"The forces in Saibei implement a system of military-civilian separation, not subject to Tantai Ye's control. They are directly subordinate to the frontier. The death of a person is commonplace, isn't it?"
The military power of the border was in Xiao Chi Zhan's hands, but what of it?
How far was Saibei from the imperial court?
Lan Muyan had gone to Saibei, out of his sight, which was better than being in his own army right now.
"Moreover, you must make him afraid, make him clearly aware that if he dares to touch your brother, even if it means death, you will fight him to the death. He will have reservations before taking action."
"Without your brother being threatened by him, what else do you have to fear?"
Listening to Ye Luo's words, Lan Murou suddenly felt a rebellious spirit rise within her.
Yes.
She had always been obedient to him, and in the end, all she received were threats.
She might as well try a different approach, find a way to achieve her own goals. Besides, he wouldn't kill her now anyway.
"A'Luo, I--"
Before he could finish speaking, the door was suddenly pushed open from the outside.
Lan Murou's body stiffened subconsciously, and turning around, she saw a man in dark robes walking in against the light.
"Ye Luo?!"
Seeing Ye Luo in the room, Tantai Ye's narrow phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, sweeping over the two of them with a scrutinizing gaze.
Ye Luo had said a lot, her throat dry. She picked up the teacup and took a few more sips before saying, "Since the General is back, I'll take my leave."
"Alright, A'Luo, take your time on the way."
After Ye Luo left, Tantai Ye's scrutinizing gaze fixed on Lan Murou, his eyes as if wanting to skin her alive, to peel her inside and out, from top to bottom.
Lan Murou calmed herself, ignored him, and picked up the handkerchief on the low table, fiddling with it.
Seeing her like that, Tantai Ye hooked his lips.
This Ye Luo had taught her a lot; even a lamb had its temper now.
"Rou'er, come here."
Lan Murou sat on the soft couch, embroidering handkerchief. "General, speak your mind. I need to finish this stitch first."
Tantai Ye raised an eyebrow and, with good temper, sat down beside her, lounging lazily.
"You embroider endlessly every day. Don't your eyes get tired?"
As the words fell, Lan Murou's hand paused. A flicker of an unreadable expression crossed her gentle eyes, and she said, "If it's embroidered beautifully, it can be sold to the embroidery shop later, providing another channel for income."
"Income?" Tantai Ye scoffed. "I support you, why do you need to earn money?"
Lan Murou said, "I am merely a plaything by the General's side. If one day I am cast aside, I can't starve to death on the streets, can I?"
Hearing her words, a flash of displeasure crossed Tantai Ye's narrow eyes. He reached out and hugged her waist, forcibly locking her in his embrace.
"What are you saying?"
"It means what it says, don't you understand, General?"
Her eyes were clear and bright, and her usually gentle face flickered with a hint of grievance, causing his heart to ache.
Tantai Ye pecked her lips lightly. "What did Ye Luo say to you?"
"A'Luo just pities me and advised me to earn some money to support myself, lest the General no longer wants me, and my brother and I starve to death on the streets."
"Heh, starve to death on the streets?" Tantai Ye stroked her dark hair. "I'll support you for a lifetime, you won't starve."
Lan Murou suddenly let out a laugh. "That's true, for the General, keeping a plaything doesn't cost much."
"Plaything? Plaything? When did I ever treat you as a plaything?"
He unhappily gripped her chin, forcing her to look at him.
Lan Murou stared back at him. "Isn't it? You made me wear chains, drink love potions, forced me to obey, not to resist you, and threatened me with my brother."
"Who told you you were always thinking of running away."
So it was all her fault?
Lan Murou rolled her eyes internally. Her expression was cold, and she wanted to push him away and get up.
"It's useless talking to you anyway, let me go."
The usually obedient little lamb started to defy him, which brought Tantai Ye a bit of novelty.
He hugged her tighter, his voice gentle, "Alright, as long as you obediently stay by my side, I can satisfy whatever you want."
He then glanced at the needlework basket on the low table. "Stop embroidering those things. If you want money, just go to the treasury and take it."
"Then what about my brother?"
Tantai Ye raised an eyebrow, his expression becoming a little indifferent. "What do you want?"
Seeing his gaze, Lan Murou felt a little scared. She kept her expression calm, grabbed his collar, and said in a low voice with red eyes.
"Liangzhou has been breached. What if A'Yan is killed in battle?"
"He won't die. He's just going to earn military merits, to train. There are plenty of people to protect him."
Lan Murou said, "But your family hates me. What if they take advantage of the chaos to harm A'Yan?"
She remembered that the Tantai family had sent many assassins to kill her back then, and she was truly afraid.
Tantai Ye let out a soft scoff. "Liangzhou is all my people. They can't interfere."
After saying that, he looked at her with a suspicious gaze. Lan Murou's heart startled, and she didn't dare to mention it again, so she suppressed it.
"That's good then."
Slowly, she must not let him suspect her.
"Rou'er, you're thinking a lot today."
Otherwise, should she continue to be kept in a cage by you, to be a walking dead husk?
"I've thought about it before, but I didn't dare to tell you. I couldn't help it today."
Hearing this, Tantai Ye smiled and stroked her cheek. "Mm, that's good. Speak your mind from now on."
Having a little temper was good. Anyway, she would only be his for this lifetime, she couldn't run away.
"Kiss me."
Seeing her not moving, he directly gripped her waist and kissed her, the kiss deep and tight.
---
Meanwhile, after Ye Luo returned, she didn't see Xiao Chi Zhan all afternoon. By the time it got dark, he still hadn't returned.
She ate dinner, went to the alchemy room, and stayed there for a long time. Only when the moon was high did she come out.
After returning to the pavilion, she washed up and went to bed.
The cicadas chirped in May, and the cold wind at night was not so chilling, but Ye Luo's body was cold, so the heated dragon was always on.
In the middle of the night, she felt hot, so she opened the window and fell back asleep on the bed.
In the quiet, dark room, there was not a sound.
In the darkness, footsteps, so light they were almost inaudible, slowly approached the bed.
He reached out a hand with distinct joints and lifted the bed curtains. His figure moved like a phantom without making any sound, and he sat by the bedside.
Ye Luo, feeling too hot, unconsciously turned over.
The person watched her move, a strange smile on his lips.
He didn't do anything, just rested one hand on his face, quietly staring at the person on the bed, his eyes filled with a sickly, cold light.
Terrifying, sinister.
She felt as if she was being stared at by eyes that wanted to devour her.
Ye Luo's eyelids trembled slightly, and she let out a soft sound.
"Awake?"
Hearing the familiar voice in her sleep, a chill shot from the soles of her feet to the top of her head. With a loud noise, she sat up and pulled out a knife, pointing it at the intruder.
Those were a pair of indifferent, terrifying eyes, shallow and light.
Her expression was as if she had seen a ghost.
"You-- Are you crazy? How did you get in? Are you trying to scare me to death in the middle of the night?"