Repeatedly broken branches

Actually, Meixi doesn't seem that annoying. It's just that her maid is too arrogant. It doesn't matter if she talks about others, but when she talks about herself, how can she not take action?

……

"General, are you really not planning to go back and take a look?" Wei Hao brought over a cup of tea.

This is Longjing tea brought from Jiuguang before the rain. In places like the desert, tea leaves are extremely precious. Their people would brew a large pot of it and keep brewing it until it lost its flavor before finally throwing away the tea leaves.

In ordinary households, tea is only served to very distinguished guests or long-lost relatives, because conditions here are harsh and vegetables are scarce, so they have to be transported from other places, but beef and mutton are plentiful.

Zhou Tingxi merely glanced at the tea without drinking it; he was already incredibly annoyed. Dressed in a white robe and silver armor, his handsome features concealed a troubled expression.

"What are you going back for?"

Wei Hao said, "Your new wife has never met you before. Aren't you going back to see her?"

Zhou Tingxi frowned. "Why go back to see her? I've never even seen her face. Besides, she's the wife my mother arranged for me to marry in private. When have I ever acknowledged her as my wife? If I don't acknowledge her, I have no status. What right do I have to see her?" His voice was clear and sharp, every word precious.

Wei Hao hesitated for a moment, then said, "But the new lady is quite pitiful... She's been in the household for about a month and hasn't seen you yet. How about we ask the Emperor for permission to go back and visit her?"

Zhou Tingxi glanced at Wei Hao impatiently and said coldly, "Did my mother say something to you? Don't listen to her, she's senile."

Wei Hao sighed helplessly, "The old lady often writes to me, asking me to persuade you, but how can I possibly convince you?"

Undoubtedly, Xue had presented him with an unsolvable problem.

Others might not know, but how could he, who had followed Zhou Tingxi for so many years, not know? The general's heart only belongs to his former wife; how could he possibly have room for anyone else?

From the moment he first joined him, his heart belonged only to his former wife. He even wore the sachet that his wife had given him without ever leaving his side, yet he cherished it dearly. Despite leading troops in battle for many years, it remained perfectly intact.

Wei Hao often secretly saw the general sitting in the military camp, looking at the sachet as if he was very sad. He dared not disturb him, but he felt that the general missed his wife.

Zhou Tingxi sent Wei Hao away.

He picked up the cup of tea, which had long since gone cold, and drank it all in one gulp, without even realizing it.

Zhou Tingxi is now focused solely on guarding the desert and protecting the peace of Jiuguang. He dares not think about anything else, nor does he want to. Therefore, he spends every day very fulfilling, either on the training ground or handling military affairs in the barracks. If he weren't thirsty, hungry, or sleepy, he would wish to be busy for twelve hours a day so that he wouldn't think about those other things.

But he's a human being, how could he be busy all the time?

There are always times when he has free time, and those are the times when he is most miserable. He will think of Xia Yunzhi, and how happy and blissful they used to be. Why did things turn out like this?

……

Originally, Xiao Mu wanted to take Yu Yanjing to the Erjin Tavern so that he could also try the craftsmanship of green plum winemaking, but she found that the tavern was already closed, with a "For Rent" sign posted on the door.

What's going on? Have the green plums stopped blooming?

She asked the owner of the tailor shop next door and learned that just a few months ago, probably when General Zhou went to the desert, Green Plum had closed down and disappeared.

How could that be? Didn't Lümei come here as a refugee? Where else could she go? Does she have any other relatives?

"What's wrong? Do you absolutely have to drink this restaurant's wine?" Yu Yanjing looked at her somewhat blankly.

Xiao Mu was a little disappointed. "No, it's just that I suddenly wanted to drink here. I used to love drinking here because I thought it was delicious. I've never drunk alcohol much before, but I feel very relaxed and enjoy myself here. The owner is also very nice." She sighed quietly after saying that.

Now there's nowhere to drink, and the taverns are closed.

She just wanted to know where Green Plum had gone, and why it had to be the day Zhou Tingxi went to the desert. Did she go with Zhou Tingxi?

It's also possible; after all, she was saved by Zhou Tingxi, so it's normal for her to follow him.

"There's more than just this one tavern with good wine here."

"Hmm? You know anything else?"

Yu Yanjing smiled faintly, "You forgot? I used to travel all over the world. Not to mention taverns, I can find you anything else."

"You remember so many places, why can't you remember our past?" Xiao Mu asked, puzzled.

Yu Yanjing's face instantly darkened, and he seemed somewhat embarrassed and angry. "Do you really like to reopen old wounds? Go if you want, don't go if you don't!" He walked ahead on his own, leaving Xiao Mu far behind.

Xiao Mu jogged to catch up with him, already panting heavily. That rascal, he throws a tantrum at the slightest provocation, just like an emperor.

"You just said you could find anything else for me, but do you know where there are lots of beautiful women?"

"..." Yu Yanjing narrowed his eyes slightly. "What do you want to say?"

Xiao Mu stuck out her tongue. "I just want to know if you like beautiful women. Aren't all men lustful? You've traveled all over the world, so you must have seen and encountered many beautiful women."

"No."

Xiao Mu pressed on, "Where exactly is it? Just tell me, I won't get angry. I also like looking at beautiful women, let's go see them together."

Yu Yanjing said indifferently, "I don't like it." Then he quickened his pace, almost as if he were about to fly away.

Xiao Mu was almost out of reach, but she kept asking him questions incessantly.

Yu Yanjing suddenly stopped. Turning around with a slight smile, he said softly, "If you ask again, I'll make you mute right here."

Xiao Mu looked around at the crowd and trembled with fear. This was her boyfriend? Why did he only know how to scare her?

"Why don't you speak?"

Xiao Mu remained silent, simply staring blankly at him.

"Weren't you asking me that? Why aren't you asking anymore? I'll tell you where there are lots of beautiful women."

Xiao Mu said hesitantly, "I don't want to know anymore. You're so fierce, I don't want to ask anymore."

Yu Yanjing asked doubtfully, "Ominous?"

"What do you think? Who would say such cruel things to their beloved?"

Yu Yanjing scoffed, "Is that considered harsh talk? You know I was joking, so why are you angry? You know I wouldn't do that, so why are you still angry?"

He completely doesn't understand girls' feelings. Shen Ruoxuan once said that he knows how to treat her well, spoil her, and give in to her in everything, but she never told him that he also needs to be careful with his words, not to be sarcastic, and to say nice things.

Xiao Mu gave a wry smile. "I didn't know you were joking. All I know is that you want to make me mute! I've never seen a man speak to his beloved like that."

Yu Yanjing was still puzzled. "I won't really make you mute. Why are you angry? Are you angry that I said those things to you, or do you think I would do that?"

"neither."

Yu Yanjing looked at her in confusion, "Neither?"

Xiao Mu said seriously, "I am your husband, not your subordinate, guard, or palace maid. Why are you saying such things to me? Where we live, if you say such things, people will think you are the kind of person who beats his wife, and no one will want to be with you. Would you be happy if I said I would make you mute? Would you be very angry? Besides, I am a girl. Don't girls all hope to be pampered and spoiled by their other half? Although it is mutual, what girl doesn't like a gentle man? You agree, right?"

Xiao Mu felt it was better to talk things out. After all, Yu Yanjing lived in the past. Although she didn't expect him to treat his girlfriend like a princess like men do nowadays, she still didn't like hearing Yu Yanjing say such things. She wasn't his maid or anything like that; she was his girlfriend. Why did he have to say such things to her?

Yu Yanjing suddenly realized, "You think I treat you like someone who serves me, right? You think you should be unique and don't want me to treat you like they do, to say these kinds of things to you... is that right?"

Xiao Mu nodded, giving him an approving look. "He's a promising young man."

A hint of joy flashed in Yu Yanjing's eyes. So she just didn't want to be like everyone else. But he didn't treat her like everyone else. In his heart, she was already an exception. He just didn't know that girls wouldn't like such words.

Yu Yanjing pulled her to the wall and looked at her intently. His phoenix eyes, which belonged only to Ling, sparkled with gentle love. He said softly, "You are different from them. I just didn't know you didn't like these kinds of words. I won't say them anymore, okay?"

Xiao Mu's heart skipped a beat, and she felt her face burning hot. Her cheeks must be bright red, like a ripe apple. She quickly changed the subject, "What about that tavern you mentioned? Aren't you going to take me there?"

Yu Yanjing laughed out loud, "We're almost there, do you want to go even faster?"

"I want to, but how can I do it faster?"

Yu Yanjing wrapped his left arm around her slender waist, smiled, and called out to her, "Close your eyes."

Xiao Mu obediently closed her eyes, only to feel a tightening force on her waist, as if she were floating in the air, her whole body feeling light and airy. When she opened her eyes, she was already standing on the roof.

The entire bustling city is laid out before you, with no view in sight.

Yu Yanjing smiled slightly, put his arm around her, and with a light leap, they landed on the roof of another street. In just a few steps, they crossed a street.

Xiao Mu was stunned, but Yu Yanjing didn't care and pulled her to jump down with him. Xiao Mu was terrified and clung tightly to his neck, but to her surprise, they landed steadily.

"How cowardly."

Xiao Mu patted her chest, finally relieved. "You're the coward! Let's have a drinking contest later! Let's see who can outdrink whom!"

Yu Yanjing chuckled and silently watched her.

"Oh? You're not saying anything now. Are you scared? If you're scared, then I'll let you have your way."

Yu Yanjing didn't say anything more and walked into a tavern. Xiao Mu looked up at the signboard. The name of this tavern was just the single character "Lü". It was quite unique.

There weren't many people in this tavern, and I didn't see the manager come in or any waiters come to greet the guests. It was really surprising. If Xiao Mu's teahouse had this kind of situation, she would be furious.

Yu Yanjing walked into a private room, where a waiter appeared, smiling as he said, "Boss, you're here! What would you like to drink today?"

The owner? Yu Yanjing is the owner of this tavern?

He really has many identities: a bodyguard, a rich young master, and now a tavern owner.

"Newly brewed peach blossom honey, 'beaded curtain tears' (a type of dessert), and a plate of grilled shrimp."

The waiter scurried off, all excited.

Xiao Mu asked curiously, "How come I didn't know you owned this tavern?"

"Didn't I tell you before?" Yu Yanjing was a little surprised. It was illogical that he hadn't told Xiao Mu about something so important. He couldn't even remember why he hadn't told her back then.

"What do you think? If you had told me, would I not have known? I think you're keeping a mistress hidden away. I'd like to see what kind of beauty you've hidden!"