On a clear spring morning, before the waning moon had even set, the bright red sun had already eagerly climbed into the azure sky. The air was moist, carrying the unique scent of mountain mist; just a light breath would bring a sense of comfort and clarity from the bottom of one's heart.
After Tang Ning finished tidying up all the jade flowers that Ye Xiao had picked, she didn't say whether she forgave him or not, and directly led him to his favorite place - the kitchen.
The two stood facing each other, each with a ceramic basin in front of them. Tang Ning pointed to the ceramic basin in front of him, as well as the brown sugar, salt, oil and other seasonings on the table, and began to seriously try to fool him.
Since he likes pastries so much, why doesn't he learn how to make them himself? Once he learns, he can eat them whenever he wants, as many as he wants, without relying on anyone or being able to tell him what to do.
Upon hearing these words, Ye Xiao's previously bewildered eyes lit up instantly, and he looked at Tang Ning with anticipation and longing.
He looks just like a little puppy begging for food!
Tang Ning lowered her head and quickly covered the smile on her lips before speaking to him seriously, "Today, I'll teach you the simplest little dessert, sugar triangles. The steps are very simple: knead the dough, roll out the dough, wrap the brown sugar inside, and then steam it. It'll be ready to eat in no time. Come on, let's learn how to knead the dough first."
The steps were exactly the same, yet she noticed that his bowl was either too dry, with too little flour, turning it into a paste, or too little water, making the flour so dry it couldn't be mixed. He kept adding water and flour, back and forth, nearly ruining half a bag of flour. Perhaps because he had a lot of strength, or perhaps because he hadn't considered the complex process behind making something delicious, the increasingly impatient Ye Xiao, while adding flour again, suddenly ripped the bag open with a loud "plop," spilling the remaining half-bag all over himself, his face, the table, the floor, and even the walls—flour stains were everywhere.
"Cough cough cough!"
Even Tang Ning, who was standing opposite him, was affected and started coughing violently. She coughed until tears welled up in her eyes before she felt a little better. Only then did she look up at the other side and see Ye Xiao's "pretty boy" face. Except for his dark eyes that were blinking innocently and in fear, the rest of his body was already completely white. Tang Ning couldn't help but point at him and burst into laughter.
Then, the true purpose behind his sudden "kindness" in offering to teach him how to make pastries was finally revealed—
"Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid! Eight stupid! That's one more than I was yesterday! Hahahaha!"
Yes, the petty and vengeful Tang Ning had it all figured out. She thought the childish tricks of picking and delivering flowers were just a joke, but she was determined to get her revenge!
The louder her laughter, the brighter her smile became. She even squatted down, clutching her stomach, her cheeks flushed a vibrant red.
Seeing her like this, Ye Xiao, who had been blinking his eyes incessantly, somehow also curled up the corners of his mouth along with hers.
Unlike the fake smiles he had previously tried to imitate, this smile was completely genuine.
Ye Xiao didn't even realize he was laughing, nor did he understand why he wanted to laugh along with him.
Tang Ning was the first to notice his smile. She was so surprised that she stood up and pointed at the corner of his mouth, "You smiled! This is the first time I've seen you smile in so long!"
Upon hearing Tang Ning's words, Ye Xiao instinctively reached out to touch the corner of his mouth.
Seeing his puzzled expression, Tang Ning moved closer to him and asked with some surprise, "What's wrong? Why are you acting so strange? You've never smiled before? That's so weird! To be honest, you look quite handsome when you smile!"
He's really handsome. She hadn't noticed Ye Xiao's stern face until he smiled, and then she noticed that he not only had a cute little tiger tooth, but also two faint dimples at the corners of his mouth. He looked so sweet and adorable.
Upon hearing Tang Ning's words, Ye Xiao gave her another fake smile.
"That's not how it works."
Tang Ning was almost defeated by him. She took two steps forward and reached out to lift the corner of his mouth, but found that no matter how she lifted it, he looked like he was faking a smile. She frowned, took a step back, thought for a moment, and then gave Ye Xiao a bright smile, pointing to herself, "Like this, is it?"
Seeing Tang Ning's smile, Ye Xiao was taken aback at first, then he raised the corners of his mouth and actually smiled in a very convincing way.
"Yes, yes, that's it. Just remember how you feel right now, and smile more often. You'll get used to it."
Tang Ning hurriedly said this, and then let the other person continue practicing on the spot.
Looking at the messy kitchen again, she felt that the sugar triangles were probably not going to be eaten. After thinking for a moment, she quickly asked the people waiting outside to come in and clean the kitchen.
As for her...
She glanced at Ye Xiao beside her, who was covered in flour from head to toe and whose hair was completely white. She then told the servants in the manor to quickly fetch a basin of warm water. She then pulled Ye Xiao, who was still holding his mouth up with his hand, and walked towards the courtyard outside the kitchen.
She wrung out the towel in warm water and was about to wipe Ye Xiao's face, but he tried to dodge. Tang Ning reached out and pinched his chin. "Don't move! Can't you see your face is covered in flour? Let me wipe it off for you."
After saying that, she leaned forward and began to gently wipe it.
They were very close, so close that Ye Xiao could even smell her familiar scent, the one he smelled every night. Before, he had found the scent somewhat cloying, but today, for some reason, it suddenly didn't seem as cloying as he remembered. Instead, it was quite fragrant, so fragrant that he unconsciously wanted to move closer to inhale more deeply, even closer…
Ye Xiao stared at Tang Ning without blinking, his mind wandering, but his face remained obedient as she wiped all the flour off his face, then watched her take a step back.
"Your hair is covered in flour, how about... I wash it for you?"
Tang Ning tentatively said this.
Ye Xiao blinked lightly.
"Speak up, do you want to wash?"
"want."
Tang Ning had just tossed the handkerchief in her hand into the basin of water when Ye Xiao agreed to her request without hesitation.
His decisive and efficient manner even gave Tang Ning the illusion that he had been waiting for her there all along.
When clean, warm water was brought again, Tang Ning reached out and untied the hairband tied at the back of his head. She scooped a spoonful of water with a ladle and gently poured it on his hair. She changed the water twice and washed every strand of his hair clean. Then she used a dry cloth to wring it half dry. Throughout the whole process, Ye Xiao was incredibly obedient. He just kept a close eye on her every move with his bright black dog eyes.
Tang Ning immediately felt as if she were giving a bath to an incredibly well-behaved and obedient pet dog.
It must be admitted that Ye Xiao has lost all of the sharpness and arrogance of a top martial arts master. His obedient appearance, where he lets you do whatever you want, is too easy to arouse women's sympathy and pity. But it is precisely this kind of innocent and naive cruelty that is the most unacceptable.
After all, you're clearly a scumbag, so at least I can hate and resent you. But someone like Ye Xiao makes it impossible to even hate him.
Just as Tang Ning finished thinking about all this, she tied the last knot in the ribbon of his high ponytail, then watched as he stood up abruptly. "I..."
Before she could even speak, Tang Ning saw him suddenly raise his hand to his chest, stagger backward involuntarily, and stare at her blankly as if he couldn't see anything at all. His previously slightly pale face turned deathly white, and his lips quickly lost all color. After swaying for a moment, he collapsed to the ground with a thud, then began to convulse uncontrollably, his mouth wide open, looking like a fish out of water, as if he would suffocate at any moment.
"Hey, what's wrong? Friend, friend..."
Upon seeing this, Tang Ning, who had been smiling, changed her expression and quickly ran to the other person, lifted the back of his head, and asked anxiously.
Despite his anxious expression, Tang Ning knew in her heart that the strange poison in his body was most likely starting to take effect. Yes, although Tang Ning's Frosty Jade Body could detoxify, it would shorten the time it took for the poison to take effect during the detoxification process, like a final, desperate struggle.
In the story, the original owner was overly reserved and gentle. When Yan Xingzhi told her not to disturb her, she really didn't. She stayed alone in her small courtyard, tending to her herbs and reading medical books. Naturally, Yan Xingzhi didn't leave Yangyue Manor, so he didn't miss Ye Xiao's poisoning attack.
But now, in order to avoid her, and because he had no idea that the poisoning time of Ye Xiao would be shortened when the antidote was administered, Yan Xingzhi had already left Yangyue Manor. Even if he rushed back now, it would be too late. How could he possibly use his internal energy to help Ye Xiao control the poisoning?
And this was exactly what Tang Ning had planned.
Ye Xiao's current level of affection for her is stable at 60, which is the passing grade.
But that's still not enough, at least not until Yan Xingzhi returns. That's why she especially needs this early onset of the poison.
Then--
No matter how she called out to him, Ye Xiao continued to tremble violently, his forehead covered in large beads of cold sweat.
Tang Ning took his pulse for a while, then gently placed him on the ground. In front of the terrified servants around her, she hesitated for a moment, then suddenly reached out and drew the sword from Ye Xiao's waist. With a fierce look in her eyes, she forcefully slashed her own palm.
Her icy, jade-like body could withstand the Miao poison within Ye Xiao's body, and her blood could also suppress the temporary effects of the poison on him.
Blood flowed down and directly into Ye Xiao's mouth, who was lying on the ground. She didn't know how much she fed him. Seeing that Ye Xiao's body was still trembling slightly, she hardened her heart again and cut her hand again.
Blood spilled out again, and Tang Ning placed her hand directly to Ye Xiao's lips, finally seeing his thick eyelashes tremble slightly.
Upon seeing this, Tang Ning's lips curled up slightly, but before her smile could fully unfold, everything went black, and she fainted.
Before losing consciousness, what she saw reflected in her pupils was Ye Xiao, who had just woken up, holding her in a panic, his lips moving as if he were saying something.
Tang Ning could no longer hear.
"Friends, friends, friends..."
Ye Xiao called Tang Ning several times, but received no response. He even channeled his inner energy into her body, but she showed no signs of waking up.
Ye Xiao, who was anxious and lost like a headless fly, suddenly seemed to have thought of something. He picked her up horizontally, touched the ground with his toes, and disappeared with Tang Ning in a few leaps.
It's hot, very hot, and stuffy...
These were all the feelings Tang Ning had as she began to regain some consciousness.
As her consciousness slowly returned, she heard the sound of flowing water, the chirping of insects, and smelled the fragrance of herbs and the delicate scent of orchids.
Her eyes moved slightly beneath her eyelids, and her eyelashes trembled as she slowly opened her somewhat sticky eyes.
The first thing that caught her eye was the sky full of glittering silver stars, scattered irregularly across the dark blue sky, looking so vast and dazzling.
Looking further down, there are layers of green shrubs, dotted with only a few white or yellow flower buds, creating a unique charm.
She herself was sitting naked in a bubbling hot spring. However, the hot spring seemed a bit strange, as it seemed to have a lot of herbs added to it, causing the spring water to emit a faint herbal fragrance. When it hit a person's body, their body would involuntarily become hot and warm, which was quite comfortable.
Sitting directly opposite her was none other than Ye Xiao.
He had his eyes half-closed, and his temples were already sweating from the steaming spring water. A strand of hair hung wetly beside his ear, and below that were his strong shoulders. Since he was also sitting in the spring water, it was obvious that he was probably completely naked as well...
No, wait, completely naked?
Finally regaining consciousness from the dazed state caused by excessive blood loss, Tang Ning realized the situation of the two of them. She immediately crossed her arms to protect her chest and couldn't help but scream loudly. She also kicked Ye Xiao, who was not far away, without any mercy.
On one side, Ye Xiao, who was soaking in the healing spring that Yan Xingzhi had specially made for him and was meditating with his eyes closed, was first startled by Tang Ning's sudden scream. Then he was hit by her feet again and again. Several times, if he hadn't reacted quickly enough, he might have suffered serious injuries to his vital parts.
While kicking Tang Ning, he kept shouting, "Get out, get out, get out! Get out!"
Upon hearing this, Ye Xiao obediently leaped out of the spring.
"ah!"
Seeing him standing so brazenly by the medicinal spring, Tang Ning abruptly closed her eyes. "Quickly put on your clothes and turn your back! Hurry up!"
Upon hearing this, Ye Xiao reluctantly picked up the clothes beside him and put them on, turning his back at the same time.
He didn't understand, he really didn't understand, why he could see and touch everything when it was pitch black at night, but now he couldn't see anything at all?
The more Ye Xiao thought about it, the more aggrieved he looked.
Seeing him turn away, Tang Ning quickly climbed out of the pool and dressed as fast as she could. As soon as she was dressed, she hurriedly asked Ye Xiao, "Where is this? Why did you bring me here? And what exactly happened just now?"
Tang Ning's voice carried a clear sense of shame and indignation.
Facing these martial arts masters who could sense your pulse even from a distance, she dared not be the slightest bit careless.
When acting, you always have to go all the way.
"This is Medicine Spring. You've fainted. I'll bring you here."
Because he grew up among wolves, Ye Xiao learned to speak very late, so his speech was not fluent, and he often only managed to utter one or two words. The fact that he was willing to talk to Tang Ning so much now was already a great improvement.
Tang Ning understood his meaning from his few words: she had fainted due to excessive blood loss while saving him, which was why he had brought her here to heal.
"Even so, why don't you just let me in alone? Why do you still want to go in?"
Tang Ning said, extremely angry.
But before she could finish speaking, Ye Xiao looked at her with a puzzled expression.
"This is mine."
It means he can't get his things in.
How self-righteous!
"Do you even know what it means for men and women to not touch each other?!"
Tang Ning became even angrier.
But when she said that, Ye Xiao just looked at her with a blank and innocent expression.
Enraged, Tang Ning turned to leave without looking back. But just as she lifted the thick grass in front of her and took a step, a hand pulled her back abruptly, preventing her from taking a step into the void.
"careful."
Hearing the belated reminder, looking down at the swirling clouds and the sheer cliffs whose bottoms were not even visible, I could see them all.
Tang Ning turned to look at Ye Xiao in disbelief, "Where is this...?"
"Clouds and mist, mountaintop."
Cloud-shrouded mountaintop?
Tang Ning knew that there was a mountain over 300 zhang high near Yangyue Manor, which is more than 1,000 meters high. She really didn't expect that Yan Xingzhi would build Ye Xiao's healing spring on such a high cliff. It was too high, and ordinary people couldn't possibly climb up it.
She looked at the cliff face with disbelief, knowing she couldn't possibly get down by herself. But when she looked up, she was furious. She saw a hint of smugness and anticipation in Ye Xiao's eyes behind her.
Ye Xiao, who made no attempt to hide what he was thinking, seemed certain that she couldn't go down and that he was the only one who could take her down, and he was secretly overjoyed about it.
Tang Ning didn't see his expression, but once she did, she immediately gave up the idea of asking for a ride. Looking at the swirling clouds in front of her, she gritted her teeth, grabbed the dry vines wrapped around a pine tree, and tried to slide down on her own.
"you……"
Seeing this, Ye Xiao was about to speak anxiously when Tang Ning's exclamation immediately reached his ears.
It turned out that the vines on the pine tree were too old and withered. As soon as she exerted force, they snapped immediately, and she fell backward without warning.
"ah……"
The moment her cry escaped her throat, she was immediately pulled into someone's arms, her forehead pressed against his chest.
As the sound of the wind in her ears gradually subsided, she cautiously opened her eyes and saw Ye Xiao's exceptionally smooth, pointed chin.
She watched as his feet lightly touched the top of an oak tree, and he glided away like a soaring eagle, carrying her far away once again.
The two were surrounded by the treetops of various trees, a vast expanse of lush green, occasionally startling one or two birds that were roosting at night.
The stars in the sky seemed to be right beside them, as if they could reach out and touch them.
Human beings' desire to fly has never ceased, and Tang Ning is no exception.
After just one glance, she completely forgot their previous disagreement. Her eyes widened in surprise, and a radiant smile quickly spread across her face. She took in all the scenery before her, then gently patted Ye Xiao's arm, which was around her waist. "Am I flying? Am I really flying? This is the first time I've ever flown like this..."
The more Tang Ning spoke, the brighter her eyes became, as if all the stars in the sky had flown into them, making them appear so dazzling.
Tilting his head slightly, looking at her eyes and the bright smile on her lips, Ye Xiao inexplicably reached out and pressed his hand to his left chest. So fast, why was his heart beating so fast? Was he about to be poisoned again? Probably not? He didn't feel uncomfortable at all, on the contrary, he was even a little... happy, very happy.
Seeing his good friend smile like that made him very happy, even happier than when he had mastered a sword move and received praise from Brother Yan.
Why?
It was this lapse in concentration that nearly caused them to fall flat on their faces during the final landing.
Ye Xiao reacted quickly enough, gliding a short distance along the ground with a terrified Tang Ning in tow, before finally landing on a branch at the foot of the mountain with Tang Ning on the roof of a farmhouse.
Before the two could even catch their breath and calm their racing hearts, a high-pitched scream from a woman rang in their ears.
That sound...
Seeing Ye Xiao's curious expression, Tang Ning instantly understood what had happened and tried to stop him, but it was too late.
He had already efficiently lifted the roof tiles and looked down.
Seeing this, Tang Ning pressed her forehead.
The next second, she heard Ye Xiao's surprised voice ring in her ears, "Huh, they're here too, to detoxify?"
Upon hearing this, Tang Ning's eyes widened instantly, and she looked at Ye Xiao beside her in disbelief.
"Antidote?"
"Yes. That way, it'll detoxify."
Hearing this, in order to confirm Ye Xiao's words, she leaned over for a look, and her eyes flickered slightly when she saw the man and woman intertwined together.
He then reached out and took the tile from Ye Xiao's hand, and put it back on for him.
Turning her head, she looked seriously at Ye Xiao beside her, "No, they're not detoxifying. This is something only husband and wife can do."
"couple?"
"Um."
Tang Ning nodded, “Husband and wife, you can only do this with your wife. And your wife is the person you love and are closest to in this world. You will always be together and never be separated. She will make you the pastries you like to eat. She will completely put life and death aside for you. Once she holds your hand, she will never let go for the rest of her life.”
Hearing Tang Ning's words, and thinking about everything that had happened between him and his friends these past few nights, he realized that Tang Ning was very kind.
so……
Friend, is that his wife?
The thought of this possibility made Ye Xiao unable to resist curling the corners of his mouth, his dimples appearing and disappearing.
Then he reached out and took Tang Ning's hand.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm going back."
After saying that, he picked up Tang Ning again and headed straight for Yangyue Manor. Along the way, his heart was pounding as if it had been poisoned by some unknown poison.
He understood.
When Brother Yan returned, he told him that he had a wife, who was a friend of his.
Her name is Tang Ning.
Having successfully planted a seed of trouble, Tang Ning watched as Ye Xiao's favorability rating jumped to around 85, and the corners of her mouth turned up in a wide smile.
She wanted the water to be as murky as possible.
After all, Ye Xiao's identity is not merely that of a killer younger brother raised by Yan Xingzhi. The main reason he betrayed Yan Xingzhi in the end, as you might think, is because his true identity is—
Fang Yunyang's younger brother, who has been missing for many years.
However, he was not as lucky as Fang Yunyang. When he was still an infant, he and his servants were forced to wander in the desert, where they encountered a pack of wolves, were captured and enslaved, and only then did he meet Yan Xingzhi.
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