Muran lowered his head and gently kissed her lips. It was as gentle as the wind. Only the numbing sensation made her feel that it was real.
It was just a light touch and then he let go, but it made her lose her mind for a long time. She blushed and did not know what to do. Mu Ran let out a low chuckle and refused to let go of her hand.
At that time, her heart was only filled with the sweetness in front of her. She did not notice the worry in his voice. Now that she thought about it, everything seemed to be traceable. Perhaps he already had a premonition from a long time ago.
— — —
Gu Yan suddenly had a high fever in the night. The lights in the Prime Minister's residence did not stop.
It was not until dawn that she gradually got better.
After a night of tossing and turning, Gu Yan was pulled up early in the morning to wash up. Today, Yi Ling left the capital to return to the country. Just like when she came, all the officials in the court lined the streets to send her off. The difference was that Gu Yan was no longer the girl who stayed out of things and looked into the distance from Qing Feng Pavilion.
For formal occasions, she had to wear the clothes of a princess. Her purple court dress was embroidered with five-tailed phoenixes. It was vivid with her movements. The three hairpins of the Ruyi Peacock were firmly inserted into her hair. The golden hairpin and the green hair complemented each other. However, it was so heavy that it made Gu Yan's head, which was already dizzy, feel even heavier.
Gu Yan followed her father to Tai Chi Sect. It was still early, but the officials had already arrived. They were whispering in groups of three to five. Gu Yuanxian's carriage had just stopped when he heard Muran respectfully greet him. Then he said, "Daren, it's still early. Why don't you go into the city first?"
Hearing his voice, Gu Yan's heart froze. She could not hear any other sound. She dispiritedly leaned against the embroidered cushion in the carriage. Her hands could not help but tremble.
"It's okay. Just wait here." Gu Yuanxian spoke. Then he got up and prepared to get off the carriage. The curtains moved slightly and the morning light came in. Gu Yan unconsciously squinted her eyes.
The handsome figure outside the carriage stood respectfully by the door, neither servile nor overbearing. Against the light, Gu Yan could not see his face clearly. Gu Yuanxian got out of the car. The curtains were lowered again, blocking the sunlight.
Gu Ling leaned against the inside of the carriage. In her daze, she seemed to see Mu Ran's snow-white robes slowly walking out from the green willows. His handsome brows furrowed slightly as he looked at her worriedly. Full of helplessness, he said, "Ting 'er, I'm afraid that there will come a day when I won't be able to protect you."
Gu Yan's lips opened and closed, but no sound came out. She wanted to tell him that he wouldn't. He was a Muran, the smartest Muran in the world. How could he not protect her? But no matter how hard she tried, the words stuck in her mouth.
The snowy white gradually faded away, and the smoke made him blurry. Gu Yan tried her best to reach out and grab him, but no matter how hard she tried, she could not catch him.
"Princess, Princess!"
Her hand was suddenly held by someone, and the warmth wrapped around her cold fingertips.
"Princess, wake up." A Nuo's voice sounded. Gu Yan slowly opened her eyes and saw A Nuo looking at her worriedly.
She raised her hand to her forehead and calmed herself down. She asked, "What time is it?"
"It's almost time. The Emperor will be here soon. Master asked me to call you."
Gu Yan got up and got off the carriage with A Nuo's help. She greeted the officials one by one, and walked to her father's side. Beside her was her eldest brother, Gu Yang. Behind Gu Yang was the Muran.
Gu Yan squeezed A Nuo's hand tightly and forced herself to stay awake. Gu Yang looked at her worriedly and whispered, "Ting'er, are you feeling better?"
Gu Yan gave him a weak smile and nodded. "I'm feeling better."
Suddenly, she heard Muran's soft voice behind her. "Are you still dizzy?"
Gu Yan's mind was shaken. She forgot about the officials and turned around to look at him.
Muran looked at her, his eyes full of concern.
Gu Yan forced a smile. "I'm fine. Don't worry."
Muran was still worried. His long sleeves fluttered as he reached out to her. His palm was as white as jade, and there was a bunch of dark green mint. One white and one green, it was very beautiful.
"The mint will wake you up. Smell it and you'll feel better."
A Nuo was about to reach out to take it, but Gu Yan was one step ahead. She reached out and took the mint from his palm. Her fingertips lightly touched his palm. His warmth spread from her fingertips, burning all the way to the bottom of her heart.
"The Emperor has arrived — —"
The announcement resounded through the Tai Chi Sect. The officials all bowed in greeting. Gu Yan also bowed respectfully. The heavy hair ornament on her head seemed to become heavier, making her unable to straighten her neck.
"Everyone, please rise."
With the permission, the officials stood up. Only Gu Yan felt her hands and feet go soft. A Nuo supported her with all his strength and slowly helped her up.
It was another tedious ceremony. In the past, it was just boring to watch, but today, it felt endless and unbearable. Gu Yan's forehead was covered in cold sweat. Half of her body leaned on A Nuo.
Finally, all the ceremonies were over. The five hundred elite soldiers and Yi Ling's black horse were ready to set off. Yi Ling was wearing a black armor. He bowed to the Emperor from afar, then turned and strode to the ceremonial officer. The ceremonial officer bowed and raised his arm. In his hand was the sword that Yi Ling was given.
He walked to the ceremonial officer's side and put his hand on the sword. He turned and swept his gaze over the officials of Nan Hua. His gaze was like a knife. When the officials felt his gaze, they unconsciously held their breaths and avoided his gaze.
When he saw Gu Yan, his gaze paused. He then walked to her side and said, "I heard that the princess is sick. Please rest well. In a year, I will be waiting for you at the foot of Qing Yan Mountain."
Hearing his words, Gu Yan suddenly raised her head and looked straight into his eyes. She wanted to understand the meaning of his words. But there was nothing but thick ink in those eyes.
She unconsciously turned to look at the Emperor. The latter's eyes were smiling as he calmly looked at them.
It seemed that in just one night, the Emperor and him had reached some kind of agreement. And she was the most important part of this deal.
Gu Yan's face was pale, but she still smiled and said, "Pingyang understands."
Yi Ling didn't say anything else. He turned to the ceremonial officer and picked up his sword. He leapt onto his horse and waved his hand. Five hundred elite soldiers neatly and uniformly withdrew from Jiang Du.
Finally, this event would be recorded in the annals of history. This unprecedented audience had come to an end.
And Gu Yan's life would change from then on.
When she returned to the Prime Minister's residence, the carriage stopped in the rear courtyard. A Nuo lifted the curtain to welcome her down. Gu Yan raised her hand and was about to reach it out, but she found that her palm was still tightly holding onto the mint.
Her palm was covered in cold sweat. The mint had long been crushed and green juice flowed out. Her palm was full of the fresh mint smell, like the smell of Muran's body.
A Nuo saw her staring at her palm in a daze and understood a bit. So he didn't urge her and just silently lowered the curtain.
After a long time, Gu Yan came back to her senses. She picked up a handkerchief and wiped her palm clean. She called out to A Nuo to help her down the carriage. The curtain was gently lifted, but it wasn't A Nuo.
"Muran?!" The moment she saw him, she blurted out in surprise.
Muran smiled and said softly, "What, you didn't think of it?"
She didn't think of it. She thought that they would never meet again in the Prime Minister's residence.
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