Do not lean against the west railing to lock in the clear autumn

Chapter 168

"I can let you go, but I can't see you off. I can't just watch you walk further and further away, because I'm afraid I'll have to stop you from leaving."

As Zi Nuo spoke, he looked at Gan Lin beside him and said, "Brother Gan, you speak so casually, but are you really that casual inside?"

Gan Lin didn't drink like Zinuo. After hearing Zinuo's words, he smiled bitterly: "I already knew my fate. I didn't have much hope. But when this day really came, I realized that I still cared a lot. So, Huai'en, this time when you go back to Youjing, no one should be able to hurt you. I won't go back with you. I'll stay here to teach Chu Chen and hope that we can revive the Mo family."

"Perhaps one day, when our feelings have calmed down, we will come to find you again."

Do not lean against the west railing to lock in the clear autumn. Chapter 145

Chapter word count: 4347 Last updated: 09-09-24 16:43

Last night, Zinuo and Ganlin both got completely drunk. After settling them back to their room, I took a short nap, and the sky was already beginning to lighten.

I sat up in bed. Ruosheng, who hadn't slept all night, had red eyes. She helped me wash up and change my clothes. We were about to go to the palace to bid farewell to the Golden Sparrow King.

"His Highness..." Ruosheng hesitated, unable to finish her sentence.

"Let him sleep; don't wake him today."

Ruosheng sighed softly and followed me out of the room.

After a simple breakfast, I arrived at the palace. In the Liangyi Hall, King Jinque was bidding farewell to Huangfu Xuan, Shen Haoyu, Shen Tingxuan, and Yu Jia. After they left, I walked up to King Jinque and respectfully kowtowed three times, not for him, but for Zinuo.

King Golden Sparrow sneered: "It seems I've never seen you kowtow to me before, but I never expected to see it today."

"Qingqiu thanks Your Majesty for your care over the past few years. Before leaving, I implore Your Majesty to take good care of Zi Nuo. Even though he is the destined King of the Golden Sparrow, he is still a child who needs the warmth of family." King of the Golden Sparrow mostly only groomed Zi Nuo as the next king. Compared to Luo Chen and Luo Yang, who had been by his side since childhood, he rarely showed Zi Nuo any fatherly affection.

"If you have these concerns, why did you abandon Zinuo and insist on returning to Marquis Qiyun's side in the first place? Don't you find it laughable to say these things now?"

"Life is rarely perfect, and this is all Qingqiu can do." After saying this, she bowed to the Golden Sparrow King again, "Qingqiu bids farewell here."

When I left the Liangyi Hall, Shen Haoyu and the others were still waiting outside. When they saw me come out, they left the palace together.

Several carriages were parked on the Imperial Street. Shen Tingxuan led me to one of them. Ruosheng handed me a bundle of clean clothes. I had no other luggage. Seeing that Ruosheng looked quite reluctant to part, I jumped off the carriage and gently hugged her: "Ruosheng, thank you for taking care of me these past two years. From now on, I entrust His Highness to you."

Ruosheng nodded with tears in her eyes: "Your Highness... I will take good care of Your Highness."

The other carriages had slowly departed, the sound of hooves particularly crisp in the quiet morning. After bidding farewell to Ruosheng, I boarded the carriage; it was finally time to leave this place, to leave Zinuo.

Officials from the Ministry of Rites escorted us out of Hanyue City. Outside Hanyue City, Huangfu Xuan and Lin Zhao led a group of people north on horseback, while the rest of the group traveled east. These people might have met on the battlefield a few days ago.

Han Yuecheng slowly lagged behind. Zinuo and Ganlin both said they wouldn't come to see me off, and I don't know if they've sobered up yet. But I still couldn't help but lift the curtain and look back. On the towering gray city wall, there were only a few soldiers on guard and fluttering banners. I didn't see the familiar white-clad and blue-robed soldiers. I felt a mix of relief and disappointment.

Shen Haoyu and Shen Tingxuan both rode horses, while Yu Jia rode in a carriage. There were two other carriages, but it was unclear which one Mu Hanyan was in.

Shen Tingxuan wanted to arrange for a maid to come and take care of me, but I shook my head and refused, so I just sat quietly in the carriage by myself.

I didn't sleep well last night; the swaying in the car actually helped me sleep soundly.

When he woke up again, he saw Shen Tingxuan's anxious, handsome face. "Huai'en, we've arrived at the post station. Let's have some lunch," Shen Tingxuan said.

I rubbed my still-sleepy eyes, climbed out of the car, and sure enough, we had stopped outside a rest stop. Shen Haoyu was standing at the door, looking in my direction.

Jumping off the carriage and approaching the post station, I found that everyone had already sat down at the table to eat. Only one table in the hall was still empty, and judging from the dishes, it was clearly the main table.

After sitting down at the table, Shen Tingxuan and Shen Haoyu also took their seats in turn. Looking around the hall, they couldn't help but ask in surprise, "Where are Young Master Yu and Bu Xi?" Because I was still feeling unwell, Bu Xi had accompanied me the whole way.

"Young Master Yu has gone to take a bath. He doesn't like to brew medicine in the kitchen, so he'll come back later." Shen Haoyu ladled a bowl of soup and placed it in front of me. I couldn't help but blush slightly and stole a glance at Shen Tingxuan. Shen Tingxuan glanced at me indifferently and didn't say anything.

Let's wait for them. I set the soup aside; I'm not hungry yet.

After hesitating for a moment, she finally asked Shen Tingxuan softly, "Where is my sister?"

Shen Tingxuan's face stiffened slightly, then he said softly, "I sent someone to take her back the day before yesterday."

I said "Oh," feeling apologetic.

We traveled eastward without incident, and after more than twenty days we finally set foot in the territory of Marquis Qiyun. Upon reaching Jiangcheng, Yu Jia went north first, while Shen Haoyu continued to travel with us.

"Where is Prince Qing heading?" Shen Tingxuan asked, frowning.

Shen Haoyu pointed to the several carts of betrothal gifts that had been brought back from Hanyue City behind him and said with a smile, "Of course, we're going to the Marquis of Qiyun's residence to propose marriage. These betrothal gifts all go with her; wherever she goes, the betrothal gifts go."

Shen Tingxuan looked at me questioningly. Although it was true, I was still a little embarrassed to say it, so I could only blush and shake my head slightly.

Shen Haoyu didn't care. He pointed at Bu Xi and said, "Huai En is not in good health. Senior Brother Bu Xi is her personal doctor, and I invited him. So I have to take full responsibility."

If Shen Zexuan had said these words, no one would have found it strange. But for Shen Haoyu to say them with such a shameless attitude, it was rather unsettling. It was unclear how he had become like this over the past few years.

Upon hearing this, Shen Tingxuan frowned even more deeply: "What exactly is Huai En's condition?"

Shen Haoyu's smile vanished: "Mr. Immortality said that as long as we can survive this year, the antidote will be ready."

There are only one or two months left this year.

Upon returning to Pingcheng, Marquis Qiyun, who had received prior notice, was already waiting on horseback outside the city. In the past few years, Marquis Qiyun seemed to have aged considerably, with graying hair at his temples. Upon seeing Shen Haoyu and me, Marquis Qiyun only gave us a cold glance before riding into the city with Shen Tingxuan.

I exchanged a smile with Shen Haoyu. One was the son of my sworn enemy, the other the daughter long since expelled from the family; it was already quite kind of him not to tie us up or lock us up outside. Returning to Youjing, I didn't necessarily have to go to the Qiyun Marquis's residence, but Mu Huaien still had questions for the Qiyun Marquis, and I couldn't avoid seeing him. Otherwise, I didn't know when she would suddenly appear and scare me again. That situation was truly bizarre, often making me uneasy about whether one day I would have to leave this body that I had come to consider my own.

Marquis Qiyun was not too harsh in the end, arranging for Shen Haoyu to stay in the villa where he had recuperated for a long time, while Shen Tingxuan brought me to Marquis Qiyun's residence.

That year, when I came to Pingcheng to pick up Shen Haoyu and Zinuo, I only went as far as the main hall of the South Courtyard. Now, stepping into the Qiyun Marquis's Mansion after more than ten years, I feel that the changes in the world are too unpredictable. When I left, I walked hand in hand with Zinuo and my aunt. When I returned, I was all alone, and tears welled up in my eyes.

Shen Tingxuan arranged a separate small building for me in the North Courtyard. I glanced at the small building that I could only look at from afar before, and shook my head, saying, "I'd rather stay at Hongxiu Residence."

Shen Tingxuan looked troubled and hesitated, saying, "After my father was injured, he moved into Hongxiu Residence. I'm afraid you won't be able to stay there anymore."