Chapter 22: The Rift Again

  Waking up in the morning with a sore waist and back is simply inevitable!

  Chu Li's face was gloomy, with a murderous gaze at Qing Xia who was helping him untie the ropes with an evil smile, his lungs almost bursting.

  The Southern Chu prince, who could make countless people lose their heads with just one order on a normal day, only realized today that being tied up and sleeping was such a difficult thing. His two shoulders seemed to be unable to move, then he moved them up and down, and suddenly grabbed Qing Xia's hand, shouting: "You have a big nerve!"

  The anger that had been pent up all night was finally vented at this moment.

  The green summer looked at the angry man with a nonchalant expression, shrugged slightly and said faintly: "You just found out today that I'm brave?"

  "Yes!" Chu Li heavily emphasized his tone, "I was indeed wrong about you in the past."

  Since Qing Xia arrived in this southern Chu, he didn't know how many times he had said that sentence. Qing Xia ignored him, broke free from his hand, and sat comfortably on the floor mat in the center of the bedroom, tilting her head back to enjoy the bright sunshine outside the window, taking a deep breath. With a satisfied smile on her face, she thought that this kind of life wasn't bad at all. At least, there were no US Marine Corps members with C4 explosives blasting your home, no FBI agents from the US Military Intelligence Bureau wanted worldwide, and you didn't have to worry about the Iraqi peacekeeping forces secretly plotting something, Mumbai terrorists organizing some plan, or Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan hijacking someone's plane to create a new sensation.

  Life suddenly became leisurely, no longer having to listen to the lengthy lectures of those old men at 9 o'clock, no need to pretend identities, no need to be a savage in the jungle, and no more endless special training. Life can actually be very beautiful too.

  I don't know how Tang Yu is doing now, can't find himself, maybe he's going crazy. However, fortunately, his studies are successful now, no need to worry about his living problems anymore, and I'm also considered to have done a good deed.

  "Hey! I'm hungry, are you having breakfast with me?"

  Chu Li, who was about to lose his temper, saw Qing Xia suddenly turn around and ask casually.

  "I know you're busy, so I won't keep you. Please go ahead." Before Chu Li could respond, Qing Xia hurriedly said to herself.

  "Who said I'm busy?" Chu Li hastily said, seeing Qing Xia's slightly surprised gaze turn towards him. His face turned red as he fiercely shouted: "You dare to make decisions for me on your own, are you tired of living?"

  Qing Xia glanced at Chu Li with a slanted gaze, thinking that this man was sometimes really amusingly cute. She stood up and, before he became angry, opened the door to the inner chamber and said to Xiang Ju who was waiting by the door: "His Highness is having breakfast here, instruct the kitchen to make something light, hmm... just send it directly to the bedroom to eat."

  Chu Li sat on the mat with a somewhat complacent expression, the incense burner emitting a faint fragrance that was quite pleasant. He gazed at the hourglass, thinking to himself that he would eventually have to eat, so let the generals of the Military Council wait for now.

  The eunuchs' hands and feet were very quick, and the early meal was soon brought up. Two small eunuchs first carried in a nanmu low table, followed by more than 30 palace maids who walked in with bowls and plates.

  Qing Xia was stunned at first glance. Originally, eating in the bedroom was for convenience and relaxation, but it turned out to be more troublesome.

  Swallow's nest, winter bamboo shoots and fat chicken hot pot, one dish; five dishes of enamel bowl, four dishes of LaLa menu, deer tail sauce, one dish; minced wild chicken, one dish; steamed fat chicken with dog meat, one dish; deer tail sheep Wu Cha dish, one dish; elephant eye small rice cake, one dish; Zhusi roll, one dish; white noodle rice cake millet rice cake, one dish; snail package bean rice cake, one dish; silver chrysanthemum flower box small dish, one dish; silver plate small dish, one dish; salted meat, one plate; pickled duck egg, one dish. Rice cake, one dish; desserts, three dishes; silver chrysanthemum flower box small dish, one dish; golden plate small dish, two dishes.

  Qing Xia looked at the sumptuous table and his appetite suddenly opened up. Thinking back to when he was doing intelligence work, he often entered high society and saw the dining habits of nobles from various countries. He just didn't expect that Chu Li's simple breakfast would be so lavish. It seemed that he had really saved money for him in recent days.

  No matter what, she buried her head and ate bitterly. Suddenly, she felt a sharp gaze from the other side, Qing Xia looked up to see Chu Li exercising his neck and shoulders while staring at her with malice. Qing Xia knew exactly what was going on and couldn't help but mutter under her breath: "Spoiled brat!"

  "What did you say?" Chu Li furrowed his brow and said in a low voice.

  "You're saying I'm spoiled and haven't heard anything?"

  It's not clear what happened, but Chu Li, who has always been calm and collected, although he is overbearing and tyrannical, has a good temper. However, since Qing Xia arrived, he can no longer control his own temper. It seems that it's also because no woman has ever dared to disobey him before, so now looking at Qing Xia's indifferent attitude towards him, he can't help but feel angry.

  The maid put down the last dish and they all retreated. Chu Li seemed to suddenly remember something, his expression turned serious. He glanced at Qing Xia who was eating with his head down and said in a light tone: "Your old lover escaped from Tian Prison, didn't you know?"

  Time seems to have stopped at this moment.

  With a "ding" sound, Qing Xia's movements suddenly froze, and the silver chopsticks in her hand also fell to the table. Her body began to tremble slowly, as if she was shocked beyond self-control. After a long time, her small face finally lifted up slowly, her eyes staring sharply at Chu Li, her voice trembling as she said: "You're deceiving me!"

  Chu Li saw her like this, and the original thread of doubt dissipated in an instant. His rationality flew out of his brain, leaving only a vast expanse of jealousy and anger. He gazed deeply at Qing Xia, as if he wanted to swallow her whole.

  "My goodness!" Qing Xia suddenly covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face and falling onto the nanmu wood table, her lips almost trembling. "Are you saying it's true? Did he really escape?"

  "Bang!" With a loud noise, Chu Li suddenly overturned the table, and all the food and soup on the table spilled onto the thick carpet. He grabbed the precious sword hanging from the bedpost and walked straight to the gate.

  "Please!" Qing Xia suddenly rushed over like a madman, hugged Chu Li's waist and sobbed: "Please, let me go, let me catch up with him, okay?"

  "Get out!" Chu Li finally burst into anger, pushing Qing Xia to the ground with one hand. His eyes seemed to be on fire, burning with inner fury. His voice was low and filled with great pain and unbearable resentment. "What kind of curse did he plant in you? Can make you say such things to me? What's so good about him? Worth your sacrifice for him like this? Tell me!"

  He grasped the slender face of Qing Xia, his eyebrows furrowed fiercely as if under a curse. Gnashing his teeth, he muttered: "I will definitely catch him again, I will make him wish he were dead, and you will watch with your own eyes as that man dies an irredeemable death right in front of you. You just wait!"

  The furious man suddenly turned around, with a resolute and sharp momentum, and walked out of the gate of Lanting Hall. The people under Lanting Hall who were originally happy and joyful all fell silent, unable to understand how the master who had just eaten breakfast with the princess could suddenly leave in such a fury.

  Qing Xia sat down on the thick carpet, her eyes blurry with tears as she watched Chu Li walk away in the distance. Then she closed the door, shutting out all the worried or gloating gazes outside. At this moment, she knew that the crisis of Prince Qi's escape had been completely resolved.

  Wiping away the tears on her face, she gazed into the depths of Chu Palace and let out a faint sigh.

  "Zhuang Qing Xia, I've done everything I should have done. Your loved one... your family..."

  "From now on, I don't owe you anything."

  Every agent is an excellent actor.

  Everything has settled down, but why is there a heavy and slow pressure on Qing Xia's heart?

  In the north, there is a gentle breeze blowing.