afraid that Zui Die would not eat well, be tired or hungry, he had some things made and had Xiao Douzi give them to her. He himself hid to the side, just hoping to catch a glimpse of her. Just seeing her from afar, all the hard work of the day miraculously disappeared. Finally, on the third day at noon, he finished everything and made arrangements. Those harsh officials also returned all the money they had squeezed from the people over the years. After all, with Zui Die's account book, how could they escape? The money was used for reconstruction, repairing fields and building dams. The maid brought in a plate of food and saw this scene: the adult and the princess were lying down fully clothed, their fingers intertwined, heads resting together, both fast asleep. The maid gently put the food down, covered them with a small blanket, and went out again. The two continued to sleep sweetly together, their dreams filled with happiness and contentment as they dreamt of each other. (Part Two, Iron-Willed Tenderness, Chapter Twenty-Four: A Drunken Retreat) Cang Qiong opened his eyes and saw Zui Die still sleeping soundly in his arms. He smiled slightly, placed a kiss on her forehead, and saw that she still didn't react, continuing to sleep. He looked around and realized they had been sleeping for so long. The room was lit by candles, the dim light creating a hazy atmosphere. There were some dishes on the table, unlike what they would have in the capital; these were simple meals, seemingly recently served. The maid had probably already brought one, but since they were asleep, this one looked like it had just been changed. Looking at her contented sleeping face, he wanted her to rest a little longer! Now was the perfect opportunity to take a good look at her face. How long had it been since he had looked at her so closely? Three days, a full three days, felt like three centuries to him. The ancients said, "A day apart feels like three autumns," but for him, "A minute apart feels like three autumns." Her features were exquisite; her eyebrows weren't the typical willow-leaf shape of a noblewoman, but rather a sharp, spirited brow. Long eyelashes, a high, delicate nose, and even breathing completed her look. Her cherry-like lips, lovely yet subtly sensual, remained rosy even without makeup. Everything about her apple-shaped face was harmonious and perfect—any more or less would be too much or too little. Even the legendary Chen Yuanyuan and Consort Dong'e paled in comparison. This stunning beauty possessed both the heroic spirit of a woman who wouldn't yield to men, and the innocent charm of a child. She should have been the center of attention, the object of every noble's desire. Yet, she chose him, someone who had already lost everything. Perhaps twenty years ago, he would have felt no inferiority, unafraid of any competition as long as there was mutual affection. But now, to have her favor was something he never dared to dream of; how could he ask for more?"Selfish, I selfishly only wanted to protect you, only wanted to wholeheartedly guard you, but damn it, I actually let momentary emotions cloud my judgment, washed away all my rationality, loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, righteousness, I forgot it all, abandoned it all, I even forgot that I am a man with a family, a wife and children, I'm really crazy." Cang Qiong said somewhat incoherently, and finally even slammed his fist on the wooden table in the room. Seeing this, Zui Die quickly stepped forward and wrapped her hand around his, pressing a kiss to his lips, and then the two slowly warmed the kiss, which began to become lingering. Cang Qiong sucked on her lips forcefully, his arms tightly holding her, as if he wanted to melt her whole body into his body. The two kissed deeply and lingeringly for a long time before they finally separated, panting, with a strand of ambiguous hair between their lips, which made the temperature in the room rise even more, and the ambiguous atmosphere lingered in the air for a long time. "Remember, this is my kiss, my taste. I will love you forever and ever. If you miss me, take out this 'Ice Butterfly.' I'll feel the warmth on the Ice Butterfly from another place, and I'll know you're thinking of me. I'll be thinking of you there too. We're only separated for a few days, not for long. Believe me, I'll soon control the disease there. Once the people's condition is stable and I'm sure nothing else will happen, I'll rush back to reunite with you, okay?" Drunken Butterfly said, lightly kissing his lips a few more times. Cang Qiong looked at the Ice Butterfly on his neck, which, along with the one on Drunken Butterfly's neck, emitted a faint glow after they both took them out. "Alright then! Three days. If you haven't come out in three days, I'll go in to find you." Cang Qiong had no choice but to compromise. "Three days? How can that be? It should take at least ten days to half a month!" Drunken Butterfly exclaimed. Did he really think she was a god? How could the disease be completely cured in three days! "Three days is my bottom line. If it's any longer, then two days. I absolutely cannot endure any more days without seeing you, or even knowing how you are doing. I would really break down." He didn't know how he would get through three days. Drunken Butterfly tilted her head and thought for a moment before speaking, "Alright then! But we have many tasks to complete this time. I hope you can use these few days to finish everything. I'll have Xiaodouzi help you; he'll do some liaison work. Here's a list; it contains a list of people I had Xiaodouzi collect. Go and gather these people and get them to donate money. We need to renovate houses, build protective dikes, rebuild villages, and do other work. I hope you can finish these tasks in these few days before coming to see me. You know, these things..." "It's urgent and can't be delayed any longer. After all, none of us know what will happen next." Cang Qiong glanced at the contents; all the tasks and the list of people who needed to donate were recorded in detail. He also understood that she could easily have Xiao Douzi handle this alone, since they had obtained these lists without his knowledge. It seemed that Xiao Douzi was definitely a hidden talent. No wonder Xiao Douzi had been working long hours these past few days, sometimes even more hardworking than him, the imperial envoy. So that's why. Trying to trap me with these things? You overestimate me! "Don't worry, I will definitely finish within three days. I promise you a surprise when I get out." Cang Qiong readily accepted her challenge. He was already working on these things, but she had simply given him a greater advantage. He hadn't expected that they would be so in sync, thinking the same thing. "Don't be in such a hurry. There are so many things to do. Take your time. Don't put too much pressure on yourself or work too long," Zui Die said with a charming laugh. "How could that be? To see you as soon as possible, I will definitely finish all of this in the shortest amount of time." Cang Qiong kissed her little face affectionately and said with a bright smile. And he really did it. He ran around every day, planning everything. Not only had Zui Die not eaten or slept well these past few days, but he had been the same. He completed everything that would take others at least ten days to half a month in three days. During some spare time, afraid that Zui Die would not eat well, be tired or hungry, he had some things made and had Xiao Douzi give them to her. He himself hid to the side, just hoping to catch a glimpse of her. Just seeing her from afar, all the hard work of the day miraculously disappeared. Finally, on the third day at noon, he finished everything and made arrangements. Those harsh officials also returned all the money they had squeezed from the people over the years. After all, with Zui Die's account book, how could they escape? The money was used for reconstruction, repairing fields and building dams. The maid brought in a plate of food and saw this scene: the adult and the princess were lying down fully clothed, their fingers intertwined, heads resting together, both fast asleep. The maid gently put the food down, covered them with a small blanket, and went out again. The two continued to sleep sweetly together, their dreams filled with happiness and contentment as they dreamt of each other. (Part Two, Iron-Willed Tenderness, Chapter Twenty-Four: A Drunken Retreat) Cang Qiong opened his eyes and saw Zui Die still sleeping soundly in his arms. He smiled slightly, placed a kiss on her forehead, and saw that she still didn't react, continuing to sleep. He looked around and realized they had been sleeping for so long. The room was lit by candles, the dim light creating a hazy atmosphere. There were some dishes on the table, unlike what they would have in the capital; these were simple meals, seemingly recently served. The maid had probably already brought one, but since they were asleep, this one looked like it had just been changed. Looking at her contented sleeping face, he wanted her to rest a little longer! Now was the perfect opportunity to take a good look at her face. How long had it been since he had looked at her so closely? Three days, a full three days, felt like three centuries to him. The ancients said, "A day apart feels like three autumns," but for him, "A minute apart feels like three autumns." Her features were exquisite; her eyebrows weren't the typical willow-leaf shape of a noblewoman, but rather a sharp, spirited brow. Long eyelashes, a high, delicate nose, and even breathing completed her look. Her cherry-like lips, lovely yet subtly sensual, remained rosy even without makeup. Everything about her apple-shaped face was harmonious and perfect—any more or less would be too much or too little. Even the legendary Chen Yuanyuan and Consort Dong'e paled in comparison. This stunning beauty possessed both the heroic spirit of a woman who wouldn't yield to men, and the innocent charm of a child. She should have been the center of attention, the object of every noble's desire. Yet, she chose him, someone who had already lost everything. Perhaps twenty years ago, he would have felt no inferiority, unafraid of any competition as long as there was mutual affection. But now, to have her favor was something he never dared to dream of; how could he ask for more?"If I don't see you for more than three days, or even know how you are doing, I really will break down." He didn't know how he would get through those three days. Drunken Butterfly tilted her head and thought for a moment before speaking, "Alright then! But we have many tasks to complete this time. I hope you can use these few days to finish everything. I'll have Xiaodouzi help you; he'll do some liaison work. Here's a list; take it. This is a list of people I had Xiaodouzi collect. Go and gather these people and get them to donate money. We need to renovate houses, build protective dikes, rebuild villages, and do other work. I hope you can finish these in the next few days before coming to see me. You know, these things..." "It's urgent and can't be delayed any longer. After all, none of us know what will happen next." Cang Qiong glanced at the contents; all the tasks and the list of people who needed to donate were recorded in detail. He also understood that she could easily have Xiao Douzi handle this alone, since they had obtained these lists without his knowledge. It seemed that Xiao Douzi was definitely a hidden talent. No wonder Xiao Douzi had been working long hours these past few days, sometimes even more hardworking than him, the imperial envoy. So that's why. Trying to trap me with these things? You overestimate me! "Don't worry, I will definitely finish within three days. I promise you a surprise when I get out." Cang Qiong readily accepted her challenge. He was already working on these things, but she had simply given him a greater advantage. He hadn't expected that they would be so in sync, thinking the same thing. "Don't be in such a hurry. There are so many things to do. Take your time. Don't put too much pressure on yourself or work too long," Zui Die said with a charming laugh. "How could that be? To see you as soon as possible, I will definitely finish all of this in the shortest amount of time." Cang Qiong kissed her little face affectionately and said with a bright smile. And he really did it. He ran around every day, planning everything. Not only had Zui Die not eaten or slept well these past few days, but he had been the same. He completed everything that would take others at least ten days to half a month in three days. During some spare time, afraid that Zui Die would not eat well, be tired or hungry, he had some things made and had Xiao Douzi give them to her. He himself hid to the side, just hoping to catch a glimpse of her. Just seeing her from afar, all the hard work of the day miraculously disappeared. Finally, on the third day at noon, he finished everything and made arrangements. Those harsh officials also returned all the money they had squeezed from the people over the years. After all, with Zui Die's account book, how could they escape? The money was used for reconstruction, repairing fields and building dams. The maid brought in a plate of food and saw this scene: the adult and the princess were lying down fully clothed, their fingers intertwined, heads resting together, both fast asleep. The maid gently put the food down, covered them with a small blanket, and went out again. The two continued to sleep sweetly together, their dreams filled with happiness and contentment as they dreamt of each other. (Part Two, Iron-Willed Tenderness, Chapter Twenty-Four: A Drunken Retreat) Cang Qiong opened his eyes and saw Zui Die still sleeping soundly in his arms. He smiled slightly, placed a kiss on her forehead, and saw that she still didn't react, continuing to sleep. He looked around and realized they had been sleeping for so long. The room was lit by candles, the dim light creating a hazy atmosphere. There were some dishes on the table, unlike what they would have in the capital; these were simple meals, seemingly recently served. The maid had probably already brought one, but since they were asleep, this one looked like it had just been changed. Looking at her contented sleeping face, he wanted her to rest a little longer! Now was the perfect opportunity to take a good look at her face. How long had it been since he had looked at her so closely? Three days, a full three days, felt like three centuries to him. The ancients said, "A day apart feels like three autumns," but for him, "A minute apart feels like three autumns." Her features were exquisite; her eyebrows weren't the typical willow-leaf shape of a noblewoman, but rather a sharp, spirited brow. Long eyelashes, a high, delicate nose, and even breathing completed her look. Her cherry-like lips, lovely yet subtly sensual, remained rosy even without makeup. Everything about her apple-shaped face was harmonious and perfect—any more or less would be too much or too little. Even the legendary Chen Yuanyuan and Consort Dong'e paled in comparison. This stunning beauty possessed both the heroic spirit of a woman who wouldn't yield to men, and the innocent charm of a child. She should have been the center of attention, the object of every noble's desire. Yet, she chose him, someone who had already lost everything. Perhaps twenty years ago, he would have felt no inferiority, unafraid of any competition as long as there was mutual affection. But now, to have her favor was something he never dared to dream of; how could he ask for more?"If I don't see you for more than three days, or even know how you are doing, I really will break down." He didn't know how he would get through those three days. Drunken Butterfly tilted her head and thought for a moment before speaking, "Alright then! But we have many tasks to complete this time. I hope you can use these few days to finish everything. I'll have Xiaodouzi help you; he'l
Cang Qiong meticulously traced her features inch by inch. How long could he continue to gaze at her so brazenly? Once it was all over, back in the capital, everything would likely return to square one. He could disregard his own reputation, but he had inescapable responsibilities and obligations. He couldn't possibly disregard her honor and dignity. Her status was so noble, and she was so irresistible. Could he allow her to be utterly disgraced? He wouldn't fear being condemned to the deepest hell, but not her! Her life was at its most vibrant, at its most perfect. As Cang Qiong pondered, his fingers tracing Zui Die's face, Zui Die suddenly opened her eyes. Looking at the large face before her and the fingers on her lips, she gave him a languid smile. "Good morning!" Her voice was slightly hoarse from just waking up, yet also held a hint of sensuality. "Early? The moon has just risen, it shouldn't be considered early!" Cang Qiong teased her drowsiness. "Huh? How long did I sleep?" Could I have slept for a whole day and night? If so, I'm such a heavy sleeper! "Not long, only a few hours." Zui Die's mind started working, thinking about everything that had happened today. She and Gu Junyou rode to find the 'Baby's Tears' and then came back to meet Cang Qiong. She wanted to eat, but as soon as her head hit the bed, she fell asleep. It seemed like she had missed something in between. What was it? "Ah..." Zui Die suddenly cried out, startling Cang Qiong. Thinking something was wrong, he hurriedly asked, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" "The horse—" Zui Die stared intently at Cang Qiong, her eyes wide and unblinking. "The horse?" What does that have to do with the horse? Did she feel unwell because of riding the horse? "Cang Qiong, we rode your 'Nu Chi' when we went out, right?" Zui Die wanted to hear a negative answer, hoping she was just half asleep. Otherwise, how could she have completely missed Cang Qiong? But in her haste, she seemed to have seen a figure, though she hadn't paid much attention. "Hmm!" So that's what happened. Could it be that she only just realized now that she'd been riding his beloved horse, 'Nu Chi'? 'Nu Chi' was a prized steed, no less wild than Zui Die's 'Yidian Hong', and due to its years of accompanying Cang Qiong in battle, it possessed the arrogance and haughtiness of a warhorse. Normally, no one would even let it touch it, but Zui Die had that ability to make even the wildest and most arrogant horse turn into a meek lamb the moment it touched her. "No way! Then…" So she really hadn't ignored him and ridden away with Gu Junyou right in front of him? No wonder he seemed strange after we got back. But she was so tired at the time that she hadn't thought much of it. She never expected that she, who was always so clever and quick-witted, would make such a mistake. She was truly incredibly clueless. Zui Die looked apologetically at Cang Qiong. "You must be furious! I'm so sorry, I was so anxious to save people that I didn't notice anything around me in my panic. I really didn't mean to ignore you, I…" Zui Die explained hastily. "You don't need to explain anything. You didn't do anything wrong. It's understandable that you acted that way because you were so worried about the safety of the people. Compared to me, who knows absolutely nothing about medicine, Gu Junyou is definitely much more useful." Cang Qiong interrupted her panic, pretending to be nonchalant. "Get up and wash up quickly! Otherwise, the food will get cold again." He carried her to the bedside, knelt down, helped her put on her shoes, and then led her to the basin to wash her hands. The moment her hands touched the water, Zui Die snapped back to reality. Looking at Cang Qiong's calm face, she saw nothing amiss. Perhaps he had truly come to terms with it; after all, the situation was critical, and he should understand. Thinking this, Zui Die stopped talking, smiled at him, and tiptoed to plant a kiss on his lips. "I knew you were the best! You'd definitely understand me. But I still want to apologize. I promise I won't make such a foolish mistake again." Cang Qiong ruffled her hair. "Go wash up!" "Okay, I can do it myself. I'm not a three-year-old who needs my parents to help me wash my hands. I can do this little thing perfectly well!" Knowing he doted on her, she was very happy. Just as the two were about to sit down for their meal, Gu Junyou and Jiaowa walked in together. "You're finally awake! I thought you wouldn't wake up until tomorrow!" "Gu Junyou, how are the people doing after taking their medicine?" Zui Die asked immediately upon seeing him. Since waking up, she hadn't had a chance to check on the people's condition. "Xiaodie, you really are a miracle worker! After those people took the medicine, they all recovered. Their acne is slowly fading, and even those who were unable to move before were able to walk again an hour after taking the medicine. They wanted to thank you for saving their lives as soon as they recovered, but knowing that you haven't rested these past few days taking care of them, I told them to come tomorrow." Gu Junyou said excitedly. He hadn't expected her to know so much, things that even he, who had studied these medical arts for many years, didn't understand. He admired her even more. "Now that they're all better, I'm relieved. There's no need for thanks. I just got lucky. Now we can leave tomorrow. Sister Keren's stitches should be removed. I wonder how that little guy is doing these past few days while we've been gone. I really miss him!" Zui Die thought of her newly adopted godson, his chubby little face and adorable appearance, and she was very excited. "Wow, finally we can leave! That's wonderful! But Miss, what's the purpose of that basin of medicine you specifically asked us to leave behind? Aren't we all cured?" Remembering that she had specifically asked for a basin of medicine to be left behind, Jiaowa was puzzled. Could someone still be poisoned? Zui Die smiled gently, and Gu Junyou had already answered her. "The reason your young lady asked you to leave that medicine behind is because saving lives must be done thoroughly. You haven't forgotten, the entire river in Qing Tong Town was contaminated with poison. Naturally, it's to completely remove the poison. Otherwise, the people here would be drinking water from that river, wouldn't they be poisoned again?" "Oh dear! How stupid of me! How could I not think of that!" Jiaowa slapped her forehead hard. "Alright, stop messing with your head. Go ahead and hit it with your hand, hehe..." Zui Die laughed as she watched Jiaowa's actions, deliberately omitting the last sentence. "What's wrong with hitting it?" Jiaowa asked, puzzled, not understanding why her young lady's smile was so strange.
"Your already slow-witted brain is probably even more dull now!" Two voices rang out simultaneously, one from Zui Die and the other from Gu Junyou. After speaking, they looked at each other and laughed at the same time. "Miss, Young Master Gu, you two are ganging up on me! You're just indirectly calling me stupid!" Jiaowa stomped her foot and said indignantly. Wasn't she just a little slower than them? Of course she was smart! "Congratulations on finally understanding! You're still hopeless!" Zui Die said seriously. "I was worried it was too profound and you wouldn't understand. Looks like there's still hope!" The two of them were teasing the poor girl in a playful, sarcastic way. "Miss, when did you and Young Master Gu become so in sync? You're even ganging up on each other! That's so mean!" They were ganging up on a little maid like her. "We call it great minds think alike." They spoke in unison again, and then deliberately gave each other a high five to show their "cooperation" and praised each other at the same time. For them, this tacit understanding wasn't strange. After all, neither of them belonged to such a feudal ethnic group. Gu Junyou, born and raised abroad, was much bolder and more progressive than the locals, having traveled to several countries. Only Cang Qiong remained silent, watching their interaction with an indifferent expression, making it impossible to discern his thoughts. Everything was detached; he simply kept drinking, yet the hidden sorrow and bitterness in his eyes betrayed his emotions. Their liveliness, their jokes, seemed irrelevant to him. He told himself not to care, not to care too much. After all, Zui Die had her own space for friendship, and he absolutely couldn't restrict her too much. Their relationship was something he had stolen from heaven; what right did he have to restrict her, prevent her from making friends, prevent her from having her own friends? Hadn't she said she would trust him? But why did his heart still feel so bitter? Why could loving someone be so painful? Cang Qiong felt he was becoming increasingly unfamiliar with himself, becoming sensitive, jealous, and petty. How could this still be the great general who galloped across the battlefield, the valiant "God of War" who fought bravely against the enemy? Now, he was trembling with fear over matters of love and hate, filled with melancholy. One day, Zui Die would be unable to bear this version of him and leave him, because even he himself didn't understand himself anymore. Was he still the upright, disciplined, calm, and self-disciplined person he once was? Another cup of wine was downed, and just as he was about to pour another, Zui Die grabbed his hand. He looked up at her gentle smile, a smile that he couldn't resist at all, leaving him no choice but to surrender. "What's wrong with you? You're not saying anything, just drinking one cup after another. We can leave here tomorrow, and I believe we can return to the capital soon. Aren't you happy?" Zui Die asked, looking at him. "How could I be? I'm very happy. It's because I'm happy that I keep drinking." He smiled slightly at her. "Since you're so happy, let's drink until we drop today!" Gu Junyou suggested first. "Great idea! Let's get completely drunk! Jiaowa, go get another jar of wine," Zui Die agreed. Cang Qiong looked at them without saying a word and continued drinking. Good, let's get thoroughly drunk today, preferably to the point of forgetting everything. Part Two: Iron-Willed Tenderness, Chapter Twenty-Five: A Chaotic Morning. Gu Junyou took a sip and said, "I really miss the wines of Provence, the red wines, not as strong as the white wines here. It's a pity, I wonder when I'll be able to drink those again!" "Want to drink those? It's easy! In my 'Drunken Heart Pavilion,' we have not only wines, red wines, and brandy, but also all kinds of fine wines, and even coffee. You can drink to your heart's content," Zui Die said. "Really? Then I'll have to pester you! I didn't expect to find coffee in a place like this. It's fantastic! You don't know, I've already finished the coffee I brought back from France, and I'm almost dying of craving it." Hearing about those things, Gu Junyou immediately decided to accompany her back to Beijing. "Those things were all brought to the palace by foreign envoys. The people in the palace didn't know how to use them, but the Emperor saw how much I liked them, so he sent them all over every time. We've really accumulated quite a lot!" The three of them drank like this, one cup after another. Gu Junyou, the drunkard, talked the most, while Cang Qiong only said a few words occasionally, spending the rest of the time drinking in silence. In the end, Jiaowa and Xiaodouzi were also pulled in to drink with them. They all got drunk, staggering around. They couldn't remember how they fell asleep or how they got back to their rooms. When the drunkard woke up, she felt dizzy and her chest felt like it was being pressed down by something. She tried hard to move it, but she couldn't budge it. So she turned over and groped around until she finally found a large pillow. She hugged it and continued to sleep. Later, she felt something was strange. The large pillow was warm and moving around. She suddenly opened her eyes and met a pair of equally open eyes, which were filled with surprise. Their eyes blinked, and then they looked down to see that they were not only tightly entwined like octopuses, but their limbs were also intertwined. One of her arms was on his shoulder, her right leg was on his groin, her head was resting on his arm, and there was also a large, thick arm around her waist, and a long leg behind her. "Ah..." Two screams rang out simultaneously, and the two quickly separated, not understanding why they were lying in bed together, and in such an ambiguous way. It seemed that they had really been quite drunk yesterday, and the person they were sleeping so tightly in each other's arms was not Cang Qiong, but Gu Junyou. What was going on? They were truly the most confused of them all. And where was Cang Qiong? Zui Die felt a burning gaze. Looking up, she saw Cang Qiong staring at them with wide eyes, sitting down in a chair. His eyes were filled with dissatisfaction and anger. This was the first thing she had seen when she opened her eyes, and what she found even more unacceptable was that they were in the same room. Not only had he failed to protect her, but he had also let her lie in another man's arms. Damn Gu Junyou, damn Ji Dao, damn herself, damn all of this. "Cang Qiong!" Zui Die called softly. Cang Qiong didn't speak, but shakily got up and walked to her. He saw her sitting on the edge of the bed, clutching a blanket, looking at him anxiously. His heart ached even more. He helped her straighten her slightly disheveled clothes. Gu Junyou had also finished getting ready and came to Zui Die apologetically, saying, "I'm sorry, I don't know why this happened. We both drank too much yesterday, I..." Zui Die looked up at him and smiled slightly, saying, "You don't need to be like this. After all, nothing happened between us, right? Besides, getting drunk isn't something we can control. I'm fine, I just feel a little strange." Zui Die spoke honestly; after all, being held and slept with another man in front of her lover all night was bound to cause some distress. The matter passed in silence as the three of them, each lost in their own thoughts, wisely refrained from speaking out. Before leaving Qing Tong Town, Zui Die led the people to the river to skim off some of the medicinal liquid. She skimmed a few spoonfuls from the upper, middle, and lower reaches, telling everyone that the river water was no longer poisonous and they could continue to drink it without worry. When the group left, the villagers knelt and bowed, seeing them off all the way. Finally, around noon, they left Qingtong Town and returned to Lingzhou. Zui Die went straight to see Ye Keren without resting, confirming that her stitches could be removed and the incision was healing very well. After the stitches were removed, they talked late into the night because Ye Keren needed to go home for her postpartum confinement. When they returned to their room, it was already late at night. Cang Qiong was still awake, sitting alone in the courtyard, staring blankly at the ice butterfly. Zui Die passed by the courtyard during her replay and saw him still sitting there in a daze. So she tiptoed over, covered his eyes, and said, "Guess who I am?" Her voice was slightly hoarse, like a young boy's. "Die'er!" "Hey, you're really unromantic. You have to guess wrong at least once, so I can feel a sense of accomplishment."
Drunken Butterfly released her grip and came to stand in front of him, plopping down in his lap and wrapping her arms around his neck like nimble snakes. She pouted her cute little lips and said coquettishly, "Do you think everyone would do something like this? Besides, I could smell your scent from five meters away; it wouldn't be easy to be wrong." Cang Qiong shook his head helplessly. After all, who else would be as mischievous as her, daring to cover the Imperial Envoy's eyes? "Wow, what kind of nose do you have? It's so amazing! I want to see!" Drunken Butterfly pressed her nose against his, studying it herself. "Alright, stop fooling around. Why aren't you resting yet? It's already past midnight; go to bed early!" Cang Qiong lovingly stroked her hair. The night breeze was a bit cool, so he pulled her cloak tighter, wrapping her up completely. "Aren't you still awake?" "I couldn't sleep, so I came out to sit for a while." Cang Qiong's eyes drifted into the distance, his gaze still wise yet filled with a faint melancholy. "What are you thinking about? Can you tell me? Are you still thinking about what happened this morning?" Zui Die asked, looking at him. Although he didn't say anything, she couldn't pretend he wasn't affected. After all, running away wasn't something she, Aisin Gioro Zui Die, would do. Cang Qiong was silent for a moment before speaking, "No, I was just thinking about what we should do in the future. Things here are almost over. When we return to the capital, we'll face so many things. Just thinking about it gives me a headache." He played with Zui Die's small hand and then kissed it lightly. "You're overthinking it. Things will work themselves out. We've predicted a hundred, a thousand possible scenarios here. There might be some changes or unexpected situations that we can't predict. Instead of worrying about the future, why not enjoy this relaxed and carefree time? Isn't that better?" Zui Die said optimistically. She was the kind of person who didn't think about tomorrow. In her mind, as long as she did her job well today, who cared who fought whom tomorrow? That was something to worry about tomorrow. Using today's happiness to think about tomorrow's troubles was just making things difficult for herself. Cang Qiong stared at her for a long, long time, so long that Zui Die thought he was about to fall asleep,
before he spoke again, "You're right. Let us worry about things after we return to the capital. I never thought that someone as old as me would lose to a little girl like you. You seem more open-minded." "You can be prejudiced in saying that. This commander is the same age and has the same features," Zui Die said proudly. "So you mean I'm not wise?" Cang Qiong looked at her, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous light. "Hehe... You said that yourself, I didn't!" She playfully dodged away. "You're making fun of me! You're getting more and more cheeky!" Cang Qiong flicked her little nose. "Oh dear, if you keep letting my cute little nose hang like that, it'll collapse sooner or later, and I won't forgive you," Zui Die lightly hit him. "Don't worry! Your nose is incredibly resilient; it won't collapse so easily. But even if you become a little butterfly with a flat nose, it would be better if no one wanted you. I'll take care of you for the rest of my life, so you definitely don't need to worry about that." Cang Qiong said with a big laugh. That way, no one would compete with him. However, even if she were disfigured, her cuteness probably wouldn't deter some suitors. After all, she's like the sun, shining brightly wherever she goes, making it hard to ignore her. Her inner beauty and wisdom can even make people forget her beautiful face. "Hmph, you bad guy, dream on! You want me to be disfigured so you can have me all to yourself, don't you?" Zui Die said languidly, her eyes alluring, while lightly brushing Cang Qiong's face and forehead with the end of her braid. "Yes, that way you might belong only to me, and you won't be able to attract
all sorts of attention." "Hey, I'm not attracting any attention at all! I'm very well-behaved!" "You don't understand how charming you are. Even if you stand still, a swarm of admirers will probably flock to you. Sometimes when I see them fawning over you, it really makes me angry, and I feel a little jealous." "Just a little...?" Hearing his words, Drunken Butterfly chuckled, her tone teasing. "It's very uncomfortable, very disgusting. Is that answer satisfactory?" This girl insisted that he lay bare his true self in front of her without reservation. Part Two: Iron-Blooded Tenderness Chapter Twenty-Six: The Rose Thief (Part 1) "It's very uncomfortable, very disgusting. Is that answer satisfactory?" This girl insisted that he lay bare his true self in front of her without reservation. "Barely. So, what happened this morning? Did it make you feel..."

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An Unconventional Love (Part Two: Iron Will and Tender Heart) (21-30)

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