Chapter 320: He is a talented general, but the beauty is the Emperor

Xiao Li had been through a lot these past few days. She was listless and didn’t want to talk, so she left all the negotiations to Rong Qing.

Rong Qing had to inquire about the situation with the boss while also taking care of the dispirited Xiao Li.

Rong Qing brought her food and water, even bending down to empty the sand from her shoes. She looked for all the world like a pampered young lady from a great family.

The boss, Qi Chuan, couldn’t help but smile as he watched Rong Qing meticulously care for Xiao Li without a single complaint, his eyes seemingly unwilling to leave her for even a moment.

"What are your plans for the future, Brother Yang?"

Rong Qing had told them his name was Yang Jun, and that he only asked for Qi Chuan to guide him and Xiao Li out of this desert.

Hearing the question, Rong Qing’s gaze fell on Xiao Li. He watched her head nod sleepily and couldn’t help the corner of his lip from curling up. "I’ll go wherever the young miss goes."

Qi Chuan: ’...What an unsurprising response.’

"Where do you plan to settle down, then?"

Rong Qing replied, "The young miss has distant relatives in Longsheng. I’m taking her there to seek refuge with them."

Qi Chuan said, "May I ask which family? I have some connections in Longsheng myself. If I know them, I could escort you there."

Rong Qing said, "Thank you, Boss, but you’ve already helped us a great deal. We couldn’t possibly trouble you further."

After speaking, he urged his camel forward, catching the dozing Xiao Li and pulling her into his arms.

"Sleep peacefully, Master. I’m here."

Xiao Li’s body was indeed at its limit. With his words, she immediately fell into a peaceful sleep.

Rong Qing held her securely, careful not to hold her too tightly.

’Now that we’re out from underground, Your Majesty is still willing to let me hold her, and she’s even sleeping so obediently in my arms. It’s like a dream.’

’That unique, fragrant scent belonging only to Your Majesty wafted into my nose, rushing straight to my head before spreading through every limb.’

’Your Majesty is so fragrant, so beautiful... I want to kiss her so badly, but I don’t dare.’

’In the end, all I can do is hold her stiffly, not even daring to breathe too deeply. It’s both blissful and agonizing.’

Qi Chuan had his eye on Rong Qing. His physique, his muscles, and his steady gait all bespoke a highly skilled martial arts practitioner.

He looked powerful and intimidating. Who wouldn’t want a guard like that?

But right now, Rong Qing only had eyes for that young woman. He probably wouldn’t be willing to work for him.

A calculating glint flashed in Qi Chuan’s eyes as an idea came to him.

So, during their rest that afternoon, Qi Chuan sought out Rong Qing again.

"I can see that you and the young lady are deeply in love, Brother Yang. Have you ever thought about when you’ll marry her?"

Rong Qing’s deep gaze was fixed on Xiao Li, who was drinking soup not far away. He said flatly, "I haven’t."

Qi Chuan was puzzled. "Don’t you want to marry her, Brother Yang?"

’Marry her?’ Rong Qing would never dare to even think it.

’To have gained even a sliver of her favor is already the greatest fortune. How could I dare to dream of marrying her?’

"I am not worthy of her."

Qi Chuan: "???"

Qi Chuan smiled politely. "Don’t sell yourself short, Brother Yang. I can see you have the air of a hero, a rare talent fit to be a general. As the saying goes, a hero and a beauty make a perfect tale. You and the young lady are a match made in heaven, as compatible as can be."

Rong Qing: ’I may be a general, but the beauty is the Emperor.’

Seeing that Rong Qing showed no emotional reaction whatsoever, Qi Chuan was baffled. ’How can he still be so unmoved? Did my flattery completely miss the mark?’

’This Brother Yang clearly likes the girl, so why doesn’t he want to marry her?’

’Before, if it was a young lady of noble birth and her guard, the difference in status would have made it difficult, that’s true. But now her family is gone, and Brother Yang is so talented, so why is it still not possible?’

’It’s not that he should be certain he can marry her, but to not even consider it... that’s just too strange, isn’t it?’

Qi Chuan’s caravan consisted of forty men, all rough-looking fellows in their thirties and forties.

It was impossible for there not to be some unrest with a stunningly beautiful young woman dropped into this den of men, but Rong Qing’s aura was too powerful for anyone to dare get any funny ideas.

Still, it was a rare chance to see such a beauty. Even if they couldn’t get close, just exchanging a few words would be nice.

Seeing Rong Qing being called away by Qi Chuan, the other men couldn’t resist approaching Xiao Li.

"Miss, what’s your name?"

"Miss, want some fruit?"

"Miss, are you cold?"

"Miss, are you thirsty?"

There was never a shortage of men trying to curry favor with a beauty.

Xiao Li lifted her head slightly, her indifferent eyes opening. She didn’t intentionally release her aura, so she simply looked like an ice queen exuding a "stay away" air.

Seeing the men only get more excited, Xiao Li drew the dagger from her waist and, with a casual toss, accurately skewered a rattlesnake lying hidden in the sand.

The men were shocked that the beauty actually knew martial arts, but Rong Qing had already strode over, pulled out the dagger, wiped it clean, and knelt on one knee to return it to its sheath.

"Master, this subordinate will not let them disturb you again."

’For these men to harass Your Majesty while I was by her side... it is my fault.’

’I should not have left her side for even half a step.’

The head of the guards in the caravan, Bo Li, walked over to Qi Chuan, watching the pair with him.

"Boss, those two are not simple."

"The man looks incredibly powerful, and while the woman is said to be a young lady of noble birth, she’s not as delicate as she acts. And she knows martial arts."

Qi Chuan lifted his waterskin and took a drink. "Could you beat him?"

Bo Li shook his head. "It would be a thirty-seventy split. Thirty for me, seventy for him."

Qi Chuan’s gaze fell on Xiao Li. "And her?"

Bo Li frowned. "I can’t see through her, but her martial arts probably aren’t as high as Yang Jun’s. The origins of these two are unknown. If you wish to recruit them, Boss, you should think twice."

Qi Chuan frowned as well. After a long moment of deep thought, he decided to observe them for a while longer. He was still unwilling to let go of a great talent like Rong Qing.

Xiao Li was watching the desert sunset.

With the immediate threat to her life gone, she finally had the leisure to appreciate the beauty of the desert.

The oasis was vibrant with life, the city was bustling and prosperous, and the desert was desolate and mysterious. Each had its own beauty, and the scenery looked different depending on one’s mood.

Rong Qing handed a waterskin to Xiao Li. "After tonight, we’ll be able to cross the Longsheng border tomorrow. Yizhou is ahead, and we can contact the Silver Armor Guards there."

At this moment, Rong Qing had no desire to spend any more time with Your Majesty. He wanted to be close to her, but he wanted even more to send her back to Jintai.

His Majesty should be the one holding all the power, deciding life and death, with the world submitting to her, not suffering here.

And he certainly shouldn’t be secretly rejoicing that Your Majesty’s misfortune was fulfilling his own selfish desires.

He could guard Your Majesty forever. Even if his feelings were never reciprocated, as long as he could always stay by her side, he would have no regrets in this life.

Night fell, and the caravan arrived at a small town on the edge of the desert.

The people here lived in earthen houses. None were lit, making each one look like a tomb. An occasional shadow moving in a doorway looked like a phantom in the night. When the desert wind blew, the creepy atmosphere was palpable.

The only place with a light on was the inn.

A brazier was lit in the middle of the main hall. Though it was still dim, it was the most conspicuous and brightest source of light.

"Shopkeeper, rooms."