Few people know that there is a private hot spring on the west side of Luofeng City. It is said to be a gift from the gods, a unique treasure in the desert, so it was named Fengling Spring.
The bonfire party with the people ended. At the banquet with many distinguished guests, the King of the Southern Region gave the Fengling Spring to his daughter as a coming-of-age gift.
Amid the amazed and envious gazes of the guests, Ni Ke thanked her father and sat down below him with a bright smile, creating a warm scene of a loving father and a filial daughter.
The bright and beautiful young princess was so happy that she didn't touch the grilled meat, vegetables and fruits on the table, but she drank glass after glass of wine happily. She drank until the end of the banquet, with two blushes on her cheeks and a pair of drunken eyes that were as charming as silk.
The King of the Southern Region frowned and sent someone to take the princess back to sober her up. After the banquet, Zhang Ze'an stepped forward and explained everything to the King of the Southern Region.
The King of the Southern Region said indifferently, "It's just some childish thoughts. Since Ni'er is interested, just kidnap her and marry her."
"The identity of that Mr. Xiao is unknown, and he and the one from the Mu Mansion..."
"Are unmarried couples still unmarried? Ni'er is the apple of my eye. How could she be worse than those delicate and incapable ladies? No need to say more. Just go and kidnap him and let Ni'er sleep with him! As the Han people say, it's 'cooked rice before cooked rice'. By then, even if he is a prince, would he dare not take responsibility in front of me... this king?"
Zhang Ze'an had no choice but to agree, and then sent his confidant to kidnap Xiao Muyun.
Thinking carefully, the prince's bandit logic is not without reason. Anyway, the engaged couple are from Jingsheng and Tianlan respectively, and it is hard to say whether they can succeed across the border. Doing this is not considered to be forcing a marriage.
…
Xiao Muran escaped in the night, his lips showing an abnormal blue color. His left arm was shot by an arrow, but fortunately it was not deep, and he was somewhat numb after the severe pain. After finally getting rid of the killer, he immediately pulled out the short arrow and bandaged it hastily. Under the cover of the black clothes, the oozing blood did not look very obvious.
"Yes, it's him!" Several guards in the distance saw Xiao Muran, nodded, and walked towards him aggressively.
Xiao Muran was startled. Judging from their attire, they should be guards from the Southern Region City. They came over so brazenly. They should not be colluding with the assassins to kill him. Xiao Muran relaxed a little and took the initiative to greet them.
The head guard signaled several guards to surround Xiao Muran, and then stepped forward and bowed to him, "Mr. Xiao, our prince wants to see you."
"Okay." Xiao Muran nodded calmly.
With his current injuries, it was not easy to escape, so he might as well go with them. As long as Mu Yun found him, all the difficulties would be solved.
Seeing how cooperative he was, the head of the guards couldn't help but feel good about him, and said kindly, "Don't worry, Mr. Xiao. Our prince is a kind person. Princess Ni Ke is the most beautiful rose in the desert, and she will definitely treat you well..."
Xiao Muyun watched his mouth opening and closing, his face calm and he nodded from time to time, but in fact he couldn't hear what he was saying at all.
At some point, they walked into a cloud of mist. Xiao Muran didn't notice when the guards around him disappeared, because his head was dizzy and he felt dizzy. He couldn't even stand or walk straight, let alone take care of other things.
He suddenly realized very clearly that the arrow was poisoned.
He didn't know if it would be useful to clean the wound now, but he had no choice but to find a water source and give it a try, so he stumbled forward.
Water source…
He needs water...
Amidst the smoke, a red figure emerged from the water. Her long black hair spread out like seaweed, and together with the soaked red silk, it covered her exquisite curves, half-hiding and half-exposing her body, making it more obvious...
Such beauty is enough to make any man's blood boil.
Xiao Muran just stood there quietly, tilting his head slightly, as if he was a little confused.
Like a married girl with a veil covering her head, there was only a vague red in front of his sight, and he couldn't even make out a shape.
"Xiao Lang..." The charming and gentle voice came from far away, making people feel half-soft.
Oh, it’s a person.
Xiao Muran breathed a sigh of relief. He was still worried that he had encountered some monsters or demons.
He was about to ask when the red figure suddenly bumped into his arms, her moist arms wrapped around his neck, and a warm and moist fragrance lingered around his nose...
…
The sky is dim, hazy and clear.
"Have you ever thought about the assassin's origins?"
Mu Lin was wearing Xiao Muyun's outer robe, looking up at the sky, with a heavy look in his eyes.
She was so proud of herself for a moment that she forgot about Xiao Muran, an important person. But not showing it didn't mean she didn't feel upset.
Xiao Muyun nodded, his eyes cold, "I roughly guessed it. I'll deal with it when I get back."
Apart from the shallow empress dowager in the palace, there is also the young emperor who has just ascended the throne. Both mother and son share the same stupidity.
Linglan came over and bowed, then said solemnly, "Master, the poison on the arrow has been detected. It is a secret medicine from the imperial palace, Green Silk Spring."
The worry in Xiao Muyun's eyes became even more intense.
Mu Lin seemed to have heard of this medicine and asked, "What does it do?"
"Green Silk Spring is also called 'Death Under the Peony Flower'. It is an aphrodisiac, but also a fatal drug..."
Mu Lin and Xiao Muyun's faces turned from red to white, and their brows were furrowed.
"Master, I found Master Xiao!" Hei Cha came over in a hurry, and before they could ask, he quickly said, "Master Xiao is waiting at the inn, please follow me immediately..."
Everyone set off immediately. Hei Cha spoke very quickly.
"I overheard the guards mention the Second Young Master while drinking, and I suspected they had recognized the wrong person, so I found Fenglingquan Villa and happened to pick up the First Young Master Xiao who had climbed over the wall..."
"Young Master Xiao looked like an ordinary person at the time, but he suddenly vomited black blood a moment later. He directed his subordinates to send him back to the Fairy Sword Inn. Second Young Master Xiao, Young Master Xiao asks you to return quickly and see him for the last time!"
When they heard Xiao Muran spitting out black blood, Xiao Muyun and the others' expressions suddenly changed, and Mu Lin even clenched his hands in his sleeves. They looked at each other subconsciously, and they all knew that this was the onset of the poison of Lusichun.
Xiao Muyun did not see the guilt in Mu Lin's eyes. He was obviously calmer. Even though he was under the greatest pressure, he still held Mu Lin's hand comfortingly, "Things don't have to be the worst possible."
Mu Lin concealed the strangeness in his eyes and smiled back.
When they arrived outside the inn room, Xiao Muyun's hand that was pushing the door paused.
“Time waits for no one.”
Mu Lin had regained his composure and opened the door for him without hesitation.
Xiao Muran was sitting on a chair. On the table was an emerald green teapot and three teacups. The white smoke made his face a little blurry, except for his dark purple lips that were particularly eye-catching.
"Brother, I'm back." Xiao Muyun said word by word seriously.
The bond of blood, the long-standing tacit understanding, and a look from his brother made him understand everything.
It's irreversible.
Xiao Muran looked at them gently, "Mu Yun, sister-in-law, sit down."
"I have something to tell you."
Mu Lin did not refute or correct his wording. He bowed silently and sat down with Xiao Muyun.
The two secret guards retreated quietly, one guarding the door and the other going downstairs to investigate.
Xiao Muran looked at Xiao Muyun and said calmly, "Xiao, we can't retreat anymore."
Xiao Muyun nodded, "I understand."
Mu Lin seemed to understand something. When it came to the turbulent situation in Tianlan, her opponent knew quite a lot about it.
But she had no intention of judging, and some things did not require her to interfere.
"I'll give it to you." Xiao Muran placed a small copper token on the table.
Mu Lin saw a lotus bud carved on it, which was about to bloom, hiding the thoughtful look in his eyes.
Xiao Muran's eyes softened a little, and he said a little embarrassedly: "Last night I had physical contact with a woman... I left her a token, and you can help me find her and compensate her in the future."
Xiao Muyun stared into his eyes and said, "I understand."
The atmosphere suddenly fell silent.
After explaining all this, Xiao Muran suddenly didn't know what to say. He had lost too much energy, and finally sighed softly, feeling guilty.
He is sleeping in the ground without knowing the pain, but his living relatives have to bear the pain. I wonder how disheartened my father would be when he heard this bad news...
"Please apologize to my father for me and tell him that I am an unfilial son. I will leave first and go downstairs to take care of my mother."
"I see."
"Ayun, bury me here. I like the freedom and spaciousness here. Just build a cenotaph for me when you go back."
"… I see."
Xiao Muran waved his hand in disdain, "Go out, I have something to say to my sister-in-law."
Mu Lin nodded. He definitely kept her here not just to listen to their conversation, but because he had something to tell her.
Xiao Muyun stood up and said the third sentence to his brother since he entered the house, "Brother, don't force or embarrass her."
"Alright, alright, got it. You're the kind of guy who values women over brothers. Normally, I've never seen you get nervous about anything!"
Xiao Muyun then walked out and considerately closed the door for them.
"Sister-in-law..."
"Please say."
"You are not an ordinary person, but it's not your fault." Xiao Muran suddenly said.
Mu Lin was silent for a moment, then smiled helplessly and asked, "Why?"
Why can he see...
"Because you looked at us with guilt in your eyes." Xiao Muran blinked and said, "I guess you should know something, but..."
"None of this matters. People cannot foresee when they will die. Even if someone else foresees it, can it change anything? This is not your responsibility or burden."
Mu Lin shook his head and said firmly: "No, this is my responsibility."
"I should be happy to see that you care so much about my younger brother." A surge of blood rushed up Xiao Muran, suppressing his cough, but still spat out a mouthful of black blood.
"You don't have much time left. If you have any requests, I will try my best to agree to them." Mu Lin made a promise.
"No matter what, please don't give up on Mu Yun."
"I won't."
"Okay, last question, who are you?" Xiao Muran looked at her inquiringly. He was about to die, and he would not tell anyone even if he knew, so he could ask her about her identity openly.
Just as he thought, Mu Lin replied frankly: "Mu Lin, you can also call me Princess Jingxuan, Tan Yining."
"… "
Xiao Muran suddenly felt that his life was worth it when he found out before he died that the legendary princess of the neighboring country was his sister-in-law.
Yes, he found a good home for his second brother.
Mu Lin saw that he had finished asking questions and walked towards the door.
Xiao Muran was behind her, blood pouring out of his mouth and nose like a waterfall. He couldn't help but ask, "Will Jingsheng and Tianlan go to war within 20 years?"
Mu Lin said without even turning his head: "I have already answered your last question."
After saying that, she pushed open the door and met Xiao Muyun's eyes at the door.
"Come in," she said.
"Wait for me outside." Xiao Muyun made way for her.
“That’s not necessary.”