After the reconciliation between the Northern Cold and the Great Yong, the two countries became friendly. In exchange for the cessation of the annual tribute, Yuchi Yanyan no longer called himself the emperor but the king.
Under Yuchi Yanyan's governance, the people of the Northern Cold became much more amicable towards the people of the Great Yong. Inter - marriage between the two countries began.
With no more frictions and wars, the peaceful days were truly pleasant.
Ji Feiyu was lost in thought, sighing over the affairs between the two countries. She didn't notice that Yuchi Yanyan had dispersed his entourage and suddenly rode his horse beside her. "Xia Ling," he said, "the Great Yong has just conquered several small bordering countries. It seems that he is really determined to rejuvenate the country."
Ji Feiyu naturally knew whom he was referring to. She couldn't help smiling. "Isn't that great?"
However, Yuchi Yanyan's eyes darkened. "It's been so many years. Are you still blaming him?"
Ji Feiyu urged her horse to move a few steps forward and turned her back to him. "What should I blame him for? I should thank him instead, for giving me freedom."
"You're tough - talking but soft - hearted," Yuchi Yanyan murmured behind her. "Next time when he writes to ask me about you, I'll surely tell him that you're in the Northern Cold!"
"You dare!" Ji Feiyu suddenly reined in her horse and turned around.
Yuchi Yanyan laughed and spurred his horse forward. "Of course I dare!"
Ji Feiyu glanced at him and knew that he was being naughty again. She then shouted at the top of her voice, "Ran Wei! Your husband is bullying me!"
Ran Wei immediately turned around and looked at them curiously. Yuchi Yanyan's face changed at once, and he whispered in complaint, "Ji Feiyu!"
Ji Feiyu stuck out her tongue at him. "Who's Ji Feiyu? My name is Xia Ling now."
Whether in the Northern Cold or the Great Yong, Ji Feiyu, the former queen, was considered dead. Naturally, she couldn't use her original name anymore. So she changed it to Xia Ling. "Xia" referred to summer, her favorite season, and "Ling" meant the long and stiff feathers on a bird's wings and tail.
While Ji Feiyu was talking to Yuchi Yanyan, Ran Wei had ridden over. "What's going on?" she asked. Ji Feiyu spurred her horse towards Ran Wei, looking wronged.
Listening to Ji Feiyu's mawkish and plaintive accusations, Yuchi Yanyan was almost spitting blood in anger. After listening, Ran Wei's eyes turned cold. She shouted at Yuchi Yanyan, who was about to turn his horse and run away, "Yuchi Yanyan, stop right there!"
Watching the two chasing each other away, Ji Feiyu couldn't help showing a naughty smile. It was not that easy to outwit her. She was about to ride back to rest when a familiar voice came, "Ling'er, I'm here to see you! Have you missed me?"
Ji Feiyu twitched the corner of her mouth. She saw a figure in cyan running towards her. Who else could it be but the "Flower Butterfly"?
Hearing that they were going hunting, he had insisted on being in the same team as Ji Feiyu. Ran Wei, who had witnessed his clingy behavior, had pleaded with Ji Feiyu to assign him some tasks to keep him away. So here he was, running back after finishing his tasks.
"Ah! I heard you guys won! Can I get a fox fur to make a big cloak?" As soon as the "Flower Butterfly" came, his eyes lit up at the sight of the spoils. He boasted to Ji Feiyu, "I worked really hard to deal with those people for you today. It's not too much to ask for this small thing, right?"
Ji Feiyu couldn't help coughing lightly. "Well... You'd better talk to Ran Wei and her husband about this. I don't have the authority to handle these spoils."
"Where are they then?" The "Flower Butterfly" looked at Ji Feiyu with star - filled eyes, full of expectation.
Ji Feiyu pointed in the direction they had gone. "They should have ridden that way. Why don't you go and take a look?"
The "Flower Butterfly" put his hand on his forehead and looked into the distance. "It's so far..." The next second, he jumped onto Ji Feiyu's horseback and hugged her from behind. "Then why don't you go with me, Ling'er!"
"Eh? No!" Before Ji Feiyu could react, he grabbed the reins and turned the horse around. Ji Feiyu was a bit uncomfortable and nudged him with her elbow. "Why are you hugging me so tightly? Let go!"
The "Flower Butterfly" deliberately leaned close to her neck. "Really? I'm just afraid you'll fall off!"
Ji Feiyu was speechless and nudged him hard a couple of times...
After a while, Ji Feiyu still felt uncomfortable and complained again, "Damn it! Why is your body so hot!"
This time he laughed heartily. "Haha, I got hot running back."
"Running your head! Get off my horse right now, or I'll stab you with a poisoned needle." Ji Feiyu threatened while searching for the needles on her body.
Seeing this, he deliberately tightened his grip and hugged Ji Feiyu. "Don't worry about this. We'll talk after we find Ran Wei."
Ji Feiyu was furious. This guy was becoming more and more of a rogue!
...
Ji Feiyu was "kidnapped" by the "Flower Butterfly" and rode for a while. She saw two horses standing on a grassland, grazing. But the riders were nowhere to be seen...
Just as she slowed down the horse, wondering whether to get off and look for them, she heard some groans. Two people popped their heads out of the grass.
Ji Feiyu blushed when she saw their disheveled clothes. She couldn't help chuckling to herself and quickly spurred her horse forward. The "Flower Butterfly" said with a smile, "Ling'er, I heard the scenery here is really beautiful. When shall we come camping here?"
Ji Feiyu shouted, "What are you talking about! Who wants to camp with you?" Then her tone changed. "But it's true that the scenery here is nice."
Suddenly, a man's boot was thrown at them. The "Flower Butterfly" quickly bent down with Ji Feiyu to avoid it. Looking closely, they found it was Ran Wei who had thrown it.
At this moment, the "Flower Butterfly" fully demonstrated his shameless nature. He joked, "Oh, someone is actually shy. Well, I'll take the fox fur as your gift then. Let's go, Ling'er!"
Ran Wei spat, "You're such a scoundrel. Stay away from my sister - in - law, or I'll teach you a good lesson when I get up."
The "Flower Butterfly" laughed, "If you want to teach me a lesson, come quickly. I can't wait. I'm just afraid someone won't agree!"
At this time, another man's boot was thrown. This time it was Yuchi Yanyan. "You two get out of here quickly. You're ruining our good time!"
The "Flower Butterfly" burst into laughter, and Ji Feiyu also giggled.
Ran Wei blushed and pushed Yuchi Yanyan. "Get up quickly and chase them. I'll beat the 'Flower Butterfly' black and blue today."
Hearing this, the "Flower Butterfly" immediately rode away with Ji Feiyu.
The two of them tidied up their clothes, stood up from the grass, and spurred their horses to chase after them.
Ji Feiyu hurriedly said, "Hurry! Run!" It was another bout of frolicking.
Just as they were having fun, a man rode over and reported, "The White Alliance Leader has sent a visiting card, saying that he will come to pay a visit tomorrow."
Ji Feiyu and the "Flower Butterfly" couldn't help slowing down their horses to listen more clearly. Ran Wei and Yuchi Yanyan were also a bit surprised. They murmured, "What on earth is that guy doing here in the Northern Cold instead of staying in the Great Yong?"