4th
Chapter 9: I won't cling to her like a madman, becoming her dog at her feet...
Gu Shanyue noticed that Qi Baitong seemed to have changed. Although she still took care of everything as meticulously as before, she was inexplicably more irritable.
For example, at this moment, Bai Yan was at the door, wanting to come in, but Qi Baitong stopped him, her tone leaving no room for argument: "Get out."
Bai Yan: "...Huh?"
Gu Shanyue peeked out from the recliner on the veranda and looked over curiously.
That's really interesting.
However, she quite liked Qi Baitong's way of being. She disliked his submissive attitude towards others and his nonchalant attitude when being whipped.
We should repay evil with evil and live a more ruthless life.
Bai Yan narrowed his eyes and threatened, "Lord Qi, don't forget, your life and fortune are still in our hands..."
Qi Baitong coldly replied, "Pah, get lost."
Bai Yan was filled with doubt and suspicion. He looked Qi Baitong up and down, almost wondering if he had been replaced by someone else, otherwise how could his personality have changed so drastically all of a sudden?
Qi Baitong drew his sword: "What are you looking at? Get lost."
The white inkstone rolled away.
Gu Shanyue: "Pfft, hahahahaha!"
Qi Baitong sheathed her sword and turned around, her cold face softening into a gentle smile as she gave Gu Shanyue a tender one: "It's getting windy, I'll go get you another blanket to cover yourself with."
“It’s not cold, come here.” Gu Shanyue beckoned to him.
Qi Baitong obediently came over, her steps a little quick, and every time she approached her, I couldn't help but feel anticipation.
Even if he sometimes had to swallow bitter pills, he accepted it with relish.
Gu Shanyue raised his hand, and Qi Baitong leaned down, hooked her arms around his neck, and kissed him on the cheek.
"Finally you know how to fight back? Use this attitude towards Bai Yan from now on."
Qi Baitong touched her face, her ears turned red, her Adam's apple bobbed, and she asked, "Will there be a reward?"
"A reward?" Gu Shanyue released him, lay back down, and said lazily, "What kind of reward do you want?"
Qi Baitong remained bent over, looking down at her, and said earnestly, "Anything you give me is fine."
"Anything is fine?"
Gu Shanyue had a wicked thought. She raised her foot, which was only covered by silk stockings, and stepped on his stomach without any politeness.
"Is this okay?"
Qi Baitong hugged her legs, his hands loosely encircling her ankles without using any force, letting her playfully step on his tense waist and abdomen.
Seeing his blush, Gu Shanyue deliberately teased him.
"Why aren't you saying anything? You can say whatever you want, doesn't that count?"
Qi Baitong's hand moved up her ankle, the soft fabric sliding down, and his rough hand encircled her calf, tightening slightly.
His voice was hoarse: "Of course it counts."
Qi Baitong suppressed the strong urge to press closer and touch her more, and only gently pinched her thigh before slowly withdrawing his hand, pulling back the trouser leg that had slid up, and covering her fair skin.
"It's chilly, and you're not dressed warmly enough. I'll go get a blanket."
Gu Shanyue: "Oh."
She hadn't felt cold at first, but when he got close, he was all warm, and when he suddenly left, she actually felt a bit chilly.
Qi Baitong took back a white fox fur blanket and draped it over Gu Shanyue. The fluffy white fur surrounded her, making her face appear even more beautiful and ethereal.
The fairy-like person said, "If you're worried I'm cold, why don't you come and lie down with me?"
Qi Baitong had just regained his composure when Gu Shanyue's words made his face turn red again.
"I... I'm afraid this recliner will collapse."
He had considered it before.
To be honest, no matter where Gu Shanyue was, he wanted to be close to her, preferably with their skin warm against each other, with her lying on his chest so he could feel her heartbeat and breath, and the two of them never separated for a moment.
However, he couldn't cling on like a madman.
Gu Shanyue disliked any kind of confinement. He had to restrain all his excessive and crazy thoughts and was best off just being a well-behaved little dog wagging its tail at her feet, posing no threat, so that she would occasionally pick him up and tease him.
This will be the closest he ever gets to her.
“That’s true,” Gu Shanyue’s thoughts came and went quickly. Her eyes swept around the courtyard, and she suddenly thought, “Where did Xifeng go?”
Qi Baitong concealed the regret in his eyes and replied, "He left a message a few days ago, saying that he wanted to return to Wanhua Die Valley to treat his injuries."
"oh."
Gu Shanyue nodded and glanced at Qi Baitong. She also wanted to take him to the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers and Butterflies, but unfortunately they couldn't go.
Just then, there was another knock on the courtyard gate.
Qi Baitong went to open the door, and there stood Li Yuheng. As soon as he saw Qi Baitong, the smile on his face vanished instantly, and he said with disgust, "Get out of the way."
Even though Qi Baitong saved his life, he was not grateful at all, and instead hated Qi Baitong even more because of it.
Qi Baitong, who had always been respectful and polite to him, stood still, his eyes cold, showing no intention of moving aside.
Li Yuheng's face flushed with anger, and he shouted, "How dare you! Get out of here!"
"Get out of my way," Qi Baitong said, his voice cold and deep. "I'm talking about you."
Li Yuheng: "...?!!"
He was shocked and furious, incredulous that a bodyguard would say such a thing to him.
"Are you crazy? How dare you talk to me like that!"
Qi Baitong stared at him expressionlessly, making Li Yuheng, who was furious, seem more like a madman.
Li Yuheng also realized this instantly. He barely suppressed his anger and gritted his teeth, saying, "It seems you've forgotten what it's like to have the Needle Gu take effect. Don't worry, you'll have plenty of time to experience it next month."
Qi Baitong's expression remained completely unchanged: "Heh."
Some people think he only obeyed out of fear of punishment. If he really were a dog, having his teeth pulled out and being punished for many years, he might never have had the courage to resist again.
But he was a human being. He didn't resist. What he lacked was never courage, but motivation.
Now, he has it.
Qi Baitong turned around, and Gu Shanyue leaned out again, a smile of amusement on his face, raising an eyebrow at Qi Baitong to encourage him.
Qi Baitong smiled in response.
He has received permission; his destiny is to be by Gu Shanyue's side.
Therefore, even death seems intimate.
What is there to fear from a needle-threading gu?
"Get out of the way!" Li Yuheng was furious.
Qi Baitong remained standing at the door like a wooden statue, completely ignoring him.
Li Yuheng drew his sword with a clang and thrust it at Qi Baitong.
Gu Shanyue said, "Alright, let him in."
Qi Baitong quickly dodged to the side, but Li Yuheng's sword had already thrust out and couldn't stop its momentum, almost causing him to fall to the ground.
Looking up again, Gu Shanyue was reclining on the chair, watching his disheveled state as if it were a show.
Li Yuheng sheathed his sword, straightened his disheveled robes, glared fiercely at Qi Baitong, and then walked over, looking aggrieved.
"Sister, why did you let him stop me?"
Gu Shanyue popped a pine nut into her mouth: "I didn't tell him to stop you."
Li Yuheng didn't believe it. It must have been Gu Shanyue who ordered it, otherwise how would Qi Baitong have dared to treat him like this?
But Gu Shanyue denied it, so Li Yuheng didn't mention it either. He sat down next to Gu Shanyue and smiled at her.
"Sister, I ran into my third brother today. He was injured. Did you go to avenge me?"
It was the same back in Zhuoguang Mountain. Gu Shanyue always appeared cold on the surface, but she was actually extremely protective of her own. If anyone bullied him, she would immediately stand up for him, without even delaying until the next day.
"He's out already?" Gu Shanyue raised an eyebrow and smiled. "His finger has been reattached?"
Li Yuheng's eyes lit up: "I was wondering why he always liked to dress up as a refined scholar, but these past few days he's been wearing so many rings on his hands. It turns out it's to cover up his scars."
“I cut off four fingers on his right hand. Even if they were stitched up in time, it would still affect the dexterity of his fingers,” Gu Shanyue said casually.
This is truly good news; the chances of an imperfect prince vying for the throne are even smaller.
"Thank you, sister! I knew you were the best to me!"
Li Yuheng habitually acted coquettishly and habitually took her hand.
Ten years had passed, and they were already very familiar with each other, but Gu Shanyue casually withdrew her hand before he could reach out to her.
Li Yuheng grabbed at empty air. He froze, staring at his empty palm, his heart seemingly frozen in mid-air.
He looked up and saw Gu Shanyue drinking tea, as if his actions just now were unintentional.
"elder sister?"
Gu Shanyue gave a casual "hmm".
Li Yuheng tentatively leaned forward, his shoulder about to touch Gu Shanyue's hair, but Gu Shanyue leaned back, avoiding the insignificant touch.
In a flash, Li Yuheng instantly understood that she wasn't doing it unintentionally; she was avoiding him and didn't want any physical contact with him.
That day's confession was indeed ill-timed; they were once inseparable, but now there was a rift between them.
And the vow Gu Shanyue made, he subconsciously tried not to think about it.
Whether she was attracted to him or not, he was the most important person to Gu Shanyue. Perhaps she was simply too engrossed in swordsmanship to understand romantic love.
None of that matters, as long as she only has eyes for him.
He has a lifetime to live; he can take his time.
Li Yuheng stepped back, maintaining a distance that was neither too close nor too far, and poured tea for Gu Shanyue.
Seeing that he was keeping his distance obediently, Gu Shanyue said, "Li Kaiyang is going to put a needle-piercing gu on you and then blame it on the fact that the emperor is carrying gu poison. Be careful these days and don't fall for it."
“Heh, all they have are these underhanded tricks,” Li Yuheng said, his eyes sinister, lost in thought. Noticing Gu Shanyue looking at him, he suppressed his emotions and smiled, “I’ll be careful, don’t worry about me.”
Gu Shanyue nodded, then recalled what Li Kaiyang had said: "He said the emperor wouldn't wake up?"
If that's true, then who should she ask about what happened back then?
"I entered the palace today, but I still did not see my father. The imperial physician said that although my father is in a daze, he has briefly woken up a few times in the past few days, but the time he sleeps is indeed getting longer and longer."
Li Yuheng's tone was somber; he feared that Emperor Yong might not survive.
As power shifted, undercurrents surged beneath the calm surface, and his position as crown prince was not yet secure.
Gu Shanyue frowned: "Are we really going to die?"
Li Yuheng remained silent for a long while before sighing, "I'm afraid that's it."
Why did he have to die at this time of year? Gu Shanyue thought, why don't I just squat in the emperor's bedchamber, grab him as soon as he wakes up, and ask him everything I need to ask?
“Sister, the palace is heavily guarded, and Father is not in good condition. I’m afraid you’ll be surrounded before he can even finish his sentence.”
Li Yuheng seemed to know what she was thinking and voiced his concerns first.
Gu Shanyue shrugged: "I was just thinking about it."
As they were talking, Qi Baitong came over for the fifth time to tidy up the table, putting down a plate of pastries. The table was almost overflowing with pastries, all crammed together.
Li Yuheng found him annoying and scolded him, "I'm talking to my sister, what are you doing wandering around like this? Get out of here."
Qi Baitong, who was bending over to tidy the table, straightened up upon hearing this, looked down at Li Yuheng, and uttered two words.
"I don't."
Li Yuheng: "..."
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