Years turn into wind

Chapter 155 The tranquility before dawn

In the early morning, sunlight streamed through the window lattice into the house, dispelling the night's gloom. When Cheng Yuwei awoke, Ling Xiaotian was no longer by her side, but he had left a cloak over her, as if to protect her from a cold. She sighed softly. This man seemed cold, but there were always gentle details in his heart that were hard to ignore.

She stood up, packed her clothes, and was about to go to breakfast when she heard a commotion in the courtyard. She pushed open the door and saw Ling Xiaotian and several of his personal guards training in the martial arts arena.

"Didn't you say you were tired all day yesterday? Why are you busy again so early?" Cheng Yuwei folded her arms, leaning against the pillar, with a hint of sarcasm in her tone.

Hearing this, Ling Xiaotian stopped what he was doing and walked towards her: "Why are you up? Why don't you sleep a little longer?"

"I couldn't sleep after hearing how lively you guys were here." Cheng Yuwei looked at the sweat on his forehead and handed him a handkerchief. "Why are you so hardworking today?"

"The news is not going well lately. We must keep up the good work." Ling Xiaotian wiped the sweat off his face casually and returned the handkerchief to her. His tone became more cautious. "How did you sleep last night?"

"Not bad." Cheng Yuwei nodded, and couldn't help asking, "But did you find out anything about that person last night?"

Ling Xiaotian's eyes darkened slightly: "Not yet, but I can be sure that their target is me, or us."

Cheng Yuwei's heart tightened, and she forced a calm smile: "Then you should be more careful. We haven't even passed the honeymoon period yet, and I don't want to become a young widow."

After hearing this, Ling Xiaotian chuckled and said, "Don't worry, as long as I'm here, you'll never become a widow."

A special warmth in the kitchen

After breakfast, Cheng Yuwei suggested going to the kitchen. Ling Xiaotian raised his eyebrows slightly: "Why, do you suddenly want to cook?"

"Yeah, I haven't cooked for a long time, and I want to try." Cheng Yuwei said with a smile, "But I need someone to help me."

"Then I'll accompany you." Ling Xiaotian agreed immediately, his tone relaxed, "It's a good opportunity to see if you're all talk and no action."

Cheng Yuwei rolled her eyes at him, rolled up her sleeves, and walked into the kitchen. She picked out a Jiangnan home-cooked dish—fermented rice balls with fermented rice. She had originally planned to cook it alone, but she noticed Ling Xiaotian standing nearby, eager to try.

"Didn't you say you would help me? Why are you standing there?" Cheng Yuwei teased him deliberately.

"I've never done this before. You take charge." Ling Xiaotian walked forward and looked at her seriously. "But you have to be patient."

Cheng Yuwei couldn't help laughing, and then handed him a ball of glutinous rice: "Okay, roll this into a ball."

Ling Xiaotian took it and tried to rub it a few times according to her instructions, but found that he always rubbed it crookedly.

"Why does yours look like a stone?" Cheng Yuwei smiled and took the dumplings he made. "Let me do it. Just help me add some firewood."

"Add more firewood?" Ling Xiaotian raised an eyebrow. "Are you disgusted with me?"

"No, don't get me wrong. I just think your hands are more suitable for holding knives and guns. It's a waste to do these." Cheng Yuwei smiled cunningly and continued to work with her head down.

The two of them bantered back and forth, creating a relaxed and joyful atmosphere. Soon, the aroma of fermented rice balls filled the kitchen. Cheng Yuwei scooped out two bowls and handed one to Ling Xiaotian: "Try my cooking."

Ling Xiaotian scooped a mouthful into his mouth and nodded: "Not bad, it tastes very authentic."

Cheng Yuwei smiled proudly: "It seems that my skills have not deteriorated."

Ling Xiaotian looked at her satisfied smile, his heart softening. He put down his bowl, walked over and gently embraced her: "You know what? With you at home, my world is complete."

Cheng Yuwei was stunned for a moment, then raised her head to meet his gaze, her heart skipping a beat. As their eyes met, the atmosphere in the kitchen suddenly became quiet and warm.

"Okay," Cheng Yuwei said casually, breaking the silence. "Stop being so corny and eat it quickly. It won't taste good if it gets cold."

Ling Xiaotian let go of her with a low laugh, but whispered in her ear, "I'll thank you properly later."

Cheng Yuwei's face flushed, and she turned around and walked out of the kitchen quickly with the bowl in her hand.

The surge in the dark

However, while the Marshal's Mansion was warm and cozy, a conspiracy was still quietly brewing in the city.

A man dressed as a commoner entered the street, holding a letter in his hand, and walked towards an unremarkable teahouse. Inside the teahouse sat several men in long gowns. After they took the letter, they whispered a few words to each other.

"Ling Xiaotian's defense is now tighter than before. It's unlikely to be broken through head-on."

"Then we should dismantle him from within," one of them said coldly. "The news has already spread, and there will definitely be people around him who will respond."

"This step must be successful, otherwise, it will be difficult for us to have another chance."

The men nodded at each other, then quickly dispersed. The clamor of the street obscured everything else. Their plot was like a venomous snake, waiting for the right moment to strike a fatal blow.

Cheng Yuwei felt a little uneasy as she sat in her study, sorting through documents. She put down her pen, looked up at the clear blue sky outside the window, and prayed silently in her heart, hoping that the peace would last a little longer.

She didn't know that the tranquility at that moment was just a brief respite before the storm.