"Mm." Qin Xiaoyou nodded, but her heart sank lower and lower. Bai Yuxiao's reaction was exactly what she expected. However, she couldn't help but hope that perhaps Bai Yuxiao wouldn't mind. But reality shattered the bubble of hope in her heart.
"So that's how it is. You're not Qin'er, you're Qin Xiaoyou," Bai Yuxiao murmured to himself. After a while, he stood up, forced a smile, and said, "It's getting late. You must be tired after talking so much. You should rest early. I'll go back to my room first." Without waiting for Qin Xiaoyou to say anything, he turned and left.
Watching Bai Yuxiao's departing figure, Qin Xiaoyou smiled self-deprecatingly. Last night, she had fled Bai Yuxiao's room in a disheveled state; today, Bai Yuxiao had left her room looking utterly dejected. It seemed that fate truly wouldn't let anyone suffer a loss. However, she would rather suffer a little loss herself in exchange for Bai Yuxiao's composed demeanor today.
Having spent a sleepless night, Qin Xiaoyou woke up early the next day with dark circles under her eyes and wandered around the courtyard alone. But even after the sun had risen, she still hadn't seen Bai Yuxiao. A bitter feeling welled up inside her; she guessed he was avoiding her. Too lazy to continue the fuss, she simply went back to her room and stayed there all day.
As evening approached, Zui Linglong, having finally found some free time, sought out Qin Xiaoyou to ask how things were going. However, seeing Qin Xiaoyou's listless and weak state, she already guessed what had happened, but still, clinging to a sliver of hope, she asked, "What did Bai Yuxiao say?"
"He didn't say anything, just that he understood, and then he left." Having cried all night and all day, Qin Xiaoyou felt her tears had long since dried up. Saying those words, besides a little sadness, she felt nothing else particularly special. So this was what heartbreak was like; it didn't make her feel like she was dying.
Zui Linglong hugged Qin Xiaoyou tightly, comforting her, "Don't worry, give him some time to process this. After all, this happened so suddenly, it's understandable that he can't react right away."
"Probably." Although Qin Xiaoyou herself didn't really believe Zui Linglong's words, what else could she do at this moment but deceive herself? She'd just give herself a last glimmer of hope; whatever Bai Yuxiao's final decision, he had to give her an explanation, didn't he?
Chapter 82, The Half-Dead Wutong Tree
After hiding in her room like a turtle for several days, she didn't see Bai Yuxiao, but instead received a wedding invitation from the Wine Cellar Manor. It was for the marriage of Ren Dong and Qin Wu.
Looking at the bright red wedding invitation, something so festive, Qin Xiaoyou found it incredibly jarring. Ren Dong and Qin Wu were getting married soon, and Zui Linglong and Wenren Qi were getting married too. Recently, everyone at Chunfeng Yidan was incredibly busy preparing for their weddings. Only she, only Bai Yuxiao, had become people who loathed each other. They simply avoided each other altogether.
Worried that Qin Xiaoyou would get sick from staying cooped up in her room all day, but unwilling to go out for a walk to clear her head, she was now in a bind. Unlike Qin Xiaoyou, Zui Linglong was quite pleased to see the invitation.
Regardless of Qin Xiaoyou's wishes, Zui Linglong instructed the maid to pack some of Qin Xiaoyou's clothes early in the morning. When it was time to leave, she dragged Qin Xiaoyou out of bed and put her on the carriage.
Rubbing her still sleepy eyes, Qin Xiaoyou fidgeted in the carriage, feeling restless as if the cushion beneath her was covered in needles. Knowing what Qin Xiaoyou was worried about, Zui Linglong patted her hand and said, "Don't worry, Bai Yuxiao isn't traveling with us, you won't run into him."
Upon hearing this, Qin Xiaoyou quieted down, but a deep sense of loss welled up inside her. She didn't know what was wrong with her; when she knew she might meet him, she felt uneasy and only prayed that she wouldn't. But after knowing she wouldn't see him, she felt incredibly disappointed.
To distract Qin Xiaoyou from her grief over Bai Yuxiao, Zui Linglong would drag her off the carriage to see anything new and interesting along the way. Sometimes they would chat about things in modern times, recounting embarrassing past events. Wenren Qi would listen attentively, occasionally asking questions like, "What is an elevator?", "Can women work outside?", and "What is singlehood?" Zui Linglong would patiently explain each question to him.
To be honest, seeing Wenren Qi and Zui Linglong's interactions, Qin Xiaoyou couldn't help but feel envious. She wished Bai Yuxiao could discuss matters of her world with her as freely and easily as Wenren Qi. Unfortunately, Bai Yuxiao was not Wenren Qi.
As they drew closer to the winery, Qin Xiaoyou's mood improved, no longer as gloomy and preoccupied as before. Zui Linglong gradually relaxed. That evening, the three stayed at an inn. Hearing about the river lantern release event, Zui Linglong insisted on lighting some lotus lanterns to release. Qin Xiaoyou declined, saying she was tired and didn't want to go. Zui Linglong didn't force her, telling her to rest well and promising to bring back some local snacks. Then, she happily went out with Wenren.
She called the waiter to fetch a bucket of hot water, and after taking a comfortable bath, Qin Xiaoyou summoned one of the maids who had been serving her. The maid respectfully asked, "What are your orders, Miss Qin?"
"This pastry tastes good. You've served me for so long, so I'll reward you with it," Qin Xiaoyou said, pointing to a beautifully crafted pastry on the table.
The maidservant, unsuspecting, happily ate the food, and then fainted shortly afterward.
Qin Xiaoyou breathed a sigh of relief. She'd bought that packet of sleeping pills a long time ago, and she'd been worried they'd lost their effectiveness. However, Zui Linglong had been with her the whole way, so she hadn't had time to buy a new one. Now, she had no choice but to try it, even if it seemed hopeless. Surprisingly, she was lucky; it still worked.
With great effort, Qin Xiaoyou carried the maid onto her bed, covered her with a blanket, and then, carrying her small bundle that she had packed earlier, sneaked out of the inn through the back door.
However, Qin Xiaoyou didn't rush out of the city. Instead, she stayed at an inconspicuous little inn in the city. She knew that if Zui Linglong and the others discovered she was missing the next morning, they would definitely chase after her out of the city.
She knew it wasn't right to leave without saying goodbye, and she knew that Zui Linglong hadn't told her the truth to avoid hurting her feelings, but she was still angry. If she hadn't overheard the conversation of her servants, she wouldn't have known that after she told Bai Yuxiao her true origins, Bai Yuxiao had left Chunfeng Yidu without a word. Poor her, she was still there every day hoping that perhaps Bai Yuxiao would come to her senses and talk to her again, treating her gently as before.
The paulownia tree is half-dead after the frost, and the white-haired mandarin ducks fly alone, separated from their mate. Qin Xiaoyou sighed. She should have understood long ago that life is neither a TV series nor a novel. There aren't that many perfect love stories, nor is there such a perfect and affectionate male lead who smiles and forgives the female lead no matter what mistakes or foolish things she does.
However, she couldn't blame Bai Yuxiao; it was she who had fallen for him. Just as the author of *The Little Prince* said in her previous life: "If you are to be tamed, be prepared to be disappointed and weep."
It was Qin Xiaoyou herself who willingly allowed herself to be tamed by Bai Yuxiao, and now all the pain and suffering she has endured is nothing short of self-inflicted.
In truth, Bai Yuxiao should have been the one most angry about this whole affair. Bai Yuxiao had already been very lenient by not choking her and demanding Qin Qin return; so why did she have the right to possess Qin Qin's body and then monopolize the feelings that originally belonged to Qin Qin?
Being too greedy is no good. Qin Xiaoyou understood this principle, and she thought of many ways to comfort herself. But no matter how much she thought, her heart still felt like it was being slowly cut by a dull knife, taking four or five cuts to draw blood. What was torturous was the slow cutting process.
After staying at the small inn for a few days, Qin Xiaoyou figured that Zui Linglong and Wenren Qi were probably no longer in the city. She instructed the waiter to find her a donkey, and Qin Xiaoyou rode the big-eared black donkey, swaying back the way she came.
No, no, no, don't misunderstand. She wasn't going back to Chunfeng Yidu. Chunfeng Yidu was Wenren Qi's territory, and the person connected to Wenren Qi was Qin Qin, not her, Qin Xiaoyou, so she had no right to go back. She just wanted to learn from Zhang Guolao, letting her black donkey roam freely, going wherever it took her. Maybe she'd be lucky enough to meet a Lü Dongbin who would enlighten her and help her become an immortal? Or, to be more realistic, before she even figured out where she wanted to go, she'd suddenly disappear from the road. When she opened her eyes again, she was back in the world she'd always known. What harm was there in considering everything that had happened as just a long dream?
Chapter 83, Riding a Donkey Across the Land
"I laugh triumphantly, and laugh triumphantly again, laughing at the world where people never grow old. I laugh triumphantly, and laugh triumphantly again, seeking a lifetime of carefree joy."
The one singing a little tune loudly on the mountain path was none other than Qin Xiaoyou, who had left heartbroken that day. Thanks to her resilient nature, after a few days of depression, she came to terms with it. Anyway, she didn't have many days left in this world, so she might as well have some fun and not waste her time in this alternate world.
Having figured things out, Qin Xiaoyou began her carefree journey through ancient times. Where to go first? After squatting down and drawing a few circles, she decided to find the most beautiful woman in the world for tea. But who was this most beautiful woman in the world? Asking that question would make you a complete country bumpkin. Because in wealthy circles, the name of Qingwu was known to everyone.
Having tea with the most beautiful woman in the world is certainly no easy feat; being a favorite of such a beauty is no simple matter. Fortunately, this young lady, Qingwu, is the top courtesan of Luoxia Pavilion. In a brothel, as long as you have enough money, you can get in even if you're dressed like a beggar. So, Qin Xiaoyou rode her big black donkey leisurely to Luoxia Pavilion.
However, the madam of Luoxia Pavilion made Qin Xiaoyou fully realize what it meant for ideals to be lofty while reality was harsh. When she was stopped at the door, Qin Xiaoyou didn't think anything of it; she arrogantly shouted that she wanted the madam to come out and see her. When the madam finally came out, she completely ignored the large stack of silver notes Qin Xiaoyou was waving in her hand. Instead, she looked Qin Xiaoyou up and down and said, "Your appearance is too poor; you can only be a mid-level maid. I'll offer you a maximum of ten taels of silver."
Qin Xiaoyou was furious. "I'm here with this huge wad of silver notes to find you, not to sell myself!" But when the madam heard that she was a young lady visiting a brothel, she ordered her men to throw her far away and stand at the entrance so she wouldn't block her business.
What kind of madam is this! She won't even take money that's offered to her! Qin Xiaoyou, who was bruised and battered from the fall, didn't dare to cause trouble for the madam since she was all alone. So she spat on the ground twice and stomped on it a few times to show her anger. Then, she quickly rode her big black donkey away from this unpredictable place.
She couldn't see the beauty, but that's okay. Life is still beautiful, and there are other things to do. After squatting down and drawing two more circles, Qin Xiaoyou decided to go to Bangzi Mountain. She had heard that a group of ruthless bandits gathered there, each one looking fierce and menacing, like demons who had just crawled out of hell.
It was truly astonishing that someone could be so terrifying. Qin Xiaoyou decided to see for herself. That's why she sang all the way. She sang partly to pass the time and partly to attract the bandits' attention, lest they be distracted and overlook her small frame, allowing her to pass through Bangzi Mountain.
This time, the robbers didn't disappoint Qin Xiaoyou; they dutifully jumped out, twenty or thirty of them blocking her path. However, upon realizing that there was only one girl riding a donkey, they quickly disappeared, leaving only the two of them behind.
Qin Xiaoyou looked hurt at the two thin, sickly men in front of her who looked like they could be blown away by the wind, and asked, "Are you two the ones robbing me?"
“Okay, it seems so,” a sickly man on the left replied, trembling.
Qin Xiaoyou was furious. How could they look down on her like that! Sending those two to rob her—comparing them, Qin Xiaoyou felt she looked more like a robber than they did. Qin Xiaoyou had a peculiar trait: when she was angry, she lost her mind, and in that state, she would do things beyond reason. For example, right now, with queen-like authority, she kicked each of the two sickly men to the ground, swindled out their last two copper coins, and then rode off on her black donkey.
You probably thought Qin Xiaoyou's next thought would be, "Where's the third place?" Congratulations, you guessed right. Qin Xiaoyou was indeed considering that question while relieving herself in a clump of grass. But when she heard the approaching sound of horses' hooves and saw a group of menacing-looking men on horseback seemingly chasing someone, she decisively abandoned the thought. Qin Xiaoyou skillfully pulled out a hairpin from her hair and, without hesitation, stabbed the big black donkey in the rump. The donkey let out a mournful cry and galloped off in one direction.
Qin Xiaoyou didn't know what the donkey's attributes were. Whenever it went berserk, it would run incredibly fast, even faster than a horse. After discovering this ability of the big black donkey, Qin Xiaoyou would poke its rear end with her hairpin whenever she did something bad and had to escape. Of course, sometimes, in special circumstances, she would also poke the donkey like this to make it run away, luring people away so she could sneak away and find a place to hide.
Logically speaking, following such an unscrupulous master, the big black donkey should have permanently distanced itself from Qin Xiaoyou the moment it gained its freedom. However, for some reason, no matter how many times Qin Xiaoyou poked the big black donkey, it would always turn around and accurately find Qin Xiaoyou's location, continuing to be used as a shield.
Seeing that the big black donkey had led the group away, Qin Xiaoyou knew it was best not to linger. She tidied herself up, washed her face by the river, and planned to leave Bangzi Mountain quickly. However, perhaps due to her bad luck, she hadn't gone far when she encountered the very robber she had initially robbed.
Glancing at the bandit's thin arms and legs, Qin Xiaoyou considered whether to just knock him unconscious with her bundle, too lazy to even pick up the stones. Suddenly, the skinny bandit cheerfully ran towards Qin Xiaoyou. Qin Xiaoyou braced herself, but after hearing the bandit's words, she relaxed completely. The bandit said, "Sister Qin, I am Luanshanhun."
It turned out to be Xiaoshan, whom she had met in the capital. But what happened to him? He looked like this. Qin Xiaoyou stepped forward and patted Luanshanhun on the shoulder: "It's been a while since we last met. What happened to you? Did your family suffer a famine?"
Luan Shanhun didn't answer Qin Xiaoyou's question. Instead, he spoke in a mature manner, "This matter is a bit complicated, and you wouldn't understand even if I explained it. While they're gone, I'll send you out of the mountain. This Bangzi Mountain isn't a place for you."
After saying that, Luan Shanhun hoisted Qin Xiaoyou onto one of the horses he had tied outside the woods. Note that he literally hoisted her. Qin Xiaoyou was bewildered for a long time, not understanding how Luan Shanhun suddenly possessed such strength. However, Luan Shanhun didn't give her a chance to ask questions. After carrying her out of the mountains and hurriedly placing her on a main road, Luan Shanhun left.
Chapter 84, Tavern Beyond the Great Wall
"Brother Wenren, is there still no news of Xiaoyou?" Bai Yuxiao looked at Wenren Qi with an anxious expression.
Wenren Qi glared at him, annoyed: "Now you're in a hurry? Where were you before? You didn't even..."
"Alright, alright, you should say less. Bai Yuxiao didn't expect things to turn out this way either. Speaking of which, it's been months and there's still no news of Xiao You. I'm really worried that something might have happened to her." Seeing that Wenren Qi was rarely angry, Zui Linglong quickly stepped forward to comfort him.
Everyone sighed in unison when Qin Xiaoyou was mentioned. Zui Linglong and Wenren Qi discovered Qin Xiaoyou was missing the next day and began searching everywhere. They had initially thought Qin Xiaoyou would at least go to congratulate Ren Dong Qin Wu, but when they sent people to inquire at the manor, they learned that Qin Xiaoyou hadn't gone at all. The two lost all interest in attending the wedding banquet, ordered their gifts to be sent, made up a flimsy excuse, and began a full-scale search for Qin Xiaoyou at Chunfeng Yidu.
After searching for over ten days without a trace, Bai Yuxiao, who had disappeared for a long time, reappeared. The moment Wenren Qi saw Bai Yuxiao, he wanted to punch him. Qin Xiaoyou's sudden departure without saying goodbye was entirely because of Bai Yuxiao. As for Qin Xiaoyou's true identity, Zui Linglong eventually told Wenren Qi. Wenren Qi didn't have any particular feelings. Whether it was Qin Qin or Qin Xiaoyou, they were both the same person to him, someone he genuinely cared for like a younger sister. So, he was very upset that Qin Xiaoyou was in trouble.
After a moment of silence, Bai Yuxiao stood up to take his leave: "I'll come back tomorrow to ask for news." At this moment, Xiao Zhu ran in quickly: "Master, Master, there's news! There's news about Miss Qin!"
"Really?" All three of them were overjoyed.
However, seeing the expectant looks on the three faces, Xiaozhu shook her head with some difficulty. Zui Linglong couldn't help herself and stepped forward to grab her shoulders, shaking her vigorously: "You said you had news, but you're shaking your head again. What does this mean?"
Wenren Qi stepped forward and pulled the agitated Zui Linglong aside, saying to Xiaozhu, "Don't rush, explain what happened slowly."
Xiao Zhu swallowed hard and began to explain. Apparently, their people had found someone in the borderlands who looked very much like Qin Xiaoyou, but they weren't sure if it was her. Because, in the information Wenren Qi had given them, there was no mention of Qin Xiaoyou knowing martial arts. But the girl in the borderlands was incredibly skilled in martial arts. She had spent a month there and had managed to subdue all the local bandits; no one dared to cause trouble at her tavern.
A tavern? That's something Qin Xiaoyou would do. She'd said before that she wanted to open a tavern someday, specializing in selling all kinds of fine wines. And she'd only sell to people she liked; if she didn't, she'd beat them up and kick them out. Thinking of this, Bai Yuxiao was overjoyed. He tried hard to suppress his excitement and asked Xiaozhu in a trembling voice where exactly the girl was in the borderlands. After Xiaozhu told him, she didn't say goodbye to Wenren Qizui Linglong before mounting her horse and leaving.
Zui Linglong shook her head: "Why are you in such a hurry? It's not even certain if it's Xiao You. By the way, Xiao Zhuzi, does that girl's tavern have a name?"
"Yes, there is, but the name is a bit strange," Xiaozhu said, scratching her head.
"Oh? What's so strange about it?" Wenren Qi asked with great interest.
"It doesn't sound like a tavern name, more like a restaurant. It's called something like 'Chicken' again," Xiaozhu said.
"Is it KFC?" Zui Linglong asked.
Xiao Zhu nodded. Instantly, Zui Linglong felt as if her heart had turned to stone. Although she didn't understand how Qin Xiaoyou had suddenly regained her martial arts skills, using KFC as the name of a pub was quite an idea. That girl was probably craving KFC's New Orleans chicken wings like crazy.
"Linglong, you look so happy. Have you already confirmed that the girl is Xiaoyou?" Wenren Qi asked, seeing Zui Linglong's happy expression.
"Yes, I'm absolutely certain that person is Xiao You. Ha, using KFC as the name of a pub, how did she even come up with that? Let's go, let's pack our things and go watch the show." Zui Linglong smiled slyly, took Wenren Qi's hand, and prepared to leave.
Seeing that someone was acting on a whim, Wenren Qi quickly pulled him back: "Don't be in such a hurry. We can set off in a few days. If we go too early, there won't be any good shows to watch."
"Why?" Zui Linglong didn't understand. You have to go early to watch a play. If you go late, what's there to see? The stage will be dismantled.
“We can’t be so unfair as to not give Bai Yuxiao and Xiaoyou any time alone together,” Wenren Qi said.
"Oh right, I almost forgot about that." Zui Linglong slapped her forehead, no longer insisting on going to the borderlands immediately, but instead turned around and went back to her room to rest. After worrying for so long, she could finally relax and get a good night's sleep.
Meanwhile, in a small tavern beyond the Great Wall, Qin Xiaoyou, completely oblivious to the danger, was happily mixing various wines brewed in the courtyard, even ordering the waiter to prepare a few more bowls for her. Lu Yun, arms crossed, leaned against the wall, coldly watching Qin Xiaoyou waste his wine without a care, his teeth itching with anger, yet utterly helpless. After all, she had saved his life when he was dying of thirst, and Lu Yun, who had been constantly taught by his mother to be grateful since childhood, decided to brew three jars of wine to give to Qin Xiaoyou as a token of his gratitude.
But little did he know that brewing this wine would lead to a path of no return. Qin Xiaoyou used violence to suppress his resistance, employing both coercion and enticement to trick him into opening this small tavern with her. Then, Qin Xiaoyou would mix his brewed wine in all sorts of ways, calling it "mixing." To put it nicely, every time he drank her concoctions, he ended up with diarrhea until dawn. So, seeing Qin Xiaoyou trying to grab someone to taste the wine again, Lu Yun didn't care about the waste of his wine and quickly turned and ran away. Behind him was the waiter's heart-wrenching cry: "Young Master Lu, you can't just leave like this! How can you bear to leave me alone to be tormented by the proprietress? I'm a delicate flower! Proprietress, please be gentle, be gentle! I can't stand your ruthless treatment every now and then!"
Chapter 85, Young Master, Your Majesty, I Greet You
That day, a very distinguished-looking young man suddenly entered the usually quiet KFC. He was dressed in white, with a white fox fur coat over his robe, and his long, ink-black hair cascaded over his shoulders. The waiter stared in disbelief, wondering where this extraordinary figure had come from.
Seeing that the waiter was only staring at his young master, practically drooling, the servant standing next to the young master in white became displeased and poked the waiter's chest with his index finger, saying, "What are you looking at? What are you looking at? Don't you have any manners?"
"We're watching who's there," the waiter replied honestly.
But to the servant, this reply sounded like blatant provocation. "I'm just waiting for your young master to show you what he can do!" Enraged, the servant raised his fist, ready to teach this arrogant young man a lesson. Just then, a girl in a light blue dress, with only a single wooden hairpin slanted into her hair, slowly descended the stairs and said, "Oh, young master, you have quite the temper. I wonder what my waiter has done to offend you?"
The servant glanced at the woman, a mocking smile playing on his lips: "So you're the innkeeper known for her fierceness beyond the Great Wall? I thought I'd see a burly, timid woman, but you're actually quite frail. Tsk tsk, what a disappointment."
Hearing the servant girl's unfiltered words, the waiter became nervous. This girl, with her fair skin and delicate features, was easily harmed by the landlady. And the landlady was notoriously petty; anyone who said a bad word about her would be bedridden for three months. Without thinking, the waiter quickly covered the servant girl's mouth.
When the waiter suddenly and audaciously covered his mouth with a hand that was hard to see if it was even clean, the servant struggled desperately to break free. But for some reason, the waiter was incredibly strong, and the servant couldn't budge the waiter's hand an inch no matter how hard he tried. Meanwhile, his young master, from the moment the proprietress appeared, had his eyes glued to her, not even glancing at him. Unable to expect his young master to intervene, the servant had no choice but to steel himself and lick the waiter's palm with his tongue.
A tingling sensation he'd never felt before spread from his palms to the soles of his feet, and the waiter blushed as he released his grip. The more he looked at the servant, the faster his heart pounded; he didn't know what was happening to him.
The servant, now free, had no time to ponder the waiter's sudden strangeness. He swaggered up to the proprietress and said, "What kind of proprietress are you? Don't you have any sense? Do you even know who my young master is? How dare you not bow?"
"Oh dear, this servant seems quite clever, but every word he says seems to be hitting a nerve." The waiter closed his eyes; he couldn't bear to see his servant being tormented to the point of near death by his boss's wife. But to his surprise, the boss's wife not only didn't get angry, but even gave the white-robed young man a charming smile. The waiter was inwardly marveling at how good-looking people were; even the boss's wife was unusually gentle. However, a sentence the boss's wife said next made the waiter realize that he had been overthinking things.
After Qin Xiaoyou finished laughing, she bowed respectfully to Bai Yuxiao and said, "Young master, I greet you!"