What is the way home?

In June of the 29th year of Jianwu, a great victory was achieved at Luoyang, ending a month-long battle. Wei Rong's army withdrew from Luoyang, and the State of Qi recovered the lost territory of the eastern capital.

At the same time, news also arrived that Chu Feixuan had been killed in action.

The moment Sui He received the news, his vision went black and he fainted.

"My wife!"

"Mother!"

The moment she staggered and fell, Cong Lan swiftly caught her around the waist.

"Help! Help!" His voice trembled uncontrollably as he gently patted her flushed cheeks.

"Crimson!"

"Ah Ling, be careful of your health."

The scene was chaotic, and the surrounding noise seemed to have faded away, leaving only Sui He's faint breathing and the concern of a few people.

—

"Aunt Xia, how is Mother?"

"The liver qi is rising in reverse, and the qi and blood are in disarray. I've given you acupuncture; you should wake up soon. I'll also prescribe some medicine to replenish the heart qi. Remember to avoid excessive anger or worry." Xia Wan put away the needles and sighed softly.

“I’ve heard about what happened to Master Chu. He… We came to the Sui family together back then and were treated as family. We’ve been together ever since. Now that he’s dead, your mother must be heartbroken.”

Xia Wan looked dejected. She couldn't imagine that such a free-spirited and passionate person had just left, gone without a trace.

"Thank you for your help, Aunt Xia."

Xia Wan shook her head, her gaze falling on Sui Zhixu's protruding belly. "Let me take your pulse. In less than half a month, you'll be seven months pregnant."

Sui Zhixu sat down on the stool outside the screen and stretched out her hand. Xia Wan took her hand and said, "Judging from your pulse, there's nothing seriously wrong. Your mother said you were in a bad mood a few days ago. Have you had any other problems lately?"

"well enough……"

Fan Lingzhang: Yes, yes, my calves swell up, and I've been getting cramps occasionally these past few days. Is there anything I can do?

"These are common symptoms during pregnancy. If you have cramps, try massaging them. You're so thin, you need to eat more. Where did Danhong go if she's not around?"

Dan Hong's round eyes widened. "Master, I'm innocent! I've been watching over my wife all the time!"

Heaven bears witness that she kept a close eye on her wife's signs of pregnancy. She ignored Fan Langjun's morning sickness, but she paid close attention to her other wives' changes in taste, fetal movement, and swelling and cramps.

It's all because Fan Langjun is too concerned and keeps asking me questions over and over again; he should just keep vomiting.

"How are you?" Cong Lan came out from inside, her eyes red and noticeable, as if they had been soaked in peach blossom juice. She looked up at Sui Zhixu with concern.

She shook her head. "I'm fine. They're making a fuss over nothing."

Cong Lan finally smiled a little, "You have a quiet nature. You were well-behaved and sensible even when you were in your mother's belly, and you didn't cause your mother much trouble."

"How is Mother?"

"You're sleeping more soundly now. Go back and rest. I'll stay here and send someone to let you know when she wakes up."

"Alright, Father, stay with Mother. I'll take my leave now."

Sui Zhixu glanced at Sui He behind the screen, her eyes filled with a hint of sadness as she closed her eyelashes. She then bid farewell to Cong Lan and slowly walked out.

Fan Lingzhang helped her up and gently comforted her, "Your mother will be alright."

She remained silent for a while, then slowly walked to the pavilion with his help.

She was somewhat lost in thought, so Fan Lingzhang wiped the seat clean for her and helped her sit down.

“Wei Rong was nearly seven feet tall (one foot is thirty centimeters), burly and strong, with the strength to lift a tripod. He was a general under Chu Ye and had been fighting against the nomadic tribes of the north for many years. He was experienced, but he was arrogant.”

"The original plan was to strike while the iron was hot, then exhaust the troops, and finally launch a coordinated attack when Wei Rong was off guard. But I never expected... Uncle Chu would lose his life."

"We'll know the specifics when Liu Lü and the others return."

"Although we recaptured Dongdu as planned, I still couldn't save his life." Sui Zhixu rested his arm on the stone table, bent his upper arm, and supported his head with his hand.

"Ah Ling, this is not your fault. You have already done enough."

"Don't worry, I was just thinking about something and it made me feel emotional. I'm overthinking it. My uncle risked his life to take Luoyang, we can't let his life be in vain. We must take every step carefully from now on."

Fan Lingzhang held her hand. "Yes, it will happen. But the most important thing for you right now is to take your medicine to prevent miscarriage."

"..." Sui Zhixu's face clearly fell, and she slumped down. She hooked her little finger around Fan Lingzhang's and gently shook her head.

"My lady, what are you doing? I saw everything!"

Dan Hong suddenly appeared between the two, her eyes sharpening. She then decisively let go of his hand and turned her head away as if nothing had happened.

"Wife, what did you just do? Don't pretend nothing happened."

"Is there a problem with the view?"

Dan Hong squinted and shook her head. "No problem, there's absolutely no problem. You didn't take your medicine yesterday! You poured it all into the flowerpot!"

She suddenly shouted, and Sui Zhixu was so frightened that she covered her ears and hid her head behind Fan Lingzhang.

"Unexpected, unexpected..."

"It's all because you spoil your wife! Don't think I don't know, you're ruining her life." Danhong disliked him even more.

"Oh dear, Danhong, you're becoming more and more like Granny Zhou."

Unable to avoid it, Sui Zhixu could only stick her head out and speak before Dan Hong could get angry again, "I'll drink it, I promise."

"It's alright. I've asked Madam Wen for help today. If I can't handle you, someone else can."

Sui Zhixu: "..."

"If outsiders knew that the renowned number one in the martial arts world was afraid of taking medicine, ha, it would be a laughing stock."

Wen Ke, dressed in black, leaned back on a tree beside the pavilion and casually glanced at her.

As soon as Xu turned his head, Dan Hong had already disappeared.

Even Fan Lingzhang gestured for her to leave, and Xu Zhixu glanced at him before smiling and walking out slowly.

"Are you scary? Why did they all run away?"

Wen Ke snorted, "How should I know? Go ask them. Shouldn't being the number one in the world be more intimidating?"

"...just an empty reputation."

She climbed down from the tree, dusted herself off, picked up some fruit from the stone table in the pavilion, wiped it casually, and started eating.

"Your disciple, the closed-door disciple of the Tianque Tower Master, has defeated all the major sects in the martial arts world and become famous.

"...They are just a few insignificant sects, yet they produce many talented individuals in the martial world. I am merely one of the masses; how could I possibly be famous?"

Sui Zhixu poured her tea and placed it in front of her, saying, "A hollow reputation?"

"Within the Qi Kingdom, there are the Jade Hall of the Eastern Sea, the Heavenly Palace Tower, and the Killing Gate of Jiangnan. In the Western Regions, there's Mancheng. In the Yue Kingdom, there's the Carefree Gate and the Mirror Platform. Which of these people isn't a genius? Although the Medicine King Valley's martial prowess is inferior, their unique Immortal Needle technique has no one in the Thirteen Territories who can solve it. What am I?"

"You killed half of the Heavenly Pavilion, and that's nothing? One day, when word gets out that you've said something, all the heirs of various sects will come looking for you to fight."

"Then forget it, it's too annoying." Sui Zhixu took a sip of tea.

Wen Ke snatched her cup away, "Can I drink tea while pregnant?"

"It's just jasmine tea, a little less won't hurt. I can't not drink anything, can I? I don't like drinking plain water."

"It was you who insisted on giving birth to her."

Sui Zhixu understood the unspoken meaning behind her words: "According to Taoism, it's called fate."

Wen Ke turned her head away with a cold face, while Sui Zhixu smiled helplessly, "I should take on a few more disciples; Xin Yi's swordsmanship needs to be passed on."

Instead of worrying about these things, you should think about the tense situation now. What will you do when your period starts? What if something happens to you? I don't have the ability to lead you out of there.

She suddenly met Sui Zhixu's eyes, then turned away after a moment, trying to justify herself, "It's true what they say, pregnancy makes you stupid for three years. You don't even know such a small thing? If you weren't so stupid, I wouldn't bother to say it."

"Concern leads to confusion; it's not like everyone in the family is dead."

Wen Ke slammed her hand on the table and roared, "You..."

“I always have somewhere to go, but you… taking advantage of Xinyi’s death and the fact that Tianque Tower is leaderless, you’ve broken away and come here to live off me. Haven’t you thought about your own future?”

"Anyway, I'm all alone, so I'll just wander wherever I feel like."

"Am I also a wanderer here?"

"What?"

Sui Zhixu looked up into her eyes, which curved into peach blossom eyes like the reflection of a new moon on spring water, rippling with waves that seeped into Wen Ke's heart.

Didn't you hear me? Then pretend I didn't say anything.

The tone of her voice inexplicably made Wen Ke feel certain that she had heard it.

Where is my way home?

"Didn't you find it?" Sui Zhixu stood up and reached out to her. "Help me back. The sun is getting too strong. I don't want to stay here."

Wen Ke looked at her quietly, shrugged, and uttered a single word: "Spoiled."

She stepped forward, took her arm, and supported her. The dream she once had remained, illusory yet beautiful.

If this is a dream, she would rather sleep forever.

Life itself is too vast. If in the end it is all just a dream, then let her life remain here, at its most splendid moment.

"Slow down."

"Okay, I see. You have a lot of requirements."

On the ninth day of the sixth month of the twenty-ninth year of Jianwu, it was the seventh day after the death of Chu Feixuan, a general of the Qi Kingdom. Sui He and Cong Lan went to Luoyang to bury him, but Sui Zhixu did not go because he was unable to move around easily.

Sui He held onto Chu Feixuan's coffin, unable to contain his emotions.

"Soldiers die on the battlefield, and their deaths are worthy. But when you were young, you said your wish in this life was to live to be a hundred years old. I was the one who sent you to the military camp to train, and you also made the decision to go to the battlefield for my sake. Since I first became the head of the family, you have always protected me. I have let you down..."

Back then, the Sui family had never had a wife to take charge of the household, and assassination attempts were always on her mind. She didn't even dare to sleep in the dead of night. He had just joined the military household and learned some skills, so he dared to guard her outside her room all night to protect her, no matter how much she tried to persuade him.

Cong Lan had mixed feelings. They had worked together for many years and argued for many years, but from now on, that would never happen again.

He stopped Sui He, his voice hoarse, "He wouldn't want to see you like this, Ah He, he's not that kind of person."

As Sui He recalled Chu Feixuan's face, it was as if his figure appeared before her eyes.

Speaking in a nonchalant tone, he said, "Why are you crying? I died a very dashing death. The patriarch should be happy for me. After winning Luoyang, the emperor will surely bestow posthumous honors upon me! Future historical records will all remember my achievements. My death was worthwhile."

"No……"

"My master fought Wei Rong, cut off Wei Rong's right arm, and was also hit by Wei Rong's palm, which shattered his heart meridian. Wei Rong abandoned the city and fled, and the army stormed into the city gate and was able to recapture Luoyang."

Liu Lü, dressed in hemp clothing, knelt before the mourning hall. "My master left behind his last words before his death, hoping that the head of the family would not be saddened, for he was about to ascend to the ranks of immortals and live to be a hundred years old."

Sui He lay on Chu Feixuan's coffin and wept bitterly. It was Cong Lan who held him up so that everyone could carry him out for his funeral.

Tens of thousands lined the mourning hall to pay their respects. Soldiers standing on the side, holding long spears, solemnly joined the people of Luoyang in shouting in unison, "Respectfully bidding farewell to the heroic spirit of the general!"

“Take him home…” Sui He murmured, clutching Cong Lan’s sleeve tightly.

Cong Lan's eyes reddened as he held her swaying body tightly. "Jingzhou is far away. His Majesty bestowed a mausoleum upon him to add glory to his legacy after death."

Sui He closed his eyes, choking back tears, and said, "Yes, to bring him honor."

While Sui Zhixu was far away at the Shan Hai Academy, she accidentally dropped a chess piece. She didn't pick it up, but Fan Lingzhang picked it up for her. Her gaze fell on the chess piece, and she murmured, "The way home in this world is hard to find."

"Shall we continue?"

She snapped out of her daze and said coldly, "The game is over, you lost."

Fan Lingzhang stared at the chessboard for a long time, "Where did I lose?"

"...I didn't actually want to hit you with the chessboard."

"Can I back a piece? I feel like I made a mistake just now."

"...Get out!" Sui Zhixu waved his hand and used his internal force to slap the person away.

"I was wrong, boohoo."

She rubbed her temples and said softly, "Terrible chess player."

She walked to the window. "It's time for the burial."

Regardless of past or present lives, Chu Feixuan is her last uncle.

Sui Shan hated her father and directed that hatred towards her, wishing her dead. Although Chu Feixuan was not her mother's biological brother, they were as close as siblings.

She knew Chu Feixuan's feelings for her mother; who in the entire city of Chang'an didn't know? Chu Feixuan, born into a humble family and personally appointed a great general by the emperor, came from the Sui family. Who didn't know the meaning behind his lifelong vow of remaining unmarried and politely declining numerous matchmakers?

It's just that her heart belongs to someone else, and it's hard for her to settle her heart elsewhere.

Xu Chang sighed deeply. In her past life, he had protected her as she grew up and taught her martial arts. In this life, Yungang Village caught her under the waterfall and saved her life once again.

His carefree demeanor will be unforgettable.

"I, your disciple, will follow your instructions to escort the spirit of the recluse to safety and will certainly live up to your expectations and recover Chang'an."

In Chang'an, Gu Qingyi grabbed a chessboard and swung it at Chu Ye, yelling, "Useless!"

Chu Ye caught the chessboard with lightning speed, and smiled, "Um... this chessboard is quite expensive, there's no other like it in the world, how about we get another one to smash?"

"Get out!"

"Calm down. Victory and defeat are common occurrences in war. This is because Wei Rong underestimated the enemy; an arrogant army is bound to be defeated! I will definitely give him a good scolding! You are not feeling well, so don't be angry."

"He's lost his right arm, what's the point of him going to the battlefield? Is he just waiting to die?"

Chu Ye tried to walk to her side, but she asked him a question that made him stand still.

"But he still has his left arm, right? He can use his left hand too. He even said he was left-handed at first."

Gu Qingyi looked at him with doubt, "Really?"

"Um? I'm not exactly left-handed, but I can..."

Her heart ached, and she shouted, "Get out!"

"If you can write, you can wield a sword!"

"I told you to get lost!"

Seeing that she was unwell, Chu Ye didn't dare to say anything more. "I'll go find Yang Su now."

Gu Qingyi slumped into her seat, her gaze falling on the chess pieces scattered on the floor.

She had meticulously planned everything; she couldn't let herself end up with nothing.

"Aaaaaah! I, Yang Su, truly owe you something! Gu Qingyi, please calm down for a moment, I beg you, I beg you! If you die, the reputation of my Medicine King Valley will be completely ruined!"

Yang rushed into the room and inserted needles around her heart meridian.

"I had Yang Xu watching over you every day, and you still got into trouble? Would it be better if I just lived outside your house?"

"Shut up."

"..." Yang Su chuckled, "I really owe you something. No wonder there are always people in the world who go crazy. I want to go crazy too."

"How is Sima Xian?"

"I don't know, I'm just a doctor."

Gu Qingyi scoffed, "Didn't you just go for a consultation?"

"I observe, listen, inquire, and feel the pulse; I do not concern myself with matters of state."

Yang Su pulled out the needles, put them away, and casually rolled up the rows of silver needles before throwing them back into his medicine box.

"However, his health isn't great either; he's just as prone to anger as you are now!"

"Viciousness?"

Gu Qingyi sneered, exuding a gloomy aura. Yang Su rubbed his arms, trembling inwardly.

"Don't put on that half-dead look, just like Yuan Ling'er. His pulse has been accumulating for a long time, damaging his mind and spirit. I just don't understand you two childhood sweethearts."

Yang Su clicked his tongue in amazement; his smug look was a far cry from the arrogant and shrewish demeanor he once possessed.

"Now that you're married, you talk so much."

Before you talk about me, don't forget that you've become one too.

Gu Qingyi glanced at him, and Yang Su smiled and backed away, making a gesture of sealing his mouth and then a gesture of slipping away.

"Let me see how my disciple can defeat me!"

She was completely hidden in the shadows, making it impossible to see her eyes or the thoughts within them.