When Ji Shijian ran up to the city wall, this was the sight that greeted her: a pair of lovers deeply immersed in each other's company.
With Ji Shijian's arrival, Zhao Luoning and Ji Shisu had no choice but to part.
Yes, that's exactly what happened.
As the leader, Ji Shisu was so busy every day that his feet hardly touched the ground.
Just when he wanted to steal a moment of intimacy with Zhao Luoning, someone would always come along and spoil the fun.
This was also the reason why, even though Zhao Luoning had been by his side every day for the past year, 'nothing' had happened between them.
Reluctantly releasing the soft and fragrant beauty in his arms, Ji Shisu took her delicate hand in his large one, ready to lead her down the city wall.
Only then did he remember the task at hand and called out to Zhao Luoning.
"Second sister-in-law, someone from Phoenix City has come to see you."
Phoenix City?
There were a multitude of military affairs waiting for Ji Shisu to handle. Zhao Luoning had no choice but to go to the guest house alone to meet this 'mysterious visitor'.
Before she could even lift her skirt and step over the threshold,
The person waiting inside the room couldn't wait any longer and rushed out of the door.
The first words out of his mouth weren't to ask how she had been this past year, but about Caixue.
"Elder sister, has Caixue left?"
Zhao Luoming?
What was he doing here?
Seeing the confusion in Zhao Luoning's eyes, Guisu explained, "Madam, when you disappeared, Master was so worried that he sent people to inquire about you in Phoenix City."
Hearing this, Zhao Luoning understood.
At that time, Feixing and Caixue were both at Shiguan Pass. Her elder brother and mother never bothered with such things, and asking them would only worry them.
The only person Ji Shisu could ask was Zhao Luoming.
But why did Lord Zhao agree to let Zhao Luoming come all the way here so recklessly?
Although they had had some conflicts before, in this chaotic time of war, those small differences seemed to have disappeared in an instant.
Moreover, Zhao Luoming had changed a great deal in the past year.
A person who had gone through hardships was truly different. At this moment, there was a reassuring charisma in his words.
Zhao Luoming was no longer the playboy who needed her to send Caixue and Feixing to Tianxiang Tower to 'drag' him back.
"Caixue has already left. You're too late."
In fact, even if Zhao Luoming had arrived a few hours or even a few days earlier and seen Caixue, it would have been of no use.
Caixue had been by her side and had picked up all her stubbornness without learning any of the good things.
Once she had made up her mind, it was very difficult for anyone to change it.
Hearing this from Zhao Luoning, Zhao Luoming finally gave up completely.
He walked absent-mindedly towards the simple bamboo chair in the yard and slumped down on it.
Zhao Luoning sighed. She walked up to Zhao Luoming and sat down beside him.
She took out the other jade dragon-and-phoenix bracelet from her bosom.
"This pair of bracelets belongs together. I gave a pair to Caixue before. She took one with her and asked me to leave this one for you."
"Does Caixue... not blame me anymore?"
Zhao Luoming had long guessed Caixue's identity, but he had never had the courage to come and see her.
He was afraid that she was still angry about what had happened before, afraid that she still wouldn't forgive him.
This ostrich-like attitude had lasted until now.
It wasn't until the news of the coup in Buda Kingdom and the return of the Lord of Nuobu County came that he realized that if he didn't set off to see Caixue, he would lose her forever.
The journey had taken nearly half a month by carriage. He had hardly slept at all. When he was tired, he would rest on the ground for an hour and then continue riding.
He couldn't even remember how many horses had died on the way.
The only thing that had kept him going during these half - months was the thought of seeing Caixue.
He wanted to keep her, sincerely apologize to her, and tell her his feelings.
For this reason, he had even changed into a new set of clothes when passing by Shiguan Pass, just to make a good impression on Caixue.
But no matter how hard he tried, he was still a step too late.
Not only couldn't he keep her, but he had even missed seeing her off.
"Alright, I'll arrange a room for you. You should rest well."
The exhaustion in his eyes couldn't be hidden from her.
Zhao Luoning sighed and told Jingsu and Guisu, who had just come to her side, to take good care of Zhao Luoming.
Jingsu and Guisu answered crisply. The one - word 'Yes' made Zhao Luoning miss Caixue's playfulness even more.
Judging from this situation, it seemed that not only Zhao Luoming but also she herself would need a long time to get used to the days without Caixue's lively presence.
At night, Zhao Luoning tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep.
"Still awake?"
A familiar male voice came from the door. Before Zhao Luoning could react, Ji Shisu was already standing in the moonlight, about to take off his outer robe and go to bed.
Although they were husband and wife, they didn't have many opportunities to sleep together.
Although the general was considerate and had arranged a quiet and undisturbed place for Zhao Luoning in the guest house, allowing Ji Shisu to come at any time without restrictions.
But the prerequisite was that Ji Shisu had to be free.
In the morning, she had heard him say that the military affairs were extremely busy, so Zhao Luoning was sure that he wouldn't come tonight.
"Did I wake you up?"
Before coming, Ji Shisu had specifically gone to wash up and changed into casual clothes.
In an instant, the toughness from the military was gone, replaced by an air of refinement.
Coupled with the gentle tone in which Ji Shisu was afraid that even the slightest movement would scare his beloved wife,
He was like a completely different person from General Qing in his military uniform.
At that moment, Zhao Luoning had a feeling of time dislocation, as if they were still in Phoenix City.
Zhao Luoning shook her head and moved inward on the bed, making room for him.
For some reason, from the moment she heard his voice, her mood inexplicably improved.
He was truly the medicine that could soothe her heart.
"Why do you have time to come?"
Her cheeks looked even more fair and flawless in the moonlight.
She was like the most exquisite handicraft carved from the finest jade.
Such a sight made Ji Shisu dazed for a moment.
"I heard that Luoming is back?"
The only reason he had come in the middle of the night was to worry that Zhao Luoning might overthink things. What other reason could there be?
"Maybe Caixue and Luoming are just destined to be apart."
Ji Shisu sat on the edge of the bed and watched as she frowned slightly.
He didn't like the way she frowned.
He reached out and smoothed the furrowed brows, saying in a slightly serious but loving tone,
"Silly girl, they're still so young. You're just worrying for nothing."
He was right.
The future was still so long.
Neither Caixue nor Zhao Luoming was the kind of person who would yield to fate.
Although both of them had disappointed Zhao Luoning before,
She truly hoped that they would be happy together.
Thinking of this, there was finally a hint of a smile in Zhao Luoning's eyes.
As the worries in her heart were dispelled, her mood also became more relaxed.