Repeatedly broken branches

Xiao Mu's eyelashes fluttered slightly. After a long while, she finally opened her eyes. Her eyes were very tired as she looked at Zhou Tingxi, who was sleeping by the bedside. She felt a sharp pain in her heart, and her mind went blank. She had a very long dream.

She dreamed of Xia Yunzhi and Zhou Tingxi when they were young. She dreamed of them on a swing under the osmanthus tree, and Zhou Tingxi saying something to her.

"I really want to stay like this with you forever."

She dreamt that Zhou Tingxi returned from the desert. Xia Yunzhi dressed up carefully to see him, but she still blushed and stood there with her head down, looking uneasy.

Zhou Tingxi stroked her head, his eyes filled with love, and said, "I'm back, I'll never leave again."

She dreamt that Xia Yunzhi rescued Zhou Tingxi, who had fallen into Qiushui Lake on the Lantern Festival. Her eyes were filled with heartache, panic, and anxiety.

She dreamt that Xia Yunzhi repeatedly caught Zhou Tingxi and Ye Wanwan having an affair. How heartbroken, desperate, and indignant she was! Yet she gritted her teeth and lied to herself that it was all a lie, that she didn't believe it.

She dreamt that Xia Yunzhi witnessed the deaths of her father, her sister, and Consort Chen; they fell one by one, their faces contorted in grotesque expressions.

My heart ached inexplicably, as if I had experienced it myself.

Her gaze fell on Zhou Tingxi's hand, where he was tightly clutching a small sachet.

That was something I saw in my dream.

Ouch, her head was throbbing with pain. She didn't want to remember anymore; just thinking about it made her head feel like it was going to explode.

Zhou Tingxi, you beast, I just want to know how you will deal with your beloved Ye Wanwan.

"I don't want to waste any more time like this..."

Xiao Mu muttered to herself.

Zhou Tingxi suddenly woke up, feeling as if he had been through a lifetime. He looked closely and saw that Xia Yunzhi was actually awake.

He instantly hugged her tightly, very tightly, and wouldn't let go.

Xiao Mu immediately pushed him away, her clear eyes flickering slightly. "Don't touch me." Her voice was steady, without a trace of emotion.

Zhou Tingxi raised his eyelids and followed her lead, saying, "Okay, okay, is there anything else that's bothering you? Are you hungry? Thirsty? You must be hungry and thirsty, you've been asleep all day... Oh my god..."

"How did you deal with Ye Wanwan?" Xiao Mu interrupted him directly.

I want to see if you'll still protect your Ye Wanwan even after I've come to this.

Zhou Tingxi said without hesitation, "Do as you please. You can kill her if you want. After all, she did something wrong and lied to me. I have no pity for her anymore."

Xiao Mu's eyes widened slightly, her eyelashes trembled slightly, and she said in a sharp voice, "What do you mean by 'at my disposal'? She's your woman. What I need is your attitude. Besides, she's carrying your child. If I do anything to her, won't you blame me in the end? When have you ever trusted me? Just like when we were kids, I said I didn't hide the poems you wrote, but you still told everyone that I did."

Xiao Mu was somewhat taken aback. How did she blurt out these words? What did she mean by "when I was a child"? She actually described the scene that happened in her dream. Why did it feel so real even though it was a dream?

Zhou Tingxi was secretly delighted. She actually remembered things from when they were little? He smiled ingratiatingly and said, "Yes, yes, I was wrong when we were little. Now I'm giving you the initiative. How do you want to deal with her?"

Xiao Mu questioned, "How do you want me to deal with this? How do you want me to deal with this?"

Zhou Tingxi was stunned. In fact, he didn't know either. Although he didn't care about the child in Ye Wanwan's belly, it was still a life, and his blood was flowing in his veins. He said he didn't care, but he couldn't help but care.

Seeing that he didn't speak, Xiao Mu said with a gloomy smile, "I know you can't bring yourself to do it, and I didn't intend to kill her either. It's just that she poisoned me, and I don't want to let her get away with it so easily. She's my good sister, but she really hurt me. If I let it go, she'll become even more ruthless in the future. She's pregnant now, so I can't do anything to her right now. I'll deal with her after she gives birth, okay?"

Zhou Tingxi smiled and said, "Okay, are you hungry? I'll have someone make some food and bring it over."

Xiao Mu coldly said, "No need. You can go out first and call Xiao Shao in."

He raised an eyebrow, but still didn't say anything more. He got up, his legs aching and numb, but he didn't care. He looked at the petite woman lying on the bed and said...

"I'm sorry, but I'm still glad that you still remember us when we were little."

Xiao Mu turned her gaze, her eyes gradually welling up with tears. "You said you would never betray me."

Her brows furrowed. Why was she saying these nonsensical things again, things that even she couldn't recall? Could it be that she could truly empathize with Xia Yunzhi now? But she felt so sad inside. She had never known that heartache could be so unbearable.

This is a feeling of disappointment and pity.

Zhou Tingxi's voice trembled, "I'm sorry, I want to spend the rest of my life making it up to you, will you give me a chance?"

"No." She was resolute.

Zhou Tingxi left with a wry smile.

A moment later, Xiao Shao brought in a steaming bowl of pork rib soup, which was made with water and wasn't too oily.

I felt dizzy all day, and I haven't been eating properly lately, so seeing this bowl of pork rib soup actually made me feel really hungry.

Xiao Mu finished the bowl of pork rib soup in no time, feeling warm and comfortable in her stomach.

Little Spoon cried tears of joy, "Madam, you scared me to death just now!"

Xiao Mu pinched her round little face and comforted her, "I'm fine, alright, alright. You haven't eaten or slept well all day, have you? Go back to sleep!"

Xiao Shao scratched her head a little embarrassedly. "I just finished eating and took a nap. The general told us to go down and rest, but he took care of you without taking off his clothes. Actually, the general is quite good, putting aside the things he did."

But those things can't be left behind.

But it was the hatred of killing her father, and the torment of ten years, that made her grit her teeth and want to skin him alive whenever she thought about it!

Xiao Mu said fiercely, "I can't let go, Xiao Shao. If you continue to speak up for him, then pack your bags and go back to your hometown. I don't need you. How did my father treat you when he was alive?"

Xiao Shao hurriedly explained, "That's not what I meant, Madam. His Majesty was very good to me when he was alive. I also hate the General. I didn't speak up for him. I won't dare to do it again next time. Please don't be angry. Please don't send Xiao Shao away. Xiao Shao has no relatives left. Going back to my hometown will only mean farming... Madam, please don't send Xiao Shao away..."

Xiao Mu didn't say anything.

"Madam~" Little Spoon hugged her arm and said coquettishly, "Little Spoon will never say it again. He is a heinous villain!"

Xiao Mu smiled helplessly. "Alright, alright, I'm not angry anymore. With your small frame, you're not even fit for plowing fields. You're more suited to that. You should stay by my side and wait for me to find you a good family to marry into."

Little Spoon said shyly, "Madam~ You, you, you, you... I don't want to get married!"

Xiao Mu smiled and said, "So you're going to stay with me for the rest of your life?" I might have to leave this place after the mission is completed, so we can't be together forever.

"Correct!"

Xiao Mu coaxed, "Okay, okay, you can stay with me for life, let's be old maids!"

Zhou Tingxi was furious this time; she had crossed his bottom line. He couldn't tolerate having loved such a vicious woman.

He ordered Ye Wanwan to be confined to her quarters, not giving her any chance to go out and harm people.

It was rare for Madam Xue to praise him for doing something worthwhile.