After rolling in the mud, his clothes were covered with mottled mud spots, and sand slid from his collar. The wind, mixed with heat waves, hit his face, making his whole body sticky and extremely embarrassed. The wounds from scrapes also stung intermittently.
But all these could be hidden in the night.
Huo Xian had already donned his armor. Ji Yuluo followed among the Jinyiwei Guards, returning to the palace as if nothing had happened.
The main gate was guarded by the imperial guards, while the side gate was watched over by the Jinyiwei Guards.
Ji Yuluo entered through the side gate. The night watch Jinyiwei Guards saluted Huo Xian, and those close enough could see Ji Yuluo’s disheveled appearance, but none dared to speak up, tacitly lowering their heads.
Upon reaching the garden, they happened to encounter a patrolling team of imperial guards.
The last two were not following the team but were strolling slowly. As they approached, it became clear that it was Xiao Yuanjing.
Both parties halted their steps.
Huo Xian smiled slightly, “So it’s Lord Xiao, thank you for your hard work patrolling the night.”
Xiao Yuanjing was carrying a food box, followed by a servant who took care of his daily needs.
His face showed a moment of stiffness but quickly returned to a distant and indifferent look. He said, “During the day, His Majesty inquired about the whereabouts of the Commander. Someone claimed he was ill. Seeing him now, is the Commander well?”
After speaking, he glanced at the figure hiding behind Huo Xian, “The noble lady is also present.”
Ji Yuluo, standing behind Huo Xian, slightly bowed to him.
Huo Xian looked at Xiao Yuanjing and said flawlessly, “Thank you, Lord Xiao, for your concern. The Duke of Zhenguo has had successive victories and is expected to return to the capital soon. Has Lord Xiao heard any news?”
Their eyes met, and Xiao Yuanjing’s gaze gradually sharpened. The danger hidden beneath his gentle and refined exterior seemed to surface but quickly receded, “Huo Xian is by His Majesty’s side, military reports reach him sooner than me.”
Huo Xian replied playfully, “Not necessarily, since your surname is Xiao.”
Xiao Yuanjing smiled at him but was unwilling to continue the exchange. He cupped his hands in farewell and walked some distance before his expression gradually darkened.
He was never keen on conversing with Huo Xian. Although Huo Xian seemed to get along with everyone, his thoughts ran deep, like a hornet’s nest full of stingers, ready to use anyone as a stepping stone.
A few careless words from him could turn deadly.
Xiao Yuanjing had repeatedly warned Xiao Yuanting to stay away from Huo Xian, but unfortunately, Xiao Yuanting, who took him as a big brother, remained oblivious to the fact that their family’s deployment this time was due to Huo Xian’s machinations.
Thinking of this, Xiao Yuanjing pressed his nose bridge and took a deep breath.
He looked back.
Huo Xian returned to the palace unscathed. Honestly, Xiao Yuanjing was not very surprised, but he still felt disappointed.
The servant asked, “Young Master, what’s wrong?”
Xiao Yuanjing turned back and handed the food box to his servant, “Nothing much, Chang’an. You can go back now.”
The servant named Chang’an replied, “Alright, young master, take care.”
Xiao Yuanjing then took the food box and walked towards the residence assigned to the imperial guards.
Ji Yuluo turned back at this moment, looking thoughtful, and then quickly followed Huo Xian back to their quarters.
Biwu prepared the water, and Ji Yuluo quickly bathed, washing herself briefly before coming out of the bathhouse.
Huo Xian had to patrol around the Jiulong Hall later, so he didn’t have time to heat new water and used the remaining hot water from Ji Yuluo’s bath to freshen up.
During this time, Ji Yuluo inquired about the happenings around Jiulong Hall from Biwu, who promptly replied, “Tonight, the Emperor summoned Concubine Xi.”
It was inconvenient to bring Chaolu on this trip, as her demeanor was too conspicuous. Thus, Biwu had the opportunity to accompany her. Before they left, the young lady had instructed Biwu to always keep an eye on the palace’s movements, no matter how big or small, which is why Biwu could quickly report the news.
Even though she didn’t know the reason, she dared not ask.
Ji Yuluo confirmed repeatedly, “Are you sure it was Concubine Xi?”
Biwu, with a worried expression, said, “Before you returned, Miss, I was chatting with the maids of other ladies in the garden and happened to see the eunuch going to Concubine Xi’s place to deliver the decree.”
Ji Yuluo’s eyebrows slightly raised, and a cold smile appeared in her eyes. She then lifted her skirt, revealing a scraped ankle, and said, “Go get me some medicine.”
The wound looked particularly frightening at first glance. Biwu exclaimed in surprise, wondering how she could have bathed with such a wound!
She hurriedly found the ointment.
Ji Yuluo didn’t let her serve and sent her out.
Before long, the noise in the bathhouse quieted down.
The curtain was lifted, and Huo Xian came out, seeing Ji Yuluo’s injured ankle.
Not only her ankle but there were also several abrasions on the back of her hand and wrist.
The woman’s freshly dampened black hair draped over her shoulders, silently applying the medicine herself, with a technique that was not even gentle. Even with herself, she never showed a hint of tenderness.
Her lips pressed into a determined line, the fragile frost flower that needed protection suddenly turned into a block of ice.
But Ji Yuluo might not know that this side of her could evoke more compassion.
At least, he never felt such affection for those delicate, weak, and helplessly soft women.
Huo Xian walked over and said, “At this rate, a wound that could heal in ten days will take twenty.”
He took the medicine from Ji Yuluo’s hand and sat down.
Ji Yuluo, half-bent with her leg, looked up at him, “I heard the Emperor summoned Concubine Xi to serve him. At this hour, you still want to see the Emperor?”
Without looking up, Huo Xian replied, “I’ll take a few rounds outside, I won’t be at ease otherwise.”
Ji Yuluo said nothing, resting her chin on her knees, watching Huo Xian’s skillful hands quietly.
He treated the wound with ease, his movements much more meticulous than Ji Yuluo’s. It was hard to imagine that someone so rough in a fight could be so adept at taking care of others.
Ji Yuluo slowly bit the inside of her cheek, her face looking pale.
Huo Xian frowned and asked, “What’s wrong? Does it hurt somewhere else?”
Ji Yuluo straightened her back and reached for the back of her head. Huo Xian followed her movement and found a noticeable bump, likely from when she had fallen into the dark pit.
He turned her halfway around, warming the medicinal oil in his palm. “Why didn’t you mention this earlier?”
Ji Yuluo replied, “It didn’t hurt before. Now I’m feeling a bit dizzy.”
She spoke lightly, as if it wasn’t her head that was injured.
“You…” Huo Xian was speechless, almost wanting to hit her. His fingers curled up, but he hesitated, unsure where to strike, worried she might have other hidden injuries. He swallowed his anger and said through gritted teeth, “Do you not value your own life anymore?”
Ji Yuluo, feeling tired, hugged her knees and remained still, speaking slowly, “It’s not that bad. I value my life.”
“Sure, you value your life,” Huo Xian mocked her. “But you don’t seem to care about yourself.”
Huo Xian had always thought Ji Yuluo was full of vitality, like wild grass growing between the cracks of steps, but she didn’t care how she lived or in what condition she lived.
It infuriated him.
Ji Yuluo glanced up lightly, mocking him in return, “Unlike you, who doesn’t seem to care about your own life.”
Huo Xian paused his movements, rubbing her head, and said, “Who said that?”
After a long silence, he finally spoke in a low voice, “I want to live.”
Ji Yuluo’s breath caught for a moment, feeling a sudden sense of relief, as if a weight had been lifted off her heart.
Huo Xian’s palm grew warm, filling the air with the scent of medicinal wine. His chest occasionally brushed against her nose as he leaned closer. Ji Yuluo lifted her head at this moment.
Her long, white neck glowed under the flickering candlelight.
With just one glance, Huo Xian felt Ji Yuluo was deliberately enticing him.
He couldn’t afford to look at her for long.
Desire surged like a tide; he knew he would eventually have to become a solid dam to contain it.
–
The wind pushed the candle flame, also pushing Huo Xian.
The sound of their lips and tongues entwining filled the air. Huo Xian instinctively wanted to press Ji Yuluo’s head down, but instead, his hand moved to her neck.
Ji Yuluo sat sideways on his lap, her head tilted back, accepting his kiss.
This had become second nature now. He remembered their first time; they were like two wild beasts only knowing how to bite each other, tasting no tenderness, only ferocity, their competitive nature embedded in every action, their tongues battling as if for survival.
But now, they had learned to entangle and savor each other.
When Huo Xian finally released Ji Yuluo, her face was flushed from lack of oxygen, the redness spreading to her neck. A gentle scratch with his fingernail raised tiny goosebumps.
“Are you still dizzy?”
Ji Yuluo leaned her head on his shoulder and murmured, “Yes, even dizzier.”
Huo Xian felt that Ji Yuluo was unusually clingy tonight. He caressed her back and asked, “Do you really not want me to get an imperial physician for you?”
Ji Yuluo replied, “No, you’ve already rubbed off the medicine you applied earlier.”
Huo Xian chuckled softly, “Why are you so troublesome? Who started it?”
As he spoke, he warmed the medicinal wine again and pressed his palm against the back of Ji Yuluo’s head, rubbing gently while holding her.
Ji Yuluo sighed, “Lord Huo, don’t twist things around.”
Huo Xian tickled her waist, making Ji Yuluo laugh and squirm before he held her still again.
He glanced out the window.
He wasn’t on duty tonight; Liyang was in charge of guarding Jiulong Hall. It was surrounded by layers of Jinyiwei Guards and imperial guards, so normally nothing would happen. However, since he had disappeared without reason during the day, Huo Xian couldn’t help but feel uneasy, even though Emperor Shun’an might have already forgotten about it. He still wanted to take a look.
Ji Yuluo seemed to have fallen asleep on his shoulder. Huo Xian patted her, but she didn’t respond. Instead, she nuzzled against his clothes.
Completely unthreatening.
Yet her arms around his neck made it impossible for him to leave.
Huo Xian sat on the soft couch.
Outside, dark clouds chased the moon, coming and going. The blue sand in the hourglass slowly ran out.
Suddenly, the door burst open. Liyang, who was usually the most composed, looked panicked, “My lord, the Emperor, the Emperor is missing!”
The hands around his neck had loosened at some point, allowing Huo Xian to easily lay Ji Yuluo down on the couch. He stood up and said, “What do you mean missing? Where was he last seen? When did he go missing? Aren’t the Jinyiwei Guards and imperial guards everywhere?”
