Under the moonlight, Shen Que watched Li Luansong leave.
In fact, Shen Que discovered Hong's unusual identity the first time he met her. Although Hong is a woman, she has many calluses on her palms, especially on the first joints of her index and middle fingers, which is quite unusual.
During the time when Shen Que exchanged identities with Li Luansong, he learned that Li Luansong's hands had many calluses, which were the marks left by his long-term martial arts practice.
Could it be that the Hong family is also a martial arts practitioner?
After observation, Shen indeed confirmed this idea. Behind Hong's heavy makeup was her strong figure and athletic skills. She accidentally discovered this one night when she couldn't sleep and sat by the window to admire the moon.
It was midnight at that time, and Hong was practicing sword practice in black clothes. She was fascinated by her heroic appearance and strong figure under the moonlight.
At that time, she had many guesses about Hong's identity, until Li Luansong appeared at the door of the Hot Spring Inn. Shen Que saw the way Hong looked at him, which was an expression of respect, obedience and caution.
At that time, she had roughly guessed their relationship. Hong should be Li Luansong's subordinate.
Therefore, Shen Que was not very surprised when Mr. Hong revealed that the owner of the hot spring inn was Li Luansong.
When they met again the next day, Shen Que directly asked this question to Li Luansong.
The two of them were sitting in the elegant room of the tea house, with the fragrance of tea overflowing. A tiny young leaf in the tea cup gradually unfolded when it was exposed to hot water, like a small boat wandering on the boundless river.
It has been more than a year since the last time I sat and drank tea calmly like this.
"That inn was indeed my idea. It was originally used to house the families of the soldiers who lost their lives in Soto and the retired female soldiers. I wanted to give them a place to stay. I never had any involvement in the inn's affairs. Later, they were able to make their business better and bigger, and occasionally they could get some information along the way."
He lowered his eyes and smiled, holding the tea cup with his long fingers and sipping slowly, "I didn't know where Liang Fan would take you beforehand. As for business dealings over the years, I have never asked about it. It is only Hong Niang who is willing to cooperate with you." The idea has nothing to do with me."
Shen Que nodded silently, one code after another, this was business, and she would not be involved in the business because of their relationship.
The sky is bright and cloudy outside the window. If you look carefully, you can see that the clouds are still moving slowly.
Shen Que withdrew his gaze and said straight to the point: "I invited Your Highness to come here today because I want to tell Your Highness that I am leaving. I have finished my business in Soto and am leaving here."
Li Luansong paused and looked up at her. There was no other expression on his rosy and fair face. She was very indifferent.
"Going back to Daye?" he asked, "I want to go back too. We can come together. This bumpy road is not very peaceful. I can protect you."
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. No need." Shen Que said, "I have to take a short detour to find my father. We will go back together slowly."
Her tone was gentle and calm, not asking, just informing.
"Okay, I know you will answer like this, but I can't help but want to ask you again." Li Luansong smiled sarcastically, then raised his head and asked her: "Yuanyu, are you really not going to forgive me? I am willing to do it for you Change everything, if you see my change, will you reconsider me?"
Shen Que shook his head, "Qi Dafei, the fate between me and His Highness was originally bizarre, but I am very grateful. Now the fate has ended. Now I just want to live my life well and do what I should do. Those I'm not interested in things that don't belong to me. My world is small, but His Highness's is huge. We all have our own missions, and besides..."
She paused for a moment, as if she had made a lot of determination, and then slowly said: "Some things happened, they just happened. I can't pretend that they didn't happen."
Yes, he had hurt her, and that couldn't be erased.
Li Luansong nodded silently.
"I understand, but I still hope that you can consider the future carefully and carefully. I won't force you. You can think about it slowly. Yuanyuan, I just want you to know that I will always be waiting for you, in Daye, where you are. Waiting for you." Li Luansong decided not to be entangled anymore and continued: "Since you don't want to go back with me, then everything is up to you. From now on, I will not force you or ignore your feelings and opinions like I did in the past. Just these few days, it’s time for me to set off and go back to Daye, there are still too many things waiting for me to deal with.”
He raised his head and looked at the floating clouds in the sky: "You have to remember that Li Luansong will always be waiting for you. However, I don't want to put pressure on you, so I will go back and do what I should do. I can't let everyone say that I am because of You have neglected political affairs and delayed your future. I will let everyone know that because of you Shen Que, Li Luansong has become better and better."
Shen Que looked up at him, with clear, handsome features and a faint smile on his face, looking more calm and determined.
He seems to have changed.
"His Highness will now be in charge. If the Crown Princess remains undecided, the ministers and the people will not feel at ease. This is His Highness's private matter as well as national policy. This is a serious matter. Your Highness should not be obsessed with it."
Li Luansong smiled and said: "I'm willing to wait for you. Isn't this serious business? I will do what they want, sit in a high position and do everything I should do, and strive to do my best, but I also want to choose what I love. What’s the point of spending a lifetime with a woman instead of planning a marriage and living a scheming life for the sake of the people and national policies?”
"Yuanyu, I won't persuade you anymore, and you should stop trying to persuade me."
Shen Que nodded silently. If that's the case, let's not say more.
After a while, Li Luansong stood up, took out a jade pendant from his arms and handed it to Shen Que: "This is something I carry with me. The border in Daye is not peaceful now. It may help you pass the checkpoint smoothly."
Shen Que wanted to refuse, but he said: "You don't have to refuse, I just lend it to you, and you can send someone to return it to me when you return to Jin'an. We are acquaintances anyway, and besides, you two women It’s going to be inconvenient on the road, so just stay.”
That's right. After thinking about it, Shen Que didn't need to be pretentious, so he bowed and thanked him: "Thank you, Your Highness. I hope that Your Highness will take care of you and everything will go well."
Li Luansong said: "I didn't insist on taking you away because I respect you. My success can only happen if you are by my side. Yuanyuan, you can do what you want, I will go back to where you were and wait for you. This I only want you in my life, this is my heart, you can't stop it, but I also want you to see a changed Li Luansong who knows how to respect you."
The jade pendant was warm and delicate in her hand. Looking at Li Luansong's leaving figure, Shen Que stood there for a long time. She pressed the jade pendant against her belly until he could no longer be seen.
That day, Li Luansong left with his large army and left the stamped customs clearance documents, some necessary medicinal materials, and enough money for Shen Que in the cabin where she lived.
Shen Que packed his luggage and was worrying about what to do with these things. Outside the door, Mutam entered in the moonlight.
"Li Luansong is gone, Master." His voice sounded a little excited, "I heard that he came to see you today."
Shen Que said yes, "He said goodbye to me, and I have to leave too."
Mutam was stunned for a moment, and then he saw everything that had been packed away.
"Master, please wait a few more days. I invited you here, but I haven't even been able to accompany you for a while."
"Or, tomorrow, just tomorrow, we will go to see my parents and discuss Soto's business."
"Also, and...and master, doesn't he want to open a shop? Let's go take a look and choose a place."
"Master..."
Mutam was so anxious that he was a little incoherent, and there was a thin layer of sweat on his face because of his anxiety.
"Amu." Shen Que pulled him to sit down, "Liang Fan has taken me to do what you mentioned in the past two days. As for Soto's business, you have also given me a contract. We have done everything we should do. .”
"But……"
"I know what you want to say, Amu, and I am very grateful to you. Without you, I would not have developed in Soto, and without you, Daye would not have been able to overcome the difficulties. I really thank you. I think we can always get along like this. Be the best friend and the strongest partner, help each other and never leave."
Under the candlelight, the woman in front of him looked at him with a pair of burning almond eyes with tears in her eyes and a smile. Before he could say anything in his heart, she had already blocked all the words in his mind.
Mutam lowered his head in disappointment, tears welling up, and his heart was sour.
He had never officially expressed his feelings to Shen Que, but she had already seen it. Now that she was leaving, what he wanted to say could no longer be said.
"Amu." Shen Que took his hand, "I regard you as my best friend, so I hope you are happy and happy. You have your responsibilities to shoulder. Find a girl you like and is well matched to get married. Come down and have someone by your side, you can get through no matter how difficult it is."
"Master, you know how I feel about you." He finally couldn't help but declare it, "Have you never considered me?"
Shen Que shook his head and said with a smile: "I believe you can figure it out."
This can be regarded as a clear and unequivocal rejection. There is no hope anymore.
"Master, can I give you a hug?"
Shen Que nodded, opened his arms, and Mutam held her tightly in his arms.
A feeling I've never felt before, the first time and the last time.
It turns out that she is as petite and exquisite as she looks, as soft and fragrant as her name.
"Master, I listen to you."
Mutam choked up a little, "I wish Master will be happy. I will never forget Master in this life."
"Okay, I accept your good advice." Shen Que gently patted his back, broad and hard, showing helpless giving up.
Life is like this, coming and going, getting together and leaving, the people around us are always changing, the only thing that remains unchanged is ourselves.
In the distance, an eagle soars in the night sky, so lonely and determined.
