one
Kaifeng City
Xiaoyou Villa
Zhan Zhao watched the two playing chess in the pavilion in the middle of the lake, and a smile unconsciously appeared on his face. What a pleasing scene!
"Come here." Zhan Zhao knew Zhao Zhen was calling him. This young monarch, roughly his own age, was not the weak and incompetent ruler he appeared to be in court. On the contrary, his elegant demeanor couldn't conceal his innate kingly aura; that natural presence made him stand out even among millions. People say the heart of an emperor is unfathomable, but the man before him was beyond description; perhaps "profound" would be more fitting. Zhao Zhen often acted astonishingly in court matters, always managing to turn the tide in his unique way. Even Bao Zheng had to admire him. Sometimes Zhan Zhao felt Zhao Zhen was more like a fox. A fox? Calling the emperor that was extremely disrespectful. A sly smile appeared on Zhan Zhao's face. Then, he leaped and landed in the pavilion: "Your subject, Zhan Zhao..."
Zhao Zhen did not turn around, but simply waved his hand, interrupting Zhan Zhao who was about to kneel down to pay his respects. His cold voice was filled with authority: "Didn't I tell you long ago that you don't need to perform formal courtesies in private?"
Zhan Zhao smiled slightly and straightened up.
"He's looking at me." Xuan Yuan Tianyi placed the chess piece on the chessboard, turned around, pulled Zhan Zhao's wrist to take his pulse, and carefully examined the person in front of him. He hadn't seen him for several months and had become even thinner. When did this person learn to take care of himself?
"Have you not slept for several nights?" Gently lowering Zhan Zhao's wrist, Xuan Yuantian stared intently at Zhan Zhao.
"There's a case..." Zhan Zhao's tone was somewhat guilty.
"It seems it was settled yesterday, right?" Xuan Yuan Tianyi showed no intention of letting Zhan Zhao off the hook.
Zhan Zhao knew that these matters inside and outside the court could not be kept from Xuan Yuan Tianyi. He couldn't help but glance at Zhao Zhen, and finding that he had no intention of helping him, he had no choice but to accept his fate and answer, "I was on duty in the Imperial Study last night."
"So you're the only imperial guard here?" Although he was speaking to Zhan Zhao, Xuan Yuan Tianyi's eyes were fixed on Zhao Zhen.
Zhao Zhen, who had never looked up, felt Xuan Yuantian's gaze on him. He gently raised his head, his dark eyes carrying a hint of cynicism: "He is, after all, a royal guard. It's only for two days a month. It's just for show."
"But I always play chess with you all night long!" Although Xuan Yuan Tianyi's tone was indifferent, Zhan Zhao could hear a hint of displeasure in it. Although it concerned him, Zhan Zhao wisely restrained his aura to avoid being affected by the small battle between the two in front of him.
"I simply want him to rest." Zhao Zhen's slightly narrowed eyes revealed a wicked glint. His expression was both roguish and alluring. Undeniably, Zhao Zhen was indeed very attractive, especially to women. Unfortunately, the person standing before him was Xuan Yuan Tianyi, the woman who had grown up with him and knew him intimately.
With a languid smile, Xuan Yuan Tianyi's voice was charming yet dignified: "I'm afraid he's even more tired."
“I always make sure he goes back and gets some rest,” Zhao Zhen said, glancing at Zhan Zhao’s bright red official robe.
Zhan Zhao lowered his head awkwardly, a bitter smile playing on his lips. He knew the two of them would definitely reach a conclusion today, but he hoped the outcome wouldn't be too bad for him.
Seeing Zhan Zhao's self-absorbed demeanor, Xuan Yuantian felt a rare hint of displeasure. He then calmly looked at Zhao Zhen and asked, "How long have you known him?"
“Longer than you!” Zhao Zhen answered without any hesitation, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"So do you think he's the kind of person who's obedient?" Xuan Yuantian asked Zhao Zhen provocatively.
“It doesn’t seem so!” Zhao Zhen glanced at Zhan Zhao, who had his head slightly lowered.
Without even looking, Zhan Zhao knew that Zhao Zhen was very dissatisfied with him.
“So…” Xuan Yuan Tianyi said with a deliberately lazy tone, looking at Zhao Zhen with a mocking expression.
With a light laugh and a shake of his head, Zhao Zhen said cooperatively, "Zhan Zhao is relieved of his palace duties effective immediately!"
"Your subject Zhan Zhao obeys the decree." Zhan Zhao replied somewhat helplessly, but thinking that he would no longer have to force himself to calculate how to lose to Zhao Zhen while still letting him have a good time, he breathed a sigh of relief.
"I'll prescribe you a few more pills later. Take them on time every day. Don't make me stay in Kaifeng Prefecture." Xuan Yuan Tian said this to Zhan Zhao. Although he had a smile on his face, it was not hard to hear the warning in his tone.
She's staying in Kaifeng Prefecture? What a joke! It's easy to invite a Buddha, but hard to send him away. Looking at the lazy smile before him, Zhan Zhao broke out in a cold sweat. His thoughts drifted back to a few months ago.
The snow continued to fall, quickly covering the signs of the fight. Zhan Zhao had over a dozen wounds, bleeding profusely. He knew he had to hold out until he reached populated areas, or he would die in this desolate wilderness. However, several days of riding at breakneck speed had left him exhausted, and the recent fierce battle had drained all his strength. In the moment before losing consciousness, he saw a red carriage. Red horses, a red carriage—it stopped before the unconscious Zhan Zhao.
"What's wrong?"
Hearing Xuan Yuan Tianyi's lazy voice, Leng Moyan's face revealed her signature playful expression. This lazy woman was always like this: "There are people on the road."
"Alive? Dead?" Xuan Yuan Tianyi's voice was slightly dazed, as if he hadn't woken up yet.
"If he were dead, would I still tell you?" Even though he was outside the car, Leng Moyan couldn't help but roll his eyes.
"Go around it." Xuan Yuan Tianyi seemed quite displeased that someone had disturbed her sweet dream, and her words already carried a hint of impatience.
“It’s Juque.” Xuan Yuan Tianyi’s reaction was exactly what Leng Moyan had expected, and he chuckled softly.
Hearing Leng Moyan's words, Xuan Yuantian finally came to his senses: "Zhan Zhao? Bring him up."
Before he could finish speaking, Zhan Zhao had already been put into the carriage by Leng Moyan.
Looking at the blood-covered man in front of him, Xuan Yuan Tianyi frowned slightly: "You've taken it upon yourself again!"
"That means I understand you." Leng Moyan returned to her seat on her own.
"I really don't know if keeping you by my side was the right or wrong decision." Xuan Yuan Tianyi sighed softly, gently placing Zhan Zhao's head on her lap. Even so, the originally spacious space still felt very cramped. It wasn't that the space was small, because this carriage was originally intended as a bed for Xuan Yuan Tianyi. If she were sitting, even a few more people could fit. But Xuan Yuan Tianyi wasn't sitting; she wanted to lie down, and lie down comfortably. Originally, if only she was lying down comfortably, a few more people could sit, but Zhan Zhao also had to lie down, and to avoid aggravating her wounds, she also wanted to lie down comfortably. As a result, the two of them had to be close together. So Xuan Yuan Tianyi could only sit, letting Zhan Zhao's head rest comfortably on her lap. However, looking at the already frozen Zhan Zhao, the dissatisfied Xuan Yuan Tianyi resignedly turned around and took out medicine from the drawer, carefully cleaning Zhan Zhao's wounds. From time to time, Leng Moyan's ever-teasing voice could be heard in her ears:
"I am an ancient divine beast, and you're still not satisfied even though I serve you as your servant."
"You have to understand that some things are your fate, and you can't escape them."
"I've watched you grow up, don't be so heartless."
…………
Having long been accustomed to Leng Moyan's personality, Xuan Yuan Tianyi simply kept his head down, busy with his work. However, he was curious about Leng Moyan's unusual willingness to let Zhan Zhao share a carriage with him. Gently wiping the blood from Zhan Zhao's face, Xuan Yuan Tianyi carefully examined the young man. His face, slightly pale from blood loss, had skin as delicate as a woman's. Long eyelashes cast two shadows on his lower eyelids, and his slightly pouting lips were marked with bite marks. If it weren't for his prominent nose and tightly furrowed brows, Xuan Yuan Tianyi would have truly suspected that the person before him was a woman disguised as a man.
This wasn't the first time Xuan Yuan Tianyi had seen Zhan Zhao; he already knew he possessed near-perfect, jade-carved features. However, because Zhan Zhao usually deliberately concealed his aura, he always gave off a gentle and harmless feeling. At this moment, his flamboyant presence left Xuan Yuan Tianyi slightly shocked. Yet, despite the intense battle he had just fought, Zhan Zhao didn't exude any murderous aura; instead, a pure energy flowed around him. Perhaps this was why Leng Moyan trusted him. Xuan Yuan Tianyi's lips curled into a handsome smile.
Gently smoothing Zhan Zhao's furrowed brows, Xuan Yuantian stretched out his arms and intertwined his hands with Zhan Zhao's, a warm current slowly flowing into Zhan Zhao's body.
"Can your body handle it?" Just as Xuan Yuan Tian was dozing off, Leng Mo Yan's voice rang in his ears through the carriage. Unlike his usual teasing tone, Leng Mo Yan's words were full of concern.
Xuanyuan Tian forced himself to open his eyes briefly before closing them again, his voice heavy with sleepiness: "Fortunately, his internal strength is profound. I only need to maintain his body temperature. With you by my side, those evil spirits dare not approach, and I don't need to use my spiritual power to resist them. I can hold on for a few more days."
"There are still three days' journey left. If you can't bear it, withdraw your spiritual power and use your body heat to warm him." Leng Moyan's words undoubtedly reminded Xuan Yuan Tianyi. Because his constitution is fire-based, Xuan Yuan Tianyi's body temperature is much higher than that of ordinary people. Even in the cold winter, he doesn't need to wear cotton clothes. It is undeniable that Leng Moyan's suggestion is indeed the most effortless way to keep Zhan Zhao's body temperature. So Xuan Yuan Tianyi withdrew his spiritual power, turned around and lay down next to Zhan Zhao. He gently wrapped his arms around Zhan Zhao's waist, nestled his body in Zhan Zhao's arms, found a comfortable position, and fell into a deep sleep.
Five days later, at Xiaoyao Tower, when Zhan Zhao opened his eyes, he was greeted by a light blue-green landscape.
"You're awake?" Xuan Yuantian, dressed in red, got up and came to the bedside.
"Patriarch Xuanyuan!" Zhan Zhao recognized the person in front of him and tried to struggle to get up. Xuanyuan Tianyi pressed him down, "Lie down." He glanced at Zhan Zhao after saying that, "You have a good memory." Xuanyuan Tianyi's lazy voice carried a hint of reassuring charm.
With a gentle smile, Zhan Zhao's voice had returned to its original refined elegance: "I'm afraid anyone who has seen the Xuanyuan family head would find it hard to forget him."
"A true gentleman, gentle and refined, the world's praise of Zhan Nanxia is indeed well-deserved." Xuan Yuantian said, taking Zhan Zhao's wrist to feel his pulse. This Zhan Zhao was far more interesting than the rumors suggested. "You're really lucky! It seems bestowing upon you the title of Imperial Cat is quite fitting; you truly have nine lives!"
"Thank you, Patriarch Xuanyuan." Zhan Zhao had long heard that Xuanyuan Tianyi was a highly skilled physician, but she was never willing to save people easily. Therefore, people in the martial arts world nicknamed her "the one who refuses to save those in distress." This time, she was probably only able to save him because of the title "Imperial Cat."
"Just call me Tianyi. You don't need to thank me. I just happened to be there."
Zhan Zhao had long heard of Xuan Yuan Tianyi's temper, so upon hearing her words, he remained silent.
"Listen carefully, although your life has been saved, you must rest and recuperate properly. Your old injuries haven't healed, and now you have new ones. If you don't rest properly, you might develop chronic illnesses. Since I saved you, you must listen to me. You are not allowed to use your internal energy during this period. Just stay here and rest and recover properly." Xuan Yuantian stared intently at Zhan Zhao, his tone firm and unyielding.
"I have official duties to attend to..." Zhan Zhao said with a hint of helplessness.
"I have already asked Lord Bao for leave on your behalf." Before Zhan Zhao could finish speaking, Xuan Yuan Tianyi interrupted him.
"But the case..." Zhan Zhao was about to say something more.
"Zhen has already made arrangements, don't worry." Xuan Yuantian tucked the blanket around Zhan Zhao, not giving him a chance to continue arguing.
Zhan Zhao knew that even if Zhao Zhen were here, he couldn't persuade Xuan Yuan Tianyi otherwise, so he had no choice but to stay, hoping to recover his health as soon as possible and return to Kaifeng Prefecture.
Knowing Zhan Zhao's personality, Xuan Yuan Tianyi arranged for the maid Yin'er to take care of Zhan Zhao, but he would also make time to eat and walk with Zhan Zhao every day, rain or shine. This moved Zhan Zhao, but also made him deeply aware of Xuan Yuan Tianyi's methods. In comparison, Gongsun Ce was much easier to talk to than Xuan Yuan Tianyi.
Within this month, Zhan Zhao seemed to have integrated into the Xiaoyao Tower. In truth, the so-called Xiaoyao Tower wasn't just a building, but a vast family, although only two members within the entire tower shared the surname Xuanyuan. However, unlike typical Jianghu organizations, the Xiaoyao Tower maintained a completely separate relationship with the Jianghu in the eyes of outsiders. Yin'er explained that the members of the Xiaoyao Tower had clear divisions of labor, scattered throughout various regions, maintaining the tower's daily needs through various businesses, and also establishing an information network to allow the head of the family to stay informed about situations in different areas.
Normally, only the Xuanyuan family's secret guards were in Xiaoyao Tower, making the large courtyard seem like an empty house. Zhan Zhao had originally thought that a large clan like the Xuanyuan family would have many rules and that its members would be cautious in their words and actions. However, to Zhan Zhao's surprise, the Xuanyuan family's secret guards were very casual in their speech and actions, bold and straightforward. Although they were respectful in front of Xuanyuan Tianyi, they were not overly restrained. In their interactions with Zhan Zhao, they never treated him as a government official, joking and laughing like family. Therefore, although he was recuperating from his injuries, Zhan Zhao did not feel bored because of their presence.
Just like now, Zhan Zhao was able to stand here because he saw Yin'er while patrolling the streets today and was invited here. However, Zhao Zhen was also here, which was unexpected for Zhan Zhao.
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