She was so hungry that even speaking a single sentence seemed to require all her strength.
"Water... could you give me a glass of water first..." Yan Gongyi pleaded with Yu Nanqing.
Before Yu Nanqing could speak, Tian Zhong poured her a glass of water. Yan Gongyi, as if seeing spring rain, tilted her head back and drank the water clean.
"I...I want more..."
Tanaka poured her another glass.
After gulping down several glasses of water, Yan Gongyi regained some strength and spoke again, "Brother Nanqing, I'm so hungry..."
Yu Nanqing ignored her words and said calmly from his seat, "I'll give you two choices: return to your clan, or... come with me to Fuzhou."
Upon hearing this, Yan Gongyi looked up in shock, then overjoyed: "Brother Nanqing is willing to let me stay? He won't send me away?"
Yu Nanqing lowered his gaze and waved his hand slightly.
Tanaka understood and stepped forward to take her away.
"Hey! Brother Nanqing! I have something to say... I haven't..." Yan Gongyi's mouth was covered in the blink of an eye, and he was forced to leave.
Yu Nanqing didn't come to discuss it with her; he was just informing her.
As long as she doesn't cause any trouble, he won't make things too difficult for her out of consideration for the snake clan.
Not long after Yan Gongyi was taken away, Su Wanyan returned from outside.
Yu Nanqing, who had been indifferent, immediately showed joy on his face and habitually stepped forward to greet her: "Yan'er is back."
With a smile on her lips, there was no trace of the world-weariness she had just felt.
Su Wanyan handed over a sprig of plum blossom: "Here you go."
Yu Nanqing's heart skipped a beat, but she couldn't suppress the joy in her eyes: "Plum blossoms?"
"I saw it on the way back, and broke off a branch." Su Wanyan said with a smile, "It reminded me of when we were in the capital, you would often pick some flowers and bring them into the room. Those vases were originally meant to be decorative, but you insisted on decorating them with flowers."
Having been away for so long, I really miss her precious gadgets.
Yu Nanqing took the sprig of winter plum blossom, his face visibly pleased: "Yan'er remembers all that?"
His cheeks flushed slightly. It is said that a graceful lady is sought after by a gentleman, but he never expected that one day he would actually receive flowers.
It was given to me by Su Wanyan...
Su Wanyan could clearly see the subtle expressions on his face.
She raised her hand and gently stroked his face. The warm touch made her pinch his face a few more times. Yu Nanqing was captivated and took her small hand, nestling against her, unwilling to let go.
Su Wanyan then belatedly realized and laughed, "Didn't we get it backwards?"
"It's alright." Yu Nanqing didn't care about such things: "Yan'er can do whatever she wants to me."
"..." Su Wanyan pinched him hard.
Yu Nanqing tightened his grip on her hand slightly: "Yan'er, it hurts."
He shouldn't say such disturbing things.
Su Wanyan didn't dare to say it directly, and gently stroked Yu Nanqing's face, which she had pinched painfully, while pursing her lips.
The village chief helped me choose an auspicious day for travel.
February 13th, early morning.
Before dawn, Su Wanyan and Nan Qing quietly left the village in the stillness of the night.
The only person who came to see them off was the village chief.
The guards stationed at the post station had already gone ahead, and the advance team had scouted the road conditions as early as yesterday and was now waiting for them on the official road several miles away.
The village chief wasn't one to be sentimental, and he didn't know what to say at the farewell. He simply brought over two bags of dry rations and coarse grains: "The snow hasn't completely melted yet, and the mountain paths are slippery. Be careful on your journey. You can eat these on the way."
He wanted to give them some meat, but they had almost finished eating it all during the New Year, and what was left were scraps and bits, which the old village chief was embarrassed to offer.
Huang Ye and Luo Xue took the two sacks from the village chief.
Su Wanyan took out a bag of silver from her bosom and said gratefully, "I am very grateful for the village chief's care these days. Please take this silver, village chief..."
The village chief was about to refuse when Su Wanyan said firmly, "You must take these. They're not just for you, village chief, but also a way for me to give back to the villagers."
After some hesitation, the village chief accepted the offer.
In fact, Su Wanyan and the others have already given them enough. The New Year's money they gave their children on the first day of the Lunar New Year is enough for them to eat and drink for a lifetime.
But thinking of the villagers in the village, the village chief stopped being coy.
After thinking for a moment, I said, "Actually... it would be nice to have them see you off."
Having spent so much time with Su Wanyan and the others, even a stone would develop feelings, let alone a person. He could imagine how disappointed the villagers would be when they woke up and found out that Su Wanyan was gone.
Su Wanyan smiled upon hearing this and lowered her eyes, saying, "Farewell."
A chance encounter is but a fleeting moment in each other's lives; perhaps they will meet again in the future, or perhaps they will never meet again.
Su Wanyan didn't know either, but she felt that leaving peacefully like this was the best thing to do.
Not too passionate, not too indifferent, just right for those who pass through life.
Upon seeing this, the old village chief could only bow in return.
With Yu Nanqing's help, Su Wanyan slowly stepped into the carriage. As the carriage drove further and further away, the village chief stood on the village road for a long time before lighting his pipe and returning to the village.
Leaving the village, the journey back to Fuzhou was swift, and by the end of February, they had reached the border of Fuzhou.
It took them three days to arrive at Fucheng.
When Prince Gong returned, the Prefect of Fucheng, together with the Supervisor of Fuzhou, led a group of officials to the city gate to welcome him. Under such circumstances, some people also gathered on the city wall to watch.
For a time, Yu Nanqing and Su Wanyan's return to the city became a grand occasion.
"Your subject pays respects to Your Highness and Your Highness's Consort. May Your Highness and Your Highness's Consort enjoy a long and prosperous life!"
The carriage had just come to a stop when Su Wanyan heard a unified sound outside.
Looking out through the gap in the curtain, one could see officials in their robes kneeling down, and the city's guards standing tall, clearing a path through the city.
Yu Nanqing did not get out of the carriage, but simply replied, "No need for formalities."
The prefect of Fuzhou, who was at the head of the group, slowly rose and said first, "Your Majesty, I have prepared a banquet at my residence to welcome you and the Empress."
"Return to the manor," Yu Nanqing uttered only two words.
Upon hearing this, the prefect could only lower his eyes and bow his head respectfully, how could he dare to disobey?
Exhausted from the journey, Su Wanyan stretched lazily as soon as she returned to the Prince's residence. Yu Nanqing smiled and poured her a glass of water: "Tired?"
Su Wanyan flopped onto the daybed: "Aren't you tired?"
After saying that, he muttered to himself, "I forgot, you know martial arts, so naturally you won't get tired."
Yu Nanqing's lips curled into a wanton smile as he stepped forward and gently pressed on her waist.
Su Wanyan closed her eyes comfortably, but as soon as she did, drowsiness swept over her without warning.
"Yu Nanqing".
"Um?"
"I want to sleep," Su Wanyan said, shifting into a more comfortable position.
Yu Nanqing didn't stop what he was doing. Hearing this, he only gave a soft "hmm," which was like a lullaby, making Su Wanyan even more relaxed.
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