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"Xiao Bai?" I carried the palace lantern and followed him into the house. Could it be that the thing Xiao Bai wanted to give me was in this house?

He remained silent, but took the palace lantern from my hand, turned around, and hung it on the lamp stand in the left corner. I took the opportunity to glance around the room: the layout was elegant, with thoughtful details. Although it lacked human warmth now, it was easy to see the cozy atmosphere of the room. It was hard to imagine that Xiaobai used to live here. Or perhaps, Xiaobai's personality wasn't as aloof as it is now.

"Before my father passed away, he made a will, but unfortunately, before it could be proclaimed to the world, it disappeared without a trace." He stood by the lamp stand, his back to the palace lantern, seemingly talking to himself.

I was startled and ignored the matter of the will. Why was Xiaobai telling me all this now?

"Xiaobai, didn't you say you had something for me?" I pretended not to hear and quickly changed the subject.

He glanced at me, a hint of struggle in his eyes, but it vanished in an instant, as quickly as if it had never happened.

"Xiaobai?" My right foot involuntarily took a small step back. Was it just my imagination? Was the struggle in Xiaobai's eyes just an illusion? My heart couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.

"Is Master worried that I might hurt you?" He looked down at where I had landed, clearly noticing the small step I had taken back.

I instinctively shook my head. Xiao Bai has never hurt me, and he still calls me master. Why can't I trust him?

He suddenly looked up at me, and for the first time since I'd known him, he smiled—a faint, shallow smile, as if he hadn't smiled in a long time. His expression seemed a little stiff, with a hint of sadness mixed with obvious joy.

"Xiaobai?" I suddenly felt dizzy. I blinked and the figure in front of me blurred instantly. I tried to speak, but found that I couldn't open my mouth at all. Before I completely lost consciousness, I only vaguely saw Xiaobai walking towards me with that smile still on her face.

(End of Volume 3)

Clouds Drunk, Moon Slightly Asleep (Revised Edition) Volume Four: A Hidden Melancholy and Resentment Arise from Separation

Chapter word count: 3862 Update time: 08-12-23 14:42

Far away

I looked at Xiaobai sitting opposite me with a complicated expression, but he turned his face away from me. I couldn't explain how I felt, and I couldn't speak. I just sat softly in the carriage, and suddenly I wanted to laugh, to burst out laughing.

Besides blaming myself, who else can I blame? I'm always unwilling to be wary of those around me, or rather, unwilling to be wary of them before they are. This carelessness isn't new; it's a habit I've had for over twenty years, and it's impossible to change overnight. But can I keep it unchanged forever? I gave a bitter smile.

Daylight had broken, and the carriage had clearly left Longzhou City. Just like when the Second Prince suddenly "disappeared," was there another powerful force in the palace and Longzhou that the fox couldn't control? What did Little White want with me? It didn't seem like he wanted to use me to blackmail the fox.

The carriage moved forward, but the person opposite me never looked at me. I think I've been given some kind of muscle-relaxing drug, which is why I'm so weak. I can't even speak, let alone run away. I don't know where Xiaobai is taking me, or what her purpose is. Besides staying put, I have no other option. I looked down at my clothes; I was still wearing the same dress and cloak. The Phoenix Orchid Jade Pendant should still be on me. I think Yefeng and the others will find me soon.

I felt completely weak and incredibly hungry, as if the banquet had happened the night before, not the night before, and I hadn't eaten for a day and two nights. The carriage stopped just in time, and I looked up at Xiaobai. He finally faced me, but his eyes still wouldn't meet mine. He simply bent down and lifted me off the carriage, leading me into a money exchange. I struggled to look up and finally caught a glimpse of the money exchange's name: "Silver Moon."

There wasn't a single customer in the money exchange, only a middle-aged man who seemed to be the manager and a clerk. As soon as the middle-aged man saw us, he quickly stepped aside and led Xiaobai into the money exchange. After passing through a fairly large hall and then a fairly long corridor, we came to a small courtyard surrounded by bamboo. However, the bamboo was bare at this time of year, giving it a somewhat desolate feel.

We walked through the bamboo grove and courtyard until we came to a row of small houses. At noon, the person pushed open one of the doors and stepped aside. Xiaobai carried me inside. I looked up to look around the room, but I was surprised to see someone standing inside. The person had been facing away from us, but when they heard the noise, they suddenly turned around and met my gaze. I was so startled that my heart seemed to jump into my throat, but I couldn't make a sound. I forced myself to calm down and tried to keep my face as calm as possible.

It was Zhang De!

Xiao Bai, the Second Prince, is his relationship solely with Zhang De, or is it related to the entire Yun family?

"Quickly put the young master down," Zhang De said somewhat hastily when he saw me.

Without saying a word, Xiaobai picked me up and put me on a chair to the side. Then he nodded to Zhang De and strode out.

My heart clenched, and I involuntarily closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. When I opened them again, I had already made up my mind. Soon after, the middle-aged man who seemed to be the innkeeper brought in the food. I looked up at Zhang De with expectant yet aggrieved eyes, then stared at the food on the table, signaling that I wanted to eat. I was completely weak; I had to eat, right? Besides, facing Zhang De was better than facing Old Man Yun.

Zhang De glanced at me, hesitated for a moment, then reached out and fed me a pill. Soon, a warm current seemed to flow through my body. I moved my hands slightly; although I wasn't instantly back to full strength, I had at least regained a considerable amount. I quickly sat up straight and started eating while trying to stall for time. The longer it went on, the better for me.

"If Uncle De needs to see Yue'er, he can just go back to the Yun residence. Why go through all this trouble?"

He remained silent for a while before saying, "Please finish your meal as soon as possible, young master, as we must continue our journey soon."

"On the road? To Xiuruo?" I looked up at Zhang De, half-closing my eyes, and repeated softly.

"Yes," he replied, bowing slightly, his attitude neither humble nor arrogant.

"Father's orders cannot be disobeyed, why must you do this, Father?"

Since we're returning to Xiuruo, Old Man Yun must be involved. Is the Yun family also connected to Xiaobai? From the fox and Xiaobai vying for the throne, the fox ascending the throne, Xiaobai disappearing, then the Yun family buying official positions, then the fox suddenly appointing Yun Feng as prime minister, then the fox thoroughly investigating the Yun family while I was on a mission to Tianqing, and now, just as the fox is about to announce my marriage decree with him, Xiaobai suddenly appears, kidnaps me, hands me over to Zhang De, and then rushes to Xiuruo… It seems that as we piece together this story, something has already surfaced in my mind.

He kept his head slightly lowered, but did not speak.

I sighed inwardly and slowly began to eat. The events of that banquet night weren't so simple; there must have been things I didn't know about. But they all kept it from me like this, and now I'm being sent to Xiu Ruo. The fact that things have become so complicated, and that Old Man Yun has gone to such lengths, is definitely the result of Fox, Yun Feng, and himself each having their own agendas. And clearly, this time, Old Man Yun's plan has been the most brilliant.

Sigh, if my brother had agreed to my marriage with the fox, I probably wouldn't be like this now, right?

It wouldn't take much longer; everything seemed ready outside, just waiting for me to finish my meal and leave. I looked up at the roof, wondering when the night wind would find me.

"Young master, we must hurry on our way," Zhang De said softly, standing beside me.

I took a deep breath, glanced at Zhang De, and got up to walk towards the door. Outside, there were already two rows of guards I had never seen before. Zhang De followed behind me, and in front of us were three identical carriages. The middle-aged man led the way and pulled the curtain of the middle carriage. I then tactfully got into the carriage.

We traveled incredibly fast. Logically, Fox and Yunfeng, knowing I'd been kidnapped, should have guessed my whereabouts. Fox should have ordered strict guarding of the city gates and rigorous checks on those entering and leaving. Unexpectedly, we left Longyao Kingdom smoothly. Except for when I was unconscious and didn't know how I left Longzhou, the other city gates weren't particularly heavily guarded. I really don't know what happened in the palace that night? Why didn't even Yefeng show up?

Entering Xiuruo, the journey was unimpeded. It was my first time in Xiuruo, and unlike Longyao and Tianqing, my first impression of Xiuruo was of undulating mountains, peaks reaching the sky—a natural defensive barrier. Descending the mountains, one finds plains, oases, and fertile land. I've heard that the westernmost part of Xiuruo is a vast desert, while the easternmost part is a coastal area with its own unique charm. Having witnessed the beauty of Tianqing and the wonder of Tianshan and Tianhu, I never imagined that Xiuruo, which I disliked the most until now, would be more beautiful than Tianqing from a tourist's perspective.

It was more than half a month later when I arrived at Xiuzhou, the capital of the Xiu Ruo imperial city. I felt abandoned; apart from Zhang De, I didn't see a single familiar face. Upon entering Xiuzhou, I wasn't taken to the Hao Prince's Mansion, the stronghold of Old Man Yun, but directly to the imperial palace.

"Uncle De, what is this?" I asked the person next to me. Although I didn't want to go to Prince Hao's mansion, the palace wasn't a good place either.

"This is the Emperor's decree. It's late, young master, please rest." After saying this, Zhang De turned around neatly and then closed the door for me.

I looked around the room; it was elegant and grand, with unique furnishings. No one came in to serve me or anything. It was already very late, and I had made it in time. I was exhausted, so I didn't think about anything else. I went into the bedroom, took off my cloak, and lay down on the bed fully clothed.

In my dream, Xiaobai held my hand with one hand and a scroll of imperial edict in the other, coldly telling the fox to choose: me or that edict? The fox didn't speak, but instead lunged forward, instantly striking Xiaobai with his palm. Before I could cry out, Xiaobai pulled me forward. I watched as the fox's palm was about to land on my chest. I looked up to see the fox's eyes, but instead, I saw that white figure. He was turning around and smiling at me, a trace of blood slowly trickling down from the corner of his mouth...

"Xi Lan!" I woke with a start, sitting up abruptly, one hand on my chest, looking around to see where I was. To my surprise, I saw someone standing in front of the bed, wearing a light gray cotton robe, his slightly graying temples betraying his age. I looked at him, and he was also looking at me with great interest, his face somewhat kind and gentle, his smile still amiable, but unfortunately, there was a scrutinizing look in his eyes.

"Yue'er greets Your Majesty." I quickly jumped out of bed, straightened my clothes, and performed a kneeling salute.