Han Chi Yan was startled, her expression blank. After a moment of愣ing, she asked, "Auntie Alima, why... why are you staring at me like that?"
Her gaze was too sharp.
Alima closed her eyes, took two deep breaths, and gave a wry smile. "It's nothing. I'll have the palace arrange a welcome banquet for you later, specifically to welcome Princess Yan'er. If the Khan and Khatun knew you had returned to the grasslands, they'd be overjoyed..."
A princess returning home was a good thing, but what was bothersome was that she had brought a man from the Central Plains back with her.
"No need!" Han Chi Yan pursed her lips and smiled. "Auntie, go ahead and be busy. I haven't been back in a long time and want to walk around!"
Alima: "......"
Walk around? You clearly want to go be with Lord Gu.
"Stay with me tonight!" Alima linked arms with Han Chi Yan and gently tickled her neck.
Han Chi Yan couldn't help but laugh. After a moment's hesitation, she agreed.
That night, in a separate courtyard of the palace, the old Marquis was clumsily putting on his night-traveling attire in his room.
Gu Ming Yan slowly walked in and saw his father about to go cause trouble again. He coughed lightly, "Father, what are you doing?"
This was not Daliang, and if anything happened, it would be difficult for him to handle...
Moreover, Gu Ming Yan had only brought Qing Lan, a master, with him to the Northern Frontier this time. If the barbarians really wanted to kill them, even a top expert like Gu Ming Yan might not escape.
The old Marquis turned to look at his son and frowned. "Yan'er, hurry and help your father tie his belt. Oh dear, this outfit is too tight!"
Gu Ming Yan: "......"
Clearly, you're just too fat.
"Father, listen to your son's advice. Before Han Chi Er Khan returns, it's best you stay here honestly and don't go out causing trouble, alright?" Gu Ming Yan earnestly advised.
The old Marquis stomped his foot in anger upon hearing this. "You brat, how do you know I'm going out to cause trouble? I'm going to help you find reinforcements..."
At the very least, he was an old minister of Daliang. How could he stand by when the country was in danger?
Gu Ming Yan: "???"
So, why was his father wearing night-traveling clothes and a mask, and where was he going?
Helplessly, Gu Ming Yan helped the old Marquis put on his clothes and watched him leave the courtyard...
Not long after he left, Han Chi Yan rushed to find Gu Ming Yan.
"I can't stay long, Auntie Alima is watching me!" Han Chi Yan grabbed Gu Ming Yan's hand, panting.
Upon hearing this, Gu Ming Yan pulled Han Chi Yan into his embrace, his eyes full of tenderness. "I promise, once the relations between the two countries stabilize, I will grandly marry you into the Marquis's mansion and make you my Marchioness..."
Alima nestled against Gu Ming Yan's chest, her heart pounding like a wild deer.
She raised her head, looked at Gu Ming Yan affectionately, and traced circles on his throat with her small hand. "What if you meet a younger, more beautiful girl in the future? Will you dislike me?"
Gu Ming Yan was her first man, so Han Chi Yan invested a lot of emotion and energy. If she were hurt, she might never be able to love again...
Gu Ming Yan smiled calmly, swept Han Chi Yan into his arms, stared at her for a moment, and said, "Yan'er, I swear to the heavens today, if I do anything that wrongs you in the rest of my life, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death!"
Han Chi Yan's face changed in surprise, and she quickly covered Gu Ming Yan's mouth. "Bah, bah, bah, you can't make such a vicious oath. I believe you..."
She believed this man would not betray her.
"One lifetime, one love, I will keep my word!" Gu Ming Yan said seriously.
As he finished speaking, he slowly leaned towards Han Chi Yan and gently kissed her lips...
For a moment, the two of them seemed to be floating gently among the clouds. Their sweet demeanor made even the evening breeze of the great grassland feel warm and gentle.
Meanwhile, the old Marquis was stealthily moving through the complex buildings of the palace...
Due to the large number of guards, he had to conceal his aura, and his footsteps were as light as a feather.
"That's not right, why are there so many more buildings?" The old Marquis scratched his backside, looking at the brightly lit palace ahead, unsure of his direction for a moment.
He tightened the bundle on his shoulder and quietly walked in another direction...
He really couldn't admit his age. Back then, he used to enter and exit the barbarian palace as if it were his own living room. Why did he have to be so cautious now?
As he walked, a very familiar阙门 appeared before him. Behind the阙门 was a separate courtyard, very quiet and unique...
A faint scent of burning incense wafted through the air, which smelled very familiar.
The old Marquis chuckled, "Finally found it!"
Taking advantage of the night's cover, the old Marquis slipped into the courtyard, dodged the patrolling guards, and successfully infiltrated the room...
Under the candlelight sat a robust woman. Since she was facing away from the old Marquis, her expression could not be seen.
However, anyone could feel a hint of sadness lurking in the room...
"Li Rou, is... is that you?" the old Marquis's hoarse voice echoed.
The woman turned her head sharply upon hearing this. "Who? How dare you intrude into this priestess's room? Guards, come..."
However, before she could finish speaking, the woman's eyes widened, her pupils contracted, and she stared fixedly at the old Marquis.
"Gu Jianqiang? It really is you?" the woman exclaimed in disbelief.
The woman was the High Priestess Alima. Li Rou was the name she used when traveling in the Central Plains...
And the old Marquis's parents, who knew what they were thinking, actually named their son Jianqiang. Was he very fragile since childhood?
The old Marquis smiled sheepishly. "It's been so many years, Li Rou has changed quite a bit!"
Nothing could withstand the ravages of time...
Li Rou back then was so graceful, graceful, and charming. Now she had become broad-shouldered and stout. The old Marquis didn't dare to recognize her.
Alima narrowed her eyes, her face as cold as frost. "Heartless man, you still dare to find me here?"
No wonder she found Gu Ming Yan familiar when she saw him. It turned out he was Gu Jianqiang's son...
It's true that like father, like son. She had fallen for Gu Jianqiang back then, and Yan'er would surely be abandoned by Gu Ming Yan.
The old Marquis stepped forward, wanting to say something nice, but Alima gave him no opportunity. She directly drew a saber from the table and held it to the old Marquis's neck, warning loudly, "Heartless man, if you dare to take another step, I'll chop off your head!"
The old Marquis: "......"
Why so cold?
"Li Rou, listen to me. I came here this time, firstly to clarify what happened back then, and secondly..."
"Shut up, I don't want to hear your explanation!"
The old Marquis: "......"