Man Yao's eyes slowly traveled up, the owner of the shoes was wearing an azure-colored robe, his face was uniquely handsome, a gentle expression on his face, his eyes carrying warmth as he looked at her pale face stained with raindrops.

The man's hand held an umbrella over her head and he smiled and reached a hand out towards her. Man Yao stared at that hand, his long fingers were slender, his palms full of deep calluses. The man saw how she was staring at his hand in a daze and gently smiled, “I've spent many years on the battlefield, after wielding the sword for so long, calluses have appeared. Please…don't mind.”

Man Yao shook her head, raising her gaze to look at that gentle and harmless face. This was the man who will become her husband in two days, and she will take his surname, spending the rest of her life with him. But this man, is he really as harmless as he looks? Although she faintly smiled, her eyes were sharp and penetrating, her voice was calm as she slowly drawled, “I was just thinking that every time I meet General, it is always coincidentally whenever I am in dire need of help. Tell me…is this the will of the heavens? Or someone's manipulations?”

Fu Chou started, his gaze slightly changing as a glint flashed through his eyes before speaking casually and smiling, “Of course it's through someone's planning. How could there be so many coincidences in this world? I know you have your difficulties and that's why I arrive at the right time to help you out of your binds.”

This answer was a little unexpected to her, and he also stated it so openly that she couldn't determine if there were any hidden meanings. Man Yao replied, “Then how did General know that I needed help? I am not close with General, why would you help me?”

Fu Chou's gaze became heavy, seeming to also consider this question before he answered, “I also want to know the reason why…your clothes are drenched. How about this, if you don't mind, come to my residence first to take a bath and change clothes, otherwise you'll get sick.”

Man Yao looked at the nearby roofs from the corner of her eye, contemplating for a while before nodding her head and extending her hand to grasp his fingers. She wanted to borrow his strength to stand up but her legs had already been numb from squatting for so long that before she could fully stand up, she stumbled and fell back down towards the ditch next to her.

Fu Chou hurriedly extended his arm to grasp her shoulder, “Hold this umbrella, I'll carry you.” Finished, he didn't allow her to protest before he shoved the umbrella into her hands. She couldn't even say “It's alright” before her whole body was lifted in the air.

His embrace was very warm, his shoulders wide, his arms firm and strong, causing people to feel safe and rea.s.sured. Right now, her whole entire body was thoroughly exhausted and she suddenly had a thought: why did she have to consider so much? Wouldn't it be better to treat everything more simply? As long as she could protect her heart, nothing else mattered. Thinking of this, she relaxed and closed her eyes, leaning against the crook of her neck, slowly falling asleep and the umbrella in her hand fell to land on the ground behind them.

Fu Chou lowered his head to look at the woman's tired face and the gaze in his eyes changed as he unconsciously slowed his steps, walking more steadily.

The rain slowly stopped and the skies opened up as the clouds dispersed, Prince Li's residence had a fresh smell after being showered in the rain. Zongzheng Wuyou's phoenix eyes were closed and he was laying against the chaise taking a rest. His right fingers were absentmindedly caressing the white chess piece in his left hand, as if he was waiting for something. After a long while, he suddenly said, “Ah Man, why haven't you made your move yet? The longer you take to consider your move, we won't be able to finish this round today!”

His eyes were still closed as he spoke, silently waiting for a reply. After a while, even the sound of breaths were faint. Zongzheng Wuyou suddenly woke up, opening his eyes to find no one in front of him. His heart trembled, did he already develop such a habit? Looking at the chess piece in his hand, his brows furrowed and he stood up as he called out in a frustrated voice, “Someone come.”

The steward who had been guarding outside this whole time entered the room, cautiously holding up a cup of tea with both hands and respectfully bowed,”w.a.n.gye, you're awake?”

Zongzheng Wuyou took the tea and rinsed his mouth before handing it back over, “Is Lin An back?”

The steward hurriedly replied, “Reporting to w.a.n.gye, Guard Lin has already been back for an hour. This servant saw that w.a.n.gye was resting and did not dare to disturb you so I instructed him to wait outside the door.”

Zongzheng Wuyou: “Call him in.”

“Yes.” The steward retreated and a twenty year-old or so tanned man in all black entered the room with quick and silent steps. One look and you could tell that he was a martial arts expert. The man kneeled on the ground and bowed, “This subject greets w.a.n.gye.”

Zongzheng Wuyou waved his hand to gesture him to rise, “After she left the back mountain, what did she do? Where did she go?”

Guard Lin: “Reporting to w.a.n.gye, Li Yue gongzi followed the roads westward and walked in the rainstorm for about an hour. In the middle, he went to the Heavenly Lake and stopped for a while before leaving again…”

Zongzheng Wuyou's expression changed, raising his hand to stop him, his brows wrinkled in concentration, “You said that she walked in the rain for an hour? Did she have an umbrella?”

Guard Lin shook his head, “No. She walked very slowly in the rain.”

Zongzheng Wuyou's heart trembled before he asked again, “What sort of expression did she have on her face?”

Guard Lin thought for a moment before replying, “She kept smiling…a very shallow smile.”

Zongzheng Wuyou clasped his hands behind his back and walked towards the window, peering at the fallen flowers that had been ravaged by the big rain. Recalling the sunny afternoon a few days ago, they had just finished a round of chess and he asked her about her past life when she became very quiet before suddenly saying, “It's been a while since it last rained.”

He asked, “Ah Man likes rainy days?”

She set down the chesspiece in her hand, gazing far off into the distance, “Some people naturally like the rain because in the rain, she can cry without worrying others will see her.”

He said, “Ah Man is this type of person!”

She turned around, lowering her eyelids to cover up her hurt before replying in a soft voice, “I no longer remember how long it's been since I last cried. Maybe it's been fifteen years or seventeen years…it's been a very long time and I have already forgotten that feeling…” This was her previous life, even when she was hurt she could not cry.

Zongzheng Wuyou retracted his thoughts, it seems like she was not as uncaring as she made it out to be that day! A type of joy welled up in his heart as well as…heartache. That woman always hid herself so deeply. He turned around, “Where is she now?”

Guard Lin: “General's residence.”

Zongzheng Wuyou froze, his eyes changing as he coldly gazed at him and spoke in a heavy voice, “Which general's residence?”

Guard Lin froze, “It's…Lord Protector General's residence.”

Fu Chou?! Zongzheng Wuyou's expression became extremely dark and his hands clenched into fists as images of the two people conversing and laughing together in front of the banquet hall in the palace surfaced in his mind. Even when Qiyun's Princess Rong Le was choosing her husband, Fu Chou kept his gaze on her…

Zongzheng Wuyou narrowed his phoenix eyes, his gaze extremely chilling and spoke in a heavy voice, “Ah Man, you want to borrow Fu Chou to leave benw.a.n.g, it's not that easy! You, gather up a hundred people and follow benw.a.n.g to Lord Protector General's residence.”