CHAPTER 142: CHAPTER 142: PROMISE FOR THE FUTURE

Can’t lift your arm?

Tang Xiaobai’s gaze fell on his hand and then climbed to his shoulder.

"The day we left Taiyuan, someone tried to assassinate Prince Jin—"

Tang Xiaobai gasped and blurted out, "What’s it got to do with you if someone tried to assassinate Prince Jin!"

Li Mu chuckled and said, "It’s true that the assassination of Prince Jin has nothing to do with me, but perhaps those people weren’t aiming for Prince Jin."

He donated a million grains in the identity of a descendant of the Qin Family, despite showing loyalty, Li Shu was still extremely wary of him.

This time was only a test, and they didn’t kill him.

But Tang Xiaobai didn’t know whether they intended to kill or not, she became anxious after hearing his words: "Where are you hurt? Is it serious?" She wanted to touch his shoulder but didn’t know where to start.

"It’s not serious," Li Mu placed his hand on his left shoulder, "I had Doctor Feng check it when I got back, and resting for half a month will suffice. But in this half month, I can’t drive for Second Miss."

"Drive what..." Tang Xiaobai murmured with a frown, her eyes glued to his wound, eager to uncover and take a look.

Li Mu felt his face heat up under her stare and instead pulled his cloak to cover up.

Tang Xiaobai giggled, averted her gaze, and asked, "Is it because of the rich merchant with the Qin surname?"

"You know about that too?"

Tang Xiaobai nodded, "Are you planning to use this relief effort to overturn the Qin Family’s case?"

Li Mu was a bit surprised she knew the old affairs of the Qin Family but didn’t question it. He just shook his head and said, "Prince Jin has long suspected I’m a descendant of the Qin Family, so I admitted it, but the Qin Family’s case lacks evidence. This time I’m just trying to lure the snake out of its hole."

The Qin Family was accused of treason, overturning the case won’t be easy.

After getting involved in the case, he found it quite complicated, so he devised this plan to bring the Qin Family back into the spotlight.

"It’s very dangerous," Tang Xiaobai said softly.

In the original plot, Li Shu subdued Qin Xiao easily.

Though circumstances have changed now, it’s still nerve-wracking.

Isn’t this how you got hurt?

"They weren’t trying to kill me, just testing," Li Mu comforted.

Tang Xiaobai coldly snorted, "If you were too weak, they would’ve taken care of you easily."

Li Mu smiled slightly, "Thankfully, Second Miss has taught me well, I’m not that weak."

Tang Xiaobai laughed, "What did I teach you? You now have the surname Tang, my brother will definitely protect you." Thinking about how her family is now tied to the protagonist’s family made Tang Xiaobai very happy.

"Yes, I’m with Duke Yan Mansion now, Li Shu wouldn’t dare act recklessly."

The youth’s eyes held a smile, his voice was low and slightly hoarse, exuding extra tenderness.

Only the green jade mask on his face reflected the cold moonlight, adding a cold hardness to it.

Tang Xiaobai reached up to remove his mask.

He bent down cooperatively, his posture obedient to the point of reverence.

With the mask removed, his flawless and delicate face was revealed, imbued with a cleanly youthful and innocent aura that was praiseworthy, starkly different from the cold and shaded demeanor during the day.

Tang Xiaobai secretly sighed, touching the mark on his forehead, "Is it uncomfortable wearing it?"

Li Mu shook his head.

"When can you take it off?" Tang Xiaobai asked.

Since Li Shu has already acted on little ancestor, it’s probably because he’s exposed as a Qin Family orphan, if it’s already exposed, shouldn’t the mask be removed?

Yet, he shook his head, "Not the time yet."

Tang Xiaobai pondered over the green jade mask, wondering if it could be replaced with a more breathable material, otherwise, wouldn’t it be stifling in the summer?

"Second Miss—" Little ancestor called her in a low, hoarse voice again.

The voice sounded nice, but it made her a bit uneasy.

"Ah Xiao!" Tang Xiaobai took a deep breath, held his hand earnestly, and said, "Before I overdid it, but you have to know, we are growing up——" Seeing his mouth open to speak, she quickly interrupted, "Don’t say things like you don’t want to grow up, you should know better than me how helpless it felt when we were young, unable to do anything about so many things, who among us didn’t wish to grow up, to be more free, more capable, to achieve long-awaited goals?"

It was unclear whether he listened or not, his expression faintly gazing at her for a long time, then he said, "Not all growing up requires separation—"

Tang Xiaobai nodded, "Of course—"

"—I can marry you."

"Cough cough cough..." Tang Xiaobai was caught off guard, choking on her own saliva, coughing to the point where she almost couldn’t catch her breath.

Li Mu frowned, gently patting her back.

Tang Xiaobai finally stopped coughing, straightened up, looked at him and couldn’t help but laugh.

How old is he to be thinking of getting married?

"You don’t want to?" Li Mu’s face flushed from her laughter, deliberately putting on a cold expression to cover his inner anxiety.

Tang Xiaobai laughed while shaking her head, "I’m still young, isn’t it a bit early to talk about this?"

Li Mu said calmly, "I heard there are also engagements decided from the cradle."

Tang Xiaobai laughed even more, "But you’re young too! I still prefer someone older!"

As she said this, a hypocritically pretentious image of Pei Xuan came to Li Mu’s mind, and he said deeply, "By the time you’re old enough to marry, I’ll be old enough too!"

The earnestness with which the young boy spoke made Tang Xiaobai find him both adorable and amusing, so she laughed and nodded, "Then let’s wait until you grow up!"

Thinking back, everything before now really wasn’t necessary.

The little ancestor is still young, what does he understand about love, for her it was just simple attachment with a hint of possessiveness.

In a couple of years when he grows up, his attention will naturally shift to girls his own age, and by then, even if she wanted to stop it, she wouldn’t be able to.

Even if he doesn’t shift, by the time he grows up and becomes more emotionally resilient, it won’t be too late to politely decline.

"Alright," Li Mu looked deeply at her, "Then wait for me!"

"Mm-hmm! I’ll wait for you!" Tang Xiaobai replied with a smile.

Li Mu’s heart pounded heavily and his head started to feel dizzy.

She agreed...

Indeed, Second Miss is still young, and by the time she grows up and he achieves success and fame, everything will line up perfectly!

"It’s getting late, Second Miss should go rest, you have to get up early to go to the academy tomorrow," Li Mu looked at her affectionately, considering she would be his future Crown Princess Consort and Empress, he felt he should treat her better.

Completely unaware that she’d already been labeled, Tang Xiaobai nodded with a smile and concernedly advised, "You should also rest early, it’s almost the New Year, you don’t need to go to the academy, just stay at the mansion and recover well!"

Li Mu only felt that after she promised him the future, her demeanor returned to the usual intimacy, making him a little giddy, he didn’t clearly hear what she said, just nodded with a smile.

Seeing her wave goodbye, Li Mu suddenly remembered something, calling her back he said, "Men and women have different roles, Second Miss, it’s not convenient to study with Pei Jiu, whatever you want to learn, I can teach you."

Even if there’s something he doesn’t know, he can learn it first and then teach her.

After all, it’s not for anyone else.

She blinked, giving him a cute smile, "I wasn’t planning on studying with Pei Jiu anyway!"

Li Mu instantly felt himself float again...