68 Cousin
We can never be siblings!
The Ninth Princess skipped and hopped to Sima Hong's side, fluttering around him like a chattering sparrow. "Brother Xiuyuan, I never imagined your kung fu was so good! Brother Xiuyuan, will you teach me how to use a sword? I'll ask Father to give me a precious sword too..."
Several noble ladies, along with the Ninth Princess, surrounded Sima Hong. Qi Gu glanced over and saw that the Ninth Princess's eyes shone with undisguised admiration.
In her past life, Ninth Sister harbored a grudge against her for marrying Sima Hong. Even after they were married, Ninth Sister would still chase after her to her princess's residence to mock her.
Not to mention noble ladies like Gao Ruyu, who felt even more resentful towards her for marrying the best husband in their hearts.
As Qi Gu was watching the fire from across the river, she saw her cousin Zhang Jun walk over and say to her, "Cousin, your brother has been stationed at the North Camp and couldn't see you before. It's so good that you're back now!"
At this moment, Zhang Jun was no longer the rigid and inflexible figure he was on the training ground. He walked up to Qi Gu, his face, dark from years of training, broke into a smile, revealing a row of white teeth.
Qi Gu stood up, bowed, and said, "Cousin Jun, your battle with the Xiongnu just now was very exciting. If it weren't for your superb martial arts, Helande and the others' conspiracy would have succeeded."
Zhang Jun saw that her cousin, who had been living among the common people for eight years, was not reserved or uncomfortable at all. On the contrary, she was quite at ease. She had never encountered such a grand occasion in her life, but she was not at all flustered.
Her attitude towards him was also generous, friendly, and natural, without a trace of timidity or hesitation. Zhang Jun couldn't help but wonder, could this be the natural closeness brought about by blood ties? His heart softened even more.
When he was a child, he had overheard his father and aunt's conversation. He knew that his cousin's disappearance was not the one that was publicly stated as being lost, but rather that she had been abandoned by the emperor and his aunt.
Later, in order to rescue his aunt from the Prince of Yan, his father dared not slacken in the slightest on the battlefield. After going through countless hardships, he finally rescued his aunt from the Prince of Yan's army camp.
So from a young age, he felt a special kind of guilt towards his cousin who had been lost and whose fate was unknown. His cousin was so young and had been abandoned by her own parents. In such a dangerous situation, even without the pursuit of enemies, it would have been difficult for her to survive in a world of frequent wars. Perhaps heaven took pity on his cousin's plight and protected her so that she could survive and reunite with them.
He had long wanted to see her, but he was stationed at the Beidaying camp for his father and aunt and could not come and go as he pleased. After receiving the order from his aunt to conduct military exercises, he thought he could finally see his cousin.
He looked at Qi Gu, whose features resembled his aunt's. Although her skin wasn't as fair as the women in the capital, it had a healthy glow like autumn millet. Her demeanor was in no way inferior to that of the pampered Second Princess and Ninth Princess in the capital.
He was genuinely happy: "It's nothing, it was just a task assigned to me by my uncle and aunt." It's only natural for a soldier to complete his mission.
The two were talking in the corner. Zhang Jun thought to himself that his cousin had suffered too much, and he would definitely treat her very, very well in the future.
Qi Gu was unaware of Zhang Jun's thoughts. Looking at her cousin, who no longer possessed the imposing aura he had displayed in the martial arts arena, she thought back to her past life. This cousin had seemed to treat her very gently. Unfortunately, her uncle's passing was too sudden, and her cousin had suddenly taken on the heavy responsibility of the family. They hadn't had much time to cultivate a deep sibling bond.
Also, in her previous life, after her uncle passed away, her mother intended to marry her off to her cousin, but at that time she was completely focused on Sima Hong.
Whether it was her cousin who discovered it or not, he once asked her privately if she had any romantic feelings for him. She clearly stated that she did not like her cousin Hou. At that time, her cousin just nodded and said: I understand.
After that, my cousin asked to see my mother alone. I don't know what they talked about, but my mother never mentioned marrying my cousin again. Later, my cousin married the niece of Marquis Yongkang Qu Yan and took over the command of 100,000 troops in my uncle's Beida Camp, where he spent most of his time.
Looking back now, I realize that my mother had put a lot of thought into her marriage. Marrying her cousin was like marrying into the family. With that connection, and the fact that her cousin was the successor the Zhang family had carefully groomed, she was bound to be a good match.
Her marriage to her cousin was the safest arrangement her mother could make for her, but unfortunately, she chose the most difficult and arduous path.
Emerging from the fog, Qi Gu finally saw clearly that her cousin's gaze back then was filled with guilt and pity. In this life, her cousin still smiled warmly. He had been in the army for many years, but he was always cautious when facing her.
She knew it wasn't because she was a princess. She thought it was probably because her cousin knew the truth: she hadn't gotten lost on her own, but had been abandoned by her father and mother.
In any case, the kindness shown by the cousin indicates that the uncle and mother felt guilty towards her, which is why the cousin, influenced by what he saw and heard, always treated her with more care.
"Cousin, you must pay attention to the balance between work and rest in the army, take care of your health, and if you get injured, be sure to see a doctor. You must not take any discomfort in your body lightly."
"Hahaha!" Although he didn't know why his cousin cared so much about his health, he was very happy because his cousin was not unfamiliar with him and even had a natural affinity for him. He felt that he should treat his cousin even better in the future.
"Don't worry, my cousin is strong and healthy."
Aunt Qi then added, "Cousin is still young, but it's hard to say about Uncle. He's been fighting on the battlefield for so many years. When he comes back, cousin should remind Uncle to take good care of his health."
Qi Gu hoped that her uncle and cousin would stay healthy throughout their lives, so that she could leave the capital in peace.
Thinking of his father, Zhang Jun said, "Father has always been in good health and can eat five large bowls of millet and wheat rice in one meal." Otherwise, the emperor would not have sent his father and Prince Yi to fight against the former general Han Zhao.
Qi Gu was somewhat skeptical. If he was truly healthy, how could a mere cold have caused such a seasoned general, who had fought countless battles, to fall ill and never rise again?
Well, once Aunt finds Doctor Ye, we'll know exactly what's wrong with my cousin and uncle's health.
"Oh, you're here." Qu Zhouhou's voice came from behind.
She patted Zhang Jun's shoulder with her fair, soft hand, "Good lad, you didn't disgrace the Zhang family at the martial arts arena today, hahaha!"
Qu Zhouhou walked to Qi Gu's side and said, "Qi Gu, this is your cousin Jun." Then he said to Zhang Jun, "This is your cousin, you know that now."
Aunt Qi said, "Aunt, my cousin and I have just recognized each other." This made Zhang Jun show off his row of white teeth again.
On the other side, Sima Hong watched as Qi Gu smiled brightly at Zhang Jun, and his gaze turned cold.
He stepped out of the crowd and headed in the direction where Qi Gu was. The Ninth Princess stamped her foot, but there was nothing she could do.
Gao Ruyu stared in the direction Sima Hong had left, biting her lip. Looking at that handsome figure, she thought, "Xiuyuan, could you really...?"
The unusually quiet Second Princess stood on the periphery, taking in the expressions of the Ninth Princess, Gao Mingyu, and the others.
She sat in the shadows when a voice, whose outline was indistinct, approached from behind and whispered something in her ear. No one could see what was in her eyes.
Zhang Jun noticed Sima Hong approaching and quickly bowed to him in thanks, saying, "Xiuyuan, thank you so much for saving me today. Otherwise, Arunji's hammer would have smashed my head in."
"It's just a small favor, nothing I should do." Although he was speaking to Zhang Jun, his eyes were fixed on Qi Gu.
Qi Gu felt quite uncomfortable under his gaze. In her previous life, Sima Hong would never look at people with such eyes, which made her feel uneasy.
Sima Hong chuckled softly, "It's been a long time. How is the princess's health?"
Does Xiu Yuan also know his cousin? Although Zhang Jun often accompanied his father to guard the Beida Camp, he also knew that Sima Xiu Yuan was the most aloof and detached from worldly affairs. He looked good, but he was actually cold-hearted and ruthless.
The officials in the capital both hated and loved him, and the women in the capital loved him unconditionally, but he treated everyone with equal indifference and aloofness.
Even though the Zhang family was the imperial clan, Sima Xiuyuan was indifferent to them. But somehow, he and his cousin seemed to be quite familiar with each other.
"Thank you for your concern, sworn brother. I'm fully recovered and as strong as an ox now. Please rest assured... cough cough cough..."
Before she could finish speaking, Qi Gu coughed because she had taken a sip of the autumn night wind. As soon as she finished coughing, her eyes were still wet from the cough. She looked up and saw Sima Hong in front of her. His cold gaze was fixed on her, making her freeze and afraid to move.
She was as if she were a child who had lied and whose lie had been exposed on the spot. "I knew it, you wouldn't take good care of yourself." Her eyes were full of naked reproach.
Sima Hong instructed Atai to bring his cloak and drape it over Qi Gu. Qi Gu immediately took a step back and said, "Brother, I'm not cold. I just had an itchy throat."
Qi Gu felt countless pairs of wolf-like eyes staring at her from all around. She dared not put on the cloak, otherwise, the sharp eyes of those women would pierce hundreds or thousands of holes in the cloak!
Sima Hong, however, could not tolerate Qi Gu's deliberate distancing. He had long been dissatisfied with Qi Gu keeping her distance from him. Even if they were no longer husband and wife in this life, she did not need to fear him like a snake!
He forcefully draped his cloak over Qi Gu, bent down to tie the collar of her clothes, and said patiently, "Don't be willful. You're just recovered. You don't want Mr. Li to worry." His intimate actions and whispers set off alarm bells for Qi Gu. This scoundrel Sima Hong is trying to harm me!
Qi Gu stepped back and immediately said, "Thank you, sworn brother, thank you, sworn brother," thus distancing herself from Sima Hong.
Zhang Jun and Qu Zhouhou exchanged a glance. The cabbage they had just found was about to be eaten by that...
"Sworn brother? Cousin, when did you and Xiuyuan become sworn siblings?"
Qi Gu looked at her cousin with almost tears of joy. Finally, someone had noticed this important point. It was worth all the emphasis she had made.
Qi Gu said loudly, "I was sent back to the capital by Lord Sima. Last time, I was also saved by Lord Sima. To express my gratitude, I became sworn brothers and sisters with Lord Sima. We call each other brother and sister!" She seemed to be explaining to Zhang Jun, but in reality, she was explaining to a group of resentful women behind her.
Sima Hong chuckled lightly, a laugh that carried a hint of arrogance and wickedness. Under the illumination of the palace lanterns, his handsome face was utterly captivating.
Qi Gu seemed to hear the noble ladies' gasps of surprise. Qi Gu's heart skipped a beat, not from being bewildered, but from being frightened. Sima Hong never showed such a smile normally. He was upright, conservative, polite, cold, and aloof, but... only she knew that he only showed such a wicked smile in bed!
Everyone looked at Sima Hong, whose eyes held a smile that didn't reach his eyes, and said, "Qi Gu, I have never said that we are siblings, and we can never be siblings!" He said to Marquis Quzhou and Zhang Jun, "Marquis Quzhou, General Zhang, I have some things to say to Her Highness the Princess alone. Please excuse me."
Amidst the shock of Marquis Quzhou, Zhang Jun, and noble ladies like Princess Gao Mingyu, Sima Hong pulled Qi Gu away...
[Author's Note]
This chapter is kind of a love triangle, isn't it? [sunglasses]
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