It was still dark.
Almost as soon as Chi Yan stood up, Shen Tangning opened her eyes and looked at him with a faint expression as if he was about to sneak away.
He stood up quietly, and when he looked up, he met her staring gaze. He was taken aback for a moment, then forced an awkward smile: "I thought I'd call you later."
Last night before going to bed, Shen Tangning repeatedly told him to wake her up when he left, as she wanted to see him off.
It was so cold, he felt it was unnecessary. He thought it would be better to let her sleep in bed a little longer. Little did he expect that he would be discovered as soon as she got up.
Shen Tangning gave a soft hum, not exposing his little scheme, and got up to get dressed.
Chi Yan had already packed his bags last night. He was going to suppress bandits, so it wasn't appropriate for him to bring too much stuff. He only brought some simple changes of clothes.
Shen Tangning picked and chose, but still felt it wasn't enough. Perhaps it was because the weather was too cold, and a chill filled the air, which made her feel melancholy and a strong sense of reluctance.
This is unprecedented.
She looked up at Chi Yan, who was dressed neatly and washing up. He was going on a long trip, and instead of wearing his red official robe, he was dressed in a black outfit. He was upright with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, like a sword that had not yet been drawn.
His hair was tied high in a ponytail with a ribbon, with only a small section hanging down the back of his neck. The candlelight dimly illuminated the outline of his profile, casting faint shadows on his lowered eyelashes, like undulating mountain peaks.
Chi Yan pressed the half-damp handkerchief to his face, instantly becoming more awake. Someone hugged his waist from behind, and he paused, putting the handkerchief down as if afraid of disturbing her. He turned his head and said softly:
"What's wrong?"
Shen Tangning didn't speak, pressing her face against his cold fabric. Her eyelashes trembled. She had so much to say, but she couldn't bring herself to say it. She had never been good at expressing her feelings.
Chi Yan grabbed her wrist and turned himself around, lifting her chin to examine her closely. Her eyelashes were lowered, her lips were slightly pursed, and she looked sullen.
After a long pause, he chuckled, his tone teasing: "So you're reluctant to part with me?"
Just when he thought she wouldn't respond, he heard her softly hum in response.
Shen Tangning lifted her eyelids to look at him, her eyes clear, and repeated firmly, "I can't bear to part with you."
Chi Yan was slightly taken aback, then pulled her into his arms with even greater force, sighing in a low voice, "I can't bear to part with her either."
Judging by the time, she nudged him to remind him, "Don't be late."
...
The carriage arrived at the city gate, where a massive army was lined up, ready to depart. Emperor Chongde had only given Chi Yan a few thousand men, and the number of the bandits was unlikely to exceed ten thousand.
As dawn broke, the sky was a deep blue, and the biting wind felt like it was covered with a thin layer of frost, making one's hands and feet stiff.
Chi Yan stopped Shen Tangning from getting off the carriage. She leaned out of the window, looking up at him, and patiently reminded him, "Take care of yourself."
"Don't get hurt, I'll be angry."
The last sentence is...
"Waiting for you to come back."
Watching her red lips move, Chi Yan's heart burned with passion. He suddenly lowered his head, cupped her face, and placed a kiss on her lips.
The kiss was light and fleeting. Before she could feel embarrassed or angry, he had already left. Shen Tangning looked up and saw his departing figure on horseback, like a long stroke of ink on rice paper.
The city gates swung open, and the thunderous sound of horses' hooves filled the air as they galloped out of the gates.
A damp, white mist lingered in the air, obscuring everything after only a few dozen feet. Shen Tangning slowly blinked her sore eyes, her voice carried on the wind:
"Let's go back."
——
After Chi Yan left, life remained largely unchanged.
Without the human heater, Shen Tangning found it even harder to fall asleep at night. When she woke up, her pillow was ice cold, making it difficult to fall back asleep.
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