Your Majesty, Please Stop!

Chapter 87: The Importance of Living Off Others

Under the moonlight, Huiruqing's delicate figure was easily recognizable even in the darkness, like a spirit of the mountains and wild, full of spirituality.

Xin Zhuo smiled and greeted, "We meet so soon. What are you doing here?"

Huiruqing tilted her head and asked, "Then why are you here?"

"Well..." Xin Zhuo's mind wandered. The Autumn Palace seemed to have some unknown plans, the battle at Fufeng Mansion was confusing, and the small thief stronghold lacked a sense of security. Although women affected his swordsmanship, rich women were an exception. He must hold onto this opportunity with Huiruqing, even though it was shameless.

He said seriously, "Of course, I missed you. I couldn't help but come here with a heavy heart."

"Hmph! You little thief, always sweet-talking and flirting with girls!" Huiruqing said, but her cheeks were slightly red and her eyes were full of smiles.

"This is not sweet-talking. Meeting you is the most beautiful accident in my life. I am absolutely sincere and genuine. Otherwise, why would I come here in the middle of the night? Sigh..." Xin Zhuo sighed and said earnestly.

"Hehe..." Huiruqing covered her mouth and laughed uncontrollably, no longer restrained like a nun.

Xin Zhuo pointed to a tree branch and asked, "Can I climb up there?"

Huiruqing shook her head, her eyes full of teasing. "Not enough. You promised to flirt with me, so continue."

Can it be done like this? This girl...

"I don't think this is flirting. This feeling is as strong as gold. I wish to be a pair of birds in the sky and a pair of branches on the ground with you. You can't understand it at all." Xin Zhuo's face was full of frustration at not being understood.

"Nice words, hehehe..." Huiruqing laughed louder and patted him gently.

Xin Zhuo jumped up and sat next to Huiruqing on the branch.

But Huiruqing quietly moved to the side. Under the moonlight, her blushing face, graceful figure, jade-like skin, especially her watery eyes, cherry-like lips, and a beauty mark, exuded a unique charm. Even with a nun's hat, she couldn't hide any of it.

"What are you looking at? Keep staring and I'll gouge your eyes out." Huiruqing's chest rose and fell slightly, her face even redder. She glared at him as if she had a strange mix of fear and rebelliousness about being "stolen".

Xin Zhuo coughed lightly and stared at her hat. "May I ask, do you have hair?"

Huiruqing paused, blinked her big eyes, and said, "Guess!"

I don't want to guess!

Always making people guess.

Seeing Xin Zhuo's frustration, Huiruqing chuckled lightly and took off her hat, revealing her long, black hair cascading down. She became even more beautiful.

In an instant, she surpassed the Crown Princess completely. Even compared to Su Miaojin, who had the appearance of a well-educated lady, she was also stunning.

"This..." Xin Zhuo was surprised. "Don't nuns in Shuiyue Temple have their hair cut? What's going on?"

Huiruqing played with her hair and said, "Who would be willing to cut their hair? I won't be a nun for the rest of my life. It would be troublesome to grow it out later."

"Makes sense." Xin Zhuo was puzzled. "But... why have I never seen you before?"

"You finally admit it. You're a liar." Huiruqing wrinkled her nose, trying to be angry but couldn't. "I was practicing martial arts, unlike Huirulan and the others who come to your thief stronghold every now and then. It's so boring. That's why I'm the senior sister, it's because of her."

Xin Zhuo realized his mistake and laughed awkwardly. "By the way, I've always been curious why the Crown Princess would be in such a small place. There are so many nunneries in the world. Why here?"

Huiruqing chuckled, "She's imitating me. If I'm not here, she won't come."

"Imitating you?"

"Of course, we are all Beijing locals and have known each other since childhood. I even fought her when I was seven years old. She is several years older than me and was never my match."

A hint of smugness appeared on his face.

Xin Zhuo became even more curious: "Then why did you come here?"

The smile on Hui Ruqing's face gradually disappeared as she sighed softly: "There are many rules in my family. Two hundred years ago, there was an ancestor in my family who was praised for his literary and military skills. He had seventeen sons but no daughters. Finally, he had a daughter when she was eight years old, but he fell seriously ill in middle age."

A great shaman told him that his daughter had disrupted his destiny, something about the dragon and phoenix not harmonizing. Since then, a rule was established in the family that when a daughter turned eight, she would be sent away to become a nun and could only return for marriage."

"This rule is quite peculiar," Xin Zhuo laughed.

Hui Ruqing looked at the crescent moon in the distance: "Yes, my father had twenty-seven daughters. Eight of them died young, and there are nineteen remaining. I am the twelfth. Because the Abbot of Lunar Serenity Well is a good friend of my grandmother and also my mother's aunt, I was sent here when I was eight. It has been ten years, and I have never left Lunar Serenity Well. I almost forget what my mother looks like."

Xin Zhuo comforted her: "Time is something that cannot be held onto, but you will eventually be able to go back and see your parents. There's no need to be sad."

"Mm." Hui Ruqing placed her hands on a branch, feeling much more relaxed.

The two of them admired the moonlit mountain scenery for a while, and then Xin Zhuo curiously asked, "Why do you think there is a place like Autumn Palace Pavilion and Lunar Serenity Well in this remote area? As a small mountain bandit, I feel a lot of pressure."

Hui Ruqing asked in return, "Do you know about the achievements of our founding emperor?"

How would I, a small mountain bandit, know about that?

But Xin Zhuo still said earnestly, "The founding emperor conquered the world, wise and martial. Who doesn't know? But I don't know much. Can you tell me?"

Hui Ruqing swayed her long legs and said, "The founding emperor was originally from Zhongdu Prefecture in Qizhou. He begged for food and ended up in Fufeng Prefecture when he was eight years old. At the age of thirteen, he made a living by hunting in Fulong Mountain. Later, by chance, he met Mr. Zhuge and others, and that's when he started to strive for the throne."

People say that Fulong Mountain is the true place for the revival of the Great Zhou Dynasty, but several hundred years have passed, and not many people care about it anymore.

However, Autumn Palace Pavilion and Lunar Serenity Well were established based on this, becoming the foundation of the Great Zhou Dynasty's eighteen provinces. Families with deep roots in education would also send their children here, seeking temporary fame. There are many distinguished students in Autumn Palace Pavilion."

I see! No wonder the mountain is named "Fulong" (Hidden Dragon). Xin Zhuo suddenly realized, thinking that Lunar Serenity Well had opened a high-level dungeon for him.

The moonlight became even brighter. It was already early winter, and the mountain wind was chilly. The two of them hugged their bodies tightly. Although martial artists were not afraid of the cold, Xin Zhuo still mischievously took off his outer robe and draped it over Hui Ruqing, while also grabbing her hand. "It's cold, don't freeze!"

Hui Ruqing's body stiffened, as if she was about to pull her hand away.

Xin Zhuo firmly held on, refusing to let go. "Let me warm you up, don't move!"

Hui Ruqing blushed like a persimmon but lowered her head and said, "It is indeed much warmer. You, you little thief, are quite considerate."

She said that, but she still withdrew her hand, though she kept her clothes on.

"No! I only care about you."

Xin Zhuo shamelessly coughed and said, "Well, how high is your Realm? How could someone as talented and knowledgeable as me, who is as tall as eight dou and as learned as five carts, not be able to tell?"

Hui Ruqing gave him a disdainful look and said, "Talent Yuan Chen Palace, Ni Palace against the Five Elements, understanding the laws of nature, metal, wood, water, fire, earth. If you understand this phrase, you will naturally know my Realm."

It's not fun to play dumb riddles.

Xin Zhuo changed his approach and said, "If we combine the Autumn Palace and the Water Moon Temple, what rank would you be?"

"Um..."

Hui Ruqing thought about it seriously, even counting on her fingers, and said, "The Mie Ling Master said that in the entire Fu Feng Prefecture, I am second in Talent and ninth in Realm!"

This thigh is too thick!

Xin Zhuo pretended to be emotional and said, "I envy you!"

Hui Ruqing blinked and said, "What's there to envy? My master, Pu Jing Master, said that your Talent can rank third, just below me. If it weren't for being a bandit, your future would be limitless."

I'm a bit fake here, relying entirely on spirit sacrifices.

Xin Zhuo sighed and said, "Unfortunately, I am a thief, only at the seventh rank, and I was caught by the Autumn Palace to be a teacher. I can't guarantee my safety from day to day, and my life is unpredictable. Talent and such, let's not mention it."

Hui Ruqing smiled mischievously and reached out her slender hand to pinch his cheek, speaking sincerely and warmly, "Don't worry, little mountain thief. From now on, sister will protect you. Whoever wants to kill you, sister will crush their bones."

Just waiting for this line, it feels great to be a freeloader!

"In that case, thank you, Madam. In this life, I, Xin Zhuo, will only marry you!"

Xin Zhuo did have the intention of teasing the girl, but he felt a sense of guilt for no reason. This girl grew up in a nunnery since she was young, so even if her Talent is high and her Realm is strong, she is ultimately more innocent.

"Who is your Madam? You little thief, your face is thicker than the sky."

(End of this chapter)