The people of Daliang remained in the Southern Border, causing unease among the Western Regions. News then spread, from an unknown source, that Daliang's Zhenxi Great General had fallen into the Forgetful River, his fate unknown.
Upon hearing this, the Nine Provinces erupted, and the kings of the Western Regions rejoiced. With Tantai Ye dead, the entire Western Regions would be free from the ravages of war.
Ever since Tantai Ye ascended the throne and led his armies, he had set his sights on their Western Region nations. He had constantly led campaigns, consolidated the influence of Turkic forces in Daliang, established protectorates, pacified western rebellions, and controlled many of the Western Region nations.
Northern Qi also frequently sought alliances with the Western Regions. Small countries in the eastern regions yearned for Northern Qi and did not wish to be tributaries of Daliang. However, those who refused were constantly ravaged by war and in a state of unrest.
Now, with his death, no one would conquer the Western Regions again, and there would be no need to annually pay Daliang such vast amounts of gold, silver, treasures, cattle, sheep, horses, and silks as tribute.
As the Western Regions grew in strength, they could launch offensives southward.
Consequently, many strangely dressed individuals emerged in the Southern Border, all of them there to gather information.
Daliang’s people were also still searching for Tantai Ye’s whereabouts, but after scouring the entire Forgetful River, they could not find the remains of either of them.
Now, Liu Rongruo had personally come to the Southern Border. With no one in the Daliang court, they had no time to delay here any longer. Moreover, the bridal escort from the Southern Border continued to delay them.
But without any trace of the two, Xiao Chizhan was unwilling to leave.
“You take the people of the Southern Border back to the capital first, I will stay here to continue searching.”
In the warm pavilion, Liu Rongruo was drinking tea. Upon hearing his words, his expression remained calm.
“I will go with you.”
Xiao Chizhan was looking at the war reports submitted from various regions and said, “Continue to dispatch more personnel.”
Liu Rongruo hummed in response and left without saying another word.
As soon as he left, Ye Luan entered with the food.
Her face was still very pale, and there was a large hole in her stomach. Moving even slightly would tug at the wound inside, with bloodstains soaking through the bandages.
Seeing her come out, Xiao Chizhan immediately got up, took the food, and sat down, embracing her by the waist.
“Why are you running around instead of resting in bed? Are you cold?”
Ye Luan said seriously, “If I don’t get up and walk around, I’ll get moldy.”
Her wound needed to be changed daily, and Xiao Chizhan personally handled it, so he naturally knew how she was recovering.
He said nothing, pulled her to the water basin to wash her hands, and asked, “You haven’t taken your medicine again?”
“I took it.”
Xiao Chizhan wiped his hands, held her, and sat her on a chair, pinching her cheek.
“Little liar.”
Ye Luan’s face flushed, and she mumbled softly, “That medicine is too bitter.”
Xiao Chizhan glanced at her and directly ordered someone to bring the medicine.
“Any news about them?”
“No.”
Ye Luan frowned, sighed, and said nothing.
Xiao Chizhan looked at her increasingly thin face, served her food, and said, “Eat more.”
Ye Luan knew that if she didn’t eat, she would be forced to, so she ate obediently.
After eating and taking her medicine, she touched her stomach and planned to go for a walk.
“I’ll accompany you.”
“No need, I’ll just wander outside for a bit and then come back. You get busy with your work.”
Xiao Chizhan refused, tied her cloak for her, embraced her by the waist, and walked outside.
“You’re still injured.”
Ye Luan was speechless.
The heavy snow fell fiercely, covering the entire post station in white.
In the corridor, Ye Luan, pulled along by his hand, looked at the snowy landscape outside and said.
“Daliang has never had such heavy snow.”
Xiao Chizhan said, “If you like snow, I can have people create a heavy snowfall in Shangjing, with snow crystals everywhere. It can snow for as many days as you wish.”
Ye Luan shot him a look, “Do you have money and nowhere to spend it?”
Xiao Chizhan was unconcerned, pulled her closer, held her in his arms, and lowered his head to kiss her.
“We’re outside, restrain yourself.”
Ye Luan quickly glanced around and pushed him away in a panic.
Xiao Chizhan ignored her, lowered his head again, and kissed her lips.
“Luan Luan—”
He softly called her name, making her heart tremble.
“Don’t leave me again in the future.”
Ye Luan knew he was childish and very possessive. He was likely still upset about her staying by Xie Beihan’s side at that time. When she returned, she was injured, so he had suppressed it. Now, seeing that her injuries had improved, he could no longer hold back.
She couldn’t help but smile internally. Looking up at him, she said, “I know, it was nothing with him, you stingy ghost.”
“In any case, you’re not allowed to look at him again.”
He held her tightly, but perhaps due to her wound, he didn’t squeeze as hard as usual.
Ye Luan wrapped her arms around his neck and said seriously, “I’ll only look at you.”
Xiao Chizhan felt relieved. He lowered his head and whispered in her ear.
“Shall we try that tonight when we get back?”
Ye Luan instantly realized what he was talking about, her spine suddenly trembling. She glared at him, “Your mind is full of filth.”
Xiao Chizhan felt no shame and persisted.
As they were entangled, not far away, Chi You slowly shuffled towards them, dressed in a goose-yellow shirt without a cloak, her nose tip red from the cold.
Ye Luan glanced over and saw her, immediately pushing Xiao Chizhan.
“Someone’s coming.”
Xiao Chizhan turned his head, and seeing that it was Chi You, his expression cooled.
Ye Luan tidied her clothes and looked up to see the young girl with her eyes downcast. As she passed them, she seemed to notice them, appearing startled and quickly dodging away.
Her eyes were red and slightly swollen, looking as though she had been crying.
Ye Luan looked at her curiously, wondering why she seemed different from the person she saw at the sacred land that day.
Chi You timidly raised her eyes. Seeing that Ye Luan’s eyes seemed to hold no malice, and in her eagerness, she spoke.
“Are you from around here?”
Ye Luan pointed to herself. Seeing her nod eagerly, she said, “Yes.”
“Have you seen my brother? His name is Liu Rongruo, and I can’t find him.”
They all said she had made a mistake, and her brother was going to send her to the palace.
She had no relatives, no friends, only her brother, but he no longer wanted her.
“Liu Rongruo?”
Ye Luan curiously glanced at Xiao Chizhan. Seeing him avert his gaze, she quietly pinched him, “Where is he?”
Xiao Chizhan coughed lightly, “In the forbidden area. He’ll be back soon.”
“Your brother is looking for someone outside and will be back later. You should go inside and wait.”
Dressed so lightly, her face was already red from the cold.
Upon hearing this, Chi You’s eyes curved into a smile. She thanked Ye Luan and then trotted back.
“Alright, let’s go.”
As Ye Luan was led away by Xiao Chizhan, she looked back at the slender figure, feeling a strange sense of pity.
She glanced at Xiao Chizhan and asked, “Isn’t she the Saintess of the Southern Border? Why is she so well-behaved? And why does she call Liu Rongruo ‘brother’?”
It was so strange. That day, she had clearly called out to Xie Beihan.
Xiao Chizhan was reluctant to say, but knowing her curiosity, he vaguely explained, “She has a kind of Gu in her body. During the day, she’s like this. When she went to Shangjing, she accidentally trespassed into the Prime Minister’s mansion and mistook Liu Rongruo for her brother.”
“Is that so? Then, in this state, if she enters the palace, won’t she be bullied to death by those people in the palace?”