Previous Life-Zuo Yuanwu

The darkness enveloped the surroundings like a tide, and the only sounds in the silent forest were the mixed breathing and hurried footsteps.

Jing Yao looked back from time to time at the bandits who were about to catch up with her, and the fear in her heart devoured her mind like a surging sea.

The one who cleared the way for her was a team of soldiers left behind by Zuo Yuanwu, but they were outnumbered and there were too many bandits, so they could only flee in all directions.

The footsteps of the pursuers were getting closer and closer, and Jing Yao's physical strength was becoming increasingly difficult to sustain. Even if the soldiers carried her on their backs, it would probably be useless and they would still catch up.

The soldier beside him took off Jing Yao's red coat without saying a word.

"what you do……"

The young man put the clothes on himself and said, "Miss, I apologize for any offense. Please don't make a sound!"

"ah?"

As the world spun, Jing Yao was pushed down the hillside by his palm, and they continued to run forward.

Because of the distance and light, when the bandits caught up again, they only saw a flash of red running over there. Without thinking, they immediately followed it and did not notice Jing Yao who had already rolled into the bushes.

Only after the footsteps faded away did Jing Yao dare to breathe deeply. The hillside and bushes were covered with sharp thorns and rocks, and she rolled around hard, leaving many small cuts on her body, the pain making her gasp.

The knife wound on her leg became more and more serious. Jing Lingyi felt that she had lost all her strength. She wanted to get up but her hands and feet could not move.

"Zuo Yuanwu..." Jing Lingyi shouted subconsciously in the silence all around.

She was afraid that the noise would attract the bandits back, so she could only keep her mouth shut.

She was almost in despair, muttering, "Si Pei..."

Jing Yao inexplicably thought of Si Pei at this time, and even felt a little regretful.

If only she hadn't escaped from the Eastern Palace... then she wouldn't have ended up in this situation.

wrong!

Jing Yao stretched out her hands and grasped the grass on the ground tightly. If Si Pei hadn't locked her up, she wouldn't have risked her life to get away even if it meant stabbing him... and she wouldn't have encountered all these things.

So in the final analysis, it’s all Si Pei’s fault!

Thinking of this, Jing Lingyi felt much better.

But the quieter she was, the more obvious the pain from the wounds and dislocated bones became.

She lay on the ground, feeling the burning pain in every inch of her skin, and for the first time she felt the fear of death eroding her like a tide.

The bushes blocked the light, and it was dark all around. The despair in Jing Yao's heart grew.

Suddenly, there was a rustling sound in her ears, as if something small was approaching her.

It wasn't hard to guess what might be in the bushes—snakes, rats, insects, frogs. Jing Lingyi cautiously scanned her surroundings with her peripheral vision, afraid both of seeing and of not seeing anything.

The noise beside her ears became louder and louder, and the voice became clearer and clearer. Jing Lingyi felt a belated panic and could only close her eyes to stop herself from glancing around.

Is it a snake? Or a frog?

At this moment, all the skin and hair on her body became extremely sensitive, as if everything she touched might be those disgusting things.

The high tension of her mind reached its peak when her right hand touched a slight chill, and Jing Lingyi raised her right hand as if by reflex.

She wanted to get up, but the severe pain in her body did not give her the chance. Jing Lingyi's face was covered in cold sweat.

When his right hand was about to fall back, it was suddenly grasped by a large, dry and cool hand.

Jing Yao finally saw the face of the man in front of her clearly. She cried and laughed as if she had survived a disaster. She subconsciously put her hand on his neck. The man leaned over and picked her up gently.

"I found you."

——

Miss Jing, who escaped at her 17th birthday party, was taken back to the East Palace

Outside Yilan Palace, Zuo Yuanwu remained guarding the place, his hand unconsciously stroking the sword at his waist, without saying a word.

"Zuo Yuanwu." Si Pei frowned slightly at his vacant eyes and absent-minded look. "Let's go."

"Yes." Zuo Yuanwu hurriedly followed. He had been thinking about how to apologize to the young lady. Ultimately, most of the responsibility for this incident was on him.

If he hadn't left for something urgent and asked his deputy to protect her, perhaps this wouldn't have happened.

Now it was found by Si Pei... But it's a good thing that it was found by Si Pei.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had already known about this and knew that he might not be able to escape death.

"General Zuo hasn't married yet, has he?" Si Pei deliberately revealed the rouge that had been accidentally smeared on his hand, which he had just smeared on Jing Yao's bed. He said with a hint of meaning, "Do you have a girl in mind?"

A subtle flash of panic flashed across Zuo Yuanwu's eyes. Si Pei patted his shoulder sympathetically, "Just tell me. General Zuo has made many contributions, and this time he led the team to retrieve Yao Yao. I will definitely find a good match for you."

Zuo Yuanwu looked at the rouge in his hand, and only one person's face flashed through his mind, but he knew that this was impossible.

And Si Pei was also deliberately pointing at him at this moment.

"Your Highness, I don't have a sweetheart yet." Afraid that he would really arrange a marriage for him, Zuo Yuanwu knelt on one knee and said, "Your Highness's foundation is not stable, and the country is not settled. I dare not have any selfish motives."

"General Zuo is so loyal and righteous, I am very pleased." Si Pei smiled knowingly. "It just so happens that the northwest and south are suffering from the Di Rong at this moment. I want to send people to properly rectify the border. The civil officials have been selected, and as for the military generals... I don't think there is anyone more suitable than General Zuo."

Si Pei finished speaking and patted Zuo Yuanwu on the shoulder. There was a smile on his lips, but the gentle smile did not reach his eyes.

With just one glance, Zuo Yuanwu understood that Si Pei knew everything.

"It is my honor to be able to share the worries of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." Zuo Yuanwu bowed deeply and put his head on the ground, not daring to raise it.

Si Pei said calmly, "Then... I'll have to trouble General Zuo."

Zuo Yuanwu hurried out of the palace gate and happened to meet Xing Feng.

"Your Highness, is it okay to send Zuo Yuanwu away at this juncture?" Xing Feng was a little worried.

Si Pei's eyes lowered, his emotions unclear: "It doesn't matter. But, have someone keep an eye on him."

——

After half a month of recuperation, Jing Yao's injuries gradually recovered and he was able to go out and walk.

The East Palace had a back garden, not far from her bedroom. Willow trees shaded the pond. She gazed out at the shimmering water, the bright spring sun illuminating every flower bud. It had been a long time since Jing Lingyi had seen such a beautiful spring scene.

Before in the East Palace, she always stayed in her room and didn't go out, seeing anyone. Today was the first time she came out.

Last spring, she had also enjoyed the peach blossoms with her brothers and sisters at Taoyuan Mansion in Shanghua City. It was a beautiful spring day, and the whole banquet was filled with singing and laughter.

But it is late spring now, and the season for peach blossoms to bloom has long passed.

And the old friends around me are no longer here.

She lamented that the peach blossoms had fallen, only to see new buds sprouting from the branches. Zhiyue, however, thought she wanted to see the peach blossoms, so she smiled and said, "I've heard a line from Bai Juyi's poem: 'The flowers of April fade on earth, and the peach blossoms in the mountain temples begin to bloom.' Perhaps the peach blossoms are still blooming on some hilltop right now."

Seeing Jing Lingyi's smile, Zhiyue continued to offer advice: "Miss, if you want to see it, please tell His Highness. He will definitely take you to see it immediately."

"...that's all." Jing Yao suppressed his smile, "There's nothing to see here."

She turned around and was about to leave when she caught a glimpse of a familiar face not far away: "Hey, why are you two here?"

Aren't these the two deputies Zuo Yuanwu assigned to her before? They're not dead!?

Before she could be happy for long, one of the silent soldiers raised the edge of his helmet, and seeing that it was Jing Lingyi, he immediately knelt on one knee and saluted: "Greetings, young lady."

The other party answered her question first: "General Zuo has left the capital, and we are here to help him with some matters concerning the guards of the Eastern Palace."

After saying that, he sighed slightly.

Jing Lingyi's eyes widened in disbelief. "What did you say? Who wants to leave Beijing?"

Who allowed Zuo Yuanwu to leave Shanghua City!

Is he volunteering? Where is he going? When will he leave? How long will he be gone? Will he come back?

For a moment, Jing Lingyi didn't know which question to ask first, and anxiety filled her entire mind.

In the end, it was the silent young man who answered everything in detail: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince sent General Zuo to the northwest to quell the rebellion. I'm afraid it's hard to say when he'll return. But the departure date has been set..."

"When?" Jing Lingyi interrupted him before he could finish.

The soldier's face was filled with suppressed grief and indignation. "Yesterday... The general left early yesterday morning."

…

Zuo Yuanwu knew very well that the prince was wary of him and suspected that his loyalty was wavering, which might also be related to Jing Yao's safety.

In order to avoid unnecessary complications and to completely clear the young lady of this relationship, it would be his best option to leave Beijing immediately.

But the price of such haste was also clear, which was that he couldn't even see Jing Yao again before leaving.

"General, there's a post station ahead. Do you want to rest?"

The deputy general's voice interrupted Zuo Yuanwu's thoughts. He suddenly realized that the team had already left Shanghua City for hundreds of miles.

He looked back in the direction of Shanghua, even though he could no longer see anything.

Zuo Yuanwu turned around and replied, "Stop."

The gentleman in the carriage that had just stopped hurriedly got out and walked around, saying that his waist and legs ached.

Zuo Yuanwu smiled. The journey to the northwest was long, and he had only walked less than one-sixth of the way. He would have a hard time in the future.

The women brought by the official also looked embarrassed, and they leaned into their husband's arms and complained coquettishly.

Leaning against the banyan tree at the post station, Zuo Yuanwu carefully took out the half-finished jade pendant from his bosom and gently placed it on his forehead. He only hoped that Jing Lingyi, who was in the Eastern Palace, would be safe and sound.

Before leaving, he also left his own people in the palace, hoping that they could provide some care.

Si Pei is a man with too deep thoughts, and there is really nothing he can do about it. However... he will go back and see the young lady again one day.

Of course.