Chapter 121 Amidst the Clouds (Part 11) He was indeed very bad at dealing with Zhi Rou…

Bathed in the glow of the setting sun, all was still. Occasionally, the rustling of leaves drifted by, and the glint of a sword was hidden in the woods.

None of the three urged their horses on.

Lan Ye and Chang Huai each surveyed their surroundings, their hands resting on the swords hanging from the saddle.

His thoughts shifted slightly, recalling the Empress's questions today, mentioning "my beloved" and "the army." If she meant something, could it be... that she wanted to find out about Zhi Rou from him?

The Empress once summoned Zhi Rou to the palace.

Wei Yuanzhan pondered in his heart, and an absurd guess came to mind.

Once he had made up his mind, he turned his head to look back at the way he had come. The terrain in the forest was winding, and the field of vision was narrow, making it difficult to see far. After a moment, he turned the reins around and said in a normal voice, "Let's not wait for him, let's go."

Lan Ye and the other man did not understand the meaning of his words, but they tacitly followed him and reined in their horses, returning to the place where they had come from. When they saw him stop again, they stopped as well.

The rosy light spread further, and everything was shrouded in darkness.

The ambushers did not catch up.

Wei Yuanzhan asked, "Who in the camp is close to Wu Yao?"

Lan Ye never understood why he wanted to find Wu Yao. After hearing his words, a joking smile appeared on his lips: "I think the tavern is more familiar with him than with his bandit-like behavior."

After saying that, he turned his head and looked back for a moment, then rode his horse alongside Wei Yuanzhan. "Master, what trouble has he gotten himself into?"

There were freshly turned mud marks on the ground, scattered in three places. This formation seemed to be the work of a military commander.

Wei Yuanzhan also wanted to know what kind of trouble he had gotten into.

He glanced up at the sky. He had promised to see Zhi Rou, but he had a feeling that Wu Yao's matter was related to the Empress and wanted to investigate.

He then instructed, "Lan Ye, go to the Song residence and tell Zhi Rou that I will go to see her later." He then looked at Chang Huai and said, "You and I will stay here and intercept Wu Yao when he appears, without alerting the shadow behind him."

Lan Ye was worried, her brows furrowing tightly: "If those people hear the commotion and come after us, can Master and Chang Huai handle it? I think there are seven or eight of them, maybe even more."

Wei Yuanzhan's eyes gleamed with a hint of pride, and his lips curled up almost imperceptibly: "If I can't even handle them, I might as well go and work as a horse groom at the Imperial Stud."

Lan Ye was still unwilling; he wanted to stay here with Wei Yuanzhan.

Before he could speak, those spirited eyes swept over, urging him on. He hesitated and turned his head, then suddenly heard the approaching sound of horses' hooves. His gaze immediately turned to the road ahead, and he focused intently.

A few figures flickered in his vision. Wu Yao raised the wine flask and rubbed his eyes loosely. There were three people in front of him, their postures upright, but their faces were as if seen through a wad of cotton, impossible to discern.

A few days ago, he received some money from a nobleman and asked for leave from the camp for several days to linger in the city.

Perhaps he wasn't entirely at ease accepting the money, for upon seeing people surrounding him nearby, he suddenly became more alert, shook his head, and lowered his hand to the side of his horse.

Unexpectedly, he appeared at this moment. Wei Yuanzhan was surprised. He then exchanged glances with Chang Huai and made a retreat gesture to Wu Yao.

This was the most basic gesture in the military. Wu Yao's pupils constricted sharply, and he instinctively shouted, "Who are you?"

The words had barely left his mouth when Wei Yuanzhan gritted his teeth and muttered "idiot." He spurred his horse's flanks, and suddenly saw a cold light leaping towards him. His shoulder snapped to the side, and a sharp white blade, carried by the wind, whistled past and pierced the tree trunk.

In an instant, the birds and beasts in the forest flapped their wings, their startled cries shattering the silence with a "snap."

Wei Yuanzhan turned and glared angrily at Wu Yao. Lan Ye reined in his horse, mindful of those behind him, while Chang Huai had already taken the lead and chased after them.

The troops that had been guarding Wu Yao's residence quickly surged over.

The cold arrows kept attacking from behind. Because they did not know Wei Yuanzhan's identity, they only regarded him as an accomplice and showed no mercy.

Wu Yao had been drinking, and his swordsmanship became extremely erratic, but he was focused on escaping. His horse galloped rapidly into the sunset.

There were more than seven or eight men lying in ambush, and none of them were incompetent. If it were just to kill a mere soldier, there would be no need for such a fuss.

Wei Yuanzhan's arms and shoulders were grazed by arrows, and his sleeves were cut by a knife, making him look particularly disheveled. Lan Ye, disregarding everything else, quickly pushed Wei Yuanzhan aside and said, "Master, you go first!"

Wei Yuanzhan didn't pay much attention to him. He dealt with this group of people as if he were fighting on a battlefield, his moves were ruthless, but he didn't kill them.

The group seemed to sense something was amiss. After a long entanglement, their leader suddenly blew a loud whistle, and all the blades snapped shut in an instant after a clang, retreating into the dense forest.

After a while, Wei Yuanzhan released the knife from his hand, turned around and saw Lan Ye with disheveled hair. He couldn't help but laugh and put his hand on Lan Ye's shoulder: "Are you alright?"

Lan Ye wiped his face, casually smeared his blood-stained hair behind his neck, and grinned as he agreed, "If they were bolder, I could fight them for another two days."

"What a disgrace." Wei Yuanzhan sneered, then mounted his horse without another word and galloped towards Changfeng Camp.

They encountered Chang Huai leading his men halfway there, and he quickly reined in his horse, asking, "Where is Wu Yao?"

Chang Huai looked hesitant, but Wei Yuanzhan didn't have time to listen to him and rode back to camp.

Upon arriving at the camp, Wei Yuanzhan lifted the tent flap. In the dim candlelight, Wu Yao's face was almost lifeless, resembling a corpse lying in the mortuary.

The army doctor stood up somewhat awkwardly when he saw someone enter: "Commander Wei..." Several feathered arrows lay to the side, taken from Wu Yao's body.

Wei Yuanzhan paused, remained silent for a while, then turned and went outside, standing alone to dispel the oppressive atmosphere.

The moonlight was deep and bright, and the evening breeze rustled my robes, making some annoying noises.

Chang Huai followed him out and, noticing his master's dejected expression, hesitated before saying, "Before the army doctor arrived, I asked Wu Yao without permission if he knew who wanted to harm him. He was slurring his words, but he was clutching this thing tightly in his hand."

Wei Yuanzhan looked down and, after a moment, took the item into his palm.

It is an embroidered pouch.

Wei Yuanzhan had limited contact with women's items, but he could still tell from the fabric that they were not made by ordinary people.

Changhuai pondered for a moment and asked, "Master, has something happened in the palace?"

Since leaving the palace, he had barely spoken a word all day, but he paid extra attention to an ordinary soldier.

Wei Yuanzhan was not entirely certain that the person in the forest was the Empress's henchman, and Zhi Rou's background could not be revealed to others.

Therefore, facing Chang Huai, he could only shake his head and glance behind him: "Let him be buried."

Having said that, he went to the tent to get clean clothes, mounted his horse, and his figure gradually turned into a speck of ink and disappeared outside the gate.

The mountains and forests around Beijing are numerous, and the small river closest to Changfeng Camp has been occupied by these soldiers for many years. Fewer and fewer people go there to wash clothes, and the deeper one goes, the more desolate and frightening it becomes.

Wei Yuanzhan, wearing a pair of high-top leather boots and carrying his changed clothes in one hand, strolled to the side of the horse, casually stuffed the clothes into the saddlebag, then took the reins and strode towards the road, the grass rustling under his feet.

Suddenly, the sound of horses' hooves, like drumbeats, rose from afar. As it drew closer, he looked up and saw Zhi Rou.

The figure on horseback was like the rising sun, drawing all of Wei Yuanzhan's attention involuntarily to her.

When she was about ten zhang away, she quickly reined in her horse and dismounted. The moment her boots hit the ground, her knees trembled slightly, but she didn't even have time to catch her breath and rushed towards him.

Gradually, his features became clearer, and his legs gradually slowed down.

Zhi Rou stood in front of Wei Yuanzhan, an arm's length apart, her clear, glassy eyes fixed on him.

Wei Yuanzhan was momentarily stunned, then confessed to her with remorse, "I haven't forgotten our promise, but some things happened later, and my clothes... I wanted to pack them up before going to find you. Zhirou, you didn't give birth..."

Before he could finish speaking, a soft body suddenly rushed into his arms.

Wei Yuanzhan was startled, as if he were confused.

Was it another dream?

Holding him close, his warm, strong chest pressed against her, Zhi Rou's anxious heart finally calmed down and slowly began to beat steadily.

"I thought you were in trouble." Her voice was muffled, like a murmur, as she nestled in his arms, her hands groping his back through the thin fabric of his clothes.

"Why is your hair wet?" She lifted her face and glanced at the glistening water. "Were you bathing in the river?"

Wei Yuanzhan became alert, his mind racing with chaotic thoughts, his heart pounding like ants. But looking at Zhi Rou's innocent expression, it was hard to reconcile her image with that absurd dream.

Wei Yuanzhan's ears turned slightly red in the moonlight, and he lowered his eyelashes, saying, "Mmm."

Under the cover of night, Zhi Rou failed to notice his unusual behavior. Only later did she realize that their bodies were too close, and she slowly loosened her arms, breaking free from his embrace.

The horse strolled up behind Zhi Rou, its head bowed, its long tail swaying gently, and occasionally raising its neck to nuzzle her shoulder.

She turned and grabbed the reins, her brows furrowing unconsciously, as if she were a little nervous: "You just mentioned a change of events, what change of events?" She glanced quickly at Wei Yuanzhan.

"The matter in the camp is settled." The cold moonlight shone on her flawless profile. Wei Yuanzhan gazed at her for a moment, somewhat mesmerized, before turning his head to look around and asking in a low voice, "When you last saw Her Majesty the Empress, did she say anything to you?"

Zhi Rou composed herself and thought back: "His Highness seems to doubt my identity."

"You went to the palace today? Why are you suddenly asking about Her Majesty the Empress?" Zhi Rou realized what was happening and paused in her tracks.

Wei Yuanzhan nodded: "I feel that Your Highness's words sound like he's probing into your affairs." After a short while, he added, "Have you seen Su Du recently?"

Zhi Rou didn't understand his meaning: "After leaving your camp last time, it was his subordinate Zhao Xun who passed on messages to me." After a moment's thought, she said, "Does the Empress suspect him?"

Wei Yuanzhan said, "It's not obvious on the surface, but in my camp..."

He told Zhirou about Wu Yao's situation.

After hearing the whole story, Zhi Rou's amber eyes showed a hint of surprise: "You mean... you bribed Wu Yao's people to do it?"

She didn't speak directly about the Empress, which puzzled her.

Ambushing a lone soldier wouldn't require so many men; but if it's to wait for Wei Yuanzhan, why? Isn't it said that Empress Wei and General T are a close sibling, and that she is also very affectionate towards her grand-nephew Wei Yuanzhan? Why would she treat him like this?

Wei Yuanzhan knew her too well; he could immediately understand what her expression was conveying.

A slight, mocking smile played on her lips as she spoke without restraint: "In the army, those who inform on others are punishable by death. Your Highness... perhaps she wants to help me."

Zhi Rou was silent for a moment, then lowered her gaze: "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought Su Du to your camp and caused you trouble, I..."

"Nonsense." Wei Yuanzhan frowned and cut her off, his voice still very soft, his gaze fixed on her without reservation.

“If you need my help but don’t think of me or dare not come to me, I will be very sad.”

He looked serious, and in his handsome eyes lay the affection she had experienced before—direct and profound.

Zhi Rou was slightly taken aback, feeling a mix of emotions she couldn't quite describe.

She met Wei Yuanzhan when she was nine years old. He was so annoying back then, but he would always listen to her patiently; he would appear immediately when she was depressed; he would throw a lot of food at her under the pretense of not liking it; and after her hair was cut off, he would braid her uneven ends without saying a word.

They had known each other for less than ten years, yet it felt as if he had been with her for a lifetime, a time so profound and irreplaceable.

Following up on his final words about being "sad," Zhi Rou playfully teased, "Want me to pat you?"

As she spoke, she placed her hand on his shoulder and gently patted it to comfort him.

Wei Yuanzhan laughed, took her hand and held it in his palm, pulled her closer, put his arm around her shoulder, and as he spoke to her, his lips brushed against the top of her head: "Do you treat me like a child?"

After saying that, he let go of her, but held her hand and squeezed it a little hard, as if injecting a lot of desires that he had suppressed.

He was indeed very restrained with Zhi Rou. On another note, "Don't worry about things in the palace. As for Su Du… this Second Young Master Feng, he's not exactly known for his prudence."

To be able to get himself into such a state even after leaving the battlefield, his opponent must have been no ordinary person. Like a wild goose leaving its mark, one wonders how well he cleaned up the mess afterward.

When the conversation turned to Suzhou, Zhi Rou became less talkative, her eyelids slightly lowered, as if she was pondering something.

Wei Yuanzhan suddenly remembered something important: "Are you going back tonight?"

The two of them had been meeting here for a long time, and now that they were only heading to the capital, they were afraid it would be too late. He was about to ask her, "Can you still go back before the city gates close?" but the words slipped out before he even realized it.

Zhi Rou's steps faltered slightly, her cheeks and neck suddenly felt like they were being roasted, and her throat tightened, unable to utter a word.

She was so focused on finding Wei Yuanzhan that the matter of returning to the city didn't even cross her mind. She wasn't really familiar with the practice of staying out all night; how could it have happened a second time in just a few days?

Wei Yuanzhan gently loosened his grip, noticing it. He glanced at her sideways, then smiled slightly: "What do you plan to do if I'm not near the military camp?"

I will find you eventually.

Zhi Rou's voice was not loud, but the words she spoke did not sound arrogant, which made her quite convincing.

Wei Yuanzhan was pleased, and the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned up. After a while, his brows furrowed, and he said softly, "Don't do that next time."

She seemed to accept the fact that she would be spending the night outside the city, without regret or embarrassment.

After listening to Wei Yuanzhan's words, she stared at his face and said, "You can't do that again next time. A gentleman keeps his promises, and you must keep your word."

Wei Yuanzhan tilted his head and looked at Zhirou for a moment, then laughed and said, "Who told you I'm a gentleman?"

These words made Zhi Rou's heart pound, but she had made a decision yesterday: she had to retaliate against those "jokes and pranks."

She suppressed her fluttering eyelashes, slightly upturned the corners of her lips, and her eyes flashed with a mischievous light: "Aren't you one? But I like gentlemen."

"Like your cousin Ling?" he answered quickly, as if it were just a casual remark.

yesterday.

Upon seeing Ling Ziheng, Wei Yuanzhan felt as if he had missed something, but couldn't quite put his finger on it, so he didn't dwell on it.

As night fell, he gazed at Qinyang on the map and asked Changhuai, "What did you say Changyu's wife's surname was?"

"His surname is Ling, as in pure snow."

Wei Yuanzhan raised an eyebrow slightly, a knowing smile appearing on his face, and said, "Good, good."

At that moment, Zhi Rou glanced at his face and carefully examined him. He didn't look jealous at all; instead, he seemed to be teasing her on purpose.

Zhi Rou withdrew her hand, turned around and touched her horse, then casually asked, "What do you mean by 'like that'?"

"Prudent and mature, with a sanctimonious appearance."

Thinking about it briefly, Wei Yuanzhan was right. Ling Ziheng's serious demeanor was actually quite similar to the time when Wei Yuanzhan and she were not familiar with each other. He always put on airs and acted like a prince.

Zhi Rou laughed out loud: "That's right, that's exactly it."

“Not bad what?” Wei Yuanzhan frowned slightly, his gaze beginning to scrutinize her face. “Who do you like?”

Wei Yuanzhan stood there stunned for a moment, a helpless expression in his eyes, then released Yueying and strode after her.

The grass on the riverbank was damp, and the rustling sound of my clothes as they fluttered through the blades of grass was just like springtime.

Wei Yuanzhan was tall and had long legs, so catching up with Zhi Rou was effortless. In just a moment, he grabbed her arm and pulled her back to him.

"Don't run away. Do you think you can escape?" Her tone was soft, without much smugness. The river flowed gently to his left, and he looked at her, smiling with exceptional tenderness.

Even so, his grip remained firm in the slightest.

To Zhi Rou, he seemed like a lazy lion, circling around her.

Her breath, which had been ragged from the chase, gradually evened out. She looked directly at him, her breathing becoming somewhat rapid again.

After a long pause, she said in a gentle voice, "I like you very much, Wei Yuanzhan."

The wind had stopped sometime earlier, and only the thunderous sound of a heartbeat remained in the whole world.

Hearing her say "I like you" is a completely different experience from feeling it yourself.

Wei Yuanzhan's lips curled up slightly, as if he was trying his best to restrain himself: "Say it again, I didn't hear you clearly."

Zhi Rou could repeat it to him openly and honestly, but for some reason, her gaze was reserved at this moment, as if she was considering and probing, urging herself to do something she would never have done before.

The two were close, the moonlight casting an ambiguous shadow. She tilted her chin up, and the primal and passionate feelings in her eyes were like a bonfire. Wei Yuanzhan almost forgot everything else, wanting only to take from her.

"I want to kiss..." Before he could finish the last word, a pair of hands landed on his shoulders, and then a hot breath landed on his lips.

Author's Note: Regarding updates, I'm truly grateful to all the readers who have followed my story for so long. Since starting work, the pressures of real life have exceeded my expectations, making it difficult to guarantee a consistent update frequency for the time being. However, this book will definitely be completed according to the outline; it won't be abandoned. I apologize for any unpleasant reading experience this may have caused. I recommend that you bookmark it, thank you!