Shan Gong glanced one last time at the masked man before immediately following.
The old man also swung his axe and followed close behind.
"Mu Qi, why didn't you let them go up earlier?" Yun Shuniang, clinging tightly to Mu Qi's back, asked as she looked at the group of black-clad men below, her voice filled with confusion.
"They are the trump card."
Yun Shuniang understood. If these people were to confront those above, whether in terms of numbers or overall strength, they might not necessarily be able to match them.
Therefore, it was not suitable for a rash attack, only to wait for an opportune moment.
"Oh." Yun Shuniang felt a bit dizzy and hugged Mu Qi tighter.
After an unknown amount of time, Yun Shuniang suddenly opened her eyes and found herself back at the Qi Garden.
Yun Shuniang turned her head slightly and saw Mu Qi beside her, holding a cotton swab and about to moisten her lips.
The familiar surroundings, the familiar person—Yun Shuniang instantly felt as if a lifetime had passed.
"You have a fever, you should rest for a while." Mu Qi removed the towel from Yun Shuniang's forehead, then took another towel that had been in ice water and placed it on Yun Shuniang's head.
The cold shock made Yun Shuniang much more awake.
"Where's the old man?" Yun Shuniang remembered the old man with a youthful appearance and a childlike spirit, and was very worried that he hadn't followed.
He had been in seclusion for many years; she didn't know if he had money or if he would encounter trouble.
"Don't worry, he's already gone home." Mu Qi rubbed Yun Shuniang's head.
"Oh." Yun Shuniang, who hadn't been this close to Mu Qi for a long time, suddenly felt a warmth in her eyes, a feeling of having lost and then regained something rippling in her heart.
Perhaps being sick made her more emotionally fragile and prone to flooding. Yun Shuniang suddenly sat up, stepped on Mu Qi's legs, and nestled into his embrace.
"Mu Qi, I love you so much, I love you dearly." Yun Shuniang buried her face in Mu Qi's neck and shoulders, inhaling his scent, her voice filled with grievance and overflowing love.
Mu Qi hadn't expected Yun Shuniang to confess so suddenly. His mind went blank, and he only keenly felt the soft touch in his arms.
"Mu Qi, can you only like me from now on?" Yun Shuniang's eyes welled up with tears. Like a small beast lacking security, she burrowed into Mu Qi's embrace.
The towel on Yun Shuniang's head fell onto the floor.
Mu Qi finally reacted and tightly embraced Yun Shuniang in his arms.
"Baby, I've always been selfish towards you, only allowing you to like me, and the same goes for myself," Mu Qi said, his arms around Yun Shuniang.
Yun Shuniang looked up, her tear-streaked, crescent eyes meeting Mu Qi's, and let out a sob, "Really?"
"Of course, it's true," Mu Qi replied, taking out a handkerchief to gently wipe away her tears.
"Then what about Shan Gong?" Yun Shuniang continued to ask, not missing any subtle expression from Mu Qi.
"I don't know what's really going on, but he and I are not what you think."
"Hmph." Yun Shuniang pouted. Although she couldn't see anything from Mu Qi's face, it didn't stop her from feeling jealous.
Mu Qi looked at Yun Shuniang's adorable jealous expression and found it incredibly endearing.
Finally, the person Mu Qi loved with his life had fallen in love with him too.
*Gurgle~*
Yun Shuniang's stomach let out an uncooperative gurgle, immediately embarrassing her.
"Wait, I'll get you something to eat." Mu Qi chuckled, carrying Yun Shuniang back to the bed, patting her head reassuringly, and then turned to leave.
Yun Shuniang listened to her stomach continue to rumble. She lightly punched it in frustration and then covered her face with a nearby pillow.
A moment later, Mu Qi returned with a bowl of pumpkin congee.
Yun Shuniang looked at the contents of the bowl and dejectedly looked up at Mu Qi, "This definitely has no flavor!"
"I want spicy crayfish!" she added, having eaten enough crab.
"You have a fever," Mu Qi said, scooping a spoonful of congee, blowing on it, and then bringing it to Yun Shuniang's lips.
Yun Shuniang immediately recoiled, turning her head away, "I'm not eating."
Mu Qi surprisingly said nothing, which only made Yun Shuniang more annoyed. However, her stomach continued to grumble betrayingly.
Wrapped in hunger and embarrassment, Yun Shuniang stealthily glanced towards Mu Qi, only to find him still holding the spoon.
Yun Shuniang's little heart melted instantly.
"Given your unyielding spirit, this Empress shall deign to accept," Yun Shuniang said, raising her eyes and giving herself a grand excuse, before proceeding to eat Mu Qi's congee.
Hmm? It actually tastes quite good!
Yun Shuniang's crescent eyes lit up. She snatched the bowl and spoon from Mu Qi's hand and eagerly began shoveling the congee into her mouth.
"Slow down," Mu Qi said, watching Yun Shuniang's hasty actions, fearing she might scald herself.
Yun Shuniang didn't respond, her entire attention focused on the bowl of congee.
How could pumpkin congee be so delicious? Yun Shuniang marveled inwardly.
It wasn't until she had eaten half the bowl that Yun Shuniang realized there were also longans in it, which explained the sweetness.
"Mu Qi, is there more?" Yun Shuniang, still unsatisfied, held up the empty bowl to Mu Qi, indicating she hadn't eaten enough.
"Yes, you'll eat more later. It's not good to eat too much on an empty stomach right away." Mu Qi took the bowl from Yun Shuniang's hand and set it aside.
"Understood," Yun Shuniang couldn't help but stare at the empty bowl, as if trying to bore a hole through it with her gaze.
-------------------------------------
"Boss."
As soon as the masked man woke up, he heard a weak voice from the corner of the room.
The masked man rubbed his aching forehead, only to find his hand covered in blood. Su Dan Novels.
A fierce aura instantly emanated from the masked man. He turned to look at the pervert whose upper body was heaving like hills and walked towards him with a frown.
"Boss, save me." The pervert was gasping for breath, his eyes narrowed to slits.
The masked man, however, fiercely kicked him in the side of the face, "Bastard! Who told you to touch her!"
The pervert instantly spat out a mouthful of blood.
As if still not appeased, the masked man took off his outer garment, threw it on the ground fiercely, and turned to walk out.