Mu Wulin had just finished practicing a set of boxing skills in the yard when he saw Sister Yang coming. He wasn't surprised at all. "How were those two this afternoon?"
Sister Yang replied respectfully, "The Third Master, those two seem very honest. They haven't done anything inappropriate!"
Mu Wulin nodded in satisfaction upon hearing this. "Keep a close eye on them these two days. Don't let them have too much contact with the others in the stockade. Also, tell everyone to keep their mouths shut and not accidentally leak any information."
"If they really do something inappropriate, you can deal with them directly. There's no need to report to me!"
"Don't worry, Third Master! My sisters are all reliable and alert. They're on guard against those two."
Mu Wulin felt relieved upon hearing this. "Okay, Sister Yang, you can go first. We'll be busy tomorrow!"
Sister Yang bowed and left. Mu Wulin personally led a patrol around the stockade before calling it a day.
The next day, Shen Li groggily turned her head. She felt that the light was so bright that she could hardly open her eyes. She instinctively reached out her hand to block it, but found that her hands seemed to be tied. She gently tugged, but couldn't pull them free.
Shen Li opened her eyes in confusion. After seeing the dark wooden beams above her head, she realized that she wasn't in the Shen Mansion. Then she remembered that she seemed to have slept in the same bed with Xuan Yuanjue last night.
But now, Shen Li widened her eyes in disbelief. She was completely nestled in Xuan Yuanjue's arms.
Xuan Yuanjue seemed not to have woken up yet. His eyes were tightly closed, but the corners of his mouth were slightly upturned.
Seeing that Xuan Yuanjue was still sleeping, Shen Li openly admired his face. Well, even with the disguise mask on, it couldn't change the shape of his original facial bones. His nose was straight, and his facial contours were well - defined.
Xuan Yuanjue was really good - looking. No wonder he was so popular among the young ladies in the capital!
"Have you had enough of looking?" Just as Shen Li was still immersed in Xuan Yuanjue's "beauty", she suddenly heard a clear voice from above. "My lady, are you satisfied with your husband's appearance?"
Shen Li really didn't like his current disguised appearance. She thought his previous face was more pleasing to the eye.
But now she had been caught red - handed peeping at him. It was really inappropriate.
"Cough, cough!"
Shen Li tried to ease the embarrassment and said, "Well, it's getting late. Let's get up!"
Xuan Yuanjue naturally heard the sounds of people getting up and moving around outside, but he still lay there without moving. He looked at Shen Li and said, "My lady, don't tell me you're heartless?"
Shen Li was stunned. She didn't know what he meant.
"Last night, my lady..." Under Shen Li's puzzled gaze, Xuan Yuanjue shyly lowered his head. "My lady, you insisted on snuggling into my arms!"
"..." Shen Li was completely shocked, as if struck by lightning. She stood there in disbelief. But when she looked at the space between the two of them, she understood everything.
Last night, afraid that their abnormal behavior would be noticed by someone with ulterior motives, they slept in a small bed.
At that time, Xuan Yuanjue gave her the side of the bed against the wall to take care of her. He slept on the outer side of the bed, and there was a distance of about two fists between them.
But now, she was at least half an arm's length away from the wall and was completely in Xuan Yuanjue's arms. Xuan Yuanjue was squeezed so much that he could only sleep on his side on the edge of the bed. He could easily fall off, looking very pitiful.
After realizing her mistake, Shen Li quickly got out of Xuan Yuanjue's arms and sat on the bed. "Well, I'm sorry about last night!"
Shen Li angrily punched herself mentally. She had always had a proper sleeping posture when sleeping alone. How could she make such a fool of herself here.
"My lady, you're joking. We're husband and wife after all!"
The more Xuan Yuanjue said, the more remorseful Shen Li felt.
Shen Li was sitting on the bed with her back to Xuan Yuanjue, so she didn't see the fleeting smile on his lips.
Then the two of them got up one after another, tidied their clothes, and Xuan Yuanjue thoughtfully fetched water for Shen Li to wash up.
On this day, the two of them were closely watched by Sister Yang while working. They had no time to rest and were much busier than yesterday. Moreover, Shen Li noticed that not only that, but the food prepared by Sister Yang and the others was much more than yesterday. They also asked Xuan Yuanjue to carry a dozen jars of strong liquor from the wine cellar.
Shen Li vaguely guessed what was going on. It was likely that the Big Master and the Second Master of the stockade were coming back.
When it was time to cook in the evening, Sister Yang and the others were busy stir - frying. Shen Li moved a small stool and sat on the ground to wash the vegetables. Xuan Yuanjue was not far from her.
Taking advantage of the moment when there was no one around, Xuan Yuanjue whispered quickly in Shen Li's ear, "They're coming back tonight!"
Shen Li naturally knew who "they" he was referring to. Xuan Yuanjue's words confirmed her guess.
"How did you get this information?" Shen Li knew that like her, Xuan Yuanjue was also closely watched. She wondered how he could still get the news.
Xuan Yuanjue smiled proudly at Shen Li. "I have my own ways of knowing!"
Shen Li didn't ask any more. She thought that Xuan Yuanjue might have planted informants in the Pangu Stockade. After all, he had suspected this stockade two years ago.
As soon as it got dark, the Pangu Stockade was brightly lit. Shen Li watched as dish after dish was carried away by Sister Yang and the others, followed by jars of wine. She knew that the banquet had started.
Shen Li and Xuan Yuanjue were driven back to their room early. Shen Li lay on the bed with her back to Xuan Yuanjue, facing the wall. Her eyes were clear, and she had no sign of sleepiness.
Xuan Yuanjue turned over, put his arm under his head, and looked at the ceiling. He said to Shen Li in a voice that only the two of them could hear, "Do you want to go and see what they're doing now?"
"Do you have a way?" Shen Li didn't forget that Sister Yang had secretly sent two people to watch them. They would be discovered as soon as they left the room.
"Just tell me if you want to go or not?" Xuan Yuanjue turned his head to look at Shen Li and continued to tempt her.
Shen Li replied without any hesitation, "Yes!"
Hearing Shen Li's answer, Xuan Yuanjue smiled in satisfaction. A quarter of an hour later, Xuan Yuanjue led Shen Li out of the small room.
In the darkness, Shen Li followed Xuan Yuanjue. While hiding from the guards, she followed him into a secret passage in a room. Then she watched as Xuan Yuanjue walked around the passage very familiarly and finally stopped.
Standing in the passage, Shen Li could hear the lively sounds of people drinking and eating from above. Without thinking, she knew that the main hall of the Pangu Stockade was right above.