The mountain road was treacherous. Despite their headlong rush, they still couldn't reach Phoenix City that night. Wu Luoluo had no choice but to stop and prepare the medicinal herbs for a bath.
Shangguan Yun was very obedient that night. He helped boil the medicine, ate dinner, and took the medicinal bath without any urging from Wu Luoluo. After the bath, he cleaned the copper pot, carried it back to the carriage, carefully spread out the bedding, then lit the lantern. Holding a medical book and a half - worn writing brush, he started marking the rare characters in the book for Wu Luoluo.
Wu Luoluo watered and fed the horses that had been tired all day. After everything was in order, she climbed back into the carriage to rest. Seeing Shangguan Yun still burying his head in writing, Wu Luoluo timidly said, "My lord, it's getting late. Let's go to bed early, shall we?"
Shangguan Yun stopped his action, looked back with a smile and said, "You go to sleep first. I'm not sleepy yet. I'll come to bed after writing for a while."
Wu Luoluo responded, and Shangguan Yun then lowered his head to read the book.
Almost instantly, Wu Luoluo keenly sensed that the lord was deliberately avoiding her. Her face turned pale. She turned around, rustled as she took off her outer clothes and got into the quilt.
On this snowy night in the mountains, all was silent. Occasionally, the howling of the wind outside and the sound of Shangguan Yun turning the pages of the book could be heard. There was no other sound.
Wu Luoluo lay quietly, feeling a bit sad. Since the lord called out that name last night, he seemed to be deliberately keeping a bit of distance from her. He usually went to bed first and waited for her. But now, he was reluctant to sleep with her.
The more Wu Luoluo thought about it, the more heart - broken she felt. But she was reluctant to show it in front of Shangguan Yun. She could only hide in the quilt and sulk quietly. After a long while, tired and sleepy, she finally fell into a deep sleep.
Hearing her familiar soft snoring, Shangguan Yun finally closed the medical book in his hand. This girl hugged his feet every night when she slept, pressing her whole chest against him to keep him warm. It made him unable to control his emotions.
Come on, he was a normal man, okay!
He dawdled for a long time tonight and dared not go to rest because he was afraid that Wu Luoluo would notice his physical reaction when they were both awake. That would be so embarrassing.
So, he gritted his teeth and waited until Wu Luoluo fell asleep before getting into the quilt.
He blew out the candle in the lantern, took off his clothes, climbed onto the bed, and snuggled up against the warm and soft Wu Luoluo to sleep soundly.
Early the next morning, Shangguan Yun was woken up by some unknown birds. Seeing that Wu Luoluo was still sleeping, he simply got up and drove the carriage on the road.
After two days of running around with so many busy and miscellaneous things to do, they had to enter Phoenix City earlier to buy the medicinal herbs, which would also let Wu Luoluo feel at ease.
Wu Luoluo woke up almost at noon. She put on her clothes and shakily opened the wooden door of the carriage. She saw Shangguan Yun waving the whip to drive the horses. They were not far from Phoenix City at the foot of the mountain.
Shangguan Yun turned back and smiled brightly at her, "Are you hungry? Hold on for a while. When we get into the city later, let's go and eat something delicious."
Wu Luoluo yawned repeatedly and agreed.
There were more and more pedestrians in Phoenix City. Shangguan Yun randomly stopped in front of an inn. As soon as they got off the carriage, a waiter warmly greeted them, bowed and said, "Do you two guests want to stay in the inn?"
Shangguan Yun nodded slightly. The waiter then asked, "How many rooms do you two guests want?"
Hearing this, Shangguan Yun blushed, and Wu Luoluo, wearing a veil, also looked a bit unnatural.
The waiter was used to such things. He glanced at the carriage at the door and said with a soft smile, "I think one room is enough for you two newlyweds. Please go upstairs and rest! I'll lead your horses down to water and feed them later."
Newlyweds?
Shangguan Yun glanced at the uncomfortable Wu Luoluo and felt quite happy. He nodded to the waiter and said, "Thank you." Then he helped Wu Luoluo by the arm and went upstairs.
The waiter chose a spacious and bright room and led them in. Seeing Shangguan Yun nodding in satisfaction, he bowed and left to serve tea to the guests.
After finishing these things, when the waiter led the horses to the backyard to water and feed them, he couldn't help but take a few more glances at the old carriage. He was secretly puzzled. That guest seemed to be a man of means, but why was the carriage he was riding so shabby? But these horses were all top - notch! This was really strange.
After the waiter finished his work in the backyard, he saw that the guest just now was leading his wife downstairs. The guest asked him, "Do you know which restaurant nearby is relatively famous? We want to go out and eat something."
The gentle and polite gentleman even had a voice as clear and cold as jade. The waiter felt as if he was bathed in the spring breeze. He quickly stepped forward to give directions.
Shangguan Yun nodded to express his thanks and led Wu Luoluo's hand straight to the restaurant in front. The food was different in each place. Since they finally came to Phoenix City, of course, he had to take his future wife out for a delicious meal!
On the bustling street, Shangguan Yun held her hand without any hesitation, which made Wu Luoluo's heart flutter. She blushed with shyness. Her hand struggled a little and she whispered, "My lord, so many people are watching!"
Shangguan Yun nodded seriously and said, "I'm good - looking. It's normal for me to be watched by everyone. You have to get used to it in the future." How could he not hold her hand? Wu Luoluo could hardly see the road clearly with the veil on. What if they got separated in this unfamiliar place?
Get used to it? What did that mean? Wu Luoluo was a bit stunned. Did the lord plan to hold her hand like this every time he took her out in the future, attracting people's whispering? Was this appropriate?
Wu Luoluo was very shy. Just when she was feeling extremely uneasy, a familiar voice suddenly came from behind, "Wu Luoluo! Why are you here?"
Wu Luoluo looked back. Goodness! It was Senior Brother Wang Jiu! Didn't he go to the capital city with the mistress? Why was he still in Phoenix City?
Then she thought about it. It made sense. How fast could two people and a donkey travel in the snow! They could arrive in Phoenix City today. They must have traveled day and night on the way without any delay.
Wu Luoluo asked in surprise, "Senior Brother, why are you here? Where's my mistress?" Seeing Wang Jiu staring intently at the hands tightly held by her and Shangguan Yun, Wu Luoluo struggled hard to pull her hand back. She had to behave more properly in front of her senior brother. Otherwise, who knew how Wang Jiu would exaggerate her faults in front of the mistress.
But why was the lord so oblivious at this moment? Couldn't he feel her hand struggling hard? Why did he even hold it tighter?
Shangguan Yun frowned and coldly stared at Wang Jiu's face, which he disliked no matter how he looked at it. He suppressed his anger and tightly held Wu Luoluo's hand. He was afraid that if he let go, he would not be able to resist punching that man. After all, he knew that it was illegal to beat someone in broad daylight.