At this moment, Lu Shenyun was unaware that Qingchen was actually behind him. And she had chosen a path other than his.

Back when Lu Shenyun said he would send her to Yunnan, Qingchen had already decided that she would not let him accompany her on such a long and tiring journey.

As the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he naturally couldn't leave the capital for long; Zhu Rui would surely punish him if he found out. Besides, it was she who was leaving; what reason was there for him to endure the hardships and toil, only to return to the capital alone? Yunnan was a thousand miles from the capital; the feeling of traveling alone was unimaginable.

His feelings moved her, but she couldn't accept them.

After facing the crossroads, Lu Shenyun was filled with apprehension, unsure if he had chosen the right path. Yet, his resolve remained unchanged; he continued onward. How could he know if he could catch up if he didn't pursue?

But this feeling of uncertainty was the most unpleasant, because not knowing if it was the right path made him more anxious the faster he chased, and the more afraid he was of choosing the wrong path and wasting time. He had a hard time figuring out how long he should chase her, or to which point he should reach, before he could confirm whether she had chosen the path he was on.

Two hours later, Lu Shenyun's worst fears came true. He still hadn't caught up with Qingchen.

Logically speaking, although Qingchen had set off earlier than him, his horse was faster than Qingchen's carriage. After chasing for so long, he should have caught up by now if he had chosen the right route. But he didn't see her carriage.

Lu Shenyun frowned, and unwillingly rode forward another mile before suddenly reining in his horse. His black horse was pulled abruptly, its front hooves rearing up, letting out a hoarse neigh.

He then turned his horse around and began to hurry back. However, this trip back would take another two hours.

Three days later, Lu Shenyun was already somewhat desperate.

He had tried all three routes leading to Yunnan, but still hadn't seen Qingchen. He knew that he must have turned back, assuming she wasn't taking that route, before he could catch up with her on one of the three roads. He had this feeling with each of the three roads he took. But in the end, he still didn't know which route Qingchen had chosen.

He guessed she wouldn't stay at the post station, but he didn't know which inn on which road she might be staying at. He searched all the inns along the way, but she wasn't there.

By this time, three full days had passed since he parted ways with Qingchen, and Lu Shenyun clearly realized that he could not catch up with her.

For the past three days, he has only had about two hours of rest each day. The wound on his arm has not been dressed in time due to his constant running around, and the injury has become increasingly serious. The pain was secondary; the wound also became incredibly itchy, probably due to infection, and it was showing signs of suppuration and ulceration. The effectiveness of the wound medicine was also decreasing.

Because of the infection of his wound and the lack of rest, he began to have a low-grade fever, headache, body aches and weakness, and no strength... Then came coughing, red eyes and tinnitus, and a high fever... At this point, although he was unwilling to give up, he could no longer keep up.

When Lu Shenyun was brought back to the Zhenfu Division, he was in a semi-comatose state, which startled Huang Yu.

Several days ago, when Huang Yu heard that he was going to send Qingchen to Yunnan, he said that Qingchen was crazy. He had heard of people going all the way to the Western Paradise to send a Buddha, but he had never heard of sending a person all the way to Yunnan. His good brother had completely sacrificed himself for Qingchen.

He would unconditionally support his brother's feelings and decisions, even going so far as to keep Lu Shenyun in the dark and buy time. He only felt sorry for him, that the person he loved was a man, and that they could never marry, have children, and live a harmonious life together. Although he understood all this, his deep affection from beginning to end was truly moving.

Now Lu Shenyun has suddenly returned, but he is in this half-dead state, and he still has the letter from that person saying goodbye and not allowing anyone to see him off in his arms. Huang Yu understood immediately after reading it.

Right now, I only have two words in my mind: heartbroken.

Lu Shenyun used to be so arrogant and aloof, so unconventional. He was the one who hurt others, but no one else could hurt him. Now, he has finally fallen into the hands of others.

"well."

Huang Yu sighed softly and immediately sent someone to fetch a doctor. "No, go and request the imperial physician to come."

Four days after Qingchen left, on a day that happened to be a day off, it was also the wedding day of the son of the Minister of Personnel.

As a highly influential figure in the court, the Minister of Personnel naturally invited numerous princes and nobles to participate in this joyous occasion. Song Yue was among those invited.

It's someone else's son getting married; it really has nothing to do with him. In the past, he wouldn't even glance at such invitations. He has so much official business to attend to; he doesn't have time to go to weddings.

But this time was different. The Grand Secretary, widely recognized as the busiest person in the court, who had to worry about most of the affairs of the court, actually came to the banquet.

When Song Yue appeared at the residence of the Minister of Personnel, it caused a sensation. From servants and stewards to guests and hosts, everyone spread the word, "Grand Secretary Song is here."

The year's plan starts in spring. At the beginning of the new year, there will be no shortage of affairs in the court, but he still managed to take time out of his busy schedule. It is conceivable that although the Grand Secretary is busy, he must be in a good mood.

As a Grand Secretary, Song Yue was an honored guest among honored guests and naturally received the highest level of courtesy and hospitality from the host. From the moment he entered, he was personally greeted by the Minister of Personnel and then personally invited to the banquet hall.

The Minister of Personnel's residence was decorated with extraordinary festive cheer, with bright red "double happiness" characters everywhere. As far as the eye could see, beaded curtains and embroidered brocades filled the air. The sounds of drums, flutes, and pipes filled the air, along with laughter and chatter, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.

Song Yue was tall and imposing, easily spotted in any crowd. Today, he wore a well-fitting brocade robe, his face still bearing the refined and dignified air, his demeanor composed and elegant. He looked to be in good spirits, a faint smile playing on his lips, showing no signs of fatigue from his busy court duties.

During the banquet, many people surrounded him, offering greetings and toasts. Surprisingly, he rarely refused the continuous toasts, drinking almost all of them with practiced ease, giving the hosts ample face. Amidst the clinking of glasses, many people went to great lengths to greet, flatter, and fawn over this rarely seen Grand Secretary, with some even subtly mentioning their desire for a marriage alliance with him, taking advantage of the festive occasion. He simply smiled, drank his wine, and remained noncommittal.

He rarely appeared on such occasions in the past, and was always very reserved when it came to alcohol, never having drunk so many cups in front of so many people before. On this day, everyone finally saw just how much Song Ge Lao could drink. He drank quite a bit, and apart from a slightly flushed face, he showed no signs of intoxication.

The more Zhao Qiran, who came with him, looked, the stranger it seemed.

For Song Yue, there hadn't been anything to be happy about lately; even Qing Chen had left. Where did this inexplicable joy come from? Zhao Qiran couldn't figure it out.

At the same time, Xu Silin was also observing Song Yue.

He hadn't wanted to come today, but since the Minister of Personnel was his father's man, and his father wasn't coming, he had to represent the Xu family. To his surprise, he ran into Song Yue here.

He sat at the same table as Song Yue, and when they first met today, he had called him "teacher".

They had already drunk quite a bit, but Xu Silin hadn't touched much of the food either. Apart from exchanging a few words with necessary people, his attention remained focused on Song Yue.

Qingchen left, but their teacher drank heartily, showing no trace of sadness or reluctance. Did he truly love Qingchen? Or was it merely Qingchen's unrequited love?

This left Xu Silin feeling very confused and conflicted. As someone who liked Qingchen, he felt indignant for her, yet also happy for himself.

After the banquet, the guests either went to the main hall and flower room to drink tea and chat, or to the retreat to rest. Although Xu Silin tried his best to avoid drinking, he still drank quite a bit on this occasion.

When he arrived at the retreat, he saw a waterside pavilion beside it. The pond shimmered with the gentle spring water, and a row of weeping willows lined its banks, their green tendrils swaying in the breeze. Beneath the willows stood a familiar figure.

Who else could it be but Song Yue?

Xu Silin walked over and called out to his retreating figure, "Teacher Song."

Song Yue turned around and smiled slightly, "It's you."

Such a private conversation hadn't happened in a long time. On the surface, they were teacher and student, but in reality, they belonged to different camps. In addition, their feelings for the same person made their relationship subtly tense and delicate.

Xu Silin recalled their first meeting at the Hanlin Academy, when he had asked him about "righteousness and filial piety," putting him in a dilemma. Later, when he wanted to retaliate with a blood-stained handkerchief, Xu Silin had easily defused the situation. Still later, when he and Qingchen forced their way through the city gates, it was this man who took the blame for them and was even expelled from the cabinet for a period of time.

Because of this, he felt very grateful and guilty towards him, even though he now knew that Song Yue might have only done it for Qingchen.

No matter what, time eventually flows relentlessly, and those things have slowly faded into the distance. Even Qingchen has gone to faraway Yunnan.

"Teacher, you drank quite a bit today, but you're not drunk. You have a really good tolerance for alcohol," Xu Silin said slowly.

Song Yue also looked him over. "Looks like you've had quite a bit to drink too."

"I can't compare to my teacher. I didn't drink as much as he did, but I'm already drunk."

Song Yue smiled slightly. "What's the point of comparing them? Being hard to get drunk isn't necessarily a good thing."

Xu Silin frowned.

Yes, ever since he learned that Qingchen liked Song Yue, he had been unconsciously comparing himself to Song Yue, taking him as his role model and trying to emulate him.

He worked hard to climb the ranks, wanting to reach the same position as him, and even couldn't help but compete with him in drinking capacity.

Xu Silin chuckled to himself, realizing that he was inferior to him in so many ways.

However, regardless of anything else, there was one thing he never believed he was inferior to Song Yue in: his feelings for Qingchen. He considered himself to love her more than Song Yue did.

A gentle breeze blew, and the willows behind them swayed in the wind, casting their shadows into the pond, only to have them quickly shattered by the wind.

"Teacher, you drank so much today, is it because you're in a good mood?" Slightly tipsy, Xu Silin blurted out the words he had been keeping to himself, "Qingchen is gone, aren't you sad at all? What kind of person are you?"

Song Yue narrowed her eyes slightly as she looked at him. "Why do you think I should be sad?"

Staring at Song Yue's inscrutable face, Xu Silin couldn't help but grab his collar. "Qingchen likes you so much. If you didn't like her, you would have rejected her long ago. Why would she be so heartbroken because of you? If you like her, why did you drive her away? Tell me!"

Song Yue looked at him without saying a word. It seemed that another person had come to know Qing Chen's identity.

Unfortunately, this person happened to be Xu Silin.

So, is he here to confront her on her behalf because he has fallen in love with her?

“She’s such a good girl. You can’t be indifferent, unappreciative, or uncaring. If you don’t love her, just tell her. But you can’t just casually squander her feelings!” he said indignantly, his eyes reddening.

Song Yue looked at him, and after a long while asked softly, "Xu Silin, I am your teacher. If so, what can you do about it?"

Even without Song Yue's reminder, he knew his behavior was highly disrespectful, but fueled by alcohol and conflicted emotions, he still refused to let go. "If that's the case, I won't let you off the hook. Remember, you're not the only one in this world; there will be someone who loves her more than you!"

In any case, one day they will go from teacher and student to opposing enemies. Regardless of whether it's because of Qingchen, perhaps only one of them can survive.

After saying this, Xu Silin released Song Yue's clothes and left without looking back.

Before the alcohol took over his consciousness, he boarded the carriage to return home.

Back in his room, Xu Silin was barely conscious. Without even changing his clothes, he collapsed weakly onto the bed. As the maidservant served him, she said, "Miss Mingxiang says she wants to see you, young master."

For a moment, Xu Silin recalled the scene of his entanglement with Ming Xiang in bed that night, and shook his head, saying, "I won't see her."

Although there were kisses and caresses that night, he ultimately did not have sex with Mingxiang. In his final moments, he regained his senses and, realizing that the person in his arms was not Qingchen, pushed her away.

But he did kiss her and hug her, almost making a terrible mistake, which made him feel sorry for Qingchen and he has always felt guilty.

Therefore, he didn't want to see Mingxiang.

That's fine. Let her be happy. There's no need for us to meet again.

After Xu Si left, Song Yue stood by the pond for a while longer before also leaving the festive mansion.

However, he wasn't going home because he couldn't hold his liquor; he had another appointment to keep.

A woman's appointment.

Upon arriving at a secluded teahouse, Song Yue had just ordered a pot of tea and taken a couple of sips when the person he had arranged to meet gracefully arrived.

Consort Zheng, dressed in ordinary women's clothing, took off the white veil-adorned conical hat from her head and placed it on the wall cabinet beside her.

The sun was about to set, and candles were lit in the private room, their soft light falling into Song Yue's teacup.

He poured her another cup of tea. "It's here."

Consort Zheng sat down facing him, picked up her cup and took a sip to moisten her dry lips, completely unlike her cautiousness towards tea when she first met Song Yue.

After spending several time together, she felt that trust had been established between them, at least on the surface.

"It's rare to smell the stench of alcohol in this room." She waved her slender finger in front of her nose. "Looks like you've been drinking today? Quite a bit. Let me guess, it's the wedding of the Minister of Personnel today, you went to the banquet, didn't you?"

Song Yue drank some tea and nodded, "Mm."

"That's strange. Isn't Grand Secretary Song usually averse to joining in the fun? Why is he so thoroughly involved this time?" Consort Zheng looked at him with a probing gaze, her beautiful eyes gently locking onto his handsome face. "Did the Minister of Personnel bring out some fine wine, or did the Imperial Music Bureau send in a once-in-a-millennium beautiful courtesan?"

"Is this related to what we're about to say?" Song Yue glanced at her.

She had invited him here today, saying she had something important to discuss. He didn't want to say anything more to her than that. He had to remind her that, as a "partner," she had no right to share his secrets.

But Consort Zheng thought differently. She had always been very interested in Song Yue's affairs, and opportunities to meet him privately like this were rare. Of course, she wouldn't miss any details about him.

"Yue, I've rarely heard of you drinking so much. You're acting so strangely today, I just want to know why. Also, you're thirty-one already, why aren't you married yet? Tell me, what's the reason?" She adopted an extremely charming and coquettish demeanor, and stroked his cheek with her hand painted with nail polish.

Song Yue suddenly grabbed her wrist and said coldly, "If you don't want to talk about serious matters, then tell me how you plan to deliver that love letter you wrote to the Emperor?"

After a long while, Consort Zheng sighed softly, pried his fingers apart, and withdrew her hand.

She harbored resentment because he never reciprocated her feelings. She was such a charming woman, countless men couldn't escape her grasp, so why was it that the one she loved didn't reciprocate her feelings?

"Alright, alright, I'll get to the point." She then got down to business. "I've taken care of the matter you asked me to handle regarding Xu Yan. What do you need me to do next?"

I'll tell you later.

"Yue... I've always felt that you're working too hard. There are so few people around you who can help you, unlike the Xu faction which has many powerful members." Consort Zheng said, then suddenly remembered something, "By the way, I heard you sent that student named Shen Qingchen to Yunnan. Why is that? You're so eager to achieve your goal, and now is the time when you need people. How could you get rid of someone who could be of use to you? This doesn't seem like something you would do... Do you... like him?"

He frowned slightly. "What did you say?"

Consort Zheng smiled brightly, "You haven't married for so many years, do you prefer men? The court says you are the four most handsome men, could it be that you really like that man Shen Qingchen?"

"Whether I like men or women is none of your business," he said, staring at her.

Seeing Song Yue's serious expression and cold gaze, Consort Zheng suddenly smiled ingratiatingly, "Alright, alright, don't be angry. How could I not see that you like women? I was just teasing you. Look at you, so cold, it's even a little scary."

"Have you finished talking about important matters?" he asked, standing up. "If you have, I'm leaving."

As that captivating figure was about to disappear through the door, Consort Zheng suddenly called out to him, "Yue, I like you. I like you more and more..."

Then, with a "bang," the door slammed shut.

Two months later.

The Minister of Personnel arrived at the cabinet and reported to Song Yue that the Governor of Yunnan had been replaced.

Song Yue nodded. "Thank you, sir."

Meanwhile, Qingchen finally arrived at Yuanjiang Prefecture.

A skinny yellow dog lay outside the gate, but inside the prefectural government office, there wasn't a soul in sight.