Repeatedly broken branches

After waking Jiang Qi up, Xiao Mu led her to meet Xie Huai.

Xie Huai calmly took a sip of his drink and joked, "Is this your sister?"

Jiang Qi retorted, "No, but I'd be happy if she were my sister, since I only have three annoying brothers."

"You still deny it, but you all speak exactly the same way."

Xiao Mu glared at him, gritting her teeth, and said, "Speak nicely to my sister. I just want to know what a coincidence that you're here too?"

Xie Huai raised his eyes and said, "This isn't your territory, why can't I come?"

Jiang Qi looked at him with a scrutinizing gaze. Who exactly was he? How dare he be so disrespectful to the Empress? In any case, if he was disrespectful to the Empress, he was no good person!

Xiao Mu remained silent, glaring fiercely at Xie Huai. That's just how his mouth is; if he can make you unhappy, he absolutely won't let you feel happy.

After so long, she had long since gotten used to being verbally attacked by Xie Huai.

"I stumbled upon this place by chance, and the wine is quite good." Xie Huai stopped teasing her and answered her question directly.

Xiao Mu said, "Then we won't bother you any longer. You can enjoy your drink. I'm going to take my sister out for a walk."

She took Jiang Qi's hand and prepared to walk outside.

At this moment, Xie Huai suddenly stood up, took a small step away, and stretched out his hand to block their way. He smiled slightly and said, "If there's something fun, why didn't you take me?"

"You can forget about things belonging to women like us." Jiang Qi's eyes flickered slightly, expressing her slight dissatisfaction. From the moment she first met Xie Huai, she had a bad impression of him—frivolous and unreasonable.

Xiao Mu pushed Xie Huai's hand away, glared at him, and walked past him, holding Jiang Qi's hand. In her heart, Xiao Mu cursed, "What bad ideas is Xie Huai up to now? Nothing good ever comes from being with him. Jiang Qi is here this time too, so I can't bring Xie Huai along."

Xie Huai was stunned for a long time, and finally laughed coldly. What was he doing again? Was he trying to slap himself in the face again? Knowing that the other party wanted to keep their distance from him, he still shamelessly moved closer.

Do they really have no sense of shame?

I don't know how much I drank, but my head felt dizzy and throbbing, and my vision started to blur. I guess I drank quite a lot this time.

She spotted that annoying Bai Jiaoyu. Her expression was clearly unpleasant. She snatched her wine glass, her eyes wide with anger, and said, "Xie Huai! Why are you drinking again? I'm going back to the Western Regions tomorrow. Aren't you going to stop me?"

bar?

He couldn't wait for Bai Jiaoyu to leave now.

He snatched back his cup, refilled it, and drank it all in one gulp. Xie Huai rubbed his eyes, feeling extremely tired, accompanied by a restless, uneasy heat.

His hands were so weak that he could barely hold the wine glass, and his hand holding the wine pot was trembling. Bai Jiaoyu was even more furious when she saw this, so she snatched the wine pot and smashed it to the ground.

The white porcelain wine pot shattered, spilling wine all over the floor and splashing everywhere. She truly lived up to her title of princess, capable of throwing tantrums at any moment.

"Xie Huai! I! I!!! I love you, can't you tell?" Bai Jiaoyu suddenly gripped his hand tightly, her eyes revealing genuine and urgent emotions.

Xie Huai shook her off, stood up, and said with displeasure, "This is not the Western Regions. Please have some self-respect, Princess Yu."

"But I love you. I fell in love with you when Master Lin brought you back to the palace, Xie Huai. I'm always so happy to see you. This time I followed you to Chaoyang. You...you really can't tell? I know you know that you came to Chaoyang to hide from me, right?"

Bai Jiaoyu kept rambling on and on in front of him, but he didn't listen to a word she said. All he could think about was why she hadn't left yet.

Bai Jiaoyu was so anxious she was almost crying, which attracted the attention of the surrounding tables. They whispered accusations that Xie Huai was bullying a woman, and their spittle almost drowned Xie Huai.

Xie Huai was instantly sober.

When will this annoying thing finally get rid of me? I should have just gone with Xiao Mu and the others; I would never have run into Bai Jiaoyu.

"What do you want to do?" Xie Huai asked without hesitation.

Bai Jiaoyu tugged at his sleeve, then suddenly lowered her eyes shyly and said, "Come back to the Western Regions with me to get married and be my prince consort."

Xie Huai turned around and stared at her with wide eyes. "Besides this, what else do you want to do? Since I'm free now, just tell me everything. I'll take you there. Don't bother me again. You're someone who pays attention to me, so what's with this clinging to me like this?"

Bai Jiaoyu stared blankly at him, not listening to a single word he said. Instead, she tugged at Xie Huai's sleeve and asked innocently, "What exactly do you want me to become your consort?"

Xie Huai was instantly amused and annoyed. Putting aside the fact that Bai Jiaoyu was two years older than him, she was already twenty-five years old. How could she say such childish things? He even felt that her brain was not as good as that of a three-year-old.

At first, they had no contact at all. Xie Huai started learning the craft from his master as soon as he entered the palace. He would start practicing as soon as it was light and could only rest when it was time to eat.

Moreover, he was neither a prince nor a member of the royal family, and he ate in the courtyard of his own Treasure Pavilion, never sharing meals with princes and princesses.

He had only met Bai Jiaoyu a few times, mostly at various celebrations. How could she have fallen for him? How could someone as status-conscious as her possibly be interested in Xie Huai?

Not only Xie Huai didn't believe it, but even the King of the Western Regions himself was half-convinced.

But what could he do? All he could do was indulge and spoil Bai Jiaoyu.

"I will not be your son-in-law, so give up on that idea. If you want to have fun in Chaoyang, then have fun in peace. If you don't want to, then go back to the Western Regions. Don't bother me, I don't have time."

Xie Huai took out a silver ingot from his money pouch and placed it on the table. Without even glancing at Bai Jiaoyu, who was standing there seemingly about to cry, he immediately picked up the cloak placed to the side and walked out of the Flower Pavilion.

Before Bai Jiaoyu could even react, Xie Huai had vanished. Tears welled in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She was a princess, the most noble princess of the Western Regions. How could she shed tears in front of these lowly people?

Ying'er got off the carriage across the street, went into the Flower Pavilion, and brought Bai Jiaoyu back to the carriage. The cold wind was howling on the street. If it weren't for the carriage, they would probably have frozen.

Yan Man placed a soft pillow from the carriage behind Bai Jiaoyu's waist and said carefully, "Princess, let's go back. Chaoyang is really not suitable for us."

Bai Jiaoyu glared at her and said sarcastically, "What use are you to me? You can't defeat Emperor Chaoyang, and you won't offer me any advice. I've given you so much gold and silver jewelry for nothing, and I've let your useless father speak up for me in front of my maternal grandfather for nothing. If it weren't for me, would your useless father be in his current position?"

Faced with Bai Jiaoyu's angry insults and sarcasm, Yan Man naturally dared not retaliate. However, she was powerless to stop Bai Jiaoyu from insulting her father and could only watch helplessly as her father was humiliated.

Yan Man kept her head down silently, not daring to say a word. Even Ying'er, who was a maid beside her, could cast a disdainful glance at her.

"Yan Man, don't forget, everything you have is because of me!"

Bai Jiaoyu's repeated reminders and pressures shaped her into who she is today.

At first, she always thought it was an honor for the noble princess to play with someone like her. What was wrong with being treated like a slave? Now she thought that she was better off being a slave maid. She was Bai Jiaoyu's outlet for venting her frustrations.

"Yes. Yan Man knows."

Bai Jiaoyu glared at her, then reached out and pinched Yan Man's chin, lifting it slightly. Her scrutinizing gaze swept over Yan Man's face as she said disdainfully, "So what if you have this pretty face? Which man would kneel down at the sight of you? I truly regret not letting You take your place. You is much more capable than you, always satisfying this princess. And you? Saying more will only annoy this princess!"

Yan Man's eyes were brimming with tears, but she dared not let them fall, because Bai Jiaoyu hated it when people cried. If she cried, it would only make Bai Jiaoyu angrier, and she didn't know what else was waiting for her.

What is there to complain about in choosing this path? Didn't you follow Bai Jiaoyu in the first place because of vanity?

Bai Jiaoyu kicked Yan Man off the carriage in annoyance and ordered the coachman to drive the carriage to the outskirts of the city.

Yan Man's knees were chafed and scraped, but she could only grit her teeth and move forward step by step. The pain in her legs constantly reminded her how wrong she had been.

“Princess, You said yesterday that she wants to return to the Western Regions because things are almost done and it’s time to fulfill your promise.” Ying’er suddenly remembered and told Bai Jiaoyu.

"Hahahaha, she wants to go back? Dream on! If she goes back and sees her younger siblings and her lowly mother dead, won't she go mad? Won't she reveal her wicked side to me? Sigh, she still expects me, the princess, to treat those poor, lowly commoners who died well?" Bai Jiaoyu laughed maniacally. You have to know who she is. How could she make promises so easily?

In her eyes, only her maternal uncle and Xie Huai were human; everyone else was not. Their lives were as lowly as ants, and what did their lives have to do with her?

Her eyes flickered, and she remembered what had happened the night before sunrise.

It was a stormy night. She had been in a bad mood all day and couldn't find anyone to vent to. Suddenly, she remembered that there were a few lowly people outside the palace who were under her protection. They were You's family.

Braving the wind and rain, she kicked open the gate of the house. It was a rather large house that Bai Jiaoyu had bought for her mother in front of her before she went to Chaoyang.

Bai Jiaoyu sneered inwardly, "They don't deserve to live in such a nice house. After I've tormented them a bit, I'll burn this house down."

Ying'er followed closely behind, closed the door, and locked it to prevent anyone from hearing the noise and breaking in.

At this time, You's mother, Bing, had already gone to sleep, as had her two younger sisters, Tang and Ci, and her younger brother, Xiao.

Bai Jiaoyu first stormed into Bing's room, drawing an extremely sharp scimitar from her waist. Countless lives had already been lost with this scimitar. Holding the scimitar, she forcefully slashed Bing's chest, drawing a straight line of blood down to her abdomen. Instantly, her clothes tore, and blood gushed out. Bing, who had been sleeping soundly, was suddenly awakened by the intense pain. Before she could even react to what had happened, she saw Bai Jiaoyu's almost crazed expression, her hand holding the scimitar, about to stab herself a second time. In the end, she bled to death.

Bing couldn't scream; she could only stare wide-eyed, her throat choked with a hard, stone-like lump. All her strength drained away with her blood; the pain was excruciating, a pain that felt like her body was being cut and stabbed apart.

As her consciousness faded, she could only think of her eldest daughter, who was still in a foreign land, her second and youngest daughters, who were asleep, and her son Xiao, who was not yet four years old. They were all the precious treasures she had carried for ten months... It was a pity that she would never see them again.

She still wouldn't give up, stabbing Bing's corpse dozens of times. His abdomen was already a bloody mess, and his internal organs were all turned into mush. Bai Jiaoyu's hands were also stained with blood, and his fair face was splattered with countless bloodstains. His whole body exuded a terrifying bloody smell.

Bai Jiaoyu used the hem of her pink gauze skirt to wipe the blade clean, calmly fetched a basin of water from the kitchen to wash her hands, and then wiped the dried blood off her face in front of the bronze mirror.

Holding the already dried scimitar, she nonchalantly walked into the children's room. She smiled cruelly, and surprisingly, her younger siblings were not awakened by the noise of her killing. Their innocent faces were still smiling as they slept, presumably having sweet dreams.

What right do the lowest of the low have to dream?

Bai Jiaoyu smiled knowingly, first looking at her second sister Tang. Tang's sleeping face was so beautiful. She must be about fifteen years old. She looked just like You when she was fifteen. You was so well-behaved back then, as well-behaved as a dog beside her.

Suddenly, she changed her mood and frantically stabbed Tang in the abdomen dozens of times. The speed was extremely fast. Tang was awakened by the intense pain and suddenly opened her eyes. She wanted to get up and run away, but Bai Jiaoyu held her ankle tightly and raised the curved knife to stab her heart. Boiling blood sprayed all over her face. Just like that, Tang gradually stopped breathing.

Ci and Xiao, who were sleeping beside him, were startled awake. Ci was only nine years old and Xiao was less than four. They huddled at the foot of the bed, covered their heads with blankets, and trembled with fear.

Bai Jiaoyu suddenly lost interest, turned her gaze to the oil lamp burning brightly beside her, picked it up and threw it directly onto the blankets covering the children. The flames instantly engulfed her entire body, and in no time, the entire bed was consumed by flames. The sound of the burning flames was mixed with the children's helpless and broken cries.

She stood there, stunned, almost forgetting that she was also in the fire. If Ying'er hadn't rushed into the house and pulled her out of the flames, she would probably have perished along with the rest of the family.

The children's cries gradually faded away, and overnight, the entire house was burned down to its frame. The courtyard, once filled with the sounds of children playing, was now a ruin.

The next day, Bai Jiaoyu boarded a carriage bound for Chaoyang. Last night she had angrily killed four people, but today she could act as if nothing had happened and sweetly bid farewell to her maternal uncle.

Sometimes, even Ying'er, who had been by her side for a long time, felt that she wasn't like a human being.

Among the names Bai Jiaoyu possessed, Guang Ying'er knew more than a dozen, and there were many more that Bai Jiaoyu herself hadn't counted. The most ridiculous thing was that her maternal grandfather didn't know anything about them. Even if he did know, what could he do? Her maternal grandfather loved her the most. Would he take her life in exchange for another's?

……

"I just went out for a meal with Jiang Qi! Why did you follow me all the way here?"

I originally intended to take Jiang Qi to Ruan Cifeng's clinic and introduce her to Xiao Shao and the others, but instead! We ran into Yu Yanjing, disguised as Ling, sitting there drinking tea!

Jiang Qi asked in confusion, "Sister Xiao Mu, who is this?"

"Yes... that guy Yu Yanjing, he sneaked out to play and used disguise techniques. Don't you think he's even more playful than us?"

"Yes."

Yu Yanjing, his face dark, put down his teacup, looked at Xiao Mu standing angrily at the door, suddenly stretched out his finger, beckoned, and said playfully, "Come here."

Is he teasing the dog?

Or does he think he's treating himself like a dog?

Yu Yanjing, I will never forgive you!

Xiao Mu walked forward angrily, baring her teeth and claws at Yu Yanjing.

As a result, Yu Yanjing's once stunningly handsome face was marred by a bloodstain that ran diagonally from the corner of his eye to the bridge of his nose!

It was Xiao Mu who scratched it with her long-grown nails. Shuang Ru was even planning to help her dye her nails, but now, in trying to scratch Yu Yan Jing, she actually broke them.

Yu Yanjing's face turned from black to ashen. As the emperor of a country, he not only lost face in front of so many ministers, but also had to fawn over the empress who had made him lose face.

He looks genuinely angry.

Even her favorite plum candy stopped eating. She had just happened to pass by a street vendor and bought all the candy she could find. The old man selling the candy was overjoyed.

Unfortunately, someone doesn't eat it.

Seeing that Xiao Mu was angry, Jiang Qi had no choice but to return to his residence, feeling extremely helpless.

Ruan Cifeng and Xiao Shao also joined in the effort to coax Xiao Mu. Ruan Cifeng secretly told Yu Yanjing that pregnant women are more easily angered than ordinary women, and may even fly into a rage over the smallest thing.

"I'm going back now, Xiao Shao, Ruan Cifeng, goodbye."

Ruan Cifeng whispered to Xiao Mu's departing figure, "You mustn't get angry often now, it's not good for the baby in your womb!"

Xiao Shao turned to look at him. He was usually so indifferent to her, but when facing the Empress, he used all the worry he had never shown before.

Yu Yanjing disregarded everything else, grabbed his sword and ran out to chase after the angry Xiao Mu. He was the one who made Xiao Mu unhappy, so he had to be the one to coax her.