Repeatedly broken branches

Yu Yanjing was already on his way to Jiuguang. He disguised himself as Ling, dressed in the clothes of an ordinary young man, and carried on his back a silver snake dance tightly wrapped in silk.

Deng Yizhi obtained some fine fox fur from the southern border, which he made into fur collars, cloaks, and glove-wearing garments, all of which could fetch a good price. However, his connections were limited, and he still needed to ask his business partners for help with some matters. The most reliable and steady Ling Shu was the top leader.

Ling rode her horse to Jiuguang without stopping, because riding a horse was faster than taking a carriage. If she rode a horse, she could reach Jiuguang from Chaoyang in a day and a night.

Deng Yizhi has not completely faded out of the political arena yet, so he still needs to keep his business dealings somewhat discreet, lest Yin Fu'an take them seriously and make things difficult for him.

Lu became their best meeting place, because not many people could appreciate Lu's wine, so Lu's business was dismal.

There weren't many people, so it was easier to discuss business.

Consort Jing has recovered well these past few days and can walk again, but she needs someone to help her walk, otherwise her legs still can't hold up.

Xiao Mu often came to visit her, but because she was also busy with her own shop and Xiao Shao and Ruan Cifeng's wedding, she could only stay for a short while before leaving.

Consort Jing waited from morning till night, but Xiao Mu never came. She sat at the table, glancing at Ru Meng who was embroidering a handkerchief beside her.

Ru Meng had already noticed her restlessness. All day long, she had asked Ru Meng to help her out many times, but each time she returned disappointed. Ru Meng knew that Consort Jing was hoping for the Empress's arrival.

She had no choice but to send someone to invite the Empress, but the Empress's personal maid, You, said that the Empress had left the palace and would probably not return until the evening.

Consort Jing waited until evening, but Xiao Mu did not appear.

People are so strange. Before, when people came every day, she wished they wouldn't come anymore. But now that they suddenly stop coming, she starts thinking about them again. Maybe she really is getting old. If Xiao Mu doesn't come for a day, she feels like she doesn't like it anymore.

Do older people all enjoy being around people?

Xie Huai brought over a bowl of bayberries, saying that they were sent by his friend from the Western Regions on horseback from a thousand miles away, and that they were very fresh, with water droplets still clinging to them.

I heard that the bayberries from the Western Regions are big and sweet, and they certainly live up to their reputation.

"Xie Huai, the shop has been doing very well lately, and you've done a lot of work for it. Whatever reward you want, you can have it." Xiao Mu ate a bayberry, and it burst with juice in her mouth. It was incredibly juicy and sweet.

Xie Huai said without changing his expression, "I don't want anything, just a raise in wages."

Xiao Mu laughed out loud, "I knew it. You're so stingy, you'd definitely want me to raise your wages. Don't you want anything else?"

"For example?" Xie Huai's interest was piqued.

"As for pretty girls, I have a maid named You, who is a natural beauty. You two could try to develop a relationship with her."

Xie Huai stared in disbelief and said, "She's very violent, I can't handle her."

Xiao Mu glared at him, "You're the violent one. You're very gentle, okay? I wouldn't even give you that kind of gentleness..."

Xie Huai felt a surge of unease. You? Gentle? Back in the Western Regions, You and Bai Jiaoyu's maid Ying were very close. Ying had a bad temper, which influenced You to become strange as well. Well, she was someone else's maid now, so of course she had to be gentle. Maybe he was overthinking it.

The thought of Bai Jiaoyu made him extremely irritable.

When his friend brought the bayberries, he also handed him a message from Bai Jiaoyu, saying that she would marry no one but him and that if she couldn't wait for him to return to the Western Regions, she would come to Chaoyang to find him herself.

Now Xiao Mu doesn't need to wait for the Western Region King and Bai Jiaoyu to arrive together. With Xie Huai here, Bai Jiaoyu will come to her on her own.

Xie Huai didn't want to tell Xiao Mu, because if he did, he would become a tool for Xiao Mu to use for revenge.

It's not that he doesn't want to help, it's just that he doesn't want to do something that goes against his conscience.

Xie Huai wanted to help her, but he didn't want to do such a thing, so he was extremely conflicted and had a sour face all day.

Ruan Cifeng was the same. He didn't know when it started, but he had come to regard himself with a bitter face. Whether he was seeing patients or when Xiao Mu came, he couldn't even force a smile anymore.

But seeing Xiao Mu and Xiao Shao laughing so happily as they talked about their wedding, he couldn't bear to break that beautiful moment.

He will marry Xiao Shao and treat her well, but he won't be honest with her about his feelings because they are not compatible.

Back in the palace, Xiao Mu suddenly felt that everything had lost its meaning. What was her purpose in entering the palace? It was to use the Empress's identity to take revenge and kill Bai Jiaoyu.

It's been almost a month, and she hasn't done anything. Instead, she feels happy and carefree. She doesn't want to be carefree. She should feel guilty and ashamed. How could she forget Xiao Suzi and the others? She should remember them at all times.

An idea popped into her head: if she could win Xie Huai over, that would be great. Even if it was a form of exploitation, it would still be a mutually beneficial relationship, wouldn't it? She would provide the money, and Xie Huai would provide the effort; it was a reasonable relationship.

But Xie Huai didn't bring it up, so how could she bring it up?

All the things piled up at once felt like a mountain pressing down on her, making it hard for her to breathe.

You brought over a bowl of lotus seed soup and said, "Your Majesty, have some lotus seed soup to cool down. I've noticed you've been a bit too hot lately."

Yes, she really needed to cool down. No matter what she did, she couldn't extinguish the fire in her heart, so she suffered from insomnia night after night and couldn't eat. She always felt like a huge rock was pressing down on her heart, making her feel uncomfortable, depressed, and suffocated.

She picked up the bowl and wolfed down the lotus seed soup, thinking that everything would be alright as long as the fire was put out.

This lotus seed soup is so sweet and cloying. After drinking it, I felt nauseous, as if I had swallowed a piece of lard. I really don't like this kind of soup.

You took the leftover bowls and chopsticks to the kitchen, then sat alone by the doorway. She took out a letter from her sleeve, its handwriting strong and neat, and read it silently to herself:

You, seeing this letter is like seeing you in person. Wei Hao misses you dearly and hopes to see you soon.

Wei Hao, perhaps we are looking at the same moon, but fate has decreed that we will have no future together.

Wei Hao, we both have missions, and we are destined not to live peaceful and tranquil lives.

A tear of anguish streamed down You's face. If she hadn't chosen this path, she could have been with Wei Hao. But how could a person live peacefully just for themselves, especially someone like her who carried the hopes of several family members on her shoulders?

She does things for others so that her family can live in peace. Otherwise, if she is disobedient, her mother, younger brother and sister will be implicated. After all, she is the eldest sister, so it is her duty.

But she also longed to live for herself, even just once. Let her indulge herself just this once. She wanted to find Wei Hao, to be together, no matter where they were, together. Wasn't that enough?

Ru Meng looked at You, who was sitting on the ground, lost in thought. In the darkness, she couldn't see You's expression clearly. She asked softly, "You, has Her Majesty the Empress returned?" She looked towards Xiao Mu's room, where candlelight had already been lit.

You hurriedly stuffed the letter into her sleeve, wiping away her tears as she stood up. Looking at Rumeng, she said, "Her Majesty the Empress has returned, but she looks very tired."

Ru Meng sighed, "It's good that you're back. I just came to check on behalf of Consort Jing. She was worried about the Empress, so she sent me to see her. If Your Highness is tired, then it's alright. I'll go back and tell Consort Jing."

"May Sister Rumeng rest in peace."

You watched Ru Meng leave, then composed herself and went inside.

Xiao Mu looked at You and asked doubtfully, "Did someone just come by?"

Without changing her expression, You said, "No, I just passed by a palace maid and asked her a few questions. What is it, Your Majesty?"

"It's nothing. Since no one has been here, you can go down now. I'm sleepy and want to take a nap."

You said calmly, "Alright, I'll be right at the door. Call me if Your Majesty needs anything."

Xiao Mu felt extremely panicked. She didn't know why, but she had a feeling that something was about to happen, and it wouldn't be anything good.

It must be because she's angry; otherwise, she wouldn't be overthinking things. She should learn to calm herself down.

She lay in bed, unable to sleep, so she counted sheep. As she counted, she eventually fell asleep, though her sleep was very light.

"Aya, let's split up and meet at that temple."

Ling nodded and said, "Be careful, these people are no ordinary people. I suspect they are Yin Fu'an's men."

Deng Yizhi frowned. After he and Ling came out of the tavern, they were followed. In order to shake them off, Deng Yizhi and Ling had wandered into a forest. The trees here were intricate and it was easy to get lost. Once they came out of the forest, they could see a dilapidated temple.

If they were Yin Fu'an's men, they probably wouldn't survive. Since he's already sent people, it's to kill them.

Moreover, in the suburbs, the death of an ordinary Minister of Rites and an ordinary merchant from Chaoyang Kingdom should not be considered a big deal.

His heart was in his throat. He couldn't die, and he couldn't be hurt. He hadn't gone to find Wanwan yet, and he hadn't raised Siwan to adulthood.

He watched with concern as Aya's figure disappeared into the woods and went further and further away. If it weren't for him, Aya wouldn't have gotten involved.

He walked towards the other end of the woods, clutching a short dagger tightly in his hand. He glanced warily to the left and right.

Ling drew his Silver Serpent Dance sword and walked slowly and lightly. With a light tap of his feet, he flew to a tree with many thick branches. By the moonlight, he nimbly leaped from one tree to another.

"Deng Yizhi, how dare you collude with the people of Chaoyang Kingdom! You have some nerve!"

Just as we were about to leave the woods.

A group of people blocked Deng Yizhi's way. The one who spoke first was Su Wen, Yin Fu'an's confidant. Behind Su Wen stood more than a dozen skilled personal guards, all of whom had signed a death pact with Yin Fu'an. They would risk their lives for Yin Fu'an and protect him if necessary.

Deng Yi's heart leaped into his throat. He didn't know martial arts and could only retreat repeatedly. Behind him was a dense, pitch-black forest where you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. If he ran deeper, they would have a hard time finding him. But in the darkness, he couldn't run fast because the leaves and branches blocked the moonlight.

He was panicking inside, but he forced himself to remain calm and looked at Su Wen with a composed expression, saying, "What evidence do you have that I colluded with people from Chaoyang Kingdom?"

Su Wen smiled coldly and said sarcastically, "Little Wu by your side has already told you everything. We started following you when you met that person at the tavern, and we've been following you all this way. Do you still dare to deny it?"

"I'm running a legitimate business, so what kind of collusion is this?"

"His Majesty is most averse to officials having dealings with people from neighboring countries. You are the Minister of Rites; who knows if you have been corrupt?"

Deng Yizhi was startled. If someone wants to condemn someone, they can always find a pretext. When had he ever embezzled? Was it really true that if the emperor wanted his subject to die, he had no choice but to die? But how could he be willing to die without knowing the truth? He had elderly parents and young children at home, and people he cared about were far away serving as slaves. He made money and did business in order to distance himself from politics and take his family elsewhere. What evil intentions did he have?

"So the Emperor wants my life?" Deng Yizhi smiled. "I'm just doing business honestly, and the Emperor can't tolerate that?" He gripped the dagger tightly in his hand, ready to slit the throat of anyone who tried to harm him.

Su Wen shook his head. "The Emperor doesn't want your life, but if he does, you'll suffer a fate worse than death."