He is your brother-in-law

In the imperial study.

"The man in black?" Chou Doufu was very surprised by what Nong Yue said about what happened last night.

"City Lord, maybe this person is not from the Shenyue Sect, but he is very skilled in martial arts and is good at using poison. It is not known whether he is an enemy or a friend. If he joins hands with Bantianyue, I am afraid there will be big trouble." Nong Yue said.

"Mr. Nong Yue, what is the origin of this person?" asked Chou Doufu.

"This person has the same origin as Leng Yue, and it seems that they were close friends." Nong Yue replied.

"How is Lengyue now?" asked Chou Doufu.

"She's fine now. Sai Huatuo is taking care of her." Nong Yue said, "When Leng Yue is better, Nong Yue will definitely ask about this person's background."

"No rush, let Leng Yue recover first," Chou Doufu said, "Brother Sima, how's the process of killing the followers of the Shenyue Cult going?"

"Oh, it went very smoothly." Sima Changfeng said.

Nong Yue glanced at Sima Changfeng and said to Chou Doufu, "City Lord, Nong Yue has come up with a plan. I hope you can hand over the Dark Clothes Team to Nong Yue for command."

"Okay, let's do as Young Master Nong Yue says. Brother Sima, please hand over the token of the Dark Clothes Team to Young Master Nong Yue." said Chou Doufu.

Sima Changfeng hesitated for a moment, then took out the secret order and handed it to Nong Yue.

"Thank you, City Lord. Nong Yue will take his leave."

Outside the imperial study.

"Ling Feng, this mission is too dangerous, let me do it." Sima Changfeng said.

"Brother, it's just about killing Bantianyue's followers, but you're dragging your feet. Have you forgotten how more than 30 members of the Sima family died?" Nong Yue said coldly, "If you can't bear to do it, then let me do it. If you don't want to be the bad guy, then let me be the bad guy."

After saying this, Nong Yue left without looking back.

“Ling Feng…”

Leng Yue sat on the bed blankly, her whole body tense.

For the past few months, Leng Yue has been grappling with her emotions—Ming Ri's feelings for her, her own feelings for Ming Ri—a situation that has left her both delighted and terrified. Leng Yue isn't perfect; deep down, she harbors emotional wounds and untouchable pain. Unexpectedly, the person who caused Leng Yue the greatest emotional trauma has come to her door.

Perhaps this is the greatest risk of dream control: your deepest fears will find you and work against you. Whatever you fear, he'll do it. However, Shi Qiuyan came with Leng Yue. If Leng Yue escapes this dream, Shi Qiuyan will naturally leave, and he will no longer pose a threat to Mingri and the others.

"How could someone as smart as you believe such nonsense as "a short pain is better than a long one?" Leng Yue remembered what Nong Yue had said. Nong Yue was right. If she died rashly, she would be very sad tomorrow.

"But, I can't think of any other solution. What should I do? What should I do?" Thinking of this, Leng Yue clenched her fists even tighter, her heart in turmoil. The poison in her body finally broke out, and with panic and severe pain, Leng Yue couldn't help but bite her pale lower lip.

Mingri walked into the room carrying freshly brewed medicine. Seeing Leng Yue suffering from the poison, he quickly placed the medicine bowl on the table, walked over to Leng Yue, and sealed her heart meridians with two snaps, sending her true energy. A moment later, he untied Leng Yue's acupoints, supported her shoulders, and asked with concern, "Are you feeling better?"

Leng Yue forced a smile and said, "It's okay."

Mingri touched her hand, sighed and asked, "Why are your hands so cold?"

Leng Yue still said the same thing: "It's okay."

Mingri shook his head helplessly and said, "Take the medicine."

Leng Yue had a blank expression on her face as she drank the medicine obediently. The medicine didn't taste bitter, but she felt an indescribable pain in her heart.

"Are you angry with me?" Mingri asked cautiously.

Leng Yue smiled and shook her head: "This is a very romantic idea. It must have been thought up by that little brat Nong Yue."

"Little brat?"

"It means brat." Leng Yue explained.

"I was wrong in this matter. I shouldn't have lied to you. Don't blame Nong Yue." Mingri said.

Leng Yue smiled faintly and said, "I don't blame him. I know his intentions."

"Then what are you worried about?" Mingri said.

Leng Yue gently closed her eyes, frowned, and clenched her fists.

Mingri asked cautiously, "Who is he?"

Leng Yue smiled bitterly and replied, "Your brother-in-law."

"Brother-in-law?" Mingri acted puzzled.

"I'm so much older than you, so naturally I can be called your sister. Isn't your sister's ex-lover your brother-in-law?" Leng Yue said.

"Then do you still love him?" Mingri asked.

Tears burst out of Leng Yue's eyes, and fell on her hands and quilt. Leng Yue sniffed, wiped her tears neatly, and turned her face away.

Mingri held Lengyue tightly in his arms and said self-reproachfully, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked you this. Worry is the most heartbreaking and debilitating thing. You haven't cleared up the poison yet, so you must not get upset or angry."

Leng Yue didn't say anything, she just kept crying, and cried even harder.

"Cry," Mingri patted her gently, "If crying can make you feel better, then cry it out, Yue'er."

Leng Yue cried for a long time, finally falling asleep from exhaustion. Mingri laid her flat, took out a handkerchief and wiped the tears from her face. He gently held her cold little hand and said, "Brother-in-law? Oh, since you and I are in love, why bother with all this? Nong Yue and I are the same age, only three years apart. How could you, who have always been smart and wise, get so stuck in such a dead end?"

"Why don't you want to tell me anything? Am I, Ouyang Mingri, such a useless man in your eyes, who can only rely on you for protection? I have always hoped to protect you well, but you never gave me such an opportunity. Do you know how frustrated I am? Do you know how much I am heartbroken that you have become like this?"

Leng Yue turned over and curled up into a ball.

Mingri tucked Lengyue under the blanket, then leaned forward and rested his head on her back. He was so close that he could clearly hear her uneven breathing.

Mingri gently closed his eyes, feeling Lengyue's breath. He maintained this posture for a while, and when he felt a little tired, he stood up and placed Lengyue's small hand in his palm.

Looking at the person on the bed, Mingri smiled gently and said, "You look so well-behaved and lovely, you don't look like a sister at all. Why don't you ever ask me if I mind? From the beginning to the end, it's you who cares about all this. You've painstakingly arranged everything for me, and you've wronged yourself, but can I really be happy because of it?"

Leng Yue suddenly woke up from her sleep, her eyes were complicated and tangled, with a hint of panic.

"Yue'er, what's wrong with you?" Mingri asked.

At this moment, a voice came from outside the door: "The city lord has arrived----"

Leng Yue struggled to sit up, and Mingri helped Leng Yue sit up.

Chou Doufu, Feng Yan and Nong Yue walked in.

"Don't be polite, big brother. Don't be polite, Lengyue," Chou Doufu said, "Lengyue, are you okay?"

"Thank you for your concern, City Lord. Leng Yue is fine." Leng Yue said.

"I already know what happened. Don't think about anything now. The most important thing is to focus on recovering from your injuries." said Chou Doufu.

"City Lord, this man and I are from the same hometown, and he didn't know any martial arts originally. But when I saw him last night, he seemed to have profound skills. If he joins forces with Bantianyue, it would be bad." Leng Yue said.

"I originally wanted to wait until you feel better before asking. Thank you for your understanding. We will find a way." said Chou Doufu.

"City Lord, we must find a way to get rid of Bantianyue as soon as possible. As for that man, he is coming for me, and Lengyue can resolve it." Lengyue said.

"How do you resolve it?" Mingri asked.

"I..." Leng Yue didn't know how to answer for a moment.

"Miss Lengyue, don't think too much about it for now. Let's wait until your injury is healed before we talk about it." said Chou Doufu.

"Thank you, City Lord. By the way, there is one more thing." Leng Yue said.

"What's the matter?" asked Stinky Tofu.

"The combined sword skills of Sima Changfeng and Miss Shangguan, and..." Leng Yue glanced at Mingri guiltily, lowered her head and said, "And the Imperial Master's Wuwo Sword..."

"Yeah, I understand." Stinky Tofu said, "Lengyue, don't worry. Have a good rest."

Leng Yue nodded.

"Your humble servant will escort the city lord." After Mingri said this, he looked at Nong Yue and nodded, then accompanied Chou Doufu and Feng Yan out.

Nong Yue sat down beside the bed, fanning herself and looking at Leng Yue with a smile.

Leng Yue narrowed her eyes and scolded, "Stinky boy."

"Sister, are you angry with Nong Yue?" Nong Yue asked with a smile.

Leng Yue smiled and shook her head: "No, I know you have good intentions and have even found the city lord."

"As long as sister doesn't have any stupid ideas, Nong Yue will feel relieved. That person last night...is he your old lover?" Nong Yue asked with blinking eyes.

"Yeah." Leng Yue nodded.

Nong Yue pulled out a jade pendant from her bosom and said with a smile, "Nong Yue previously instigated Sai Hua Tuo to deceive you, causing you to be injured and poisoned. So I carved this jade pendant myself, specifically to give it to you as an apology."

Leng Yue took the jade pendant and saw a lifelike little squirrel carved on the huge gourd.

"So cute, you just like to use these little things to make your sister happy." Leng Yue said.

"My sister was born in the year of the rat, so Nong Yue carved a squirrel. I wonder if you like it?" Nong Yue said with a smile.

"The squirrel is carved very well, but I am not born in the Year of the Rat, but in the Year of the Rabbit," Leng Yue said with a smile.

"Rabbit? Isn't my sister three years older than Nong Yue? Nong Yue is also a rabbit." Nong Yue said.

"I guess it's because the era I live in is different from yours, so the calculation of time is naturally different as well." Leng Yue said.

"Sister, you are also a rabbit. That's great. May I know your birthday?" Nong Yue asked.

"What about you?" Leng Yue asked.

"Nong Yue was born on the day of Lesser Heat in May at the hour of Jiazi." Nong Yue said.

"May? Lesser Heat Day?" Leng Yue was not very familiar with these terms.

"May is May, and Lesser Heat is a solar term. The day Nong Yue was born happened to be the last day of May, which is also the first day of Lesser Heat." Nong Yue explained.

"I see. I was also born in May, on the third day of May." Leng Yue said.

"In that case, my sister is only less than a month older than Nong Yue. Sai Huatuo was born in the coldest month of winter, so in this way, my sister is only half a year older than Sai Huatuo, and we are the same age." Nong Yue said with a smile.

"But I am indeed 26 years old. Even according to your standards..."

"Hey, sister, since you are here, you should abide by the calendar here. You are 26 years old in your hometown, but 23 years old here." Nong Yue said with a smile.

Leng Yue smiled slyly and said, "You are saying this just to match me up with Mingri. In fact, I think you and Sai Huatuo are a good match."

Nong Yue stood up, fanning herself and said, "Nong Yue doesn't have any sexual preferences."

Leng Yue looked at Nong Yue's little expression and smiled.

"Nong Yue, in fact, the friendship between men is sometimes more precious than the relationship between men and women." Leng Yue said with a smile.

"Sister, please don't make fun of me, otherwise, Nong Yue won't help you." Nong Yue said with a frown.

Leng Yue covered her mouth and laughed for a while, then begged for mercy: "Good brother, sister is just joking with you, it doesn't matter whether you help me or not, please don't be angry, okay?"

Nong Yue said seriously, "Nong Yue and Sai Hua Tuo admire each other and are evenly matched. It's not like what your sister said. Mencius said: 'If you know how to be lustful, you will admire young women.' It's human nature to be partial to women. Although Nong Yue is outstanding, he is not immune to this. What's more, if the competition between Nong Yue and Sai Hua Tuo no longer becomes a battle of wits and instead becomes a love affair of compromise, what's the point?"

Leng Yue smiled and said, "I know. It's my fault, dear brother, don't be angry."

Nong Yue closed her fan, pointed at Leng Yue and said, "Sister, don't say such things anymore. Otherwise, you will be disrespecting both Sai Hua Tuo and Nong Yue."

Leng Yue nodded and said with a smile: "Yeah."