Chapter 1280: Chapter 775: Feelings Affected (First Update)

Yuan YanYu’s face broke into a smile, and she eagerly said, "Then I’ll come find you in a while."

"Okay."

Yuan YanYu left.

After finishing breakfast, An Youyou went straight to An Ji’s room.

An Ji was sitting on a soft couch, writing with his head down.

In a dark green robe, his smooth long hair cascading down, his handsome features and distinctly defined face, what a picture of a beautiful man.

An Youyou withdrew her gaze.

She calmly walked up to An Ji, "Let me check your wound."

An Ji looked up at An Youyou, gracefully setting aside his writing, sitting upright with a dignified air.

An Youyou sat across from him, reaching out to help him loosen his robe, revealing his well-toned upper body. She gently unwrapped the bandage, looking at his crimson wound, now fully scabbed over. She lightly touched it with her fingers.

An Ji sat upright, feeling a bit tense.

"Does it hurt?" An Youyou asked.

"No." An Ji replied.

"That’s much better," An Youyou said after a careful examination, "but we still can’t be careless. You must continue changing the medicine every day."

"Okay."

"Let me help you change it."

"Alright."

An Youyou diligently applied the ointment to his external wounds.

An Ji’s heartbeat began to quicken, his breathing becoming slightly hurried.

A pleasant scent emanated from An Youyou, momentarily dazing him...

"Done," An Youyou said after applying the medicine.

An Ji immediately snapped back to reality.

Then slowly, he tried to adjust his emotions.

An Youyou hadn’t noticed, she picked up the white cotton cloth nearby and started bandaging An Ji’s wound. She needed to wrap it around An Ji’s back. With her not-so-long arms and his slender yet muscular build, her body naturally leaned closer, her face sometimes almost brushing against his chest.

The emotions that had finally steadied were tense once more.

He lowered his gaze, watching An Youyou’s focused and serious expression. His long, curled eyelashes were remarkably striking...

An Youyou finally finished bandaging.

Looking up, she met An Ji’s direct gaze.

The two locked eyes for a brief moment.

They both quickly looked away.

The atmosphere felt a bit awkward.

An Youyou wasn’t quite sure why she felt awkward.

To An Ji, she was just another man, and he already had someone in his heart, so naturally, he had no feelings for her.

An Ji was equally confused, wondering why he avoided An Youyou’s gaze like this.

Just a man, why did he suddenly have these inexplicable emotions?!

Being with An Youyou was like being with Xiao Luming back then, a brotherly bond of mutual appreciation and admiration.

The silence felt suffocating.

"A-Li."

A sweet female voice suddenly called from outside the door.

An Youyou and An Ji quickly regained their composure, instantly becoming natural again.

"Are you done?" Yuan YanYu walked in and asked.

An Youyou had already risen from the soft couch, "Just finished."

"Then let’s go out and have some fun." Yuan YanYu enthusiastically took An Youyou’s hand.

An Youyou didn’t mind.

Though dressed as a man, she was ultimately a woman, and sometimes there were those brief moments of inattention.

An Ji, watching their affectionate demeanor, frowned slightly.

"Where to? It’s so chaotic outside right now, we can’t just go out." An Ji also stood up from the couch.

He stood, walking over to An Youyou and Yuan YanYu.

The height difference made him seem a bit imposing.

"Brother Du, we’re not going out, I’m taking A-Li boating on the lake." Yuan YanYu replied.

"Boating?"

"Yes." Yuan YanYu nodded.

"Can A-Li swim?" An Ji asked.

Before An Youyou could answer.

Yuan YanYu quickly said, "Brother Du, don’t worry, there will be many servants from the household following us, nothing will happen. I can also swim, if A-Li falls in, I can save him."

An Ji wanted to say more.

But Yuan YanYu just pulled An Youyou and left directly.

An Ji pressed his lips together.

His eyes continued to watch the two leaving hand in hand...

He turned his gaze, calmly redirecting his attention.

...

At the General Mansion, on the lake.

An Youyou and Yuan YanYu sat on a small boat, rowing.

The autumn weather was clear and refreshing, leaves drifted with the wind on the lake surface, a truly pleasant scene.

"A-Li, how old are you this year?" Yuan YanYu suddenly asked.

"Fifteen."

"You’re a year younger than me." Yuan YanYu said.

An Youyou smiled.

"Is the Daxuan Kingdom fun?" Yuan YanYu asked again.

Very actively chatting with An Youyou.

"It’s fun, so many fun places." An Youyou said, talking about the Daxuan Kingdom with some interest, "Besides the capital Xun City, there are many fun cities in Daxuan Kingdom, you can watch cricket fights, gamble with dice, taste delicious food and wine, watch dancers dance, listen to lute players play..."

Yuan YanYu listened intently.

Hearing it from A-Li, she also wanted to visit Daxuan.

She couldn’t help but say, "I really want to play in Daxuan once."

"Once the civil unrest in Cang Kingdom is settled, you can go to Daxuan with Master Du. I heard that after the war, Master Du plans to visit Daxuan."

"If I follow Brother Du to Daxuan, can I come find you?"

"Of course, when you come, I’ll show you around Daxuan, let you enjoy it so much that you won’t want to leave."

"Then it’s settled." Yuan YanYu said with anticipation, stars in her eyes.

"It’s a deal."

"Pinky swear." Yuan YanYu extended her small pinky finger.

An Youyou didn’t hesitate at all, she also extended her small pinky finger, linking it with Yuan YanYu’s.

Yuan YanYu’s face reddened.

Her mood was absolutely elated.

By the lakeside.

An Ji and Yuan Kai were walking along the corridor, discussing matters as they walked.

"General Yuan, we can’t delay any longer, the people are suffering greatly now. The longer we drag this out, the more the poor ordinary people suffer. So I hope to invade the Imperial City as soon as possible to restore everything to the way it was." An Ji expressed his viewpoint.

Yuan Kai nodded, "Indeed, the ones suffering now are the common people. We must act quickly."

"Is the army ready?" An Ji asked.

"All prepared."

"Then first, spread the word."

"What word?"

"That I’m at death’s door."

Yuan Kai was taken aback.

"Last time, the emperor sent assassins after me, but we kept news of the assassination attempt hidden. Now let’s leak it, saying my days are numbered."

"You mean, let the emperor make the first move?"

"Then we can catch him off guard."

"Sounds good." Yuan Kai readily agreed, sincerely praising, "Zhimiao, you are truly as resourceful as your father... full of wisdom."

Du Zhimiao tightly pursed his lips, his expression turning somber.

His thoughts naturally turned to the tragic fate of the Du family.

"From the moment the emperor resolutely decided to execute your entire family, I knew that Cang Kingdom would soon need a change of surname." Yuan Kai said coldly.

Du Zhimiao didn’t respond much.

Before achieving success, anything could change.

His eyes flickered, catching sight of the two laughing and playing on the lake.

Their laughter reached the shore.

Yuan Kai naturally saw it too.

He looked over, frowning and said, "Isn’t that the Imperial Physician from Daxuan? How can he act so intimately with my little daughter in public, it’s unseemly!"