Sima Xing's gaze became distant as he spoke: "It wasn't until later, when my mother passed away, that a royal physician in the palace discovered something unusual about her body."
"Do you know what kind of poison that is now?"
Sima Xing shook his head regretfully: "I still don't quite understand, and I don't know what can cure its poison. In the end, my father also sought out Shen Jiyan's master, but for some reason, he simply refused to cure me of this poison. Perhaps it was fate, because by the time my father went to beg him again, he had already passed away. But I am still very grateful for Shen Jiyan's medicine, otherwise I certainly wouldn't be alive now."
Sima Xing changed the subject, and said with a wicked smile, "Ayan, it's quite a surprise that your childhood sweetheart would actually come to personally escort you to the State of Jin!"
Lu Qingyan hesitated before asking, "Brother Jiyan—how is he?"
Sima Xing sighed and said with a smile, "Don't worry, he'll be fine. Actually, I don't think that Shen Jiyan has anything to offer besides his excellent medical skills. Why don't you marry me when we come to Jin?"
The sudden confession startled Lu Qingyan. After the initial shock, Lu Qingyan smiled awkwardly and said, "Sima Xing, don't joke with me like that."
"Since you think this is a joke, then let it be a joke!" Sima Xing said, lowering his head dejectedly, as if the sadness of being rejected by the woman he loved was showing from the inside out.
Lu Qingyan wanted to see more clearly, but that expression disappeared again.
“Ayan, let’s wait until dawn before we go out! We should be able to deal with those assassins from Jin, but Lu is far from Jin, and we’re bound to encounter some trouble along the way. Ayan, why don’t we travel by water?” Sima Xing suggested.
“Okay.” Lu Qingyan nodded after thinking for a moment, unaware of the meaningful smile that Sima Xing revealed.
However, Lu Qingyan was instinctively wary. Prince Xiao'an wasn't valued by the emperor, yet this sickly man had managed to become famous throughout the court; this Sima Xing was definitely no ordinary person. They had only met once in their youth, sharing a handful of lotus seeds—how could there be any deep affection? Even now, she was merely pretty; only with adornment did she possess a hint of captivating beauty.
Why would Sima Xing have the audacity to marry someone from an enemy country? Was he really that lustful?
The answer is no.
Lu Qingyan felt that she had nothing about her that others would want to take advantage of, but others often didn't think that way.
Sima Xing smiled and said, "Even if we travel by water, we still have to walk quite a distance before we can catch a boat. Why don't you tell me, Ayan, should we take the main road or the side road next?"
“The official road.” Lu Qingyan said, lowering her eyes, her long eyelashes fluttering slightly.
"Ah Yan," Sima Xing paused for a moment, then teased, "It's really dangerous for just the two of us to be together, and it's not very convenient along the way. How about we pretend to be husband and wife and travel together?"
"It doesn't matter," Lu Qingyan said casually, straightening her sleeves.
She really couldn't figure out what this person was up to, so she could only go along with him and see what tricks he was going to play.
Sima Xing smiled and pulled Lu Qingyan into his arms. His large, well-defined hands removed the pearl hairpin from her hair and took out an emerald hairpin from his pocket to tie her long black hair into a bun.
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