The night was pitch black, the cold wind whistling. On the river, mist and waves stretched boundlessly, surrounded by ships with lights blazing.
A torrential downpour lashed down, creating ripples of varying depths on the water's surface.
With a splash, she emerged from the water, astonishing everyone on the river, drawing all eyes.
Liu Rongruo stood on the warship, someone holding an umbrella behind him.
He heard the commotion and looked ahead.
"Master, it's A'Wu."
Bai Ze said, giving a look to the soldiers who had been flogged, and let the Yang family down.
Liu Rongruo ignored their actions, his gaze lowered, looking down at the person in the river.
The rain mist swirled like water. Hidden beneath the river, her clothes clung tightly to her body, revealing her fair, slender collarbone. The makeup on her small face was washed away by the rain, exposing her bewitching beauty.
In the misty rainy night, their eyes met.
In the air, the only sound was the rain falling on the river, mixed with the scent of crabapple flowers from the shore, clear and crisp.
Perhaps it was the heavy rain, but her gaze was blurry.
Chi You wiped the rain flowing down her face, still unable to discern his expression.
She swam hard towards his warship, stopping not far in front of its bow.
"Brother."
Liu Rongruo remained silent, his eyelids lowered, quietly staring at her face. A hint of greed flickered in his eyes, almost imperceptible.
Chi You, drenched in rain, strained to look up at the floating pavilion. It was empty.
The people had already been released.
She let out a sigh of relief and looked at the silent Liu Rongruo, speaking.
"Brother, please don't kill them. They don't know anything. I tricked them."
The rain was heavy, and as she spoke, she swallowed a mouthful of water.
Liu Rongruo watched her actions, his expression inscrutable.
Although Chi You couldn't see his eyes clearly, she inexplicably felt his gaze was as if he wanted to devour her.
The atmosphere between them was strange.
The surrounding officials watching the spectacle whispered amongst themselves.
The common folk from their boats poked their heads out, murmuring.
The entire river was veiled in mist and rain, sails like clouds. He stood god-like at the bow of the ship, looking down at her. She was like a lone fish hidden in the river, looking up at him, the mist and rain vast, the water rippling.
Seeing his silence, and not understanding his intentions, Chi You remembered that Brother A'Yun might be waiting for her and spoke to him directly.
"Brother, I don't want to return to the palace. Please let me go."
Her voice, laced with rain, drifted into his ears. Liu Rongruo curled his lips coldly, speaking the first words after finding her.
"What, you'd abandon your brother for a wild man you've known for less than a few days?"
Hearing his words, Chi You was stunned and retorted.
"I want to return to Southern Border, it has nothing to do with anyone else."
He remained silent, a hint of coldness appearing in his eyes.
Jiang Huai Ren, on the neighboring楼船 (lóu chuán - multi-story boat), unsure of their relationship, hesitated to approach and apprehend her upon hearing their conversation.
"Prime Minister, since the person has been found, can we be allowed to pass?"
The water line on the river was completely blocked. Now, with such heavy rain, there were too many ships stranded on the river, especially some small, dilapidated boats that were swaying precariously in the rain and could barely hold on.
Hearing his words, Liu Rongruo turned his head and said indifferently.
"Let them pass."
After speaking, he glanced at Chi You, who was still in the river, and addressed the person behind him.
"Bring her up."
Chi You wanted to run, but thinking of the family, she didn't dare and was obediently brought onto the warship.
Around her, the armor was glinting, cold as if in a battlefield from hell.
She was completely soaked, hugging herself.
The soldiers on the ship turned their backs, their gazes averted.
Liu Rongruo approached, extending his icy hand to pinch her cheeks, forcing her to lift her head.
"Quite the runner, aren't you."
His tone was very calm, yet it made one's heart pound with fear.
Chi You found him somewhat unfamiliar and instinctively wanted to retreat.
Liu Rongruo squeezed her tightly and pulled her forward fiercely.
They were instantly close, their breaths mingling.
"I—I'm not running, I just want to go back to Southern Border."
"With him? Is that it?"
Chi You had been in the water for too long and had been in the rain for so long that she couldn't help but sneeze.
Liu Rongruo looked at her, unable to speak from the cold, but his grip on her did not loosen.
The gloom that had gathered in his heart for days hung heavy and dispelled, his gaze towards her extremely frightening.
"You really made me search hard for you."
Chi You was startled by his words and stammered, trying to retreat.
But his hands held her tightly, leaving her unable to move. She was forced to stand on tiptoe, pressed close to him, her entire person leaning on him with a delicate grace.
"Br—Brother—"
Her soft, sweet voice somewhat calmed the ferocity in his heart.
He stared at her for a while, then, after a moment, he bent down, scooped her up horizontally, and entered the cabin.
Bai Ze had already ordered hot water to be prepared, and behind the screen inside, a bathtub and medicinal soup were ready.
As soon as Chi You entered, a bowl of ginger soup was forced down her.
She was then shoved into the bathtub by him.
The other officials were still waiting outside. Liu Rongruo held her down and leaned over.
"Wash up obediently and wait for me."
Chi You trembled all over. The warm water made her hazy mind slightly clearer.
Not knowing what he was going to do, she quickly finished washing and got out of the bathtub, drying her hair.
The rain was still falling outside. She remembered the Yang family and simply found some clothes to wear, intending to leave.
But then, the door was flung open with a bang, and he walked in, exuding a chilling aura.
Chi You looked at his expression and found him very frightening, instinctively taking a few steps back.
"What are you doing with the bundle? Trying to run again?"
He slowly walked towards her, his unhurried demeanor making her heart beat violently. His gaze was as if he wanted to devour her.
Chi You clutched the bundle nervously, mustering her courage to speak to him.
"Brother, please stop chasing me. I don't want to return to the palace."
"Don't want to return to the palace?"
Liu Rongruo approached, reaching out to grip her chin and lift it forcefully, his gaze filled with a hidden sorrow.
"You want to elope with a wild man?"
Chi You looked at him, her heart beating faster and faster. The rough, scorching touch of his hand on her skin sent a tingling sensation from her spine through her entire body, reaching every limb.
His gaze roamed over her, his eyes as fierce as a wolf or leopard on the Heavenly Mountain, full of invasion, with no pretense.
The pain made her instinctively try to push him away.
Liu Rongruo swiftly caught her hand and pushed her onto the table behind them.
Her waist was incredibly soft, as if she had no bones.
"Tell me, how should I punish you."
Chi You was frightened by his gaze and remained still, her lips trembling, unable to speak.
Brother A'Yun had said that escaping from the palace was a grave offense.
If caught, one would be killed.
Thinking of this, her lips turned a shade paler.
Liu Rongruo looked at the captivating person beneath him, his eyes darkening further.
He bent down, pressing down on her, his voice hoarse.
'Do you know what I think about every day you are gone.'
Chi You's heart lurched, and she foolishly shook her head.
He let out a light laugh, his gaze fixed on her with an unfathomable intensity. He reached out to cover her lips, kneading them fiercely.
"I think, when I catch you, I'll strip your clothes and thoroughly | you."
Chi You trembled all over, seemingly unable to believe he would say such words, her eyes widening in disbelief.
He leaned closer, pressing against her ear, and said fiercely, "Take them off."