"What’s the hurry?!" Xiao Wu said sowhat displeased, "Everything’s back on track now, not busy at all."
"Then I misunderstood, please forgive , sir." An Ning replied politely.
"Let’s go back with ." Xiao Wu said directly, not wanting to waste words.
An Ning frowned.
She felt she hadn’t made herself clear just now.
"Didn’t I say I would treat you to a drink? We haven’t even had a drink yet, how can you just leave like that?!" Xiao Wu saw the unwillingness in the person in front of him and quickly added.
"I’m not good at drinking. I appreciate your intention, sir." An Ning declined.
"Who says you have to be good at drinking to drink? It’s mainly about chatting and catching up." Xiao Wu insisted.
"..." What was there to chat about between them, what was there to catch up on?
"Today is farewell, heaven and earth apart, we might never see each other again." Xiao Wu added.
Perhaps never seeing each other again wouldn’t be so bad.
She didn’t particularly want to see him again either.
"Besides, the epidemic isn’t completely over. The patients haven’t all been released yet, what if sothing unexpected happens?! Anyway, An Ning can’t leave right now." Xiao Wu’s tone was uncharacteristically firm.
An Ning took a deep breath to calm herself.
She said, "If I drink with you, can I leave then?"
"Sure." Xiao Wu agreed readily.
An Ning wasn’t sure when Xiao Wu beca such a fan of drinking.
"Then let’s go." An Ning went back with Guan Yu.
Thinking that after drinking with Xiao Wu tonight, she’d either leave at night or the next morning.
Another day wouldn’t make much difference.
On returning,
An Ning wanted to go back to the plague area.
"Where are you going, An Ning?" Xiao Wu called out quickly when he saw An Ning’s actions.
"To the plague area." An Ning replied.
"No need, we’ll just stay at the County Magistrate’s Mansion." Xiao Wu said bluntly.
"Why?" An Ning was surprised, "Didn’t you just say the epidemic isn’t fully cured yet? I want to check on the patients."
"If there’s anything, soone will notify you. You’ve worked hard for days, you should take a bath, sleep well, and rest. How can you go back?!" Xiao Wu spoke as if it was a matter of course.
"Can I not go?" An Ning refused.
"Why?!" Xiao Wu was baffled.
"I’m not used to staying in soone else’s ho."
"The rooms have been tidied up, beds are new, don’t worry, it’s clean." Xiao Wu said quickly.
"If I really have to stay... I’d rather stay at Linghe Temple." An Ning said outright.
"Linghe Temple isn’t as comfortable as the County Magistrate’s Mansion. My lord and Doctor Feng are staying at the mansion too."
That gave her even more reason not to stay there.
"Linghe Temple is closer to the plague area, if anything happens, I can get there imdiately." An Ning’s tone was firm, "Please, sir, don’t force ."
"Why are you so stubborn, An Ning?! I’ve told you the County Magistrate’s Mansion is better, you eat and sleep well there, but you insist on going to Linghe Temple. Fine, fine..." Xiao Wu didn’t want to persuade further, "Let take you to Linghe Temple then."
"Thank you, sir."
"No need for thanks!" Xiao Wu said carelessly, then added, "But temples are always quiet places, you can’t drink inside. When it’s ti to drink, we’ll have to go outside."
"When you find an inn, I’ll co over." An Ning replied.
"Alright."
"Tonight, is it?" An Ning confird.
"Not tonight." Xiao Wu said, "Tonight, I have to accompany my lord."
An Ning frowned, asking, "Tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow won’t work either." Xiao Wu continued, "I have to accompany my lord these days, especially since the governor is coming, my lord must personally understand the economic situation here in Wenzhou City..."
After speaking,
Xiao Wu imdiately stopped talking.
Saying too much would surely reveal the emperor’s identity.
Not that he feared offending the emperor, but worried An Ning would feel uneasy knowing the emperor’s identity.
An Ning pretended not to understand; she only cared about when she could drink and then leave.
"So when can we?"
"In the coming days, I suppose." Xiao Wu couldn’t be certain, "You wait at Linghe Temple, I’ll send soone to notify you when I’m free."
"Sir, my family..."
"I know, I know, I won’t delay you for long." Xiao Wu interrupted An Ning and, with a hint of mystery, said, "Plus, I have a surprise for you."
"..." Don’t sound so scary.
She didn’t want any surprises.
"For now, just settle down at Linghe Temple."
"... Okay." An Ning reluctantly agreed.
No choice but to agree.
The city gates were closed, she couldn’t escape even if she wanted to.
An Ning returned to Linghe Temple.
Xiao Wu accompanied her all the way, asking the monks to prepare a room for An Ning.
Coincidentally, it was Xiao Jinxing’s old room.
Xiao Wu said, "This is the largest room, I’ll have soone bring in hot water for your bath, have a good sleep."
"Thank you, sir."
"Do you need to help with your bath?" Xiao Wu suddenly asked.
"..." An Ning stared at Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu frowned, "Is there sothing on my face?"
"Guan Yu will assist with the bath, your offer is kind, sir." An Ning forced a smile.
Guan Yu had been standing beside her all this ti.
Upon hearing Miss say he’d assist her with the bath...
His face turned instantly red.
Xiao Wu, looking at Guan Yu’s flushed face, was baffled, "Why’s your face so red?!"
"..." Guan Yu didn’t speak.
"Have you caught the epidemic too?..."
"No." Guan Yu quickly replied, "Just... too hot."
Xiao Wu looked over Guan Yu without much thought, muttering, "Young people do have a lot of energy."
An Ning didn’t respond.
"I should get going then."
"Take care, sir."
Xiao Wu left without delay.
After he left, Guan Yu’s face was still flushed as he turned to An Ning, "I... I’ve yet to marry..."
An Ning was speechless.
What was he thinking?
"Go out." An Ning ordered.
"Didn’t the young master say I should help you bathe?"
"He was joking. You’ve worked hard these days, go rest. When we can leave, we’ll head straight to Wenzhou, try not to delay any longer." An Ning instructed.
"Alright." Guan Yu breathed a sigh of relief.
Worried his innocence would be compromised!
...
At the County Magistrate’s Mansion.
Xiao Wu returned to see the emperor casually sipping tea.
"Where is she?" Xiao Jinxing inquired.
"An Ning went to Linghe Temple; she said she isn’t comfortable staying here." Xiao Wu promptly replied, "So I escorted her to Linghe Temple."
Xiao Jinxing’s hand noticeably tensed holding the teacup.
"Rest assured, Your Majesty, I instructed the abbot at Linghe Temple to take good care of An Ning, and hot water’s ready for her bath," Xiao Wu reported, then mumbled, "I originally intended to help with An Ning’s bath before leaving, but since she asked Guan Yu to assist, I didn’t insist..."
"Smash!"
Xiao Wu watched as the teacup in the emperor’s grasp suddenly shattered!
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