90 injured

◎Because I said I would marry no one but you◎

After New Year's Eve, Qi Gu finally found an opportunity to leave the palace to see her father.

On the day we left the palace, the weather was clear, and the eaves of the palace buildings were still covered with patches of snow that had not yet melted away.

The weather was unusually clear, and on the road leading out of the palace, the sound of laughter could be heard. Curious, Qi Gu lifted the carriage curtain and saw that several young eunuchs who looked to be only seven or eight years old were sweeping the snow off the road.

On the wide road, several little kids chased and played, completely carefree.

A dry wind blew by, and Qi Gu smelled the fresh scent of snow, which also carried a hint of cheerful warmth and vitality.

She leaned against the car window. The sky was a deep blue, making the ground appear white. A few small figures, carrying brooms taller than themselves, chased each other on the wide road.

The oppressive atmosphere in Changyang Palace vanished instantly. She squinted, a faint smile playing on her lips, watching them play.

An elderly palace maid standing to the side was the first to spot the eldest princess's carriage. Just as she was about to reprimand a few eunuchs, Qi Gu sent Fu Lian to stop her.

She instructed Hongyan to reward each of the eunuchs with five taels of silver.

The faces of the young eunuchs were red from the wind, but their eyes were full of curiosity as they looked at the princess's carriage. Like a group of newborn puppies, they trembled with fear and their eyes were clear.

No wonder the princess was happy. She said, "You are lucky today to have the princess's favor. This is a reward from the eldest princess."

The eunuchs shoved each other, laughing and joking. One of the bolder ones even asked, "Sister Hongyan, why doesn't the eldest princess punish us and instead gives us reward money?"

Hongyan said, "You haven't done anything wrong, why should we punish you? Besides, our eldest princess is compassionate and kind. Alright, it's cold, hurry up and finish your work and go back."

An older eunuch standing nearby smiled obsequiously toward Qi Gu's carriage, "You brats, why aren't you kowtowing to Her Highness the Princess to express your gratitude?"

Several eunuchs hurriedly kowtowed to Aunt Qi's carriage to express their gratitude.

Under the watchful eyes of the eunuchs, the carriage set off again, and Qi Gu's carriage disappeared at the end of the road.

Upon arriving at Sima Villa, Qi Gu alighted from the carriage and saw Atai standing stiffly at the entrance.

He had practiced martial arts for many years, and his robust physique made him stand upright and respectful at the door, making him hard to ignore.

Qi Gu could only ask, "Atai, what are you doing here?"

Atai bowed slightly and clasped his hands in greeting, "My lord knew the princess was coming and personally sent me to welcome her. My lord originally intended to come and welcome the princess himself, but he..."

Before Atai could finish speaking, Qi Gu said, "It's alright. I just came to see my master. It's the New Year, so Master Sima should be in charge of the main house and enjoy family time with Grandfather Sima. Tai, please give my regards to your master and tell him that I wish him a peaceful and prosperous New Year, and that all his wishes come true."

It was right after the New Year, and Sima Hong must be at the main house of the Sima family. She had come to see her father while Sima Hong was away at the other residence.

After exchanging pleasantries, Qi Gu was about to head towards her father's courtyard. Seeing the princess's dismissive attitude towards her husband, A Tai became anxious. He hadn't come here just to hear a few perfunctory words from the princess and then return to report for duty.

Remembering the name his beloved murmured when he fell into a coma due to fever caused by his injury, Atai reached out and blocked Qi Gu's path.

Qi Gu looked at Atai with a puzzled expression. Seeing that he seemed to have something to say but didn't know how to say it, he frowned and said as if he had made up his mind: "Your Highness, our young master... is ill. Your Highness, please go and see our young master!"

As Atai spoke, his eyes reddened. "My husband returned to the villa on New Year's Eve. He has had a high fever for the past few days, and it keeps coming back. He often can't sleep at night because of the injury on his back. When he finally falls asleep, he keeps calling out the princess's name."

Sima Hong is ill? What happened? Could he have been assassinated? But she hadn't heard her mother mention such a serious matter as the assassination of a court official.

That's probably either a minor cold, or there's some secret she doesn't know. It's better if she doesn't know more.

If it's the former, she doesn't know medicine, so whether she goes to see him or not won't do him any good. If it's the latter, she definitely shouldn't go to see him.

Qi Gu asked with concern, "Oh dear, how did you fall ill? Have you called a doctor to treat you? Ah Tai, I don't know anything about medicine, and I don't want to bother your husband while he's recovering. You two take good care of him, and I'll visit him when I have time after he gets better."

After saying that, Qi Gu was about to leave again; she had no intention of going to the Sima family's main residence.

But after taking only two steps, Sima Hong, wearing a cloak and with a pale face, coughed and walked towards Qi Gu.

"Qi Gu, you've come?" The voice was ethereal.

He wasn't at the Sima residence, but at a separate courtyard?

Before him stood Sima Hong, his face contorted with illness. Xiu Zhu was slightly hunched over, coughing a few times, appearing extremely weak. His handsome face was thin, his lips pale, as if a gust of wind could blow him over.

Qi Gu was caught in a dilemma, unsure whether to stay or leave, when Sima Hong approached her. "Qi Gu, you've come to see Mr. Li?"

Qi Gu nodded slightly. His voice was hoarse and dry, indicating that he had indeed been ill for many days. "Are you... alright?" This was a crucial moment in the struggle for the throne, and Sima Hong couldn't afford to be harmed. His sickly appearance made her afraid he might suddenly...

“I’m fine, Aunt Qi, go see Mr. Li.” Sima Hong stepped aside.

"Ah!" Qi Gu could hardly believe that Sima Hong was so easy to talk to today. Before, just one look from him had made her uneasy.

She hesitated and said, "Then you should take good care of yourself. I'm going to see my father."

Qi Gu turned around, but before she could take a step, behind her, Atai cried out in a shrill voice, "My lord, your back wound has reopened!"

Atai said in a panicked tone, "Princess, please help me send my husband back to his courtyard. I will go and fetch a physician right away."

Before Qi could answer, Atai made it sound like his husband was about to die if he didn't run to school soon, leaving Qi with almost no room to refuse.

"Aunt Qi, thank you for your trouble." Sima Hong naturally extended his hand to Aunt Qi.

Before Qi Gu could even react, Atai vanished on the spot as if a ghost was chasing him, and Sima Hong's body was already close to her.

Qi Gu's hand, which had been summoning Atai back, remained raised in mid-air, unsure whether to retract it or not. In the end, she compromised and placed it lightly on Sima Hong's waist.

It was supposed to be helping each other up, but in reality, the two of them were supporting each other's waists and shoulders, more like they were leaning on each other.

"What's wrong with you?" Qi Gu had noticed the scattered red marks on Sima Hong's back. Atai said he was sick, but there were clearly external injuries on his back.

"You were assassinated? Who did it?" Qi Gu couldn't help but think of the assassinations he had encountered in his previous life. Was it the Prince Yi, the Guo family, or those who had suffered losses because of him?

Hongyan and Fulian followed behind the two. Rather than supporting Sima Langjun, the princesses were being half-embraced by him.

Hongyan and Fulian: Should we tell the princess? That is the question.

Sima Hong let Qi Gu "support" him, craving the warmth of her body, like a fish that had been thirsty for a long time finally finding a source of water, and couldn't help but move closer to Qi Gu.

He wasn't surprised that his grandfather knew his plans; he hadn't intended to hide them, nor did he intend to listen to his grandfather's advice to protect himself.

Qi Gu is right, the Empress is the best choice and the best ally.

Having been given a second chance at life, he doesn't intend to repeat the mistakes he made in his previous life, nor does he intend to take the detours he took in his previous life. And he will protect those he couldn't protect in his previous life.

But besides protecting her, he seemed to want more. So much so that after only a few days apart, he felt anxious and wished she were always in his sight, watching over her constantly.

Qi Gu slightly moved aside, trying to create some distance between herself and Sima Hong. They were too close; his breath was blowing next to her ear, making her stiffen and feel uncomfortable.

Whether Sima Hong did it intentionally or unintentionally, or perhaps he was simply too weak, the more she moved aside, the closer he would move in, his tall frame holding her tightly, making it somewhat suffocating.

Was this person really so sick that he couldn't stand up? Half of his body was leaning over her.

"Did I disturb your visit to Mr. Li? Don't worry about me, I'll go back by myself." Sima Hong said this, but the strength of his arm around Qi Gu did not lessen at all, let alone let go.

Qi Gu looked at the two wisps of hair on his forehead, his bloodless face, and the faint glint in his eyes. In short, his frail appearance was one of the most vulnerable she had ever seen.

For some reason, Qi Gu fell silent. She tightened her grip on Sima Hong's waist, and the two walked back to Sima Hong's room. Qi Gu gently placed him on the edge of the bed.

"I'm fine. It was just a few lashes from my grandfather. The injury has healed, so don't worry," Sima Hong explained.

Qi Gu asked in a somewhat somber tone, "Why did Grandfather Sima punish you?"

"Because I said I would marry no one but you," Sima Hong said frankly.

Qi Gu felt as if something had burned her heart. "You! You're just being ridiculous!" She took a half step back from the edge of the bed, and Sima Hong stood up and grabbed her hand.

He didn't want to frighten her. He thought they could take it slow. Three years later, the Prince Yi would be eliminated, the Guo family would no longer have the possibility of a palace coup, the eldest prince's position as crown prince would be secure, everything would be stable, and he would marry her. This was his plan.

However, Qi Gu's repeated rejections made it clear to him that if he let her go, she would hide in her supposedly safe cave, and he would have to go to great lengths to see her. She wouldn't wait for him.

And he simply couldn't bear to not see her for even a single day anymore.

"Qi Gu, we can only be together. You must marry me." Whether it's despicable or shameless, he needs to see her, he needs to have her in front of him at all times, only then can his heart be at peace.

Qi Gu laughed angrily, "Sima Hong, are you out of your mind, or did Grandpa Sima hit your head instead of your back? I will not marry you, do I have to say it several times!"

Sima Hong stared at Qi Gu's rosy lips. The sensation in his dream was so real that now that the real Qi Gu was standing in front of him, he didn't hear a single word she said.

He only saw her lips open and close, and he felt that he might really be delirious because he had been coveting those two lips.

[Author's Note]

I have a bold idea, but let me calm down first. [Sunglasses]