Chapter Sixty-Three

Seeing her so anxious, Zhou Yanqing decided to tease her and deliberately said, "What should we do then? What if he doesn't believe me and kidnaps my little witch doctor? Then I'll be all alone again."

"He can't take me away!"

The beauty was angry, her dark eyebrows furrowed, and the corners of her eyes were slightly red. Zhou Yanqing wanted nothing more than to hold her in his arms and crush her.

But he didn't. He simply raised his hand, gently pinched Si Yanmo's fair and rosy cheeks, and magically produced another military token.

This military tally is different from the one given to Zhou Junsong; its craftsmanship appears more refined, with even the thin sidewalls engraved with coded text—"Qin King's Decree."

"Don't worry," he laughed. "I'm not stupid. What I gave him was just something a deputy general would use to mobilize troops. If something really happens, this is the most useful thing. Besides, the country is won through battle, and most of the soldiers in Qin have fought alongside me."

"I am the best military talisman."

The confidence and arrogance in his eyes when he said this was something he hadn't shown before.

Even if the King of Qi planted many spies here, Zhou Yanqing believed that on the battlefield, the capable would be king.

Once on the battlefield, he remains the invincible king.

Si Yanmo was drawn to the light in his eyes. She wanted to retort that he was too confident, but she didn't say anything.

She couldn't bear to disturb the man's brilliance. Perhaps in those twenty years, which were neither too long nor too short, the battlefield was the place where Zhou Yanqing truly felt at ease.

As long as this military tally won't implicate him, that's fine.

Zhou Yanqing secretly rubbed her fingers, then, remembering something, raised an eyebrow and smiled, "I remember someone promised me something else."

He was referring to his previous visit to Yunjianxuan to watch a play.

“I’ve done everything you asked me to do, now it’s time to pay my dues.”

It was just watching a play, so it didn't bother Si Yanmo much. She readily agreed, and the next morning Zhou Yanqing woke her up, saying that the carriage was ready and they needed to leave early.

"What's the rush? Yunjianxuan isn't far!" Si Yanmo yawned, her hair all messy.

She didn't sleep well again last night.

Now, whenever she closes her eyes, all she sees is the dim candlelight of that night, the burning heat all over her body, and... that person's touch. She can't sleep at all. If this continues, she feels that she will die suddenly from lack of sleep in this lifetime.

Looking at her dazed appearance, Zhou Yanqing's gaze softened a bit because of her cuteness.

He couldn't help but reach out and ruffle the girl's hair, his voice gentle: "I was wrong, can you sleep a little longer?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Guan, who was standing to the side, widened his eyes: That's not what you said just now!

An hour earlier, Zhou Yanqing, who was also tossing and turning in bed unable to sleep, simply woke up Wu Guan to help her choose clothes.

This summer is unusually hot; even in early summer, we can only wear light, thin gauze clothing.

This greatly troubled Zhou Yanqing, as he used to spend far more time in the military camp than in the Prince of Qin's residence.

He was also the kind of person who would become extremely irritable as soon as it got hot, and he spent most of the summer in the military camp, even having government affairs delivered to him.

These days, finding a suitable casual outfit for a date is harder than leading an army into battle.

Wu Guan took almost all of his clothes.

White? No, too conspicuous.

Purple? No, it'll make him look too dark!

Black? No, I wear that too often every day, Si Yanmo must be annoyed.

...

After much deliberation, Zhou Yanqing's gaze finally settled on a dark red gauze dress, and the scene of Si Yanmo combing his hair that night involuntarily came to mind.

That's what he casually draped over his shoulders that day.

He still remembered Si Yanmo's eyes at that time, a gentle smile tinged with a touch of amazed shyness.

She... should like it.

With that thought in mind, Zhou Yanqing decided that this was the one.

Just as Wu Guan breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that this ordeal was finally over, he started picking out accessories again, wanting to be exquisite down to the last hair.

He had been busy for a full hour without even having a chance to catch his breath, and then excitedly knocked on Si Yanmo's door.

However, Si Yanmo was so sleepy that she couldn't keep her eyes open and didn't notice that the person in front of her was dressed up in a flamboyant manner, even more so than Zhong Zihe.

Hearing him apologize, Si Yanmo realized that her attitude had not been very good.

Never mind, she was the one who agreed to it in the first place.

"Wait for me a moment."

Si Yanmo returned to her room, picked out a light pink dress to change into, and used the basin of water Wu Guan brought to wash and dress herself. Just as she was about to go out, she caught a glimpse of a wooden box on the table.

Her jade-like hands opened the wooden box, inside which lay the bell that Zhou Yanqing had given her before.

Recalling their conversation that day, and how that person kept calling her Amo, the corners of her lips unconsciously turned up. She picked it up and tucked it into her waistband.

The wooden door creaked open, and a gentle breeze blew by, causing the bells at the woman's waist to sway and ring out.

Zhou Yanqing's eyes revealed surprise, and his hand unconsciously touched the sachet at his waist. The crooked and crooked patterns were the most beautiful in his eyes.

He cautiously extended his hand. "Shall we go?"

Seeing Si Yanmo naturally place her hand in his palm, he couldn't help but smile, a blush creeping onto his neck. He took her hand and walked outside together.

The sun was shining brightly. The two stepped over the threshold together and were about to get into the carriage when they heard a voice: "Little Mo'er!"

Without even turning around, Zhou Yanqing knew it was that childhood sweetheart again.

Although Si Yanmo had already explained their relationship, he still couldn't help but feel angry when he saw this person.

Why does this guy always interrupt him and Amo when they're having a good time?

I really want to throw him to the wolves!

Over here, Zhong Zihe came running over in a flurry, carrying a folding fan.

Normally, if he saw Zhou Yanqing, he would run away in a flash. But today was different; he had important business to attend to.

He grabbed Si Yanmo's hand and cried out, "Little Mo'er, you must help your brother!"

Si Yanmo was startled by his wail and tried to pull her hand away, but found that the person was holding on tightly. It was only with Zhou Yanqing's help that she was able to pry the other person off.

What are you doing?

It's so early in the morning, it's like my dad just died...

Zhong Zihe wasn't annoyed by being forcefully pushed away by the two. He stood there sniffling, looking aggrieved, "It's just... it's just that Qiuhe is leaving..."

Upon hearing the name, Zhou Yanqing paused for a moment, her brows furrowing. "The musician from Yunjianxuan?"

Zhong Zihe nodded his head like a wooden fish, and under his pitiful state, the two finally understood the whole story.

Ever since Zhong Zihe arrived in Qin, he has been eager to listen to Qiu He's zither every day, and he always gives the most rewards.

Just two days ago, the owner of Yunjianxuan, also known as Lin Niang, announced that Qiuhe was unwell and had to return to her hometown in the countryside to recuperate.

"Let them go back, we can't stop them, can we?"

Zhou Yanqing couldn't understand why he looked like the sky had fallen.

There are many more good musicians than just this one. The Qin region is so vast, why worry about not having a good zither to listen to?

Seeing this, Si Yanmo explained to him in a low voice, "He just likes listening to Qiu He, and he even... he likes her a little."

"ah?"

Hearing this, Zhou Yanqing frowned even more. As far as he knew, Qiu He never showed her face.

"You like her without ever having met her?"

Si Yanmo shrugged. She didn't understand either, but Zhong Zihe was just like that, and even called it "understanding each other through music".

A beautiful woman is easy to find, but a true confidante is hard to come by; and a beautiful woman who is also a confidante is even rarer.

"He's in a one-sided love, right?" Zhou Yanqing secretly complained to Si Yanmo.

"It's wishful thinking."

The two of them sang in unison, completely ignoring Zhong Zihe's cries and pleas.

After a short while, the crying subsided—Zhong Zihe's voice had gone hoarse.

He looked at the young couple with a resentful expression, "Are you two even listening to me?"

"Yes, of course we listened!" Si Yanmo quickly put on a serious expression, but the corner of her mouth couldn't help twitching. "But we can't just stop her from going home, can we? That would be like imprisonment!"

"What imprisonment?!" Upon hearing this, Zhong Zihe knew that these two hadn't heard him at all. "Didn't I just say that I wanted you to help me meet Qiu He? Don't you know the owner of Yun Jian Xuan?"

"That's all?" Si Yanmo rolled her eyes.

I listened to him cry for a long time, but I didn't expect it to be such a small thing.

"Okay, okay."

Having received his promise, Zhong Zihe stopped crying and making a fuss, put on a smiling face, and hurriedly tried to pull her towards Yunjianxuan.

"Hey!" Zhou Yanqing quickly grabbed his wife and pulled her into his arms. The dog glared at him, "If you're going, go another day. Amo is mine today."

"But...but Qiuhe is leaving tomorrow!"

When it came to Qiu He's matter, Zhong Zihe was no longer afraid of this wicked star and even dared to snatch her away from him.

The two of them pulled and tugged at each other like two childish children, leaving Si Yanmo speechless.

She cried out in pain, "Ah!"—no one knew who had pulled her too hard.

Zhou Yanqing hurriedly let go, giving Zhong Zihe the opportunity to pull the person away. He then pulled the person up and prepared to run.

This time, Zhou Yanqing showed no mercy and struck his arm with a slash.

With a snap, Zhong Zihe looked at his arm again and found that he could no longer lift it. The pain belatedly spread, making him roll around clutching his arm.

Zhou Yanqing didn't even spare him a glance, instead pulling Si Yanmo's hand to check, "How are you? Are you hurt anywhere?"

Si Yanmo shook her head blankly, her gaze falling on the person groaning on the ground, "That... him..."

He glanced at it nonchalantly, "It's fine, we can get him back. It's his own fault for being so reckless!"

The man's eyes were filled with murderous intent as he spoke. If he hadn't been afraid of hurting Si Yanmo, he would have killed this guy countless times over.

The black horse on the side scoffed, as if to remind the two that he was getting impatient.

Zhou Yanqing took the hand of the person next to her and advised, "Let's ignore him and go."

After all, he was her older brother whom she had grown up with since childhood, and Si Yanmo still felt somewhat reluctant to let him go. She hesitated and advised, "Why don't you reattach his arm first..."

Never mind, my date with Amo is more important.

Zhou Yanqing squeezed Si Yanmo's small hand affectionately before reluctantly pulling the person on the ground up. He simply twisted the person's arm gently, and the cry of pain stopped abruptly.

Even Zhong Zihe himself found it amazing, and shook his arm again. It really was alright!

He was still studying how the arm had been reattached when he saw Zhou Yanqing and Si Yanmo board the carriage. He quickly caught up and grabbed the horse's neck to stop them from leaving.