Remembering the love-inducing incense smeared on herself, Su Ling'er, who had harbored sweet illusions, suddenly came to her senses. How could she be so naive again?
The only reason Leng Feng was so good to her was because he was under the influence of the love-inducing incense. Without this superior secret medicine that could bewilder the mind, he wouldn't even spare her a second glance.
Su Ling'er, stop dreaming! You are destined to never find happiness in this lifetime...
Leng Feng saw Su Ling'er's expression change, from dejection to secret joy, and the sparkle in her eyes suddenly turned cold. What was she thinking that caused her heart's journey to shift so complexly?
"Ling'er, what's wrong with you today? Don't you like this hairpin? I saw you wearing a butterfly flower hairpin last time, so I thought you liked this style..."
"No, the hairpin is beautiful, and I like it very much. It must be very expensive, given its weight, right? The flower hairpin you broke last time was just a sheer one and wasn't worth much. This one is too precious, I can't accept it." Su Ling'er said as she re-wrapped the hairpin and handed it back to Leng Feng. An unspeakable loneliness and sorrow were in her eyes.
"It's not expensive. I'm the deputy general of the army, after all. I've saved my monthly military pay for when we... when I get married. So a hairpin is really nothing..." Seeing Su Ling'er about to return the hairpin, Leng Feng spoke nervously and incoherently, refusing to take it.
Hearing the words about saving money for their future, Su Ling'er's heart skipped a beat again, but she quickly regained her composure. "Since you're saving money for your future marriage, you shouldn't be spending it carelessly on things like this. Please take the hairpin back! Save it to give to your future wife! Deputy General Leng, I have work to do, so I will take my leave now."
Su Ling'er shoved the hairpin into Leng Feng's arms and turned to leave quickly. She was afraid that if she stayed any longer, she would develop more unwarranted desires. She didn't know if she would still have the luck to find a way out again.
Leng Feng clutched the hairpin in his arms, watching Su Ling'er's fleeing back in a daze. How could this happen? Why wouldn't Ling'er accept his hairpin? Did she truly not like him at all?
A few more days passed. Su Ling'er continued to perform her duties as a maid. Although Leng Feng saw her every day, he no longer sought her out privately to chat or tease her as he used to.
Su Ling'er's attitude towards Leng Feng did not change much. She would occasionally bring him his favorite pastries, as if the matter of the hairpin a few days ago had never happened.
However, Leng Feng could clearly feel that the way Su Ling'er looked at him was different from before. He tried not to think about that ungrateful little maid, but whenever he tried to forget her, a suffocating pressure would build in his chest.
Every time this happened, he could only calm his mind by smelling the faint, ethereal scent from Su Ling'er. It seemed he was truly poisoned by that little maid.
His Majesty once said that love is a game, and the one who falls in love first is always the loser. The Leng Feng of the past did not understand the meaning of this sentence, but now he could deeply relate to it!
Inside the army tent at Chehe City.
"Qi Xiao, you were looking for me?" Wang Bingchang heard the servant report that Huo Qi Xiao was looking for him. He quickly put down the matter of troop deployment and hurried to the commander's tent.
Since they had both been dosed with the aphrodisiac that day, Wang Bingchang, following his desires, had personally helped Huo Qi Xiao by resolving the aphrodisiac. Huo Qi Xiao was furious afterward, believing that Wang Bingchang had taken advantage of his inferior cultivation to insult him in such a way.
The two had spent two lifetimes together, and in this life, they were particularly close. Huo Qi Xiao knew Wang Bingchang's untold secrets. In the beginning, to win Wang Bingchang over, Huo Qi Xiao acted understanding and showed no hint of disdain towards him.
Perhaps Huo Qi Xiao never expected that pretending for so long would eventually become a habit. What started as him feigning indifference eventually led him to genuinely believe that being gay wasn't a big deal.
However, the qualitative change in his feelings for Wang Bingchang was something Huo Qi Xiao hadn't anticipated. When he found himself no longer resisting Wang Bingchang's advances and no longer annoyed by his hints, he knew he couldn't continue down this path.
Later, the incident with the aphrodisiac was difficult for Huo Qi Xiao to accept. Therefore, after they sobered up, he deliberately avoided Wang Bingchang, unwilling to continue making a mistake.
But love is something that cannot be controlled by mere thought. For many things and many people, the more one avoids them, the more one's mind is drawn to thinking about them.
Seeing Wang Bingchang a few steps away, Huo Qi Xiao deliberately spoke in a cold tone, "More than ten days have passed. How is the matter concerning that person named Su Ling'er progressing?"
Huo Qi Xiao was finally willing to speak to him. Although he was asking about official business, Wang Bingchang was still very happy. It was better than being avoided or met with silence.
"I just received a secret letter from her, stating that she has already befriended someone close to Huo Qi Yuan and is now waiting for an opportunity."
"Someone close to Huo Qi Yuan? Could it be his guards?"
"It's Leng Feng, the most skilled member of the Leng team."
"Leng Feng? Then she does have some ability. This young master's patience is limited. Urge her to expedite the matter. Several secret imperial edicts have arrived from the capital. If another arrives, it will likely be an accusation!"
"Yes, I will inform her shortly. The weather here is getting hotter. Fortunately, it rained a few times recently. Eldest Young Master, please take care of yourself. I... I will take my leave now." Wang Bingchang said, preparing to exit. Just as he reached the door, he was called back.
"It's almost lunchtime. Let's eat together..." He didn't know why he called Wang Bingchang back. Seeing the loneliness flashing in his eyes, Huo Qi Xiao felt a pang in his heart.
"Alright! I'll prepare a few more delicious small dishes for Eldest Young Master. Wait for me, I'll be right back." Huo Qi Xiao's words of invitation made Wang Bingchang overjoyed.
He knew that Huo Qi Xiao wasn't entirely without feelings for him. The initial anger was just because he hadn't yet recognized his own heart.
Seeing someone who always appeared calm and collected, unfazed even when Mount Tai collapsed before him, now smiling like a fool, Huo Qi Xiao turned his face away, feigning an arrogant expression of unwillingness to admit he had softened.
However, the curve of his lips betrayed his true inner thoughts. He had indeed developed improper feelings for Wang Bingchang. All of this seemed to be fate playing tricks.
If Wen Tu were a woman, how wonderful that would be! She could manage the household, cook, help him achieve success, and he could openly take her to be by his side for a lifetime.