Repeatedly broken branches

Tomorrow is the Flower Festival, and Aya says that all women must wear new clothes to participate and adorn themselves with flowers.

Xiao Mu only brought a change of clothes when she came, and didn't have time to prepare any new clothes. It's probably too late to order new clothes now.

"I know a shop that makes pretty good clothes, and they have a lot of finished products," Ling said casually.

"Then take me there quickly! If we go too late, all the pretty clothes will be sold out!" Xiao Mu said excitedly, tugging at Ling's sleeve.

Ling smiled helplessly, "It's not that easy to sell them all. They're not something ordinary people can afford. They're the most fashionable shops in Luyang."

Xiao Mu frowned. "This isn't your first time in Luyang, is it? How did you come before? By carriage or boat?" Ling shouldn't be able to afford a carriage, but his clothes and manner of speaking don't seem like those of a poor person. Besides, he stays in such an expensive inn. Could it be that I guessed wrong again?

"You lied to me! You're not from a poor family, are you..." Xiao Mu was filled with shame. She had actually kept assuming that the other person was poor and said so many nonsensical things. In Ling's eyes, she was probably a fool, a fool who was deluding herself!

Ling narrowed her eyes, looking confused. She asked curiously, "When did I ever mention my family background? You're the one who keeps making assumptions. I didn't say anything!"

Xiao Mu gritted her teeth and said, "Yes, it was me. I shouldn't have pretended to be helpful, so can you take me to that shop now?"

In a place like this, one should be wary of everyone. She shouldn't have gotten so close to Ling. He's too mysterious, so mysterious that outsiders can't figure him out at all. Sometimes he's cold and stern, and sometimes he seems very easy to get along with.

Aren't people like that the most terrifying?

Aya smiled bitterly. "As expected, a woman's face changes the fastest."

Xiao Mu raised her hand to shield herself from the scorching sun, and the white jade bracelet on her fair wrist shone brightly in the sunlight.

Ling turned his gaze and saw that the light emitted by the bracelet slightly stung his eyes. In terms of style and material, this bracelet was very similar to his jade bracelet.

A sharp pain shot through his head, and a memory seemed to flash through his mind.

"Deliver this bracelet to...there, make sure it reaches her, understand?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Where was it sent? He had no recollection of it, only a vague memory. What did he have to do with this bracelet?

Maybe it's just that the styles are similar. Isn't she in the jewelry business?

It's best not to ask, lest you become a laughing stock.

Ling led Xiao Mu to the shop he had mentioned. Sure enough, the customers were all wealthy and noble, dressed in gold and silver, acting as if they were the richest people. One noblewoman bought more than a dozen sets of clothes in one go, saying she would give them to her sisters and relatives to wear to the Flower Festival.

Xiao Mu was dumbfounded; she didn't even need to ask the price.

Although she could afford to buy more, she felt that enough clothes were enough. When she came to Chaoyang from Jiuguang, she abandoned several boxes of clothes, which were all part of her dowry. She only took the valuable jewelry and ornaments, leaving the rest at the Zhou residence, since no one would want them unless Zhou Tingxi was going to get married again.

He might indeed be getting married, and Madam Xue is busy finding a suitable woman for him. However, Zhou Tingxi is far away in the desert, and no matter how much Madam Xue worries, she can't get Zhou Tingxi to come back and choose for himself. She doesn't care about these things. She can make her own decision to marry the woman, and when Zhou Tingxi comes back for the New Year, they can consummate their marriage directly. Then she will have a grandson to hold!

Madam Xue still regrets Xiao Mu and Zhou Tingxi's divorce. After all, Xiao Mu is of noble status. Even if she is a princess of the previous dynasty, she is still a princess. Moreover, she is sensible, well-educated, and most importantly, she has no powerful backers. She will treat the Zhou family as her own home and be devoted to Zhou Tingxi. She does not expect Xiao Mu to be filial to her, as Xiao Mu has no such obligation. She only wants Zhou Tingxi to live happily with her and have more children, which is enough for her.

But this rebellious son of hers doesn't know how to cherish. When he was so deeply in love, he insisted on getting engaged to her. After the engagement, he betrayed her and has now done something like this. Anyone would be heartbroken. Fortunately, Xiao Mu is magnanimous and still devoted to him. She went to the Southern Border to find him.

But he still managed to drive away such a good daughter-in-law!

……

"What styles of clothes are popular lately?" Xiao Mu asked the shop owner.

The proprietress noticed her extraordinary demeanor; every gesture she made revealed her status. This couldn't be faked; it was something ingrained in her very being.

The proprietress said solicitously, "Recently, clothes made of moon-white gauze are all the rage. They're elegant and light, perfect for the summer heat. Why don't you take a look at these over here, Miss? They'd be perfect for a fair-skinned young lady like you." She pointed to a row of moon-white gauze dresses.

Xiao Mu's gaze shifted, and she saw a row of colorful dresses: pale yellow, lychee white, pinkish purple, lake blue, honey...

"Which one do you think suits me best?" Xiao Mu looked at Ling, who was standing behind her without saying a word.

Ling carefully examined her for a moment, then turned her gaze to the clothes, and finally concluded, "I think the pale yellow one looks good, especially the belt at the waist, which makes your waist look as slender as a willow branch. Your skin is fair, and wearing pale yellow makes you look fair and playful."

Xiao Mu smiled with satisfaction. Ling had been giving serious feedback and observing carefully, so she pointed to the pale yellow dress and said, "That one is fine. Wrap it up for me!"

The proprietress quickly chimed in, "Young master has excellent taste! Why don't you choose a dress for your fiancée for the Flower Festival? It's truly enviable! I'll go wrap it up right away!" The proprietress took the dress and ran to the back.

Xiao Mu blushed and stole a glance at Ling. Ling acted as if nothing had happened, as if she hadn't heard what the landlady had just said. Tch, she hadn't taken it to heart either. But for a moment, this person really did resemble him. It wasn't about appearance, but the temperament, demeanor, and tone of voice that emanated from him. But he couldn't possibly not recognize her. Absolutely not. They had been through life and death together. Why wouldn't he recognize her? She didn't believe it, and she couldn't believe it!

"What are you thinking about?"

"Xiao Mu!"

Aya's voice pulled Xiao Mu back from her reverie, but she was still wondering why the two people, who were clearly not the same person, were so similar, yet she couldn't quite put her finger on why.

"The clothes are all packed up, let's go back!" Ling stuffed the packed clothes into Xiao Mu's arms and pushed her towards the door.

Xiao Mu belatedly realized something, suddenly stopped, and turned to ask, "Didn't I not pay yet? Why did the landlady let me out?"

Ling spoke slowly and deliberately, "I paid for it for you, just while you were spacing out." His tone was gentle.

Xiao Mu stared at Ling in astonishment. Why did he pay for her? Now she owed him a favor. How was she going to repay him?

Xiao Mu frowned slightly. "How can I let you pay? These are my own clothes. We've only known each other for three days, and I'm already asking you to pay? That would be so embarrassing!" She meant it sincerely; she didn't like accepting gifts from others, especially when they weren't very familiar with each other.

Ling Youyou said, "How could I be embarrassed? Don't forget you treated me to a meal a few days ago. Consider it a return gift. It's just a piece of clothing." After saying that, he raised his lips and looked at Xiao Mu with a half-smile.

But the clothes here aren't cheap, and a meal only costs a few dollars, which is still quite embarrassing.

“Alright, if you really feel bad, when we get back to Chaoyang, you can treat me to a meal. I want to go to Wangyue Tower, order the most expensive dishes, and drink the most expensive wine. How about that?” Ling Ning thought for a moment and said.

Xiao Mu readily nodded, "Sure, you can come visit me often then. Anyway, I don't know anyone in Chaoyang Kingdom, so you can show me around."

Aya hesitated before asking, "Where...where were you from before?"

Xiao Mu nodded, and after a long pause, said, "The Western Regions, my mother is from the Western Regions."

When you're out and about, it's best not to reveal too much about yourself. After all, not everyone is trustworthy. Even if Aya doesn't seem to have any ill intentions, some bad people are very good at disguising themselves. You have to be careful in everything you do because she's all alone in this world. She only has herself, no home, and no family.

The Western Regions? Ling's eyes dimmed instantly. He had never been to the Western Regions. Firstly, it was too remote, and secondly, there was really nothing in the Western Regions that could attract him. So, this once again proved that Xiao Mu was not the woman of his dreams. He had not held any hope, but why did he feel so disappointed? He would still suddenly confuse the two of them for a moment.

They are clearly two different people, yet they seem to be inextricably linked.

He dared not think about it; he even began to fear the splitting headache, as if thousands of worms were gnawing at his skull, causing a dense, painful ache, as if it were about to crack open.

"Have you... seen the Emperor?" Xiao Mu blurted out.

Perhaps Ling's identity is extraordinary, and she has even met the Emperor. She is just probing first and won't reveal anything. Besides, even if she did, Ling would never believe that this woman from the "Western Regions" would have such a relationship with the Emperor!

Ling replied languidly, "I've seen it before."

Xiao Mu's eyes shone as she eagerly asked, "Are you friends?"

Ling shook her head. "No, I only saw him once from afar. Why? Why are you so curious about the Emperor?"

"No... I've only heard rumors that the Emperor of Chaoyang is exceptionally handsome, the most handsome man in the world. I was just curious..."

Ling stared intently at Xiao Mu and said meaningfully, "But he is very cruel; he kills without spitting out the bones."

Xiao Mu said firmly, "Don't listen to what others say. Neither you nor I have seen it with our own eyes. We can only listen to what others say. I've heard that he is kind by nature. He advocates that people live in peace and happiness and be free. Isn't that much better than other places? Besides, we don't know what he has been through. How can we say that he is cruel? There must be a reason why he is cruel!"

Ling scrutinized Xiao Mu again, this time carefully examining her from beginning to end. She noticed that when Xiao Mu spoke of these things, there was an undisguised smile in her eyes. Even if she didn't show it, there were still clues to it.

Why did she have that expression when she mentioned herself? Had they met before? No… I don’t remember. But her words made it seem like she knew him very well. To be honest, he didn’t even know himself. He didn’t even know what kind of person he was.

Ling said calmly, "So, you're asking these questions just because of rumors that the Emperor is handsome?"

He looked at Xiao Mu expectantly, his eyes filled with a desire to know the truth.

Xiao Mu nodded frantically, smiling as she said, "Of course! Women all like handsome men, and I really want to meet this emperor."

Far in the sky, close in front of you.

But Ling didn't like it, because she thought that women who flattered her were a dime a dozen in Chaoyang Kingdom, and Shen Shanshan was one of them.

He hoped that his future wife would be someone who could understand him from the bottom of her heart, not someone who would understand him because of his appearance. This was also one of the reasons why he disguised himself. His appearance often attracted controversy. Ling also hoped that she would look ordinary and have an ordinary identity, so that she could do anything without hesitation.

Although Shen Ruoxuan is currently overseeing the country, what about a few years later? Once Shen Ruoxuan gets married, he won't have as much time for her, and eventually, Ling will truly be all alone.

He didn't want to engage in casual relationships with those women. Even without feelings, he couldn't bring himself to do those things. Doing such things without feelings would be truly disgusting. He could be childless and pass the throne to a collateral branch, but he wouldn't give his heart to a woman he didn't love. Although it was selfish, he had no choice. He had been deceived since childhood, so he needed someone who wouldn't lie to him or fawn over him. They could be like an ordinary couple, able to argue, blush, cry, and laugh. So if he wanted to take a concubine, he would have done so long ago and wouldn't have waited until now.

He didn't know who he was waiting for, but he just wanted to wait a little longer.

"Are there any fun and delicious places in the Western Regions?" Ling Canran asked with a smile.

Xiao Mu stammered, "Um... Every place in the capital is so much fun! The roasted lamb leg is delicious, and the milk wine is so good too!" Of course, she was referring to the food she ate at the Western Regions restaurant in Jiuguang. These were the only Western Regions delicacies she had ever tried. Of course, there was also the goat milk pastry that Granny Lü used to make for her when she was little. However, these were also sold in other countries. She really couldn't think of any local versions.

Ling scoffed, "I know all that. I just want to know what kind of local snacks are available."

"Oh, there are so many, I can't even count them all. If you want to eat them, you can just go to the Western Regions to eat them yourself. What's the use of asking me? When you talk about these things, I think of my mother... Waaaaah..." Xiao Mu actually squeezed out a few tears and wiped them with her sleeve.

Aya panicked a little; he didn't realize that saying these things would make a girl cry.

But it's really annoying that she cries all the time; I really want to snap her neck.

Aya stared intently at her snow-white neck, deep in thought. He wondered if he could snap it in half with one hand; it was so thin, he should be able to…

Xiao Mu felt a little uneasy under his gaze, like a wolf eyeing its prey, contemplating how to devour her.

"Aya."

Ling looked away, raised her eyes, and looked at Xiao Mu again, asking, "What's wrong?"

Xiao Mu asked tremblingly, "What kind of person are you?"

At first, I thought you were poor, so I felt sorry for you. Also, you were very similar to him, and not just a little. Later, I found out that you were not poor at all, but rather rich and noble. I found out again that you were very similar to him.

Even if you resemble him a lot, you will never be him. He will always be gentle with me, forever...

"I am who you think I am."

Ling's answer was casual, which is true. One person's definition of another really depends on their opinion of him. Xiao Mu could always find Yu Yanjing's shadow in him, so she always viewed him through a filter. But she forgot that he was Ling, not Yu Yanjing.

Yu Yanjing is the emperor. He doesn't look like Ling. Even if you cover up the mole, you can still tell that he is who he is. His affectionate peach blossom eyes will not change.

Ling has phoenix eyes and doesn't have that mole. Although his figure, temperament, and tone of voice sometimes resemble Yu Yanjing, he is still himself. How can she treat him as a substitute for Yu Yanjing? That would be unfair to everyone.