They were in charge of being beautiful, and she was in charge of taking the hits.

Chapter 345 Fairness Without Outsiders

It is said that only two people who truly love each other will have their heartbeats in sync. She was just listening to the heartbeats and staring blankly. Then, she looked up unintentionally and found that Chu Qiu's eyes were filled with tears.

He didn't know why, but his eyes felt sore and tears welled up. Wu Ziyan gently brushed his cheek, and after he closed his eyes and opened them again, he returned to normal.

"Your Highness, it's time to get up."

"Could you help me get dressed?"

"it is good."

Chu Qiu said that although his hair wasn't combed very well, his clothes were quite comfortable, with so many layers of ties, but he still managed to put them on properly.

Wu Ziyan felt like she was a complete waste. If she needed someone by her side, she would have to wear simple clothes.

The footsteps outside grew closer, and the two of them were already dressed. Chu Qiu's gaze fell on Wu Ziyan's neck, where there was a red mark, perhaps left accidentally last night.

Afraid that others would know about his madness, he quietly put a scarf around Wu Ziyan's neck, and others thought he was afraid that he would get cold.

"Wouldn't it be awkward if they weren't up yet, and we were knocking on their door now?"

"Let's knock on the door and wake them up quickly. We have something to discuss today, and after we finish, they will be heading back to the capital."

"Are you still entangled in your sweet, intimate moments, just like you and me?" Qi Zexuan whispered in Chu Yu's ear.

Chu Yu blushed deeply. He always said such things without considering the occasion, but fortunately he spoke softly, and only she could hear him.

Just as they were about to knock, Chu Qiu opened the door from the inside. The two of them looked perfectly normal, as if they had already tidied up.

Chu Yu raised an eyebrow, watching Chu Qiu's malicious smile. While Wu Ziyan and Chu Feng were discussing something, Chu Yu hooked her arm around Chu Qiu's and whispered in his ear, "How was it? My little brother, last night you and His Highness must have..."

"Third sister, nothing happened between me and His Highness."

"What's wrong with you, my brother! Such a great opportunity, such a romantic setting, and you don't know how to seize it?"

“I am different from you, Third Sister. His Highness and I are not yet at that stage.”

"You're Situ Hongyu's son, what makes you unworthy of her? Did she tell you that? I'm going to confront her and give her a piece of my mind. I was blind to have chosen the wrong person!"

"No, Third Sister, His Highness is very kind to me, it's just that I can't get over that hurdle."

"Oh, could it be that you don't know how...? Should we ask your third brother-in-law to teach you? He knows how!"

"No, thank you, Third Sister."

Meanwhile, Chu Feng looked at Wu Ziyan's energetic appearance, and since she didn't seem to have stayed up late last night, he figured nothing must have happened.

"Did Your Highness rest well last night?"

"Alright, Sister Chu Feng, what brings you here today?"

"It's still about Beiyang. I hope Your Highness will go back and persuade His Majesty that sending the Second Prince to a place like Beiyang is really inappropriate."

It wasn't that I was worried about Wu Chengye suffering there, but rather that it was a strategically important border region, and I was afraid that Wu Chengye would cause trouble.

Moreover, they recently received news that the former prime minister is also expanding towards the border, and they are worried that something might happen.

"I will naturally report what you have told me to His Majesty when I get back. It's just that following the downward trend this year, I can't go home for the New Year. It must be very hard for me."

"It's not bitter. With the Fourth Prince's concern, they won't feel bitter no matter what. Besides, they even had hot pot with mutton last night, so consider it an early New Year."

"By the way, how are things between Your Highness and Chu Qiu?"

After finishing the serious business, I couldn't help but gossip a bit. Seeing the expectant look in her eyes, she replied, "We get along very well, very harmoniously."

"Oh, that's good. We don't have any contraceptives in the manor, so you..."

"No."

Although Chu Feng appeared calm on the surface, his heart was in turmoil. How could it be gone? Why did it not exist? He was ashamed of the meticulous arrangements she had made!

How could she possibly explain this to her mother, saying that they had only slept together in friendship last night? Suddenly, her gaze changed, and she looked at Wu Ziyan strangely, as if she wanted to ask her if she had some kind of mental illness that she couldn't get over.

"Your Highness, I have a question for you. Do you truly love men?"

"I have no interest in homosexuality."

"Oh, then I'm relieved." Could it be that Chu Qiu has some problem? But I can't ask him. Oh well, I'll just let things take their course. When the time comes, I'll just say they've already... you know...

They really only stayed here for half a day. Chu Yu and Qi Zexuan stayed here. Chu Yu originally belonged to Qiyang, and Qi Zexuan had just married her. He might have to go back to Xiaorong again for the New Year this year.

Now, apart from their protectors, only Chu Qiu and Wu Ziyan remain in the carriage on the road.

As the saying goes, Heaven wants to keep its guests. Before their carriage even left the city, snow began to fall heavily. Wu Ziyan huddled in her cloak, holding a hot water bottle, and leaned on Chu Qiu's shoulder.

The group stood on the city gate to see them off. Wu Ziyan didn't want to get off the carriage, but to show respect, he got off and waved to them, telling them to hurry back.

Once they were far away, Wu Ziyan pulled Chu Qiu back into the carriage. Her little hands were already red from the cold. She hadn't expected it to be so cold. According to the lunar calendar, it was only November. She naturally put her hands in Chu Qiu's arms.

Now Chu Qiu wasn't awkward at all, and openly took her hand and rubbed it: "Your Highness's hands are so small, so soft, and so cold. Don't move around anymore, I'll warm them for you."

"Chu Qiu, I've noticed that you've become much more talkative since you got the official certification."

"What do you mean?"

“You used to be so cold and indifferent to me, but you’re much better now.”

"That's because I didn't get my family's approval. Marriage is a major life event, and it's all about my parents' wishes. I didn't even have their orders, so how could I dare to overstep them!"

Wu Ziyan wrapped her arms around Chu Qiu's neck and put her legs across his lap; she was very clingy at the moment.

The snow outside was falling heavier and heavier. Wu Ziyan opened the curtains. Since the car was moving slowly anyway, she caught the snow in her hand and watched it slowly melt.

He thought she was going to say something philosophical or insightful, but when he turned around, he saw her eyes sparkling: "Chu Qiu, do you know? When I was little, I liked to tilt my head back and open my mouth to let the snow fall into my mouth, but it never melted before it reached my mouth."

Chu Qiu found it hard to imagine that scene. It might seem like she was doing something stupid when others did it, but the thought of her appearing in that scene was rather endearing.

Seeing the corners of his mouth turn up and his eyes crinkle with laughter, was he making fun of her? He was telling her about things that had happened in the past, things that didn't happen here, with a straight face.

"Don't laugh, haven't you ever done something as silly as that?"

"I'm not laughing at Your Highness, I just thought you looked kind of cute like this."

Others' flirting is inevitably a bit greasy, but his words, spoken earnestly and from the heart, sounded exceptionally pleasant.

"Don't think I'll forgive you just because you're saying these flattering things. Haven't you ever eaten snow? Aren't you curious?"

"This is not a pleasant memory for me." His face was somber, as if he were recalling some painful past event.

A spy entered the city and received intelligence that the enemy was in the mountains. They sent people to search the mountains, but it was snowing heavily. Dozens of soldiers got lost and froze to death in the mountains. Those who survived survived by eating snow for a few days, so it was not a pleasant food.

"Everyone's joys and sorrows are different, but today it's snowing, and you're with me. It will leave you with some happy memories, even if I'm no longer here."

He placed a finger between her lips, his brows furrowed tightly. How could she say such a thing? Heaven and earth, mountains and rivers, all have spirits. What if some deity heard this and it came true?

“Your Highness, I will not allow you to say such things. As long as I am here, Your Highness is here; whether I am gone or not, Your Highness is still here.”

"No, I was just sighing, and it's true." Wu Ziyan was also inexplicably saddened by the heavy snow, thinking that the people in the game were all living people, and she was just playing a game.

The journey was long. The snow lessened once they left Qiyang, but the roads were still very muddy, making it very difficult to travel.

Wu Ziyan didn't have to exert much effort in the carriage. She was dozing off in Chu Qiu's arms, holding a hot water bottle, when she was suddenly awakened by the neighing of a horse.

There are rocks blocking the way ahead. It might take some time to move them, and taking a detour would be very dangerous. This would delay us for another day.

Chu Qiu and the others found an inn to rest. Wu Ziyan, wrapped in a fur cloak, watched the rain and snow fall from the sky and disappear without a trace.

She stood under the eaves, her breath steaming in the air, and heard what sounded like strange bird calls from the sky. She recognized them; they were the messenger birds of their Holy Martial Division.

She raised her hand and whistled, and a bird landed on her arm. A letter tube was hanging on her leg. She glanced at Chu Qiu, and he took the letter tube down.

The first sentence of the letter reads "Everyone's longing," followed by the encrypted messages between Xiaoyun and him.

After reading it, she frowned deeply. The remaining forces of Sima Zongcheng had actually followed him to Beiyang!

That's not the place Wu Chengye was exiled to. If those two were to conspire like pigs and dogs, wouldn't the border be in grave danger?

Already feeling somewhat sad, Chu Qiu noticed her unusual expression and glanced at the letter. It contained only ordinary greetings, offering no clue as to why she was acting this way, her brows furrowed.

Wu Ziyan thought that Chu Qiu was no stranger now, so he told him the encryption symbols and asked him to read the letter in this way. After reading it, he also frowned!

“Sima Zongcheng is really audacious! I think I must write to my mother about this and take precautions before it happens.”

"But we can't do anything underhanded, after all, the Empress let her go. I don't know what my mother is thinking. Is it really because of her guilt towards her and my father back then? If so, then the ruler's vision is too narrow!"

Chu Qiu covered her mouth again. How could she say such things in public? If someone heard her, all her efforts would be in vain!

"Don't worry, now that we're already within the territory of the Martial Dynasty, there are actually people from the Holy Martial Division secretly protecting us."

"Aren't you afraid they'll go back and tell the person above you exactly what you said?"

"Unless they want to die!"

Chu Qiu listened to her words calmly and ruthlessly. Sometimes he really couldn't understand how many faces she had: innocent and carefree, mature and charming, cunning and calculating...

They stood under the eaves for a while, lost in thought, before someone came to tell them that the road had been cleared and they didn't need to spend the night there; they could continue on their way.

Wu Ziyan thought that staying or leaving was fine, since she would have to go back sooner or later anyway. As long as she wouldn't encounter any more ambushes on the road, it would be fine.

After walking for a long time, they returned to the place where they had pitched their tents. There was now a thin layer of snow there, and the lakeside was covered with ice crystals near the edge. It seemed like only a short time had passed, but the weather had changed so quickly.

The two sat around the campfire, gazing at the faint stars in the sky. Wu Ziyan turned to ask, "Chu Qiu, how would you like me to address you when we get back? Or rather, how would you like me to introduce you to everyone?"

Chu Qiu gently took her hand in his, feeling that even the fire wasn't warm enough, and rubbed his hands together for her: "When we go back, I will still be the same as always. I am your personal guard, I am your subject."

"But that's so unfair to you."

He pointed to Wu Ziyan's chest: "I don't want outsiders' fairness, I just want you to have me here. I've thought a lot about this journey, and I can't be so selfish."

Wu Ziyan pulled her hand away and cupped his face in her hands: "One day I will make you legitimate and free from the constraints of being a man. You will be able to roam freely between heaven and earth. Then we will ride the Snow Mountain and enjoy the magnificent scenery!"

"Chu Qiu will always stand by Your Highness's side."

Two days later, they were almost at the capital. It was close to the Lantern Festival, and lanterns had been hung along the outer perimeter, making it look very lively.

Sure enough, the closer they got to the capital, the more bustling and lively the atmosphere became. Chu Qiu wasn't particularly interested, because it was all the same no matter where they were.

Wu Ziyan seemed to smell the familiar air and stretched his limbs in the carriage. The sky in the capital was indeed not so cold. Although there was snow on the mountains, it only rained a little in the prefectures and counties.

Wu Ziyan pulled Chu Qiu down from the carriage. Since they were already in familiar territory, there was no need to be tense. They could relax for a day and look around. This was the most relaxing time. If they didn't have fun now, a whole bunch of things would be waiting for them when they got back.

Chu Qiu sat in the back, acting as a machine to fetch things. He had already bought a lot when he returned from Xiao Rong's place, and now that he was back in the prefecture and county, he still needed to buy more.

"There's a sugar figurine maker up ahead of Chu Qiu. Shall we go buy a couple?"

"it is good"

Standing in front of the sugar figurine stall, I was impressed by the craftsmanship of the older generation. They could not only carve dragons and phoenixes, but also draw portraits, which were simply the outlines of people.

Wu Ziyan looked on with great interest, gave him a few copper coins, and smiled, "Boss, please paint portraits of me and my husband."

"Okay." After taking the money, she looked up again and saw a handsome young man and a beautiful... young woman.

But the customer is always right. While wondering how such a handsome young man could be with her, she finished drawing the sugar figurines and handed them to the two of them.