Chapter 122 Amidst the Clouds (Part Twelve) He then pecked her shoulder, and...

The moon hung heavily.

The wind gently brushed against my lips, light and soft, with a slightly damp touch.

Wei Yuanzhan was stunned for a moment, then slid his hand from her arm to her waist and pulled her closer.

The soft fabric felt like ink being ironed under his fingers, a gentle touch that traced a tingling sensation that traveled from his fingertips to his heart. A throbbing feeling welled up inside him, and he parted her lips, kissing her more and more passionately.

He wasn't always aggressive; he was also gentle at times. She felt his palm caress her waist and spine, as if stroking a precious treasure. Her hand gradually loosened, moving from his shoulder to the back of his neck, closing the distance between them.

Wei Yuanzhan bent down to kiss her.

Zhi Rou didn't need to tiptoe, but somehow, her legs felt like they were standing on a floating ground, giving her the illusion that she couldn't stand steadily.

After a long while, she hummed softly, her hand falling down as if to push him away. However, before she could exert any force, he had already moved away slightly, stroking her waist with his palm without saying a word.

As the night deepened, Wei Yuanzhan gazed silently at Zhirou, his eyes holding a deep and enduring affection that she could understand, as well as something more obscure that she only vaguely grasped.

The blades of grass, swept by the long wind, are exceptionally clear in this tranquil little space.

Zhi Rou withdrew her hand, her gaze falling on Wei Yuanzhan's neck, which had turned crimson again, just like last time.

The next moment, he pulled her into his arms, his chin brushing against her cheek, resting on his shoulder: "Let me hold you for a while."

The scalding gravity washed over her, his breath slowly burning her. Zhi Rou felt uneasy, yet also a thrill.

She was almost obediently pulled into his arms, and just as she was about to ask him if he was done, she heard a soft laugh in her ear, and heard him say, "Did you learn that from me?"

"What?" Zhi Rou was slightly taken aback.

Zhi Rou felt a flush on her cheeks and quickly broke free from his embrace.

Wei Yuanzhan was smiling. As soon as she turned around, her arm was pulled back by his restraint.

He lightly touched the corner of his lips with two fingers, and a short whistle escaped from his lips. The sound was not loud, but Yueying slightly raised its neck, which was bowed to the ground, and moved its four hooves slowly towards him.

"Would you like to ride my horse?"

He was trying to please her with an attitude that was almost like offering a treasure, and Zhi Rou couldn't help but want to laugh. She pursed her lips and turned her face away, saying, "I'm tired, I don't want to ride."

She had rushed all the way out of the city to find him, and of course she had been exhausted. Wei Yuanzhan felt guilty and then asked, "Are you hungry?"

Zhi Rou shook her head, pried open the restraints on her arms, and then casually tugged at her clothes, subtly covering up the "evidence" of her misbehavior.

A moment later, the light sound of hooves approached, and Zhirou's horse paused, nudging her affectionately. It happened to be standing between them, forcing Wei Yuanzhan to step aside a few paces, glancing sideways before finally asking, "What's its name?"

Zhi Rou stroked its mane, its silky sheen shimmering in the moonlight. Compared to Yue Ying, it was so beautiful that it was hard to look away.

"Little Steed".

Something seemed to have struck a chord with Wei Yuanzhan. He smiled slightly, and when he saw her looking over, he quickly composed himself and strode towards Changfeng Camp: "Let's go, come back to camp with me."

"What are you doing?" Zhi Rou raised her eyebrows, but didn't move her feet.

He observed her for a while, then smiled and asked, "Do you intend to stay here overnight?" Seeing her "why not?" expression, his expression slowly returned to normal.

"Are there any ferocious birds or beasts here?" Zhi Rou asked with a relaxed expression as she took the reins. The way she led the horse always inexplicably made him imagine the three years he had never witnessed.

Wei Yuanzhan stared in astonishment. After a moment, his thoughts raced, and he walked towards her again: "Then I'll go with you."

He said this without any romantic intention, but Zhi Rou panicked for a moment and quickly retorted, "No need. Living in the marshes is nothing new to me; I'll return as soon as it's light..."

“You rode all this way just for me, and I left you all alone outside? That’s not how it works,” Wei Yuanzhan interrupted her.

Reason and emotion often conflict. Zhi Rou knew she shouldn't let him stay, but she raised her eyes to meet his gaze, and a silent stream seemed to flow through her heart, tickling and comforting.

So he stopped refusing and walked to a place a little further from the riverbank, tied the horse to a tree, and was about to sit down when his wrist was grabbed: "Wait."

He took an outer robe from beside the saddle and placed it on the ground, then removed the saddle and used it as a pillow. "All done."

Zhi Rou watched him perform, her gaze fixed on the saddlebag that always contained clean clothes, and she couldn't help but smile.

The opening in the robe was neither too big nor too small, with the saddle positioned at the very top center; it seemed to be laid out just for her alone.

"And what about you?"

"Of course I'll squeeze in with you," Wei Yuanzhan said with a smile, making a joke.

That mouth is so hateful.

Zhi Rou paused for a moment, then hastily lowered her eyes, sat cross-legged on her clothes, deliberately leaving half of her body for him: "Suit yourself." But her gaze did not meet his.

Only at times like this could Wei Yuanzhan set aside his fastidiousness. He removed Zhi Rou's saddle, not getting too close to her. Compared to their possessive intimacy earlier, this distance showed he dared not cross the line again.

With the stars and moon overhead, Zhi Rou looked up at the sky, her elegant profile revealed in the moonlight.

Wei Yuanzhan kept looking at her.

She didn't suddenly grow up, so why does she seem noticeably different?

When Zhi Rou raised her hand to tug at her clothes, Wei Yuanzhan noticed and immediately frowned: "Are you cold?" He then reached to take off his outer robe.

Perhaps because he was beside her, she didn't feel the slightest bit of cold. She turned her head and said honestly, "I'm a little hot."

Upon hearing this, Wei Yuanzhan paused for a moment, then regained his composure and wisely shut his mouth, not uttering a single teasing word.

Zhi Rou realized that her words were inappropriate and turned her face away as if nothing had happened.

After a long silence, she couldn't resist asking eagerly, "Do you have any news about my master? What is he doing in Jiangdong?"

“I sent a letter, but there has been no reply. Perhaps my master is no longer in Jiangdong, I can’t say for sure.”

"Since Master is traveling, he will surely return eventually, right?" Zhi Rou turned to face Wei Yuanzhan. Her eyes were clear and bright, and judging from her posture, she seemed to intend to have a long talk with him all night long.

"What is Sheng Xingyun busy with now?"

As the words entered her ears, Zhi Rou lowered her eyelids slightly and pursed her lips faintly, as if to hide her confusion.

The year she left the capital, she clearly envisioned her future, but after returning to the capital from Beili, she suddenly became confused. Once the Chang family's case was resolved, what should she do next?

Zhi Rou suddenly fell into a deep thought, while Wei Yuanzhan was gazing at her intently.

As if he could hear her thoughts, he smiled and said, "I won't confine you to the mansion. You can go wherever you want and do whatever you want. Don't you still want to be an official?"

There wasn't a single light around. Wei Yuanzhan stared at Zhirou, his eyes bright. Seeing her glaring at him, a mixture of pride and admiration appeared on his face.

Zhi Rou, unwilling to embolden him, stared back without flinching. Her eyes, like indestructible gold, were so bright they were impossible to ignore.

"Of course you can't trap me." He snorted softly, looked away, and his ears turned as red as plum blossoms in the pitch-black night.

Before her wildly beating heart could settle, she heard Wei Yuanzhan promise with a smile, "No one can."

As the gentle morning sun slowly rose, Wei Yuanzhan slept soundly.

When he woke up, Zhi Rou was gone, and there was a bunch of wildflowers picked from somewhere beside the saddle. He smiled, a smile that showed he couldn't do anything about her.

Zhi Rou dismounted in Qufei Lane, cautiously observing her surroundings. Few servants from the Song family passed through here, and the street was deserted. She reassured herself, tied up her horse, and skillfully navigated the corner, preparing to climb over the wall.

The sky was still dark, and the hazy light and shadows made the alleyway look like a dream.

The dream was shattered.

Zhi Rou had just walked past the flower petals when a pair of rough hands covered her mouth and unceremoniously dragged her to a corner.

Without thinking, she quickly moved one foot behind the man's foot. Just as she was about to exert force, the man released his restraints and, as she turned around, grabbed her arm again: "I..."

"You..." Zhi Rou's pupils suddenly dilated, her eyebrows involuntarily raised, and she quickly came to her senses, looking around again. The timing and location were so coincidental. "You were following me?"

Su Du showed no embarrassment at being exposed, and her voice remained calm: "I saw you leave the city and go to the military camp."

Zhi Rou's first reaction was discomfort, followed by unease.

Since she returned to the capital, she has always felt that there is a tail following her. She thought she could shake it off, but why did Su follow her all the way without her noticing at all?

He immediately adopted a more cautious gaze and scanned the surroundings. Apart from the noise of the wind, there was an overwhelming silence all around.

Zhi Rou glanced back at Su Du and tried her best to appear natural: "What did you want to see me about?"

"I'm going to Qinyang." Before she could ask any questions, he stopped and added, "Don't let Mother know that I'm leaving the capital."

Zhi Rou opened her mouth, pondering his intentions, unsure how to address the Ling family members, and unconsciously asked, "Are you going to see your maternal grandfather?"

Upon hearing this title, Su Du's expression softened: "Lord Ling is of such high status, how could we possibly approach him?"

He lowered his brow and simply said, "Perhaps Qinyang has what I need, and I will go and explore it myself. I will return before your birthday."

Qinyang is the territory of the Ling family, who have been entrenched there for generations and have a rich cultural heritage.

When she first learned that her mother had adopted the surname Guanling, she had the idea of ​​going to Qinyang. But later, she thought about why her mother would rather live in seclusion than ever take her to Qinyang.

She never mentioned the Ling family, not even once.

Zhi Rou was silent for a while, then spoke in an ambiguous tone, "Don't go."

Su was taken aback for a moment, his shrewd eyes sweeping over her face. She had spent the night in Fangdian, her appearance still dignified, her clothes clean and neat, but her fingers were slightly clenched, her brows furrowed, and she stared at him intently.

"Are you a little worried about me now?" There was a hint of laughter in her voice.

Zhi Rou didn't argue with him, and spoke softly: "The Empress may know about the time I took you to Changfeng Camp. Her people have seen you."

"So what? I never leave a living person behind me."

His tone was arrogant, and Zhi Rou was first taken aback, then a slight anger filled her heart: "If that's the case, why did you cover my mouth just now? Were you trying to scare me?"

Su Du didn't expect her to think that way. He raised his eyebrows and looked at Zhi Rou for a moment, saying in a tone that was both teasing and solemn, "If you can't handle things well, I, as your older brother, will have to do it for you."

Seeing her eyes widen in surprise, he curved his lips into a smile, but his face remained expressionless. "Don't worry, they're not dead."

His men were ordered to lead the person away, and in order not to cause a commotion, they did not want Zhi Rou to make a sound.

After her initial panic subsided, her thoughts turned entirely to Su Du, and her tone softened: "Do you really have to go?"

Su made a decision that was not open to debate.

Facing Zhi Rou, his expression was warm, and he carefully chose his words as he replied, "I will definitely come back."

She still insisted: "Three months is too long, I can't hide it from my mother."

“You’ll find a way.” Su didn’t want to linger any longer, glancing at the white wall out of the corner of his eye. “It’s getting late, you should go inside.”

Zhi Rou wanted to say something more, but he was in a hurry and left after only standing there for a moment.

The alley around the corner is less than ten feet wide. Because it is so narrow, the shadow in front of you seems to blend into it. If you go any further, your figure will gradually be swallowed up by the surrounding shadows.

Zhi Rou stared at him intently, clenching her fists.

"Suzhou!"

He looked back.

He was already far away, but having lived on the grasslands, his eyesight was much sharper than that of ordinary people.

At the other end of the alley, she pursed her lips, but ultimately remained silent.