Chapter 3 Beauty
Wen Yao stopped moving and his pupils shrank slightly.
Zhao Xuanxu twisted a man's neck and said nothing, simply reaching out to the side. Someone kneeling on the ground immediately rose, trembling as they held a handkerchief gently beneath his hand. Zhao Xuanxu grasped the handkerchief and finally turned his feet, allowing Wen Yao to see his face clearly.
It was a beautiful face, very similar to the one Wen Yao remembered. Her eyebrows were like distant mountains, her nose was high and straight, her lips were bright red, and her eyes were curved and pointed, concealing but not revealing. She had a natural warmth and a touch of melancholy, and she looked very vivid and charming.
The beauty's expression wasn't fierce, just a bit nonchalant, a casual and relaxed state. In short, this face was very beautiful, and it matched Zhao Xuanxu's hair and figure very well, but it didn't match the brutal and brutal killing method of twisting off the head just now.
The Jianghu was a dangerous place, and Wen Yao had witnessed many murders and robberies over the years. Laws were lax in the frontier, and local forces were deeply entrenched. Wen Yao had also witnessed brutal punishments. But to kill a beautiful woman with such a beautiful face in such a beautiful garden was still quite shocking.
After all, when other beauties are free, they pick flowers and willows instead of twisting people's heads off.
And, most importantly, the person killing people now is Zhao Xuanxu.
Wen Yao was a little shocked.
The Zhao Xuanxu she knew would never do such a thing.
She and Zhao Xuanxu met in Nanzhao, when she was injured by a Gu master. The Gu poison was ruthless, and she was rescued by Yan Cang, who left her lying on the bed for a long time, unable to walk. With nothing to do, Wen Yao got some charcoal and started drawing.
Each sketch was clean and crisp, and the maids in the courtyard all loved to come to Wen Yao. All they had to do was give this chivalrous woman a stack of flower cakes and glutinous rice balls, and they would get a painting that was a perfect match for them.
The windows were filled with vibrant spring colors, a group of beautiful young ladies chattered, and the aroma of pastries mingled with the subtle fragrance of perfume. Wen Yao was intoxicated by the gentleness of the place, helping the young ladies sketch. They not only fed her but also gave her rouge and powder and taught her how to make herself up.
Often at this time, Zhao Xuanxu would lean against the peach tree in the yard on time, quietly watching Wen Yao and a group of girls gather together.
He had been ill, and Meng Chuntian was still wearing a thick cloak. The young man was thin, with long, flowing black hair. His handsome face was pale except for a hint of color at the tip of his eyebrows. The people around him were like paper figures, standing silently in a row, which was inexplicably creepy in broad daylight.
It was not until Wen Yao noticed him and waved him over that Zhao Xuanxu walked towards Wen Yao with a plate of pastries, lowering his head and looking submissive like a young wife.
Wen Yao blinked, and was so shocked that he cursed in his heart, and his mind was scrolling through the screen frantically.
Yan Cang, you old bastard, filled your paper with nonsense, all this nonsense about "shy and submissive," "sad and forbearing," and "weak as a chicken"! May I ask which of these words actually fits with the great Zhao Xuanxu in front of me?
Wen Yao's alarm bells were ringing, and he intuitively felt that he was on a black ship. He felt that he should not meet Zhao Xuanxu now, and he had to take some wine and chat with Yan Cang first.
She made a prompt decision and turned around to leave.
The next moment, a strong wind blew towards him.
Wen Yao stopped in time and turned her face to the side. The hairpin just brushed the tip of her nose an inch away and then sank steadily into the tree trunk beside her.
Wow, I was discovered.
Zhao Xuanxu didn't know when he had plucked out the girl's hairpins. There were two in total, and he was holding the other one in his hand.
His eyes were dark, and the eerie softness on his face remained unchanged. The diffuse mist wetted the corners of his drooping robes and the ends of his black hair. His face, seen through the mist, was like flowers through the fog, becoming even more thrilling.
A large group of guards emerged from nowhere, all of them wearing black armor and holding long swords. They did not look like the servants of an ordinary prince's mansion.
They passed Zhao Xuanxu and headed straight for Wen Yao, all drawing their swords and pointing them at her.
Wen Yao threw the half-baked chicken away and quickly shouted, "Hey, stop! Yan Cang asked me to come here. I'm not an assassin. Don't do it!"
As soon as she opened her mouth, there was a clang in the yard, the sound of metal hitting the crossroads.
Wen Yao leaned over slightly and saw that Zhao Xuanxu had lost his hairpin and his empty hands were hanging from his sleeves.
The expression on his face finally changed, his eyes widened a little, and the feeling of illusion disappeared in an instant, as if a god from heaven had descended to the earth.
Their eyes met across a large group of people. Wen Yao smiled at him awkwardly and asked tentatively, "Do you remember me? We used to be in -"
"Ayao, you're here." Zhao Xuanxu said.
"So fast." He stepped over the corpse and walked towards Wen Yao step by step: "Yan Cang said you were in Mobei before. The journey is long. Could it be that you haven't had a good rest in a few days because of the rush?"
Under the horrified gazes of the crowd, Zhao Xuanxu's brows relaxed naturally, his voice became soft and hoarse, and his tone was so familiar that Wen Yao felt weird, and goose bumps appeared on his arms.
While walking, Zhao Xuanxu was holding the clothes wet by warm water in one hand. This action was inevitably a bit feminine, but when he did it, it didn't seem so at all, it was just romantic and affectionate.
After a few words, he walked under the banyan tree, raised his face, and looked at Wen Yao with his head slightly tilted.
After a while, Zhao Xuanxu's eyes were full of affection, and the corners of his lips curled up gently as he smiled: "It's okay, I'm glad you're here. The room has been cleaned up. Ayao, are you tired? Do you want to rest?"
Wen Yao swallowed back the words he was about to say.
Zhao Xuanxu continued, "It's cold, Yao, do you want to soak in the hot pool?"
His fingers loosened, and the wet, translucent Shu brocade material slipped off.
Then he pointed to the luxurious white jade pool next to him, as if he didn't realize what he was saying, and said: "I just finished taking a bath, it feels so good, do you want to go down-"
Wen Yao laughed and interrupted him forcefully: "Me? I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm not tired, there's food and fun on the way, it's very interesting!"
After a moment of awkward laughter, Wen Yao impatiently touched the Xingyi Sword. She didn't know what Zhao Xuanxu was doing right now, so she could only say, "...Yan Cang told you what I came here for, didn't he?"
"Yeah." Zhao Xuanxu responded and continued to look at Wen Yao, his tone slightly puzzled: "Ayao, do you like this tree? Why are you still standing on it?"
"Do you want to eat something? There's food here. Come and eat."
The reaction of the people in the yard was even greater than Wen Yao's, all of them were stunned. A young man in black armor was the first to react, and quietly led the people in the yard and the corpses on the ground away.
Wen Yao leaped down and landed on the ground, brushing past the body being carried out. Her gaze lingered for a moment on the girl's cold, grim wound before she suddenly turned and took a step back.
Zhao Xuanxu stood in front of Wen Yao.
His breathing was steady and long, clearly not a sickly person. His killing method was quick and decisive, and his internal energy and martial arts skills must be quite high. She had been deceived by that old man Yan Cang.
When Wen Yao looked at Zhao Xuanxu, Zhao Xuanxu looked down at her.
"Would you like some safflower?" Zhao Xuanxu muttered softly, "And some milk fruit. I've hired a lot of good chefs these days, and they all make excellent food. If you have the same taste as before, you shouldn't dislike it."
"Ah." Wen Yao came back to his senses: "It's all fine, I'm fine with it, I'm not picky."
"There was originally a pot of carved wine, but unfortunately it was spilled by the assassin just now." Zhao Xuanxu said slowly.
Wen Yao blinked and said, "Was that an assassin just now?"
"Well, many people want to kill me." Zhao Xuanxu said this and finally stretched out his hand towards Wen Yao.
Wen Yao lowered her eyes, watching as he placed two slender fingers on her sleeve and gently tugged at it, his movements soft and limp. The two of them were very close at this moment, and she could smell a warm, sweet fragrance coming from Zhao Xuanxu, like honey mixed with the scent of flowers.
"I'm sorry, I just arrived and caused such a big commotion." Wen Yao paused, but didn't stop him. She said, "I didn't go through the main gate because I didn't know what your master said to you. I know that you... your family situation is complicated, and this street is full of wealthy families. It's better not to publicize our relationship too much, so--"
"Why can't you make it public?" Zhao Xuanxu's eyes fell on Wen Yao's face: "Don't you want them to know you?"
"I don't know what you're planning, but I won't stay in Bianliang forever. I owe Yan Cang three years, and once those three years are up, I'll be leaving."
Since we are going to live together in the future, it would be better to make some things clear at the beginning.
Wen Yao said frankly: "I still have to mix with the outside world, it's not good to be too conspicuous."
"Okay, whatever you want." Zhao Xuanxu didn't react much to Wen Yao's words. He just asked again, "Do you want to eat?"
"……eat."
There is a square table in the pavilion in front, on which are densely packed glazed celadon bowls and plates.
Wen Yao and Zhao Xuanxu sat down face to face, with Zhao Xuanxu's hair hanging down from his side, covering his knees.
He used his fingers to undo the belt tied around his waist, and the casual robe he wore became even looser, vaguely revealing a section of his collarbone and the solid chest underneath.
Zhao Xuanxu lowered his eyes, carefully separated a jade pendant tied to his belt, and placed it next to Wen Yao's hand.
Wen Yao chewed the Su Nai flower in his mouth and spoke incoherently: "What is this?"
Zhao Xuanxu said, "With this, whether you go through a door or climb over a wall, they will make way for you."
This "they" should refer to those secret guards who were completely unaware of Wen Yao.
Wen Yao thought for a moment and asked Zhao Xuanxu, "What do you want me to be, a bodyguard or a secret guard?"
Zhao Xuanxu looked at her without saying anything.
Wen Yao guessed that he might not be too impressed by her connection to Yan Cang, and since they were old friends, he felt embarrassed to ask her to do errands directly. So, she said soothingly, "It's okay, I'm willing to do anything. You arrange it, and let me know when you're done."
Apart from anything else, the chefs in the palace are really good at cooking.
Wen Yao, practicing martial arts, had a large appetite. Her chopsticks kept moving, clearing out the diverse and small portions of dim sum on the table in a matter of seconds. She clapped her hands, then suddenly remembered the roast chicken and wine she had brought. She stood up, carrying her bag, and said, "By the way, where is Yan Cang? I'm going to have a drink with him."
"I'll go with you to the back of Daxiangguo Temple tomorrow." Zhao Xuanxu stood up with her, his hair swaying and falling behind him. He raised his voice slightly, "Ayao, are you staying tonight? I've prepared all the toiletries and clothes."
"Forget about today." Wen Yao thought for a while and said: "Tomorrow, I'll come to find you tomorrow." She had already paid for the restaurant tonight, so it would be a waste if she didn't sleep.
Zhao Xuanxu touched his sleeve with his fingers, pinching it unconsciously, and muttered a "good." He took the hot wine off the side, picked it up in his hand, and followed Wen Yao out into the yard.
By this time, the sky was completely dark and the rain had stopped. Zhao Xuanxu held a glass of wine in one hand and a lantern in the other. "This wine warms the body and wards off the cold. You have strong internal energy, so don't drink too much. Two cups will be enough. Let's go. I'll see you off."
Wen Yao was about to say no, it was only a few steps away. She wasn't going to go through the main gate either, so she could just find a wall to climb over.
Zhao Xuanxu continued, "Ayao, what would you like for breakfast tomorrow? Milk cake, seven-treasure vegetarian porridge, or honey pancakes, are all okay?"
Wen Yao didn't have any other preferences, she just liked to eat. Hearing this, her throat moved, and she swallowed the polite words along with her saliva: "I like it, I like it all."
The beautiful Zhao Xuanxu now looked not at all as skilled and ruthless as she had just been in killing people.
He tilted his head and looked at Wen Yao through the dim light, saying softly, "Okay, see you tomorrow. I'll be waiting for you, Yao."
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