Chapter 195: Chapter 195: 195: Prince Longevity (25)

Ever since that night, Yan Gui had acted much more naturally around Chuzheng, no longer dodging and avoiding her in an awkward and strange manner.

Chuzheng was delighted, of course, holding the Good Person Card that allowed her to kiss him.

To Chuzheng, the Good Person Card was entirely hers; what’s wrong with kissing? She’s going to kiss!

Yan Gui had some resistance to this, but he had promised Chuzheng, so he could only accept her occasionally impulsive actions of turning around and kissing him.

“Don’t kiss anymore,” Yan Gui said softly, “We still have to hit the road.”

He didn’t really want to go out.

Going out means that Bastard’s gonna mess with me.

Chuzheng kissed Yan Gui against a tree trunk, a gentle and persistent kiss like a spring rain soaking the earth.

The sunshine stretched their shadows, intertwining and casting them upon the grass.

Yan Gui was a bit dazed.

If…

If only it was just the two of them living together, how nice would that be?

Chuzheng hugged Yan Gui, her chin resting on his shoulder: “Let’s go.”

The young man’s hands loosely encircled Chuzheng, somewhat helplessly: “How can we go with you pressing down on me?”

Chuzheng lifted her hand to block the sun for him, speaking seriously: “The sun is so strong, let’s wait a bit before we leave.”

Yan Gui: “…”

–

“It looks like there’s someone up ahead,” Yan Gui pointed to the smoke not far away.

Chuzheng followed his gaze; there was a wisp of smoke, and a faint scent wafted through the air.

“Let’s go take a look.”

Chuzheng took Yan Gui over. It seemed not far, but by the time they got there, the sky had darkened.

Halfway up the mountain, there were two thatched cottages, a fire pit on an open space, and a table made of tree roots beside it.

“What are you guys doing here?”

From inside the thatched cottage, an old man leaning on a walking stick with a hunched back looked at them.

He was dressed in patched hemp clothes, sort of like someone from the Beggar’s Sect.

He was blind in one eye; the entire eyeball was gone, leaving behind a dark hole that was frightening to behold.

In the wilderness with a person… it always feels like something bad is about to happen.

Could it be they’ll encounter a cannibal?

Looking at his appearance, he definitely hasn’t eaten much, nearly as skinny as a lightning bolt.

Chuzheng’s mind was racing with wild thoughts, yet she maintained a composed and calm exterior: “We’re lost.”

“Lost?” the old man hobbled over, his voice tinged with suspicion: “In these wild mountains, how did you get lost here?”

“We fell from Qi Mountain and then walked here,” Chuzheng stated calmly.

The old man’s sole good eye narrowed, his cane tapping the ground, as if he believed Chuzheng’s words.

“Qi Mountain is very far from here; there are many snakes, wolves, tigers, and leopards in the mountains. You’re lucky to have made it here,” he said.

“Hmm.”

The old man glared at Chuzheng.

Chuzheng: “…”

Why are you staring at me!!

“You want to get out?” the old man asked proactively.

“Hmm.”

The old man seemed to choke up a bit, as if he was the one seeking rescue?

Chuzheng showed no intention of asking for directions, while that beautiful boy stood quietly by her side, his serene eyes fixated on something.

“It’s several days’ journey from here to get out. Just head west and you’ll find your way,” the old man suggested.

Looking at the sky, he said reluctantly: “It’s already dark today; you can rest here and set off tomorrow.”

After speaking, the old man went back into the thatched cottage.

Chuzheng didn’t plan on leaving either; moving around at night in the woods was indeed troublesome.

Not dangerous, but troublesome.

Chuzheng decided to rest here and leave tomorrow.

Yan Gui was a bit tired; as darkness fell, he fell asleep.

Chuzheng sat on the ground, drawing aimlessly on the dirt with a stick.

[Main Quest: Spend a hundred thousand taels of silver notes within two hours.]

Chuzheng: “…”

Excuse me, Bastard, how am I supposed to spend a hundred thousand taels of silver notes in the wilderness?

A hundred thousand taels!

Should I burn them?

If I burn them, you won’t approve the mission as complete!!

[Miss, you should be good at discovering.] King’s Account rang out in a crisp and cheerful tone.

“I’m good at finding a ball, what else is there here besides trees? You really expect me to buy a whole mountain of trees to bury Imperial City with?!”

“What’s here!”

“What’s here!”

“You tell me!”

“[…]Sister, don’t be so fierce!! You’ve scared the System to death! Hold onto your little tail tight and hide, hide.”

The King’s Account went silent.

Chuzheng was furious.

She was determined to take down that Bastard!

Chuzheng’s eyes swept over the sleeping Yan Gui, then glanced at the thatched cottage…

Thatched cottage!

Chuzheng carefully put Yan Gui down, took off her coat to cover him, and stood up with an imposing manner, heading towards the thatched cottage.

The old man thought he was hearing things when Chuzheng said she wanted to buy something.

“What could I possibly have to sell to you?”

“What valuables do you have?”

Ten thousand, ah!

The Bastard wouldn’t issue such a high-stake task without reason.

“I don’t have anything.” The old man looked at Chuzheng skeptically as if to say ‘Is this girl nuts to make such a fuss in the middle of the night?’.

“You do.” There must be something!

“I don’t!” The old man shooed Chuzheng away.

Chuzheng’s gaze swept over the thatched cottage again. The cottage was simple, hung with the old man’s belongings and some stored meat.

“What’s that?”

Chuzheng pointed to the box in the corner, dusty and locked.

“That is…”

The old man looked at Chuzheng.

“You want to buy it?”

“You selling?”

“Selling.”

Chuzheng handed over the silver note to the old man like she was getting rid of a hot potato.

“…”

–

Yan Gui heard Chuzheng’s footsteps as she returned and immediately closed his eyes.

The steps drew closer, and she stood by his side for a while, the sound of her clothes rustling, and then he was pulled into her embrace.

Pressing against her chest, he could hear her heartbeat.

Yan Gui’s hand under the coat clenched slightly. What had she traded with that old man?

In this wilderness, it seemed like it was only him…

Yan Gui’s body stiffened for a moment, but Chuzheng soothed his back and then kissed his forehead, “Don’t be scared.”

“…”

Yan Gui sighed softly to himself and gradually relaxed, falling asleep against her.

The next day, Chuzheng left that place.

She took him with her.

And not as he had thought, that she had sold him.

So what had she traded with that old man?

–

Yan Gui was able to count the days at first, but as time passed, he lost track.

He also noticed that Chuzheng was procrastinating, seemingly not eager to leave.

But sometimes she would hurry along as if that was just his imagination.

However, in the end, they did make their way out.

It had been almost half a month since the incident at Qi Mountain.

The Emperor and the rest of the Ministers had long returned to Imperial City.

The casualties were severe that day, but most of the Ministers’ families were unharmed, with the Imperial Forest Army and the bodyguard attendants making up the bulk of the dead.

The Emperor was furious over this incident.

He had many people beheaded, but in the end, they still couldn’t figure out who was behind it.

Chuzheng and Yan Gui hurried back to Imperial City.

The Prince Cheng Residence was adorned with white lanterns, and white silk fluttered in the wind.

Chuzheng and Yan Gui went missing during the chaos. Lv Zhu and Xiao Guizi sent people to look for them. Most people searched symbolically and soon settled with the conclusion that they had not been found and must be surely dead after falling off a cliff.

Xiao Guizi and Lv Zhu had little influence, and once the Prince’s Mansion received this news, Princess Consort Cheng immediately took control again.

They are now preparing her funerary arrangements.