Chapter 26 Departure [VIP]

Chapter Summary: They felt the same way.

Xu Luchuan returned to the Court of Justice and had just finished organizing the arrest warrants submitted from various places. He was heading to Jiang Tu's house when he unexpectedly bumped into him at the corner.

Jiang Tu saw Xu Luchuan and quickly stepped forward, saying, "Oh? You're here. I was just about to look for you."

"Looking for me?" Xu Luchuan asked, puzzled.

“It’s about disaster relief. The Princess has ordered the Court of Justice to send people to assist in the investigation, and our boss wants you to go with them.” Jiang Tu said, taking the arrest warrant from Xu Luchuan and glancing at it. “Is this newly delivered? Give it to me. While it’s still early, hurry back and pack your things, so you don’t miss the noon rush to Yongzhou with the Princess.”

"What??? Why me?" Xu Luchuan looked incredulous.

Jiang Tu was startled by his roar, but when he came to his senses, he began to comfort Xu Luchuan: "Don't worry, I understand. That guy is indeed a bit difficult to deal with, but it was all arranged by the boss. I'm just passing on a message. Why don't you go talk to the boss? Or you can just bear with it. Maybe if you handle this well, you'll get promoted again? Try to think more positively."

After saying this, Jiang Tu reached out and patted Xu Luchuan's shoulder, his eyes filled with a hint of sympathy as he turned and left.

Xu Luchuan stood there, all the ease he had felt after court vanishing, replaced by a deep resentment. After a long while, he finally strode heavily out of the Court of Justice.

...

At noon, outside Jinling City.

Liu Shiyu traveled simply, still only accompanied by his horse for months without any other attendants.

After Wei Jingshan counted the number of officials, he led a group of people to her carriage and said, "Your Highness, everyone is here. Shall we give the order to depart?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Shiyu did not lift the curtain, but simply lowered her eyes and sat quietly inside, replying in a deep voice: "Let them go first, I'm waiting for someone."

"Waiting for someone?" Wei Jingshan wondered to himself, but he didn't show it on his face.

"Then I will wait with Your Highness."

Liu Shiyu remained silent, and Wei Jingshan bowed and withdrew.

As the officials set off one after another, Wei Jingshan turned his horse around and stood guard in front of Liu Shiyu's carriage. Looking up at the figure peeking through the bamboo curtain, his expression was unmistakable.

"Your Highness, who are you waiting for?" Wei Jingshan couldn't help but ask. Liu Shiyu opened her eyes but didn't look at him. "I have the Court of Justice send someone."

"The Court of Justice?" Wei Jingshan asked, puzzled.

Liu Shiyu reached out and rubbed the beaded bracelet on her wrist, replying, "It's time to settle some scores with him."

Upon hearing this, the two understood each other without saying a word. Wei Jingshan nodded and said nothing more.

Half an hour later, Xu Luchuan finally appeared on the official road, riding slowly towards him. Because he was going to provide disaster relief, Xu Luchuan had specially chosen a simple, plain-colored outfit, but even in this outfit, he still looked wealthy.

Upon reaching the carriage, Xu Luchuan exchanged glances with Wei Jingshan and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Commandant Wei."

Wei Jingshan ignored Xu Luchuan's greetings and remained silent.

Upon hearing this, Liu Shiyu gently lifted the bamboo curtain and spoke out of the window: "Right Supervisor, I have been waiting for you."

Xu Luchuan turned to look at Liu Shiyu, feigning composure, and said, "Your Majesty, I am late. Please punish me."

Punishment? Of course, punishment is necessary! But... what kind of punishment should we use?

Liu Shiyu was secretly pleased, but spoke indifferently: "It's getting late. My lord, let's set off."

Xu Luchuan watched as Liu Shiyu lowered the bamboo curtain, ignoring his words. Then, in the blink of an eye, Wei Jingshan, riding his horse, called out loudly, "Let's go!"

The group then set off, leaving him behind.

What's going on? She's ignoring me?

Watching them gradually disappear into the distance, Xu Luchuan had no time to wallow in melancholy in the wind. He could only grit his teeth, pick up the reins, and follow them.

...

Along the way, Wei Jingshan led the way, while Xu Luchuan rode alongside Liu Shiyu's carriage.

The road ahead was long, and Liu Shiyu sat upright, but his gaze kept drifting unconsciously towards the window. Unfortunately, the other person didn't notice at all. Ever since his humiliation at Liu Shiyu's hands, he had been absent-minded. He hadn't even realized it himself.

Just as the time was drawing to a close, the group arrived at Hengyuan Mountain and finally reunited with the convoy that had gone ahead.

As dusk approached and the mountain path became increasingly difficult to traverse, the group set up camp at the foot of the mountain, intending to continue their journey after sunrise. They estimated they should reach Shou County before noon the next day.

Liu Shiyu got off the carriage and, seeing that the camp had not yet been set up, she chose a dead tree by the roadside to sit on and stare blankly.

After giving Liu Shiyu some pastries she had prepared earlier to tide her over, Lian Yue prepared to go to the kitchen to check on the preparations for dinner. However, she didn't want to leave Liu Shiyu alone.

Looking around, Lian Yue saw Xu Luchuan standing proudly alone and quickly walked over. "Right Supervisor, please look after His Highness for a while. I'll be right back."

"Why? Isn't there Wei?"

Before Xu Luchuan could finish speaking, Lian Yue turned and left without looking back. She felt most at ease entrusting Liu Shiyu to him.

Over there, Liu Shiyu gazed at the ever-increasing number of refugees along the mountain paths. His hand, which had picked up a pastry, fell back down. Suddenly, he noticed a young child huddled by the roadside in the distance, so Liu Shiyu put away the oiled paper and walked towards him.

Xu Luchuan watched her get up and walk away, wanting to pretend he hadn't seen her. But after much hesitation, he picked up his sword and followed her.

Liu Shiyu came to the little boy's side and gently poked his shoulder.

The child looked up at Liu Shiyu with a terrified expression. Seeing this, Liu Shiyu carefully unfolded the pastries wrapped in oil paper and said gently, "Are you hungry? Here, have this."

Upon hearing this, the child cautiously reached out to take it.

Suddenly, two people who looked like they had also fled appeared out of nowhere. They snatched all the pastries from Liu Shiyu's hands, and one of them even eyed the bracelet on her wrist, taking it before Liu Shiyu could notice.

Having achieved their goal, the two turned and fled. The child, frightened by the chaos, ran away. Only Liu Shiyu remained, stunned and shaken.

Xu Luchuan arrived late and was about to step forward when he heard a voice from afar: "Your Highness, what are you doing here?"

He stopped.

Wei Jingshan, who happened to be patrolling the area, heard the commotion and came to investigate. To his surprise, he found Liu Shiyu there. After recognizing the person in front of her, Liu Shiyu came to her senses and finally realized that the bracelet was gone.

"Oh no, it's Mother's bracelet."

After saying that, Liu Shiyu lifted her foot to chase after him, but was grabbed by Wei Jingshan.

"Your Highness, it's not safe here. You should come back with me first."

"My lord, do you understand the significance of this bracelet to me?" Liu Shiyu turned around and stared intently at Wei Jingshan, trying to break free from his grasp but to no avail. "Let go."

"Things meant for remembrance will only become a burden to Your Highness. The most important thing is Your Highness's safety."

Wei Jingshan remained unmoved, holding onto Liu Shiyu tightly and trying to convey with his eyes that she should leave. But Liu Shiyu was not easily intimidated. Wei Jingshan naturally understood, and he eventually gave in.

"I will send people to chase after the bracelet, but you must return with me." After saying this, Wei Jingshan released his hand, signaling Liu Shiyu to leave.

Liu Shiyu knew the outcome of continuing to entangle with him, and was forced to lift her foot.

But now, Xu Luchuan's figure was nowhere to be seen on the path they had come from. Only the wind rustling through the forest and the chilling atmosphere remained.

...

As dusk fell, the moon and stars were few and far between on Hengyuan Mountain.

After Liu Shiyu was forcibly sent back to the camp, Wei Jingshan sent people to search for the two men, but unfortunately no one knew what they looked like, and even Liu Shiyu did not remember them clearly.

So much so that, after searching high and low, it was all for naught.

With things having come to this, Liu Shiyu lost all appetite and sullenly went to the stream. Lian Yue saw this and followed her, not daring to disturb her, and could only quietly watch over her from behind.

After an unknown amount of time, someone walked lightly along the riverbank.

Lian Yue instinctively turned around to stop him, but when she looked up, she saw that it was Xu Luchuan, who had been missing for a long time. As her gaze moved downwards, Lian Yue saw that the hem of his clothes seemed to have been torn by branches, making him look somewhat disheveled.

"Right Supervisor, where have you been?"

Xu Luchuan was about to hand the object in his palm to Lian Yue when he saw Liu Shiyu's lonely figure. He then mustered his courage and sat down beside her.

Liu Shiyu turned around, her eyes red.

She is fragile; the strength she displays is simply a facade created by the heavens.

For a moment, Xu Luchuan wanted to reach out and wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes, but he only thought about it for a moment. Liu Shiyu looked at Xu Luchuan, feeling even more aggrieved, but she still held back her tears here.

"Where did you go? I've been looking for you for ages."

Hearing Liu Shiyu's question, Xu Luchuan looked up at her without saying a word. Then, he took Liu Shiyu's left hand and gently slipped the recovered bracelet onto her wrist.

"This is the last thing they left us in this world. Let's not lose it."

[Author's Note]

Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 20:03:01 on November 11, 2022 and 16:11:02 on November 16, 2022!

Thank you to the little angel who threw the landmine: 1 person who quit the game and created a T0 non-scratching master;

Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: Achilles, and Master T0 who quit the game and didn't scrape the skin 1 bottle;

Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!