Chapter 24: A Woman Adorns Herself for the One Who Appreciates Her

Luo Yunyao seemed to see a glimmer of hope and looked up at Qin Jinghao once more, only to find herself unexpectedly meeting his gaze. Qin Jinghao watched her with a smile and slowly continued, "Are you certain these words truly belong to Biluo?"

Luo Yunyao nodded desperately, waiting anxiously for what Qin Jinghao would say next.

Qin Jinghao narrowed his eyes, masking a hint of curiosity and doubt. Following the expectation in her gaze, he said, "Not bad at all. But are you sure you have the ability to return a blow in kind and pull out the weeds by their roots?"

Luo Yunyao felt that her values and worldview had been validated by Qin Jinghao. Feeling pleased, she reverted to her usual self and tilted her head triumphantly. "Of course! Isn't something as simple as returning a blow something I'm perfectly capable of? Don't underestimate me." She paused, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Qin Jinghao, her voice filled with deep affection. "I even want to protect you when you need it." She gazed at him intensely for a few seconds, thinking how incredibly handsome he was. Unable to control the blush rising on her face, she lowered her head and honestly conceded, "Alright, I don't yet possess the ability to pull out the weeds by their roots—but only for now, mind you!"

Qin Jinghao watched the young woman chatter away, waiting for the talkative girl to finish. He remained silent, though his eyes flickered when she mentioned protecting him. Admittedly, he did not need her protection, but to a man like Qin Jinghao, who lacked typical chauvinism, this was a clear expression of her love for him.

As a great general, he was far stronger than this young woman who lived in disguise, yet she had the courage to say she would protect him. This was a love of mutual devotion, where neither had room in their eyes for anyone else.

Qin Jinghao reached out and lifted her chin. Amidst her confusion, he made a soft yet solemn promise: "It’s alright. I have the ability to pull out the weeds by their roots."

We are the same, two souls bound as one. His words carried that very meaning.

Before the heat could fade from her face, she saw that jade-like countenance she had studied countless times drawing closer. She watched in a daze, only closing her eyes in obedient submission when his cool lips touched hers.

"...Ah! I'm sorry, did I bite your lip again?" Luo Yunyao pushed him away, looking at his lips with extreme nervousness. Indeed, his beautiful, thin lips were stained with red. Overcome with guilt, she threw herself onto him, frantically searching for the injury but afraid to touch it, terrified that the bacteria on her hands might infect him. She looked at him with a helpless, wronged expression.

Qin Jinghao had not minded at all; it was hardly an injury, or rather, not an injury at all. But her panic was not only unhelpful, it made the situation even more awkward. He thought with a wry smile that this kiss would certainly not be continuing. He reached out to steady her shoulders and comforted her, "It's nothing. Look at how flustered you are—what a sight."

Luo Yunyao continued to watch him anxiously, murmuring, "See how clumsy I am? You aren't allowed to dislike me." Unable to break her talkative habit, she found an excuse from a different angle: "If you hadn't knocked your teeth against mine, I surely wouldn't have made such a silly mistake again."

Qin Jinghao could occasionally retort, but he had long ago learned that for his girl—this sharp-tongued lass—he had no choice but to indulge her. "Yes, it's my fault. Don't be nervous anymore."

Hearing this, Luo Yunyao let out a giggle, pursing her lips to comfort him as much as herself. "It's alright. We have a long time ahead of us; we can learn slowly."

Neither of them had ever been in love; everything was new territory. They would support each other, fumbling forward together to build their own ivory tower of love.

Luo Yunyao thought that the way they, two novices, were slowly figuring things out was both amusing and heartwarming.

There is nothing more beautiful than meeting you.

Qin Jinghao stretched out his long arm and pulled her back into his embrace. Looking at him, Luo Yunyao felt a sudden, belated sense of unease. What had she just said? *Learn slowly, learn to kiss slowly...* Cough, was Qin Jinghao intending to actually put those words into practice? She had only been talking! She lamented her own lack of restraint.

However, wasn't Qin Jinghao supposed to be a jade-like, ascetic noble? Rumors, as it turned out, were only rumors.

Luo Yunyao hurriedly tried to stop him, randomly looking for a topic. "Hey, do you think if people see us like this, they’ll think we’re... you know, 'cut-sleeves'?" *That we're perverts.* The mere thought of such a refined, ethereal man being tainted by such a reputation made her feel a bit gleeful.

Qin Jinghao was indifferent. He merely raised an eyebrow, ignoring the eyes of others. He had claimed her long before he knew she was a woman. What did he care for the fearsome weight of public opinion? To him, such things had no real meaning.

If there was any change since learning she was a woman, it was simply that he could now express his feelings without reservation. When he thought she was a man, he had to spend so much time probing and coaxing her, trying to make her accept a love that the world would not tolerate.

Thinking back to the nights of tossing and turning, unable to solve the puzzle just days ago, he only smiled. He kept his past worries and struggles to himself, not wanting to make her feel guilty.

"Why don't you wear women's clothing?" he asked softly while stroking her hair. The question held no hidden meaning; it was just a casual conversation.

Luo Yunyao looked at her male attire and gave a meaningful smile. "Wait a little longer." Wait until my wounds are healed. I will wear it for you. Only for you.

Because of the assassination attempt, Luo Yunyao had taken a long leave of absence. Of course, the duration was determined by Qin Jinghao based on the advice of Doctor Wang. Luo Yunyao felt she wasn't nearly so fragile, but she couldn't convince him otherwise, and secretly, she enjoyed his possessiveness and let him have his way.

Though she was only a newly appointed top scholar, she had accomplished so much for the court in such a short time, nearly losing her life in the process. The Emperor felt quite guilty and had generously granted her leave, along with several gifts. Some officials speculated that her rank would rise once she recovered.

That, however, was a matter for another day; Luo Yunyao didn't care about it.

She was more concerned with the latest news on the corruption case that Qin Jinghao had brought her.

With the Marquis of Xiangguo gone, it was much easier to handle the cases of corruption involving him and his cronies.

The remnants of his faction could not, of course, be handed over to Prime Minister Lu—not to mention their past enmity, it was unclear what the Prime Minister might do. Yet, if Prime Minister Lu did *not* do anything excessive, the Emperor would be even more worried. The Prime Minister was already too powerful; if a man as cunning as he were to use a soft touch to absorb the Marquis’s faction, it would be even more terrifying. Such an act could not only win over the remnants but also sway the long-neutral officials.

If that happened, it would be hard to say whose court this truly was.

As an Emperor well-versed in power, he would never commit such a foolish error.

Thus, the task was handed to the neutral Qin Jinghao. His command of the military was beyond reproach, and his ability to govern would be even more so. Moreover, since he had been the one to save Luo Yunyao, there was no one else more suitable.

During her recovery, officials naturally came to visit, most notably Crown Prince Xiao Limo.

However, Luo Yunyao was lazy. Since she was supposed to be recuperating, she didn't want to rack her brains over the intricacies of officialdom, especially the double meanings and urgent agendas. So, she turned them all away.

The only ones who weren't turned away were those who didn't need to report their arrival—like Qin Jinghao. Only Qin Jinghao.

The last leaf drifted gracefully from the branch; weary birds flew south, and the vegetation turned yellow and silent.

It was a cold, desolate season, yet Luo Yunyao felt an incomparable warmth in her heart, mingled with excitement and anticipation. She stood in Qin Jinghao's bamboo grove, treading on a soft carpet of fallen leaves, idly admiring the lush, emerald-green stalks.

She thought these bamboos were truly beautiful, especially in winter. Later, she would ask Qin Jinghao where he had gotten them so she could get a few to plant outside her own window—somewhere she could see them the moment she looked up, just as she could see that jade-like man whenever she looked up.

"The servants said you were waiting for me here. Are you recovered? How can you stand out here—aren't you cold?" His words of concern and reprimand suddenly ceased.

He had seen Luo Yunyao standing in the bamboo grove.

She was wearing a flowing, floor-length silk gown embroidered with drifting flowers and flying orioles, draped in a white fox-fur cloak. A sachet embroidered with silver threads and ruyi knots hung from her waist. Her dark hair was coiled in a "fallen fairy" bun, adorned with openwork hibiscus ornaments, a carved jade ring, and long, milky-white pearl tassels. A few loose strands of hair fell naturally across her chest, a red plum blossom mark graced her forehead, and thin gold earrings with red agate dangled at her ears.

As the clear sound of pearls clinking echoed, Luo Yunyao slowly turned her head.

She looked back and smiled. Her smile was like a flower—shy, charming, ethereal, and solemn—against the backdrop of thousands of green bamboos.

Qin Jinghao stared at her, transfixed. Luo Yunyao grew increasingly embarrassed, wondering if she had overdone it.

She lifted a corner of her long, embroidered skirt, not daring to rush at him as she usually did, fearing she might trip. With a wry expression, she looked at her own attire and murmured, "I haven't worn women's clothing in so long, it seems a bit much?"

"Why?" Qin Jinghao asked with that beautiful, resonant voice of his.

"A woman adorns herself for the one she loves."