Chapter 17

“What’s wrong? Very nervous?”

Liang Ji brought me a cup of tea, looking at me with concern.

Meeting his gaze, I felt as if I had caught fire. I hurriedly looked away and downed the tea in one gulp.

Ji Wenmu’s question had made me realize the tiny sprouts of my own feelings. And on the way back, those sprouts grew aggressively, threatening to set up camp in my heart. The fierce momentum made me a bit panicky, yet seeing Liang Ji, I couldn’t stop my joy.

I could only try my best to restrain myself. When the wedding banquet started, my head covered with a red veil, I held the red silk ribbon and was led by him into the main hall. With Heaven and Earth as our matchmakers, we completed the rites of husband and wife.

He escorted me back to the bridal chamber, lifted the red veil, and looked at me with a smile under the flickering candlelight as we drank the nuptial wine.

My heartbeat never slowed down for a second.

The Boss chased all the noisy onlookers out, leaving time for him and me to exchange intimate words.

I clenched my fists, feeling as if the candles and oil lamps were burning right next to my face. The heat transferred entirely to my cheeks.

This was clearly just a play, but I was… getting a bit too much into character.

Outside, glasses clinked in revelry; inside, red candles and silk curtains.

But this was all an illusion.

I told myself this countless times and finally sobered up a bit.

Just as I was about to speak to him, he placed his index finger over his lips, pointed toward the window, and wrote in my palm, “Someone is listening.”

Listening? Was I exposed?

A look of helplessness crossed his face. I suddenly understood what the person outside was waiting to hear, and my face, which had just cooled down, steamed up again.

He sat beside me, lowering his head to write in my palm. Every stroke brought a ticklish sensation that rapidly spread from my hand straight to my heart.

“You prepare here. I’ll go out to toast.”

I grabbed his wrist, a bit worried. Smiling at me, he tucked a stray lock of my hair behind my ear, leaned in, and said,

“Amin looks exceptionally beautiful today.”

I saw the candlelight cast our shadows on the wall—overlapping and intimately close.

The cool breeze from the opening door dispersed some of my heat. Then I heard a burst of teasing laughter from outside, followed by footsteps slowly fading away.

I let out a breath of relief. Confirming there was no one outside, I found a quiet spot to release the signal. A sharp explosion sounded, quickly masked by the clamor of the crowd.

The intelligence I had sent out detailed the layout of the bandit lair. I told them we would marry today, and I would release the signal at the right moment for them to attack up the mountain.

After releasing the signal, I headed to the main hall. Bandits were cruel and ruthless; even though Liang Ji had gained their trust, accidents could still happen.

When I arrived, they weren’t suspicious at all. Instead, they all roared with laughter and pushed me over to stand beside Liang Ji.

“Why did you come out?”

Liang Ji asked in a low voice, looking surprised. I looked up and fell right into his radiant, flowing eyes.

“To protect my people.”

He said, “Thank you for your trouble, Amin.”

A smile touched his lips. He raised his wine cup to my lips. Stunned for a moment, I opened my mouth, caught the rim, and drank a small half of the wine from his cup.

“Alright, go toast the Boss.”

He took my hand, picked up a wine cup from the table, handed it to me, and filled it to the brim.

“This younger brother and my wife thank the Boss for his blessing.”

After the Boss downed his cup, the rest of them came over to urge us to drink. I looked at Liang Ji; he didn’t stop them. The cup in his hand was emptied and refilled time and time again.

His lips also touched the rouge left on the rim of the cup time and time again.

The sound of clashing weapons suddenly echoed from outside. A wounded man ran in, “Boss, the government troops are coming up the mountain! They’re about to breach the gates!”

The atmosphere instantly grew tense. They grabbed their weapons and aggressively tried to march outside, but after just a few steps, they all collapsed limply.

The Boss’s mountain-like body crashed back into the master seat.

I had already grasped the flexible sword at my waist, ready to take down the bandit leader while he was off guard, but I was completely bewildered by the sudden change in the situation.

“Liang Ji, it’s you!” The Boss’s voice was like an enraged tiger’s roar.

I looked at Liang Ji. He gently placed the wine cup back onto the table with a crisp *clink*, then bowed deeply to the Boss.

“I received the Boss’s misguided affection. Liang Ji feels ashamed,” he straightened up and said slowly, “But I have no regrets.”

“What’s going on?”

I asked him. He turned to me, pointed at the wine jug, and stated the obvious, “They’ve been drugged.”

“I drank it too…”

I suddenly remembered the sip he had fed me, and my heart beat faster.

“When did you… why didn’t you tell me?”

“I wasn’t entirely certain of success…”

As he spoke, his expression suddenly changed. He yanked me aside and raised his arm to block a blade meant for me.

The smell of blood instantly filled my nose. I swiftly drew my flexible sword, dispatched the bandit who had brought the report, and pulled Liang Ji’s arm down. Blood had already soaked through half of his sleeve; the original red of his wedding robe now ran a dark, crimson hue.

“I’m fine. It didn’t hit the bone.”

I glared up at him. “Why are you trying to be a hero? I am a dignified Fourth-Rank Xuanwei General; do I need *you* to block a sword for me?”

“Generals feel pain too, don’t they?”

With half an arm covered in blood, he could still smile. “General protects the people, I protect Amin. Isn’t that perfectly fine?”