Chapter 61: Rectify Her

  She shouted loudly, but Zhao Zhu did not say a word.

  He stared at her, his dark eyes sparkling like fireworks.

  "Get out." Xia Chuqi's face turned red with embarrassment.

  Scorching hot, like boiling water in a pot, every inch of his body was scalded.

  The posture of the two people was too ambiguous, he half-embraced and half-hugged her on the couch, almost completely covering her body. The distance between them was so close that she didn't need to pay much attention to hear his heartbeat clearly. Every beat was strong and powerful, synchronizing with hers, making her feel embarrassed and flustered.

  "Say it again." He lowered his voice, his breath spraying onto her face.

  "I said, what's wrong with you, get out of here?"

  "He said again."

  Her whole body was warmed up by him, with a heart rate she had never experienced before, making her breathing uneven.

  "I say you're making a fool of me at home..."

  Before she could finish speaking, a pair of warm lips covered hers, silencing her words...

  A buzzing sound in her ear made Xia Chui Qī suddenly freeze up.

  My mind is a complete blank and my thoughts are completely frozen.

  She looked at the guy in front of her with his eyes closed and almost forgot that she should push him away.

  "Chu Qi..."

  "What's wrong with you...?"

  "Don't move!" A whiff of fragrance, reminiscent of "Fu Bai wine", danced around her nose, as if it might lure her into a fluffy cloud of sweetness at any moment. Meanwhile, a rough, calloused hand, separated from hers by only a coarse linen shirt, transmitted heat like a branding iron, wave after wave, stirring up the emotions that had settled in her heart like an unquiet evil spirit.

  As if she had returned to the banks of the Qingling River again.

  The night wind was cool, the river water was cold, but his chest was hot.

  Above her head, a night sky without any pollution. A hairy moon shone dimly on her.

  She sat on his horse, he held her in front of him, and they slowly rode back to the relay station together. His black cloak was very warm, wrapping around her like a warm oven, full of intoxicating sense of security.

  "What's it to you?"

  He whispered softly, his lips brushing against her earlobe, sending a shiver down her spine, yet suddenly clearing her mind.

  "Hey, let go..."

  She wanted to struggle, but he suddenly cheated again and swallowed all her words into his belly.

  He gently pecked at her a few times, pressed against her, but didn't know how to probe deeper, only nibbled on her mouth, as if savoring something delicious, his wine-tainted lips repeatedly grinding and lightly brushing against hers, like tasting, like exploring. The technique of touching was quite clumsy, yet somehow it got her brain constantly drawing circles, her arms wrapped around his neck as if they had a mind of their own...

  She's possessed!

  She thought, it must be so.

  It's no wonder she's like this, who let him be so good-looking and come to seduce her?

  A flower insists on being inserted into cow dung, and there's nothing she can do about it...

  This sentence suddenly drilled into her mind, she shivered and felt a strange sensation.

  With a snort, she regained her composure and burst out laughing.

  This smile is too depressing.

  Zhao Zhu wrapped his arms around her waist and gazed at her with narrowed eyes.

  "What's so funny?"

  "Ah!" His waist was held a bit tightly, but the funny thing was that once it started, it couldn't be stopped. Xia Chuqi pursed her lips, and the more she looked at his serious face, the more she wanted to laugh. Honestly, if she hadn't experienced it herself, she wouldn't have believed that this guy's kissing technique was so bad. And so, after holding it in for a long time, she finally couldn't help but burst out laughing.

  "Hey, I'm talking to you, haven't been kissed before?"

  "What's with you?" Zhao Zun's face was darker than the sky outside.

  "I've never eaten pork, and I haven't even seen a pig walk on the road?"

  People's emotions are very strange.

  Just a moment ago, she was furious with him. But at this moment, seeing that he was clearly angry but couldn't refute her, her mood suddenly improved. Laughing uncontrollably, she looked at Zhao Zhu's face, which had turned black with rage, and pinched his thin face, speaking in a heavy tone.

  "Alas, how can there be such a woman in this world?"

  "What's wrong with me? Ah, mom, it really made me laugh to death. Are you going to be a hoodlum? Do you want me to teach you some tricks, and silver can be discounted by 80%?"

  Doubting a man's ability is itself a suicidal behavior.

  And what she said was not a doubt, but an outright mockery.

  It's not just looking for death, but also looking for a beating, looking for disability...

  Zhao Zhuoyuan is just a big man, how can he stand this? He's inexperienced in romantic matters, but that's because he hasn't practiced before. When he kissed her those few times, there was also a part of him that pitied her. Since she's looking for death like this, he can also turn into a wolf-like person in just a minute.

  He lifted her up and placed her on the couch, then pressed down on her.

  "Today, I must discipline you."

  "Hey, um..."

  Men are born with divine power, how can a weak woman compare?

  In the early summer, her eyes were filled with playful teasing and mockery, but she soon fell into his kiss. He launched a fierce attack from the start, and after several rounds, she was exhausted, letting him toy with her like a puppeteer, nibbling on her lips, tangling tongues, and entwining their bodies, making her whole body go limp. In the midst of their intertwined breaths, all she could do was occasionally tap his shoulder with one hand, not daring to provoke this enraged beast any further.

  She admitted that she didn't dislike this feeling.

  She closed her eyes, and unknowingly, she became more and more devoted to the kiss. Her emotions were constantly climbing upwards, while the unique fragrance of the wine on his body entered her nostrils along with their intimate exchange, like him, carrying a strong and fierce desire for conquest, making her feel as if she had entered a dream. Without drinking any wine, she was already drunk and lost her soul, only leaving behind murmurs, unable to say half a sentence.

  "This time, I'll spare you." He suddenly relaxed his mouth, buried his head in her neck, and breathed heavily, no longer moving.

  For a long time, no one moved, and no one spoke.

  Xia Chui swallowed a few mouthfuls of saliva and tried to think of something to say.

  His mouth opened several times, but he couldn't say a word.

  Don't look at her mouth, which is both damaging and bad, but she's a rookie in men-women relationships. She has no experience and doesn't even think about romance or sex before him. But Zhao Zun gave her a completely different feeling. Facing him, she would feel shy, blush, feel embarrassed, and also burn with him together.

  "What's wrong?" He panted heavily, holding her without letting go.

  "Why... should I kiss her?"

  "You're too young, grow up some more."

  He thought she was asking what? Why didn't he continue?

  At the beginning of summer, Qi was anxious to explain, but he suddenly buried his head and playfully bit her, causing her to gasp in pain.

  "You damn fool! Bite me?"

  She puckered up a mouth that had been kissed red, and she had no idea how much the soft, gentle, wet, and tender patch of water would provoke people's love.

  "Grandpa hasn't seen an idiot."

  He stared at her for a while, and in the silence, he suddenly made a strange explanation.

  At the beginning of summer, she stared blankly at him with a dizzy brain.

  Were those people in the village sent by him?

  "Don't you still believe your own grandfather?" he asked lightly.

  "Believe it." Wiping his mouth, Xia Chuqi casually responded and then dazedly asked, "But my idiot is gone. When he was taken away in Lian Nian Village, I saw those people with my own eyes, all of them were carrying your flag. Could it be that I'm seeing ghosts?"

  Zhao Zun narrowed his eyes and stared at her intently.

  "You won't come looking for me again if you don't see a ghost, will you?"

  After hearing his words and looking at his eyes, Xia Chuyi's ears were burning, feeling a bit overwhelmed. She remembered that she was originally here to pick a fight, but the two of them had reached such a rhythm, it was really frustrating, and she completely didn't know what to say next in this situation.

  "Hey, why didn't you say so earlier? Alright then, I'll leave first. Pretend I never came today, see you later."

  "How dare you—"

  Before she could get up, he had already firmly grasped her.

  He lowered his head, looked at her with a faint smile, and pressed down on her. She struggled subconsciously, unaware of whose foot was in the wrong place, and in the commotion, one foot kicked the wine jug on the table, "bang bang" a few times, shattering to the ground with a crash.

  Outside came the sound of rapid footsteps, followed by a soft call.

  "Grandfather, are you all right?"

  Soft and gentle, warm and elegant, who else could it be besides Yuè Yù?

  "Grandfather, is there something you need me to do?"

  Yuè yù jiàn méi yǒu rén huí dá, yòu wèn le yī shēng, jiǎo bù yǐ jīng zài mén kǒu le.

  English Translation:

  Yuè saw that no one answered and asked again, her footsteps were already at the door.

  At the beginning of summer, she was panting heavily, looking at the man lying on her body, and he was also staring at her. Their eyes met, almost as if they had a telepathic connection. As the carved wooden door creaked open with a "creak", he suddenly let go of his hands and sat up, while she subconsciously rolled into the back of the carved Luo Han bed, hiding her body behind the flowing silk and soft cushion.

  "Grandfather, how..."

  Hurriedly putting on her clothes and entering the house, Yuè Yù's smiling face suddenly stiffened.

  Only to see her master lying on the couch, his black silk pajamas were in disarray, and the jade belt around his waist seemed to have come loose. The skin below his collar was exposed, revealing a strong and captivating physique. His eyes, which seemed slightly dissatisfied, swept over coldly, with a hint of lingering emotions still visible at the bottom of his pupils. And on his handsome face, there was an emotional expression she had never seen before.

  Subconsciously, she felt that she had figured it out herself.

  Her face flushed with embarrassment, she awkwardly smoothed her hair and slowly approached with her head half lowered.

  "What's the point of making things difficult for yourself? I, your servant, can serve you..."

  It's obvious that she automatically filled in Zhao Zhuo doing something bad by himself.

  Holding her breath, Xia Qi hid behind the back of Luo Han's couch, thinking about what kind of expression that "misunderstood" scumbag would have, and couldn't help but stifle a laugh. She perked up her ears to listen, and the more she heard, the softer Mo Da Jie's voice sounded, making her heart feel even softer.

  Such good things, won't it be a waste if you don't use them?

  She thought, under the shining lamp, the shadow of Yuè Róng slowly approached the couch.

  Zhao Zhuo's coarse and turbid breathing seemed to have not yet fully evened out, as he faintly said two words.

  "Get out."

  His low, husky voice, which seemed to be restraining some strong emotions, caused Mu Yu's heart to thump wildly.

  For some reason, she suddenly felt a wave of heat wash over her entire body, her face burning...

  "Master, although I am a humble and lowly servant, I have devoted myself to you with all my heart, willing to serve you..."

  Yuè yù said it extremely slowly, extremely gently, and with extreme deep feeling.

  Of course, deep affection is real.

  She could see that Zhao Zhu had gotten drunk and was genuinely moved.

  She had been serving beside Zhao Zhen for over a decade, and in her eyes, this man was always cold and emotionless, with a distant and indifferent attitude towards anyone, even when facing the current emperor. Especially when it came to matters of the bedchamber, although she was nominally his senior concubine, she had never seen him show any signs of passion, that enchanting expression, those eyes clouded with wine, that hoarse voice, that handsome face, that slightly trembling Adam's apple, almost every detail of which could boost her courage.

  She must grasp such a good opportunity firmly.

  Before that, Concubine Gong had been taught by a palace maid.

  Under the guidance of those experienced girls, she not only learned many skills to serve men but also understood some of their natures. She knew that men are creatures controlled by desire and once they fall in love, they wouldn't consider so many things.

  So in her eyes, tonight was her chance, heaven's sympathy for her.

  Otherwise, why would I coincidentally encounter you in such a state...

  A pair of eyes as soft as water.

  She looked at Zhao Zhu, perhaps too immersed in thinking about the outcome, so she didn't notice that his eyes slowly turned cold, and he just walked step by step closer to her side, squatting down softly and gently calling out to her.

  "Master, give me a chance, I will serve you well..."

  This beauty voluntarily offering her pillow and bed is really making people vomit blood, right? Xia Zhicheng's stiff body was curled up, and I don't know how Zhao Zun reacted. Hopefully, nothing will happen to refresh her three views.

  She also knew that Zhao Zun had obviously drunk too much wine, otherwise he wouldn't have come to kiss her.

  What if Big Sister Moon takes the opportunity to eat him? Is she going to watch her eat, or make it impossible for her to swallow?

  No way!

  She was about to pick up the goods when she heard Zhao's cold and low voice coming from above.

  "You're getting more and more skilled! Get out!"

  No need to see it with your own eyes, that voice is chilling to the bone.

  It's clear that Zhao Zun is angry, and very much so.

  She took a deep breath and Xia Qi's tense nerves relaxed a bit more.

  It seems that guy wasn't drunk and kissing anyone he caught either?

  "Yes, sir." As if doused with cold water, Yuè Yù's heart tightened and she lowered her eyelids, slowly backing out. But after taking only a few steps, she bit her lower lip, as if making up her mind, suddenly turned around, her voice tinged with sadness, "Sir, I have something to say, I don't know if it's proper to ask or not."

  Zhao Zun grunted and didn't look at her.

  At this time, he had already tidied up his disheveled clothes, and his originally urgent breathing had also calmed down. The tension in his head naturally dissipated, and there was no longer the awkwardness when Yuexi suddenly burst in earlier. He simply put on an expressionless face, restoring his usual calm demeanor.

  Yuè yù tightly clenched her fists, as if unaware that her fingernails had dug into the flesh of her palms.

  As she looked at him, the emotions that had been suppressed deep in her heart for a long time surged up to her throat.

  It was as if she felt an urge to be relieved, and she couldn't help but vomit.

  "I've been serving by Master's side for over a decade, yet he never allowed me to get close... but why is it that Chu Qi, she can?"

  "He said faintly, 'She's different.'"

  Yuè Yù bit her lower lip, and a hint of pain flashed in her eyes.

  "What's different about her? Tell me, servant. I can learn and change what's not good."

  This question made Xia Chuyi, who was under Rohan's chair, perk up his ears as well.

  She remembered that night drinking by the Qingling River, Zhao Zun also said this sentence, and she also wanted to know the answer.

  Ke Zhaozi seemed annoyed and spoke in a bad tone, "Go, let Zheng Erbao prepare water."

  Such an answer is equivalent to no answer at all.

  Understand his temperament like the moon in the sky, and naturally know what it represents.

  That's what annoyed her about him.

  And he annoyed her, if she didn't know better, he was afraid that later on, he wouldn't take her seriously anymore.

  "I know and I was wrong."

  Yuè Yù bit her lower lip and knelt down on the ground, knocking her head against it, not daring to look at the man on the Luo Han bed again.

  As a virtuous woman, she felt that she had always been faithful to her duties and knew her own identity. Although she didn't like Chu Qi, she wasn't completely opposed to her getting close to her master either. Even if the master really wanted to take her in, she could bear it even if it was difficult for her to accept. Because in her heart, a man like her master, who was like a god, shouldn't belong to just one woman from birth.

  But she minds now.

  Or rather, she couldn't accept that her master, whom she had served for over a decade, would reject all women except Chu Qi.

  Innumerable girls flocked to him, but he avoided them like a flood or a fierce beast.

  Why can Chu Qi get close to him?

  What's so special about Chu Qi, what makes her stand out?

  Yuè yù bù gān xīn, què yě wú kě nài hé de lí kāi le.

  Translation: Yuè reluctantly left with a sense of unfulfillment.

  But she didn't know that her sudden intrusion had disrupted the delicate atmosphere inside.

  Xia Qiqi slowly got up from behind the couch, rubbed her sore waist, and sat down in a chair. She looked at Zhao Zhuo for a moment, and both of their emotions were a bit complicated.

  The previous plot was suddenly cut off and it's hard to continue.

  After a while, Zhao Zun rubbed his forehead and pulled her hand into his palm.

  "It was I who was rude, and shouldn't have been disrespectful to you."

  Lightweight?

  Xia Chuqi's lips moved several times, her face flushed with embarrassment.

  What can a big girl say when she is taken advantage of by someone who has been brought to her doorstep late at night? Should she pretend to be refined and slap him in the face, scolding "You stinky rascal", or should she be heartless and grin, spouting nonsense like "It doesn't exist, Your Highness, you can continue to be rude"? It seems that no matter what is said, it's not quite right.

  His palms were burning hot, and his scalp was also stared at by him, making it numb from time to time.

  She coughed dryly and was about to say something to ease the atmosphere when she suddenly heard Zhao Zhuo speak up.

  "Chu Qi, would you be willing to become my... concubine?"

  It felt like being stung by an ant on the tip of his heart, Xia Qi suddenly wanted to laugh.

  How could she have forgotten this? Let's not mention the unpleasant things that happened between the two of them before. Just talking about what Yuan Xiao Gongzi said last time, can Xia Chuqi accept it? These princes and young masters seem to be carefree, but their marriages are actually controlled by others.

  Perhaps in Zhao Zun's view, giving her a status like "concubine" was something that many women couldn't even ask for. She had been "bestowed with favor", and should show gratitude towards him. But what did being a concubine mean to Xia Chuyi? It meant being a minor wife, a mistress - not something she would ever consider.

  Moreover, his current proposal is nothing but an attempt to pay for the unexpected intoxication.

  She would never stoop so low as to sell herself out like this.

  She took a deep breath, exhaled, and gave him a sideways glance, patting his shoulder with an air of superiority.

  "Your Highness, Duke of Jin, aren't you overthinking this? In our place, even if we don't kiss, as long as two people sleep together and part ways after waking up, they owe each other nothing. The question of who took advantage of whom doesn't even exist. Moreover, if we're being serious, Your Highness is so noble and dignified, while I, Chu Qi, am the one who's taken advantage of you. You won't make me take responsibility for you, will you? I don't have a concubine's status to offer you."

  Zhao Zun furrowed his brow and stared at her as if she were a monster.

  "Chu Qi..."

  She gave a slight cough, and Xia Chuqi glanced at his knotted face, suddenly feeling relieved all over.

  "It's really not what you think it is. It was just an accident earlier, do you see me as someone who would care about this?"

  Zhao Zhu raised his hand and wanted to touch her face.

  With an air of nonchalance, she batted her eyelashes and just smiled.

  "Don't be like this, it's going to lose interest. What about it, since the fool is not here, can Your Highness consider that I didn't come tonight? Let me leave now?"

  Zhao Zun narrowed his eyes, lowered his hands and said calmly, "You think it's that easy?"

  "Or what? Won't you let me go after I've kissed you and you're clinging to me?"

  Those two words, "concubine", had already ignited a spark of anger in her heart, and being blackmailed by him like this made her even more furious. She scolded him in a low voice and was about to leave, but he wouldn't let her go that easily. As soon as she took a step out, he pulled her back and sat her on his lap. She glared at him, not yelling or cursing, but instead buried her head and started biting him wildly. And so, the two of them entwined again on the couch.

  Just now was a kiss.

  This time it's a real fight.

  Of course, mainly on July 7th of the lunar calendar, I beat him up.

  He didn't exert himself much, just defending against her sneak attacks, but she wouldn't give him any face, every move was a deadly grab, for a time taking the upper hand, fighting to the point of panting and not letting up. After a good deal of commotion, it wasn't until she bit his neck that he got angry and pinned her hands down on the chair.

  "Don't you want to?"

  His face was calm to the point of being somewhat frightening.

  And his emotions just confirmed Xia Chuqi's idea.

  It's obvious that in his eyes, all of those were already acts of charity, how dare she still not show gratitude?

  "Unwilling? You think everyone is eager for you? Are you a national treasure?"

  She snorted, her hands unable to move, but her feet were restless, kicking him wildly. His eyebrows remained furrowed, as if he was somewhat helpless against her, and he crossed his body to pin her feet down along with the rest of her, until she only had the strength to breathe, before finally calming down. The two people gazed at each other coolly, neither speaking for a long time.

  The candle flame flickers, casting a dim light on the bed of the arhat.

  His eyes were dark and deep like a bottomless well.

  In the depths of his eyes, her face was reflected upside down.

  After a while, he suddenly let go of his hand and stood up quietly.

  "Grandfather won't mind your sneaking into the post house, you can go."

  Having said that, he didn't look at her again and went straight to the bathroom.

  Watching his back, Xia Chuqi's chaotic heart finally calmed down.

  She sneered and curled up her lip, then patted her face which had been burning all along.

  If we don't move now, when will we?

  She quietly retreated along the original path. Not long after, the heavily guarded city gate once again shouted "assassin", and the entire station was alarmed again. In Zhao Zun's residence, Bimonthly Pavilion, the lights were still on, waiting for him to finish his bath and come out of the bathroom, where Chen Jing, who had always been quietly following him, was waiting in the inner hall.

  "Your Highness."

  "Is she gone?"

  "It is." Chen Jing lowered his eyes, "The subordinate has already been instructed, no need to pursue further."

  Zhao Zun lightly murmured, sat back in the arhat chair, fiddled with the disheveled chess pieces, and expressionlessly ordered, "Send someone to investigate what's going on with that fool."

  "Your Highness." Having received this order, Chen Jing wanted to speak but hesitated, "In my opinion, after the fire in the thatched house last time, Your Highness had already drawn a clear line with her."

  "Have you made it clear?"

  Zhao Zun lightly asked back, casting a faint glance at him with an expression calm and serene, his eyes revealing no emotions.

  "It's even more unclear now."

  Chen Jing had always been puzzled by his temperament.

  Now, looking at his gloomy face, I couldn't understand what he had in mind for Chu Qi.

  Last time at Qinggang Station, he set off that firework, and she slipped away from his hands like a loach.

  What's gotten into you now, going and meddling in her affairs again?

  From the moment he was appointed as the top martial arts champion by the current emperor, Chen Jing's days were all about Zhao Zhen. He followed him everywhere like a shadow. Over the years, from north to south, from the military to the capital, as far as Chen Jing knew, this master's character could be described as rigid and traditional, never doing anything that went against social norms and morality, let alone having such a loss of composure and abnormal behavior as now.

  Especially today...

  Chen Jing was usually taciturn, but he felt compelled to remind him repeatedly.

  "Your Highness, permit me to say one more thing. I think you are not willing to get involved in the whirlpool of the former Wei State case again. Moreover, this Xia Qi's identity is really not suitable for Your Highness... Even if you just take her as a concubine and hide her in the backyard of the Jin Wang Fu for life, once someone discovers her identity, it will be a joke to your emotions, reason, dignity, and reputation."

  Zhao Zun raised his head, his eyes coldly looking over, his voice suddenly sinking.

  "She is not Miss Qī of the Xià family."

  "Your Highness, it's her. You know better than anyone else in your heart, it's really her."

  Chen Jing is a very stubborn person, or can be called inflexible.

  Apart from loyalty, there is nothing but loyalty left.

  Chu Qi's case has been investigated by Chen Jing all along.

  So he knew her identity better than anyone else, Chu Qiming was indeed the Seventh Young Lady of the Wei State's Imperial Manor.

  Many people know what happened that year. When Xia Tinggan, the former Duke of Wei State, was put to death for treason and his whole family was executed, he did not beg for the lives of his sons but only for his seventh daughter. He used an iron certificate with the words "Assisting in the Founding of the Country" engraved on it to save his daughter Xia Chuyu's life. Only a few founding ministers had such certificates, and there were rules that treason was unpardonable. However, His Majesty remembered Xia Tinggan's great contributions to the country and how all his sons had died, leaving only one daughter, which was truly pitiful. How could he not grant such a request?

  Therefore, the old emperor not only agreed to this request, but also allowed Xia Tinggan's younger brother to inherit the title of Duke of Wei, and even did not abolish the marriage between his daughter Xia Chu and the imperial grandson Zhao Mianze.

  After the case was settled, Xia's daughter had her forehead tattooed as punishment and was sent to live with her second uncle, the current Duke of Wei, Xia Tingde. However, on the eve of her wedding to Zhao Mianze, Xia's daughter suddenly disappeared without a trace.

  This is also something that everyone knows.

  Earlier, on the Qinggang Road, when Fan Zongliang's daughter, Fan Shi, pointed out that Chu Qi had a tattoo of a criminal punishment on his head, they already suspected Chu Qi's identity. Later, with Dongfang Qingxuan's repeated entanglements and combining various clues, Chen Jing compared the results of the investigation, and Chu Qi's identity was confirmed without a doubt. Logically speaking, knowing the truth, as the King of Jin's subordinate, he should not have gotten involved in that muddy water again.

  What's the big deal now?

  Chen Jing took a deep breath and suddenly knelt down on one knee.

  "Please reconsider, Your Highness. Chu Qi is indeed Xia Shi's daughter and the wife of the Emperor's eldest grandson, who has not yet entered the palace."

  Zhao Zun narrowed his eyes slightly and hesitated for a moment before saying indifferently, "If I say she isn't, then she isn't."

  Chen Jing took a deep breath and remained silent for a while before lifting his head to meet his gaze.

  In the end, he helplessly made a bow.

  "Yes, I understand. I'll send someone to take care of it tomorrow."

  As he finished speaking and was about to leave, before he had even stepped out of the house, Zhao Zhen's voice came from behind him.

  "Chen Jing."

  Turning his head, Chen Jing slightly lowered his eyes and respectfully said, "Your Highness, are there any other instructions?"

  Zhao Zun seemed to have considered for a moment before waving his hand.

  "The day before departure, he brought her along."

  ……

  ……

  On the seventh day of summer vacation, he used a smoke bomb to escape again.

  Of course, she knew that Zhao Zhu had let her off this time. But now the situation has been made clear, since she was already "killed" by the big fire in the woodshed, and he didn't explicitly say that she had come back to life, so it's better to just consider her really dead, which is also a conclusion to that matter.

  There were no more pursuers behind her, she supported her knees, looking at the quiet streets, and in her heart, it was heavy.

  No fool was found, her actions today can be considered a failure.

  What's even more frustrating is that she inexplicably lost her way and became someone else's concubine, but the fool still doesn't know where he is. Originally, she thought Zhao Zun caught the fool to threaten her into appearing, wanting to take her back to the capital for trial. But tonight, he let her go, which is enough proof that he doesn't need to threaten her, so the fool has no value, and naturally, Zhao Zun has no reason to hold onto him.

  Of course, he didn't have the necessity to tell her such a lie either.

  But this way, things get even more complicated.

  Not at Zhao Zhu's place, who exactly took the fool away?

  In the village of Langyuan, she saw a group of government soldiers.

  The guard at the station said it was the young master's carriage.

  Your Highness, Your Highness, she raised her head and looked at the sky, and suddenly a bright idea flashed in her mind.

  Could it be that His Highness is Ning Wang Zhao Xi?

  But he did this, what for?

  Is it related to the birth of a fool? Is it related to that oval-shaped birthmark that San Aunt told me not to tell others about?

  Things seem to be getting more and more complicated.

  No matter what, she still has to find a fool.

  He rubbed his face hard, Xia Qi's mood wasn't great, slowly blowing in the river wind, slowing down his pace.

  The night sky of Ba County is very pure, with a few stars hanging in the sky. Some fishing boats on the riverbank are also lit up, swaying back and forth on the water's surface, as if floating on the water, looking very beautiful. The river breeze blows across my face, cool but not cold to the bone, just like the clear and refreshing wind by the river. The crescent moon above my head is still quietly watching her, coming and going with each passing day.

  It was unknown how long it took her to adjust her mood.

  No matter what, even if it's just a trip, she still has to go to Beijing Normal University tomorrow.

  Humming a little tune, she quickened her pace and returned to the inn where she was staying.

  At this point, the inn had already closed down.

  Fortunately, the shopkeeper was very good, she knocked on the door and entered, that person didn't ask much, and lit the lamp to send her back to the room she had set for herself. As she imagined, there was still an oil lamp lit in the room, apparently Li Mai was waiting for her in the house.

  No need to say more, that sister is very considerate.

  On the seventh day of summer, Xia pushed open the door and entered, seeing Li Mo sitting quietly on a long bench beside a square table.

  On the square table in the middle, a steel knife with a cold light was placed, which was prepared by the two of them for action.

  "Hey, still awake?" She greeted with a smile, her optimistic attitude recovered quickly.

  Li Mian raised his head, and in his eyes, a faint wave of light was flashing.

  "You're back? I've been waiting for you."

  Xia nodded and sat down on the stool opposite her, looking like she hadn't had a drink in hundreds of years. She grabbed the water jug on the table and poured it directly into her mouth without using a cup. After taking several big gulps, she smacked her lips and stared at Li Mo with sparkling eyes.

  It wasn't until then that she realized her sister's gaze was off.

  "Hey, what's wrong with you? You don't seem too happy. Did something bad happen to you earlier?"

  He shook his head and Li Mou didn't answer for a long time. A pair of eyes with scrutiny, however, stared at her for a long time before asking slowly, "Are you Chu Qi?"

  "Really?" Xia Qi asked in confusion, "Didn't I already tell you? What's wrong?"

  Li Mia's eyebrows sank, and he asked again, "Is your surname Xia?"

  Xia didn't tell her about this matter on July 7th.

  But judging from her gaze that sized herself up from head to toe, she had already understood a bit in her heart.

  "What do you mean?"

  She sneered at him with a smile, and Li Mo got this answer, his emotions fluctuated greatly.

  "My name is Li Miao, don't you really recognize me?"

  I guess it's because of what happened before, Xia Chuyi smiled and slightly raised an eyebrow.

  "Is Li Mi very famous? Should I know him?"

  Li Mian slightly closed his eyes, "It doesn't matter if you don't recognize me. How about the former Prince of Wei, Xia Tinggan, do you recognize him?"

  Former Duke of Wei State?

  It seems like she really heard it somewhere before.

  Yes, in the joke Mei Zi told.

  The mocking face that Xia Zhiqi had been wearing since the beginning of summer softened, and she stared at Li Mo without blinking.

  "Hey, sister, what exactly do you want to say?"

  "It seems you've forgotten everything."

  In the room, the candlelight was dim, and in the flickering of the candles, Li Mi's face also darkened a few shades, staring at her with a gloomy gaze, his tone carrying an inexplicable chill.

  "The peach wood mirror on your body will tell you the answer."

  "Taomu mirror?" Xia Chuyi was slightly stunned, adjusting her uneven breathing, and took out the thing she treasured from her bosom, waving it in front of Li Mo with a provocative curl of her lip. "Hey, I'll tell you today, this mirror is mine, my own, and has nothing to do with anyone else."

  "It's yours, it was always yours, I didn't say it wasn't."

  Li Mian's eyes narrowed slightly, obviously misunderstanding her meaning, but Xia Chuyi had no way to explain it to her. He just felt that her eyes were completely different from what he saw during the day. Of course, she herself was also different, and there was no more of the carefree and playful tone they had when they were playing together earlier.

  "Alright, Li Mian. What is it that you want to tell me? Why don't you just say it all at once?"

  "This peach wood mirror is indeed your personal item. On the year of your tenth birthday, a monk came to the mansion of the former Duke of Wei to beg for alms. He divined your fortune and said some things that I don't know specifically. However, I heard my mother say that he gave you this peach wood mirror. Later when I played with you, I also saw this mirror, I won't mistake it."

  Xia Chuqi narrowed his eyes slightly, and he couldn't quite believe it.

  In her past life's last glance, what she saw was this peach wood carved flower small mirror.

  So, when she crossed over and felt the mirror in her arms, she almost didn't think about it, the mirror itself was something that belonged to the original owner, but relying on that familiar intuition, subconsciously thought it was the mirror that had brought her across time and space, coming to this crappy Da Yan dynasty.

  But she never thought...

  The mirror was originally placed in the owner's arms.

  Xia's expression changed unpredictably on the seventh day of summer. Li Miao looked at her and smiled lightly, his eyes reddening.

  "Now can you believe my words? Xia Chu, I've spent almost two years searching for you. You've really changed a lot, and at first, I didn't dare to recognize you. So today on the street, I secretly took Gu A'jiao's purse, just to lure you over and test you out. It wasn't until this afternoon when I saw you take out the peach wood mirror that I was sure it was really you..."

  Listening to her suppressed sorrowful voice, Xia Chuqi was suspicious, "Who are you again?"

  "I am your paternal aunt, Li Miao. Your mother is my maternal aunt. My father is your paternal uncle and also the imperial son-in-law, Li Changxi. My grandfather was Duke of Korea, Li Chengren, and my mother was Princess Lin'an. Two years ago, during that great rebellion case, both the Li and Xia families were implicated together. Except for my parents being spared due to their status as princess and imperial son-in-law, more than 80 people in our Li family..."

  At this point, Li Mian choked and his eyes seemed even redder, unable to continue speaking.

  It was the seventh day of summer and he didn't urge her, just quietly watching her.

  After calming down, she continued, "The entire household of over 80 people perished, and my parents also passed away a few months after our family's misfortune, leaving only me behind."

  "Older female cousin?"

  Hearing of such a tragedy, Xia Chuyi's eyes grew hot around the rims.

  "I'm really sorry, I honestly don't remember, none of it at all."

  Li Mian smiled self-deprecatingly, sniffled and suppressed the tears that were about to roll out.

  "It doesn't matter, you look at your peach wood mirror, I'll remind you."

  That night, in the sky was still that one wheel of hairy moon...

  On the seventh day of summer vacation, under the oil lamp, I heard a very long story from an old man.

  In Li Miao's intermittent sobs, grief, and anger, her mind kept flashing back to one fragmented scene after another. The executioner's raised blade, the liquor spewing from his mouth, the snowflakes dancing in the sky with a grievance, the blood flowing into a small stream on the execution ground, the cold cry of "beheading", the wails and sobs before death, the fine needle tip that had been dipped in ink and pierced her forehead, causing more pain than physical wounds to her heart, and the eyes of that man who looked gentle but was actually full of malice.

  One after another fragment, tore her emotions like a storm.

  A single tear dropped onto the table in front of her.

  That's hers.

  How did she end up crying?

  More than a year ago, when that woman named Xia Chu escaped to Jin City Prefecture and had nowhere to turn, she stood on the top of Cangying Mountain and jumped down. At that time, she probably had already given up completely?

  She couldn't remember her original name, nor did she have any of her original memories. All she wanted to do was forget that one disaster that had left an indelible mark on her heart, and forget that one man who had once made her suffer so much - the elegant, handsome, and refined man whom she had always hoped would look at her with more attention, and whom she had hoped to spend the rest of her life with. She chose to escape, forgetting her hatred, and also choosing to forget everything about her past, ending up becoming a stuttering village girl who could barely speak clearly.

  But fate is just so magical.

  What's meant to be will happen, no one can escape their fate.

  One person silently endured injustice and left, while another was kicked down by the god of fate.

  A very long story, it will take a long time to tell...

  It wasn't until dawn that Li Mi finally stopped, his mouth parched and tongue dry.

  She slowly took out the mirror knife and handed it over to Xia Chuqi.

  "Sister-in-law, put it away properly."

  Xia Chuqi smiled at her and slowly put it in his arms.

  "A single knife can't accomplish much; you have to borrow a knife."

  She knew that for their powerful enemies, the power of one person was too small, and the combined strength of two people was no different from a drop of water in the vast ocean, how could it stir up waves, and how could it capsize a large ship?

  Digression

  I've done my best, those who like it can think it's cute, and those who don't like it, please criticize gently, haha.

  Acknowledgments:

  Dear [Dream Lover is Jin Yu], promoted to San Ding Jia Bang Yan Jun, kiss one.

  Dear Ms. yx335555, San Ding Jia Tan Hua Lang, love one.

  Dear [Qing Lan 00], I've leveled up, thank you so much. Mua mua