Meng Gexing's younger brother was stunned by what he saw. He hadn't seen his brother so angry in a very long time; such anger and rage emanating from the depths of his heart frightened him.

He didn't quite understand what they were saying to his brother, but he vaguely knew it was related to Lord Shen.

The boy hesitated for a moment, then sensibly bent down to clean up the leftover food on the ground, picking up the half-eaten chicken leg and putting it into the broken bowl.

Meng Gexing stood with his hands on his hips, breathing heavily, looking down at his younger brother, and stood silently for a moment.

Then he bent down, took his younger brother's hand, and said in a restrained, low voice, "You're still a child, be careful not to cut your hand. Let the adults clean it up... I'm sorry, I scared you."

"What's wrong with my brother?"

Meng Gexing paused for a moment before saying, "Your savior is leaving... I have to go out for a while, I'll have them cook for you again."

So, being promoted to Vice Minister of Revenue meant he was leaving. No wonder my brother was so angry.

When Meng Gexing got into the carriage, he still felt a tightness in his chest, as if all the bad weather in Yunnan had been inhaled into his lungs and he couldn't exhale it.

That son of a bitch Zhu Rui! He just promoted her to Yunnan Provincial Treasurer, and he thought she would stay in Yunnan for at least three to five years. He never expected him to send her back to the capital so soon.

That son of a bitch Zhu Rui, so fickle as an emperor! Doesn't he know that a ruler's word is law? If he wanted her to leave, why did he bring her here in the first place?

Meng Gexing lowered his head and took a deep breath.

He couldn't bear to let her go. His heart pounded fiercely in his chest, his hands trembled slightly at his sides, and every muscle and bone in his body couldn't bear to let her go.

The peach blossom wine has just been planted, and the rice seedlings haven't even matured yet. How can she leave...?

She's gone, and who knows which corrupt official will take over Yunnan Province again? The people here have only enjoyed a little over a year of good life, and now they're going to be plunged back into misery. She's gone, and there's no one left for him to trust and cooperate with. He'll have to watch with conflicted feelings and utter contempt as the government does foolish things, hastening the demise of the Ming Dynasty.

She's gone, and his heart will feel empty.

Qingchen was in the yamen, dealing with the last remaining official business.

Once this part of the matter is settled, she will have to set off back to Beijing.

Her luggage wasn't much to begin with, except for a few more notebooks from her time in Yunnan than when she arrived. Over the past few days, Xie Wenyuan had gradually packed everything for her and also prepared some medicine and food for her.

Just as Qingchen finished writing the last word, a yamen runner brought in a note. She unfolded it, glanced at it, hesitated for a moment, and then stood up.

It is Meng Ge Xing.

She had actually been hesitating for three days about leaving, still undecided whether to tell him. Although they had known each other and shared some unforgettable memories, they were ultimately on opposite sides and couldn't really be considered friends. So she wasn't sure if it was necessary to tell him.

Moreover, she didn't know how to say goodbye.

But now that he's here, we should at least meet him.

Following the instructions on the note, Qingchen arrived at the alley next to the yamen, where Meng Gexing's carriage was parked. She recognized the carriage.

The coachman was nowhere to be found, and the horse was tied to a tree nearby.

"Meng Gexing?" she tried calling out to the carriage.

"Get in the car." His voice came through the curtain.

Qingchen hesitated for a moment before getting into the carriage.

The setting sun shone through the curtains into the carriage, casting its slanting rays upon him. Meng Gexing's handsome face appeared cold and indifferent, completely devoid of its usual nonchalance. The smiling wolf had stopped smiling.

Qingchen sat down next to him. "Something to say?"

He took a soft breath, raised his handsome brows to look at her, and asked, "Are you leaving?"

"Um."

When do we depart?

"In the next couple of days."

"Just leaving like that?" His eyes twitched. "Without even sending anyone to inform me. Aren't you planning to say goodbye?"

Qingchen looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "The White Lotus Sect has so many people and such good information, I guessed you would know."

"Just because you're well-informed doesn't mean you can keep quiet," he quickly retorted. "Or does having someone else say it for you mean you can keep quiet? What do you take me for, Meng Gexing?"

She could tell he was unhappy, but that was the reality, and she didn't know what to say.

Seeing her speechless expression, he frowned slightly and softened his tone, "...Don't you know how much I like you?"

"Can we not leave?" A hint of sadness and self-pity flickered across his handsome face, though he quickly suppressed it.

Qingchen sighed softly, "Meng Gexing, there are still many things to be done in Yunnan, and I don't want to leave so soon. But the Emperor wants me to return to the capital, and as his subject and an official of the Ming Dynasty, I have no right to refuse."

“Then don’t be a subject or an official.” He said excitedly, “Stay in Yunnan, stay with me, and we’ll spend every New Year’s Eve together. As long as I’m here, no one will dare to do anything to you. In two years, after we’ve recruited more followers, I’ll overthrow that dog emperor Zhu Rui, and we’ll rule the world together… Believe me, I can definitely protect you and take good care of you…”

He spoke earnestly and persistently. Qingchen listened silently as he described their bright future, then shook her head after a moment.

His eyes flickered. "Why? Why can't I?"

“Meng Gexing, I also have my dreams. What you’re talking about isn’t my dream.”

"...So what is your dream?"

"I want to be a good official, no matter where I go."

"I can also make you a good official! Once we've dethroned Zhu Rui, whatever official position you want, I'll appoint you! I can do it!"

Qingchen shook his head. "It's different."

"What's different!" he growled excitedly. His handsome features were still striking in the afterglow of the setting sun, but the emotion in his eyes revealed that he was different from before, like an angry and wary wolf.

"I don't want to see war. There are many paths to change this chaotic world, and no matter how arduous or how much effort is required, we are not afraid. However, unless we are truly at our wits' end, we should not waste our lives on war. No one's life should be sacrificed so easily, especially not the lives of all people. If you start a war, you may seize power, but how many people will suffer as a result, how many families will be displaced, and how many lives will be lost in the flames of war..."

Qingchen looked at him and continued, "Meng Gexing, listen to me, if we can still get by, can we please not start a rebellion so easily?"

"I won't listen!" he said, somewhat agitated. "Why should I! Back then, that Zhu fellow still started a war, didn't he? This dog emperor and his ancestors that you've been so devoted to, how are they any different from me!"

"One less time is always better than one more," she said. "Give us some time, maybe..."

"You guys? Who are you? Are you with Song Yue?" He chuckled excitedly. "You still care about him? No wonder you want to go back so much."

Qingchen did not speak.

He continued, "What a joke, Grand Secretary? The Grand Secretary who played you and then dumped you in Yunnan? And you still have the nerve to go back and fawn over them..."

"Meng Gexing, shut up!" Qingchen was a little angry.

"What, did I hit a nerve?" He smiled coldly, his eyes fixed on her, and he seemed to see an emotion he didn't want to see in her gaze. "Can't I even talk about him? Talking about him makes you angry, makes you hate me?"

"I'm not talking to you anymore."

He's so emotionally charged; he probably won't be able to say anything meaningful today. Besides, she's already told him her thoughts about the war; whether he's willing to listen is up to him.

Seeing Qingchen stand up, Meng Gexing immediately said, "Sit down, I haven't finished speaking yet."

It was a plea to stay, but it wasn't gentle. Qingchen ignored it and tried to get off the carriage, saying, "We have nothing more to say."

Meng Gexing finally realized that his tone had been too harsh, so he suppressed his anger and took her hand, "Qingchen, don't go..."

"Let me go." She turned to look at him. "There are still things to take care of at the yamen. I have to go back."

"I won't let go!" He gripped her wrist tightly.

She tried to shake him off, but failed, and her emotions flared up again. "Let go!"

This person is always like this; if they can't reach an agreement, they resort to violence, never caring about other people's feelings.

"So what if I don't let go?" Meng Gexing looked up at her, his eyes revealing a fierce and resolute determination.

He suddenly exerted force, pulling her arm and dragging her back. Qingchen was caught off guard and bumped into his arms.

"Meng Gexing, what are you doing..."

Before she could finish speaking, his hand sealed her mouth, and his strong arms restrained her, leaving her almost unable to move.

"I'll make you hate me even more... You want to leave? I'll make sure you never forget me for the rest of your life!"

As he spoke, he began to tear at her clothes. Qingchen's casual clothes were already somewhat loose, and now, starting from the neckline, they became even wider after he suddenly tugged at them.

She struggled desperately, but felt as if a mountain was pressing down on her, and she couldn't move it no matter what she did. She tried to scream, but could only make muffled sounds, which couldn't penetrate the impenetrable walls of the carriage.

Meng Gexing quickly tore off her belt, lifted her outer robe, and then groped around her waist to find the ties of her inner garment.

stop……

She tried to scream, but no sound came out; she could only glare at him with a sorrowful yet angry look. As she glared, two tears slid down her cheeks. But Meng Gexing didn't look at her; he was only focused on using extreme circumstances to keep her here.

Right here in the carriage, he was going to possess her.

Until… he stripped her of all her clothes and dignity, and beneath her fair, delicate neck and slender shoulders, before her flawless skin, he saw the straps of her breast binder…

He was suddenly stunned, his mind, filled with anger and despair, unable to process what was happening for a moment.

"This is……"

He stared at her blankly, seeing the glistening tears in her eyes sliding down her cheeks.

"You are...a woman..."

Taking advantage of his momentary lapse in concentration, Qingchen mustered all her strength to push her away, then wrapped herself in her clothes and fled the carriage without a word.

Meng Gexing just stared blankly at all of this.

He stared blankly as she broke free from his embrace, pushed him away, jumped off the carriage, and ran away quickly. He made no move.

Such a refined and wise, talented, courageous, responsible, and compassionate official of the Ming Dynasty was actually a woman. Beneath that solemn and austere official robe lay such a fair and delicate body. He had loved her for a year without realizing it.

Men and women are different. A woman's innocence is paramount.

If she were a woman, he could not defile her so easily, especially in such a simple and cramped carriage.

When Meng Gexing came to his senses and jumped out of the car, Qingchen's last figure had just disappeared from his sight.

A thought flashed through his mind.

If he reveals her secret of being a woman to the authorities, will she be unable to go back to her former life?