Brocade Robe Unparalleled

Chapter 169 A Little Goodbye Is Better than a New Marriage

After comforting Zhao Wan, Lin Xuan returned to his study to continue what he hadn't finished earlier.

Not consummating the marriage is also deceiving the emperor, and faking her death is also deceiving the emperor. Either way, it's deceiving the emperor, so it's better to choose one that she can accept.

No matter what she chooses, we'll have to wait until he returns from Nanzhao.

An hour later, Lin Xuan had copied over a hundred poems.

Each poetry gathering had a different theme. Lin Xuan didn't know what theme they would choose, so he copied down some poems on various common themes: spring, summer, autumn, winter, romance, love, military life, homesickness, patriotism...

If you're short on money, just let them choose whatever they want.

After some thought, Lin Xuan decided to give the book of poems to Zhao Wan.

After all, she was the mistress of the house, and if the household was short of money, they could get it from her.

Given her personality, even if she were short of money, she probably wouldn't ask Zhiqin for it.

Lin Xuan entered the main hall and found Zhao Wan sitting at the table in a daze.

Liu Li, who was beside her, immediately stood up and bowed when she saw Lin Xuan: "Greetings, young master..."

Zhao Wan slowly stood up. Before she could speak, Lin Xuan handed her a thick booklet and said, "Keep this."

Zhao Wan reached out and took the thick booklet. As her fingertips touched the rough pages, a numb sense of sorrow still filled her heart.

She subconsciously flipped to a page, her gaze casually sweeping over the words.

The next moment, her body trembled slightly, and she even temporarily forgot her sorrow.

What leaps off the page is a masterpiece of graceful and delicate poetry.

Zhao Wan herself was also skilled in graceful and restrained poetry, but compared to this poem, she was far from being graceful and restrained enough.

She flipped through the pages incredulously, one page, two pages, ten pages…

Spring, summer, autumn, and winter; love and hate; family and country; homesickness on the frontier...

The book contains far more than a hundred poems, covering a wide range of themes and styles. Each and every one of them is an exquisite masterpiece, one that she could never write in her entire life...

Even though she already knew that her husband was the mysterious genius who wrote the Ten Exquisite Poems, this collection of poems still brought her unparalleled shock.

She looked up at Lin Xuan, her beautiful eyes wide with disbelief, and said in a trembling voice, "These...these...were all...written by you, my husband?"

Although plagiarism is shameful, Lin Xuan couldn't come up with any other reason, so he could only say, "As a secret agent, you have to know a little bit of everything. Keep this book safe. If the household is short of money while I'm away, just take a few poems and have Zhiqin or Liuli take them to a poetry gathering to exchange for some money to supplement the household expenses..."

After the initial shock, Zhao Wan murmured softly, "Didn't my husband say that he didn't understand poetry very well and wasn't interested in it...?"

Lin Xuan didn't know much about poetry; at most, he was a literature enthusiast who had memorized a few ancient poems.

When it comes to writing poetry and lyrics, Zhao Wan, this talented woman, is far superior to him.

He was indeed not interested in poetry.

What interests him is martial arts and techniques, and certainly not poetry.

If his family hadn't been short of money, he wouldn't have bothered to even copy it.

He shrugged and explained, "Compared to poetry, I'm better at disguise, tracking, and assassination. And I really have no interest in poetry, but my family is short of money, and there's no other way. I can't exactly make you show your face at poetry gatherings..."

Zhao Wan was unaware of her true feelings.

If someone has no interest in poetry, yet can still write so many works that put many great poets to shame, how can these so-called talented women and men bear this?

She looked into Lin Xuan's eyes, those clear eyes filled with sincerity.

Although they hadn't spent much time together, she understood her husband.

My husband was not lying.

As the most talented woman in the capital, this fact is truly heartbreaking...

The talent she painstakingly pursued was more than enough for others to use.

But as his wife, she was filled with joy; a bright ray of dawn had finally shone into the once gloomy sky.

He didn't intentionally hide it from her; he genuinely wasn't interested in poetry...

It turns out that she had been overthinking things all along...

So, was her husband's trip not what she had imagined?
Zhao Wan suppressed her chaotic thoughts and asked Lin Xuan softly, "Those Ten Exquisite Poems, were they also written by my husband?"

Lin Xuan did not deny it, and nodded, saying, "After that homecoming, we ran out of money at home. We happened to see someone holding a poetry gathering, so we exchanged some money for it."

This wasn't a secret he needed to keep from everyone; he had altered his handwriting while wearing a cloak, simply to avoid being harassed by his fervent literary fans later.

Of course, at that time, he didn't want to be harassed by Zhao Wan.

In terms of true poetic knowledge, Lin Xuan is far inferior to her; she will inevitably reveal her lack of understanding if they talk for a while.

Zhao Wan asked anxiously and with mixed feelings, "Husband, why didn't you tell me..."

Lin Xuan said naturally, "You didn't ask..."

Zhao Wan fell silent.

She realized that she had been misunderstanding her husband all along.

Her husband wasn't as deep-thinking as she was; on the contrary, she was always overthinking, causing herself unnecessary trouble.

Lin Xuan remembered something, looked at Zhao Wan, and instructed her, "Please keep what happened just now a secret. If Prince Yu finds out that Miss Wenren and I are friends, the Chen family and the Zhao family may be in danger..."

Zhao Wan's face showed a solemn expression, and she nodded, saying, "Husband, rest assured, neither I nor Liuli will tell anyone about this matter."

This matter also concerns herself and the Zhao family, and Lin Xuan believes she will not publicize it.

After handing the poetry book to Zhao Wan, Lin Xuan leaped over the courtyard wall silently and landed in Wenren Yue's courtyard.

Zhao Wan looked in the direction he disappeared and suddenly realized something.

When her husband is not at home, is she always with Miss Wenren?
It seems they really are very, very good friends...

In Wenren Yue's courtyard, she stood with her back to Lin Xuan under a flowering tree, her figure appearing aloof and solitary.

She had noticed Lin Xuan's arrival long ago, but did not turn around.

Lin Xuan walked up behind her and said with a hint of helplessness, "Are you still angry?"

Wenren Yue suddenly turned around, her cold eyes filled with a hint of anger as she stared directly at him: "You shouldn't have gone to Nanzhao. The commander has already given you a choice. You could have stayed. Why did you have to take the risk!"

Lin Xuan sighed and explained, "I know you mean well, but it is precisely because I understand the Nanzhao Secret Service, their methods and weaknesses, that I should go. If it were someone else, the chances of being killed would be greater, and the risk of mission failure would be higher. Both for the public and for the private, I am the most suitable candidate."

His tone shifted, his voice lowering and tinged with weariness as he slowly said, "Compared to Nanzhao, the capital is a much deeper place. Life here is too exhausting. I can't even make my own decisions about my marriage, and I'm constantly being schemed against by various factions. This is a good opportunity to return to the southwest and reunite with Qingluan. Besides, I'm in charge of this operation, and I won't do anything I'm not confident about. Even if we can't complete the mission successfully, I can still get out unscathed..."

Wenren Yue remained silent for a moment, knowing that he had made up his mind.

Compared to the last time when he went undercover at the Yang family without saying a word, this time at least he told her.

She took a deep breath and said seriously, "Then be careful in everything you do, don't be reckless, and always remember to prioritize your own safety."

Lin Xuan nodded slightly and said, "I will be careful. After I leave, please keep an eye on things in the capital."

Wenren Yue glanced in the direction of the next room and said, "Don't worry, I will take care of Miss Zhao for you."

With the double protection of the Commander's Office and Wenren Yue, he didn't need to worry about things at home.

Wenren Yue asked, "When are you leaving?"

Lin Xuan said: "Tonight."

This mission is urgent, and the Commander's Office requires that everyone must meet in the capital of Nanzhao Kingdom in half a month.

For those who cannot fly, this means they need to travel day and night.

Half a month is still quite a lot of time for Lin Xuan. With his current mental strength, his speed of flying through the air is more than twice as fast as before. He can even fly to Sizhou first to spend a few days with Qingluan, and then go to Xuanwu Tribe and Youmeng to see the scenery.

The thought of Qingluan made him unwilling to waste even a single night.

Leaving a night earlier would allow him to spend another night with her. Lin Xuan glanced at the sky, smiled at Wenren Yue, and said, "I can cook for you one more time..."

He went to the kitchen and put on an apron.

Wenren Yue followed them into the kitchen. Neither of them spoke again. As usual, they had a clear division of labor and worked together tacitly in the kitchen.

Soon, the food was served, and the two sat facing each other.

The meal was quiet and long. Wenren Yue remained silent throughout, savoring the flavors of the dishes. The journey was extremely dangerous, and no one knew what the future held. Her heart was filled with worry for her friends, but there was nothing she could do.

After finishing the last bite of her food, she put down her chopsticks and whispered, "Take care."

Lin Xuan smiled and said, "I'll learn a few Nanzhao dishes and cook them for you when I get back..."

Before long, Lin Xuan descended from the sky and landed in the inner courtyard.

He had already packed his things. Lin Xuan was carrying a bundle on his back when he stepped out of the study. Just then, a figure strode out of the main hall.

Lin Xuan looked at Zhao Wan and said, "I'm leaving now. I'm entrusting the family to you. If you encounter any difficulties, you can seek help from the Commander's Office, or you can tell Miss Wenren..."

Zhao Wan walked up to him, bit her lower lip lightly, and whispered, "It's getting dark, husband, won't you wait until tomorrow to leave?"

Lin Xuan said, "This mission is urgent, and we can't afford to waste even a moment. Traveling at night will also help us avoid being noticed..."

He glanced at Zhao Wan one last time, and as he turned to leave, Zhao Wan suddenly raised her head, as if she had mustered some courage, and said, "Husband, I..., may I hug you?"

Lin Xuan paused, then stood quietly in place.

Zhao Wan stepped forward slowly, stretched out her arms, gently wrapped them around Lin Xuan's waist, and pressed her cheek against his firm chest.

Lin Xuan was momentarily stunned, never expecting her to do such a thing.

Zhao Wan raised her head, a hint of moisture welling up in her pure eyes, and said in a trembling voice, "Does my husband not want to consummate our marriage, which is why he took on this dangerous mission..."

Seeing Zhao Wan's tearful expression, Lin Xuan knew she was overthinking things.

He admitted that this was one of the reasons for his trip to Nanzhao, but that reason accounted for less than one-tenth of the total.

To avoid consummating the marriage, what kind of person would risk their life to travel thousands of miles to an enemy country?
Lin Xuan was simply respecting her wishes and unwilling to go against them. Moreover, things were far from reaching that point. If they didn't consummate their marriage on the wedding night, he would be punished for deceiving the emperor. So even if Zhao Wan was unwilling, it wouldn't matter.

This talented woman is truly sensitive and fragile inside.

Before marrying her, she wrote "Partridge Sky" to express her feelings.

After he married her, she cried because they had not consummated their marriage.

Does she want to smooth things over, or not...?

This was the first time he had ever met a woman with this kind of personality.

Feeling the slightly trembling body in his arms, Lin Xuan let her hold him, sighed softly, and said, "What are you thinking? How could I possibly undertake such a dangerous mission for such an absurd reason? It's just that I'm more confident than others in this mission, so don't overthink it..."

Zhao Wan looked at him, a hint of joy in her voice: "Really?"

Lin Xuan nodded and said, "Of course it's true."

A wave of relief and joy washed over Zhao Wan. She quickly released her embrace from Lin Xuan, lowered her head shyly, and whispered, "I was overthinking things..."

Then, she raised her head, gently straightened Lin Xuan's collar, and said earnestly, "My husband, please be careful while you are away. I will be waiting for you to come home..."

Lin Xuan was already eager to return home. He tightened the bundle on his back and said, "I'm leaving..."

After saying that, he strode away.

When Zhao Wan chased after him out of the mansion, he had already completely disappeared.

She stood there for a long time, then sighed deeply.

As she turned to return to her residence, she saw a figure standing in front of the Wenren Mansion, gazing intently in a certain direction for a long time.

……

Sizhou.

The city gate.

Many horse-drawn carriages loaded with goods lined up at the city gate, waiting to enter the city.

Sizhou today is no longer the Sizhou of the past.

After the Yang family was destroyed, the Tian family of Sizhou rose rapidly. All the local chieftains, big and small, in the vicinity of Sizhou took the initiative to submit to the Tian family, making the Tian family the third largest chieftain in the country after the Song family and the An family.

Furthermore, the Tian family is very different from the An family and the Song family.

The An and Song families practically monopolized all highly profitable businesses within their territory.

The Tian family, on the other hand, took out their highly profitable businesses and partnered with other chieftains, offering them the benefits in return.

As more and more chieftains cooperated, the Tian family's business grew larger and larger. Although it has not yet surpassed the An and Song families, it is only a matter of time before they become the number one merchant in the southwest.

In the east of Sizhou City, there is a quiet and elegant residence.

After finishing the last batch of account reconciliations for the day, Tian Qingluan rubbed her slightly tired temples and pushed open the bedroom door.

These days, the Tian family is developing rapidly, and the business empire she dreamed of is beginning to take shape. Although she feels a great sense of accomplishment, she is busier than ever before.

Only the brief telescope communication each night allowed her a moment of leisure and relaxation.

She had just stepped into the room and was about to turn on the lamp when a sudden chill ran through her!
There's someone inside!

In the darkness, a figure sat at the table in the center of the room.

His first thought was that it was an assassin. The bigger the tree, the more the wind would blow against it; the more the Tian family's business grew, the more people would covet their secret formulas. He just didn't know if this person was sent by the An family or the Song family…

In a flash, she had no time to think. Her body reacted faster than her mind. With a twist of her waist, she delivered a sharp palm strike with her backhand, accompanied by the sound of wind breaking, straight at the blurry black figure!
However, the next moment, her wrist was precisely grabbed by a warm and powerful hand. The force was just right, making it impossible for her to break free without harming her in the slightest.

Then a gentle force came and she was uncontrollably pulled into a firm embrace, unable to move.

"There are assassins!"

Tian Qingluan was terrified, knowing she was no match for this man. She immediately cried for help. Although Sister Youmeng had returned to her tribe, she had left behind several powerful members of the Jiuli tribe. As long as they heard her cries for help, they would arrive instantly.

Just then, a mocking voice came from above her head: "I've already set up a mental barrier here. Even if you scream your lungs out, no one will come to save you..."

This sound...

Tian Qingluan's delicate body trembled violently, and she abruptly raised her head.

Although she couldn't see his face clearly in the darkness, the deeply etched features of his face, the haunting aura he possessed, were something she had longed for day and night for a long time...

Upon hearing that familiar voice, all panic and fear vanished instantly.

The longing that had been building up in my heart for so long finally found an outlet.

She didn't hesitate at all.

The moment she confirmed it was him, her lips were already on his.

She had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

Lin Xuan also waited for a long time.

He tightened his arm slightly, responding deeply to her.

In the darkness, only the rapid breathing of the two remained. Time seemed to stand still at this moment, and all words seemed superfluous. Only this most primal and direct way could express the burning longing after such a long separation.

She guided him, and the two embraced tightly, their lips never parting. Their steps faltered and moved slowly in the tide of passion, from the table to the bedside.

Unconsciously and casually, she ripped off the brocade curtains in front of the bed, and the soft fabrics hung down like flowing clouds, quietly creating a secret and enchanting world that belonged only to them.

From the edge of the table to the bedside, their clothes were scattered all along the way...

Absence makes the heart grow fonder; tonight is destined to be a sleepless night...

(End of this chapter)