Chapter 68 His whereabouts were exposed, and he was determined to make her experience what it meant to wish she were dead...

After traveling for nearly a month, stopping and starting along the way, Lu Xiuyi and Chu Ze finally arrived at Hejiuyun Township at a leisurely pace.

Upon entering the city, the two first found an inn to stay in. After resting until the afternoon, they prepared to order something to eat. Chu Ze casually asked, "I wonder which teahouse or tavern here has the best food?"

Along the way, he and Lu Xiuyi passed through many places, from Yichuan to Longtang, from Longtang to Tongzhou, and from Tongzhou to Xinxiang. They saw all the mountains and rivers and tasted all the local delicacies. Lu Xiuyi's mood improved, and his headaches flared up less often. Life seemed to have returned to what it was back then.

Back then, they were young, and his son had never experienced the bitterness of love; his heart was full of longing for the future.

After wiping the table, the waiter tossed the white cloth back over his shoulder. He noticed they were from out of town and poured them a cup of tea, saying with a smile, "If we're talking about food and drink, Chun Restaurant is the place to be. Their peach blossom wine is the sweetest. Paired with peach cakes, one sip will leave you feeling refreshed and invigorated, with a lingering sweetness. I guarantee you two gentlemen will be craving more after you've tasted it, and the aftertaste will be unforgettable."

After the waiter finished speaking, he subconsciously licked his lips.

Lu Xiuyi smiled and teased, "Why is everything related to peaches?"

"Young master, you may not know this, but these are all new products that have been developed in the last two years. The winemaker is a young woman who came to our village a couple of years ago and leased the entire mountain. Most of the mountain is covered with peach trees, so the food and drinks there are basically all related to peaches."

Chu Ze took a sip of tea and nodded, saying, "If that's the case, then it's not surprising."

After pouring the tea, the waiter said "Please wait a moment" before hurrying into the kitchen to serve the dishes.

The food at the inn was mediocre, and Lu Xiuyi didn't like it. He only ate a couple of bites before putting down his chopsticks.

He hadn't eaten since yesterday, and his appetite had been much worse than before in the past two years. Chu Ze was worried that his body couldn't handle it, so he suggested, "Since you don't like the food here, why don't we go to that Chun Restaurant and try it?"

Lu Xiuyi nodded.

Chuze hurriedly asked the waiter for directions to Chun Restaurant. The waiter gave him a brief explanation, and the two immediately headed to Chun Restaurant.

The tavern is easy to find; just turn two corners and walk straight for about a mile. As soon as you enter, a smiling waiter greets you: "What would you two gentlemen like to eat?"

Lu Xiuyi glanced around indifferently and saw that the place was packed with people and every seat was taken: "There are no seats left."

Chu Ze frowned: "My young master doesn't like crowds."

The waiter, with his sharp eyes, noticed their extraordinary attire and refined appearance, and knew they were no ordinary rich young men. He smiled and said, "Please rest assured, gentlemen, there are also private rooms upstairs."

Chu Ze immediately took out a tael of silver and handed it to the waiter: "Lead the way, bring up all your signature dishes, a jar of peach blossom wine, and a plate of peach cakes."

The waiter weighed the one or two taels of silver in his hand, overjoyed. As he led the way up the stairs, he flattered the waiter, saying, "You two really have good taste. Our peach blossom wine paired with peach cakes is a perfect match. I guarantee you'll find it unforgettable."

As they were talking, the waiter led them to a private room.

As soon as he entered, a faint fragrance wafted into his nostrils. In the corner stood a lotus-shaped incense burner with bridge-shaped handles, and wisps of smoke drifted into the air. Upon smelling the fragrance, Lu Xiuyi felt his inner turmoil subside slightly. He turned his head and asked, "What kind of incense is burning here?"

The waiter turned to leave, but upon hearing this, he quickly turned back and said with a smile, "It's acacia incense. Our second-in-command blended it himself. He said that since you've come to enjoy the food, you should be in a good mood, so we've lit this incense in all the private rooms. If you don't like it, we can remove it."

Lu Xiuyi smiled and said with emotion, "Your second-in-command can be considered a refined gentleman. There's no need to remove it; let it stay here."

Chu Ze was slightly surprised and quickly closed his open mouth.

The dishes were served quickly. Lu Xiuyi glanced at them and saw lotus leaf fish dumplings, stuffed duck with fresh mushrooms, almond tofu, and fried quail. He took a sip of peach blossom wine, which was sweet and fragrant with a soft texture that seemed to melt in his mouth. He then ate a peach cake, which perfectly complemented the sweetness of the peach and the mellowness of the wine. The more he drank, the more refreshing he felt.

"The brewer's skills are superb, surpassing many brewers in the capital." Before Lu Xiuyi could speak, Chu Ze took a sip and couldn't help but say.

When the last dish, fermented duck breast, was served, Lu Xiuyi casually asked, "I wonder if the winemaker is here? Could we ask her to come out and meet me?"

The waiter picked up the tray and replied with a smile, "This was brewed by our second-in-command. However, you two have come at an inopportune time. Our second-in-command happened to be away on business a few days ago and is not currently in Hejiuyun Township."

Lu Xiuyi had only asked casually, and upon hearing this, he no longer pursued the matter and asked the waiter to leave.

After the two finished their meal, they set off for the Cui family, asking for directions along the way as they made their way to Hualing Lane.

Turning the corner, sunlight streamed into the long alley. A sweet osmanthus tree leaned against the wall, its fragrance permeating the depths of the alley. Following the directions of passersby, Chuze knocked on the door of one of the houses.

After a while, the door creaked open from the inside, revealing a crack and a thin face. The old woman, hiding behind the door, looked them over and asked warily, "Who are you?"

Chu Ze didn't answer her directly, but instead asked with a smile, "Excuse me, is this Cui Zhaoyuan's home?"

***

Half an hour later, the two stood at the entrance of the alley, covered in dust and dirt. Lu Xiuyi patted his dusty clothes with a look of disgust, gritted his teeth and looked at the closed door in the distance, and said angrily, "I have never suffered such humiliation in all these years. How can such a scoundrel have survived to this day?"

Logically speaking, she should have offended some powerful official long ago, who would have killed her without hesitation.

Chu Ze looked at the scratch on the back of his hand, recalling the scene of Cui's mother sweeping over with a bamboo broom, and winced in pain: "That old woman is so shameless. Who would spread rumors that their daughter-in-law is having an affair? And she shouted it so loudly, as if she was afraid that no one would know."

He touched the back of his hand, which had been scratched by the bamboo broom, and frowned with a "whoosh." He suggested to Lu Xiuyi, "Why don't I have the government come and take her away? Otherwise, she'll make a scene here and ruin your reputation."

Lu Xiuyi glanced at the door with disgust: "Lock her in jail and give her a good beating to avenge the humiliation I suffered."

Chu Ze immediately responded.

Despite saying this, half an hour later, the two of them were standing at the entrance of Flower Bell Alley again.

After making inquiries, it turned out that Cui Zhaoyuan had been taken by her mother to live in the two-story house next door. Chu Ze also gossiped that Cui's mother was a formidable woman, and her daughter-in-law could not bear it, so she proposed a divorce to her son. However, her son refused to agree, so the daughter-in-law had no choice but to move out of the Cui family home with Cui Zhaoyuan.

Chu Ze squatted at the alley entrance, sipping his plum juice, his sharp eyes seemingly piercing through the Cui family's gate: "I knew that old woman was no good. As the old saying goes, 'Even a god can't fight someone with thin cheeks.' How could the young lady from the Yun family possibly be her match?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Xiuyi glanced down at him, his face full of impatience, and kicked him with his foot: "Hurry up and knock on the door after you finish drinking. I'll take a look at Cui Zhaoyuan. If she doesn't look like her, then so be it. But if she does look like her, that old woman will have a good time."

Chu Ze was kicked in the buttocks, but he dared not be angry or speak out. He felt that his young master's behavior was like that of a pervert.

What use is she? Can she bring the dead back to life?

Chu Ze rubbed his bottom, tossed aside the small bowl of plum juice, and went to knock on the door next to the Cui family's house.

After a short while, a sweet voice came from inside: "Coming, who is it?"

Immediately following was the sound of the door bolt being opened.

A smiling face, tinged with a hint of doubt, scrutinized them for a moment before stammering, "May I ask who you two are looking for?"

Chu Ze still smiled and asked, "Does Cui Zhaoyuan live here?"

Seeing that they seemed to have no ill intentions, Yun An pondered for a moment and then invited them in.

As soon as Lu Xiuyi entered the gate, he saw two reclining chairs in the small courtyard, a stone table and several low stools next to them. In the eastern corner of the courtyard, there was a clump of green bamboo. The bamboo leaves were slender and tender green, adding a touch of brightness to the orange-yellow late autumn.

Yun An invited them to sit down, then went inside and carried Zhao Yuan out.

The baby in the swaddling clothes was sleeping soundly, with high brow bones, a round face, and big earlobes; he was a very lucky child.

Lu Xiuyi glanced at her and saw no resemblance to her at all.

He sighed, feeling as if a part of his heart had become empty again. He then asked Chuze to take out a jade pendant and give it to Xiao Zhaoyuan. Without waiting for Yun An to say anything, he simply lifted his foot and left.

Yun An stared blankly at the cool jade pendant, feeling a strange sensation. The aura emanating from that person was melancholic and desolate, devoid of life.

After stuffing the jade pendant into his mouth, Chu Ze hurriedly chased after him.

Sensing Lu Xiuyi's dejection, he hesitated for a long time before saying, "Young Master, why don't we set off back to the capital tomorrow?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Xiuyi stopped and looked up. The sunlight was dazzling, and the world continued to turn, but her figure was no longer there.

He paused for a moment, then nodded: "Alright, but before that, I'd like to try the peach blossom wine again."

***

The two went to Tsubaki Restaurant again.

As soon as I entered, I saw a middle-aged man with a flushed face, sitting on a chair and yelling, "I told you to let Miss Xi out, didn't you hear me?"

The waiter looked helpless, and fearing that he might fall off the chair, he could only lift him up with both hands and patiently explain, "I really am not lying to you, Miss Xi has gone on a long trip and may not be able to come back for a while. Where am I supposed to look for her?"

The middle-aged man, clutching the wine jar, threw it aside and drunkenly shouted, "I don't care! You have to find her for me, no matter what! I'd be happy to have her have a couple of drinks with me!"

The waiter sighed, "Miss Xi doesn't know how to talk. Even if we bring her back, she won't be able to keep you company!"

The waiter's words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating towering waves that splashed towards Lu Xiuyi, whose ashen face was rapidly stained with vibrant colors.

A thunderbolt struck his heart suddenly, instantly unleashing countless questions and stirring up a storm in his once tranquil mind.

***

After leaving Hejiuyun Township, Meng Yu traveled westward, resting every two days. Fortunately, she had enough money with her. She hired a carriage to reach a place and then transferred to another. Because she had rested enough, she did not feel too tired.

During her journey, her voice had recovered to about 70-80%, and she no longer needed to take out paper and pen to talk to people.

Upon arriving in Jinzhou that day, night had already fallen. Meng Yu had no choice but to find an inn to stay in. After settling in, he went downstairs and ordered two dishes to fill his stomach.

"Brother, you must have made a lot of money transporting goods to Hejiuyun Township this time?" A cheerful voice came from behind.

Upon hearing the words "Hejiuyun Township," Meng Yu immediately became alert. Glancing behind him, he saw a middle-aged man who looked like a businessman spit out, "Don't even mention it. I've been transporting goods for so many years, and I've never encountered anything so unlucky."

"Oh?" The other person's smile faded. "What happened?"

The merchant chewed his food, making a smacking sound as he chewed: "The city's under lockdown. I can't even get my goods in. A whole boatload of goods, I'll have to sell them cheaply to the people of Yuanzhou."

A chill suddenly ran from the soles of her feet throughout her body, and Meng Yu's heart jumped into her throat.

The other person's eyes widened in surprise: "The city's been locked down? When did that happen? I've never heard of it. Could it be an epidemic?"

"I'm not sure, but it's definitely not a plague. I overheard some passersby talking about it. It seems that General Huaiyuan from the capital has arrived in Hejiuyun Township and is looking for someone. I don't know the specifics," the merchant said, gritting his teeth. "Damn it, what are those high-ranking officials and nobles up to? Why do they have to drag us into this? They've forced me to sell all my goods at a loss, and I've lost a lot of money. I don't know how long it will take to fill this huge hole."

Meng Yu didn't hear a word of what he said at the end. She felt as if a huge boulder weighing a thousand pounds was pressing down on her body, and she couldn't even move her fingers.

"Speaking of which, it seems that General Huaiyuan also arrested a few people and put them in jail. One of the women seemed to have given birth only six months ago."

The merchant's words reached her ears again. Just then, the waiter brought up the dishes. Seeing that her face was pale and she looked like she had lost her soul, he asked with concern, "Miss, are you alright? Should we see a doctor?"

The merchant's voice gradually faded away. Meng Yu came to her senses, forced a smile, and shook her head, saying, "I'm fine, thank you for your concern."

She tried to pick up some food with her chopsticks, but her hands were shaking so badly she couldn't even hold them steady. Bang!

The chopsticks fell to the ground with a crisp sound.

Meng Yu hurriedly picked it up, and when she met the waiter's concerned gaze, she still managed a stiff smile before using all her strength to grip the chopsticks tightly, pick up a bite of food, and shakily put it into her mouth.

Dishes that look, smell, and taste delicious may taste bland in your mouth.

After taking a couple of bites, Meng Yu couldn't eat anymore, so she put down the silver and went back to her room. Even after sitting down, her heart was still pounding.

After hesitating for half an hour, she finally couldn't resist packing her bags and checking out of the room with the innkeeper.

She couldn't do it, she couldn't be that ruthless.

Yun An's inability to escape means that Ren Ling, Ge Bo, and everyone else involved have fallen into Lu Xiuyi's hands.

She couldn't just abandon them and run away. This battle was only between her and Lu Xiuyi from beginning to end, and she didn't want others to lose their lives because of it.

She has to go back.

No matter what the consequences, she had to go back.

***

As night fell, Hualing Alley fell into a deathly silence.

Dozens of armored soldiers stood solemnly at the alley entrance. The light from their armor reflected a chilling aura in the darkness, causing passersby to lower their heads and hurry past with serious expressions.

Looking further down the street and through the city gates, all that could be seen were soldiers in armor, and the whole city seemed to be shrouded in a deathly silence.

This army of over a hundred men was transferred by Chuze from Yuanzhou, which was nearby. At this moment, he had just been released from prison and was riding his horse back to Hualing Lane at high speed.

Pushing open the two-story house with a courtyard, one sees lights flickering in the wind, and a person lying on a deck chair in the courtyard, covered with a thin blanket.

He tiptoed over and replied solemnly, "Young master, they still have no clue. They all say that when Madam left the city, she didn't tell them where she was going. Their stories are surprisingly consistent."

The thin blanket was filled with a familiar scent, and a faint fragrance lingered around his nose, allowing Lu Xiuyi a moment of rest. Upon hearing this, he slowly opened his eyes, and his dark pupils, which had lost their previous dejection, shone with a brilliance that was once unique in the night.

He took a deep breath, the faint fragrance filling his nostrils, and his headache was instantly suppressed: "It's alright, she didn't even tell them her real name, how could she possibly reveal her whereabouts to them about escaping? By the way, has the news spread yet?"

He asked this question countless times, and Chu Ze patiently replied, "It was spread out three days ago, so it must have spread far and wide by now."

"Be prepared to greet the lady."

"yes."

Lu Xiuyi remained half-lying down, his voice calm and unhurried, his expression composed, like a patient hunter waiting for his prey to turn around and jump down.

Xi Yunhe, that's the name she used after changing her surname.

"Meng Yu" sounds better.

That fire was so meticulously planned that it nearly killed him inside. When she returns, he'll make sure she experiences what it means to wish she were dead.