Under the bright light, Qi Huan carefully examined the gun in her hand. Compared to the toy guns she had handled before, it was slightly heavier, with a hard and cold touch. All the parts - the body, trigger, and bolt - were complete and intact.
She had never handled a real gun in her previous life, but that wasn't a big problem. She remained calm and steady.
Even if you haven't eaten pork, you've at least seen a pig run, right?
She seriously recalled the actions from police movies, gripping the gun tightly, but didn't pull the trigger.
This wasn't a good place for practice.
Seeing her engrossed with the gun, the neglected Li Shuchen tightened his hand around her waist, leaned in, and whispered in her ear, his voice low and alluring: "I'll take you to a good place."
The soft breath on Qi Huan's ear made it tingle. She pushed him away slightly and swallowed before saying, "If you want to talk, just talk. Why do you need to be so close?"
Hearing this, Li Shuchen lowered his gaze to look at the blushing girl in his arms, a triumphant smile appearing on his face.
... At last, Qi Huan's attention was back on him.
Meeting his intense gaze, Qi Huan asked with concern, "Doctor Shen said that before the cold poison is completely eliminated from your body, it's best not to use your internal energy. So how are we going to get there?"
As she asked, she also wondered how Li Shuchen used to get there before.
Was he carried and flown there by Yan Qinghe?
The image was too beautiful; she didn't dare to imagine it.
Noticing her expression becoming increasingly peculiar, Li Shuchen instinctively stopped her thoughts by covering her mouth with a light kiss, then led her towards the door, still wanting more.
Following Yan Wu and Yan Qinghe, they arrived at a locked, unused courtyard in the Song Mansion.
Then, they entered a secret passage.
Night pearls were still embedded in the walls on both sides, emitting a soft, lustrous glow. Walking through it didn't evoke any feelings of claustrophobia; instead, it felt romantic and cozy.
This passage was much longer than the one under the Mingyu Teahouse.
Qi Huan gently squeezed Li Shuchen's palm and first praised him with a radiant smile: "Thank you, A'Shu, thank you for everything you've done for me. I'm very happy."
Then she added, "However, these are night pearls after all, not candles, not stones, not cabbages. Spending so much money on a path I'll only walk occasionally doesn't seem very cost-effective..."
She took out a lamp from her space, turned it on, and said proudly, "I have this, which can perfectly replace the night pearls."
"Moreover, I'm not afraid of the dark. I'm super brave."
"Don't believe me? Look."
Following her words, Li Shuchen looked down and saw that she had stepped on a mouse's tail, which was now squeaking.
She kicked the mouse towards the wall and suggested with sparkling eyes, "Why don't we dig out these night pearls and sell them?"
They must be worth a lot of money.
Li Shuchen nodded slightly, agreeing to her request.
These were part of the betrothal gifts his mother had left for her future daughter-in-law, fortunately preserved by the Yunying Caravan.
After hearing this, Qi Huan became reluctant to sell them: "Since they're keepsakes from your mother, let's keep them."
"Your mother was really nice, leaving so many precious things for your future wife."
"Mm, they're all for A'Huan."
In the narrow space, Li Shuchen turned his face and looked at her lovingly.
"Mother said that when she was young and first falling in love, she liked to read romance novels and longed for a sweet and beautiful married life. But at her coming-of-age ceremony, she was ordered to marry Father. They remained distant throughout their lives. She never experienced love herself, but hoped that I would meet someone I truly loved."
"Perhaps it's Mother's blessing from heaven that I've met you."
His smiling voice echoed in the tunnel.
Hearing this, Yan Wu and Yan Qinghe couldn't help but quicken their pace.
... They feared they might become jealous if they heard any more.
If it weren't for gender restrictions, marrying A'Shu would be a great choice.
Others might not know, but Yan Qinghe was well aware.
The late Empress was his aunt. These treasures in his aunt's possession were all gifts from his father, the Marquis of Wei Yuan. Back then, his father had a group of extraordinary men under him, including a grave robber who had found the imperial tomb of the Previous Dynasty.
They had led the Yan Family Army to loot the imperial tomb. Fearing his sister might suffer in the palace, the Marquis of Wei Yuan secretly gifted her most of the treasures.
As Yan Qinghe was lost in memories, Li Shuchen was also recounting this story to Qi Huan.
After hearing it, Qi Huan couldn't help but marvel inwardly: So the famous Marquis of Wei Yuan was actually a sister complex! He was so good to his sister!
They walked and talked until their legs began to ache, finally reaching the exit.
The group of four climbed out from a mass grave outside the city and met up with the hidden guards waiting for them.
After changing to a horse-drawn carriage, Qi Huan and Li Shuchen were alone in the compartment.
She took the opportunity to lift the hem of his robe and skillfully began massaging his calves.
"After walking for so long, do your legs hurt?"
"... They don't hurt." Li Shuchen didn't want her to tire herself out, so after letting her massage for a while, he pulled her into his arms.
Taking advantage of this time, Qi Huan quickly told Li Shuchen the formula for gunpowder, saying, "You can find some alchemists and have them try to create black powder."
"All wars are cruel, but sometimes war is necessary to end war. I hope peace can be achieved soon, and all people can live and work in contentment."
Li Shuchen looked into her bright eyes and solemnly promised, "It will be."
After discussing the gunpowder, Qi Huan changed the subject and enthusiastically began to chat about family matters.
When he learned that she thought Old Master Song had been saved by her tubercular cousin, Li Shuchen pressed his lips together.
It was clearly his accomplishment.
The roast duck should have been sent to him.
However, Qi Huan was still obliviously praising her supposed cousin for being a skilled fighter and having more money than sense.
She suggested that if Li Shuchen ever wanted someone assassinated in the future, he could ask her to hire her cousin.
Li Shuchen let out a soft snort from his nose, adjusted her position to face him directly.
"I sent people to save Old Master Song."
As his words fell, Qi Huan's almond eyes widened in surprise, her red lips parting slightly. After a moment, she asked, "Then... did you save the other officials too?"
Li Shuchen's chin unconsciously lifted slightly, and a pleased "That's right" came from his throat.
Praise him quickly!
As he wished, Qi Huan threw her arms around him, kissing him again and again.
"A'Shu, you're so good! My Maternal Grandfather and Uncle are both extremely kind to me. I'm truly overjoyed that they're safe and sound."
"As long as you're happy."
Li Shuchen contentedly narrowed his phoenix eyes, the corners of his lips curving into a slight smile. ... A'Huan had kissed him twice on her own initiative tonight.
In fact, saving these officials wasn't entirely for the sake of the Song father and son.
These civil officials would be useful when he took over the country. He couldn't have a court full of sycophants and flatterers when he ascended the throne, could he?
Therefore, he had gone to great lengths to intercept them.
First, he had berated them, saying that rather than dying in vain, they might as well go to the frontier and behead an enemy. Then he had reassured them, asking them to wait patiently. Within half a month, the peace talks would surely collapse.
Qi Huan's curiosity was piqued, and she wanted to know how he would accomplish this, but at that moment, she heard a knock on the carriage wall outside.
"Your Highness, we've arrived."
