CFSSIR

[2]

[part 2]

Seeing that it was getting late, Shen Qingyao estimated that Lu Zhao would soon return. Not wanting to face him directly for now, she hurriedly got off the carriage, only to be unexpectedly intercepted by someone.

"Guard Wu Nan? Why are you here?"

Outside the carriage stood none other than An'yu's guard, Wu Nan.

Shen Qingyao smiled. She still remembered this young guard who had once saved her life and blushed when she thanked him. She held the flowers and got off the carriage, greeting him as she approached.

Wu Nan rubbed his waist nervously. The calm and composed man just a moment ago now appeared somewhat nervous. When he saw Shen Qingyao approaching, his slightly darkened face blushed again.

"Guard Wu Nan, are you here to see my Eldest Brother? He and the others were summoned by the king and haven't returned yet."

"No, that's not it." Wunan's eyes flickered, then he looked at her solemnly. "I... I came to see you."

"To see me?" Shen Qingyao was a bit surprised. She widened her eyes slightly and looked at Wunan's awkward appearance with a smile. She blinked and asked, "So, Guard Wu Nan, is there something you need from me?"

Wu Nan had grown up in the royal court, but as the lowest-ranked servant, he had fought his way here with an unyielding spirit, barely earning the trust of the King and being placed by Princess An'yu's side. No one had ever thanked him before, let alone spoken to him in such a gentle and soft manner. She was delicate and fragile like a precious treasure.

Wu Nan's heart raced. After a while, he took out a dark green sachet from his bosom and handed it to Shen Qingyao. "I... I saw you in the court yesterday. You didn't look well, and Nanzhao has many poisonous insects. This... can repel them."

He spoke with a hint of evasion in his eyes, as if what he wanted her to avoid was more than just the so-called insects, but Shen Qingyao didn't notice.

He had actually come all this way just to deliver a sachet to repel insects. Shen Qingyao was somewhat surprised. They had only met briefly once, and she hadn't expected him to make such a special trip.

Shen Qingyao hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to accept it. Caught in a dilemma, she stood there, and Wu Nan stubbornly looked at her, clearly insisting that she take it.

Throughout the day, she received kindness from strangers one after another. After a slight surprise, a faint smile appeared on Shen Qingyao's face. She remembered the swollen lump on her wrist a few days ago; indeed, she needed something to repel insects, and she didn't want to disregard someone else's goodwill. So, she nodded slightly and thanked him softly.

As soon as she took the sachet, Shen Qingyao felt a sudden stabbing pain in her wrist, as if something was churning in her blood vessels. But the pain subsided in an instant. She furrowed her brows and let out a muffled groan. When she focused on it again, she felt nothing.

Was it just her imagination? Shen Qingyao flicked the tassel on the sachet.

Seeing that she finally accepted it, Wu Nan breathed a sigh of relief as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

"The flower you have is very beautiful." After handing over the gift, Wu Nan pointed at the object in Shen Qingyao's arms and said, "This flower is called 'Morning and Night,' it suits you well."

"Morning and Night," Shen Qingyao repeated dazedly, involuntarily tightening her grip on it.

Morning and night, forever and ever (1), it truly was a good name.