Bi Xie was stunned. It increased that much?

But then I realized that the original owner of this body used to be away from the capital for a year or two at a time. Every time the villain got sick, he hoped that the original owner would be by his side, but she never did. Now that she is with him when he is sick, he is already very happy.

"What are you standing there for? Bring the book over here." He drank a cup of tea, which made his voice a little better, but it was still terribly hoarse.

Bi Xie didn't move: "Do you really want to see it? Actually, there's nothing to see."

The more she said that, the more curious he became. He glared at her and said fiercely, "You can read it, but I can't? I'm not a child anymore!" Could it be that he was reading some kind of romance novel? If it's a military treatise, why would he hide it?

He was genuinely bothered that Xu Xie had raised him like a child.

Bi Xie had no choice but to take the book over, and he was immediately annoyed when he saw the title—"Meng's Child Rearing Manual".

"What are you doing reading this kind of book?" He was furious, his face flushed, his hand holding the book trembling uncontrollably. He was both fierce and angry. "You don't even have a son! What are you doing reading this kind of book? Do you think I'm some child who's being silly?" He threw the book away. "You're not allowed to read this kind of book anymore. I don't need you to support me. I know far more than you do!"

"Oh," Bi Xie replied with just one word.

He was even angrier, his eyes red, but he was helpless in front of her. Afraid that if he threw the soft pillow away, she would think he was being unreasonable, he could only stare at her sullenly. After a long while, he asked her coldly, "Aren't you going to ask me where I'm taking you? Aren't you going to ask me who Lin Jinwei is?"

Bi Xie obediently asked the two questions, which made him feel very perfunctory. He understood her less and less. She had raised him for eight years, and no one knew better than him how important the country was to her. Yet she just casually followed him out of the capital of Kuiyang Kingdom, saying that she would go wherever he went. This was so unlike her.

And the fact that she was staying to take care of him tonight made him think she would take the opportunity to run away.

Han Yun was somewhat discouraged, but he still stared at her intently, and said word by word as if in revenge, "Then let me tell you, I am the little prince of Ye Xi Kingdom, and I will take you to Ye Xi Kingdom... General Xu, are you still willing to come with me, the prince of an enemy country?" He became nervous again, afraid to hear the answer yet wanting to know the answer.

Bi Xie looked at him silently for a long time before saying solemnly, "Protecting Kuiyang Kingdom is my responsibility."

He knew it, he knew it! Her heart was only for Kuiyang Kingdom, and she regarded the emperor's command as heaven... He didn't know what he was angry about, but his heart was filled with rage. Very well, since she wanted to protect Kuiyang Kingdom, then he would destroy Kuiyang Kingdom, imprison her by his side, and make sure that Kuiyang Kingdom would no longer exist in her heart!

A silence fell between them. Bi Xie met the angry and resentful eyes and said gently, "In my eyes, you have no status. You are just Han Yun, and someone I would risk my life to protect. Rest well, and call me if you need anything."

He froze, staring at her intently, as if they were meeting for the first time. As Bi Xie turned away, he suddenly asked in a low, hoarse voice, "Do you like me, Xu Xie?"

Bi Xie paused, her eyelashes drooping slightly. She couldn't answer that question because he was asking about... Xu Xie.

Seeing her silence, he seemed to suddenly understand something, and gave a self-deprecating bitter laugh, his tone cold and harsh, "I know you don't like me, so you've been hesitant to have me. It's not because I'm too young, nor because I rejected you the first time, it's simply because you don't like me, that's all. I understand, so no matter what happens... you can give me up!"

"Xu Xie, I hate you!" He stared intently at her retreating figure. "Even if you come with me to the Kingdom of Ye Xi, I will still hate you!"

It is said that the deeper the love, the deeper the hate.

Bi Xie felt a mix of emotions. This was ridiculous. If the villain liked the original owner of this body, and she was forced to use love to win him over, what was this if not trouble?

Han Yun couldn't sleep that night. His body and mind felt heavy, but he couldn't help glancing at the place where she had left. He even deliberately lowered his breathing to listen to her breathing. He felt anxious about this behavior, but he couldn't help doing it.

Bi Xie set up a few chairs, and after a while, his irritability gave way to drowsiness. He fell asleep listening to the howling wind outside the window.

She had another dream.

She was still in Nuanjiao Pavilion, but this time she wasn't sleeping on the couch. Instead, she was holding Han Yun's hand, preparing to go out.

At that time, Han Yun was a bit more immature, about ten years old. He wore a white spring dress that made him look like a fairy, and a dot of vermilion between his eyebrows added to his beauty.

The streets were bustling with activity, with vendors selling sugar figurines, acrobats performing, and all sorts of people coming and going in an endless stream.

The boy's eyes were filled with astonishment and delight. This was the first time the general had taken him out. He beamed as Xu Xie lifted him onto the horse. Looking at the world outside Nuanjiao Pavilion, he squinted excitedly, tilting his little face slightly upward. The golden sunlight fell on his delicate, porcelain-white face, so bright, like a sunflower basking in the sun.

The two went to the countryside for a spring outing. The mountains were covered with bright flowers and lush green grass. Many tourists were admiring the flowers and composing poems. Occasionally, couples would pass by. The strong spring atmosphere was both shy and warm.

Han Yun spotted a familiar face in the crowd—it was Brother Wuyao from Nuanjiao Pavilion. He didn't have many friends in Nuanjiao Pavilion, but Brother Wuyao had spoken to him a few times and even smiled at him. He took it upon himself to consider Brother Wuyao as a friend.

Just as he was about to go up and say hello, he saw Wuyao be pushed to the ground by the woman beside him. The two rolled around on the grass. He heard Wuyao say "no," so he thought that the woman had bullied Wuyao. He frowned and was about to rush over to save Wuyao.

His arm was grabbed, and he turned to look at Xu Xie in confusion. "General, why won't you let me save Brother Wuyao? He looks so painful. He's been bullied."

Xu Xie hadn't expected the Minister of War to have such unusual hobbies. Not only did he do it outdoors, but he also prepared a small whip and candles... She quickly covered the boy's eyes and whispered, "It's not what you see. She did this to your brother Wuyao because she likes him. Your brother Wuyao isn't in pain." She didn't know how to explain, so she hurriedly led him away.

Han Yun was not happy at all: "General, is this what liking someone is? Is this what liking someone is like?"

Xu Xie was speechless for a moment, then took two more steps and rubbed his head. "I guess so. It's also a way of expressing affection."

Han Yun was sent back to Nuanjiao Pavilion by Xu Xie in a sullen mood. He had no heart to practice the zither for several days. The general once told him that liking someone is like liking a piece of pastry. Seeing her makes him happy. He felt that he liked the general. Every time the general came, he was especially happy, and every time they parted, he was especially reluctant to leave.

But that day, Brother Wuyao was so tormented that he cried until his voice was hoarse, and the general also said he liked it.

He liked the general, but he didn't like the way he expressed his liking; he didn't want to be like the general.