His Majesty is plotting a rebellion? Quickly, summon the Imperial Advisor!

The wind and snow howled, and inside the Taoist temple, Xu Bing's gaze was somewhat strange. This Zhou Xiaoyou really was... not quite proper.

Xu Bing looked at Ji Yuan with amusement.

The Empress of Da Xi was now blushing furiously, and she felt like she wanted to beat Zhou Xiaoyou to death.

"You're such a jerk, you're really ruining your sister's life!"

Ji Yuan cried out inwardly, her heart trembling, and for the first time, she felt fear.

Who is Xu Bing? He is a traitorous minister, while I am the emperor.

It's illogical and unreasonable.

Of course, she was well aware of the destructive power of Xu Bing's appearance, and if they were to engage in any more intimate behavior, she couldn't guarantee that she wouldn't lose her composure.

Her remaining rationality terrified her.

But the demon in her heart made her secretly hopeful, and just then, a delicate fragrance wafted over.

"Damn it!" Ji Yuan forgot that Xu Bingcai was the one in control.

The refreshing fragrance calmed her mind, making her feel like an elegant gentleman reciting poetry by the river, leaving people amazed by his talent and captivated by his thoughts.

However, as one gets closer, the elegant fragrance of a gentleman gradually disappears, turning into an unusual odor.

It's a fragrance.

It's a very strange scent, a scent I've never smelled before. It evokes a variety of indescribable feelings.

The scent is like she is holding a piece of burning precious jade, which emits a faint glow and is the most unique and exquisite jade in the world.

That precious jade seemed to stir his emotions and desires.

Her mind was completely captivated by the jade; her emotions, desires, consciousness—everything—was brewing, fermenting, and consuming within it.

suddenly.

Baoyu left.

The gentle fragrance of a gentleman has returned to linger at the tip of the nose.

"What just happened?" Ji Yuan's mind went blank.

Looking around, he saw that Zhou Xiaoyou, that troublemaker, staring at him with an expression that said he didn't recognize her.

"What's wrong?" Ji Yuan frowned. Why is that brat You looking at me like that?

“Senior sister…” Zhou Xiaoyou gave a thumbs up, “I never knew you had this side to you.”

As she spoke, she bit her lip, her gaze sweeping between the two of them, her envy evident in her eyes.

"It's still better to be an emperor, you can hug and gnaw on him..." Zhou Xiaoyou sighed, "Brother Xu, I believe you now, you two are really in cahoots."

Ji Yuan frowned, a vague realization dawning on her. She glanced at the moonlight outside the window and noticed that a period of time had suddenly passed.

"What exactly happened?" Ji Yuan asked, frowning. "What did you do to me?"

Xu Bing wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, glanced at Ji Yuan, and diagnosed, "Your symptoms indicate temporary amnesia, which usually occurs when you experience intense emotional stimulation or are unwilling to acknowledge a certain experience, resulting in stress-induced amnesia."

"That's normal. They'll probably start to remember in the next couple of days."

Ji Yuan, however, was completely confused.

……

Before dawn.

Xu Bing and Ji Yuan achieved their goal. Xu Bing prepared ten taels of silver and a decent horse for Zhou Xiaoyou and sent him on his way.

Before parting.

The two women embraced and said goodbye. Ji Yuan's eyes welled up with tears, and she pinched Zhou Xiaoyou's cheek.

"Listen to your senior sister, don't come looking for me in Da Xi anymore."

Ji Yuan spoke earnestly, his emotions complex and difficult to decipher.

Zhou Xiaoyou looked reluctant to part, tears and snot streaming down her face. The thought of never seeing her senior sister again made her sad.

"Okay." After a long pause, Zhou Xiaoyou nodded emphatically. She had grown a lot from this experience.

She thought for a moment and then said, "Also, Senior Sister Ji, although Brother Xu is handsome, you should still be restrained."

"??" Ji Yuan asked, puzzled.

Zhou Xiaoyou mounted the horse, spurred it on, and the horse kicked its legs and rode away with a clatter.

Ji Yuan watched her retreating figure until she disappeared at the end of the road, leaving only a line of horse tracks.

From now on...

The mortal and the immortal realms are separated.

Zhou Xiaoyou danced among the clouds atop the mountain.

Ji Yuan was scheming and plotting in the deep palace.

"Ugh."

After a long while, Ji Yuan sighed softly.

The emperor's heart is made of iron, but Ji Yuan, a disciple of Penglai Immortal Mountain, is not so hard-hearted.

"Xiao You, this farewell may be our last."

“I am already twenty-eight years old. The lifespan of mortals is short... or perhaps already halfway through, while you have only just begun your journey.”

"Don't come looking for me again. Even if you do, my beauty has faded, and I dare not look at you again."

A ripple of emotion stirred within Ji Yuan's heart.

However, her initial sentimentality was quickly replaced by anger, and Xu Bing, standing beside her, would not indulge in her melancholy.

He was bound and unable to move, then thrown into a carriage and headed towards the Imperial Preceptor's residence.

Tianhua Mountain was sealed off by the Imperial Guards.

Ji Yuan has nominally gone up the mountain to cultivate Taoism, so Zhou Xiaoyou's role is almost non-existent.

Xu Bing's behavior does seem to have the air of "crossing the river and then burning the bridge".

On the carriage.

Ji Yuan remained silent; quite a lot had happened in just one day.

First, he was tricked by Xu Bing into gaining his freedom without realizing it, and then he walked right into the trap.

Then he went to the Red Eagle Escort Agency to witness Xu Bing's career.

On the way back, he met Shang Shoucheng and learned that Ziyunxian was seeking revenge. He climbed the mountain to save Zhou Xiaoyou and was almost killed by the wind blade. Later, he conspired with Xu Bing to deceive Zhou Xiaoyou.

last of the last.

They were tied up and taken back to the Imperial Preceptor's residence by car.

"So many things have happened, yet I still couldn't escape Xu Bing's clutches." Ji Yuan closed his eyes, feeling a sense of despair.

She watched the birds fly past the car window, and a sense of envy rose in her heart.

I don't know how much longer I will be trapped here.

Is it just a moment... or the rest of her life? ... Ji Yuan thought of this, but she didn't feel the fear she had imagined.

They even vaguely prepared for the worst.

Xu Bingye closed his eyes to rest.

When they returned to the Imperial Preceptor's residence, it was already dawn. Xu Bing entered through the back door, tossed Ji Yuan back into the side room, and then went back to his bedroom to rest.

……

early morning.

The 28th day of the first month of the fourth year of the Yuanfeng era in the Da Xi calendar.

Song Si came to take care of Ji Yuan as usual, bringing a bowl of white porridge, a pinch of salt, and an egg that was also boiled today. She gave one to Ji Yuan as well.

She pushed open the door and saw that Ji Yuan was still snoring softly, so she gently shook Ji Yuan awake.

"Your Majesty, how was yesterday?" Song Si knew that Ji Yuan had been taken away by Xu Bing yesterday, and he hadn't even changed out of his clothes yet.

She was still wearing that fitted red dress and animal skin boots, which were well-made, warm, and stylish.

When Ji Yuan woke up and saw Song Si, his brows relaxed slightly, and he quietly recounted what had happened yesterday.

"It's good to let Zhou Xiaoyou leave." Song Si nodded secretly.

“Alas, what a pity. If His Majesty had been a little more quick-witted yesterday, we would have…” Song Si scooped up some white porridge with a spoon, gently blew away the steam, and fed it to Ji Yuan.

Ji Yuan was also extremely annoyed, but the hunger in her stomach made her eat the white porridge first.

She was very hungry; she hadn't eaten almost anything all day yesterday.

"My dear minister, I have made you suffer."

"You were originally a stargazer, but you've become a servant who takes care of my food, clothing, and lodging, and even acts as a maid for that scoundrel," Ji Yuan said apologetically.

"Not at all," Song Si smiled. "Your Majesty is in such a state, it's only natural that you should be taken care of."

"correct."

A sharp glint suddenly flashed in Song Si's eyes, "Your Majesty... tomorrow at midnight, I will be able to change my appearance and return to my true self."

"Get ready in advance, I'll get you out of here," Song Si whispered.