The city gate creaked open, and five riders dashed out of the small gap that had opened. Ran Yan was startled, aware that privately opening the city gates at midnight was a capital offense! But then she remembered Su Fu’s words and abruptly realized that "he" was very likely Xiao Song.
Indeed, the man in the lead wore a purple robe typical of daily wear, his bamboo hat drooped low amidst the wind and snow, revealing only a tense jaw and pursed lips.
Ran Yan was very close to the city gate and, seeing that they were about to rush past her, called out urgently, "Xiao Langjun!"
The horse, which had been charging forward like an arrow, reared up suddenly with its front hooves, kicking up a spray of snow. The horse turned in the snow and stopped.
Xiao Song looked at Ran Yan, whose appearance was a bit disheveled, dismounted, and in a few strides, hurried over to her. Without a word, he scooped her into his arms.
Warmth and solidity enveloped Ran Yan, making her all too aware of the pain throughout her body.
"Are you hurt anywhere?" Xiao Song’s voice, tense for so long, sounded very hoarse and deep.
Ran Yan buried her head in his chest, breathing in his warm, refreshing masculine scent. "It’s just a minor wound, nothing serious."
Seeing that Ran Yan did not resist his embrace, Xiao Song didn’t let go. He gently stroked her smooth hair and said, "Let’s head back to the city first."
After speaking, he took off the heavy cloak he was wearing, draped it over Ran Yan, and as he tied the straps around her neck, he inadvertently saw the red marks on her neck. Sudden roars filled his head, and the veins on his forehead and hands bulged abruptly.
His murderous intent was like a sharp edge, exploding in an instant.
Ran Yan sensed his change in mood and when she looked up, she saw Xiao Song giving her a warm smile. "Let’s go."
"Mm." Ran Yan was puzzled; she was certain that what she’d just felt was not an illusion.
Recalling the slight sting on her neck when she was about to regain consciousness, Ran Yan suddenly understood why Xiao Song had exploded in anger – even though she had never experienced it, she understood that it must have been "strawberry marks" left on her.
Looking at Xiao Song’s rigid back, Ran Yan opened her mouth to say something, but... what to say? Having been undressed like that, kissed for real, it constituted a loss of chastity, leaving nothing worth explaining. Ran Yan sighed. If he could accept it, then so be it. If not, there were plenty of women in the world, many of whom were chaste; they wouldn’t miss her.
While Ran Yan was pondering this, she suddenly found herself lifted onto the horse by Xiao Song, who said in his magnetic voice, "I must apologize, but in your condition, it’s not suitable for you to ride alone."
"It’s fine," Ran Yan said indifferently.
Xiao Song, still holding her, tightened his grip slightly. They moved at a slow pace. A Guard greeted the soldiers at the city gates, and the heavy doors opened just a narrow crack on the side, barely wide enough for a horse to pass through.
After they passed through the city gate, Ran Yan asked quietly, "Opening the city gate at night won’t cause any trouble, will it?"
"No trouble. The officer in charge of guarding the gate has been climbing walls with me since we were children. If he dares to report me, I’ll disclose how he used to sneak over walls to steal kisses when he was younger," Xiao Song said with a laugh.
Ran Yan naturally didn’t think the matter was that simple, but since Xiao Song didn’t care to elaborate, she didn’t probe further.
Xiao Song’s heart was filled with a chilling severity, his eyes flashing with deep-seated hatred. He had guarded the rules, not daring to overstep the slightest bit, feeling even a simple climb over the wall to talk to her was disrespectful. Yet that bastard had made the first move. The Xiao Family never tolerated being bullied. Such humiliation – if he could not avenge and wash away this disgrace, he would offer his death as atonement before the Xiao Family’s ancestral shrine!
The hand gripping the horse’s reins showed bulging veins; he was nearly on the verge of snapping the reins.
Ran Yan had been feeling that Xiao Song’s emotions were somewhat off, but since he maintained the same calm demeanor he always had, even displaying a slight smile, and his words revealed nothing unusual, she couldn’t help but wonder if she was being overly concerned.
"The one who kidnapped you was Prince Wu wasn’t it?" Xiao Song casually inquired.
Ran Yan paused but answered truthfully, "Yes." Then she waited for what would come next.
However, Xiao Song didn’t continue on that topic, instead he said, "I was negligent this time; I should have assigned more Secret Guards to protect you... You won’t blame me for secretly sending them, will you...?"
"Thank you," Ran Yan interrupted him. If it hadn’t been for Xiao Song’s Secret Guards, her situation could have been worse. Besides, he had done it out of good intentions; how could she blame him?
Xiao Song reached to adjust her cloak, then seeing her drowsy and about to fall asleep, he said gently, "Don’t fall asleep, getting cold in this icy, snowy environment is easy."