"So you still don't know who took them?"
Xiao Chizhan didn't want to say more and kissed her lips.
Ye Luan knew she wouldn't get any answers without giving him some incentive.
So, she directly embraced his head, kissed his lips, and actively seduced him.
Xiao Chizhan's eyes turned red, pressing her tightly.
When she was put down, her clothes were disheveled and loose. Her fair, full shoulders were covered with countless red marks.
Ye Luan quickly pulled her clothes together and asked, "Do you know who took them?"
Xiao Chizhan was not satisfied, cupped her waist, and lowered his head to nuzzle her again.
Her heart fluttered, and her legs felt so weak she could barely stand.
"Stop fooling around, be good."
He bit her ear and said hoarsely, "Luan Luan, let's go to sleep."
Ye Luan tilted her head slightly. "I'm asking you about important matters."
Xiao Chizhan said, "It was Xing Lin Shi's people."
Xing Lin Shi again?!
"Who exactly are these people?"
"Yelü Hong's elite guards."
Ye Luan narrowed her eyes slightly. "Yelü Hong? Isn't he dead?"
Xiao Chizhan bit her lip without a word.
She was anxious and pushed him. "If it's Northern Qi's Yelü Hong's people, are they planning to use Mu Rou to threaten Tantai Ye?"
"No, Yelü Hong is already dead. The only one who can command Xing Lin Shi is his son, Yelü Qi."
Ye Luan exclaimed, "Yelü Qi?!"
"What does he want Mu Rou for? Didn't Tantai Ye kill Yelü Hong to avenge his father and want to kill Mu Rou?"
That's not right. If they wanted to kill her, they would have done it back then with the Tantai clan's servants. Why go through all the trouble to abduct her?
It wasn't to kill her.
Then what does Yelü Qi want!
Xiao Chizhan caressed her, his voice hoarse. "Don't worry, Tantai Ye has already taken people to pursue them. No harm will come to them."
------
At the same time, in a secluded villa in Qizhou Prefecture.
Lan Mu Rou slowly woke up on the couch.
Only dim candlelight flickered in the room, illuminating the surroundings.
She sat up in surprise.
She wasn't dead?!
Where was this?!
Just as she was about to get off the couch, a voice suddenly came from the window not far away.
"She's awake!"
Yelü Qi turned his head and looked at her with a smile.
He was wearing a moon-white brocade robe, with a gentle expression. In the dim room, his dark eyes subtly flowed with a luster, revealing a dazzling brilliance.
Lan Mu Rou looked up and saw an unfamiliar man. Her heart trembled slightly, but her expression remained unchanged.
"Who are you?"
"Have you already forgotten me?"
Yelü Qi smiled faintly and shook his head. A subtle disappointment flashed in his eyes, and then he slowly walked over and sat on a round stool by the table.
"We met at Daliang Pass. I was lost."
Upon his reminder, Lan Mu Rou suddenly realized.
"It's you." She asked, "Did you save me?"
Yelü Qi took a sip of tea, and a smile with an unfathomable meaning flickered across his gentle face, hidden in the darkness.
"Yes, I took you out of the coffin and ordered people to cure you."
Lan Mu Rou lifted the quilt and looked at herself, unharmed. She breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank you, young master, for saving my life."
"You're welcome. Speaking of which, we met in Gusu as well."
"Hmm?"
Yelü Qi smiled and handed her a cup of tea.
"You might not remember."
"I was handling some matters in Gusu years ago and got injured. You saved me."
"Later, something happened at home, and I didn't have time to bid you farewell when I left. It was truly regrettable."
Hearing his words, a man's voice suddenly flashed in Lan Mu Rou's mind.
"Miss, I will surely repay your life-saving kindness someday."
She exclaimed in surprise, "Are you Xu Jing?"
Years ago, her parents had just passed away, and her inheritance was taken by her uncles. She worked hard day and night to earn money.
That day, she happened to return late and found a man lying unconscious in the mansion, appearing to have been wounded by a knife. Her compassion was stirred, and she brought him back to the house to treat him.
However, due to the gender difference, she rarely returned to the room with a man in it and often asked A'Yan to take care of him.
As a result, by the time he left, she had forgotten what he looked like.
Yelü Qi chuckled, "That was my pseudonym. I am Yelü Qi."
Lan Mu Rou looked at him closely. It had been too long, and she had almost forgotten.
"Later, when my family matters were settled, I went to Gusu to find you, but unfortunately, I never found you."
When he saw her at the Daliang border, he was momentarily stunned.
He never expected that the young girl from that year would have followed Tantai Ye, his nemesis!
Hearing his words, Lan Mu Rou came back to her senses and pulled at the corner of her mouth.
"I left Gusu later."
Not long after, she met Tantai Ye and was brought back to the capital by him.
Since then, she had followed him and never returned to Gusu.
Listening to her voice, Yelü Qi gently sipped his tea, subtly observing her from the corner of his eye.
She was wearing a white dress, her delicate body wrapped in it. Her long, black hair cascaded down her waist, making her skin appear fair.
Her face was exquisite and fair, with willow-leaf eyebrows, a delicate nose, and bright, limpid eyes full of gentleness. When her gaze was lowered, she appeared exceptionally demure.
He gently placed down the teacup and looked at her with a warm smile. "I heard about your situation. That person is really not a suitable match. Do you still want to go back?"
Upon hearing this, a sarcastic smile flashed in Lan Mu Rou's lowered eyes.
She shook her head and moved her lips, "I'm not going back."
After all, she had already been buried, and Tantai Ye thought she was dead. It was best if they never saw each other again.
"Right, where are we now?"
"Qizhou Prefecture," Yelü Qi continued, "You are weak and need to rest well. How about staying here to recuperate for a while?"
Lan Mu Rou's heart tightened, and she asked cautiously, "I feel fine. I'll leave tomorrow and won't bother you."
Yelü Qi frowned and chuckled lightly. "Qizhou Prefecture is surrounded by soldiers, and the searches are very strict. If you go alone, you'll be taken back."
"Huh?"
What did he mean?
"Tantai Ye is looking for your whereabouts."
Hearing this, Lan Mu Rou's hands gripping the bedsheet turned slightly pale. "He knows I'm not dead."
Yelü Qi saw her dazed expression, gave an order outside, and then said to her gently, "Don't be afraid. If you want to leave Daliang, I can take you."
Leave Daliang!
Lan Mu Rou thought of A'Yan, who was far away in Saibei, and a glimmer of light flashed in her eyes. Could she go see A'Yan?
"I've heard about Mu Yan's matters too. If you want to go to Saibei, I can send you."
Hearing his words, Lan Mu Rou immediately raised her soft eyes.
"Can I?"
She had dreamed of seeing A'Yan.
Yelü Qi chuckled. "It just so happens that I have to go to Saibei myself, so it'll be on the way."
As soon as he finished speaking, before Lan Mu Rou could say anything, a maid brought in food from outside.
"You haven't eaten for so long, you must be hungry. Come and eat something."
His voice was soft, and he looked at her with a warm smile.
Lan Mu Rou's tense and defensive heart relaxed a little, and she slowly got off the couch.
"Thank you."
Yelü Qi sat opposite her with a smile. "You are my savior, you don't need to be so polite with me."