Ouyang Yue rolled her eyes and followed. However, as they walked along the road, they noticed that the pedestrians were acting strangely. It seemed as if they were afraid of being chased by someone. There were very few pedestrians on the road, making it difficult to spot anyone. Even those who were seen were rushing through the streets, looking hurried.
Ouyang Yue and Leng Jue exchanged a glance. Leng Jue immediately looked up and grabbed a middle-aged man, who was startled and said, "I don't know anything, don't grab me!"
Leng Jue said in a deep voice, "What are you afraid of? Tell me the truth, or I'll kill you."
"Great hero, spare me! Great hero, spare me! I'll tell you everything, but things have gotten really bad. I heard that the two major sects in the martial arts world, the First Killing Alliance and the Bloodthirsty Alliance, have started fighting. They're at the height of their battle, and I heard that many people have died. We're afraid of being caught in the crossfire, so we dare not stay outside. Great hero, spare me! That's all I know."
Leng Jue was stunned. He released the man, who ran away as if his life depended on it. Ouyang Yue and Leng Jue exchanged a glance. Why were the First Killing Alliance and the Bloodthirsty Alliance fighting each other?
Ouyang Yue's heart suddenly skipped a beat: "You... what is your relationship with the First Killing Alliance?!"
☆、107、Ouyang Zhide returns!
The more Ouyang Yue thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Leng Jue, however, didn't answer but instead asked, "Oh, you think I have something to do with the First Killing Alliance?"
Ouyang Yue stared intently into his eyes, but could not discern Leng Jue's expression. She simply asked, "Aren't you the leader of the First Killing Alliance?"
Leng Jue smiled, his eyes seeming to curve slightly: "I can tell you for sure, no."
"Oh?" Ouyang Yue was not quite convinced, but seeing the deep, bright light in Leng Jue's eyes, she realized he didn't seem to be lying. Could it be that she had misunderstood?
She felt that Leng Jue and she had been hunted by the Bloodthirsty Alliance, and Leng Jue had even been poisoned as a result. Although he had received the best wound medicine, his wound hadn't fully healed. This was a deep-seated grudge. And yet, coincidentally, just as they returned from their mission, the First Killing Alliance and the Bloodthirsty Alliance began fighting. Perhaps this explained her confusion: why hadn't anyone pursued them along the way? They must have been entangled by the First Killing Alliance long ago. The Bloodthirsty Alliance must have been in a stage of protecting its organization, where survival meant destruction; they wouldn't have had time to continue hunting her. This was far too much of a coincidence…
However, now is not the time to think about these things. After all, if the Blood Alliance is destroyed by the First Killing Alliance, she will be in no danger on her journey. Besides, Dongxue is a member of the First Killing Alliance, so Ouyang Yue instinctively has a better impression of the First Killing Alliance: "Let's hurry on our way."
Leng Jue nodded, and the two immediately set off. When they encountered Red Maple Mountain, they sent a message to Chuncao, instructing her to be escorted directly back to the capital. Instead of returning to the General's Mansion, they were to wait for her return at Qiuyue's place.
The two headed directly to the Tianshan Mountains, located south of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Traveling from their current route, they were almost crossing half of the Great Zhou's territory. Yuezhou Prefecture, one of the three major prefectures of the Great Zhou Dynasty and the wealthiest of them all, was situated in the south. Coincidentally, the governor of Yuezhou Prefecture, Mu Liren, was Mu Cuiwei's second uncle. Fearing unnecessary trouble, Ouyang Yue continued to choose hidden paths to avoid being recognized on the official roads. Therefore, this journey took even longer than the main roads, a full two months, before they finally reached the foot of the Tianshan Mountains…
Meanwhile, at the General's Mansion in the capital, Consort Hong and Ouyang Rou caused a scene at Mingyue Pavilion with their entourage, but ultimately, they lost face and dared not cause any more trouble. Forcing a smile, they chatted with Old Madam Ning for a while in Anhe Hall before leaving.
On the way back, Ouyang Rou gritted her teeth in hatred: "That little bitch Ouyang Yue actually took all the things from Mingyue Pavilion out of the manor. And that Xi Mama is no good either, actually speaking up for Ouyang Yue. Isn't Grandmother supposed to be senile? How come she was so shrewd before? It's really hateful, she was just a little bit away from getting away with it."
Aunt Hong also said coldly, "Hmph, it's clever of her to get the things out beforehand, but she couldn't have foreseen the sealing off of Mingyue Pavilion. I'd like to see how a young lady like her manages to stay outside for the rest of her life. If she doesn't die a horrible death outside, she can hide away and remain unmarried for the rest of her life. Hmph, I'd like to see how she gets past the Old Madam then." As she spoke, a cold smile appeared on her face.
Ouyang Rou also said coldly, "Yes, judging from Grandmother's appearance, she won't be satisfied until she's dead. That little bitch Ouyang Yue will be killed by herself sooner or later. Although we didn't get the small storeroom of Mingyue Pavilion this time, I feel extremely happy to see her suffer the consequences of her own evil deeds and be killed."
Ouyang Rou had always been jealous of Ouyang Yue's privileged background and her good fortune in receiving Zhi De's affection. Her own maternal family's power and wealth were inferior to Ouyang Yue's, so she had no choice but to devise her own schemes. However, she never expected that Ouyang Yue would evade her every plot, instead dragging her down with her and making her life miserable. She, who considered herself quite foolish, had been repeatedly blessed with good fortune, which was even more incomprehensible and unbearable to her. Even if Ouyang Yue died out there, it wouldn't quell her hatred. Ouyang Yue had better be smart and not return, otherwise, she would still face the same tragic fate of being tortured to death. She wanted to see whether Ouyang Yue would die out there or at home.
snort!
Inside Anhe Hall, Old Madam Ning was still breathing heavily with anger. Rui Yuhuan, seeing this, sneered in her eyes, "Old Madam, please don't be angry. The Third Miss is such a filial person. If she knew you were so angry for her, she would be heartbroken. If she could come back, she would definitely regret it. I think you should calm down, otherwise the Third Miss would be very sad if she knew."
Old Madam Ning snorted heavily, "That little beast would be sad for me? I'd be grateful if she didn't upset me for even a day. I really don't know if I owed her something in my past life, that I'm so old and she's dragged me down like this. She's almost ruined this family. I'd really like to see what she'll be like when she comes back and sees all this. I'd like to see how disappointed De'er will be when he comes back and sees this little bastard he loves. I'd like to see if De'er will still argue with me for her sake. What an unfilial son! A bunch of unfilial children!" Old Madam Ning shook her head coldly, her face filled with disappointment.
Rui Yuhuan pursed her lips coldly. Of course, she wanted to show Ouyang Zhide the consequences Ouyang Yue had caused. She refused to believe that Ouyang Zhide would continue to dote on her after seeing his mother driven nearly mad by Ouyang Yue. If he dared to bear such a reputation for filial impiety, she would try. Thinking of this, Rui Yuhuan gritted her teeth slightly. If Ouyang Zhide hadn't been infatuated with her beauty, none of this would have happened. Just thinking about how she had been disfigured and crippled because of Ouyang Yue's unauthorized escape, her life ruined in this General's Mansion, made her want to eat Ouyang Yue's flesh and drink her blood. She wanted to tear Ouyang Yue to pieces and feed her to the dogs. No matter what punishment Ouyang Yue received, it wouldn't be enough to quell the hatred in her heart.
Madam Xi stood beside Old Madam Ning with her hands at her sides. Her brows furrowed slightly, then gradually relaxed, and she let out an almost imperceptible sigh.
The next day, after having breakfast with Old Madam Ning, Rui Yuhuan limped out of Anhe Hall with a few servants. Rui Yuhuan's face was cold and gloomy. Fen Die didn't know what was going on, and suddenly said that she had other tasks to do and left. Now, none of the maids around her knew martial arts, so they were really not capable of doing great things. However, Fen Die's departure relieved her of some constraints, which was a blessing in disguise.
Rui Yuhuan strolled around for a while before finally turning around and arriving directly at Aunt Liu's Ningxiang Courtyard.
Aunt Liu had just finished her breakfast, and the servants had just cleared away the food when a maid came to report that Rui Yuhuan was waiting for her outside Ningxiang Courtyard with her men.
Greenie immediately said, "Isn't Rui Yuhuan already causing enough trouble in the mansion? She wants to see the concubine? The concubine and she have never had any contact. If she suddenly comes to see the concubine, who knows what wicked ideas she has?"
Green Leaf added, "Yes, Auntie, I always feel that Rui Yuhuan is very strange. Why don't you find an excuse not to see her? She's definitely up to no good."
Aunt Liu was taken aback when she heard this, but after thinking for a moment, she shook her head and said, "It's not easy to find an excuse to get rid of her. Besides, if she can't see me this time, she'll come a second or a third time. Am I supposed to make excuses to avoid her every time? I'm afraid things will get complicated with the old lady then."
Greenie and Green Leaf pursed their lips and remained silent. The old lady doted on Rui Yuhuan to the point of spoiling her, to an extent that they could hardly comprehend. Therefore, they dared not criticize or make any rash moves against Rui Yuhuan, for fear of suffering undeserved disaster. Aunt Liu said, "Greenie, go out and invite Miss Rui in."
"Yes, Aunt." Greenie was inwardly displeased, but outwardly feigned obedience. Stepping out of the courtyard, she saw Rui Yuhuan standing conspicuously before the maids, dressed entirely in white. The reason she stood out was because her entire face was covered in white gauze, and her all-white attire made one think she was attending a funeral. This immediately aroused Greenie's disgust. This was a classic case of "the speaker has an ulterior motive, the listener has an ulterior motive," Greenie felt that Rui Yuhuan had deliberately worn this unlucky outfit. Yet, she approached with a smile, saying, "So it's Miss Rui, gracing us with her presence. Aunt was quite surprised to hear of it and immediately sent me to invite her."
Rui Yuhuan said calmly, "I'm sorry to have offended Aunt Liu. Let's go inside." With that, she walked inside. Greenie paused for a moment, then quickly followed. In her heart, she was annoyed that Rui Yuhuan was so ill-mannered.
When she arrived at the door, Green Leaf was already helping Aunt Liu to greet her. Rui Yuhuan immediately smiled and said, "What are you saying? I just happened to be passing by Ningxiang Courtyard and thought I would bother you for a bit. It's not my fault that Aunt Liu is so welcoming."
Greenie glanced at Rui Yuhuan strangely. Rui Yuhuan's expression changed quickly, completely unlike her indifferent look just now. Aunt Liu smiled and said, "Miss Rui, how can you say that? I am so happy that Miss Rui can come and sit in my Ningxiang Courtyard. How can you say that it is an inconvenience? It is too formal."
Rui Yu laughed even more happily: "It's my fault, it's my fault. We live in the same household, so we should visit each other more often. But I'm being too formal. It's my fault, Aunt Liu. Please don't take offense at someone as tactless as me."
Aunt Liu smiled, her eyes narrowing as she looked at Rui Yuhuan and said, "Miss Rui, what are you saying? There's nothing strange about it. Please come inside and sit down. It's just that Ningxiang Courtyard is always simple and frugal, so please don't mind."
Rui Yuhuan shook her head and said, "I quite like Aunt Liu's tranquil environment, so I'll take my leave without being impolite. Please."
"please."
After some polite exchanges, Rui Yuhuan was ushered inside. Lü'er and Lüye exchanged a glance. They were well aware of Rui Yuhuan's past behavior at the General's Mansion; she was known for her arrogance. For her to be so polite to the concubine was a shock, considering the concubine was the least favored person in the General's Mansion. The two immediately turned and followed her inside, standing on either side of Concubine Liu.
Soon the tea and snacks were served. Aunt Liu smiled and introduced, "Miss Rui, you came in a hurry this time, so Ningxiang Courtyard doesn't have much to offer you. We just have some tea and snacks. Please don't mind."
Rui Yuhuan shook her head and said, "In this mansion, Aunt Liu is quite a wonderful person. I've heard that your cooking skills are quite good, and I've always wanted to try them. Now I've finally found the opportunity."
Aunt Liu said modestly, "Miss Rui is really laughing at me. These tea snacks are nothing special, just some ordinary food. It was my two maids who came up with the idea. I'm just benefiting from their kindness. Miss Rui, please try them first."
Rui Yuhuan picked up a piece of red crispy cake. It was very fragrant, soft and sweet, with a unique flavor. She immediately praised, "It is indeed a delicious food. Aunt Liu is so lucky to stay in Ningxiang Courtyard every day and eat such good things."
Aunt Liu glanced almost imperceptibly at Rui Yuhuan's face and smiled, "Actually, I often send some food to the old lady. It's only because the old lady doesn't mind the humble food that I always keep these here. I'm glad Miss Rui likes them."
Rui Yuhuan paused for a moment, then fell silent. Aunt Liu was right; she did indeed know several tonic recipes and how to make pastries, and she was never stingy with them in the household, often sending them to Old Madam Ning's courtyard. However, Old Madam Ning looked down on the people Ouyang Zhide had brought back himself. No matter how well Aunt Liu performed, Old Madam Ning still disliked her. As for Aunt Hua, needless to say, she was always arrogant and spoiled, and all she knew was how to serve in bed; Old Madam Ning despised her the most. Originally, Aunt Liu bearing a child for the household should have been an honor, but Ouyang Tong's health had always been poor, and Aunt Liu herself wasn't the type to compete for anything, appearing somewhat meek and never saying anything flattering. Old Madam Ning was somewhat disappointed and gradually grew to dislike her.
After a while, she didn't treat Aunt Liu well. Even when Aunt Liu brought her tea and snacks, Old Madam Ning never ate them, only giving them to the servants. It was only a couple of days ago that Aunt Liu, as per protocol, brought some more, and Rui Yuhuan happened to eat a piece of pastry. That's when she decided to visit Ningxiang Courtyard. She wasn't sure if Aunt Liu's words were a test. However, seeing Aunt Liu's reserved smile, Rui Yuhuan suppressed her doubts and said, "It's not vulgar at all, Aunt Liu is too modest. With such good skills, it's a good thing for the household. Who would complain? I'm quite clumsy, but after eating Aunt Liu's pastries, I've developed a desire to learn from you. I just don't know if Aunt Liu would be willing to teach me?"
Aunt Liu was visibly taken aback. She squinted and gave Rui Yuhuan a deep look, only to see the latter enjoying the pastries with a longing expression, as if she really wanted to learn. However, Aunt Liu's heart was in turmoil. She and Rui Yuhuan were not close at all. In fact, since she moved into the General's Mansion, she had only spent time with Rui Yuhuan this once, and they had exchanged no more than ten words. Why was Rui Yuhuan being so friendly to her and wanting to learn from her? This was really unusual.
Seeing that Aunt Liu remained silent, Rui Yuhuan smiled, "It's normal for Aunt Liu to have doubts." Rui Yuhuan sighed and said, "I won't hide it from you, Aunt. Actually, you've lived in this household longer than I have, and you understand the Old Madam's temperament better than I do. The Old Madam is a very kind person, but her temper is also very unpredictable. In my current state, I can only rely on the Old Madam for survival. I'm most afraid that if I accidentally offend the Old Madam, I really don't know what my future will be like. I feel a strong connection with Aunt Liu, so I've said whatever comes to mind. I'm also afraid; if it really is like that..." "How can I bear to live another day like this?" Yu Huan thought to herself, "The more you care, the more you fear losing her." She feared the old lady might dislike her in the future, so she wanted to learn more skills—a kind of protection, perhaps. Even if that day ever came, if the old lady ate the pastries Yu Huan had carefully prepared for her, she would remember some of Yu Huan's past kindness and might forgive all her faults. This made Yu Huan seem petty, but it was the only way she could think of. As she spoke, Rui Yu Huan began to cry softly, lifting her veil and carefully examining the tears that had slid down her face with a handkerchief. She truly looked pitiful.
Having lived in the General's Mansion, Aunt Liu had seen plenty of women vying for Ouyang Zhide. She was used to seeing women feign tears, and a hint of coldness flashed across her lips, but her face showed a trace of anxiety as she said, "Miss Rui, what are you saying? To the Old Madam, you are her precious darling, everyone knows that. No matter who falls out of favor, it won't be you, Miss Rui. You're worrying too much, Miss Rui. It won't happen."
Rui Yuhuan sighed, "Yes, sometimes I feel I'm too anxious and insecure, which is not good. It makes me doubt the old lady's affection for me, which is even worse. But this is because I care deeply about and respect the old lady. It's my happiness that the old lady loves me so much, and I'm very grateful. As a junior, doing what I can is also a way to show filial piety to my elders, which is only right. So I've been thinking of learning a few of my signature dishes or desserts. I just don't know what Aunt Liu thinks?"
Aunt Liu smiled faintly and said, "Miss Rui is quite right. The old lady cherishes you so much, and it's only natural that you're so concerned about her. It's commendable that you want to learn a skill for the old lady's sake. Miss Rui doesn't mind that my pastry-making skills are crude, so how could I dare to withhold my knowledge and not teach you? I would certainly do my duty. However, if Miss Rui could put in a good word for me with the old lady, I would be truly grateful."
A glint flashed in Rui Yuhuan's eyes: "Yes, yes, Aunt Liu is right. I have learned your true skills. How could the old lady not know by then?" The two chatted and laughed for a while, and Rui Yuhuan said again: "Why haven't I seen the young master for so long? I love children the most. I liked the young master as soon as I saw him. It's a bit of a surprise that I haven't seen him today."
Aunt Liu clenched her fists slightly and smiled, "It's really unfortunate. The young master has been in poor health since he was a child, and he usually sleeps more than he's awake. He was just put to bed by his wet nurse, so he couldn't come out to greet us. Please don't take offense, Miss Rui."
"Oh, that's really unfortunate. I love children the most, so I'll have to wait until next time to hold the young master. It's really not good to disturb his rest today. However, Yu Huan will be learning the art of tea and snacks from Aunt Liu in the future, so I can't come empty-handed. Please don't mind this small token." With that, she waved her hand, and immediately a servant brought over a brocade box. Rui Yu Huan opened it and saw a longevity lock and a pair of white jade bracelets of good quality in terms of color and material. They weren't particularly valuable, but they were certainly not ordinary.
Aunt Liu immediately said, "Miss Rui is learning these things for the old lady. How could I accept these things? If word got out, wouldn't it make me seem too greedy for such things..."
“Aunt Liu, you’re wrong. What business is it of others if we’re just doing our own thing? Besides, I know, and the Old Madam knows, that you don’t have these thoughts, Aunt Liu. What business is it of yours, Aunt Liu? Or is it that you think Yu Huan is an orphan and you don’t want to befriend her, so you’re deliberately delaying it? Alas, Yu Huan knows this too, which really puts Aunt Liu in a difficult position.” Rui Yu Huan’s eyes reddened again as she spoke.
Greenie and Green Leaf nearly ground their teeth to powder. Rui Yuhuan had been speaking in a consultative tone, but in reality, every word she uttered left no room for refusal, clearly not wanting Aunt Liu to refuse. If Aunt Liu were to refuse today, the Old Madam would likely reprimand her immediately. The Old Madam doted on Rui Yuhuan so much that she obviously didn't care about her status. If anyone in the mansion thought this way about Rui Yuhuan, wouldn't that be a slap in the Old Madam's face? If things escalated further, it might even be seen as disrespecting the Old Madam, which would be a huge problem. Rui Yuhuan was right there waiting for this.
Aunt Liu's usually calm eyes also flashed with a hint of coldness as she said, "Look at what Miss Rui is saying. I just think it's only right to teach Miss Rui some crude skills. Why do you need to send a formal apprenticeship gift? Since Miss Rui is so polite, then I will accept this apprenticeship gift. Please don't feel sorry for yourself. You are very fortunate to be loved by the old lady. Who wouldn't want to befriend you? Miss Rui is overthinking it."
Rui Yuhuan was taken aback, looking at the composed Aunt Liu. She hesitated for a moment, realizing Aunt Liu was no ordinary person; she had insisted on calling her gift a formal apprenticeship gift. If Aunt Liu did something wrong in the future, wouldn't that be disrespectful to her master? That would be troublesome. But remembering the purpose of her visit, Rui Yuhuan suppressed her displeasure and smiled, "Yes, Aunt Liu is right. I was wrong. Since Aunt Liu has agreed to my presumptuous request, I won't stay any longer. It's almost lunchtime. I need to go to the main kitchen and keep an eye on things, making sure the servants don't slack off and make food the old lady doesn't like."
"Miss Rui, take care." Aunt Liu got up to see Rui Yuhuan off, then stood at the door for a while before returning.
As soon as she returned, Greenie said, "What does Rui Yuhuan think she is? Just because the old lady likes her, she dares to boss around the concubines in the mansion. She even wants the concubines to teach her. Since the old lady loves her so much, why doesn't she just find a cook to teach her? Why bother our concubines?"
Green Leaf also said, "Auntie, I think Rui Yuhuan is really not a kind person. Could she be up to something? I thought she had ulterior motives in everything she said before. Could she be plotting something bad?"
"Yes, Auntie, why don't we find an opportunity to decline? Or we can pretend to be sick and trick her. She can't force you to teach her while you're sick, can she?" Greenie had already offered her suggestions.
Aunt Liu remained silent, looking down at the gifts Rui Yu Huan had given her on the table. She took out a handkerchief from her waist, gently picked up the white jade bracelet, examined it, and, finding nothing wrong with it, put it back. She stared at it for a while, then stopped talking to Aunt Liu. After thinking for a while, Aunt Liu said, "Lü'er, Lüye, you two carefully examine this and memorize the design. Then, immediately have someone make these two items out of the box. As for the things she gave me in this box, destroy them completely. Don't leave them behind."
Greenie and Green Leaf were stunned for a moment. Greenie immediately said, "Auntie, although Rui Yuhuan has ill intentions, this thing is still yours. It would be such a pity to destroy it like this. This thing is worth a lot of money."
Green Leaf hesitated for a moment and then looked down to examine it carefully. Seeing this, Greenie also began to observe it attentively. After a while, Aunt Liu said, "Look very carefully. You must be so careful that not even a single pattern can be wrong."
Greenie and Green Leaf quickly noted down the easily overlooked parts and drew a simple diagram. They nodded to Aunt Liu, who breathed a slight sigh of relief, but a glint flashed in her eyes as she stared at the contents of the brocade box. She had always felt that Rui Yuhuan seemed somewhat strange, and she couldn't like her at all, nor could she put her mind at ease. Moreover, her behavior today was also very odd. Just as Greenie and Green Leaf had said, if Rui Yuhuan wanted to show filial piety, there were many ways; she didn't necessarily have to learn these tea snacks from her. As for the things she sent, how could she not know that the old lady had no use for them? There was no reason to take advantage of her position. But what reason could Rui Yuhuan have for doing this? After thinking it over, it couldn't be as simple as she made it out to be.
What worried her most was Rui Yuhuan's sudden request to see Ouyang Tong. Surely this wasn't just a casual remark; Aunt Liu didn't believe it. The thought of Ouyang Tong put her on high alert. The secret affairs of the inner quarters were anything but impossible; she knew firsthand how the Third Miss had helped her wrest Ouyang Tong back from Ning Shi—the methods were anything but honorable, and so incredibly discreet. Couldn't Rui Yuhuan have imagined even more insidious schemes?
The thought of this made Aunt Liu unable to calm down. She stared at the things on the table, her eyes cold: "Lü'er, I will write down in detail everything that has happened in the mansion recently. Find an opportunity to deliver these things to the General. You must deliver them to him, understand?"
Greenie was taken aback: "Auntie... I'm sure the higher-ups are keeping things under wraps to keep Master from worrying. Won't what we're doing cause trouble for the household, Master, and you?"
Aunt Liu smiled indifferently: "There are people left behind by the General's Mansion in this mansion. Do you think the General's Mansion really doesn't know what happened in the mansion? It's just that the Emperor is afraid of distracting him and is suppressing it, so he can only pretend not to know. But we can't pretend not to know about this matter. Moreover, some people in this mansion are already trying to harm me and Tong'er, so I have no choice but to play the villain."
Greenie and Green Leaf were taken aback: "But shouldn't the Third Miss be the one to complain about this? Otherwise, wouldn't Auntie be making an enemy of the Old Madam?"
Aunt Liu sighed, "I only pray that the Third Miss will be safe and sound."
Greenie and Green Leaf froze, their expressions hardening. They too had harbored doubts. Nearly three months had passed since the Third Miss disappeared, and the household had sent people to search for her, but without a trace. This inevitably led them to wonder if the Third Miss had been poisoned and that's why she had vanished. However, neither of them dared to voice their suspicions, especially not wanting it to reach Old Madam Ning's ears and cause her trouble.
Greenie and Green Leaf were loyal to Aunt Liu, but they weren't foolish. Although the Third Miss had her own plans and schemes in helping Aunt Liu, at least the Third Miss would never intentionally harm Aunt Liu. As long as they got along well, they would be allies in the same boat. The last time Ouyang Tong was taken away by Ning Shi, it terrified them. They least wanted anything to happen to Ouyang Yue.
Aunt Liu seemed to be muttering to herself, "If the Third Miss is still alive, I hope that the General can find her when he returns. If the Third Miss has really met with misfortune, the General's mansion can also avenge her when it returns. And I have also made my position clear at the right time. The General will remember my kindness. At least my safety and Tong'er's safety will be somewhat guaranteed in the future." Aunt Liu's words sound selfish, but they are also common sense.
"Don't worry, Madam, I understand. I will definitely find a way to deliver this letter safely to the General and will not delay your business," Greenie assured her.
Green Leaf also took the handkerchief and collected the brocade box that Rui Yuhuan had sent, as well as the handkerchief that Aunt Liu had just taken out to look at, preparing to destroy them. Aunt Liu had already turned around and gone inside to write a letter. Not long after, a family letter sent from the capital arrived in Ouyang Zhide's hands.
Ten days later, Ouyang Zhide swiftly and decisively resolved the three-month-long stalemate with the mountain bandits, returning in triumph with his troops. However, he didn't even linger at the welcoming banquet held by the Emperor, hastily accepting the Emperor's rewards before rushing back to the General's Mansion. Emperor Mingxian was well aware of Ouyang Zhide's mood at this moment and naturally did not make things difficult for him.
Upon returning to the capital, Ouyang Zhide's first act was to dispatch his men in a frantic search for Ouyang Yue. It's impossible that Ouyang Zhide hadn't arranged for people to spread the word within the capital, and these people were absolutely loyal to him. However, fearing Ouyang Zhide's impulsive act of defying the imperial decree, although some messages were sent, they subtly concealed the fact that Ouyang Yue had been forced to leave. They only mentioned that the inner quarters of the General's Mansion were not entirely peaceful—a place that had never been peaceful before—which Ouyang Zhide didn't seem to care about.
So when he received Aunt Liu's letter, Ouyang Zhide was truly enraged. He recklessly and swiftly dealt with the bandits. Originally, he had planned to hold them off for nearly three months to capture them alive and extract information about other bandit accomplices from them, but at this point, he couldn't care less about that.
He then went straight to the outer courtyard where Rui Yuhuan was being held. Sure enough, the courtyard was deserted and clean, as if no one had ever lived there. Ouyang Zhide felt a chill in his heart and said, "Send out the people you can to look for Yue'er. Send someone back with a message that I have important business to attend to and need some peace and quiet. I won't be returning to the General's Mansion yet. Tell them not to wait for me. I will naturally return once the business is finished." His eyes were extremely cold, and a sinister killing intent flashed across his face as he seemed to be thinking of something.
Hei Da immediately took the order to inform the National Government. One can imagine Old Madam Ning's reaction. Ouyang Zhide had returned to the capital, yet he refused to go home, passing by the mansion without even entering. What was going on? Wasn't she afraid outsiders would say she was at odds with her son? This wouldn't benefit Ouyang Zhide in court; it might even attract impeachment from the censors. She was furious and ordered someone to see Ouyang Zhide. Ouyang Zhide didn't resort to any drastic measures, simply telling the person to stand as they had come, unless they got tired and left. His guards in the outer courtyard wouldn't do anything rash. But no matter how eloquent you were, getting in through the outer guards was impossible. Words failed, and in terms of physical strength, the General's Mansion lacked the skills of the men Ouyang Zhide had brought. Three servants from the General's Mansion fainted from the effort. Old Madam Ning, enraged, uttered a harsh threat: "If you're so capable, make sure Ouyang Zhide never returns to the General's Mansion again, becoming an unfilial son!"
Her response was that Ouyang Zhide continued his unchanged behavior, constantly sending people to find Ouyang Yue. He attended the morning court sessions as if nothing was wrong. Numerous memorials from the censors impeaching him were submitted, but they vanished without a trace once they reached the Emperor's desk. These censors, though pedantic, were not fools. At this time, as long as Ouyang Zhide didn't commit any heinous act, the Emperor would certainly not punish him. Their numerous impeachments would only displease the Emperor, and the matter would naturally be dropped.
Meanwhile, Ouyang Yue and Leng Jue arrived at the foot of Tianshan Mountain but encountered some difficulties. Although Tianshan Mountain is said to be a mountain, they had been searching for two days at its foot but had not found the entrance to the mountain.
"Tianshan is indeed Tianshan. If it were so easy to enter, Master Minghui wouldn't have let me come. I've really been tricked." Ouyang Yue pursed her lips and complained with dissatisfaction.
Leng Jue's eyes flickered upon hearing this, but he raised his head and looked up steadily. He saw that the Tianshan Mountains were so tall that they reached into the clouds. Looking up from his feet, it was impossible to estimate how tall and big they were. Moreover, there was always a layer of clouds and mist swirling around the mountaintop, and eagles and birds would fly by from time to time, which made the Tianshan Mountains even more mysterious and unpredictable.
Just then, a rustling sound in the distance caught Ouyang Yue and Leng Jue's attention. Leng Jue's ears twitched, and he shouted coldly, "Who's there? Show yourself!"
From the bushes not far away, a dozen or so men in black emerged. A long, menacing scar ran across the collar of each man, making them look particularly terrifying. Ghost Killer, the leader of the Blood Killing Alliance, was also taken aback when he saw Leng Jue and Ouyang Yue. He had come to the capital to clean up his own ranks after receiving a message from his employer, and was planning to return to the Blood Killing Alliance and order the entire alliance to hunt down Ouyang Yue. He thought that Ouyang Yue could not possibly have escaped under such circumstances, so he was not in a hurry to go back.
Unexpectedly, he overheard the battle between the First Killing Alliance and the Bloodthirsty Alliance on his way there. He originally intended to return to their aid, but the First Killing Alliance had already laid an ambush on him. He only had a dozen or so men with him, and of course, he was no match for the First Killing Alliance, so he fled. Who would have thought he would encounter Ouyang Yue here? Upon seeing Ouyang Yue's face, he could no longer conceal his murderous intent.
If he hadn't taken the job to kill this woman, none of this would have happened. He wouldn't have risked the destruction of the Bloodthirsty Alliance by coming to the capital to meet his employer. This Ghost Killer is a figure of considerable importance; he was the one who built the Bloodthirsty Alliance back then, and he's confident he can rebuild it. As the saying goes, "Where there's life, there's hope." So he chose to flee. But that doesn't mean he'll calmly escape when he sees Ouyang Yue, the culprit. Even if he does flee, he'll kill Ouyang Yue first!
As soon as the demon slayer appeared, he immediately waved his hand and shouted, "Kill them!"
The dozen or so men following behind him were the elite of the Bloodstained Alliance, and their skills were far superior to those that Ouyang Yue and Leng Jue had seen before. Immediately, four of them rushed over and surrounded them, while the others spread their arms and shot hidden weapons at the two of them.
Outnumbered, Ouyang Yue and Leng Jue had no intention of engaging in a direct confrontation. Although Ouyang Yue did not know who these people were, she could tell from their unfriendly expressions that they were hostile. After exchanging a glance with Leng Jue, they quickly dodged away when Gui Sha made his move, and sped away around the foot of Tianshan Mountain.
Gui Sha sneered, "Hmph, that man's martial arts are not bad. This woman is fast, but she has no internal energy, so she's nothing to fear. Catch up with the woman and kill her first, then kill the man. We absolutely cannot let them go." After saying that, Gui Sha led his men to give chase.
As Ouyang Yue and Leng Jue ran, they surveyed the Tianshan Mountains. They found it strange that the foot of the Tianshan Mountains looked like an ordinary mountain base, yet there was no path, and even less of the legendary danger. Suddenly, Leng Jue handed them something: "Swallow this first." He then put it in his own mouth. Ouyang Yue was startled, but immediately took it and swallowed it. Leng Jue had already quickly scanned a spot.