It seems every angry woman is not to be trifled with.
Even the old Marquis, who had seen his fair share of life-and-death situations, felt a little intimidated...
"You heartless wretch, you deserve to be struck by lightning and choked to death by King Yama! Just looking at you now makes me sick!~" Alima cursed, trembling with rage.
The old Marquis was at his wit's end and murmured, "Lirou, please calm down. It was all a misunderstanding back then. Otherwise, I wouldn't have risked my life to explain..."
Why wouldn't this woman listen to reason?
"Is that so?" Alima sneered, tapping the old Marquis's shoulder with the flat of her saber. "Thirty years have passed, and I've never heard your explanation. Why are you explaining now, when the two countries are at war and fighting fiercely? Do you think I'm a fool?"
Alima held considerable power among the barbarian tribes, and her persuasion could sometimes alter the entire course of a war...
It was precisely because of this that the old Marquis had sought her out in the dead of night.
"Lirou, you left without a word back then, and I never had a chance to explain. Moreover, I didn't know you barbarians had so many customs. Just a glance meant you had to marry me. I... I had it so tough!~" the old Marquis lamented.
Upon hearing this, Alima became even angrier. "Tough? You did more than just glance, you laid your hands on me!"
The old Marquis: "..."
It was over. The more he explained, the worse it got.
He probably wouldn't be able to salvage this situation.
In truth, no one was to blame; it was purely a misunderstanding.
Years ago, while Alima was traveling in the Central Plains, she had accidentally encountered bandits. Her guards were outnumbered and outmatched, and they were all killed before long...
Just as Alima was about to be violated by the bandits, the young old Marquis happened to pass by, drove off the bandits, and rescued her.
A talented young man and an exotic beauty—it was hard not to spark some chemistry.
Furthermore, the old Marquis had saved her life, which made Alima's heart flutter. She believed he was a reliable man worthy of her trust...
The old Marquis had intended to part ways with Alima after escorting her to the capital, never to meet again. This was because he was already betrothed at the time, to Gu Mingyan's birth mother, and did not wish to get involved with other women.
However, Alima was unaware of the old Marquis's engagement.
Unexpectedly, on the way to the capital, Alima was bitten by a venomous snake on her thigh, causing a persistent high fever that made her feel like a furnace...
They were in the middle of nowhere, with not even a small village, let alone a clinic.
In his desperation, the old Marquis had no choice but to suck out the poison with his mouth. Then, he removed her clothes and used wine to wipe her body down to reduce the fever...
In her dazed state, Alima felt completely naked, with the old Marquis constantly touching and rubbing her. She assumed he was taking liberties.
But Alima was suffering from snake venom at the time, her consciousness was blurred, and her body was stiff, making it impossible for her to resist.
Thus, upon arriving in the capital, the old Marquis found a doctor, saved Alima, and then left without a word...
According to barbarian customs, if a man had a woman's first night, or even touched her skin, he was obligated to marry her.
Much like Gu Mingyan and Han Chi Yan.
After regaining consciousness, Alima thought more and more about it. Although she knew she had been bitten by a snake, the old Marquis had still had 'skin-to-skin contact' with her. In her anger, she went to the Gu residence...
At that time, the old Marquis was not yet the Marquis of Pingyang, but merely a captain of the capital's guards.
However, the moment she entered the Marquis's mansion, she saw the old Marquis laughing and chatting with a beautiful young girl. Their affectionate and sweet demeanor pierced her heart...
The old Marquis wanted to explain a few things, but Alima, in her fury, refused to listen and returned directly to the northern grasslands.
Later, Alima married and had a husband. Perhaps it was her strong fate, but that husband passed away after only a few years of marriage, leaving no heirs.
The misunderstanding with the old Marquis remained unresolved. Alima felt that the old Marquis had taken advantage of her and that she had encountered a scumbag...
"Lirou, I didn't have a chance to tell you about my engagement back then. I thought we were just acquaintances and there was no need to be too explicit. But who would have thought my good intentions would lead to trouble? I sucked out the snake venom for you, and you accused me of taking advantage. Where could I even go to seek justice?" the old Marquis lamented.
Upon hearing this, Alima's gaze shifted. She casually threw her saber to the ground and turned away. "According to you, then, I was the one shamelessly pestering you?"
Hmph, she wasn't that pathetic...
"No, no!~" the old Marquis waved his hands repeatedly. "I didn't explain things clearly back then. This is my fault!"
As he spoke, the old Marquis took down the bundle from his shoulder and presented it to Alima. "Lirou, these are the things you left behind in the carriage. I've kept them safe for you all this time. They are now returned to their owner. See if anything is missing?"
The name Lirou was something the old Marquis had only learned later...
Then, during his campaigns, he had passed through Suicheng several times. The old Marquis had secretly entered the royal palace, intending to clarify the past with Alima, but he never got to see her.
Alima was stunned for a moment. She carefully took the bundle and slowly opened it...
Inside the bundle were many women's undergarments, as well as various cosmetics and gold and silver jewelry.
With just one glance, Alima felt as if she had traveled back to the time she was traveling in the Central Plains. She felt both nostalgic and longing, as if she had become a young girl again...
"Thank you for keeping them safe for me!~" Alima said, clutching the bundle tightly, her voice choked with emotion.
The old Marquis chuckled, "What thanks are needed? This is what I should have done!"
Finally, there was a turning point.
After reminiscing for a long time, Alima glared fiercely at the old Marquis. "Why haven't you left yet? This is this priestess's sleeping quarters. If you don't get out of here, I'll have the guards break your legs!~"
The old Marquis: "..."
This woman's mood changed faster than flipping a page.
Fortunately, he had made preparations in advance, otherwise, it would have been difficult to deal with her.
With the misunderstanding from years ago resolved, there were no longer any barriers between them, so it would be good to remain ordinary friends...
Thinking this, the old Marquis rummaged in his embrace. "I have something good to show you!~"
Alima's eyes widened, and she quickly turned her face away, indignantly saying, "What do you want? At your age, do you still want to act like a hooligan?"
The old Marquis: "..."
What was going on in that head of yours all day?
Indecent.
He had something better to show Lirou...