147: Plans to go to Donglin City

The warm pavilion in the North Courtyard of the City Lord's Manor was like a quiet corner forgotten by time.

Calming frankincense burned quietly in the incense burner, and the blue smoke rose in curls, sketching a hazy feeling in the air that seemed both real and illusory.

Sunlight streamed through the intricate and complex window lattices, gently spilling onto the soft velvet carpet on the floor, casting patches of dappled light and shadow like a natural ink wash painting, decorating the warm pavilion in a quiet and cozy manner.

However, the atmosphere at this moment was exceptionally stagnant, as if the air were imprisoned by an invisible force.

Lin Suwan reclined on a soft couch by the window, her simple and elegant moon-white ruqun making her look like a banished immortal descended to earth.

The ruqun clung softly to her figure, making her skin appear whiter than snow, crystal clear and translucent.

She held a warm jade comb in her hand, combing her black hair that fell across her chest with rhythmic strokes; the raven tresses flowed smoothly under the gentle touch of the jade comb like a waterfall.

Her dark eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and her exquisite face was covered with a thin layer of frost, as if thousands of worries were lingering in her heart.

Hong Mei stood waiting by her side with her hands down, her small face slightly pale. She nervously twisted the hem of her clothes, her head buried almost to her chest, not daring to breathe loudly, as if afraid of accidentally breaking this oppressive silence.

The cold and murderous aura Situ Jun had emitted when he suddenly left earlier was like a physical cold wind, instantly blowing away all the romance and warmth in the warm pavilion, leaving them still shaken as if that chill still lingered in their hearts, refusing to dissipate.

With a "creak," the door was slowly pushed open, breaking the silence within the warm pavilion.

Situ Jun walked in with steady steps. The pressing chill on his body had already been withdrawn, replaced by a gentle smile between his brows, as warm as the spring sun.

Lin Suwan put down the jade comb and raised her beautiful eyes slightly, a hint of imperceptible concern and inquiry in them as she met Situ Jun's gaze. Her cold voice carried a trace of worry:

"Outside... did something happen?"

Hong Mei hurriedly curtsied, her voice as faint as a mosquito's hum:

"Manor Lord."

Situ Jun approached, pinched Hong Mei's small face, and said with feigned anger:

"Call me Husband!"

Hong Mei felt the sting and couldn't help but let out a small cry.

Situ Jun helplessly rubbed her head and threatened playfully:

"I'll deal with you tonight!"

After speaking, he walked to the soft couch and sat down naturally.

His gaze lingered on Lin Suwan for a moment before sweeping over Hong Mei, whose small mouth was pouting enough to hang an oil jar. His tone was as flat as if he were discussing the weather:

"It's fine. A spy looking for information has been handled by Zhu Changpo."

His tone was calm and casual, as if that spy were nothing more than a fly swatted away.

But both Lin Suwan and Hong Mei knew well that a spy who could make Situ Jun go out personally was no ordinary person, and there must be an unknown secret hidden behind it.

Upon hearing this, Lin Suwan's willow-like eyebrows did not relax but instead furrowed even tighter.

She was sharp-minded. Recalling Situ Jun's previous mention that all the forces causing trouble in Northern Border had been dealt with, she immediately guessed the Zhou Dynasty, which had plagued the Northern Border frontiers for years, and asked tentatively:

"A spy? From the Zhou Dynasty?"

Situ Jun gave a soft "mm" in acknowledgment.

He had no intention of explaining in detail. His gaze fell on Hong Mei again, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly as he asked gently:

"Are you angry?"

Hong Mei's body trembled slightly, and she shook her head quickly, her voice carrying a hint of unnaturalness:

"No... no. How would this Servant Girl dare to be angry with Husband?"

After saying this, her small face instantly flushed crimson, and she peeked at Situ Jun, her eyes full of shyness and panic.

Situ Jun reached out and held Hong Mei's intertwined, cold little hands. They felt smooth and icy to the touch, as if he were holding a piece of warm cold jade.

He then picked Hong Mei up and placed her on his lap, turned to Lin Suwan, and said:

"Tomorrow I plan to go to East Lin City to bring Liu Xuaner and the others back."

Lin Suwan gave him a sidelong glance, her tone carrying a hint of teasing:

"Now that Northern Border City is stable, it is indeed time to bring Younger Sister Liu back. Otherwise, the few of us aren't enough for you to bully."

Hearing this, Situ Jun's face turned red, and he awkwardly removed his hand from Hong Mei's waist.

Lin Suwan glanced at him with disdain, then lowered her eyelids, her long eyelashes casting a faint shadow on her fair cheeks.

She picked up the jade comb again and continued to comb her long hair, though her movements were much gentler and slower than before, as if smoothing out the ripples in her heart.

Within the warm pavilion, a cozy atmosphere gradually permeated the air.

The blue smoke from the incense burner became soft again, floating like light gauze; the sunlight also seemed to become warmer, spilling over the three of them and coating them in a soft glow.

Situ Jun leaned back against the soft couch and closed his eyes slightly, enjoying this rare tranquility.

After brewing the fragrant tea, Hong Mei stood behind Situ Jun and gently massaged his shoulders, her movements skilled and tender.

Outside the window, flowering trees swayed in the wind, and petals fell one after another, scattering like a poem or a painting.

Inside the room, the incense burner curled and the fragrant tea steamed; time seemed to flow quietly at this moment. All three of them cherished this rare and pleasant time, immersing themselves in this warm and beautiful atmosphere.

After an unknown amount of time, Situ Jun's eyeballs moved slightly under his closed eyelids.

In the direction of the "Laifu" Inn in the south of the city, several people dressed as Western Region merchants appeared in the inn.

Their disappearance over these past few days had made Situ Jun think they had already left the Northern Border, but he hadn't expected them to quietly reappear now.

The corners of Situ Jun's mouth curled into a cold arc. He did not open his eyes, but with a slight movement of his mind, an invisible thought was instantly transmitted.

Deep in the South Courtyard of the City Lord's Manor, in that secret room that had just undergone a baptism like Hell.

Bai Yu, who was sitting cross-legged to heal his injuries, suddenly jerked as if struck by a bolt of lightning.

He opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing in them. An intention belonging to Situ Jun pierced directly into his Sea of Consciousness:

"Your body is no longer in serious danger. Go back with your injuries like this; it will serve as a good excuse to leave the Northern Border. There are several Western Region merchants at the inn where you are staying; 'take them away' as well. If you interrogate any valuable information, just transmit it to Zhu Changpo."

"As the Master commands!"

A hoarse and broken old voice squeezed out of Bai Yu's throat, and the divine light in his eyes shone brightly, revealing a firm determination.

Zhu Changpo's figure appeared at the door of the secret room again like a ghost, silently tossing him a set of the most ordinary servant's clothes and a sound transmission talisman.

Bai Yu caught them without even looking, changed into the clothes at the fastest speed, and put away the sound transmission talisman.

A moment later, an ordinary old man, weathered by the elements and struggling to make a living, appeared in the secret room. His hunched figure and exhausted demeanor made it impossible for anyone to see his true identity.

Zhu Changpo stepped aside to open the passage. Bai Yu, with a hunched back and staggering yet exceptionally swift steps, merged into the shadows of the passing servants in the South Courtyard. After a few turns, he disappeared, as if he had never appeared at all.