Time Travel and Love

Seeing that the New Year was approaching, Chu Qingmeng curled up on the couch, reading a storybook. There were still seven or eight braziers in the room, but Chu Qingmeng still covered her knees with a cloak and lazily refused to move. Chunhe joked, "You are getting lazier. Last winter, you were willing to take a walk occasionally, but now it's the New Year, and you haven't even gone out."

"I don't want to move. I can't leave my little bed. I want to be welded to death in my little bed." Chu Qingmeng threw away the storybook and lay on the couch, laughing and joking with Chunhe.

"It's very cold outside. Don't go out unless necessary. Your body can't take it." Mo Liujin pushed the door open and quickly closed it, fearing that the cold air would blow into the room. After entering, he warmed himself by the brazier for a long time before sitting down on the couch. Chunhe left with a smile and closed the door, leaving only the two of them in the room.

"Why are you here? There have been fewer things to do these days, why don't you take a rest?" Chu Qingmeng sat up and frowned when he saw Mo Liujin with a tired face.

Mo Liujin hugged Chu Qingmeng and let her sit on his lap. He buried his face in Chu Qingmeng's neck and carefully inhaled the unique cool fragrance on her body. Chu Qingmeng was slightly stunned. Every time Mo Liujin did this, it meant that he was either busy or had finished dealing with something. Chu Qingmeng gently hugged him and asked, "What's wrong? Is there something wrong?"

"Hmm." Mo Liujin hummed lightly but didn't say anything. He just lay on Chu Qingmeng's neck and sniffed her scent carefully, refusing to get up. Chu Qingmeng didn't continue to ask, but hugged him back, letting him stay quiet for a while. After about a cup of tea, Mo Liujin called out softly, "Qingmeng."

"Well, I'm here."

Mo Liujin closed his eyes and gently bit Chu Qingmeng's fair neck. Only after Chu Qingmeng cried out in pain did he look up at her, his eyes filled with reluctance and love. Chu Qingmeng was stunned. Something was wrong with Mo Liujin, absolutely something! Seeing Chu Qingmeng's daze, Mo Liujin smiled and buried his head in her neck again, whispering, "After the New Year, my second brother and I will follow our father to the battlefield. If, if I come back, will you marry me?" Mo Liujin felt a little depressed. What he wanted to say was, "If I come back alive, will you marry me?" But he was afraid that if he said that, he would scare her. This expedition would be different from the previous ones. This time it would be a fierce battle. The border had already been captured by the Yuezhi and Beiming forces, and the road ahead would be difficult and dangerous.

"Ajin?" Chu Qingmeng was astonished. "Aren't you in the Ministry of War? You're a civilian, right? How could you be going to war?"

"The Emperor's uncle has his own arrangements. This is not something I can ask." Mo Liujin made up an excuse to perfunctorily answer her. This was not something a girl like her should be involved in. The more she knew, the more dangerous it would be.

Chu Qingmeng's face suddenly turned pale, and she felt inexplicably panicked. Seeing her face suddenly pale, Mo Liujin hurriedly comforted her softly, and regret filled his heart. "Okay, Qingmeng, Leng Feng and the others will stay by my side, and no one can do anything to me. You don't have to attend the morning court these few days until I go to the battlefield. I'll accompany you, okay?"

Chu Qingmeng nodded with a pale face, thinking about what to make for him to protect himself. These days, Mo Liujin had practically been living with Chu Qingmeng. Fortunately, Princess Anning's residence was only separated from Prince Rong's by a wall, and he always climbed over the wall instead of entering through the main gate, so there were no rumors outside the residence. Mo Wushuang had recently been confined by the princess to her own courtyard to learn needlework, and Mu Lingxue had been spending time with Mo Liuyuan, so things were quiet until the end of the year. Chu Qingmeng, on the other hand, spent his days crafting small gadgets for Mo Liujin to protect himself.

It wasn't until the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, when Ling Xiao came to Mo Liujin to discuss something, that the two Mu brothers, Mu Ruifeng and Mu Ruisong, arrived at the Princess's Mansion. It was then that everyone learned that Mu Lingxue hadn't returned since leaving that morning. The brothers searched everywhere Mu Lingxue frequented, but couldn't find her. Chu Qingmeng asked Mo Liujin to check with Mo Liuyuan, but he wasn't there either. Mo Liuyuan's expression suddenly changed. He had some urgent business that day and hadn't been with Mu Lingxue. He hurriedly asked Leng Lie to contact the secret guards following Mu Lingxue, but the signal went out without a response. Everyone present was now anxious.

"Second brother, you didn't quarrel with Lingxue, did you? Or is there something you two disagree on?" Chu Qingmeng still held on to the hope that Mu Lingxue had secretly run back home like her.

It's a pity that this possibility doesn't exist. Seeing Mo Liuyuan shaking his head, Chu Qingmeng became a little anxious. She knew that the probability was very small. After all, if she ran away, there was no way she would not tell the two brothers of the Mu family.

Mo Liuyuan ordered the secret guards to investigate with a cold face. After waiting for three hours on pins and needles, Leng Leng found out that except for one named Leng Shi, all the secret guards following Mu Lingxue were dead, and all the bodies were killed by a sword.

"It was done by someone I know." Chu Qingmeng confirmed it in a cold voice. "The secret guards are all good at martial arts. It's impossible for them to just stand there and let someone kill them. Unless it was someone I know, they were caught off guard and got killed by a single sword."