Best friends dressed up in ancient times to become mistresses? You run, I run too!

"Song Hanchuan, where did you hide Xiaoyi?"

Pei Yun Chu suddenly darted out from the side, reached out to stop Song Han Chuan, and asked through gritted teeth.

He is no longer the dashing figure he once was; his cheeks are sallow, his appearance is withered, and he has become emaciated.

The robes that were once well-tailored were now hanging loosely on the garment.

His steps were unsteady, as if a gust of wind could blow him away.

However, Song Hanchuan had no mind to pay attention to him at the moment. He only had one thought in his mind: to hurry back to the manor and make sure that Xiaoyi had returned home safely.

Thinking of this, Song Hanchuan hurriedly walked past the person in front of him, intending to go straight into the mansion.

But to everyone's surprise, the person suddenly appeared and blocked Song Hanchuan's path once again.

His eyes widened, and his face was full of anger as he questioned:

Why won't you answer my question?

"Could it be that you really are the psychologically twisted pervert I suspect you are?"

"Was it that after the marriage, Xiaoyi regretted it and wanted to leave, but you hid her away as your own possession?"

Pei Yun Chu became more and more excited as she spoke, and her voice trembled involuntarily.

"That must be it, otherwise why haven't I seen Xiaoyi since we parted that day?"

He muttered to himself as if talking to himself.

His words were filled with resentment and anger.

"Song Hanchuan, why aren't you speaking? Now that things have come to this, you can't hide it any longer! Tell me quickly, where exactly is Xiaoyi?"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly drew his sword.

With a flash of cold light, the sword blade was already firmly positioned against Song Hanchuan's neck.

In an instant, a slight stinging sensation came over me.

The sharp blade lightly grazed Song Hanchuan's skin, leaving a thin line of blood. Soon after, beads of blood gushed out.

Upon seeing this, Qingyun was greatly alarmed.

He quickly drew the embroidered spring knife from his waist and, with lightning speed, held it to Pei Yun Chu's neck.

"Let go of my master."

Pei Yun Chu ignored him, her eyes red-rimmed as she glared fiercely at Song Han Chuan.

The atmosphere became extremely tense, as if a life-or-death battle could erupt at any moment if one was not careful.

Just then, a blinding white light flashed across the azure sky, and soon returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.

Song Hanchuan and Qingyun were both stunned for a moment, and then excitedly ran into the mansion.

Pei Yunchu was taken aback, then followed.

As soon as the gatekeeper opened the door, he was bumped and fell to the ground. He felt a gust of wind blow over his head, and when he looked up, he saw Pei Yun Chu running into the mansion right after his master.

Just as I was wondering whether I should stop them, they had already disappeared.

"What happened?"

"They're all like they're being chased by dogs."

The gatekeeper shook his head helplessly, got up, dusted himself off, and continued to look after his gate.

Main courtyard

Liu Zhiyi's feet landed firmly on the ground. Her body swayed slightly due to inertia before she regained her balance.

After she stood still, she did not act immediately, but waited quietly for the dizziness to gradually subside until it disappeared completely.

Only then did she have the mind to observe her surroundings.

However, when she saw the situation around her clearly, she was taken aback.

But soon, the smile on her lips gradually faded, because she realized that apart from Jiang Xuan Yan standing there all alone, Shen Ning Zhu was nowhere to be seen!

"What happened? Where's Zhuzhu?"

Liu Zhiyi looked astonished, and her voice unconsciously rose several octaves.

Upon hearing her question, Jiang Xuan Yan slowly raised his head. His once deep and bright eyes were now like a stagnant pool, devoid of any life.

"She didn't come back, and she never will..."

Jiang Xuan Yan's tone was unusually calm, but the chill and despair emanating from him were impossible to ignore.

Liu Zhiyi was taken aback.

"You mean, Zhuzhu, she..."

“I am not good enough for her, and I should not selfishly possess her. She... deserves a better life.”

Jiang Xuanyan gave a self-deprecating laugh.

The warmth in his eyes gradually faded, turning into a deathly stillness. Like a soulless puppet, he mechanically took his first steps and walked outside.

Their steps were heavy and slow.

The once invincible emperor broke his back at this moment, his tall and upright body slightly hunched, and the man in his twenties looked old from behind.

Not far along, Jiang Xuanyan ran into Song Hanchuan and his group who were rushing over.

Everyone was shocked to see him like this and exclaimed in unison:

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty?"

Jiang Xuan Yan seemed not to hear, not even raising his head, and continued walking forward on his own.

He looked so lonely and desolate, as if all the light in his life had been extinguished in an instant.

Seeing this, Song Hanchuan and the others could not say anything more and could only let him leave.

Then, they all turned their attention to Liu Zhiyi not far away and the yard piled high with all sorts of items, almost overflowing.

In the courtyard, beneath a crabapple tree, a pretty young girl stood there, her eyes sparkling as she turned her head, like a peach blossom glistening with morning dew.

Radiant beauty, smiling in the spring breeze.

The jade is soft and the flowers are delicate, yet they cannot be broken.

With just one glance, Song Hanchuan's eyes reddened, and the will he had struggled to maintain for three years crumbled and collapsed at that moment.

Tears rolled down his cheeks uncontrollably, soaking his spotless crimson official robes.

He stared intently at the beautiful figure that haunted his dreams and filled his thoughts day and night, not daring to blink.

He feared it was all a dream, that he would wake up in the blink of an eye, and that Liu Zhiyi would disappear.

It wasn't until Liu Zhiyi turned to the side and cast a tender glance at him that he snapped out of his daze and believed it was all real—his wife had finally returned.

In an instant, I was overwhelmed with joy.

His chest trembled uncontrollably. He slowly opened his arms and smiled as he stared into her eyes.

Speak softly

"Qingqing, you're back?"

Liu Zhiyi smiled gently and hummed in agreement, her eyes also welling up with tears.

She smiled gently and rushed into Song Hanchuan's arms as fast as she could.

Her snow-white wrists wrapped around his neck, and with a forceful pull, her legs draped over his lean, powerful waist.

At the same time, he embraced her tightly.

"Song Hanchuan, I miss you so much."

"Yes, I miss you too, so much."

Their eyes met, and tears streamed down their faces simultaneously. Unconsciously, they drew closer and closer, their lips meeting, and the passion became uncontrollable.

Meanwhile, Pei Yun Chu, who witnessed this scene, was furious, her eyes wide with rage and jealousy, which instantly filled her heart like wild grass growing in a field.