Repeatedly broken branches

For some reason, she felt extremely flustered, so on the way, Xiao Mu kept urging the driver to hurry, hurry, and hurry, as if something was about to happen, as if something bad would happen if she didn't hurry back.

Back at the palace, everyone rushed over. You carefully checked her for injuries, while Wei Lan kept blaming her. Xiao Shao hugged her and cried bitterly. Xie Huai chatted casually with the guards, while Ruan Cifeng copied a prescription to prepare tonics for her to help her recover.

Everything was as before, except that Yu Yanjing was missing.

"Where did the Emperor go?" she asked Wei Lan.

You brought her a change of clothes, and before Wei Lan could speak, she answered first, "The Emperor disguised himself and went out to look for you, but there has been no news for two days."

Wei Lan glanced at You, clearly not wanting You to tell Xiao Mu.

"What do you mean there's been no news for two days? Why don't you go look for them?" Xiao Mu couldn't sit still any longer and planned to leave the palace again without even changing her clothes.

This time, everyone stopped her from going out.

Even Ruan Cifeng and Xie Huai were standing in the line blocking her way. She glared at them fiercely and said, "Why won't you let me go to see the Emperor? Aren't you worried about him?"

“His Majesty has been away from home for many years without any accidents. He is skilled enough to protect himself. Empress, you should not go out again, lest His Majesty come looking for you when he returns.” Wei Lan’s tone was sarcastic.

Xiao Mu didn't understand. She pushed aside Xiao Shao, who was blocking the way, and insisted on going out. You gritted her teeth, slapped her on the shoulder, knocked her unconscious, and took her back to the inner room.

Wei Lan warned You, "If you don't stand by and watch the Empress let her leave the palace again, I will definitely report to the Emperor when he returns. He won't let you off the hook!"

You watched her retreating figure, knowing full well that this person could not possibly tolerate the Empress, but she herself was unaware of it.

What kind of people hasn't she seen? How could she be intimidated by a mere palace maid? She's just a dog relying on its master's power.

Yu Yanjing searched all the way to the western border but still couldn't find Xiao Mu. He was heartbroken for not keeping a close eye on Xiao Mu and felt extremely guilty, but he still had to grit his teeth and keep going. He wouldn't turn back until he found Xiao Mu.

If it wasn't because she didn't want to stay in the palace, what else could be the reason she wouldn't come back? Especially since she was staying with Xie Huai.

He was bothered by it, but what could he do?

Isn't finding her the most urgent thing right now?

"Your Majesty, please don't blame me for knocking you unconscious. But right now, no one is letting you out, so I had no choice but to do this..." You sat down in front of Xiao Mu's bed, looking at her with her eyes closed, and took her hand to check her injuries.

You was shocked. She gently placed her fingers on Xiao Mu's wrist, closed her eyes, and carefully checked her pulse...

How could this be...? She actually did it.

She didn't know whether she should speak up or not, but her master had instructed her that any developments must be reported to him first before informing the Empress.

She put Xiao Mu's hand back under the covers, got up and went back to her room alone. She took out a paper machine from a wooden box under the bed. This was a magical artifact unique to the Western Regions. As long as you drip a drop of your blood onto the paper machine, you can make it fly back to the Western Regions.

You wrote a note and slipped it into the paper machine. She secretly ran to the city tower, reached out and released the paper machine. She frowned as she looked at the moon, hoping... that her master wouldn't let her do anything to harm the Empress, because the Empress treated her very well.

……

"Young master, this is the All-Knowing Teahouse, the most well-informed place in the world. Would you like to come in and have a seat?"

Yu Yanjing passed by a teahouse built of bamboo, with countless fist-sized paper lanterns hanging outside. When the wind blew, all the lanterns swayed in the wind, which was very beautiful.

The girl who greeted customers at the teahouse entrance was from the Western Regions. You could tell just by looking at her deep, pool-like eyes, because You, the maidservant beside Xiao Mu, had eyes like that.

As soon as Yu Yanjing stepped into the teahouse, a maid poured him a cup of tea, smiling obsequiously, "Young master, what would you like to ask?"

"My wife has gone missing. I want to know where she is now?"

The woman smiled, took out a piece of paper and a pen, drew a circle on the paper, and looked up at Yu Yanjing, asking, "What is your wife's surname? Could you tell me her birth date and time?"

Yu Yanjing looked at her warily and asked in a low voice, "How can I believe you are an omniscient being?"

The woman looked at the stream of pedestrians outside the door, then at Yu Yanjing, and said lazily, "You don't have to believe me. Just tell me your wife's surname and birth date. There are many people in the world with the same name and surname, and many with the same birth date. Knowing these things won't make me do anything. You don't have to believe I'm an omniscient person, and I don't have to help you."

"Her surname is Xia, she is twenty-three, and her birthday is the fourth day of the seventh lunar month."

The woman nodded, staring intently at the circle on the paper. She traced the circle several times with her pen, finally stopping at the very top, which was the north.

"She occupies the most prestigious and prosperous position in the Kingdom of Chaoyang."

The woman didn't point it out, but the most prestigious and prosperous place in Chaoyang Kingdom was none other than the imperial palace.

Yu Yanjing stared at her in disbelief, his eyes instantly turning cold, giving off a chilling feeling, his pupils dark and unfathomable.

"I just came from Chaoyang. You're telling me she's in the most prestigious and prosperous place in Chaoyang?" His voice was extremely low and devoid of any emotion.

The woman picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and smiled, "You don't have to believe me, you can go back and see for yourself. Anyway... I know your identity now. We fortune tellers can tell at a glance, even if you've disguised yourself..."

Yu Yanjing slowly raised his eyes, his gaze filled with astonishment. "You knew?"

The woman nodded slightly. "Go back. She's not outside. If you hurry back, she might not be in danger."

Yu Yanjing stared at her blankly, "Who exactly are you?"

The woman laughed out loud, "I'm nobody, I'm just a fortune teller. If you don't believe me, there's nothing I can do. This is my livelihood. If I told you everything, how would I do business? You should just go back."

Yu Yanjing placed a gold ingot on the table as payment, picked up his sword, turned around, and walked out of the teahouse. Even though he didn't believe it, he still decided to go back and see for himself.

……

"Your Majesty, the gatekeepers say that two homeless people, who look like refugees, collapsed at the city gate. After being treated and roused, they said they came looking for the Emperor. They said their names are Zhou Tingxi and Wei Hao..."

An unfamiliar guard came to report.

Xiao Mu was slightly taken aback. "Who are they?"

"Zhou Tingxi and Wei Hao."

The huge weight that had been hanging over You's heart finally lifted. Wei Hao wasn't dead! He was still alive! And he was right next to her!

"Let them in quickly!" Xiao Mu's voice trembled slightly. Zhou Tingxi, he's not dead, that's really great.

Xiao Mu asked You to summon Xue Shi and Ouyang Meixi and tell them the good news.

Xiao Mu and Zhou Tingxi looked at each other in bewilderment. Xiao Mu's throat felt like it was choked with something, and he couldn't say anything. It had been almost a year since they last met. He had lost weight and looked haggard, no longer as spirited as before.

"The Queen."

Zhou Tingxi knelt down on one knee and gave her a soldier's salute. His eyes sparkled, and the love in them never faded, but he hid it well.

"Zhou Tingxi, are you alright?"

Zhou Tingxi smiled faintly, "I'm fine, how are you?"

Once upon a time, she was the emperor's most beloved little princess, and he was the most majestic young general. Once upon a time, she was a princess of a fallen kingdom who married the arrogant him. Once upon a time, they divorced, thinking they would never see each other again.

In just one year, she became the beloved Empress, while he was merely a powerless rebel who fled in disarray.

"I am fine too."

"Hmm, you've gotten rounder than before. It seems you're having a very happy time here, right?"

Xiao Mu chuckled, "Of course... I don't have any relatives there anymore. Here I have friends, I have a husband. My husband is so handsome and treats me so well. I'm sure I'll be happy."

Zhou Tingxi felt a sudden pang of pain in his heart, but he remained calm and smiled as he asked, "Is he very good to you?"

"very good."

"That's good... at least it's better than me."

You led Xue Shi and Ouyang Meixi in. Xue Shi stepped forward with red eyes and looked at Zhou Tingxi, crying, "Tingxi, I never thought you would come back safely. God bless you, God bless you."

Zhou Tingxi's gaze fell on Ouyang Meixi, whose eyes were slightly red and who was silently shedding tears. He asked coldly, "Didn't you go back? Why did you come here?"

Ouyang Meixi raised her head in fear, tears welling up in her eyes. "I'm already your wife. What will happen to my reputation if you make me go back? Even if you don't love me, I can still stay with you... Don't say you want to send me away again. Mother said no one can send me away..."

This time, Ouyang Meixi was much more assertive than before, speaking with a certain confidence, and seemed to really consider herself a general's wife, but she was no longer a general.

Xiao Mu felt awkward. After all, this was their family matter, and what was she doing staying here? But would it be abrupt to leave suddenly? She didn't dare to look at them anymore, feeling very embarrassed.

Zhou Tingxi said in a deep voice, "I have never acknowledged you, so how can you be considered my wife?"

Madam Xue flew into a rage, her voice trembling as she said, "Meixi has taken great care of me, far better than you, her unfilial son. In my eyes, she is our Zhou family's daughter-in-law. If you don't acknowledge her, then I won't acknowledge you either!"

Upon hearing the words "unfilial son," Xiao Mu tried her best to suppress her laughter.

"Why force me to do something I don't want to do? Mother, I don't have her in my heart. What do you want me to do?" Zhou Tingxi looked helpless and annoyed. This was the first time he had encountered such a problem.

Madam Xue looked at Ouyang Meixi with a much gentler expression. She said calmly, "You don't need to do anything. Just be good to Meixi and protect her, and that's enough!"

Zhou Tingxi looked at her with deep eyes and said irritably, "I can't do that. I'll send her back another day. We're just seeking refuge here, and we're bringing an outsider with us. How can we do that?"

outsider?

A thorn was stuck in Ouyang Meixi's heart, and she bit her lower lip in pain. In front of so many people, he personally called her an outsider, which really did not give her any face.

"You're the outsider, you unfilial son! Let me tell you, Meixi is my daughter-in-law now. If anyone's an outsider, it's you!" Madam Xue grabbed Ouyang Meixi and stormed off.

Zhou Tingxi looked at Xiao Mu and said sadly, "I'm sorry to have made you laugh. That's just how my mother is. Once she's made up her mind about something, there's no turning back unless Ouyang Meixi leaves on her own."

Xiao Mu smiled and said, "She's a good person. At least she's willing to follow you wholeheartedly. Maybe you two can develop feelings for each other over time."

She also hoped that Zhou Tingxi could live a good life with a woman, at least with someone by his side, and that all difficulties would pass.

Zhou Tingxi smiled bitterly, lowered his eyes, and shook his head helplessly. How could he not know that feelings can develop over time? But he never intended to develop feelings for someone over time.

He still couldn't accept it. They used to be so good together, how did things come to this?

Why is there absolutely no room for maneuver? They were clearly the ones who had always been there for each other, so why have they both found new partners?

"You, I'm not leaving this time I'm back. The general said we'll stay in Chaoyang forever. I'll ask you for your hand in marriage then, okay? But I need to settle down first."

Wei Hao and You stood guard at the door, one on each side. Wei Hao's gaze kept drifting to You. Although he couldn't openly approach her, she was the only one in his eyes right now.

You smiled broadly and said, "Okay, I'll wait for you."

But her heart was always restless, as if she was always waiting. From the very beginning, when they met, Wei Hao made her wait. She didn't like the feeling of waiting; it was too agonizing.

The thought that she might have to return to the Western Regions or that her identity as a spy might be discovered made her very sad. She didn't want it to be like this, but her master was using her mother, younger brother, and younger sister as leverage, so she was unwilling to do so.

"The Emperor is back!"

Standing on the city wall, Wei Lan saw the figure on horseback in the distance. Wasn't that the person she had been looking left and right? She galloped down the wall.

But Yu Yanjing didn't even glance at her, and went straight to Zining Palace.

When Xiao Mu saw Yu Yanjing, she was so excited that she couldn't speak properly and just hugged him tightly. She thought it would be a very long time before he came back. Even though Wei Lan said that he would be fine outside, she was still worried.

"You really gave me a fright this time. I thought you were never coming back and had run off with that kid Xie Huai."

Yu Yanjing's tone was emotional, and even his expression showed a hint of displeasure, but he still smiled happily.

Xiao Mu felt terrible. She went out without telling Yu Yanjing, making him so worried and even running out to look for her. She felt guilty and heartbroken. Besides her father, who else would care about her like this?

"Have you had lunch?" Yu Yanjing ruffled her hair, his eyes crinkling into slits with a smile.

"Ate."

Xiao Mu glanced at him furtively, a pang of sadness welling up inside her. He was always so considerate of her; he must be exhausted from the journey. He hadn't even had a sip of water, yet he was worried about whether she had eaten. She wasn't a child anymore.

Yu Yanjing gave her a very cautious look, then pulled her to sit on the soft couch by the window. He held her small, jade-like hands and played with them. Suddenly, he looked up and tentatively asked, "What have you and Xie Huai been doing these past few days?"

Hearing this, Xiao Mu finally released all the pent-up grievances she had been holding in for so long. She leaned against Yu Yanjing's chest and talked on and on.

"Xie Huai insisted on wearing coarse cloth clothes to conform to local customs, which made us spend all our money on two sets of clothes. We didn't have money to rent a car to come back, so we went to the fields to pull weeds and weed, and even went to the dye house to dye cloth! It exhausted me for two days! Seriously, have you noticed how dark I've gotten?"

"You went to work in the fields?" Yu Yanjing stood up instantly, pinched her shoulders, and carefully scanned her from head to toe with his eyes before asking again, "Are you injured?"

"Of course not." Xiao Mu blinked. "I'm fine, it's just that my lower abdomen has been hurting a bit lately, and I've been sleeping a lot. Do you think I'm sick?"

Yu Yanjing tensed up again, his eyes darkening slightly. "Lower abdominal pain? Summon the imperial physician now. Where's You? Where did she go?"

"No need, You knows medicine. I'll just have You take a look at me," Xiao Mu said with a smile.

You immediately knelt down in front of Xiao Mu, placed her hand on Xiao Mu's wrist, her heart filled with unease, even her fingers were trembling.

"What's wrong, You? Am I sick?" Seeing You like this, Xiao Mu couldn't help but get nervous.

"No...it's nothing. Her Majesty the Empress is just overworked and her body is too exhausted. She just needs to take care of herself later..." You said calmly.

Yu Yanjing was relieved. He looked at Youhou, a sharp glint in his eyes, and said in a deep voice, "Is this how you take care of Her Majesty the Empress?"

You knelt down again, head bowed, and said meekly, "It was this servant who failed to keep a close watch on Her Majesty the Empress. This servant is willing to accept punishment."

Xiao Mu tugged at Yu Yanjing's sleeve, her brows slightly raised, and said softly, "Don't blame her. It was my own fault for running around. What does it have to do with her? She can't follow me around all day, can she?"

"That's her duty."

Xiao Mu said angrily, "I don't care about responsibilities or anything like that. If you blame You or punish You, I'll go on a hunger strike!"

The light in Yu Yanjing's eyes dimmed instantly. He turned to look at her and said hesitantly, "Are you threatening me?"

"So what if I threaten you?"

"Not very good." Yu Yanjing released her hand, stood up, looked at You kneeling, and walked out without saying another word.

"Yu Yanjing, where are you going?"

He didn't even heed Xiao Mu's calls and disappeared from their sight.