Chapter 140 The Love Between Men and Women Is Not Just About Romance
In a casual conversation, Mu Chenbi had already bought some fried cakes and didn't forget to bring one for Luo Yichen. Seeing Luo Yichen take one and stuff it into his mouth, Guan Ye hadn't even had a chance to speak when Luo Yichen cried out, "Your Highness, eat slowly... it's burning me!"
Guan Ye blew on the hot cake, slowly took a bite, gazing at the gushing bean filling, gently licking it with her tongue, savoring the sweetness before swallowing. Mu Chenbi imitated her; the crust was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, the bean filling delicate and sweet. Just one bite was enough to delight his heart. West Street's fried cakes were famous, but Mu Chenbi always thought, "How delicious can fried cakes be?" Today, he found the reputation well-deserved, only regretting not having come to try them sooner.
"Is it delicious?" Guan Ye asked.
As the fried cakes cooled, Mu Chenbi ate them with even greater gusto, exclaiming, "Delicious!"
Guan Ye patted the crumbs in her hands and walked forward, saying, "You're used to eating delicacies, so you think this is delicious? Or are you tired of good food and that's why you find this so rare?"
Mu Chenbi, unaware of Guan Ye's meaning, looked suspiciously at Luo Yichen. Luo Yichen, whose lips were scalded and who was blowing on them to cool them, was oblivious to the scalding. Mu Chenbi caught up with Guan Ye, and several times he tried to speak but didn't know what to say. He was afraid that saying something carelessly would upset Guan Ye. Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind, and without caring that his hands were still oily, he grabbed Guan Ye's wrist. This action was so smooth and effortless that it stunned Luo Yichen behind him.
Guan Ye stopped abruptly. The streetlights on West Street were just coming on, illuminating Mu Chenbi's slightly flushed face. Guan Ye tried to pull away, but Mu Chenbi had also used some force, and she couldn't pull away immediately. Guan Ye slapped Mu Chenbi hard with her other hand, making a loud slap. Mu Chenbi seemed to have gathered all his courage. Unless he chopped off her hand, he would never let go, no matter what.
"In broad daylight." Guan Ye immediately regretted her words. It was already dark, so how could there be light or sunshine? "I'm going to tell Ajiu that no matter who you are, believe me, he'll cut off your hand."
"I believe you." Mu Chenbi's tanned face flushed. "With the Twin Dimpled Swords in my hand, why would I be afraid of him?"
Guan Ye gathered all her strength and clenched her right fist, aiming straight for Mu Chenbi's chest. As the fist approached, Mu Chenbi stood tall and did not dodge. Guan Ye quickly stopped. This punch would weigh several dozen kilograms. If she really hit the Crown Prince, would she be beheaded? If you don't dodge when I give you a chance, don't blame me for being ruthless.
Guan Ye raised her fist and punched again. Mu Chenbi groaned, clutching his chest with one hand, his handsome face contorted in pain. Guan Ye looked at her fist suspiciously, then swung it high and punched herself. Did it really hurt that much? He was probably faking it.
"Yes, even if Guan Ye has a strong grip, she's still a woman. Does it really hurt that much?" Luo Yichen was about to speak when he suddenly saw Mu Chenbi winking at him. He immediately understood and said, "Oh dear, Miss Guan, you're going to die! His Highness has a heart condition. This punch of yours could be fatal."
Guan Ye was so frightened that she took a few steps back. When she came to her senses, she quickly went to help Mu Chenbi and looked at his tightly furrowed face. "Are you alright? I... I didn't mean to."
"Isn't this intentional?" Luo Yichen feigned shock, mimicking Guan Ye's actions, "This is definitely intentional assault, Miss Guan. I'm not trying to be mean, but you're too ruthless. That punch could have broken several of her ribs."
Guan Ye was half-believing and half-doubting, but she reached out to touch Mu Chenbi's ribs. Mu Chenbi slightly raised her waist and let Guan Ye's hand touch her. Her hand was soft yet strong, and she carefully followed the bone marks inch by inch. Mu Chenbi suddenly had a feeling, a feeling that she would be happy and have no regrets if she died in the present moment.
As soon as this feeling arose, Mu Chenbi realized with a start that he was truly not far from death. Because… Guan Ye seemed to have realized… that he and Luo Yichen were lying to her.
Guan Ye remained expressionless, her palms suddenly clenching, her fist pressing against Mu Chenbi's chin, her large eyes staring straight at him as she asked, "Is it fun to team up and tease people?"
Mu Chenbi obediently shook his head, "My ribs aren't broken, but... it really hurts. I don't have any serious heart problems, but I do have some psychological issues... It's a joke, but not entirely a lie. How can I avoid the next punch?"
Guan Ye snorted, "I'm full, I'm leaving."
"Rouge-colored goose breast, aren't you going to eat it?" Mu Chenbi called out to her anxiously, "We agreed to go for a drink and a chat!"
Guan Ye turned around gracefully, raised her fist and said, "I consider you a friend, so of course we can drink and chat freely. If you have ulterior motives, then it's better not to drink. We can drink together when you consider me a friend in return."
"Guan Ye, Guan Ye!" Mu Chenbi chased after her for a few steps, but the red-clad figure moved nimbly. West Street was crowded with pedestrians, and in no time, Guan Ye had disappeared into the crowd and disappeared somewhere.
"Luo Yichen..." Mu Chenbi said with a sense of loss, "You're full after just one piece of fried cake?"
"Even if you use it as a filling, it won't be enough to fill a tooth gap." Looking at his quick tongue, Luo Yichen wanted to slap himself. "The fried cake is too sweet and hard to digest. One is enough to fill you up."
Mu Chenbi seemed not to have heard him clearly, and continued to relentlessly search for Guan Ye's figure. Her red clothes were eye-catching, but she just couldn't find her. "She only likes A-Jiu..." A large amount of disappointment welled up on Mu Chenbi's face. "In the Ghost Market, I asked her: I look like A-Jiu. When she sees me, will she feel the same way she sees A-Jiu?"
"—Your Highness actually asked her that question..."
“Guan Ye said, ‘Ajiu is Ajiu, and I am me. Am I supposed to be Ajiu’s shadow? Ajiu would never be anyone else’s shadow.’” Mu Chenbi shook his head bitterly. “Yes, I actually thought… in front of Guan Ye, as long as she can see me, it wouldn’t matter if I were someone else’s shadow…”
“Your Highness…” Luo Yichen originally dared not speak, but since things had come to this point, he could not bear to see his master make one mistake after another. Even if he was scolded and punished, he had to speak out. “Miss Guan is fond of A-Jiu, not of your resemblance to A-Jiu’s face. It’s like…” Luo Yichen racked his brains for a way to express it, “It’s like… if Miss Guan likes you, and likes you as a person, no matter how much A-Jiu looks like you, she will never give you a second glance. You and A-Jiu are not each other’s shadows, and you cannot think of becoming A-Jiu’s shadow just because of Miss Guan.”
Mu Chenbi looked at Luo Yichen in surprise. This tough guy, who was usually clumsy with words, could actually say so much in one breath, and what he said did make a lot of sense. But why did he only say it now?
“Your Highness is exceptionally brave and skilled in martial arts, and like Miss Guan, you are proficient in casting. Since you share similar interests, there will be plenty of opportunities.” Luo Yichen spoke frankly. “I admire Miss Mei, but I am just a martial artist. I can only practice swordsmanship and nothing else. Apart from exchanging a few pleasantries with her when I save money each month, I can’t come up with anything she wants to hear when we meet on ordinary days. Compared to me, Your Highness has a huge advantage. Why don’t you think about starting with your interests? Why are you so preoccupied with being like A-Jiu?”
"Yes." Mu Chenbi thought to himself with annoyance, "You, Luo Yichen, I only just realized you're quite the talker. Why didn't you say so earlier?"
Luo Yichen scratched his head, "The Black Hawk Guards would rather sew their mouths shut than interfere in His Highness's private affairs." Afraid his master would overthink things, Luo Yichen added in a low voice, "Fortunately, it's not too late to say this now. From now on, Your Highness and Miss Guan will... have nothing to do with romance, only with shared interests. In time, she will see your good qualities, but..."
"Just what?" Mu Chenbi raised his eyelids.
Luo Yichen lowered his voice, "But if Miss Guan were really with you, would she still be able to realize her ambitions and do what she wants to do?"
"They don't believe I can do it."
"That's because they're ignorant. Guan Ye, you can definitely do it."
"I can definitely do it."
"The road ahead is long and arduous, and it is not something you can accomplish alone. I am willing to walk alongside you, clear the obstacles for you, and help you achieve your goal."
Mu Chenbi fell into deep thought, the promise he made that day echoing in his ears. Mu Chenbi, you promised Guan Ye. Love between a man and a woman is not just about romance; it's about loyalty and righteousness. Mu Chenbi, you must keep your promise.
Xingguofang
In the east wing, the swordsmen were exhausted and slumped over. Feng Shisan had even closed his eyes and was snoring softly. Lou Cangyu covered his ears in annoyance and leaned against the corner of the wall.
Xiao Ma leaned against the table, fiddling with a hidden copper coin, guessing heads or tails with Ji Fang. Ji Fang stared intently at Xiao Ma's nimble movements, watching as the coin bounced high into the air and was caught steadily by Xiao Ma. Xiao Ma pressed the coin to his palm, asking, "Words? Or patterns?"
"—The words." Ji Fang reached out and touched Xiao Ma's hand. "I can see them clearly."
Xiao Ma chuckled and raised his hand. The copper coin on the table had its pattern facing upwards. Ji Fang clicked his tongue. It clearly looked like the coin, so why was it upside down?
"Something's wrong! Something's wrong!" The young swordsman guarding the door stumbled and pushed open the door, bursting into the east wing. "A ghost! A ghost is here!"
"You damn ghost!" Feng Shisan was dreaming of ghosts when he was startled by the little sword slave and broke out in a cold sweat. He immediately started cursing.
The little swordsman turned pale with fright and gasped, "It's really a ghost! Jiang Muyun has come to collect a debt!"
—Jiang Muyun is here?
“It’s her.” Xiao Ma clutched the copper coin and put it in his pocket, then calmly stood up. “She’s not a ghost, she’s a person. Since we’ve already come to her door, let’s go and see her.”
Xiao Jiannu waved his hand anxiously and said, "Jiang Muyun specifically asked to see Lou Cangyu."
Jiang Muyun specifically asked to see Lou Cangyu… Ji Fang swallowed hard; that was too frightening.
Lou Cangyu flipped and leaped up, his eyes brimming with undisguised joy. Ignoring the onlookers, he pushed aside the sword slave and rushed out.
"He knew all along that Wushuang looked just like Jiang Muyun, but he didn't mention it to us at all," Xiao Ma snorted. "If he hadn't kept it a secret, we wouldn't have lost today."
"Perhaps they were frightened." Ji Fang couldn't stand seeing his brothers turn against each other. "Look how scared we all were today."
Xiao Ma pointed at Lou Cangyu's back and said, "Look at him, does he look scared? He's so eager to fly out and see people. In my opinion, the last time the Golden Sword wasn't necessarily broken by the Kunwu Stone... it was Lou Cangyu's spirit that broke him."
"You're saying Lou Cangyu might have ulterior motives?" Feng Shisan, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly blurted out.
“I didn’t say that.” Xiao Ma turned around heavily. “Even heroes can’t resist the charms of a beautiful woman. Lou Cangyu has great ambitions, but he can’t make a name for himself in Xingguo Lane. Who knows if he will seek a better opportunity elsewhere?”
"Peerless." Lou Cangyu practically leaped over the threshold.
Wushuang, not wearing a fox fur coat but standing proudly in the snow in a green robe, turned around upon hearing the voice, looking at Lou Cangyu who was eager to see her, and revealed her face after removing her blouse. "I came uninvited, did I scare you?"
"No way." Lou Cangyu looked at her intently. "I'm overjoyed that you came to see me." It was freezing cold, and snowflakes were still falling from the branches when the wind blew. Lou Cangyu wanted to invite Wushuang into the workshop, but then he remembered something and hesitated, biting his lip.
"Your little swordsman's face turned pale when he saw me just now," Wushuang chuckled. "I came here to ask you, what happened to them all during the sword trial today?" Wushuang touched her face. "Did my face...scare them?"
"No..." Lou Cangyu suddenly grabbed Wushuang's wrist as if possessed. Her soft hand was icy cold, and walking on the snow was difficult. She must have been waiting outside the hamlet for a long time. Lou Cangyu's fingers stiffly slid down, enveloping Wushuang's hand in his own. Seeing that Wushuang did not pull away, Lou Cangyu felt relieved and couldn't help but wrap her hand even tighter. "Are you cold?"
Wushuang shook her head, "Your hands are so warm, how could I be cold?"
Lou Cangyu took her hand and brought it close to his lips, carefully touching it with his head down. He raised his eyebrows to look at Wushuang's expression and couldn't help but kiss her again.
"Where...did they see me before?" Wushuang asked again. "I have a feeling that they lost today's sword test because they saw my face."
Lou Cangyu gently let go, "You have the appearance of an old friend, so it's understandable that they were startled for a moment. In any case, losing is losing; it's just that you're not as skilled as them. You don't need to care about them."
"It seems you lost today too," Wushuang said with a smile.
Lou Cangyu showed no embarrassment. “Back on Canglang Island, Xiao Ma was always my defeated opponent. Let him win this time today. If we win all three battles, Xingguofang will lose face. Besides…” Lou Cangyu took Wushuang’s hand, his dark eyes shining. “Besides, although the sword lost, the person… still won.”
"We won?" Wushuang asked meaningfully. "Would you be willing... to join the inner palace and help me?"
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