Hearing this, Xiao Chi Zhan stroked her hair and said, "I'll be right at the door. Let Xue Ren handle it; he'll be back soon. You need to eat something."
Her body was already prone to cold, and she had been up all night.
Seeing his persistence, Ye Luan nodded, pulled the quilt tighter, and lay back down, muttering, "Then hurry back."
"Alright."
His tone was drawn out, with a hint of a chuckle, sounding inexplicably doting.
After Xiao Chi Zhan came out, his gentle expression instantly turned cold.
His dark crimson eyes swept over the tragic scene on the river, a chilling air about him.
"My Lord, all the rebels from Northern Qi have been annihilated, and their heads were delivered to Li Chong An. However, the officials from the Jiangzhou Provincial Administration Bureau have been waiting for a long time and wish to request an audience with Your Lordship."
Upon hearing Long Tian, Xiao Chi Zhan simply said, "Make them wait."
"Xue Ren."
The person immediately stepped forward and bowed, "My Lord."
"Instruct your subordinates to prepare a pot of ginger tea, serve the meal, and simmer some nourishing soup or congee. Also, order someone to buy some Crispy Huang Du pastries from the city."
Xue Ren, "----"
"Did you hear me?"
"Yes."
Xiao Chi Zhan said, "Order someone to guard General's situation."
"Yes."
After giving these instructions, Xiao Chi Zhan turned to go back.
Long Tian hesitated for a moment before quickly saying, "My Lord, Xu An from the Provincial Administration Bureau has also arrived and has been waiting for a long time."
"Wait."
Long Tian, "----"
"Yes."
After Xiao Chi Zhan entered, he saw her sleeping on the bed, her eyes lightly closed. Her raven-black hair cascaded down, making her small face appear even more fair and delicate.
He slowly walked over and sat by the bed, looking down at her.
"How did you know I liked Crispy Huang Du?"
Suddenly, Ye Luan opened her eyes, her seductive crimson lips curving slightly, her bright and clear eyes possessing a touch of innocence.
Seeing that she was not asleep, Xiao Chi Zhan gently tapped her forehead.
"Little liar. I also know you love to eat oranges. Do you want one now?"
Ye Luan lazily narrowed her eyes, "Peel it for me."
Xiao Chi Zhan chuckled and leaned down to plant a kiss on her cheek.
"As long as you like it, I'll peel them for you a lifetime."
The two chatted in the room for a while, and then the meal and ginger tea were brought in.
Xiao Chi Zhan went out to bring everything in, and after washing his hands, he returned to find her still lingering on the bed.
He walked over and gently patted her back, "Get up and eat something first."
Ye Luan mumbled a few words, and before she could sit up, he had already pulled the quilt away, enveloping her in his large black robe.
"What are you doing?"
Xiao Chi Zhan scooped her up and looked down at her, "I'll feed you."
"----"
She was already this big, was this appropriate?
"No need, I can do it myself."
Xiao Chi Zhan ignored her, carried her directly to the dining table, and sat her on his lap.
Ye Luan's eyes curved into crescents as she saw a whole plate of peeled oranges. She reached out her slender, fair fingers and ate several.
"Eat less, it's cold."
He handed her a handkerchief to wipe her hands.
Ye Luan didn't dare to eat too many. Sitting on his lap, she wiped her hands and quietly drank her porridge.
Ever since she met him, he always liked to hold her while she ate. She had become accustomed to it and didn't feel uncomfortable.
Xiao Chi Zhan leaned back against the chair, looking up at her profile, occasionally picking out dishes for her.
His fingers were long and slender with well-defined knuckles. When he picked out dishes for her, he accidentally brushed against her, his touch cool.
Ye Luan said, "Aren't you eating?"
These were all bland dishes, why wasn't he eating them?
"I'm not hungry."
She turned her head and fed him a bite of a pastry, asking curiously, "Why don't you eat spicy food?"
Xiao Chi Zhan held her with one arm, his cool fingertips gently caressing her slender and soft waist. Seeing her curiosity, he tugged at the corner of his lips and said.
"When I was six, I was force-fed too much, and now I can't eat it."
Ye Luan froze, suddenly recalling how she had deliberately forced him to drink pepper wine when they were in Shangjing. Her face flushed with embarrassment. She reached out and held his hand, not speaking.
"----"
Xiao Chi Zhan chuckled, embraced her, "Already feeling distressed?"
Ye Luan didn't want to indulge his teasing. She wanted to ask about his past, but those bloody scars would be torn open again, and it would hurt him.
She remained silent, hugging him tightly.
Ever since he had stabbed himself in the heart, she had been having strange dreams at night, all about his childhood. That bone-chilling pain would always wake her up.
"Eat quickly, and then go sleep for a while. There are bloodshot eyes."
He gently rubbed her waist and urged her.
Ye Luan twisted her body and said, "You eat something too."
Xiao Chi Zhan said, "If you feed me, I'll eat."
"----"
Ye Luan glared at him but resigned herself to feeding him.
At that moment, Long Tian's voice came from outside the door.
"My Lord, Li Chong An has arrived."
Xiao Chi Zhan, holding Ye Luan, said indifferently, "Wait."
"----"
Long Tian outside the room looked blank and silently withdrew.
On the deck, a boat full of officials were standing. It had just rained, and the cold wind blew from all directions, chilling people to the bone.
They watched Long Tian arrive alone, and no one dared to speak.
The assassination of the Great General of Zhenxi by Northern Qi in Jiangzhou this time had shocked the imperial court. The officials of Jiangzhou would surely be severely punished, especially those in charge of maritime and river defense, who were in a state of panic.
Someone unconsciously glanced at the two bodies covered with white cloth not far away. These had been personally brought by the prefect, Li Chong An.
Who had died?
Everyone shivered in panic.
The wind on the river was truly cold.
Inside the room.
After the two finished eating, Ye Luan rested for a while, then went to wash up briefly. She was then compelled by Xiao Chi Zhan to go to sleep and lay down on the bed.
"Hold me while I sleep."
Xiao Chi Zhan chuckled and pinched her face, took off his outer clothes, got onto the bed, and embraced her.
Ye Luan nestled in his arms, closed her eyes, but kept tossing and turning, unable to calm her mind.
Xiao Chi Zhan lowered his head, looked at her expression, paused for a moment, then hugged her waist and began to tell her some interesting things he had encountered on his military campaigns.
His voice was clear and indifferent, his tone low, with a hint of casualness that made people feel drowsy.
Ye Luan closed her eyes, listening to him talk about the snow wolves on Cang Lang Mountain, the sunsets over the desert Gobi, the marvels of the Shen Cang Water in the Southern Frontier, and the mountains of eternal snow.
"Oh, you even saw a goddess dancing."
She closed her eyes, tilted her head, and mumbled as she bit his muscle.
Xiao Chi Zhan looked down at her, his usually stern crimson eyes showing a faint tenderness. He explained in a low voice.
The candlelight flickered, and the room was silent.
She had already fallen asleep, her dark hair spread out on the bed. Half of her body was still nestled in his embrace, revealing a fair, slender, and fragrant shoulder.
Her rosy lips were pressed against his chest, her bright eyes closed, losing some of their seductive charm and gaining a touch of娇憨 (endearing innocence).
He watched her for a long time before gently laying her down, getting up, dressing, and leaving.