Chapter 466 Whether one is sentimental or not, one's own heart will tell.

Ji Qingwu turned back with a complicated expression, and looking at the handsome and dashing face in front of him, his good mood returned.

Ji Qingwu smiled and said, "He might have mental problems. Let's ignore him."

Zhao Mingyan smiled and replied, "Okay, I won't bother with it."

The two walked toward the gate of the military camp, with Chi Rui and the soldiers standing on both sides with their heads bowed.

Yuwen Tianqing stared at their retreating figures and said loudly, "The person who picks the Heavenly Mountain Red Lotus must sever all seven emotions. In other words, only a heartless person can obtain the Red Lotus. The fact that he picked it means that he has no feelings for you!"

Upon hearing Yuwen Tianqing's words, Ji Qingwu's back stiffened.

This wasn't the first person to tell her that only the ruthless could ascend to the throne, and that Emperor Wusu's affection for her was merely indulgence, not devotion.

Yuwen Tianqing said the same thing, and even the red lotus in her hand became "evidence".

Ji Qingwu's lips curved wider.

She herself had thought so, which is why she had been resisting and pushing it away.

But if she still has doubts about him now, it would be to deny what they had gone through together and to overturn everything she had done for him.

The black flags at the entrance of the military camp fluttered in the wind, and Ji Qingwu's hair, which was spread out on his back, also danced in the wind.

Ji Qingwu turned around and gripped the hand of the person beside her tightly. His palm was warm and dry, and the small cuts on his hand gently pricked her soft palm.

She smiled dismissively.

"Those who pick red lotus must sever their emotions? Have you ever picked any? It's just hearsay, just repeating what others say."

Yuwen Tianqing's face darkened: "You'll suffer a great loss sooner or later."

Ji Qingwu raised his other hand, revealing the crimson lotus to everyone.

"But we insist on having that bottomless icy cave as our witness, with ice marrow as our betrothal gift and snake venom as our pledge. Whether there is love or not, our hearts will bear witness!"

Zhao Mingyan's gaze softened drastically.

He raised his hand, and Chi Rui immediately understood, picking up his sword and walking towards Yuwen Tianqing.

*

Back to the main tent.

Ji Qingwu carefully placed the red lotus on the table and said to Li Yuzong by the door, "Eunuch Li, please prepare some water."

Li Yuzong said excitedly, "This old servant will go right away!"

Then, Ji Qingwu pushed the emperor onto the bed and began to undress him.

She was like a wild, unruly little beast, undressing herself haphazardly.

She had put the armor on him just before he left, but when it came time to take it off, she completely lost patience.

Zhao Mingyan rarely found himself in such an embarrassing situation. His breastplate was about to fall off, and the collar of his undergarment had been loosened by her. He used his arm to block it.

He chuckled and said, "Awu, I can do it myself."

Ji Qingwu's forehead was covered in a fine layer of sweat. She said seriously, "Your Majesty, please don't overthink it. I'm just treating your injuries."

Zhao Mingyan raised his left leg and asked, "This is the only injury. Why is Awu taking off my clothes?"

Ji Qingwu's eyes were bright, and he said logically, "I need to check to see if His Majesty has any other injuries, in order to prevent you from lying or concealing the truth."

That's why she was so anxious, wanting to check if he was completely unharmed.

Zhao Mingyan smiled and pulled her into his arms, kissing her face with his dry lips and letting out a satisfied sigh.

"I've been rolling around in the sand these past few days. Let me take a shower and wash myself first, and then Ah Wu can check on me personally, okay?"

Ji Qingwu shook his head decisively and refused, saying, "No, let me take a look at the injury on your foot first."

Zhao Mingyan rested his head on the crook of her neck, inhaling her scent, and said with his eyes half-closed, "It was just a bite from a small snake."

Ji Qingwu turned her head and saw the exhaustion on his face, knowing how hard he had worked these past few days and how he had risked his life to pick red lotus.

She took off his shoes and socks, and hissed softly when she saw the swollen wound.

The center of the wound had two bluish marks, surrounded by veins resembling ice flowers.

Ji Qingwu frowned and said, "This snake looks poisonous. How do we get rid of it?"

As soon as she finished speaking, she slapped her forehead and quickly went to get the red lotus.

She said confidently, "This red lotus can definitely cure the poison."

Zhao Mingyan stopped her, raising an eyebrow and saying, "I took a poison-avoiding pill before I went there, and the poison is already being absorbed. This red lotus is for Awu to admire."

The wound used to look even more horrifying, with frost marks imprinted into the bone marrow, and the bluish-black veins underneath were faintly visible. Now it has indeed improved a lot.

Ji Qingwu said, "I have seen the beauty of this red lotus. It is best to make the best use of it."

She deftly plucked a flower petal and placed it directly on his ankle.

Zhao Mingyan hesitated, knowing that picking the flower was an extremely dangerous process...

Finally, he looked at Ji Qingwu's black hair and smiled.

There was helplessness, but more than anything, there was contentment.

How could she not know how precious this thing was?

But in her heart, he was the most precious person.

The Tian Shan red lotus has an excellent detoxifying effect; after a quarter of an hour, the ice-flower-like patterns on the wound had disappeared.

Ji Qingwu pondered that to completely eradicate the poisonous root, he would need to apply the ointment for at least another night.

Li Yuzong said from outside the tent, "The water is ready."

Ji Qingwu said, "Bring it in."

Li Yuzong led his men to bring in hot water, and after bustling around the purification room for a while, he came out with a smile and said, "Your Majesty, everything is ready. This old servant will take his leave."

Ji Qingwu said, "Wait a moment, Eunuch Li."

Li Yuzong said, "Miss Ji, is there anything else? Please speak."

Ji Qingwu looked at him and said, "His Majesty's ankles cannot get wet for the time being. Eunuch Li, you will stay and serve him."

As soon as she finished speaking, two pairs of eyes, one in front and one behind, surrounded Ji Qingwu in the room.

The one in front naturally belonged to Li Yuzong. He first met the Emperor's gaze, and his forehead wrinkles appeared even more from worry.

He said, "Miss Ji, you are putting this old servant in a difficult position."

Ji Qingwu said, "Isn't it usually Eunuch Li who serves you personally? Why would he make things difficult for you?"

Li Yuzong's eyes darted around as he said, "This old servant has a cold and dampness disease in his knees. Once we arrived in the northern border and were exposed to the cold, the disease flared up again. I'm afraid I won't be able to serve Your Majesty."

Zhao Mingyan said calmly, "It's alright."

Ji Qingwu's gaze shifted to his legs, and she asked hesitantly, "Wasn't Eunuch Li chasing and playing with the little wolf this morning...?"

The person behind Ji Qingwu seemed to move, and Li Yuzong immediately said, "Miss Ji, the wolf cub hasn't been fed yet, this old servant will take his leave first."

Seeing him dash out of the tent like a gust of wind, Ji Qingwu took a breath and turned to look at the emperor.

"Your Majesty, could you...?"

Before she could finish speaking, Zhao Mingyan said, "You can't wash it yourself."

Ji Qingwu sighed and said, "Alright, then Your Majesty, could you...?"

Zhao Mingyan reacted even faster, saying, "You can't walk by yourself."

Just a moment ago, he was standing steadily at the entrance of the military camp, but now he can't even walk.

Ji Qingwu knew in her heart that he was acting, but what could she do when the red lotus had bloomed in her heart?