Rebirth and Rewriting Fate

The journey back to Beijing has begun again, and everyone is taking turns to rest. A long journey always requires proper rest. Today, we'll set up camp in the wild.

"Miss, is that mountain ahead Xiyan Mountain?" Zhu Ling asked, pointing ahead as she looked at the map.

"Ah, I heard it when I was a child. They said there was a group of bandits living on Xiyan Mountain who killed people without blinking an eye! Anyone who went up the mountain never came back. It was very strange," Ping An said fearfully.

"Don't worry, Xiyan Mountain may look close, but it's still more than a day's journey from here. Besides, the capital is to the east, and Xiyan Mountain is to the west. Don't be afraid," Ye Xingchen reassured him.

"That's good, you scared me to death." Ping An patted his chest. "Sister Zhuling, tell me more about what happened in the capital." The two little heads huddled together again.

Xu Li was carefully roasting sweet potatoes and naan bread, while Nan Rao checked the water every now and then to see if it was boiling. The scene was actually quite nice.

Ye Xingchen glanced at Xiyan Mountain in the distance, hoping everything would go smoothly.

Beside the riverbank, an old willow tree stood alone, its branches drooping and swaying gently in the wind. Beneath the tree, a figure stood quietly, his back to the viewer appearing lonely and forlorn. The surroundings were quiet, save for the chirping of insects and the calls of birds.

"Chiwu said you want to see me," the figure said.

This was the first time they had met alone since their previous confession of love was rejected.

"I need a horse first thing tomorrow morning," Ye Xingchen said.

"Where to go?"

"Go to Xiyan Mountain and retrieve the other half of the parchment scroll that I promised you." Perhaps not expecting her to be so direct and frank, Gu Ruoxiao remained silent for a moment.

“I’ll arrange for someone to go with you first thing tomorrow morning,” Gu Ruoxiao replied.

"I was referring to a horse," Ye Xingchen emphasized, turning to look at him. "Prince Jin, have you perhaps forgotten the renowned reputation of Xiyan Mountain? You wouldn't want your guards to go and not return, would you?"

Gu Ruoxiao remained silent.

Ye Xingchen sighed, "Don't worry, since I promised to give you the other half of the parchment, I won't go back on my word. Besides, Nan Rao and the others are in your hands, and they are much more important than the parchment."

After a moment, Gu Ruoxiao replied, "Okay."

"I hope that Prince Jin will take good care of Nanrao and the others on their journey back to the capital. Thank you." After saying this, Ye Xingchen turned and left without a trace of regret.

Yes, she should never have any dealings with royalty in this life. After giving away the parchment, it would all be over for her. She told herself.

After nightfall, Ye Xingchen told the remaining four that she would disappear for a few days and asked them to wait for her in the capital. At first, Zhu Ling wanted to say something, but Nan Rao stopped her, "Miss, come back safely, we'll be waiting for you at home."

"Okay, I'll be back."

The next morning, Chiwu waited by the river with a horse. Ye Xingchen nodded to him and then rode away.

After a day's journey, she arrived at an inn near Xiyan Mountain and decided to stay overnight. Knowing it was too dark to climb the mountain without risking injury, she planned to go the next day. She slept comfortably at the inn, perhaps because she was thinking about returning to Xiyan Mountain, and slept particularly soundly that night.

After breakfast, Ye Xingchen went to the stables to get his horse and prepare to leave, but unexpectedly, he met someone he didn't expect at the stables.

Gu Ruoxiao was casually stroking the fur of his beloved horse.

"You were following me?" Ye Xingchen said angrily. "Didn't I say I would give you the things?"

"If I don't keep an eye on you, what if you stay on the mountain and don't come down?" Gu Ruoxiao looked like she was determined to stick to him, which left everyone speechless.

"Whatever," Ye Xingchen said, then mounted his horse and rode away.

When they reached the foot of Xiyan Mountain, Ye Xingchen did not slow down. Although Gu Ruoxiao looked puzzled, she still followed.

After circling around to the back of Xiyan Mountain, she dismounted, tied the horse to the side, and crawled into a cave. Gu Ruoxiao followed closely behind. A moment later, they arrived at a patch of grass. Ye Xingchen took out her dagger and cleared away the weeds, revealing the vines that had been hidden behind the grass.

"Gu Ruoxiao, can you climb mountains?" This was Ye Xingchen's territory; she didn't even want to call him "Prince." She then leaped up and began to climb.

After climbing for half an hour, they landed on a platform. Passing through a few more caves, they came to another patch of vines. Gu Ruoxiao sighed, thinking that without someone to guide them, they would probably have been trapped and died in these mountains.

As they neared the summit, they emerged from a clump of bushes.

"One, two, three!" Ye Xingchen suddenly shouted. As soon as she finished shouting, she quickly closed her eyes, and in an instant, fluffy powder filled the air.

"What is this?" Gu Ruoxiao exclaimed. "Why can't I see anything?"

A head popped out from the cave entrance opposite, "Who goes there, daring to trespass on Xiyan Mountain!"

"Little one, is that you?" Ye Xingchen called out.

"Who are you?" A little boy stood up opposite her, holding a large knife in his hand. "Sister Yun Chu, is that you? You're back?"

Ye Xingchen waved to him and glanced at Gu Ruoxiao beside her, who was frantically rubbing her eyes. She couldn't help but say, "Stop rubbing, or you'll go blind." As soon as she finished speaking, Gu Ruoxiao really stopped moving, and Ye Xingchen chuckled.

"You're still laughing!" he said with his eyes closed.

"Sister, wait for me, I'll lower the walkway for you," the little one shouted.

As the connecting bridge descended, Ye Xingchen thought for a moment, then grabbed Gu Ruoxiao's arm and followed the little one inside.

Beside the clear water, Ye Xingchen was wiping Gu Ruoxiao's eyes with a handkerchief, saying, "Don't move around, just wipe off this powder."

Having said that, Gu Ruoxiao quietly let him do as he pleased. The warm sunlight shone on his face, making him look both warm and dreamy. She looked at him, momentarily stunned, but quickly snapped back to reality. A voice in her head was saying, "Don't forget, he just rejected you."

Thinking of this, Ye Xingchen threw the handkerchief at his face, "Wipe the rest yourself!"

Gu Ruoxiao quickly took the handkerchief and started wiping herself.

"Yun Chu is back! Yun Chu is back!" "Yun Chu is back with her son-in-law!" This is getting more and more absurd...

The sound came from afar and grew closer, and a large group of people gathered from all directions, talking all at once.

"Hello, Third Uncle, Hello, Eldest Uncle, Hello, Eldest Aunt, Third Aunt is getting more and more beautiful!" Ye Xingchen greeted sweetly.

"Quick, let me see, it's my Yun Chu who's back." The crowd made way for an elderly woman with white hair who was being helped out.

"Grandma, it's me, Yun Chu. I've come back to see you." Ye Xingchen stepped forward and hugged the old woman.

"Good, good, it's good that you're back." The old man's eyes welled up with tears.

"And who is this?" The old man looked at Gu Ruoxiao beside him.

"He is..." Just as she was about to introduce him, a voice came from beside her, "Madam, please call me Ruoxiao. I am Yun Chu's friend."

“Mom, I knew young people were too concerned about saving face,” said the third aunt beside her.

"You haven't eaten yet, have you? It's already noon." It's true that only Grandma cares whether you're hungry.

“Yes, yes, you all come inside and have some tea. I’ll get ready for lunch right away,” Auntie San said.

"What a happy day! Chuyun, you've grown up so much. You should have a few drinks with your third uncle this noon. I remember when you were little, you used to steal my wine!"

"Don't stand here, come inside and sit down," the gossipy women bustled about.