Chapter 43 Talking About Love Her heart unconsciously sank a corner...

For several days in a row, wherever the white lotus appeared, Garo Rin would appear.

At first, everyone in the Beiting Protectorate was quite apprehensive.

Later on, everyone got used to it, and even the most dull-witted person could see some "clues".

"Does this Crown Prince have a crush on our Deputy Commander Bai? He's always following him around..." Soldier A couldn't hold back any longer and asked in a low voice.

"But I heard from my uncle's cousin's sister-in-law that the Crown Prince already has a Crown Princess!" Soldier B grabbed a handful of melon seeds.

"Yes, my relatives in Luoyang said that the Crown Princess is as beautiful as a fairy who has stepped out of a painting!" Soldier C cracked sunflower seeds in his mouth and gestured frantically with his hands.

"Can that be as good-looking as our Deputy Commander Bai?!" Soldier Ding said indignantly.

In the end, the soldiers couldn't help but think to themselves, "This Crown Prince looks so dignified, how come he's still such a 'scumbag'..."

"Don't worry, brothers, I don't think he can beat Deputy Commander Bai," someone muttered quietly.

"Yes! Deputy Commander Bai is a heroine among women, how could she easily bow down to power!" The group immediately felt relieved.

-

Bai Lian was truly helpless. She wondered what scheme her "ex-husband" had come for this time, as he was "following her closely" every day...

He's so stubborn, even when I say harsh words he won't leave me alone, and he's all smiles even when I put on a stern face. I never thought he was so inflexible before. It's almost been seven days, is he really that free?

So, Bai Lian decided to talk to Jia Luolin again.

That day, Bai Lian had just finished lunch and went straight to Jia Luolin, who was waiting not far away.

After thinking it over, I decided to use work as an excuse first, and said, "Your Highness, I've heard that recently..."

"Lian'er, I asked General Fan for permission, and he said you're not too busy with official duties lately. How about we go to the market this afternoon?" Jialuolin was in high spirits and ignored Bai Lian's words.

"...???" Bai Lian suddenly felt her brain buzz.

Having been in the Beiting Protectorate for so long, Bai Lian still didn't know that there was a market in the nearby county town.

Thinking back to the last time I strolled around the streets, it was with Cuizhu...

"I wonder how they are doing now..." Bai Lian pondered silently in her heart, slowly moving her steps towards the outside of the mansion.

Looking up, she saw Galorin leading two horses out of nowhere, standing in front of her, her smile brighter than the first ray of sunshine in the morning mist, making her heart feel bright as well.

Bai Lian rode her horse behind Jia Luolin, holding the reins. The horse trotted gently with light, slow steps, lazily enjoying the warm afternoon sun with its master.

In truth, Bai Lian felt awkward. After all, they had been husband and wife, and she never denied the fact that she had fallen in love with Jia Luolin at first sight. Even after experiencing so many hardships and disappointments, her feelings for him were still tinged with a bittersweet love, and her heart could not harden towards him.

So, she really wanted to go shopping with him, but...

Seeing that Bai Lian was not following closely, Jia Luolin slowed down and rode alongside her. The two horses walked slowly along the forest path.

The crisp sound of hooves mingled with the chirping of birds in the forest, creating a leisurely melody. No one was in a hurry to get going; they were simply enjoying the pleasant experience of traveling side by side.

Galo Lin turned to look at Bai Lian from time to time. Bai Lian was wearing a faded blue cloth arrow-shaped garment, and her ink-black hair was tied up in a high bun like a man's, revealing a section of porcelain-white neck that was dazzling. At this moment, she was slightly lowering her head in thought, and her long eyelashes cast a light shadow under her eyes.

That simple men's clothing, worn by Bai Lian, actually brought out a touch of extraordinary charm.

The tightly cinched belt accentuated her slender waistline, and beneath her ebony hair, her jade-like nape was faintly visible, swaying slightly with the horse's gentle gait, like a lotus leaf bearing dew. Seeing this, Galo Rin inexplicably blushed.

Galorin suddenly realized that every day, every time he saw her for the first time, it felt like he was falling in love with this woman all over again.

This new discovery made him deeply question himself...

The two strolled leisurely to the market, which was busiest before sunset. The locals had just finished their day's work and were walking in twos and threes, buying food or laughing and joking, creating a warm and friendly atmosphere.

Galo Lin, accompanied by Bai Lian, led their mounts to the entrance of a carriage inn at the crossroads. A clever servant immediately came forward, took the reins, and announced, "Gentlemen, please enjoy yourselves. We'll provide you with the best grass and feed!"

Galorin was surprised that the services in this small border town were so comprehensive, which must mean that the local economy was booming and the people were prosperous.

The governance was quite good. A barely perceptible smile appeared on his usually stern lips as he silently thought, "It is truly a blessing for the nation that this land has such an official." He couldn't help but feel even more admiration for the Beiting Protectorate.

Thinking of this, Galorin naturally prepared to take Byakuren's hand, wanting to walk together.

But he was slapped back.

He looked up and saw Bai Lian staring at him fiercely with her beautiful eyes...

Galo Lin felt disappointed, thinking that it was probably because they were all dressed as men today, and Bai Lian felt it was inappropriate, rather than because she disliked her...

The two walked through the market, their eyes drawn to the dazzling array of goods everywhere they looked:

Long bamboo racks were filled with all kinds of ready-made clothes, including short cotton jackets with rough patterns dyed indigo and ochre, and fine linen skirts with fine texture and neat tailoring, swaying gently in the wind.

The neighboring stall owners stacked their earthenware bowls and jars into a pagoda shape, the coarse and fine porcelain gleaming warmly in the sunlight.

Strings of mushrooms and chili peppers hang in front of the dried goods stall, while plump grains of rice, wheat, beans, and millet peek out from open burlap sacks on the ground, emitting the rich aroma unique to grains...

All sorts of miscellaneous goods filled both sides of the road, and occasionally a few foreign merchants with high noses and deep-set eyes, wearing fur robes adorned with silver buttons, would fiercely haggle with shrewd merchants from the Central Plains in broken Chinese...

Although this place is remote, it is extremely rich in resources.

Bai Lian stopped in front of a stall selling all sorts of ornaments: peach wood hairpins, silver-plated earrings, delicately woven tassels with colorful threads, and strings of smooth, lustrous beads and shell chains.

She found them novel and picked up a few items to examine them closely. Seeing her delight, Galo Rin smiled and quietly stayed by her side.

Several other girls also gathered around the stall, picking up this piece to compare, then pinching that piece to examine, laughing and discussing which one suited their complexion better.

Just then, someone looked up and exclaimed in surprise, "Look, look! How can those two be so good-looking!"

The girls then realized that two men of extraordinary appearance were standing beside them at the same time!

One of the men was tall and imposing, dressed in a dark, patterned, fitted outfit that accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist. His face was strikingly handsome, with a pampered, pale complexion that made his dark eyes appear even more striking, and his nose high and straight. He stood casually with his hands behind his back, yet exuded an innate nobility.

The other "man" beside him was dressed in a plain robe and jade belt. He was slender, with delicate and exquisite features and lips like cinnabar. He was like a piece of fine mutton fat jade, warm and translucent. Just by standing there, he created a quiet world of his own in the noisy dust. People who saw him felt their hearts tremble, but dared not have the slightest intention to desecrate him.

These two, one strong and the other gentle, intertwined their contrasting styles in the city market, making the surrounding colorful goods pale in comparison and stirring the hearts of many women.

The girls watched their every move intently: the man in black gazed at the man in blue with a doting smile, and whatever the man in blue looked at, he would quietly buy afterward; the man in black always tried to grab the man in blue's arm, but the man in blue shook him off, and he would stride after him...

Isn't this just like, "He fled, he chased, he couldn't escape even if he had wings..."

The girls blushed and cheered with excitement, as if a story from a novel had come to life!

The two walked and stopped, and the sky gradually darkened. Galo Lin was still not satisfied and wanted to drag Bai Lian to a nearby restaurant to get something to eat. Bai Lian couldn't refuse him, so they went together.

This is a small restaurant by the river. It's not big, but it's clean and elegant. A few lanterns cast a warm yellow light, making the flowing water outside the window seem gentler.

Galorin ordered several delicate side dishes, including fresh and crisp seasonal vegetables and plump river delicacies, which were served steaming hot, their aroma instantly dispelling the evening chill.

"Try this." He picked up the serving chopsticks very naturally, took a piece of the most succulent part of the steamed shad, carefully removed the small bones, and then tried to put it into the white lotus bowl.

When the chopsticks reached Bai Lian, she habitually took a bite and savored the fish. Then, suddenly remembering something, she shyly looked up and stole a glance at Jia Luolin, her face slowly flushing red.

Galorin remained silent, simply swapping her own chopsticks for the serving chopsticks and happily using them...

During the meal, Galorin herself didn't eat much. Instead, she would occasionally serve food to Bailian and ask seemingly casually, "Is it to your liking?"

The only sounds between them were the soft clinking of bowls and chopsticks, and the faint sound of running water could be heard outside the window. An indescribable intimacy filled the air.

Whenever Bai Lian looked up, she would always bump into Jia Luolin's gaze before she could look away. That gaze was deep, filled with inquiry, and also with an emotion that Bai Lian couldn't quite make out, yet it made her heartstrings tighten slightly.

The warm yellow light, the rising steam, and his overly natural care, like a gentle, invisible net, gently enveloped Bai Lian, causing a corner of her heart, hardened by the battlefield, to unconsciously crumble.

-

As night deepened, the two returned to the Beiting Protectorate under the moonlight.

After bidding farewell to Bai Lian, Jia Luolin headed straight for her courtyard. Just as she stepped through the gate, a dark figure swiftly emerged from behind a pillar. It was none other than Han Luliu.

He eagerly inquired, "Your Highness, you're finally back! How was your day? What were the results?"

Galo Lin stopped in her tracks, glanced at him sideways, and unusually made no attempt to hide the relaxed smile on her lips, clearly in a good mood.

The strategist Han Luliu breathed a sigh of relief, looking at the book in his hand—"Dating Skills and Mindset Adjustment"—and secretly rejoiced: "Heaven has eyes! Thank you, divine book, for saving my life!"

Just as Galo Lin was about to close the door, he suddenly stepped forward, almost forgetting his important business. Han Luliu hurriedly reported, "A letter from the Crown Prince has arrived, saying that the person's whereabouts have been found. Please return immediately."