Nanchen refers to southern Yunnan.
Tao Yingshi's cough has been cured, and Zeng Wu has tried his best to improve her health. However, she still has lingering resentment in her heart, which is not something Zeng Wu can cure. It depends on whether Tao Yingshi can adjust herself.
Li Langhuan visited Tao Yingshi several times and could clearly see that Tao Yingshi was not in a good state—she seemed to think she was very peaceful, but the sorrow in her eyes could not be hidden.
In other words, Tao Yingshi was no longer able to perceive her own state.
Since Li Langhuan couldn't visit Tao Ying all the time, she could only instruct Zisu to take good care of her while she continued to be stationed in southern Yunnan, waiting for Shang Shaoyan's side to be ready so that she could lead her troops out at any time.
Li Langxuan and Yan Xuening have also arrived in Yunnan. They cannot remain within the territory of Emperor Chen, lest they be taken hostage and hinder Shang Shaoyan and Li Langhuan.
On this day, when Li Langhuan went to visit Tao Ying again, the latter was sitting blankly in the courtyard of the Medicine Valley, staring intently at the exotic flowers and plants, lost in thought.
Seeing this, Li Langhuan frowned, his worries deepening, and he couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
She walked over and sat down next to Tao Yingshi, looking at the flowers and plants with her. Only then did Tao Yingshi notice Li Langhuan's arrival, and she quickly smiled and said, "General...you've come?"
Li Langhuan nodded gently, pointed to a flower and asked, "What kind of flower is this? I think it's quite pretty."
Tao Yingshi paused for a moment, then smiled gently and said, "General, you have lived in the palace for many years and have probably never seen such wildflowers before. These are wild roses. Ordinary noble families do not grow such flowers. They just throw in a handful of seeds and they will grow very well on their own."
Li Langhuan had naturally seen wild roses before; she had spent a long time marching and fighting in southern Yunnan and had seen countless wildflowers like them.
She feigned surprise and said, "They're so easy to raise."
Tao Ying smiled but didn't reply.
After a long pause, Li Langhuan said, "It's quite interesting. When I was in the army, everyone called me the God of War. When I went to the palace, they called me the Demon Consort... But in fact, whether it's the God of War or the Demon Consort, it's just a title given to me by others."
She paused, then touched Tao Yingshi's head: "You are a resilient and brave woman. Your dirty past is not worth dwelling on or struggling over... Look at the outside world more, and you will find that everything you have been through is just a label that others have attached to you. You are who you are."
“I know you have traveled to Southern Chen for many years, but what you have seen and heard is still just superficial beauty,” Li Langhuan said with a smile. “Tomorrow I will take you to the military camp and then take you to see the countryside… I hope you will gain something from this.”
Tao Yingshi sat silently on the small stone stool. Upon hearing this, she nodded slightly, her voice somewhat unsteady: "Alright, tomorrow the general will take me to the military camp, and then take me to the countryside..."
Li Langhuan sensed something was wrong with her and sighed inwardly—before she delivered the tiger tally to Shang Shaoyan, how similar her condition was to Tao Ying's! Back then, she couldn't eat or sleep, felt utterly exhausted every day, and gradually lost the will to live…
What's most terrifying is that you're completely unaware that something is wrong with your state.
That day, her promise to Emperor Chen to deliver the tiger tally to Shang Shaoyan outside the palace was perhaps the wisest decision she ever made.
...
Northwest, Shuocheng.
These past few days, Shang Shaoyan has had a lot more free time. Every evening, she and Qiao Xiuyu drink tea and watch the stars together in the house, snuggling up to chat and have heart-to-heart talks, living a retirement life ahead of schedule.
Today was a rare rainy day in the Northwest. Shang Shaoyan moved the flowers and plants in the yard into the house, and then collected the clothes and bedding that were drying in the yard before going inside.
Qiao Xiuyu brewed some plum wine. The unique sweet and sour taste of plums mixed with the slightly pungent aroma of the wine, instantly transporting one back to early summer in Jiangnan.
Qiao Xiuyu poured Shang Shaoyan a small cup of plum wine, and smiled as she patted her head: "An'an, are you tired?"
Shang Shaoyan couldn't help but laugh: "What's so tiring about it? It's just moving a few potted plants and collecting a few pieces of clothing. Only you care about me. I don't feel tired at all."
Qiao Xiuyu looked at Shang Shaoyan, her peach blossom eyes reflecting only his image, appearing exceptionally sincere: "Of course I feel sorry for you. Our An'an should have been a pampered and noble county princess, but now she has to do things herself because there are too few servants..."
Shang Shaoyan drank a small cup of plum wine and felt much warmer. She chuckled and said, "If I just lie around all day and have the servants do everything for me, wouldn't I get as fat as a pig?"
Qiao Xiuyu chuckled, raised her hand and pinched Shang Shaoyan's cheek, her eyes showing a hint of heartache: "You've been working too hard lately, I can see you've lost a lot of weight... It would be good if you gained some weight."
Shang Shaoyan glared at him, but the glare was full of coquettishness and had no real deterrent effect: "Who gave you permission to pinch my cheeks all the time? If you pinch them until they turn red, how am I supposed to go out tomorrow?"
Qiao Xiuyu quickly hugged Shang Shaoyan and coaxed him, "It's my fault, it's all my fault. Next time I'll definitely ask you in advance."
Shang Shaoyan: "..."
Okay, okay.
It's good to ask in advance.
Shang Shaoyan leaned against Qiao Xiuyu's chest, and the two chatted idly, occasionally taking a sip of plum wine.
Suddenly, Qiao Xiuyu sighed, "It's really good like this now."
Shang Shaoyan didn't ask him what was so good about him, because she felt the same way herself.
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