Assassination (Revision)
Qu Linghan sensed something was wrong and turned to run.
On second thought, she didn't seem to have done anything wrong, so why was she running away?
So she boldly turned around and looked into the open space on the path ahead, where she saw a noble boy, about fifteen or sixteen years old, dressed in gorgeous clothes, staring at her with a face full of anger.
He was dressed in luxurious clothes, but could not hide his roguish air.
Qu Linghan tried hard not to show his disgust. "I don't know what you mean, young master. I haven't done anything wrong. I just stopped to admire a few plum blossoms."
"Hmph, I saw it with my own eyes. You want to steal the plum blossoms, so don't try to deny it."
He spoke with certainty, turning his head to look at the palace servant beside him. "Did you see it too?"
The palace servant nodded timidly, which made him even more smug. "I'm in a good mood today and don't want to make things difficult for you. You should just admit your mistake."
He crossed his arms, tilted his head back, and looked arrogant.
Qu Linghan was speechless, but there was nothing he could do; this wasn't a society governed by the rule of law two thousand years from now.
"I'm sorry."
Qu Linghan spoke softly.
"That's right. Which family are you from? I'll go to my aunt and put in a good word for you."
Qu Linghan felt helpless.
"May I ask who your aunt is, young master?"
"What kind of important person?! My aunt is the current Empress." Qu Linghan sighed, rubbing his forehead.
I really wanted to tell him that he was very uncultured.
No, Your Majesty the Empress? Aunt?
Qu Linghan couldn't help but raise his eyes and look her up and down.
"Yes, the ages match up."
"Hey, what are you whining about? Whose daughter are you anyway?"
Qu Linghan looked at him again, utterly shocked.
The man before me is the legendary war god who rivals Bai Hui, a genius sent from heaven, destined for fame. Tsk tsk, it seems history isn't entirely fair.
The guy in front of me wanted to say something again.
A clear, cool sound, like mountain well water, suddenly rang out.
Pei Ying.
Just two words were enough to shut that guy up.
Qu Linghan looked curiously toward the source of the sound and saw a young man dressed in a sea-blue flowing robe. He had a neat figure, a high nose bridge, and an innate arrogance. The sunlight shone on him, as if gilding him with a layer of gold.
“I only took a short time to keep an eye on you, and you’ve already started causing trouble for everyone. Quickly apologize to this young lady.”
Qu Linghan seemed to have found a backer and straightened his back.
Suddenly, he lost his confidence and bowed his head to apologize to Qu Linghan.
"I'm sorry."
Qu Linghan couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Speak louder, I didn't hear you."
“Brother Wuyang, look at her, isn’t this going a bit too far?”
Are you alright? Cousin? Yes, the Empress does not only have one nephew.
Qu Linghan turned to look at the blue-clad youth, with his sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, exuding confidence and spirit. This was the true champion, Pei Wuyang.
Under Qu Linghan's gaze, Champion Hou slowly spoke.
"Wasn't it you who started the trouble with this girl?"
At this moment, Lu Ying looked exactly like a child who had done something wrong, hanging his head and shouting at Qu Linghan:
"sorry!"
"Yes, I forgive you."
Qu Linghan finished speaking and prepared to leave.
"Miss, are you in such a hurry to go home? I'll send someone to escort you back to your residence as my apology, okay?"
Pei Wuyang's expression remained unchanged, but his words and eyes revealed a different kind of emotion.
Qu Linghan simply replied, "Okay."
A slight smile appeared on Pei Wuyang's lips.
He was just about to start a conversation.
But before he could say it, a sound more chilling than winter came from deep within the plum blossoms.
"My daughter."
Qu Linghan looked at Bai Hui, who had suddenly appeared, with a sense of helplessness.
She really wanted to get into that handsome guy's car.
Pei Wuyang's expression remained unchanged.
"Is the young lady Zhaoming's concubine? I have overstepped my bounds."
"Yes, but it's okay."
Qu Linghan had barely finished speaking when Bai Hui pulled him away.
"Hey, that's very rude of you."
Is this the first day you've met me?
He followed Bai Hui into the carriage. Qu Linghan sat there sighing.
"Young Master Pei saved me today."
"Oh? So you've already exchanged names. When will you reveal yourself?"
Qu Linghan listened to Bai Hui's sarcastic reply.
"Can you please stop talking nonsense?"
"Do you still want your shop in the capital?"
Qu Linghan was momentarily shocked. What did you say?
You misheard me.
"Hey, say it again."
"Let's go, I'll accompany you to the capital to look at some shops."
"Thank you, Lord Marquis."
Seeing Qu Linghan's smiling face, Bai Hui felt a strange feeling rising in his heart.
After getting off the car, Bai Hui led Qu Linghan to the entrances of several shops.
"This location is good, which one do you want to choose?"
"Any one is fine?"
Seeing Bai Hui nod to her, Qu Linghan suddenly felt that this villain in the history books wasn't so scary after all.
"Then you wait here for me, I'll go in and ask."
Bai Hui nodded, gently rubbing his palm with his fingertips.
Qu Linghan asked at all the shops in one go and finally found the best option. She left the shop and went to find Bai Hui.
But the carriage, the people, and the servants had all vanished without a trace. Qu Linghan felt a pang of sorrow.
"I thought you would wait for me, but it seems I was overthinking it."
She kicked at the pebbles on the street as she walked.
Suddenly, a gentle voice interrupted, "Young lady, do you know what year it is now?"
Looking at the beautiful and elegantly dressed girl in front of him, Qu Linghan felt a strange sense of goodwill towards her.
What year is it tonight?! Isn't this a common trope for time travelers recognizing each other?
"Now, it's 2025."
Thank you.
The girl in front of him was about to run away happily, but then quickly turned back.
"Young lady, my name is Lu Shuyu. And yours?"
"My name is Qu Linghan. Could it be that you are also from the 21st century...?"
Before Qu Linghan could finish speaking, Lu Shuyu quickly ran away.
"This is baffling. Is he or she a time traveler?"
Qu Linghan was somewhat confused.
She continued wandering aimlessly through the shops, when a glowing box caught her eye.
Qu Linghan walked forward quickly.
He held the pink box studded with pearls in his hands.
"Young lady, you have excellent taste. This is our shop's newest rouge."
"How much?"
The shopkeeper held up three fingers.
"Only three ounces."
After saying that, Qu Linghan quickly put the box back in its original place.
They're robbing us.
The shopkeeper clapped his hands and was about to leave when a familiar voice came from behind him.
"Shopkeeper, wrap up the rouge that this young lady just took a liking to."
"Miss Lu is here! Why didn't you let me know? I could have sent someone to pick you up."
"No need."
After speaking, Lu Shuyu took the exquisitely packaged rouge from the shopkeeper and handed it to Qu Linghan.
Qu Linghan looked at Lu Shuyu in front of him as if he were looking at a hero who had fallen from the sky.
“Miss Lu, this is too... too valuable. I cannot accept it.”
Lu Shuyu pulled Qu Linghan's hand over and placed the rouge in Qu Linghan's palm.
“What’s so precious about it? From now on, you’re my sister, Lu Shuyu’s sister. Even if you want the moon in the sky, I’ll go and get it for you.”
"ah?"
Although somewhat puzzled, Qu Linghan still accepted the rouge that Lu Shuyu had bought for him.
The two then wandered aimlessly through the streets.
"Sister Linghan, I was presumptuous today."
"It's okay, it's okay. I don't mind." Qu Linghan quickly waved his hand.
"I just want to ask you why you asked that question. Are you perhaps not from this era?"
Lu Shuyu smiled. "Of course I belong to this era, don't you?"
“I just made a deal with him: if I randomly look for someone on the street and they don’t remember what year it is, he will agree to travel with me.”
"You are the first person to answer this question incorrectly."
"Haha, I see."
Qu Linghan smiled helplessly.
"So, you are my benefactor, Lu Shuyu."
"Ah, no, that's not right."
Qu Linghan shook his head.
"I should also thank you for buying this box of rouge for me."
Immediately, Qu Linghan raised the exquisite box in her hand.
It shimmered in the afterglow of the setting sun, and only then did Qu Linghan realize that it was getting late.
I wonder if Bai Hui will find out that she hasn't returned to the manor.
As soon as the idea came to mind, Qu Linghan chuckled and tapped his head.
"This person is so busy with work. How could he possibly remember me, a little rascal? Besides, they haven't known each other for very long."
"You'd better not come looking for me unless you're here to give me money."
The two little figures in Qu Linghan's mind were fighting until someone next to her poked her a few times with their elbow.
"Ling Han, do you know that masked man in front of you? He seems to be looking at you."
Lu Shuyu spoke with a slightly trembling voice.
Qu Linghan followed her gaze and looked ahead.
It was Bai Hui. He was actually waiting for her, even though he was wearing that hideous mask again.
She greeted Lu Shuyu and then ran towards Bai Hui.
"I thought you had gone back to your residence."
"I just had some urgent business to attend to. But you don't seem lonely even though I'm not here."
How can I not feel lonely? You're not here. Who will pay my shop rent?
Qu Linghan gave Bai Hui a forced smile, "It's different."
He then pulled Bai Hui toward Lu Shuyu and said, “Shuyu, let me introduce you. This is my husband, Bai Hui, also known as Bai Zhaoming. You should have heard of him.”
Qu Linghan then introduced Lu Shuyu to Bai Hui, noticing his slightly furrowed brows.
Qu Linghan pulled Bai Hui along and pointed to a shop selling candied hawthorns in the distance.
"Shuyu said he's a little hungry. We'll head over there then."
After Lu Shuyu agreed, Qu Linghan and Bai Hui slowly walked towards the shop not far ahead.
"I'm not hungry," Bai Hui said coldly as usual.
"You're not hungry? I am," Qu Linghan asked, pointing to a string of glistening candied hawthorns.
"Boss, how much is this?"
"Two coins."
As the shopkeeper spoke, he took out the candied hawthorn that Qu Linghan pointed to. After taking the candied hawthorn, Qu Linghan nudged Bai Hui next to him a few times with his elbow.
Only after Bai Hui handed the money to the shop owner did she feel at ease and begin to eat.
As darkness fell, the two continued to wander the streets.
How's the shop today?
Bai Hui was the first to break the silence.
"Hmm...it's alright, I found someone quite suitable, but I couldn't find you when I went out to look for you."
"As I said, I had some urgent business to attend to."
Qu Linghan bit into the candied hawthorn and made a "crackling" sound.
"Oh, I see. Do you have anything else to take care of tomorrow?"
Qu Linghan turned her head and asked Bai Hui sincerely with her bright, clear eyes.
Perhaps unable to bear the gaze, Bai Hui looked into the distance.
"There should be nothing to do tomorrow, so I can accompany you to rent a shop."
What was clearly an uncertain answer only sounded like half a sentence to Qu Linghan: "I can come and help you rent a shop."
"Then it's settled."
"We can go register for city residency together. With you here, it should go more smoothly."
Qu Linghan took large strides with some excitement, as if she could see herself two thousand years later, as an internationally renowned designer, commanding the world.
That's enough, let's start over.
Qu Linghan believed in his professional knowledge, and opening a clothing store made him a wealthy businessman without much difficulty.
Qu Linghan was so excited that he didn't notice the several pairs of longing eyes in front of him.
"elder sister……"
A ragged child suddenly came up and hugged Qu Linghan's leg, almost scaring her so much that she flew eight miles away. Fortunately, Bai Hui, who was beside her, caught her in time.
"Thank you, but this..."
Qu Linghan pointed to the child at her feet.
"What are you doing?" The historical records don't mention that your dynasty had this custom.
He wants your candied hawthorn.
Qu Linghan suddenly realized.
"I see." She helped the child up.
"Little friend, you want to eat candied hawthorn, but I don't have any money. Why don't you talk to your brother?"
The child immediately looked at Bai Hui with tears in his eyes, and Qu Linghan couldn't help but laugh.
"Brother Zhaoming, this child wants to eat candied hawthorn."
Qu Linghan spoke to Bai Hui with a pitiful look in his eyes.
A blush instantly crept onto Bai Hui's face.
"Don't talk like that."
"Oh, Bai Hui, this child wants to eat candied hawthorns."
Qu Linghan rolled his eyes at Bai Hui helplessly.
This person...why is he so troublesome?
Then he heard Bai Hui's emotionless reply.
"good."
So the two went back, and the child brought many of his friends. Fortunately, Bai Hui bought all the candied hawthorns and gave them to them.
Watching the children happily run around with their candied hawthorns, Qu Linghan looked at Bai Hui.
"I think you are different from what others say; you are a very, very good person."
"Then you're wrong, I'm capable of any evil."
Bai Hui tilted his head, wanting to see Qu Linghan's reaction.
Qu Linghan, however, seemed not to have heard anything, looked up at the sky, and then stretched out his hand.
"Bai Hui, it's snowing."
The two walked out of the shop, and Qu Linghan excitedly shared the news with Bai Hui.
"You know, I used to live in the south of our country. It rarely snows there. I think..."
Qu Linghan counted on his fingers as he pondered.
"Three years, a full three years without seeing snowflakes."
Bai Hui was completely confused; there had clearly been a heavy snowfall just last year.
Snow covered the entire capital city.
"Forget it, you wouldn't understand even if I told you."
The snow was falling heavier and heavier, and Qu Linghan suggested building a snowman in the yard.
Bai Hui didn't say anything, so Qu Linghan took it as a tacit agreement.
"Let's go back quickly. I'll teach you how to build a snowman."
To be honest, Qu Linghan felt a bit cold, but fortunately, the mansion was not far away.
She put her hands to her mouth and breathed on them to warm them, and a puff of white mist rose up.
Suddenly she felt her body become heavy, and when she looked up, she realized that Bai Hui had draped a cloak over her shoulders.
But... behind him...
"We've been spotted, move in quickly."
A group of people behind him quickly drew their bows and shot at Bai Hui. Qu Linghan swiftly stepped in front of Bai Hui to shield him.
"Watch out, there's an assassin!"
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