Nian Baoyu's battle was not finished after the battle. We should be wary of the people from the Eastern Chaga team returning the attack, and we need to set up defenses in advance. There are many wounded soldiers in the army, some need to be recovered, and some need to be taken back to Chengdu. These require a certain amount of time to deploy.

After a day of sleep, Liu Qinghan finally woke up.

I stood in the middle of the tent, looking worriedly at Li'er, who had been lying on the head of the bed and refused to leave for a while even eating and sleeping. His big eyes turned red, but they became brighter instead, flashing. Seeing Liu Qinghan frowning and slowly opening his eyes, a surprise smile immediately appeared on his little face: "Uncle San!"

Liu Qinghan, who had just woken up, was still a little overwhelmed by the shouts in his ears. He suddenly opened his eyes wide and looked at her. After a while, he laughed in confusion: "Li'er."

"Uncle San, you finally wake up!"

Two white and tender little hands reached over and held Liu Qinghan's dark cheeks: "Uncle San, are you feeling uncomfortable? Is it still painful?"

Liu Qinghan was still lying on the bed, probably still a little unconscious, and was a little overwhelmed by her enthusiasm. After a while, he reached out and patted Li'er's face: "Uncle San is fine. How about Li'er?"

"Li'er has nothing to do. It's all up to the third uncle who carried Li'er across the river that day, so Li'er was not injured by them."

Liu Qinghan smiled and said, "Your 'San Uncle' cannot be waived."

As he said that, he wanted to get up, but after all, he had been sick for so long and had no strength on his body. As soon as he supported himself, his hands fell down again, and a lot of cold sweat broke out on his forehead. Li'er was frightened and hurriedly reached out to hold his neck: "Uncle San, what's wrong with you? Do you feel pain? Where does it hurt?"

Liu Qinghan was out of breath and couldn't answer the words.

I stood behind and watched the scene, walked up to stroke Li'er's shoulder, and said, "Li'er, your third uncle hasn't eaten in the past few days and is so hungry that he has no energy. If you are filial, go to Huotoujun to get some hot soup rice for Uncle San."

"Oh, Li'er understands!"

She immediately turned around and ran out without looking back.

Liu Qinghan was still a little unconscious, but when he saw me standing by the bed and looking at him, although he had no strength, he still gritted his teeth and forced himself to sit up. I didn't go to help him. I just waited until he sat down, and then said softly: "Thank you."

He looked up and looked at me and smiled.

"If it weren't for you this time, Li'er would be afraid-"

"I promised my wife to protect her well, so of course I have to do my best."

As he said that, he reached out and patted his stiff shoulders, then moved for a while, his expression relaxed. He raised his head and asked me, "What's the situation now?"

"The Dongchaga tribe was defeated and has retreated. Tu Shuhan originally wanted to bring Li'er back to the palace, but failed and had already returned to Longnan. Now Nian Baoyu is fine."

"oh……"

He didn't say anything, but just nodded gently.

The tent became quiet again.

Neither of them said anything, quietness is inevitable, but in such a small and closed space, quietness becomes a suffocating depression over time. The last time I and him were together alone, it couldn't help but emerge from my mind - the last time, it was in Wuwei. He was asking me questions that I could not answer at all, almost forcing me to a desperate situation.

However, with the last experience, he probably knew that it would be difficult to ask the truth from my mouth.

The two of them were silent for a while. He raised his hand and made sure that he had no problem with his movements. He said to me: "Well-Madam, if nothing else, I will remember to wash and change my clothes."

I still stood still and didn't move.

"I still have something to say to you."

"Oh? What's the matter?"

"It's about Li Er."

He glanced at me, a smile appeared on his face, and then said, "No need to thank me. Even if you didn't entrust her to me, I will protect her."

"No, I'm not talking about this."

"Hmm?" He looked at me, with a hint of confusion in his eyes. I bit my lower lip, hesitated for a moment, and said, "You——"

“…”

Looking at his almost ignorant eyes, I gritted my teeth and simply went straight to the point: "Li'er told me that I want to marry you."

Liu Qinghan's eyes suddenly widened.

"What?!"

"…She said, she wants to marry you."

I heard him take a breath, his whole body tense and no response.

A silence suddenly fell into the tent.

And the next moment, he suddenly burst into laughter like a storm: "Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha..."

I frowned slightly.

At this time, Liu Qinghan had no choice but to care about his identity and body. He smiled so hard that he leaned back and forth, and even couldn't breathe. One hand subconsciously patted his chest.

He stopped until his eyes were filled with tears until he smiled, and his shoulders were still twitching. When he looked up and saw my embarrassed face, he hurriedly stopped his smile, but he was still breathless. After a while, he said softly: "Sorry, I--"

My face looked a little ugly: "Do you think it's funny?"

"No, I just-hehe, Li'er is so fun."

"She said she wanted to marry you, what do you think?"

"Haha, madam, how can you take the jokes from the child seriously?"

He said, unable to help laughing again: "Li'er is such a girl, she is so cute and has a lot of thoughts."

...

This answer is exactly what I hope.

Pei Yuanxiu was right. Liu Qinghan was an adult. Li Er's unrequited love could not even be considered troubles for him, and it was even more impossible for her to let go of her thoughts. Li Er's end was hot, and it would not last long.

But for some reason, I felt a little indescribable in my heart, like bitter or bitter?

As if I felt that my face was not very good, Liu Qinghan slowly curled up his smile, looked at me for a while, and said carefully: "Madam, do you think there is something wrong?"

“…”

"Madam won't think I'm—? I don't have Li'er—"

"That's not what I mean." I interrupted him and looked at him and said, "Does Lord Liu think Li'er is ridiculous?"

"Of course that's not what it means."

"Then are you smiling so happily?"

"I-" He was speechless when I asked, not knowing how to deal with it.

Yes, everyone thinks she is playing, thinks she is young, and you don’t have to mind what she says, anyway, she is just a little girl.

No one took her words seriously.

No one...

Even in front of her, the person she wanted to marry seriously; the person she cared about in her heart at all times; the person who couldn't see him and didn't even dare to cry, she didn't think it was true. Because of their identity, status, age, and appearance, they were not as suitable as a joke without others stopping him.

Just because he doesn’t believe it, all the sincerity of others is not important!

But, what should I use to argue with him?

So he doesn't want what she cherishes and loves in her hand.

No matter how hard others work and pray, as long as it is impossible, he will deny it completely.

This is not the first time he has done this!

I still don’t want Liu Qinghan and my daughter to have any possibility, but I love my daughter’s feelings. She cherishes it so much, but she is abandoned as if she is worn out.

I understand that feeling too much!

Liu Qinghan is such a keen person. He immediately noticed the subtle thoughts in my heart. He pondered for a while. When he raised his head, his face became a little more solemn, and he said, "I understand what the lady means. Sorry, I shouldn't make fun of Li'er like I did just now."

“…”

"However, both the lady and I should be very clear--I will be the prince consort of the court sooner or later."

“…”

"But, what I want to marry is the eldest princess, and it is impossible for the princess to leave."

“…”

"I will cooperate with you whatever my wife wants me to do. Li Er is still young now, and I, as a third uncle, don't want her to be hurt, regardless of whether she is physical or emotional."

“…”

"That's all I can do."

“…”

I looked at his solemn and clear eyes silently, and what I wanted to say and what I should say were stuck in my throat. After a while, I showed a faint smile and said, "You don't bother me, don't bother me. Just be Li'er's 'third uncle', and that's enough."

As soon as I finished speaking, the tent was lifted away, and Lier ran in from outside.

"Uncle San!"

Her happy voice immediately filled the tent that was somewhat depressed and silent, with a strong and salty fragrance. It was the bowl of hot soup rice she was holding in her hand, and raised it high by the bed: "Uncle San, smell it, is it fragrant?"

Xue Muhua had greeted the Huotou Army before and specially brought pheasants to make soup and cook for him. It was a rare "privilege" in this barren mountain and wild ridge.

Li'er is still the same as before, reckless and innocent as before. Others may like to see a girl like her. But after knowing her thoughts, Liu Qinghan could not help feeling uncomfortable when facing her enthusiasm. He looked at Li'er with a look of anticipation, and then looked up at me.

Li'er urged: "Uncle San!"
To be continued...