Both worlds are like dreams

"Brother Qinglan, you don't have to hide it from me. If even Xuyao could find out, how could Shen Congfeng and his gang not notice it? Especially back then, my second uncle had to use the Shanhe Sect to save me. How could this not arouse suspicion?"

"They have their suspicions about this matter, but they haven't made it public yet. After all, the Phantom that Shen Congfeng secretly raised is also a killer organization."

"Second uncle didn't want to use the power of Shanhemen in the past. Firstly, he wanted to hide his identity, and secondly, he didn't want to cause trouble to you. Fifth brother is a prince. If he has a close personal relationship with the assassin organizations in the martial arts world, it will be disadvantageous to him."

"Your Highness and I both understand. Don't worry, everything can be turned around."

Although Xue Huang has not been with them for the past three years, she has been paying attention to the news in Shangyang City.

Since the death of the crown prince, Beiling has not appointed a successor. The emperor allowed the princes to fight with each other, but at the same time it also restrained the powerful Shen Congfeng and Mo Yunchen's party.

Mo Ruilin is now quite famous in the court and is gradually valued by the emperor. He is no longer the prince who was ignored and had a hard time in the court. With his ability and Gu Qinglan's assistance, and occasionally cooperating with the second prince, he can also make Shen Congfeng and others suffer a loss.

But as his power gradually grew, his existence became a threat to many people, and more and more people began to regard him as a thorn in their eyes.

"Now Fifth Brother is alone in Shangyang City, I don't know what's going on with him?"

"Don't worry, we left a large number of experts to protect him before we left."

Xue Huang lowered her eyes and said nothing.

Gu Qinglan saw that Xue Huang looked a little depressed, so he comforted her, "Go back and rest first."

"Brother Qinglan, I..."

"Do you have anything to say?"

Xue Huang looked at his expression, hesitated for a moment, shook her head and said: "You should also go to bed early."

"it is good."

After saying goodbye to him, Xuehuang returned to her room alone and lay on the bed in a depressed mood.

"Why are you hesitating?" the boy asked.

"what?"

"Don't you want to tell him that you want to go back to Shangyang City with him? Why didn't you say it out loud?"

"I'm just not sure if I can protect the people I care about with my current abilities."

The young man sighed, "The trajectory of time has been rewritten. I can't see what the future holds."

"I've noticed that what you say is getting weirder and weirder. And your tone, you look about my age, but why do you sound so experienced?"

The boy did not answer her question directly, "Maybe one day, you will know the answer, all of it."

Xue Huang turned over and buried her head in the pillow. "Just like my second uncle, he always keeps me in suspense. I'm sleepy."

The young man lowered his head, his eyes falling on the lake that looked like water but was not, as if he was looking from the past to the future, but his eyes were full of confusion. After a long while, he sighed, "What will you choose this time?"

……

After resting for a night in the General's Mansion, Xue Huang got up early the next day. She wanted to send some things to Hua Yu. There were only men in the barracks, and she couldn't leave to take care of Lu Wenxuan, so many things were inconvenient.

She found two sets of clothes for Huayu to change into and prepared some food for her, then planned to say hello to Gu Qinglan and set off.

But just as she went out, someone came to report that someone was looking for her.

Xuehuang was full of surprise. Who was it so early in the morning?

The guards led a young man in. Xue Huang immediately recognized him as the self-study student who had accompanied her to Jiuxiao City.

"It turns out to be Master Zixiu."

Zi Xiuxiu bowed and said, "Greetings, Princess."

"No need to be so polite," Xue Huang motioned him to sit down and said, "What do you want to see me about so early in the morning?"

"I have been helping out in the city these past few days, and I haven't seen Madam Hua. I heard that she went to the military camp outside the city. What happened?"

"We need help outside the city."

"But she hasn't been back for several days, and General Lu is not here either. Could it be that they have also been infected with the plague?"

Xue Huang smiled and said, "You think too much. General Lu cares about the people and spends most of his time guarding outside the city. And you know my aunt cares about General Lu very much, so she followed him." In order to stabilize the morale of the army and appease the people, only a very few people knew the truth that Lu Wenxuan was ill.

Zi Xiu looked a little disappointed, "Mrs. Hua is really devoted to General Lu."

"Yes. My aunt's infatuation is probably known to everyone in Muhua City."

Zi Xiu looked at the things Xue Huang prepared and asked, "Princess, are you going out?"

"I'm going to bring some food and clothes to my aunt."

"Madam Hua has had some issues with her spleen and stomach since the beginning of the year, so she only drinks some porridge for breakfast. The walnut cakes prepared by the princess are a bit hard, and she hasn't eaten them for a long time."

Xue Huang pondered his words carefully, and thought of his expression just now. There was some surprise in her eyes. He seemed to care about Hua Yu very much.

"Actually, my aunt has never been married. I really don't understand why you all call her Madam?"

Zi Xiu smiled and said, "When I first met her, she asked me to call her that."

"Have you and my aunt known each other for long?"

Zi Xiu recalled, "After watching the competition between the two countries in Shangyang City, I came to Muhua City and met Madam Hua."

"So you've been in Muhua City for all these years?"

"Yes! At that time, there was a grand gathering for appreciating famous paintings in Muhua City. Madam Hua and I both liked the same painting and argued for a long time, and that's how we got to know each other."

Xue Huang raised her eyebrows. "I seem to remember that my aunt mentioned to me that she had collaborated with someone on a painting of plum forests and snow, but it was sold for 1,000 taels of silver. So she also admired that painter very much. Could this person be Master Zixiu?"

"Mrs. Hua's painting skills are very advanced, and I admire them very much."

"In addition to being interested in General Lu, my aunt's favorite thing is painting. The painter who can be highly praised by her must be of a high standard. You don't have to be modest." Xue Huang smiled sincerely and innocently. "Master Zixiu, why don't you try your best to win back my aunt's heart from General Lu."

"This..." Zi Xiu looked helpless, "It's not like I haven't tried, but unfortunately, she only has eyes for that man."

"It's okay. I'm rooting for you." Xue Huang said with a smile.

"Does the princess really think so?"

"After nine years of waiting for no response, I think it's time for me to let it go."

Zixiu thought for a moment and said, "Thank you, Princess, for recognizing me. Can I go out of the city with you? If you need any help, I will do my best to help you."

Xue Huang smiled and said, "Master Zixiu, do you just want to see my aunt?"

Zixiu didn't say anything, just smiled and nodded.

"She's with General Lu all day now, so you'd better not go. But don't worry, I will definitely bring her back to see you. You might as well get ready first."

"Alright, thank you so much, Princess. Zixiu will take his leave now."

"Goodbye." Xue Huang nodded.

Seeing him turn and leave, the smile on Xue Huang's face disappeared in an instant.

She turned around and saw Gu Qinglan standing at the door of the room looking at this place. It seemed that he had been standing there for a long time.

"Brother Qinglan, are you awake?"

Gu Qinglan came over and said, "Sorry, I just heard your conversation."

"It's ok."

"Is he also a painter at Shui Mo Zhai?"

Xue Huang looked solemn. "I guess so. He is not the painter hired by my aunt, but he has always lived in Shui Mo Zhai. He occasionally helps my aunt paint some paintings, or helps other painters in Shui Mo Zhai to retouch and modify paintings. I have seen his painting skills before, and they are far better than my aunt's."

"You doubt him?"

"It's an emergency, so we should be cautious. But I think he must be under the surveillance of Shanhemen. If there is anything unusual, we will be the first to know."

Gu Qinglan nodded, "I'll go with you out of the city."

"it is good."