Chapter 78 He wouldn't be caught in a dilemma, Gu Shanyue wouldn't be his only option...
Gu Shanyue paid no attention to Li Yuheng's words or his dejected appearance, and sat down to listen to the play under the stage.
Li Jing personally saw Li Yuheng off, his attitude warm and impeccable, but he was openly and subtly supporting Qi Baitong. Li Yuheng forced himself to talk to him, his steps quickening as he boarded the carriage.
Fang Wanqing sat for a while, then took out a jade leaf from her pocket: "Ayue, this is the Wangfu's token at Tianxia Qianzhuang. As long as you have it, you will never lack money, no matter where you are in the world."
Gu Shanyue glanced at it, praised, "Impressive," and then continued watching the play.
Fang Wanqing was stunned, and Qi Baitong explained, "You didn't say you were going to give it to her."
Fang Wanqing was speechless for a moment. Recalling what she had just said, did Gu Shanyue think that she was deliberately showing off?
Fang Wanqing was both amused and exasperated. She placed the leaf into Gu Shanyue's palm and said, "This is your allowance."
The jade leaf was warm to the touch, smooth and glossy. Gu Shanyue asked in surprise, "For me? Why?"
This leaf must be quite valuable.
Fang Wanqing smiled lovingly: "It's for you, consider it a thank you from your mother. What is this little bit of money compared to Lin'er's life?"
“That makes sense,” Gu Shanyue accepted the jade leaf without any qualms, then, too lazy to put it in her bosom, casually handed it to Qi Baitong, “You can keep it.”
Qi Baitong carefully put away the jade leaf, and the other party, Wan Qing, clasped her hands and said, "Thank you."
Fang Wanqing looked at him with gentle eyes: "Silly child, why thank me? These things were originally yours."
Qi Baitong didn't answer, but crossed his arms again and turned to look at the stage.
Fang Wanqing didn't insist and sat down next to them to listen to the opera.
The opera had been going on for a long time when Gu Shanyue grew tired and went back to her room to rest. Qi Baitong walked silently beside her. After they entered the room, Gu Shanyue turned around and asked, "What's wrong?"
Qi Baitong raised her lowered eyes, slightly surprised: "What?"
Gu Shanyue pinched his cheek: "You're not paying attention."
She had noticed it just now, back under the stage. Qi Baitong always took meticulous care of her, so it was easy for him to notice when he was distracted.
"I just..." Qi Baitong held her hand and rubbed her cheek against it affectionately, "I just wanted to get closer to you."
Gu Shanyue blinked, tilted her head back and kissed him on the lips, then pulled away and looked at him: "Like this?"
Qi Baitong's lips curled slightly, her eyes flashing: "Not enough."
Gu Shanyue: "I understand."
She withdrew her hand and stepped back, the gauze curtain brushing against her temples like clouds, the beaded curtain gently bumping against her, blurring the corners of her upturned lips.
Qi Baitong couldn't help but chase after her and reach out his hand.
Gu Shanyue grabbed his hand, fell back onto the bed, her hair flying like black mist, slightly obscuring her face.
Qi Baitong pressed down with her strength, gently brushed aside her black hair with his fingers, and kissed her eyes.
The warm breath tickled him slightly, and Gu Shanyue's eyelashes fluttered, brushing against his face as if brushing against his heart, sending a shiver down his spine. He wanted to pull her into his arms tightly, to be entwined like mandarin ducks.
Ke Baitong controlled his unsteady breathing and kissed her cheek very gently, like a butterfly resting on a flower.
Gu Shanyue responded to his kiss with passion and frankness. She has always been straightforward and frank, and she was the same when it came to desire, making no attempt to hide the attraction between them.
"Take off your clothes."
Gu Shanyue pinched the back of his neck and kissed him, her voice muffled, and tugged at his collar.
She used to like to peel him clean bit by bit herself, and Qi Baitong would blush, too embarrassed to look at her.
But when Qi Baitong realized that Gu Shanyue not only didn't care about the faint old scars on his body that were barely visible, but was also looking at them with great interest, he became less ashamed, which greatly reduced Gu Shanyue's interest in taking off his clothes.
It's too much effort to take it off, so it's quicker and easier for him to take it off himself.
As soon as Gu Shanyue finished speaking, he glanced down and saw a fair chest with well-defined muscles, flushed with passion.
One more look, and the white paulownia tree, like a cicada shedding its skin, flung its clothes aside, and deftly bit off her hair ribbon with its lips and teeth.
The sun was still shining brightly outside the window. Unlike the intimacy under the candlelight at night, everything was clearly visible: his blood-red lips, his slightly unfocused dark pupils, and the unyielding infatuation on his cold face. It was truly a delight to behold.
There's a certain charm to indulging in debauchery during the day.
Qi Baitong was so excited that her hair ribbon came undone, and her cool, long black hair fell down, brushing against Gu Shanyue.
Gu Shanyue grabbed a strand of long hair and held it in her hand, quickly mastering its ingenious use.
Sometimes I'd tug at his hair, sometimes I'd loosen it, and sometimes I'd grip his hair tightly and not let go.
Qi Baitong understood immediately. The hair in Gu Shanyue's hand became the reins to control him. This idea made his blood boil, and he couldn't help but bite her fingers, making his hair and fingertips wet.
Gu Shanyue loosened her damp hair, then grabbed another strand and held onto it tightly.
Qi Baitong leaned down and licked her lips, leaving a wet trail along her ear.
"Did I do a good job?"
Gu Shanyue tilted her head back, her sweaty cheeks rubbing against his, her breath hot, and silently answered.
But Qi Baitong still asked, "Between him and me, who's better?"
Gu Shanyue, confused and bewildered, managed to glimpse a trace of thought: "Hmm?"
"Who is better, the Crown Prince or me?"
Qi Baitong gently bit her ear, holding the thin earlobe between his lips and tongue, waiting for her answer to decide whether it would fall with his teeth or the tip of his tongue.
Gu Shanyue opened her watery eyes, smiled, hooked her arms around his sweaty neck, and whispered in his ear, "He's more delicate than you. I don't like him."
It was him.
She still chose him.
A secret joy welled up in Qi Baitong's heart, and his whole heart felt light and ready to fly away. He gently kissed her earlobe with tenderness.
He is not delicate.
He's the most capable.
She definitely likes him the most.
The two played around until dusk. Gu Shanyue nestled in his arms, her face flushed as if drunk. Qi Baitong lowered his head and kissed her cheek: "I'll carry you to wash up."
Gu Shanyue gave a lazy "hmm" and hugged his neck.
After cleaning up and having a simple meal, Li Jing sent someone to invite Gu Shanyue and escort her to the palace.
They invited Gu Shanyue, but Gu Shanyue and Qi Baitong came instead.
Li Jing sighed silently. He knew that his son already belonged to someone else's family.
"Even if Lin'er goes, I still can't personally escort you into the palace. His Majesty has regained his senses, and His Highness the Crown Prince is fighting with the Third Prince. I can help you at this critical juncture, but I can't put the Liaodong army in a precarious position."
Qi Baitong nodded: "It's alright."
After he finished speaking, he focused on Gu Shanyue and did not take his words to heart. Gu Shanyue, on the other hand, fell into deep thought.
Qi Baitong: "A-Yue?"
Gu Shanyue raised his eyes: "Tonight, I will kill the emperor."
Li Jing felt a chill run down his spine and was startled. Even though there were only three people in the room, he still subconsciously looked around.
Qi Baitong also looked surprised, but quickly recovered and agreed, "Okay."
Li Jing stared wide-eyed at Gu Shanyue: "You, you, you..."
Then, pointing at the white paulownia tree, he said, "You, you, you..."
When Gu Shanyue spoke such shocking words, she remained as calm as a breeze passing through willow branches, even with a touch of leisure, as if she had simply gone out for a stroll and casually picked some flowers to easily remove Emperor Yong's head.
She said, "Qi Baitong can be kept; it's just killing one person."
Upon hearing this, Li Jing felt relieved, but Qi Baitong's expression instantly changed. Her eyes darkened, and her tone became firm: "I will go with you."
This was the first time he had spoken to Gu Shanyue in such a forceful tone.
Gu Shanyue looked at him in surprise, as if his words were even more astonishing than the assassination attempt on the emperor.
Qi Baitong gently held her hand, her voice softer: "A-Yue, I will live and die with you."
Li Jing, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, coughed a few times in excitement.
Gu Shanyue glanced at Li Jing, then at Qi Baitong, and withdrew her hand: "Your father has something to say to you."
Qi Baitong's hand, which had missed its target, instinctively followed up. He frowned and looked at Li Jing, whose expression was grave.
At this moment, Qi Baitong finally understood Li Yuheng's words anew.
Once his identity is confirmed, some things, even if they are not what he wants, become a responsibility and a shackle.
If he were all alone, what difference would it make if he killed the emperor or even followed Gu Shanyue to kill his way through the world?
However, if his identity is that of the heir apparent of the Prince of Pingliao, his every move will not only affect Li Jing and his wife, but also the safety and fate of the entire Prince of Pingliao's mansion and the Liaodong army.
This is what Li Yuheng meant by "unable to let go".
Li Jing did not offer any advice; the candlelight flickered and danced in the night wind, lengthening his shadow.
Qi Baitong lowered his eyes, his pupils trembling slightly. He possessed very little, so he always made decisions quickly.
He reached into his pocket, pulled out two items, and placed them on the table with a crisp sound.
Li Jing looked at them and recognized both items: the jade leaf that the Prince's Mansion used to exchange money at the bank and the jade bracelet that Fang Wanqing had worn for over twenty years.
A vein throbbed on his forehead, and he raised his eyes sharply: "You..."
Qi Baitong said, "Father."
Li Jing was stunned.
All his words were cut off by those two words, his emotions surged like a torrent, and his eyes reddened.
Qi Baitong slowly spoke: "I acknowledge you as my parents, but I don't want us to become a hindrance to each other."
He knelt down, his body bending like a pine tree in the wind, and kowtowed to Li Jing.
"Just pretend you never found your son."
Li Jing took a step back, his body swaying slightly. He braced himself on the table and stared intently at Qi Baitong's face.
The general, who had walked through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, could be kind and gentle on ordinary days, but once he used his aura to suppress the enemy, the air would freeze as if it were a mountain, and an unparalleled sense of oppression would press down on the young shoulders of Qi Baitong.
But his face was calm as water, his back straight, and he looked at Li Jing with a peaceful and even docile expression.
He stated that his mind would not change.
After a long while, the lamp wick crackled and popped, illuminating the room for a moment.
Li Jing shifted his gaze from Qi Baitong, picked up the jade bracelet and jade leaf on the table, and tugged at the corner of his mouth, a gesture that resembled both a smile and a sigh.
"You really are just like me when I was young, a stubborn ox that won't turn back even if you whip it."
"Thank you, Father."
Qi Baitong kowtowed again and slowly stood up.
Turning her head, she saw Gu Shanyue looking at them with her head tilted to the side. Qi Baitong smiled slightly, took her hand in his palm, and spoke in a soft voice.
“I will go with you.”
Just as Gu Shanyue was about to speak, Qi Baitong rubbed her fingertips: "Your concerns have been resolved. You can't refuse me this time."
“Alright,” Gu Shanyue smiled and squeezed his hand in return, “then let’s go together.”
Qi Baitong smiled gently, but a determined light shone in her eyes.
If he were in Li Yuheng's position, destined to face a dilemma and have to include Gu Shanyue in his options, he wouldn't want that position.
He wouldn't be caught in a dilemma, and Gu Shanyue wouldn't be one of the options.
She is Gu Shanyue.
The one and only priceless Gu Shanyue.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
