Chapter 482: Promise
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
After exiting through the back door, Su Ying immediately saw Wei Zhongming still shackled in the prison cart.
He looked like he had lost a lot of weight, and his face was ashen-gray. He had the wretched demeanor of a death row prisoner.
When he heard the commotion, Wei Zhongming looked at Su Ying with anticipation. “Your Imperial Highness…”
Su Ying nimbly mounted her horse. “It does not feel good, does it?”
“I deserve to die…”
“It’s good that you know you deserve to die.”
Wei Zhongming did not dare to make a sound anymore.
Xiao Jin and Su Ying mounted their horses and galloped off.
The town wasn’t far from the courier station. As the place was close to the capital city, Xiao Jin was not unfamiliar with this stretch of road.
The two of them rode their horses all the way and reached the town before dark.
This was a big town. Even though the sun was setting, there were still many pedestrians on the streets.
After entering the town, the two of them dismounted and led their horses as they walked on the street.
“What do you want to buy?”
“They like small animals. Let’s go to the livestock stall to take a look.”
“Alright.”
The two of them had changed their appearances and were wearing the most ordinary coarse-cloth clothes. They walked on the street like a perfectly ordinary couple.
Xiao Jin held Su Ying’s hand and asked around for the location of the livestock stall. Thereafter he led her and walked in that direction leisurely.
Along the way, Su Ying would also go close to the hawkers who were shouting by the roadside to take a look. She also wanted to bring something back for Aunt Zhao, Bai Shuang, and the others.
“Young Madam, this flower hair ornament is the most popular in the capital city. If you like it, I can sell one to you for five copper coins.”
Compared to the jewelry in the palace, these flower hair ornaments weren’t very good. However, Su Ying felt that they were quite unique, so she chose a few. Xiao Jin followed her and paid for them.
“Stir-fried chestnuts with sugar. Hot chestnuts fried with sugar.”
Su Ying could smell the fragrance of the food as soon as she bought the flower hair ornaments. She hadn’t been able to eat properly recently, but now that she was close to the capital city, her mood was more relaxed and she became interested once more.
“Give me a pack.”
“Alrighty, Young Madam. Here you go.”
Xiao Jin watched Su Ying peel the chestnuts and eat them to her heart’s content, and a doting smile appeared on his lips. “How much?”
”15 copper coins, Sir.”
After Xiao Jin made payment, he then bought a few sticks of candied hawthorns and some fresh snacks for Su Ying.
“Have a taste?”
A golden chestnut roasted in sugar that was still steaming was brought to Xiao Jin’s lips.
Xiao Jin lowered his head slightly and ate it.
The chestnut was very gooey and sweet, and the warmth spread from his lips and teeth right into his heart.
As they strolled along, the two of them finally arrived at the livestock stall. Su Ying shoved everything she had bought on the street into Xiao Jin’s arms.
“Wait for me here. I’ll be right back.”
Xiao Jin frowned slightly and wanted to object. He did not want to be separated from her for even a moment!
However, Su Ying insisted. “These are all food items. It’s too smelly inside. Give me 15 minutes. If I don’t come out in 15 minutes, you can come in.”
‘Til accompany you.”
“No.”
In the end, Xiao Jin could only compromise. “8 minutes then.”
“Alright.”
Su Ying didn’t even look back as she walked towards the livestock stall. She wanted to find a hidden place to enter the interspatial store and get the two wolf cubs out.
Fortunately, the sky was already dark and there were not many people in the stall. She found a low wall and walked in. When she came out again, she had the two wolf cubs in her arms.
The wolf cubs had been trapped in the interspatial store for so long that they were instinctively somewhat guarded when they were suddenly brought outside. In particular, when they were surrounded by the smell of livestock, all their fur stood on end.
Su Ying patted them reassuringly. “Don’t be afraid. Let’s go. I’ll bring you guys to have a good feast.”
When she walked out, Su Ying immediately saw Xiao Jin standing outside the entrance.
Even the most ordinary coarse-cloth clothes could not hide the noble aura on his body.
“Wolves?” Xiao Jin looked at the animals Su Ying brought out with great surprise.
Su Ying nodded. “I bought them from a middle-aged man in the northwest corner. These guys are still young and they can probably be raised domestically. That’s why I want to bring them back for Ji and Ling.”
Previously, in Sky Alpha City, the two little fellows got along quite well with the alpha wolf leader and his pack of wolves. When they returned to the Chu State, the children were very reluctant to part with the wolves. They wouldn’t be able to see that pack of dogs in the foreseeable near future, so she would give these two little ones to the children to take good care of.
“Alright.”
Xiao Jin placed everything on the horse’s back and stepped forward to hold Su Ying’s hand.
He didn’t care what Su Ying brought back. He only cared about her.
“Are you hungry? Shall we eat here before going back or go back and eat?”
The courier station had already received the news in advance. Everything that needed to be prepared had been prepared. If they did not go back, the stuff that had already been prepared would go to waste.
Anyway, Su Ying had already achieved her goal of coming out, so there was no need to stay in this place.
“Let’s go back.”
“Alright.”
Su Ying bought two slightly larger wicker baskets and placed the two wolf cubs inside before fastening the baskets to the horse’s back. Just as she was about to get on the horse, Xiao Jin pulled her back.
“Sit on mine.”
Su Ying thought that Xiao Jin was giving up his horse for her. “You’re walking?”
Xiao Jin’s eyelids twitched. He made her get on the horse first and then nimbly sat behind her.
The width of the saddle was limited, and Xiao Jin was almost plastered to Su Ying’s back. Even though the two of them had already been intimate countless times, Su Ying’s heart would still inexplicably beat faster when she felt his aura envelop her.
“If you’re tired, just lean on me.” Xiao Jin’s two arms slipped around her and grabbed the reins. Then he spurred the horse forward. The horse began to trot briskly.
Since they wouldn’t be able to enter the capital city tonight, there was no need for them to rush back.
From the time the sky turned dark to the time when the night sky was densely peppered with stars, Su Ying leaned into Xiao Jin’s embrace and felt his powerful heartbeat. She watched the sparkling star-filled sky and enjoyed this rare moment of peace.
After returning to the capital city, who knew how many matters were waiting for them?
“Xiao Jin.”
“Hmm?”
“If one day, I am gone…”
Xiao Jin’s hand gripping her tightened abruptly, and even his heartbeat sped up. The fear of losing her swept over him again and almost made him lose control.
“It won’t happen!”
She gently caressed his two tense hands. “I’m saying if.”
“There are no ifs! Su Ying, I don’t want to think about these damned ifs!”
“Alright, then don’t. But no matter what happens, don’t let yourself go to ruin. At the very least, you have to promise me this.”
Xiao Jin lowered his head and pressed his face against hers. As he felt her warmth, his flustered heartbeat gradually calmed down. “Fine. I promise you, but you also have to promise me that no matter what happens, you must protect yourself. This is what your husband hopes you can promise him.”
“Alright. I promise you.”
Xiao Jin hugged her tightly and planted a kiss on her cheek. “I’ll settle all the things in the Chu State as soon as possible. Give me some more time.”
“What? You don’t want to be the Emperor anymore? Don’t be willful. It’s not so easy to extricate yourself once you are entangled with bad company.” If Xiao Jin was not the monarch, no matter who ascended the throne, Xiao Jin would be the most terrifying threat to that person. Even if the other party was not worried in the beginning, people’s hearts would change over time. Therefore, she did not approve of Xiao Jin stepping down at this juncture.
“I’m not being willful. I can’t put all of you at risk.”
“Don’t be anxious, and don’t worry. No matter what you do, I will stay by your side, Xiao Jin. This is my promise to you.”
“Then you must keep your promise. Otherwise…”
Su Ying asked with an amused look, “Otherwise what?”
“Otherwise… I’ll make you cry and beg for mercy at night.”
Su Ying chuckled softly and turned around nimbly. She then wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his lips.. “It’s not certain who will make who cry!”