Chapter 64 [VIP]

Chapter Summary: Earrings.

"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager!"

Just as Yu Jing was about to go to sleep, he heard A Yu's voice. For some reason, his brow twitched, and after a long pause, he called A Yu into the palace.

"News from the Imperial Study: His Majesty has ordered the Grand General of the State, together with Lord Xie, to lead 50,000 elite troops to the border to defend against the barbarians."

As soon as Ayu finished speaking, Yu Jing felt her hands and feet turn ice-cold, as if she had fallen into an ice cellar. Although she had a rough idea, guessing was a completely different feeling from actually knowing.

When do we set off?

"After the Mid-Autumn Festival."

"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager," Ayu called softly when she saw Yu Jing standing there in a daze.

"It's nothing, you may leave," Yu Jing said blankly.

"Yes." Although Ayu was worried, Yu Jing had already told her to leave, so it wouldn't be good for her to stay any longer. Before leaving, she added, "If Your Majesty the Empress Dowager has any orders, please call me. I will wait outside."

"good."

After Ayu left, the hall fell silent. Yu Jingleng sat on the couch for a long time.

"My good disciple."

Yu Jing turned her head and saw the Old Man of the Moon. He was still dressed in red and had a calm and composed expression.

"Master!" Yu Jing was extremely unsettled at the moment. Seeing the Old Man of the Moon calmed her down, but at the same time, she was also a little worried. She knew that every time the Old Man of the Moon came down, he would have something to tell her.

"My dear disciple, you must already know the truth in your heart," the Old Man of the Moon said directly, without trying to hide anything from Yu Jing.

"Hmm," Yu Jing responded, then hesitated for a moment before asking, "When?"

"The time of triumph."

Yu Jing stared blankly at the Old Man of the Moon, saying in disbelief, "Isn't this a bit too cruel to Xie Xuan?"

"My dear disciple, this is nothing compared to what's to come. He's only experienced a few of the eight sufferings of the mortal world. It's only because he's a Heavenly Lord that he's only going through a few love tribulations. If it were any other deity, wouldn't they feel like they were about to die after going through a tribulation? I heard that when Laozi's immortal water failed, a large number of deities were practically living a life worse than death!" the Old Man of the Moon said in a serious tone.

Yu Jing suddenly asked with some curiosity, "Master, when you ascended to immortality, was it like you were about to die?"

The Old Man of the Moon was speechless for a moment. After a long pause, he stubbornly denied it, slightly distracted, saying, "Your master is naturally better than others!"

Seeing the Old Man of the Moon's expression, Yu Jing knew he was just being stubborn, so she suppressed a laugh and said, "Yes, yes, Master is the most powerful deity in Heaven!"

"You're such a chatterbox!" the Old Man of the Moon said, but he had a smile on his face.

"Oh, right, my dear disciple, this is for you." The Old Man of the Moon said, reaching out and producing something from his palm. Yu Jing looked up and saw a pair of red earrings. She didn't know what material they were made of, but they looked quite similar to the magnolia flower material Xie Xuan had given her. She felt that this scene had happened before; both Ze Lan and the Old Man of the Moon had given her things like this.

Yu Jing looked up at the Old Man of the Moon with some confusion and asked hesitantly, "Master, what is this?"

"A wisp of Sheng Hua's soul."

Yu Jing frowned and looked at the Old Man of the Moon, wondering what he was going to do. The Old Man of the Moon wasn't in a hurry for Yu Jing to take it, and said to himself, "Sheng Hua's soul was very restless after arriving in the underworld, clamoring to see Su Siyang. If it were any other time, when this soul caused trouble, the ghost messengers would just tie it up, give it Meng Po soup, and throw it into the River of Oblivion. But the King of Hell's idea is that since we used her body, we owe her a favor, so he had me bring it here."

"However, I have also thought about it. Sheng Hua and Su Siyang are in love. If even a wisp of her soul were here, it could help you be more ruthless towards Xie Xuan."

After the Matchmaker finished speaking, Yu Jing immediately understood that this thing was roughly the same as the inner core of the Su Fox Clan that the Matchmaker had given her before.

“I understand.” Yu Jing said, reaching out to take the earring from the Old Man of the Moon’s hand. Just as she was about to touch the earring, the Old Man of the Moon pulled his hand back and instructed, “This earring will only be effective after you wear it. However, Sheng Hua’s wisp of soul will not take over your body, but only a part of your mind.”

“Master, I understand. It is just like the inner elixir.”

"Yes, my good disciple." The Old Man of the Moon said, placing the earring in Yu Jing's palm. "Wear it when you want to."

"Okay, sure."

"Because the Heavenly Emperor's Love Tribulation has changed hands, it was originally scheduled for three years, but now it seems that it will be brought forward."

After hearing what the Old Man of the Moon said, Yu Jing tightened her grip on the earring. "What about the Third Princess?"

"The Third Princess came for the Heavenly Emperor. Since the Heavenly Emperor's red thread has not been tied to her, then naturally someone else will tie it to her. You don't need to worry about that." As the Old Man of the Moon spoke, he reached out and touched Yu Jing's head. "Since we parted last time, you seem to have gained some weight?"

The God of Love really knows how to bring up the most sensitive topics.

Yu Jing was speechless for a moment, not knowing what to say. But then the Old Man of the Moon continued, "I have delivered the things and the message. It is getting late, so you should go to bed early. The Heavenly Emperor will be going to Youzhou the day after tomorrow. You should say goodbye to him properly."

When the Old Man of the Moon mentioned this, Yu Jing felt a tightness in her chest, a kind of inexplicable discomfort. She didn't know why, even though she knew Xie Xuan had come to experience a love tribulation. Just as she was about to ask, the Old Man of the Moon had already disappeared.

Yu Jing sighed softly, then sat back down on the couch.

"What's going on these days! Xuan'er just returned from escaping danger in Guizhou and is already going to Youzhou again." After receiving the imperial decree and dismissing everyone, Li Wei muttered softly.

Xie Jin and Xie Xuan were actually expecting this, since there were very few capable people and soldiers in the court, and they had just returned from the border. Apart from them, there were no other more suitable candidates.

"Only 50,000 elite troops? I've heard privately that the barbarians, along with the bandits, number over 50,000. Isn't His Majesty pushing you into a fire pit?"

“Mother,” Xie Xuan interrupted Li Wei at the right moment, then glanced at Xie Jin. Li Wei understood Xie Xuan’s meaning and looked at Xie Jin.

"Madam," Xie Jinyi called out with a hint of helplessness.

Li Wei murmured softly, "I can't interfere in matters of the court, but I'm worried about you and Xuan'er, aren't I?"

"I know." Xie Jin walked to Li Wei's side and gently patted Li Wei's shoulder.

“Since His Majesty has already issued the decree, let’s hurry up and prepare in the next few days. There’s still a long way to go to Youzhou. It should get cold there after the Mid-Autumn Festival; I don’t know how long we’ll have to stay there.” Li Wei’s voice choked with emotion as she spoke. She had waited so long; her husband and son had finally returned from the border, but unexpectedly, it would be like this again…

"What's wrong?" After Li Wei went out, Xie Ying saw that Xie Xuan looked preoccupied and asked.

"Are you reluctant to leave us?" Xie Ying then leaned closer to Xie Xuan and asked with a smile. She was actually a little sad as well; the manor was unusually lively, and now they were leaving again.

Xie Xuan looked at Xie Ying and replied, "Indeed, to some extent."

Xie Xuan and Xie Jin had been at the border for so many years; it would be a lie to say they didn't miss home. After all, conditions at the border were harsh, and it was truly difficult to stay there. But upon hearing of the trouble at the border, Xie Xuan did want to go. The border was like his second home; though conditions were difficult, it was a place he longed for.

Hearing Xie Xuan's response, Xie Ying's eyes immediately reddened. She had been able to hold back before, but now she really couldn't help herself. Xie Xuan was her younger brother; he looked mature, but he was only eighteen years old and still quite young.

"Sister." Xie Xuan panicked when he saw Xie Ying's state and called out.

"It's nothing, it's just that my elder sister is a little reluctant to part with them." Xie Ying turned her back and sniffed. "I'll go with Mother to help you sort out your clothes."

"Alright," Xie Xuan replied, watching Xie Ying leave. Besides his family, Yu Jing was also on his mind. He already rarely saw her; if she went to Youzhou, he feared he wouldn't even be able to see her again. She was always well-informed in the palace; the imperial decree had already reached him, so she must have known about it long ago.

"Xuan'er".

Xie Xuan was lost in thought when he heard Xie Jin calling him.

“Father,” Xie Xuan replied, looking at Xie Jin.

"We only have 50,000 elite troops for this trip to Youzhou. Are you afraid?" Xie Jin asked with a smile. He was getting on in years, and the wind and sand at the border were fierce. When he smiled, several wrinkles appeared at the corners of his eyes. Xie Xuan looked at him and felt a pang of sadness. He had never noticed this when he was with his father at the border before.

“I’m not afraid,” Xie Xuan replied firmly, his voice not loud, but very resolute.

Xie Jin was very pleased to hear this: "As expected of Father's child!"

When Xie Xuan finished speaking, the first person he thought of was Yu Jing. He could say such things without any scruples before, but now he had reservations.

He will depart the day after tomorrow, and he is determined to go to the palace to see Yu Jing tomorrow.

"Father, if there are no other instructions, I will go back to my room now."

"Okay," Xie Jin replied.

Xie Xuan returned to his room. He was to depart the day after tomorrow, so his duties at Cining Palace were naturally relieved. He could go to see Yu Jing on his own, but it was against protocol for a subject to visit the Empress Dowager on his own. Moreover, the palace was full of gossip, and it wouldn't be good if rumors spread like before. Xie Xuan thought for a moment, then sat down at the table, took out a piece of paper, pondered for a while, and then began to write.

"Xie Yi!" After Xie Xuan finished writing, he blew the letter dry, stuffed it into an envelope, sealed it with wax, and called out towards the door.

Xie Yi entered the room in response: "Young Master."

"Find a way to deliver this letter to the Empress Dowager," Xie Xuan instructed Xie Yi, handing the letter to him.

Xie Yi paused for a moment, then replied, "Yes."

Unexpectedly, he ran into Xie Ying after only a few steps.

"Xie Yi?" Xie Ying looked at Xie Yi with some confusion and asked, "Where are you going so late?"

"Miss, the young master said... said he was a little hungry and asked me to go outside and buy some food."

Xie Ying questioned, "Why bother going outside when you can just tell the kitchen what you want to eat?"

"Young Master said he just wants to eat wontons from outside," Xie Yi said seriously.

Xie Xuan would sometimes ask Xie Yi to buy wontons from the wonton shops outside. Hearing Xie Yi say this, Xie Ying didn't ask any further questions.