Repeatedly broken branches

The heavy rain that had been falling for several days made everyone feel gloomy, wondering when it would ever end.

On a rainy day, the perfect place to drink, recite poetry, and enjoy the rain is in the pavilion in the middle of the lake.

Unfortunately, after autumn comes the cold winter. The arrival of this rain has brought winter right away. With continuous drizzle and biting wind, who would have the mind to go to the lakeside pavilion to enjoy the rain?

Fearing she would be bored, Zhou Tingxi arranged for dancers, singers, and musicians, but unfortunately, Xiao Mu dismissed them all.

Yin Fu'an sat in the pavilion in the middle of the lake and gave him a disdainful look. "You went to great lengths to please her, but did she appreciate it? You should think about attacking Chaoyang Kingdom instead."

Yes, Yin Fu'an has already decided to attack Chaoyang Kingdom, but Chaoyang Kingdom is not so easy to attack. Not to mention that its terrain is higher than that of other countries, its treasury is full, its weapons are more advanced, and its soldiers are all elite troops selected through multiple rounds of selection.

The most noteworthy person is Yu Yanjing's Grand Tutor and Military Advisor, Shen Ruoxuan. He is very cunning and proficient in military strategy, pharmacology, formations, and weapons. He is Yu Yanjing's right-hand man.

Chaoyang Kingdom has endured for a long time and is a prosperous empire; it's not something you can just attack on a whim.

Yin Fu'an had only recently ascended the throne, so there was really no need for him to make enemies with other countries. Besides, although Yu Yanjing did not attend the ceremony when he ascended the throne, he did send several cartloads of gold. He was very generous and made no attempt to hide it.

Chaoyang Kingdom has no winter and no snow. It is spring-like all year round because it is close to Nanguo and is the southernmost place. However, this year, it is unusually cold.

The astronomer says there is a high chance of snow this year.

Yu Yanjing had some expectations in his heart, and his injuries were gradually improving. His injuries were recurring and he became much thinner, his face was sickly pale, and the cinnabar mole at the corner of his eye became even more conspicuous.

The maid brought him a cloak and draped it over his shoulders, accidentally touching his hand in the process.

Yu Yanjing glanced at her subconsciously, his eyes sinister, and the maid was so frightened that she immediately knelt down and begged for mercy.

Why, why is everyone around me so afraid of me? He only glanced at her, and she's already terrified? So terrified she's kneeling and begging for mercy?

Yu Yanjing withdrew his gaze and said calmly to the kneeling maid, "I don't blame you, you may leave."

The maid fled in panic.

Actually, he was very angry just now. He hated being touched by others, but when the trapped beast in his heart was about to break free of its cage, he remembered the girl with eyes full of autumn water.

He subdued the beast once again.

In an effort to win over important officials in the court, Yin Fu'an hosted a banquet at Zhaohua Palace, inviting them and their families to attend.

Many people came this time, including Ye Wanwan and Deng Yizhi.

The night before the banquet, Xiao Mu found Zhou Tingxi and pleaded with him for a long time before he finally agreed to let Ye Wanwan go.

He was overjoyed that Xia Yunzhi took the initiative to contact him, so he didn't think much of it.

Upon seeing Xia Yunxu, Xiao Mu felt an inexplicable sense of intimacy and leaned over to take her hand, sweetly calling her "Sister."

Xia Yunxu was somewhat taken aback. In the past, she hadn't been as affectionate as she was now; she had been rather proper. Now, perhaps due to the changes in circumstances, she was unusually close to her.

She too, she had no relatives left, and her father's killer was also her husband. She was already heartbroken and disillusioned; anyone else would probably have given up long ago.

"Sister, let's go enjoy the rain together!" Xiao Mu ran towards the lake, holding an oil-paper umbrella painted with lotus flowers.

Xia Yunxu followed closely behind with quick, light steps, calling out in a soft voice, "Xiaozhi, slow down, the road is slippery on rainy days!"

Zhou Tingxi was worried, so he went with Yin Fu'an. He didn't even notice that Deng Yizhi and Ye Wanwan were not in Zhaohua Palace.

Xiao Mu was being mischievous and had run off to play somewhere. It was drizzling, and Xia Yunxu was getting worried. She quickly called her maid, Si Liu, to go find her, and Xiao Shao went with Si Liu.

Zhou Tingxi and Yin Fu'an were also searching for Xiao Mu in the artificial hill by the lake, fearing that she might be in danger.

"Ah~" From somewhere, Si Liu's scream came. Everyone followed the sound and saw Si Liu and Xiao Shao running over in a panic.

Si Liu was still catching her breath, leaning on her knees and panting heavily. She hurriedly said, "This servant...this servant...never mind, gentlemen, you should go and take a look over there!"

Si Liu and Xiao Shao led everyone to the other side of the lake, where they saw a man and a woman embracing and kissing in a private room. The man and woman were none other than Ye Wanwan and Deng Yizhi!

Deng Yizhi! Everyone was speechless. No one had expected that the gentlemanly and handsome Deng Yizhi would have such a side!

The rain intensified, and the raindrops fell in a steady drizzle, pattering against the glazed tiles.

Zhou Tingxi clenched his fists tightly.

Chen Lanhe couldn't believe that the person was Deng Yizhi. The Yizhi brother in her heart was always the one who told her by the swing that they would get married in the future.

"Brother Yizhi..." Chen Lanhe's voice was very soft, and no one present could hear it.

Ye Wanwan hurriedly pulled up her collar, pushed Deng Yizhi away, and stumbled to the door.

Deng Yizhi followed them out.

Yin Fu'an looked at him with a gloomy expression and said, "Yizhi, how could you be so stupid?"

"She's Tingxi's woman!"

Zhou Tingxi didn't speak, but stared at Ye Wanwan with sharp eyes. He wasn't particularly sad, just angry that she had made him lose face!

Deng Yizhi and Ye Wanwan both knelt down. Deng Yizhi pursed her lips and said, "It's my fault. It's all my fault. I was so in love with Wanwan. I was the one who kept pestering her!"

Ye Wanwan leaned forward slightly, kneeling and moving in front of Zhou Tingxi. She tightly gripped his clothes, tears streaming down her face. She pleaded, "I was wrong, Tingxi. I was bewitched by Deng Yizhi. I shouldn't have done this. It's all because you've been so cold to me lately, focusing all your attention on Xia Yunzhi. That's why I made a mistake..."

Zhou Tingxi kicked her away, his voice sharp and stern, "Even now you're still blaming others? I'll just ask you one question: Is this child mine?"

Ye Wanwan sobbed, "It's...it's yours..." Her tone lacked confidence, and it was obvious to anyone that she was lying.

Zhou Tingxi already knew the answer: Deng Yizhi was his good friend, and Ye Wanwan had done many bad things; he would never let her go.

She had even lied to him about the child. Zhou Tingxi felt the gloomy sky was almost blinding. He narrowed his eyes and said to Ye Wanwan, who was kneeling on the ground in despair, "We will get a divorce, and I will hand you over to Xia Yunzhi." Then he turned his gaze to Deng Yizhi and said, "She is not a good person and does not deserve this."

Deng Yizhi pleaded, "I truly love Wanwan, please, Tingxi, I beg you! Let her go, I really beg you!"

They had never seen Deng Yizhi beg so humbly. He was a gentleman praised by everyone, always proud and self-sufficient, and would never stoop so low as to beg others.

And now, he's actually begging him for the sake of a woman who has committed many evil deeds?

Zhou Tingxi ignored her and took Ye Wanwan back.

Xiao Mu belatedly realized what had happened and only learned about it from Xiao Shao. She never imagined that Deng Yizhi and Ye Wanwan...

Zhou Tingxi, what a huge green hat you've been wearing! Xiao Mu laughed for a long time before she calmed down.

But the child was innocent. Although Zhou Tingxi handed her over to her to deal with, she was in a dilemma. The child was truly innocent.

Xiao Mu thought about it for a long time before telling Zhou Tingxi her thoughts.

She said, "I've made up my mind. Let her give birth to the child and give it to Deng Yizhi's family to raise. He's really too pitiful. As for Ye Wanwan, after giving birth to the child, she'll be reduced to a commoner and sold to another country as the lowest-ranking slave."

Zhou Tingxi stared at her blankly and asked, "You're not going to kill her?"

Xiao Mu nodded. "I have achieved my goal. I was going to kill you, not her." Xiao Mu said to him without any attempt to hide her intentions.

Zhou Tingxi felt as if a knife was twisting in his heart, and even his hands were trembling uncontrollably.

"You... hate me to the core, don't you?" he asked, knowing full well the answer.

"Yes," Xiao Mu said through gritted teeth, enunciating each word clearly, "I will kill you."

Zhou Tingxi was almost suffocating, but he was powerless, powerless to do anything for Xiao Mu, and he couldn't do anything to her or win her back.