My game even includes ancient times

On the afternoon of the fourth day after descending the mountain, He Shi and He Yu returned to the foot of the mountain villa.

Patting He Shi on the shoulder, He Yu smiled and said, "Alright, go back now. Remember to take good care of yourself and don't overwork yourself. I'll come see you another day."

He Shi nodded obediently, glanced at He Yu one last time with reluctance, and turned to return the horse to the stable.

He handed the reins to the stableman, and the magnificent chestnut horse nuzzled his hand with its warm nose.

Having spent these past few days together, it's inevitable that some feelings have developed. He Shi stroked his soft mane and whispered, "Good boy, I'll take you with me next time I go out."

The red horse snorted and followed the villagers, turning back every few steps as it entered the stable.

He Yu, who was hiding under the stone tablet, saw He Shi come out of the stable and immediately perked up, following him up the mountain.

Xia Yuan personally escorted the disaster relief supplies to Jinzhou, while Bai Yushen was still in Haizhou and had not returned.

As He Shi passed by the martial arts field carrying his satchel, he saw Chu He practicing his sword.

He stood on the road for a while, but didn't disturb him. He continued walking forward and then saw Chu Yunsi in front of his own courtyard gate.

Chu Yunsi, carrying a small food box, stood under the tree, smiling at him: "Junior Brother, you're back?"

The girl's voice was clear and sweet, which surprised He Shi. He nodded politely to her and asked, "Fourth Senior Sister, how did you know I would be back at this time?"

“I only found out because a message came from down the mountain.” Chu Yunsi raised the food box in her hand, walked to the gate of the courtyard, and gestured for him to open the door. “I just made some new snacks this morning, so I brought them for you to try.”

He Shi's fingers, which were about to open the door, froze slightly. A flurry of thoughts flashed through his mind. He calmly said, "I ate quite a bit before I came up the mountain... Oh, right, I saw my second senior brother practicing his sword when I passed by the martial arts field. He must be tired after working so hard for so long. Fourth senior sister, why don't you give some to my second senior brother to try?"

Chu Yunsi opened the box, inside which were several exquisitely crafted pastries in a small white porcelain dish. She picked one up and handed it to He Shi: "This one is really different from the ones before. Try one, junior brother. After you've tried it, I'll take it to my second senior brother."

Her gaze was so intimidating that He Shi had no choice but to accept the exquisite koi-shaped pastry.

When you pinch the koi's tail with your fingers, the texture feels normal.

He Shi glanced at Chu Yunsi in surprise. Could it be that she had really made a decision this time?

He tried taking a bite, and a spicy sensation immediately rushed into his nasal cavity, accompanied by a strange fishy and sweet-sour taste, as if there were some other flavors mixed in, but He Shi could no longer taste them.

He felt as if his tongue had been slashed, and he was in pain and numb.

He Shi forced down the contents of his mouth and slowly turned to look at Chu Yunsi, whose eyes were full of expectation: "Fourth Senior Sister, what kind of filling did you make?"

Chu Yunsi looked at him, her big eyes sparkling: "It's a tangerine. My father brought it to me yesterday. I ate one and thought it was pretty good, so I thought I'd use it to make some desserts."

He Shi: "Besides citrus fruits, what else?"

Chu Yunsi: "Just adding tangerines is a bit monotonous. I remembered you used to like preserved eggs, so I chopped some up and added them. But the preserved eggs were a bit fishy, ​​so I added ginger and Sichuan peppercorns to remove the fishy smell..."

"..."

Chu Yunsi's smile gradually faded: "Did I... not cook it well again? Is it really bad...?"

He Shi pondered for a moment, then realized he couldn't harm his second senior brother. So he decisively took the food box from Chu Yunsi's hand and smiled at her slightly: "Fourth senior sister, these snacks do taste a bit strange, but I can still eat them, so give them all to me."

Chu Yunsi's eyes lit up again, and she stared into He Shi's eyes without blinking: "Junior brother, you are the only one in the whole manor who would support me like this. You are so kind."

He Shi chuckled, pushed open the courtyard gate, and stepped inside: "Fourth Senior Sister, you're too kind. I'm a little tired from coming back today and would like to take a nap. Senior Sister, you..."

Before he could finish speaking, Chu Yunsi hurriedly interjected, "Junior brother, if you're tired, please rest well. Senior sister is going back first. Remember to eat those snacks, they all taste different!"

"Okay, senior sister, take care."

He Shi closed the courtyard gate, glanced at the remaining four pastries on the plate, and couldn't help but secretly click his tongue in amazement.

The fact that Fourth Senior Sister could make five different kinds of these horrifyingly flavorful desserts at once shows that she is quite gifted.

He placed the food box on the table, preparing to boil some water for a bath.

He had been with the fairy for the past few days. Although they were staying in two separate rooms, the thought of being separated from her by only a wall made He Shi lack the courage to take a bath naked. So he awkwardly endured it for several days.

Now that I'm finally back in my familiar little courtyard, I naturally want to take a good bath.

Just as He Shi was boiling water, He Yu arrived at the entrance of Chu Zheng's courtyard.

She tossed the "Homeland" into the yard and easily crossed the wall.

Chu Zheng was no longer sitting in that familiar corridor.

He Yu walked around the courtyard and, through the wide-open window of the study, saw Chu Zheng sitting at his desk, engrossed in something.

A thought struck her, and she appeared behind him, watching the scene with him.

The handwriting on the letter was beautiful and elegant; He Yu recognized it as Xia Yuan's.

'Master, how have you been lately?'

'Chang Dong indeed harbored treacherous intentions, embezzling the disaster relief funds and supplies.'

'You sent your junior brother to deliver the message, and his identity as the master's disciple didn't arouse his suspicion. He also didn't fear the junior brother, whose foundation was still shallow. He simply coaxed him and proceeded with the grain exchange as planned.'

"I never expected my junior brother to force Chang Dong to read that letter in front of him. Chang Dong then imprisoned him, intending to harm him, but fortunately, he had a mysterious person with him and escaped danger."

"As you predicted, the rest of the events unfolded perfectly in front of Prefect Zheng. The evidence is irrefutable, and Chang Dong has no chance of redemption. I've sent someone to bring him back to you. I personally escorted the disaster relief funds and supplies to ensure nothing went wrong."

"But Master, next time there's a risky situation like this, please let me go. My junior brother's martial arts are still shallow; if something happens to him, it will be too late to regret it. I hope Master will think it over."

'Xia Yuan, the unfilial son.'

After reading the short letter, He Yu narrowed his eyes and a cold smile appeared on his lips.

Sure enough.

She looked at the back of Chu Zheng's head and secretly gritted her teeth.

On the day He Shi was arrested, He Yu came to the villa to deliver a message. Chu Zheng's expression at the time was very strange, as if it was expected, yet also as if it was unexpected.

He sent Xia Yuan to Dingyun City himself, but did not give her any detailed instructions. He simply said, "The time has come, go quickly."

He Yu immediately sensed something was wrong. It seemed as if the master and apprentice already knew in advance that the old steward was going to betray them.

If that's the case, why send He Shi to take the risk?