"We've searched all three directions—east, west, and south—but found no clues," the Imperial Guard captain reported.
"Only the north is left." Dongfang Youyu was a little disappointed, because if they couldn't even find a single clue after deploying 3,000 Imperial Guards, it would be too disappointing.
"Don't be discouraged." Seeing that Dongfang Youyu was in a bad mood, Xi Xizhi comforted him.
Looking into the little girl's clear eyes, Dongfang Youyu tried his best to control his emotions. "I am fine, thank you for your concern, Miss Xi."
An Honghan reached out and pinched Xi Xizhi's arm, a gesture that resembled a warning, which was quite puzzling.
Because An Honghan's movements were subtle, few people noticed them. However, Dongfang Youyu was closer to them and saw everything clearly.
The more Dongfang Youyu observed the way the two interacted, the stranger it seemed. It was as if His Majesty wasn't spoiling her like a child, but rather in a different way.
If I had to describe it, it would be 'his possessions'; his domineering possessiveness is everywhere.
Dongfang Youyu dared not speak out, because once he did, regardless of whether he was right or wrong, he would offend An Honghan, and he would not want to make a fool of himself.
"Your Majesty, we have a lead!" A member of the Imperial Guard rushed over from a distance.
Dongfang Youyu reacted the fastest, immediately asking, "What clues do you have?"
The guard dared not obey him. He first glanced at His Majesty, and only after receiving His Majesty's instructions did he reply, "An old farmer said that when he went up the mountain to farm yesterday morning, he met the old man in the portrait, and he even exchanged a few words with the Imperial Preceptor Xu."
This crucial clue immediately jolted everyone in their tracks.
"Where is that old farmer?" Dongfang Youyu asked anxiously.
An Honghan glanced at Dongfang Youyu indifferently and coldly ordered the guards, "Bring him here to see me."
His hand rested on Xi Xizhi's shoulder, a gesture that conveyed an extremely intimate relationship.
The more Dongfang Youyu looked, the more he realized that the child held a very high place in An Honghan's heart...
"Your subordinate obeys the order." The Imperial Guards immediately turned back and brought over an old farmer.
The old farmer, in his sixties or seventies, had wrinkles covering his entire face. The passage of time had etched a weathered look on his face. Having grown up in the fields, perhaps seeing such a grand scene for the first time, the old farmer nervously lowered his head, not daring to look around.
"What did you say to that old man?" An Honghan asked bluntly, his extraordinary aura making it hard for anyone to breathe.
When ministers saw An Honghan, they all shrank back and became timid, let alone a commoner.
Rarely do people possess such extraordinary bearing. The old farmer nervously wiped his sweat and answered tremblingly, "Yesterday, I was planting vegetables in the field when that old man walked by on a side path. Since he didn't know the way, he asked me for directions, and I chatted with him for a few minutes. From what he said, it seems that he was heading towards Broken Heart Cliff."
"Heartbreak Cliff?" Xi Xizhi exclaimed in surprise. Why choose such a sad name?
The reason why so many young men and women love to visit this place is inextricably linked to Broken Heart Cliff.
Just from the place name, you can tell it must be about love and romance.
And so it is said that a hundred years ago, there was a couple in love, but the woman died of a strange illness. The man was heartbroken and buried her here. He guarded her grave every day, neither eating nor drinking, until he died.
Upon hearing that the man had died, he sat down and turned into a stone statue, seemingly guarding his beloved woman for countless days and nights.
It is precisely this deep affection that touches the heart and moves all lovers, so over time this place has become a sacred place for couples to witness their love and make vows of eternal devotion.
After listening to Lynn's description of Broken Heart Cliff, Xi Xizhi got goosebumps all over her body.
So every world has its clichéd stories. But what's Old Xu doing here? Didn't his wife die years ago? Besides, he's already an old man with gray hair, why is he still so concerned about love and romance?
Xi Xizhi really couldn't understand why Old Man Xu wanted to come here; no matter how she looked at it, there was no plausible reason.
An Honghan and Dongfang Youyu thought the same way. If it was because of love, then that reason could definitely be ruled out. Because the Imperial Preceptor Xu was a very devoted man. His wife had passed away many years ago, but he had never taken a concubine and had always lived alone.
This devotion had been praised by many, and Dongfang Youyu greatly admired the Imperial Preceptor. Upon considering this reason, he immediately rejected it.
"What else did that old man say to you? Besides telling you to go to Broken Heart Cliff, did he say where else to go?" Dongfang Youyu pressed.
Xi Xizhi nodded in agreement. Regardless of Old Man Xu's purpose in coming here, the most important thing was where he was.
"No...no, the old man only said to go to Broken Heart Cliff, and I really don't know anything else...My lords, I really don't know anything..." The old farmer was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat, fearing that if he answered incorrectly, he would offend the noble people and be doomed forever.
Ignoring the old farmer's fear, An Honghan continued to ask, "Has anything unusual happened at Broken Heart Cliff recently?"
"Novel?" The old farmer thought for a moment in confusion, then said as if suddenly realizing something, "Yes! Something has come to mind!"
“A few days ago, the town was buzzing with rumors that someone had seen a pure white fox at Broken Heart Cliff. They said the fox's eyes glowed red and it could even fly through the clouds. But these are just rumors. At least we common folk have been farming on the mountain every day and have never seen one.”
Xi Xizhi blinked. Soaring through the clouds?! How many years of cultivation must that take!
"Has that fox attained enlightenment?"
Normally only animals that have attained enlightenment can ride the clouds and mist. I never expected to hear such strange news today when I left the palace.
"I don't know about that, but foxes are a bit eerie animals."
The old farmer was so frightened he almost cried. "I just want to live a peaceful life and don't want to provoke fox spirits or fox demons. That's all I know." The old farmer lowered his head tremblingly, without hiding anything.
Dongfang Youyu gleaned some useful information from the old farmer's words, and folded his fan together.
"The Imperial Advisor has a penchant for exotic animals. He probably heard this rumor and that's why he went up the mountain. But why in such a hurry? What is the Imperial Advisor planning to do?"
Dongfang Youyu had spent a long time with Xu Guoshi, so he knew him very well.
Xu Guoshi was a typical slowpoke. Throughout the long years, he always faced the world with a calm and composed demeanor. Dongfang Youyu rarely saw him in a hurry, but from the old farmer's words, it could be heard that Xu Guoshi was in a great hurry when he went up the mountain.
This alone is intriguing.
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