Chapter 60 I Want to Be with You He panted slightly and licked the tip of his tongue...
After confirming Li Yulan's condition and subsequent matters, Lou Wanqiao and Wen Xuechi walked out of the room side by side. The setting sun lengthened their shadows, blending them together.
"What are your plans next?" Wen Xuechi's eyes fell on her profile, and the fingers under his sleeves unconsciously hooked her little finger again and gently pulled it.
Lou Wanqiao took a deep breath, the lingering scent of flowers and medicine mingling in the air. "We must formulate a detailed strategy within three days. If we want to take down the Jin Kingdom in the shortest possible time, we need both internal and external support. We need troops, money, supplies, intelligence, and... the opportunity to stir up trouble within the Jin Palace. None of these can be lacking."
She looked at Wen Xuechi, her eyes sharp and bright: "If this is accomplished, Dali will be free from internal and external troubles for at least thirty years."
Lou Wanqiao's eyes seemed filled with sunlight, so resolute and confident. Wen Xuechi stared at her without blinking, then suddenly smiled. "Aqiao is amazing. I will do my best to help us achieve our goal and protect Dali from now on."
The spring breeze blew through the courtyard, picked up a few petals of fallen flowers, swept over the layered eaves, and flew into the darkening sky.
As night fell, Lou Wanqiao was having dinner with Wen Xuechi in the mansion when he turned around and saw Chao appear at the door.
"The young man has woken up," she whispered. "He refuses to take the medicine and insists on seeing you immediately, alone."
Chao deliberately emphasized those two words, speaking in a cautious tone.
Wen Xuechi's expression darkened instantly. His fingertips tapped the tabletop lightly, making a barely audible sound. He said nothing, but the air around him seemed to suddenly grow colder.
Lou Wanqiao sensed the displeasure of the person beside her. Under the table, she gently nudged his knee, signaling him to calm down. She looked at Chao, her expression unchanged. "I understand. You've had a hard day. Go down and rest."
"It's not hard for me. If you have any instructions, please call me at any time." Chao Yingsheng retreated.
The candlelight flickered in the dining room, and the food on the table was already cold. Wen Xuechi's voice was clearly filled with displeasure and sharpness when he spoke: "Meeting you alone? ...Who does he think he is? Qiao, why bother with his undue advances?"
Lou Wanqiao wiped his mouth, put down his handkerchief, and stood up. "He's testing me, seeking some kind of bottom line that only I can give. This man is a man of deep thoughts, unpredictable, and his actions are even more unpredictable. I'm going to see what he's up to."
She looked at Wen Xuechi and reached out to touch his head. "Don't worry, Yan Gui. I'm a very powerful person. Now that I'm on guard against him, he can't hurt me. If he doesn't want to take the medicine, it will be more troublesome. I'll go and take a look. Maybe I can get some useful information."
Wen Xuechi's brow furrowed, clearly displeased, but he knew full well that Lou Wanqiao's judgment was usually correct. He took a deep breath, suppressed the jealousy and wariness surging in his heart, and stood up as well. "Okay... then I'll wait for you in the courtyard... outside the courtyard. If you need anything, just give me a shout and I'll be right there."
Lou Wanqiao's eyebrows curved, and he patted the embroidered spring sword at his waist: "Don't worry."
…
Outside Li Yulan's courtyard, the guards stood silently. Before they could even get close, they heard a suppressed cough and the sound of porcelain clashing and breaking. "...Take it away. I said, I won't do anything until I see her."
His voice was hoarse, but it held a strange, stubborn calm, not completely out-of-control madness.
Lou Wanqiao and Wen Xuechi exchanged a glance. Wen Xuechi paused outside the courtyard, leaning against a column with his arms folded. His eyes, sharp as a hawk's, stared at the door, a chilling aura about him. Lou Wanqiao patted his shoulder, walked to the door, sighed softly, and when he raised his head again, his expression cold and indifferent, he slowly pushed the door open.
The room was thick with the scent of medicine. Li Yulan sat leaning against the headboard, his face as pale as paper, his lips pale, his dark hair disheveled, making him appear even more fragile, like delicate porcelain that would shatter at the slightest touch. The medicine had spilled and was steaming on the floor. The maidservant beside him, seeing him in this state, felt helpless. She met Lou Wanqiao's gaze, nodded slightly, cleaned up the floor, and went back to brewing the medicine.
When Li Yulan saw Lou Wanqiao come in, his eyes, which had been somewhat dazed, suddenly lit up, like a beam of light pouring into a deep pool. His gaze locked onto her, as if she were the only one left in the world.
"Ah...Azhao, you're here." He said softly, with a hint of barely perceptible grievance and satisfaction in his tone, "I knew you would come."
His eyes swept across her eyebrows almost greedily.
"Child's play." Lou Wanqiao said straight to the point, standing a few steps away from the bed. "I don't need to explain your physical condition. Why are you still refusing to take medicine?"
Li Yulan coughed softly a few times, his eyes reddening slightly. "It's very bitter... And, if it weren't for this method, how could I have seen you so soon?" He said this almost coquettishly, but with a hint of paranoid seriousness. He paused, looking at her with a dark gaze. "Azhao, only by seeing you, by feeling your presence, can I be sure... sometimes the world is real."
He cleverly showed her his vulnerability and dependence, but cleverly wrapped it with a layer of temptation and possessiveness.
"Azhao," he narrowed his eyes and leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice to ensure that only she could hear, "our covenant... is real, right? You will help me... only me, right?"
He spoke each word very lightly, but with a unique persistence.
Lou Wanqiao didn't miss the shrewdness and paranoia that flashed across his eyes. Her expression remained unchanged. "I never make meaningless promises. The authenticity of a covenant depends on your worth and your adherence to it. For example, right now, taking your medicine on time and saving your life is all I need."
After hearing this, Li Yulan was not disappointed. Instead, he laughed softly. His laughter was hoarse but carried an indescribable charm: "Okay...you're right." He finally reached out and took the freshly boiled medicine, but his eyes were still glued to Lou Wanqiao's face. Then he tilted his head back and drank the bitter medicine in one gulp without frowning.
After drinking it, he panted slightly, licked the remaining medicine stains on the corners of his lips with the tip of his tongue, and looked at her with blurred and focused eyes.
Lou Wanqiao stood still, her assessment of him deepening. This man was extremely adept at utilizing his strengths, including his frailty and beauty. He was meticulous and purposeful.
"Why do you have to see me?" Lou Wanqiao went straight to the point.
Li Yulan put down the medicine bowl and leaned back slightly, as if he had exhausted all his strength. "Of course, I want to discuss the plan with you. Ah Zhao seems to be a decisive person, and I don't want to hold you back."
He raised his eyes, his eyes sparkling with tears: "Azhao, as long as you tell me, I am willing to listen to you."
Although his demeanor and tone made Lou Wanqiao feel strange, his willingness to obey was the best he could do. As long as the chess piece was useful, everything else was secondary.
"Three days later, when you feel better, we'll set off for the Jin Kingdom. I'll tell you the details then. Is there anything you need to tell me about the Jin Kingdom in advance?"
"Go... to the Jin Kingdom." His eyes darkened, only to be odd for a moment before quickly returning to normal. "Okay. The Jin Kingdom's Crown Prince might be worthy of your attention. As the future heir apparent, he's ruthless and merciless, making him a formidable opponent. If you want to defeat the Jin Kingdom, you must first seize its weak spot. You can leave this to me, but I have a request."
"explain."
His words coiled around her like a venomous snake, cold and sticky. He stared intently into Lou Wanqiao's eyes as he spoke, "I want to be with you."
There was confusion in her eyes, and the next second she heard him continue: "If I go to the Kingdom of Jin, I don't want to go alone, I want to be with you. You are responsible for my safety, I don't want to die in a place like that."
Oh...so that's what you mean.
Lou Wanqiao nodded. "No problem. Since we've already reached a cooperative relationship, I will protect your safety, even for the sake of Dali's future. And... Your Highness, you're not as fragile as you appear."
Without waiting for Li Yulan to speak, she nodded and said, "It's getting late. You just drank the medicine. You should have a good rest. I won't disturb you for now."
"Are you concerned about me?" Li Yulan's eyes lit up. "Okay, I'll rest now."
Lou Wanqiao walked to the door silently. Just as he placed his palm on the doorknob, he heard a soft call from behind him: "...Azhao."
She turned and looked.
Li Yulan sat on the bed, watching him. Her dark hair cascaded down her shoulders like silk. Moonlight filtered through the cracks in the window, catching his brows. The other side of his face was lost in darkness. Those eyes, like a lake of spring water, sparkling and captivating, captivating the very sight of them.
Lou Wanqiao pursed his lips, turned around, opened the door, left, and closed it in one go.
Seeing Lou Wanqiao walk out, Wen Xuechi, who was outside the courtyard, immediately stood up straight, his anxious eyes fixed on her face, scanning it carefully. Although he didn't know what they had said in the room, Wen Xuechi felt his eyelids twitching inexplicably, and he had a bad feeling.
Lou Wanqiao met his gaze, shook her head slightly, and gestured for them to go back and talk.
The two walked side by side in the silent corridor. Only when they were far away from the courtyard did Wen Xuechi finally speak, his tone tense, "What did he say to you?"
He really couldn't help but mind the way the man looked at Lou Wanqiao, and his obvious attempt to monopolize her attention.
Lou Wanqiao paused for a moment and said, "I told him about the subsequent arrangements, and he accepted them. He wants to follow us."
Wen Xuechi's brows did not relax: "This person has evil intentions, and to you..." He pursed his lips, and the unfinished words were obvious.
"I know." Lou Wanqiao's tone was calm, but a cold glint flashed in her eyes. "He is very dangerous and very smart. But because of this, he is the best sword. As long as we hold the handle tightly and point it in the right direction, he can play an unexpected role." She looked at Wen Xuechi, "Go investigate the Crown Prince of Jin. This is a clue provided by Li Yulan."
Wen Xuechi took a deep breath, suppressed his emotions, and nodded seriously: "I understand. Qiao, you must be careful about him." "Don't worry." Lou Wanqiao nodded, "I know what to do."
Under the moonlight, the two figures slowly walked away. In the brightly lit courtyard behind them, Li Yulan leaned against the window, gazing through the window paper in the direction where Lou Wanqiao's blurry figure disappeared, a sickly smile slowly appearing on his pale face.
"Azhao, Azhao...you can't run away..." He whispered to himself, his fingertips lightly stroking the cold window frame, "Those eyes...should only be looking at me."
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