Deep parental love

A Qiu could only alleviate his symptoms, but she couldn't eliminate the root cause. She guessed that Gu Yi must have helped him in the same way before.

The root of this illness actually lies in Xie Lang's heart; he harbors resentment and overthinks, leading to a blockage in his brain's blood vessels. This illness must have been sown in his early years. Later, the burdens of national affairs and the exhaustion of his mind merely acted as a catalyst.

If a person's mind and spirit are at peace, no matter how hard they work, their mind, will, and spirit will remain focused and consistent, and they will not develop any illnesses. At most, they will only suffer from blood deficiency, qi deficiency, and depletion of vital energy.

A Qiu couldn't cure the disease, but she speculated that people from the Zhu You School, such as Bai Shi, Qi Luo, and Qi Shang, practiced a combination of witchcraft and medicine. If they used acupuncture to stimulate blood circulation or used the method of calling back the soul to trace back to the time when Xie Lang first contracted the disease, it might be possible to eradicate the root of the disease.

Xie Lang was always Gu Yi's friend, and the world that Gu Yi entrusted to her naturally included Xie Lang, his comrade-in-arms who had gone through thick and thin with him.

As A-Qiu pondered, she continued walking without stopping. When she unconsciously looked around, she saw the golden light shimmering on the sycamore leaves, and a magnificent three-story pavilion rising from the tall trees, its golden splendor exuding a grand and dignified aura. Only then did she realize that she was heading towards Jinling Terrace.

When she entered the palace, Xiao Chang'an transported her by carriage to the Eastern Palace. Thereafter, she remained hidden under the protection of Xie Tiao of the Eastern Palace until today, when Zhao Lingying and Xie Tiao formally summoned her to the palace and bestowed upon her the title of Grand Master of Music.

This is a position of honor second only to Gu Yi, and its symbolic significance surpasses everything else.

The dynasty finally had its own Grand Master of Music, marking a further step in the implementation of rites, music, and benevolent governance.

Politics is never about killing people.

After gaining her freedom of movement, the place she should have returned to was still the East Palace, after all, Xie Tiao and Shangguan Yuqi were still there, and—Xiao Chang'an, she didn't know if he could be considered a friend.

But her feet wouldn't obey her commands, heading straight for Jinlingtai, where Gu Yi used to live, a place where she once held countless memories that now seem like dreams.

Given her current status, there is nothing wrong with her returning to Jinlingtai. After all, she is now recognized by everyone as Gu Yi's successor. Moreover, even in the past, for a long period of time when Gu Yi was still alive, she lived in Jinlingtai. If she goes back now, no one will say that she is usurping someone else's place.

But the moment she stepped onto Jinling Terrace, she suddenly became alert and abruptly stopped.

In fact, ever since she left Yunlong Palace, she had a vague feeling of being followed. This feeling was not strong at first. There were sentries and guards everywhere in the palace. She thought it was normal for her, as the newly appointed Grand Master of Music, to suddenly return to the palace and appear in the core area of ​​the palace, to attract the attention of many people in the palace, so she did not pay any special attention.

At this moment, the sense of danger suddenly became clear, and her hand instantly landed on the hilt of the "Carved Moon" sword at her waist. Her mind and sword intent immediately entered a state of perfect unity, ready to strike.

A beam of light, as bright as a crescent moon, silently swirled out from the bushes, as if it had eyes, and struck her right back with perfect precision.

The arc of light wasn't particularly impressive, but wherever it went, it seemed to slicing through the space, filling it with an unparalleled, overwhelming sword intent.

What surprised A Qiu the most was not the chilling intent of the blade, but how this person could evade the Young Master's surveillance and obstruction to launch such a fierce sneak attack on her.

Jinlingtai has always been a key location guarded by the Junior Master Charioteers, regardless of whether Gu Yi himself is present. Although Lie Changkong is currently in the remote southwest, he must still be controlling the orderly operation of the Junior Master Charioteers in some way.

Judging from the fact that the other party was able to do this, this person is no less skilled in assassination than I am.

A Qiu moved with a free will, and in an instant, she turned around and probed back. The Carved Moon Sword appeared like a rainbow, and a beautiful light, like a waterfall, flowed in front of her, accurately hitting the sharp edge of the Arc Light Blade.

When she saw the crescent-shaped weapon spin and fall back into the bushes, a sense of loss and sadness first swept through her heart, but then she calmed down and became unprecedentedly calm, without joy or sorrow.

What's meant to happen, we'll eventually have to face.

Mo Yimingyue's tall and imposing figure slowly emerged from the bushes. His face was as sharply defined as ever, his eyes flashing with a shrewd and cold light, while his famous "Arc Blade" had long since been hidden away on his person.

He was in the palace at the moment, and his identity was Xiao Yue, the envoy of the Northern Qiang. Therefore, he would never openly carry a weapon at his waist.

Facing Mo Yimingyue's scrutinizing gaze, A Qiu was overwhelmed with mixed feelings, yet didn't know where to begin.

The two siblings remained silent and faced each other for a long time before A Qiu finally broke the silence: "Is what Mu Huaying said in the hall true? Senior brother, was your mother the late Lady Huachi, Mo Yi Bishuang?"

After much back and forth, with countless thoughts swirling in her mind, she realized that what she cared about most at that moment was still her second senior brother's recently revealed background.

While the others in the hall couldn't definitively say that Xiao Yue was indeed the son of Mo Yi Bi Shuang, A Qiu was certain. This was because the surname Mo Yi was far too unique; in the Southern Dynasty at that moment, aside from Xing Feng Hall Master Mo Yi Ming Yue, there was probably no one else with the surname Mo Yi.

Mo Yimingyue narrowed her eyes, a dangerous glint in them, and looked at A Qiu, saying, "In what capacity do you inquire of me now?"

Whether she is Gu Yi's successor, the Grand Music Master of the Southern Dynasty, or is asked as his junior sister, there is a difference between friend and foe, and the treatment will be different accordingly.

Before he could answer, A Qiu continued, "You said you came here on your master's orders, and that you had no intention of coming. So you are not deliberately trying to be an enemy of the Southern Dynasty. At least, you and I grew up in the Southern Dynasty, and I have never felt that you have any hatred towards it."

She held onto a sliver of hope that Mo Yimingyue's arrival was not truly on the side of the Northern Qiang, but rather an attempt to dampen the Southern Dynasty's spirit.

She could accept that Mo Yimingyue would punish her as a traitor according to the rules of the guild, or even have a real fight with him, where they would each prove their strength. After all, it was a personal grudge, and it wouldn't escalate to the point of a life-or-death struggle.

When two nations clash, their positions are determined by interests, leaving no room for retreat or compromise. This is not a matter for one person alone, but involves immense suffering and national hatred. My success means their failure; there is no room for personal sentiment.

Mo Yimingyue's usually cold and indifferent face showed a slight emotion because of her words. Instead of answering, she replied, "My birth mother died at the hands of Madam Pei. If I do not avenge my mother's death, I am unworthy to be a son."

A Qiu really wanted to ask him, "At the end of the Huan Dynasty, Mo Yi Bi Shuang stirred up trouble and created chaos in the country. Many loyal ministers died in vain, and rebels raised their flags to commit evil, killing and shedding blood. Who can avenge those people?"

Moreover, Madam Pei had always shown him some leniency.

But my senior brother isn't a three-year-old child; there's no way he wouldn't understand these principles.

He understood everything, but the choice he made wasn't to stand by her side.

After hesitating for a while, A Qiu said, "Madam Pei secretly let you go without telling the current Emperor and the other three guards, and she kept her mouth shut, which is why you were not captured by the Dayan army."

For the first time, a look of pain crossed Mo Yimingyue's face as she asked, "Do you know what my mother gave in exchange for my life?"

A Qiu was caught off guard and remained silent for a long while.

Even if she were naive, she would know that it must be something extremely important and valuable. Otherwise, why would Mu Huaying have let it go so easily?

Mo Yimingyue said, "She gave me my life in exchange for the names of all the Hu people's spies and informants in the Southern Dynasty, as well as a list of people from the powerful clans who had colluded with the Northern Qiang through her in the Former Huan Dynasty. In other words, she gave me my life in exchange for the lives of more than a hundred other Hu people who had long lived peacefully in the Southern Dynasty."

A Qiu couldn't help but shudder, thinking to himself that Mo Yi Bi Shuang was indeed ruthless. She was the same to both her own people and her enemies.

But now, it's hard to say who her allies are and who her enemies are.

Perhaps in her eyes, the Northern Qiang and the Han people were all, without exception, people who deserved to die, people who could only be used but never trusted.

Knowing she wouldn't have a good end, she dragged everyone down with her.

Her only concern was her son.

But A Qiu also knew that under the circumstances of the inescapable trap set by Madam Pei, Mo Yi Bi Shuang probably had no other choice.

If she were the only one left, she could have triggered the self-destruction of the underground firestone, avoiding the possibility of falling into Mu Huaying's hands, suffering all kinds of torture and poison, and betraying the secrets of the Northern Qiang.

Ah Qiu had to ask that unnecessary question: "Why did Madam Huachi bring a child with her when she came south to infiltrate? Wouldn't she have much more freedom to maneuver if she had put you in a safe place?"

In fact, she didn't realize that once she got here, she was completely putting herself in the shoes of Mo Yi and her child to consider their safety before asking the question.

While Mo Yi Bi Shuang's actions were certainly deserving of punishment, it was hard for her not to be moved by the fact that she and Mu Hua Ying did their utmost to protect Mo Yi Ming Yue.

Mo Yimingyue laughed sadly, "A safe place? Where in the world is there a safe place except by her own side? She didn't bring me here, so that the Northern Qiang would hold me in their hands as a hostage to threaten her?"

He still vividly remembers those turbulent and perilous days, during which his mother never considered giving up on him.

Even if it is a mark of shame in his mother's life.

Those nights spent nestled in his mother's arms, her beautiful face and gentle smile under the lights of the fishing boats as they crossed the river, and the soft humming that lulled him to sleep—all these made him feel that even amidst the raging storms and relentless wind and rain, there was still a warm and safe harbor in his life where he could drift into his dreams.

Later, as his mother rose to a high position and indulged in wine and women, he, as a young child, would wake up in a hazy warmth, no matter how late at night, even if he couldn't find his mother's embrace before going to sleep. Before him was his mother's tired but loving face after socializing, which would silently and gently touch his cheek.

To him, his mother was not Lady Huachi, but always the beautiful and dignified eldest daughter of the Mo Yi family in the Central Plains, who gave him the best and deepest love and protected him unconditionally.

Until the very last moment of her life.

Therefore, the name he used to gain fame was Mo Yi. His mother never felt ashamed of him, and he would never feel ashamed of his mother.

Even though he had a face that looked very much like a non-Han Chinese, and people were often surprised that his surname was a Han Chinese surname when he traveled in the north, he never felt ashamed.

A Qiu changed his tune, saying, "Since Aunt Mo Yi betrayed the Hu people's secrets on her deathbed, she must have been regarded as a public enemy by the Hu people. The Han people would not tolerate you, the son of a spy. How did you survive, senior brother? And how did you manage to have such influence among the Hu people later?"