"Okay," Wen Yuxi nodded, uttering the word.
She lay on his chest, feeling a sense of security and contentment she had never known. If they could just keep going like this, she would be so happy, so incredibly happy.
Suddenly, the door was pushed open, and a figure lunged towards Wen Yuxi. Wen Yuxi took a step back, only to find that the person was none other than Wen Yu.
Wen Yu, barely able to support himself, coughed up a mouthful of blood and choked out, "Go... Sir, go..."
Wen Yuxi rushed forward and helped Wen Yu up, asking coldly, "What happened?"
"Wen Ling..." Wen Yu's words were interrupted by a voice.
"楼主 (Louzhu), I trust you are well!"
Wen Yuxi looked up and saw the man standing at the doorway, clad in a black cloak. His face was all too familiar; he was someone she had spent more than a decade with, someone not easily forgotten.
Especially someone who had once been like family to him.
Wen Ling, who had been intellectually disabled for the first twenty years of his life, was sold by his parents at the age of eight. Wen Yuxi, noticing Wen Ling's immense strength despite his condition, brought him back to Qian Jin Lou and trained him.
Despite his apparent disability, Wen Ling was agile and quick. Many times, Wen Yuxi suspected he was faking, but after so many years, even a pretense would have revealed itself.
"Wen Ling pays his respects to the 楼主 (Louzhu)," Wen Ling said, bowing respectfully to Wen Yuxi.
Wen Yuxi replied, "Wen Ling, it's been many years. Congratulations on regaining your faculties."
Hearing this, Wen Ling let out a low, ironic chuckle.
"Congratulations? Has the 楼主 (Louzhu) forgotten? It was you who abandoned me back then."
"I apologize," Wen Yuxi said.
This was perhaps something he would always feel guilty about, even after many years.
Wen Ling sneered, "So many years have passed, I've forgotten. Now, seeing the 楼主 (Louzhu) again is merely encountering a familiar face. May I ask what brings the 楼主 (Louzhu) to my wife's chambers?"
"Wen Ling, Wen Nuan does not wish it," Wen Yuxi said suddenly.
"And so what?" Wen Ling retorted.
"You should not force Wen Nuan."
"But I wish to, isn't that enough?"
"Wen Ling, you have changed," Wen Yu, lying on the ground, couldn't help but say, clutching his chest.
Wen Ling looked coldly at Wen Yu, as if he were looking at a dead man, "A dying person is not worthy of speaking to me."
Wen Yu's expression darkened, "You..."
"Wen Ling, stop this," Wen Yuxi said slowly.
Wen Ling looked at Wen Yuxi before him and chuckled softly, "Stop? What do you know? You want me to stop? On what grounds?"
"Wen Ling, if you stop, I will let you go. Otherwise..."
"Otherwise what? Do I seem too weak to you, or are you too confident in yourself? What makes you so sure I must be defeated by your hand?"
"Wen Ling, don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit," Wen Yuxi said, word by word.
Wen Ling sneered, "Those words should be directed at you. All these people here are mine. How can you, Wen Yuxi, possibly escape?"
"I will take Wen Nuan away today," Wen Yuxi declared.
"Is that so? We'll see if you have the capability," Wen Ling said coldly.
Wen Ling stepped aside, revealing a group of men in black outside. He leaped back and said, "Wen Yuxi, give it a try. Otherwise, you might not be willing to give up."
"Wen Yu, hold the little one. If you can, leave quickly. Don't worry about me..." Wen Yuxi whispered.
Wen Yu was stunned. "Sir, no! I will hold them off, you and the Princess should leave first."
"I want to take Wen Nuan with me. You are no match for Wen Ling," Wen Yuxi said slowly.
Wen Yu was about to refuse again, but Wen Yuxi said, "This is an order."
Wen Yu could only grit his teeth and accept. He took Xue Xing Yue and followed Wen Yuxi.
Wen Yuxi walked to Wen Nuan's side and stroked her head, saying, "Wait for me to take you home."
Wen Nuan smiled and nodded.
Wen Yuxi drew his sword and charged out, engaging with Wen Ling's men.
Suddenly, Wen Yuxi forcefully pushed Wen Yu away, roaring, "Go..."
Wen Yu gritted his teeth and said, "Sir, I will return."
Xue Xing Yue looked at Uncle Wen Yu approaching her. She buried her head in Wen Yu's shoulder, knowing that at this moment, she could do nothing and say nothing. It was then she truly felt how insignificant she was.
Only now could she understand what her mother, the Empress, had meant by that feeling of helplessness.
That was precisely how she felt now.
"Princess..."
Xue Xing Yue opened her eyes and realized that she and Wen Yu had already escaped into the forest. It was very dark here. Perhaps Wen Yu didn't want anyone to follow them, so he didn't even dare to light a fire.
"Uncle Wen Yu, it's so dark. Let's light a fire!"
Wen Yu smiled, "I'd like to light a fire too, but Princess, I..."
She could no longer hear Wen Yu's voice. She quickly fumbled towards him, her hands touching a damp patch. Bringing it closer, she detected the scent of blood. Had Uncle Wen Yu been injured?
Without time to think, she tried to start a fire by friction, but her hands were too small. She worked until she was utterly exhausted, but still, no fire was kindled.
The forest night was very cold. She could only lean against Wen Yu's chest, seeking warmth from him while also trying to offer her own strength.
They remained sleepless throughout the night. As dawn began to break, Xue Xing Yue could see that Wen Yu's left shoulder had been pierced by a sword, and the blood had already clotted. Startled, she quickly felt for Wen Yu's nose; fortunately, he was still breathing, and she let out a sigh of relief.
She spotted a small stream not far away and hurried over. Using leaves to collect some water, she fed it to Wen Yu, repeatedly. Finally, she collapsed onto the ground, exhausted.
Wen Yu slowly opened his eyes and looked at Xue Xing Yue lying on the ground, asking, "Princess, how are you?"
"I'm fine. Uncle Wen Yu, how do you feel?"
Wen Yu replied, "Much better."
He moved his shoulder and inadvertently saw that it had been bandaged. In this desolate wilderness, no one else would have bandaged him; it was clearly the Princess.
Wen Yu was somewhat surprised, but he knew Princess Xing Yue was no ordinary person. He said, "Thank you, Princess."
Xue Xing Yue implicitly acknowledged that she had bandaged Wen Yu herself. She then asked, "How long will it take for you to recover?"
"A little while longer," Wen Yu replied.
He could not afford to delay any longer. The longer they waited, the greater the danger to Sir.
Xue Xing Yue said, "Shall we head back?"
Wen Yu was taken aback. "Aren't we going to Jiangnan?"
"I fear they may be too preoccupied there. Let's go back," Xue Xing Yue said.
Wen Yu had no choice but to nod. After drinking a few sips of water from the stream, he picked up Xue Xing Yue and set off.
At this moment, Xue Zi Ning had also arrived at the location closest to Jiangnan.
Feng Wu surveyed the surroundings and returned, saying, "Your Majesty, we need to pass through a forest to get there quickly."
Xue Zi Ning nodded. "Let's go."