Chapter 289: Divergence (1/2)

Qi Yun announced that he'd hold a proper burial for his father before taking the throne, to which the courtiers responded positively. Some officials suggested preparation for both matters to commence at the same time to avoid delay. Qi Yun nodded in approval and left the tasks to the Ministry of Rites.

After the morning meeting, Nan Xun went straight to the prison. Prince Duan slumped in a pile of rice straw, his usual aplomb long gone.

“Don't celebrate just yet,” Prince Duan growled, staring at Nan Xun. “I'm not done yet.”

Nan Xun huffed and locked eyes with him. “We'll see.”

The former emperor had pa.s.sed away, and Prince Duan had fallen from his grace. Everything was going in the right direction. Their work hadn't been in vain.

Nan Xun felt much lighter. He returned to his manor for a short rest and went to his study afterwards.

He wrote to Jun Huang about everything that had happened in Northern Qi, leaving no details out. He sighed and ended the letter with an apology to her. Qi Yun was going to take the throne soon. This was a critical time. He must keep on his guard and couldn't visit her just yet.

His yearning had no bound. He couldn't fit everything on a piece of paper. He put away the writing brush and struggled to swallow down the lump in his throat. He'd been apart with Jun Huang for too long. Although they regularly exchanged letters, it simply wasn't enough to express their feelings.

The more he thought, the antsier he felt. He wanted to quickly finish with his business here and went to Jun Huang's side, but too many people were waiting to make their strike. He couldn't allow himself to rest. He could only throw himself to work to suppress his yearning.

Meanwhile, Jun Huang had caught a serious cold not long after she started the blood-drawing process. Both the royal doctor and Oleg Cragfiend concluded that it was a mere cold, but she remained sick for a long time, which concerned Nan Jihan.

Jun Huang lay on the bed idly flipping through a book, her face pale but her expression calm. Nan Jihan sat by her bed without a word, silently watching her.

The maid looked at them by the door and covered a smile. In her mind, Jun Huang deserved the world, including Nan Jihan's heart.

“What are you daydreaming about, girl?” Oleg Cragfiend asked suddenly. The maid yelped and jumped, startling both Jun Huang and Nan Jihan. She put down the book and looked outside. Nan Jihan went to get the door.

Oleg Cragfiend chuckled as he entered the room. “I don't know what the girl was thinking about that made her so jumpy. Maybe she was missing her lover boy. Hahaha.”

The maid knew the poison master was teasing her, but she blushed and stormed away in feign anger. She wasn't unwilling to tell them what she had actually been thinking, but how could a servant say anything when Nan Jihan himself had stayed silent?

“What is master here for today?” Jun Huang asked quietly.

That reminded Oleg Cragfiend. He approached her bed and handed her a letter. “This is from Northern Qi.”

Jun Huang nodded and put the letter beside her with a smile. It was clear what she meant by that, which made Nan Jihan and Oleg Cragfiend a little awkward.

Jun Huang didn't seem to notice their reaction. She simply didn't want to read Nan Xun's letter before other people. It was something she wanted to savor on her own. Since they didn't intend to leave just yet, though, she'd take care of other things first.

She lowered her eyes for a bemused moment. “Nan Jihan, there's no need for your to stay here. Both my master and my maid are here. They won't let anything happen to me. You, however, is Southern Mu's emperor. You've stayed away from the imperial city for too long.”

“It's fine,” Nan Jihan rushed out. He knew what she was implying. “You don't have to worry. I've been staying here, but reports are delivered to me every day. It doesn't impede my work.”

Jun Huang sighed. She'd started drawing her blood a few days ago. Since she had to go through the procedure every day at the time being, it'd be too troublesome to commute between the palace and the mountain. She therefore listened to her master's advice and lived in the inn at the foot of the mountain. It was a short walk to the lotus every day.

Nan Jihan was too concerned to willingly leave her, but Jun Huang knew Southern Mu wasn't entirely stable even if he didn't admit it. If he stayed away from the imperial city for too long, people with malicious intent might make their move. She didn't want to burden other people. Therefore she kept bringing it up to Nan Jihan. However, he always humored her and refused to listen.