From the moment they arrived at the Central Bank Palace, their journey eastward was anything but peaceful, with one mishap after another. Xiao Wu slept less than a dog and worked more than an ox every day.

People who don't believe in ghosts and gods now make bowing to Buddha the first thing they do every morning after waking up.

Qi Zhou treated him like a fool. People like them, with their hands stained with blood, would never be blessed by Buddha.

"Do you think that Young Master Huaiyue really knows some kind of sorcery? I feel like everything started after he appeared."

After worshipping Buddha that day, the two sat together for breakfast, and Xiao Wu counted on his fingers:

"Not to mention this trip to the east, just think about when we came back from Jiangnan, the magistrate actually flew into a rage, burned down someone's building, and killed the prefect, as if he had been cursed."

Qi Zhou shoved a piece of pickled vegetable into his mouth: "Are you out of your mind?"

"Ptooey! A huge mouthful of porridge, are you trying to kill me with salt?" Xiao Wu's face scrunched up as he slurped up his porridge, only to be burned and wince, almost dropping the bowl in his hand.

It's like performing with monkeys.

Qi Zhou poured him a glass of cold water without saying a word: "This will shut you up. Although the adults are good to us, you have to know your limits. You should know what you should say and what you shouldn't say."

He'd said similar things countless times, and Xiao Wu couldn't stand his nagging at all; her ears were practically calloused from hearing it.

"I know, I know, but it's just the two of us right now, so it's okay if I only tell you."

Qi Zhou was about to say something more when he was cut off: "Don't say that walls have ears. With your martial arts skills, how could you not detect anyone getting close?"

Qi Zhou softened a little after hearing what he said, but still said, "There are always people better than you. You are much more capable than me."

“That’s different,” Xiao Wu said. “Anyway, in my eyes, you’re the most amazing person besides adults. Hey, why are your ears red? Are you hot?”

Qi Zhou awkwardly looked away and stood up: "You eat, I'll go deliver breakfast to Young Master Huaiyue, he should be up by now."

"Isn't the master here today? Why do you have to deliver it?" Xiao Wu found it strange. "Doesn't the master usually like to do things for that person himself? Did they have a fight?"

Things related to Huaiyue were always Song Ting's top priority, so Xiao Wu and Qi Zhou, the two people Song Ting trusted most, always took turns guarding Huaiyue day and night.

Only when Song Ting was by Huaiyue's side would she send the two of them to rest. The two used to be together often, but now it was rare for them to meet and talk, and Xiao Wu was quite unaccustomed to it.

Qi Zhou saw the expectation on his face, but still sat back down: "Probably not."

"Just stay put. If anything happens, the adults will call us. With the adults around, why would you cause trouble? They might not even want to see us."

Not long after he finished speaking, Song Ting appeared.

"grown ups."

"grown ups."

Song Ting nodded, not speaking immediately, but her expression wasn't good. Xiao Wu and Qi Zhou exchanged a glance, both feeling uneasy.

"I've been busy these past few days, so please make sure there are no problems with things going on with you, young master."

After giving that instruction, he left. Once he was out of sight, Xiao Wu paced around Qi Zhou like an ant on a hot plate:

"Oh no, oh no, this is really bad, it looks like they really had a fight..."

...

They didn't exactly argue, but they hadn't had a proper conversation since their exchange the night before.

Chu Huaixu hadn't noticed this at first. It wasn't until he realized that Song Ting hadn't been around for two days that he belatedly realized that the man seemed to be avoiding him.

After thinking it over, the only explanation could be what happened that night.

Upon seeing that Qi Zhou was still the one delivering breakfast today, Chu Huaixu laughed in exasperation: "Is your master dead?"

Qi Zhou naturally dared not respond to this. He silently put down his things and was about to leave when Chu Huaixu called out to him, "Wait—"

"Is there anything else you need, young master?"

"Please pass on a message to your parents, telling them that I would like to attend the blessing ceremony the day after tomorrow."

The events in Sishui Town were too horrifying to be concealed, and the rumors spread far and wide, all accusing the current emperor of being unrighteous and cruel, and even Heaven was beginning to punish him.

The person behind the scenes also linked the floods in Jiangnan with the prayer ceremony, which seemed to further confirm that the rumors were true.

Despite this pressure, Chu Minghuan announced his personal visit to Baima Temple and prepared to restart the prayer ceremony.

Chu Minghuan had originally only come with Wang Guanghe and had no intention of appearing in public. However, due to the current situation, he had no choice but to make the ceremony as the emperor a grand spectacle, so that he could be "recognized" by Heaven and thus dispel the rumors.

Qi Zhou bowed and said, "Yes."

Before Chu Huaixu had even finished his bowl of porridge, Commander Song, who hadn't appeared for two days, arrived. Chu Huaixu casually put on his silver mask, looking at Song Ting through his cold face: "So, my lord has finally deigned to show himself?"

"..." Song Ting pursed her lips and remained silent.

In fact, Song Ting could not possibly ignore Chu Huaixu. In the past two days, he knew exactly what Huaixu ate, what he ate, and how many bites he took.

Every night, after Huaixu had fallen asleep, he would sneak into Huaixu's room in the dark and quietly sleep beside him. He would leave when dawn broke.

The commander was used to such illicit affairs in Chang'an, and he was just as adept at it in a different place.

Huai Xu couldn't sleep well at night and was often awakened by nightmares, so he was naturally aware that there was someone else beside him.

Neither of them revealed the truth.

Taking advantage of the situation, Chu Huaixu chuckled coldly, "Your temper is getting worse and worse."

He really didn't expect Song Ting to be able to hold back for so long this time, so much so that he became the one who spoke first.

Unexpectedly, Song Ting did not follow the way Chu Huaixu offered, but instead showed a somewhat ambiguous attitude.

Chu Huaixu became even more furious: "What, Commander, are you now unwilling to even speak to me?"

The latter had been sulking for so long, and had long since reached her limit. Seeing Chu Huaixu still acting so nonchalantly, she felt even more aggrieved.

"I just want you to trust me."

He originally didn't want to say these things to Chu Huaixu, and he was even less willing to show any displeasure in front of the other party. From Huaixu's perspective, it was only natural that he didn't trust him and was wary of him.

Song Ting understood this principle better than anyone else, but he wasn't truly cold-blooded and ruthless. Understanding this principle was one thing, but whether he could accept it was another.

The truth is, he found himself unable to accept it.