Chapter 165: Legends of the Imperial City (II)

Tao Ming leaned close to Su Nanxing’s ear and asked in a whisper, "Do you think this Liu Ange might be gay?"

Not entirely sure himself, Su Nanxing could only draw a question mark on Tao Ming’s palm to indicate he had no idea.

Tao Ming nodded and said no more.

Looking at the two people across from them, Su Nanxing asked, "Did you two make a special trip to find us today?"

Liu Ange wore a worried expression. "All sorts of gossip are spreading wildly across the imperial city. We were worried you wouldn't be able to handle it if you heard the rumors."

Su Nanxing shook the hand he had been tightly holding with Tao Ming. "Do you feel at ease now?"

"Seeing that you're both safe and sound, of course we are at ease." Liu Ange’s gaze shifted back and forth between Su Nanxing’s and Tao Ming’s faces.

Tao Ming blinked and asked, "Why are you looking at us like that?"

Fumbling for words, Liu Ange replied, "I don't know why, but seeing the two of you actually makes me feel a faint, unprovoked sense of envy."

Dong Yuxuan chimed in, "Ange is right. I'm a bit envious too."

Su Nanxing wrapped an arm around Tao Ming’s waist, looking immensely proud. "You can't envy this."

Tao Ming glanced at Su Nanxing with a smile and raised an arm. "With the two of us dressed like this today, what are the people of the imperial city saying now?"

"Honey, why are you asking about that? It certainly won't be anything nice." Su Nanxing didn't want Tao Ming to hear those kinds of discussions.

Tao Ming rested her head on Su Nanxing’s shoulder. "Darling, we're just testing the waters today, so at least let's gather some feedback, shall we?"

Su Nanxing turned his head to kiss the top of Tao Ming’s head, saying helplessly, "I'm just afraid it will upset you when you hear it."

Watching their affectionate display, Liu Ange and Dong Yuxuan were somewhat stunned. Unable to hold back any longer, Liu Ange asked, "Were you two this intimate on the streets just now?"

Both of them nodded in unison.

Liu Ange wore a look of utter astonishment. "No wonder the people of the imperial city are all saying the two of you have lost your minds."

"Lost our minds?" Tao Ming pondered this for a moment and thought it actually made a certain kind of sense.

Liu Ange nodded. "That's the rumor going around the imperial city. They say the two of you are barely clothed and behaving immodestly—that you must have completely lost your minds to act this way."

Tao Ming looked down at the clothes she was wearing. Could this possibly be called "barely clothed"?

Su Nanxing rubbed the top of Tao Ming’s head and laughed, "They've already found an excuse for us."

After the four of them chatted idly for a while, Tao Ming, eager to continue shopping, gave Su Nanxing’s hand a gentle squeeze.

Receiving the signal, Su Nanxing exchanged a few more pleasantries before pulling Tao Ming to her feet. "Ange, Yuxuan, my wife and I have important matters to attend to, so let's get together another day."

Naturally, Liu Ange and Dong Yuxuan didn't try to keep them. Once Tao Ming and Su Nanxing had left the private room, Dong Yuxuan savored the moment and remarked, "Those two are exceptionally well-matched!"

Liu Ange agreed. "Their words and actions are completely in sync; there is simply no room for a third person to wedge themselves between them. The rumor of Tao Ming having an affair is pure fabrication."

Dong Yuxuan held out a hand. "Lend me the portraits you bought."

"Why didn't you buy them yourself?" Liu Ange was far too reluctant to part with them.

Dong Yuxuan answered matter-of-factly, "I was too lazy to wait in line."

With a pained expression, Liu Ange pulled out the portraits and asked, "What on earth do you want with them?"

"To dispel the fantasies of my eighth and ninth sisters." Dong Yuxuan flipped through the portraits, feeling that even the most vivid likeness could not truly capture the profound affection between Su Nanxing and Tao Ming.

Hearing this, Liu Ange snatched the portraits right back. "Your eighth and ninth sisters have definitely already sent people to buy their own."

...

Stepping out of the teahouse, Su Nanxing looked at Tao Ming beside him, his heart overflowing with happiness. He asked softly, "Where do you want to go next?"

Tao Ming glanced up at the sun. With twin suns hanging in the sky and the temperature soaring, there wasn't a soul casually wandering the streets. She looked around, then tugged Su Nanxing toward a small shop. "You said you were going to bring some delicious treats back for Ruanruan, and you can't break your promise. Once we buy them, take me to see Lichuan."

Naturally, Su Nanxing had no objections.

Heading out through the northeastern side gate of the imperial city, the dragon horse ran for a quarter of an hour before Tao Ming caught sight of a sprawling expanse of mountain ridges.

From a distance, all that could be seen was an endless, lush sea of green.

"Honey, that's Lining Mountain."

Su Nanxing relaxed the reins, and after the dragon horse ran for another two quarters of an hour, they finally arrived at the foot of Lining Mountain.

Entering the vicinity of Lining Mountain, Tao Ming distinctly felt that the temperature here was lower than in the imperial city. Gusts of gentle breeze drifted down from the mountains, refreshing and invigorating the mind.

Circling around to the southeast of Lining Mountain, Su Nanxing reined in the dragon horse, and Tao Ming quietly gazed at the Lichuan River before her.

Lichuan was even more magnificent and vast than Tao Ming had imagined. Standing on its western bank, one could only vaguely make out the eastern shore. Golden sunlight was scattered across the boundless expanse of water, shimmering and dancing up and down with the ripples, creating a mesmerizing sight.

Tao Ming tilted her head up to look at Su Nanxing. "Is it deep?"

"This is the widest part of Lichuan. The current is gentle, and it's not very deep near the banks."

Tao Ming rubbed the back of her neck. "Can we go down for a swim? I'm covered in sweat."

Su Nanxing hadn't expected Tao Ming to make such a request. The two dismounted the dragon horse, walked along the banks of Lichuan, and found a natural rock pool where Lining Mountain met the water, with fresh water constantly surging in and out through the gentle waves.

Su Nanxing went down first to inspect the area. The rock pool was less than a meter deep and contained nothing dangerous, so he beckoned for Tao Ming to jump into his arms.

Once Tao Ming was in the water, Su Nanxing set up an isolation barrier around them to prevent any passersby from catching a glimpse.

Soaking in the water, Tao Ming felt all the summer heat drain away. "This is so comfortable!"

Su Nanxing reached out to undo the buttons of Tao Ming’s clothes. "You've only just recovered your health, so don't linger too long in the cold water. We'll head up soon."

Tao Ming allowed Su Nanxing to strip off her wet clothes, leaned back against the rock wall, and closed her eyes. "It's too hot up there. It's nice and cool down here."

"Honey, do you have another change of clothes?"

"Yes."

Receiving her answer, Su Nanxing casually washed both their clothes in the water, put them away, walked over to Tao Ming, and spoke again, "We have to head up in ten minutes at most."

Tao Ming kept her eyes closed. "Mhm, I'll listen to you."

Sitting beside Tao Ming, Su Nanxing looked at the hazy, dappled white silhouette beneath the water's surface and asked, "How do you like this place?"

"It's quite nice, much cooler than the city."

"Then how about we build a resort right here?"

"Sounds great."

Seeing Tao Ming sitting there with her eyes closed in utter contentment, Su Nanxing reached out, pulled her into his arms, and lowered his head to kiss her.

With her eyes remaining firmly closed, Tao Ming let him have his way.

After kissing her for a while, Su Nanxing stood up and lifted Tao Ming out of the rock pool. "Ten minutes are up."

Standing by the edge of the pool, Tao Ming pulled out a towel to dry herself. "I actually thought you were planning to do something else."

"I was worried you'd get tired."

The two of them strolled along the foot of Lining Mountain. Along the way, the woods were lush and the birdsong crisp. Tao Ming asked curiously, "Do you hunt birds around here?"

Su Nanxing held out a hand and shaped it into a C. "Lining Mountain is shaped roughly like this, and the open side faces Lichuan. We usually hunt birds in that middle section."

"Is there some sort of technique to it?"

Su Nanxing smiled. "No particular technique. There are just more birds in the middle."

"What do you use to hunt them?"

Su Nanxing produced a slingshot and handed it to Tao Ming.

Holding the slingshot, Tao Ming wore an aggrieved expression. "This is called shooting birds, you know!"

"Not much difference."

Tao Ming shoved the slingshot back into Su Nanxing’s hands and rolled her eyes. "And here I thought you guys used cultivation techniques to hunt birds."

Su Nanxing laughed despite himself. "Hunting birds is just a way to pass the time. If I used cultivation techniques, this entire forest wouldn't survive."

Hearing this, Tao Ming nodded heavily. "Then I shall be the one to save you bunch of bored people!"