Su An was taken aback upon hearing this and stared blankly at the source.
Against the backdrop of dappled tree shadows and golden osmanthus blossoms, Fu Zhun sat quietly in his wheelchair, his deep eyes like a bottomless pool, pure and intensely black, impossible to fathom.
A long, dark robe draped neatly over his body, its hem hanging down on both sides, swaying gently in the occasional breeze, exuding a cool and elegant air, yet carrying a hint of imperceptible loneliness.
Su An's heart suddenly tightened, and a strange and complicated emotion spread through her.
She pouted unhappily: "No way! You're trying to kick me out after you've squeezed me dry. You're like a bird that's been used and then discarded, or a donkey that's been used and then discarded."
Fu Zhun raised an eyebrow, almost laughing in exasperation, not expecting her to say that.
He flicked his index finger and gave her a good flick on the forehead. "Your ability to make things up is getting stronger and stronger. Instead of going home, do you want to roam the world?"
Su An's eyelashes drooped slightly.
It wasn't her imagination; after that Mid-Autumn Festival night, Fu Zhun's words and actions had become subtly intimate, catching her off guard and making her blush.
She coughed lightly, her eyes darting around uncomfortably, and said, "You've only just recovered. Although the disaster situation in Jizhou has stabilized a lot now, what if something else goes wrong? How can someone as responsible as me leave with peace of mind?"
Besides, there's no need to worry about home; we even exchanged letters recently, and everything is fine.
However, Fu Zhun's aftereffects have not yet healed, so she can't help but worry.
Fu Zhun stared at her intently, naturally able to discern Su An's underlying concern for him, and a hint of a smile flickered across his dark eyes.
"Everything is proceeding smoothly and there won't be any more mishaps. Besides, with me here, don't you trust me?"
Su An bit her lip indignantly, wanting to say something.
Fu Zhun raised his hand, interrupting her for the first time.
His deep voice rose slightly, a hint of authority amidst his helplessness, as he said, "You should go back and rest properly. Don't overwork yourself, and don't let your family worry for too long."
"This is not negotiable. I will order the Marquis to accompany you all the way back."
Su An: "..."
Good heavens, they're even calling themselves "King" now! This wretched monarchical society!
Su An felt resentful, but she couldn't bring herself to refuse, as she also missed her family very much.
"Fine, I'll go then. I'm actually looking forward to going back. Why are you making me leave?"
A muttered remark immediately made Zhou Yue, who had been sitting to the side as if he were invisible, burst out laughing.
He was wondering why the prince had suddenly dismissed him from his post and summoned him for a meal; now he understood.
He couldn't help but smile and sigh, "I've never seen the prince so gentle before. His usual cold and aloof demeanor always intimidates us, but now he's so tender and affectionate towards Miss Su. It's truly enviable."
These teasing words made Su An feel as if a veil had been lifted from her heart, and her cheeks instantly turned bright red.
She quickly pushed the several plates of delicious food in front of her over, "If Your Excellency likes my cooking, then eat more! You won't have the chance to eat like this every day in the future!"
If it were anyone else, she would have shoved a handful of vegetables into their mouth to shut them up!
Zhou Yue and Fu Zhun exchanged a glance, both smiling knowingly without saying a word.
After finishing his meal, Su An went straight to Xie Qingfeng.
"Is Fu Zhun truly alright?"
Xie Qingfeng clearly already knew that Su An was leaving, and unusually, he wasn't impatient at all, giving her a reassuring look: "With proper care, she will be fully recovered in ten days to half a month."
"Don't worry, I'll make sure the prince takes his medicine properly."
Su An finally breathed a sigh of relief, her worries completely gone. With a mix of reluctance and anticipation, she excitedly went back to her room to pack.
The next morning.
The first rays of dawn had just touched the city walls when Fu Zhun's farewell carriage arrived at the city gate.
"Be careful on your journey," Fu Zhun instructed, his voice deep and resonant.
"I will come to find you after the matter in Jizhou is settled."
Fearing to reveal his emotions, he held back after speaking, but still did not choose to get off the carriage. He left behind only this hurried sentence and then ordered his men to return home.
Watching his car disappear into the distance, Su An curled her lip and couldn't help but mutter, "Tsk tsk, so heartless! He didn't even stay a little longer for our farewell. In the end, it was all for nothing!"
Zhou Yue calmly sipped his tea beside him. He had a general understanding of Su An's personality and was no longer surprised by it.
Although they often say things that are sure to shock and surprise, it's strangely interesting to get along with them.
"His Highness has entrusted me with taking good care of Miss Su, so you'd better sit tight, Miss. We're about to set off."
Su An shrank back out the window, his neck shrinking as he shouted, "Let's go, let's go!"
She traveled lightly and took five days to get here. This time she brought back a lot of local specialties, so it will probably take another two days.
Su An smiled as he estimated the time, but he never expected that the carriage would encounter an accident only half an hour after leaving the suburbs.
As they walked along a path beside a grove of trees, a group of people dressed in black and masked suddenly sprang out from the woods, blocking the carriage's path with menacing intent.
The leader of the men in black, wielding a long sword, shouted, "We, the Blood Lotus Sect, will never let any government lackeys go! Kill them all!"
What?! The Blood Lotus Cult?!
What utter nonsense are those people outside spouting?!
Su An lifted the carriage curtain and looked out. A group of people had their faces covered, making it impossible to see their features. He immediately frowned deeply.
"If you want to rob us on the road, at least come up with a better reason. The Blood Lotus Sect has long since surrendered to the Prince of Zhenbei, and the two sides have reconciled. The remaining followers have all been settled in the city. Where did you come from from?"
But the group ignored them completely, their eyes gleaming with malice as they charged toward the carriage, brandishing their knives and roaring.
"They seem like desperate criminals, not ordinary bandits. This is not a simple matter. Miss Su, you'd better hide!"
Zhou Yue roared, his weathered and righteous face flashing with killing intent. He drew his sword and joined his soldiers in fighting against the black-clad men who had surrounded them.
"Do you know who we are? We are assassins of imperial princes and nobles, punishable by the extermination of their entire families! If you surrender to me now, you may receive a lighter sentence!"
Zhou Yue shouted coldly as he brandished his long sword with fierce power, engaging in a relentless battle with the man in black.
However, all that responded to him was a flurry of swordplay and deafening battle cries.
Zhou Yue was skilled in martial arts, and his soldiers were all hand-picked. However, they did not expect that the enemy was so numerous and that each of them was also highly skilled. Under the constant siege, they quickly fell into a disadvantageous position!
"Protect Miss Su and retreat first!"
Seeing that he was about to be forced onto the carriage, beads of sweat gradually appeared on Zhou Yue's forehead. He had no choice but to arrange for a few people to cover his retreat.
He immediately leaped onto the carriage, grabbed the reins, and prepared to lead Su An out of the encirclement.
"Where do you think you're going, you corrupt official!"
Suddenly a loud shout rang out, and the hillsides on both sides shook with a rumbling sound as many large rocks crashed down on the carriage!
"Oh no—" Su An exclaimed in alarm, but it was too late to warn Zhou Yue. The boulders were crashing down like a tidal wave!
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