Temporary separation

Chapter 71, Temporary Separation

I nestled gently in Lan Feiyu's arms, her arms firmly around my shoulders. At that moment, the vastness of the world and the turmoil seemed irrelevant to me; I just wanted to stay in this small, peaceful place, without having to think about anything.

Lan Feiyu's hand gently slid along my hair, with a tender touch, like soothing a small animal returning to its nest. It felt so comfortable that my eyelids gradually grew heavy, and sleepiness quietly crept in. But before drowsiness could envelop me, I vaguely sensed that something was wrong.

I quickly stepped back from her embrace and turned to look at her. Sure enough, Lan Feiyu still had a smile on her face, the corners of her lips curving into a familiar arc, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. Her eyes were slightly drooping, as if covered by a thin layer of mist, clearly hiding heavy thoughts.

My heart tightened, and I quickly sat up straight, staring straight at her. I opened my mouth to ask what was wrong, but before I could speak, I saw the smile on her face gradually freeze. Finally, she gently pursed her lips, silently lowered her eyelashes, and avoided my gaze—she looked as if she had something to say but didn't know how to start.

"Yu'er..." I had barely uttered my first question when Lan Feiyu suddenly hugged me tightly. Her body trembled slightly, instantly making my unease reach its peak. "W-what's wrong? What happened again?"

Before Lan Feiyu could answer me, the monkey squeaked, jumped off the bed, stretched, and then squeaked at me before waddling out the door.

Hmm... a good monkey who doesn't look at what he shouldn't see.

But the smile didn't last long before the unease in my heart surged up again. I turned to look at Lan Feiyu, lowering my voice slightly, "Yu'er, what happened to you just now? Is there something you're hiding from me?"

Lan Feiyu was silent for a moment, then raised her head, staring at me with a solemn look I had never seen before: "Xi'er, I've come to say goodbye to you for now."

My heart clenched instantly, and I quickly reached out to hug her, my voice trembling with panic: "W-what's wrong? Has something happened again? Has something changed in Bozhou, or... or has Xie Kun and the others caused some trouble again?"

Lan Feiyu pressed her forehead against mine, closed her eyes, and sighed heavily, her tone tinged with helplessness: "Originally, this matter should have been discussed with you by King Xinan, but he said that he couldn't interfere in our affairs and asked me to tell you personally."

I was completely confused, and my brows furrowed involuntarily—why was this involving my older brother again? What "our business"?

Just as I was about to ask further, Lan Feiyu continued, her expression gradually darkening, revealing a caution I had never seen before: "King Xinan just received intelligence that Xie Kun and the one who controls the 'medicine man,' Mr. Tao's... master, have no intention of fleeing far. Instead, they are secretly contacting Prince Xian Asa, intending to directly bring Bozhou under Turo's control."

She paused, her eyes filled with reluctance as she looked at me: "So, Xi'er, King Xinan has decided to personally lead the troops to stop them. He wants me to go with him to quell the rebellion as the Lord of Bozhou. This time, we must all leave."

"Are you all leaving?" I repeated unconsciously, my heart sinking as I realized what she meant by "temporary farewell"—not a brief separation, but that she was going to the battlefield with her older brother to face Xie Kun and Tu Luo's forces. My earlier unease instantly subsided, but what followed was an even deeper worry.

"I want to go too!"

These words practically spilled out. I didn't even have time to think about how my injuries hadn't healed yet. All I knew was that Lan Feiyu was going to face Xie Kun and Tu Luo's forces, to risk her life on the battlefield, and I absolutely couldn't stay behind and wait. As soon as the words left my mouth, I unconsciously leaned forward, grabbing Lan Feiyu's wrist, my eyes filled with urgency: "You're going to quell the rebellion, how can I stay here? Xie Kun and I have a score to settle, and... and if I go with you, I can actually help!"

Lan Feiyu was clearly taken aback by my words. Her pupils contracted slightly, and then her brows furrowed tightly. Her tone was firm and unwavering: "No! Your injuries haven't healed yet, and your internal organs have been shaken. The doctor said you need to rest for at least a month. How can you go to the battlefield?"

"I'm much better now!" I hurriedly retorted, even trying to raise my hand to prove I was alright, but as soon as I moved my arm, it aggravated my wound, causing me to gasp in pain. Seeing this, Lan Feiyu quickly pressed my hand down, her eyes filled with concern: "Look, you can barely move, how can you go and fight someone? Xi'er, listen to me, you can't go this time."

Upon hearing Lan Feiyu's words, my eyes welled up with tears. I gripped her sleeve tighter, my voice trembling with a hint of grievance: "I don't care! I'm going with you! What do you mean by resting? I'm almost fully recovered now. Even if I can't fight anyone, I can still stay by your side! If you leave, I'll be stuck here with my heart in my throat. How can I be at ease?"

Lan Feiyu looked at my reddened eyes, a hint of tenderness flashing in them. She gently wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes, her voice softening but still firm: "Xi'er, do you think I don't want to stay by your side? You're so badly injured, I wish I could stay by your side until you're completely healed, until you can jump and play again. But I'm not just your Yu'er, I'm also the Lord of Bozhou, the person in charge of Bozhou, which you, Dongchu, have granted to you—the mountains and rivers of Bozhou, and the people waiting for me to return to protect them, are responsibilities I can't abandon, just like you, as a woman of Dongchu, also have your country and your home in your heart."

She paused, then gently pressed her fingertips against the wound on my chest, her movements so light she was afraid of hurting me: "Your injury hasn't healed yet. If you go with me, I'll have to deal with the dangers of the battlefield and take care of you at the same time. How can I focus on dealing with Xie Kun and Tu Luo's men? Staying here and healing your injury is helping me—I'll come back to you as soon as I've quelled the rebellion, okay?"

Her voice was full of pleading, and the concern and reluctance in her eyes were like fine needles, gently pricking my heart, making my urgent words suddenly stuck in my throat.

I couldn't hold back any longer and suddenly threw myself into Lan Feiyu's arms, wrapping my arms tightly around her waist, burying my face in her shoulder, and rubbing my nose against her clothes. Her unique scent both comforted me and intensified my sadness at that moment.

She knew perfectly well that every word she said made sense. Bozhou was her home, and the people were her responsibility. She couldn't hold her back because of her own reluctance. But the thought of being separated by thousands of miles, of waiting for her to face dangers on the battlefield, and of not knowing how long it would be before she could hold her like this again, made her throat tighten as if it were blocked, and tears uncontrollably soaked her clothes.

"I know... I know everything..." I choked back tears, my voice muffled and trembling uncontrollably, "But I just can't bear to part with you... Yu'er, you must be alright, you must come back to me safely, don't lie to me..."

Lan Feiyu hugged me tightly back, her chin resting on the top of my head, her voice also hoarse: "I will, Xi'er, wait for me to come back, and I will never be separated from you again."

I took a long breath, my voice still choked with sobs: "Then...when are you leaving?"

Lan Feiyu's body stiffened for a moment, and after a brief silence, she answered softly in a low, husky voice, "Tonight."

Those four words were like a block of ice, instantly chilling my heart, and the sadness I had just suppressed surged back up. I buried my face in her arms, my shoulders trembling uncontrollably—"Then I don't even have the chance to see you off anymore?" I murmured, tears welling up once again.

Lan Feiyu gently wiped away the tears from the corners of my eyes with her fingertips, then leaned down and gently kissed away the undried tear tracks on my cheek with her warm lips, her movements as tender as if afraid to disturb the fragile starlight. Just as she opened her lips to speak, three soft knocks came from the door, breaking the silence of the room.

I sniffed, suppressed the sob in my throat, and said in a hoarse voice, "Come in."

The door was gently pushed open, and the first to enter was my older brother. He was dressed in a black outfit, and his expression was more solemn than usual, but his eyes softened when he looked at me. Following closely behind were my mother and Aunt Xian. My mother was carrying a food box, and Aunt Xian walked beside her, her gaze falling on my clasped hands with Lan Feiyu's, her eyes full of understanding and gentleness.

My mother stepped forward, her gaze sweeping between me and Lan Feiyu, a gentle smile on her face: "Yu'er, are you all ready to leave? Your Aunt Xian and I are free right now, let us lend you a hand."

Aunt Xian nodded in agreement, adding, "Yes, we'll help you pack everything you'll need for the journey, so you won't have to worry about it."

Before I could even feel the joy of my mother calling Lan Feiyu "Yu'er," Lan Feiyu gently released her arms from my grasp, turned to them, and thanked them softly, saying, "Then I'll have to trouble Aunt Le and Aunt Xian."

Before she stood up, she suddenly leaned down and, under everyone's gaze, gently pressed her warm lips to my forehead. The touch was soft yet burning hot, like a spark landing on my skin, instantly sending a shiver of warmth through me. My cheeks flushed crimson, a wave of embarrassment washing over me, washing away most of the heavy sadness I had felt moments before. I could only lower my head, the courage to even look up vanishing in an instant.

When I heard the curtain rustle and came to my senses, only my older brother was left in the room. He was leaning against the door frame, looking at my flushed cheeks, a barely perceptible smile hidden in his eyes.

I coughed lightly, but the sadness quickly welled up in my heart again: "Big brother, you and Yu'er must take good care of yourselves. Please take good care of her for me. No matter how capable she is, she is still a young girl."

"You don't need to tell me that," the older brother said with a smile. "With me here, I can't hurt your little sweetheart in the slightest."

I coughed loudly again—but was quickly interrupted by my older brother's next words: "You're not just sitting here doing nothing. You need to recover from your injuries while preparing to welcome Father."

"Father...Father King?" I stared in disbelief, my jaw nearly dropping. "Is...is it my uncle?"

The older brother grinned slightly: "What? Do I have another father? Xiao Xi, have you hurt your head?"

"Wait!" I shouted, a sudden discomfort rising in my chest. My older brother frowned, about to speak, when I quickly said, "Why did Uncle come here in person? Does he... does it mean we're going to war with Turo? His Majesty actually agreed to let him come?"

“I received a letter from Father. He didn’t mention His Majesty, but only said that we absolutely cannot let anything happen to you again.” My older brother came over, patted my head, and said in a soft and gentle voice, “You should know how much Father loves you.”

My nose tingled, and I almost burst into tears again.