Empress, please lay down your armor, for I will save the world with a single sword!

Qiyun Courtyard remained quiet.

When Wu Liang was brought in, the maidservant lowered her head and stepped aside.

Inside the room, Jiang Qingluan sat by the window.

She is not wearing her wedding dress today.

She was wearing only a plain white dress, her hair was simply styled, and she had no makeup on her face.

But even sitting there, with her back straight and her eyes cool and aloof, she still exuded an air of nobility that commanded respect.

Hearing footsteps, she did not turn around immediately.

Wu Liang stood at the door and watched her for a while.

After a few days apart, this young lady seems to have lost some weight and is even colder.

Before he could speak, Jiang Qingluan said calmly, "So you still know how to come!"

Wu Liang smiled and stepped inside.

"Missing me?"

Jiang Qingluan finally turned her head.

Those clear, cold eyes looked at him, a half-smile playing on their lips.

"I'm afraid you'll die."

Wu Liang's heart skipped a beat, but he still couldn't resist saying it.

"Stubborn to the end."

Jiang Qingluan said coldly, "If you keep talking nonsense, get out now."

"No!"

Wu Liang sat down opposite her. "We can't waste this half hour that we fought so hard for."

Jiang Qingluan's eyes flickered slightly upon hearing this.

"Did you fight for it?"

Wu Liang nodded.

"yes."

"I'm being kept locked up by your future father-in-law right now."

Jiang Qingluan's face darkened.

"What future father-in-law?"

Wu Liang immediately changed his tune.

"Former and future father-in-law".

Jiang Qingluan was so angry that her fingers clenched.

That bastard, still so irresponsible.

But for some reason, hearing him say that made her feel a little relieved.

He can still be poor.

This means that the worst is yet to come.

Jiang Qingluan suppressed her emotions and asked coldly, "Why didn't you come the other nights?"

Wu Liang looked at her.

This sentence has finally arrived.

He stopped grinning and joking.

"He's been poisoned."

Jiang Qingluan's expression changed.

"Poisoning?"

"Um."

Wu Liang said casually, "There was a slight accident, and things almost went wrong. Later, I was invited to have a heart-to-heart talk by your Prince of Beiyong, and after that, I was placed under house arrest."

Jiang Qingluan stared at him.

"You make it sound so easy."

"What else can we do?"

Wu Liang shrugged. "I can't exactly walk in and hug you crying, saying I almost died, just to make you feel sorry for me, can I?"

Jiang Qingluan was taken aback, and her face flushed slightly.

Then it cooled down again.

"Serves you right."

Wu Liang smiled.

"You have no conscience."

"For your sake, I first disrupted the wedding of the Crown Prince of Bei Yong, and then discussed fate right under Pei Xiao's nose."

"I still have to treat Pei Chang'an's leg these days, which is very time-consuming and exhausting, and my back and waist are aching."

"And you just dismissed me with a simple 'you deserved it'?"

Jiang Qingluan remained silent.

Of course she knew that Wu Liang made it sound so easy.

But how could she not understand the danger involved?

The wedding was disrupted in front of everyone in the main hall.

Forced Pei Xiao to stop.

He was placed under house arrest.

They then used Pei Chang'an's leg as leverage in their negotiations.

Every wrong step will lead to death.

Jiang Qingluan's resentment dissipated considerably at this moment, but her words remained cold.

"Who sent you?"

Wu Liang looked at her and suddenly opened his arms.

Jiang Qingluan frowned.

"What are you doing?"

Wu Liang was very serious.

"You want benefits."

Jiang Qingluan looked at him warily.

"What are the benefits?"

Wu Liang said, "Let's hug first."

"Consider it paying some interest."

Jiang Qingluan's cheeks flushed instantly.

"Wu Liang!"

"How dare you!"

Wu Liang sighed and leaned back in his chair.

"Alright."

"I understand."

"I'm risking my life for you outside, and you won't even give me a hug."

Jiang Qingluan knew he was faking his pitifulness, but her heart still softened a little.

She bit her lip and turned her face away.

Just once.

Wu Liang's eyes lit up.

"real?"

Jiang Qingluan said coldly, "If you keep talking nonsense, then there won't be any more."

Wu Liang immediately stood up and walked over to her.

Jiang Qingluan also stood up.

Her body stiffened, as if she regretted it a little, or as if she didn't know where to put her hands.

Wu Liang didn't give her a chance to back down, and gently pulled her into his arms.

Jiang Qingluan tensed up instantly.

She had never hugged a man like that before.

Wu Liang had a faint medicinal fragrance and a hint of charcoal fire on him, which was not quite what she had imagined.

I don't dislike it.

Some of them even give people a sense of reassurance.

She wanted to push him away immediately, but when she raised her hand, it stopped in front of his chest.

Wu Liang did not move.

He simply held her quietly.

After a moment, he said in a low voice, "Jiang Qingluan, I told you, you are not fit to be the Crown Prince's consort."

Jiang Qingluan's eyes suddenly felt hot.

She gritted her teeth.

"Don't lie to me."

"I'm not lying to you."

Wu Liang lowered his voice.

"I also said I would take you with me."

Jiang Qingluan closed her eyes.

The waiting, doubt, grievances, and worries of those two nights all seemed to be suppressed by that hug.

It's not that it's gone.

Finally, things have settled down.

She whispered, "Wu Liang, if you're lying to me, I'll kill you."

"Um."

Wu Liang said, "Then I will try my best not to lie."

Just as Jiang Qingluan was about to push him away, she suddenly felt Wu Liang lower his head.

She suddenly looked up.

The next moment, I felt a warmth on my lips.

Jiang Qingluan froze completely.

Her eyes widened, almost unable to believe that Wu Liang would dare to do such a thing.

"Well……"

She instinctively pushed him away.

But Wu Liang held his arm very firmly.

The kiss wasn't deep.

But it carried a hint of the wickedness of a successful sneak attack, and an uncontrollable forcefulness.

Jiang Qingluan was genuinely annoyed at first.

She placed her hand against his chest and pushed him twice with force.

But as you push, the force decreases.

Her mind was in turmoil.

He should have slapped her.

But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get the palm out.

In the end, Wu Liang stepped aside first.

Jiang Qingluan blushed deeply, and her breathing became erratic.

She raised her hand as if to hit him.

Wu Liangyi grabbed her wrist.

"Don't hit him."

"There are people watching outside."

Jiang Qingluan was so embarrassed and angry that her eyes turned red.

"Wu Liang, you bastard!"

Wu Liang nodded.

"I know."

Jiang Qingluan was so angry she wanted to bite him.

"If you dare to do this again, I will kill you."

Wu Liang's eyes lit up.

"So there's a next time?"

Jiang Qingluan finally couldn't hold back and kicked him.

Wu Liang was prepared and dodged with a smile.

Hearing the noise, the maid outside couldn't help but peek up, then quickly lowered her head again.

Jiang Qingluan turned her back and tried to calm her breathing.

But her ears were incredibly red.

Wu Liang stopped teasing her.

He sat back in his chair, his expression gradually becoming serious.

"Next, Pei Xiao will most likely come to negotiate terms."

Jiang Qingluan turned around.

"What are the conditions?"

Wu Liang remained silent for a moment.

"The cost will be high."

Jiang Qingluan looked at him.

How big is it?

Wu Liang said, "It's so big that you'll feel like you're cutting off the flesh of the Great Zhou."

The embarrassment on Jiang Qingluan's face gradually faded, and her expression became very serious.

Wu Liang continued, "But you have to go back to Luo'an first."

"Save your father first."

"First, we must fight against Prince Qing."

"Otherwise, you'll lose everything."

Jiang Qingluan remained silent for a long time.

"You've already guessed what Pei Xiao wants?"

Wu Liang nodded.

"Bei Yong Yong Gu".

"The Pei family has controlled the north for generations."

Jiang Qingluan's fingers slowly tightened.

Wu Liang looked at her and lowered his voice.

"I know it's difficult."

"But Jiang Qingluan, you are not in Luo'an now, you have no soldiers, no money, and no support from the court."

"Many things can only be taken back slowly if you return alive."

Jiang Qingluan looked out the window.

After a long silence, she whispered, "Wu Liang."

"Um?"

Will you help me?

Wu Liang smiled.

"We've already collected the interest."

"Of course we have to help them to the end."

Jiang Qingluan turned to look at him.

This time, she didn't scold him, but her eyes were filled with complex emotions.

Half an hour passed quickly.

The guards outside whispered a reminder.

"Wu Liang, the time has come."

Wu Liang stood up.

Jiang Qingluan stood there, watching him walk to the door.

He turned around and smiled at her.

"wait for me."

Jiang Qingluan whispered, "Don't die."

Wu Liang waved his hand.

"rest assured."

"I'm incredibly resilient."

The door closed.

Jiang Qingluan stood there for a long time.

She gently touched her lips with her finger.

The next moment, her face turned red again.

"asshole."

She muttered a curse under her breath.

But this time, there was little coldness in his voice.

……