Chapter 56 Let's talk about it when we get back.

Gu Nanxiao looked at Yunxi's outer garment, which had been torn in many places by wild beasts, and dried bloodstains hung on the tattered clothes.

Her arm, hanging limply to the side, was probably the most badly injured. Most of the sleeve was torn off, and a section of her slender arm was exposed, bandaged with blood.

Gu Nanxiao carefully reached for Yunxi's hand, only to feel its icy coldness. He suppressed the pain in his heart and softened his voice, coaxing, "Yunxi, come back with me..."

Yunxi interrupted him before he could finish speaking, saying, "Go back with you? Are you waiting for Lord Gu to lose his temper and throw me away again? It's a pity, I don't have that many lives, I can't withstand the Lord's temper again."

Gu Nanxiao's originally upturned peach blossom eyes now drooped down, unable to find a reason to justify his mistake yesterday.

Yunxi tried to pull her hand away, but he used some force and wouldn't let go. Gu Nanxiao felt that if he let go this time, he would lose Yunxi forever.

In front of Qi Jinxiu, he couldn't say many things. Gu Nanxiao could only plead, "Let's talk about it when we get back, okay? You come back with me first. Yunxi..."

Yunxi tried several times to pull her hand away, and her arm ached again, so she had no choice but to let him hold it for now. But her tone remained cold as she replied, "Is it necessary to pick up what Lord Gu has thrown away?"

Gu Nanxiao remained silent, unable to defend himself, his expression growing even more forlorn. He kneaded Yunxi's small hand and called out in a low voice, "Yunxi... come back with me..."

Yunxi had never seen Gu Nanxiao with this expression before; he looked like a large wolfhound abandoned by its owner. Yunxi almost softened at the sight, but she was still angry, so she snorted and turned her face towards Qi Jinxiu's chest.

Mo Yu knew that his master was always proud and would be too embarrassed to say such comforting words in front of so many people, so he spoke up for him to explain:

“Miss Zhao, after the master returned to the manor yesterday, he sent me to meet you and Qianyu. That’s when I discovered that Qianyu wasn’t with you yesterday.”

"Master forgot. He told us not to follow him when he left yesterday, so when he abandoned you, he thought you were protected by Qianyu, that's why..."

Yunxi remained facing inward, showing no reaction. Upon hearing Moyu's explanation, Qi Jinxiu immediately retorted with a question:

"Is it safe with Qianyu around? Can a mere guard like him fight off a pack of wolves alone? Or is he capable of splitting a black bear in two? Can he protect Yunxi all by himself?"

Faced with Qi Jinxiu's question, Mo Yu had no way to defend himself. Even Qian Yu, who was standing next to him, shook his head, indicating that he couldn't do it. When Mo Yu saw this, he pulled him with a headache to prevent his master from seeing it.

Gu Nanxiao could speak gently to Yunxi, but he wouldn't back down in the slightest when dealing with others. No sooner had Qi Jinxiu finished speaking than he coldly rebuked, "Do you even have the right to speak here?"

Qi Jinxiu was about to retort angrily when Yunxi tugged at his sleeve. He looked down at the person in his arms, took a few deep breaths, and managed to suppress his anger.

Gu Nanxiao was already filled with remorse, and he knew that no matter what he said, Yunxi would not forgive him immediately, but he could make amends.

There was one thing he couldn't compromise on: Yunxi was his, and no one could take her away in front of him. This man, whose intentions towards Yunxi were impure, was especially unacceptable.

With a wave of his hand, Gu Nanxiao sent Mo Yu and his guards to approach Qi Jinxiu. At the same time, the guards behind Qi Jinxiu immediately surrounded him.

The tension between the two sides was so intense that it could ignite at any moment. Yunxi felt the arms holding her tense up instantly, as if they were about to explode.

Although Qi Jinxiu had a group of secret guards under his command, if he were to face Gu Nanxiao for his own sake, he would definitely suffer a great loss.

To stop Gu Nanxiao from acting recklessly, Yunxi made a condition to him: "I can go back with you, but you must help me deal with the Shi family and do everything you can to help me take revenge."

“Okay.” Gu Nanxiao agreed without hesitation as soon as Yunxi finished speaking.

He knew that Yunxi's softened stance wasn't voluntary; she had only yielded to protect Qi Jinxiu. But regardless, the little girl had finally agreed, and the most important thing now was to bring him back first.

Gu Nanxiao breathed a sigh of relief and happily reached out to take Yunxi from Qi Jinxiu's arms.

When he carefully pulled the person into his arms, he felt the missing part in his heart finally being filled. The satisfaction of regaining what he had lost made his excited body tremble slightly.

Gu Nanxiao gently lifted Yunxi onto the horse and led everyone towards the city. Qi Jinxiu watched the petite figure disappear into the distance, remaining motionless for a long time.

As the warmth in his arms vanished, Qi Jinxiu felt a chill run through his body. If it weren't for the hint of disappointment he'd seen in Yunxi's eyes when they entered the cave...

Even if he fights Gu Nanxiao to his last breath today, he won't give up. The person Yunxi is waiting for isn't him. This realization is what makes Qi Jinxiu feel most powerless.

Yunxi may not have realized her own feelings yet, but the two of them are inseparable every day, so it's only a matter of time before she does.

But he was unwilling to give up. He would give even more than Gu Nanxiao could. Especially just now, when he held Yunxi in his arms, he felt as if he had everything.

Qi Jinxiu admitted that he had become greedy. He was no longer satisfied with just being a silent protector; he wanted to keep Yunxi by his side.

Therefore, he needed to rise to a higher position and first obtain absolute power. Only in this way could he have a chance to compete with Gu Nanxiao.

In the capital city, Gu Nanxiao was impeached by the censors for forcibly breaking into the city gates last night and for skipping court today.

Led by the newly reinstated Grand Secretary, other court officials also submitted a memorial listing Gu Nanxiao's past excessive actions in law enforcement.

Gu Nanxiao missed court, so Prince Yong naturally took the blame. Although the Emperor did not punish Gu Nanxiao, he reprimanded his father in court.

Prince Yong, having been unjustly reprimanded, returned to his residence in a rage and went straight to Gu Nanxiao's courtyard. The guards at the gate, of course, dared not stop him.

When Prince Yong entered Gu Nanxiao's study, he didn't see anyone and asked the servant, "Where is that rebellious son?"

The servant at the study door, who had never seen Prince Yong step into the eldest son's courtyard since entering the manor, could only meekly reply to the enraged prince:

"Your Highness, the Marquis is currently in the small kitchen, personally cooking porridge for Miss Zhao..."

Upon hearing the title "Marquis," Prince Yong was filled with even more anger. Ever since Gu Nanxiao's official rank rose higher and higher, he had become even less respectful of his father, the Prince.

He slammed his fist on the desk in anger and roared at the servant, "Go and fetch this unfilial son for me. Tell him to come here right now, immediately!"