After that, they retraced their steps and returned.
Xi Xizhi and the others returned to the hilltop where the refugees were stationed.
When they returned, Liu Fuqing and Situ Feiyu immediately greeted them, asking with concern, "Your Majesty, how did that matter go?"
Having just survived his tribulation, An Honghan was at the peak of his strength, feeling refreshed and invigorated. He said coldly, "The danger has passed, and the floodwaters will soon recede. You two will remain in Fengzhou for now to handle the aftermath of the flood. The matter has been resolved, and I have been away from the capital for half a month. It is time to return."
Otherwise, if no one in the court has the authority to oversee it, it is easy for problems to arise.
Liu Fuqing and Situ Feiyu understood this principle, and surprisingly, they didn't argue with each other and agreed together.
Their gazes shifted to the Crown Prince of Lüyun Kingdom, who was being held captive by Master Feng. Both of them were a little confused. "Your Majesty, why are you binding His Highness the Crown Prince?"
Dongfang Youyu is, after all, an envoy of the Lvyun Kingdom. Is it reasonable to tie him up like this?
An Honghan's face darkened instantly. "Doesn't the person who attacked me deserve such treatment? If it weren't for the fact that he is the Crown Prince of Luyun Kingdom, I would have killed him long ago."
An attack...?
The two words entered their minds, and they were incredulous, but judging from His Majesty's expression, it didn't seem like he was lying.
When the time came, Dongfang Youyu didn't bother to defend himself. Compared to the crime of plotting to plunge Fengzhou into flood, this charge was much lighter.
From An Honghan's answer alone, he already knew that An Honghan did not want too many people to know about the cause of the Flood Dragon incident and the tricks involved. All his efforts had ultimately come to nothing.
Xu Guoshi remained silent, tacitly accepting the charge.
Liu Fuqing and Situ Feiyu only believed the truth of the matter after seeing that the Grand Preceptor of Luyun Kingdom had not spoken.
Dongfang Youyu looked ashamed and, meeting the gaze of the Grand Preceptor Xu, finally said, "Grand Preceptor, I'm sorry."
This conspiracy has also dragged you into it, and it has caused your health to deteriorate day by day over the past two months.
"You haven't just let me down, you've let yourself down!" Old Xu tapped the ground a few times with his cane. "Is it worth ruining your lifelong reputation?"
In the Kingdom of Lüyun, Dongfang Youyu's reputation was known to almost everyone.
Everyone knew that their Crown Prince was skilled in both literature and martial arts, especially in music, where his talent was unmatched. Yet, in the end, he failed to live up to their expectations.
Dongfang Youyu remained silent, but despite this, he had no regrets.
After a short rest, An Honghan and the others had a simple meal on the mountain before setting off in a carriage.
Xi Zhen and Feng Zhenren naturally followed them, and they also took several soldiers with them to guard Dongfang Youyu and An Yunyi.
When An Yunyi learned that the person she liked was actually Dongfang Youyu, she was incredibly surprised. Unfortunately, her mouth was stuffed with a wad of cloth, preventing her from speaking.
No wonder his every move in the palace was known to everyone; it turns out he was actually inside the palace all along.
Inside another carriage, An Honghan, Xi Xizhi, and Xi Zhen were sitting together.
Xi Zhen stared at the two people sitting side by side opposite him, cleared his throat, coughed twice, and said, "Disciple, do you want to come back with me?"
Where to go? Everyone knows the answer.
The relaxed atmosphere just moments before suddenly turned silent.
Xi Xizhi was undecided for a moment, glancing at her master and then at An Honghan.
Returning to the original world was Xi Xizhi's long-held wish.
However, when faced with An Honghan's gaze, Xi Xizhi couldn't bring herself to say anything.
Moreover, after experiencing so much, Xi Xizhi understood her own heart. An Honghan had long occupied an inseparable place in her heart, and she couldn't bear to part with him.
Before Xi Xizhi could speak, An Honghan spoke first.
"I will not allow her to leave." An Honghan grabbed Xi Xizhi's hand, holding it tightly and pulling it close to his.
"You won't allow it, so you can't leave? I didn't sell my disciple to you!" Xi Zhen was so angry that he glared at An Honghan. Seeing An Honghan's domineering gaze, he became even more worried about his disciple's future.
She thought to herself, "If we do everything according to An Honghan's wishes, what if he changes his mind? Where will my apprentice go to cry? There's not even a single family member here!"
What's more, this person is the ruler of a country, the entire country belongs to him! If I change my mind, even my own disciple might not be able to escape his grasp!
They can't beat him in a fight, and their forces aren't as strong!
However, he couldn't stay in this realm for long. After all, the upper realm had its own rules, and secretly letting him down to find his disciple was already an exception.
Time is limited, and if Xi Zhen wants to bring Xi Xizhi back, she must do so within this timeframe.
"I know what you're worried about, but such a thing will never happen. When I return this time, I will marry her as my empress. If you're still worried, you can attend my wedding ceremony before you leave."
Xi Xizhi suddenly widened her eyes, her face flushed, and looked at An Honghan angrily, "Who said you had to marry me!"
An Honghan raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of teasing in his eyes, "Didn't you keep saying that I would take responsibility? I will definitely keep my promise."
Xi Zhen watched the interaction between the two and sighed slightly.
Xi Xizhi's attention was entirely focused on those few words, "You have to take responsibility," and she was so angry that her face turned red and her neck bulged.
"No! I already said I don't want you to take responsibility! You don't need to marry me!"
“But I just want to marry you…” An Honghan touched the girl’s forehead and said, “Silly girl…”
Xi Xizhi was captivated by this doting affection. After a long pause, she asked in confusion, "Why do you want to marry me?"
An Honghan leaned close to her ear and asked, "What do you think? Why does a man marry a woman?"
"For what?" Xi Xizhi looked up at him.
An Honghan shook his head helplessly, "Do you really want me to say it out loud?"
“Speak,” Xi Xizhi said.
"I love you."
The moment the word 'love' was uttered, it seemed as if all of An Honghan's previous actions had found their answer.
Xi Zhen secretly listened to the conversation between the two, and it gave her a real headache!
This time he finally understood that his foolish apprentice had walked into An Honghan's trap step by step, slowly falling into it, and by the time he realized it, he was already deeply in love.
And he realized that An Honghan might genuinely like his disciple...
Otherwise, why would an emperor scheme to such an extent, as if he could not bear the consequences of making a mistake, proceeding step by step and prioritizing winning hearts and minds?
However, in his opinion, An Honghan was a man he could entrust his life to.
Such people are either ruthless and heartless, or they are devoted to the ones they love for their entire lives, refusing to let go even until death.
With that thought in mind, Xi Zhen entrusted the decision of whether or not to stay in this world to his own disciple.
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