On a spring morning by the riverbank, fallen petals drifted gently eastward with the water.
Cui Shenghe and Zhao Zhi stood side by side behind the low-hanging willow branches on the opposite bank of the river. A gentle river breeze caressed their faces.
"Zhizhi, judging from his appearance, his deep affection for you doesn't seem feigned." Cui Shenghe gently placed his hand on Zhao Zhi's shoulder and sighed, "Why don't you see him?"
Zhao Zhi tilted her head slightly, her gaze passing through the gaps in the willow branches to look at the fallen flowers floating on the river, a hint of melancholy flashing in her eyes.
"Brother, let's go."
Zhao Zhi's voice was carried away by the river breeze as she walked forward. Zhu Sanniang, following behind them, glanced at the location of the Chaoyang Garrison Camp, then resolutely turned and left.
Zhu San Niang understood why Zhao Zhi had broken into the garrison camp this morning; the other party wanted her to witness the current situation of the Qin family members who had been exiled, so that she could leave with peace of mind.
Thinking of this, she looked at Zhao Zhi's back and her eyes welled up with tears. She silently followed behind the two of them.
Cui Jiu drove the carriage, chattering on and on about how the mighty general was now the envy of everyone. Before the new year, he had not only married Song Huaiyu, the younger sister of the former empress, but had also been bestowed four beautiful concubines by the emperor. Now that his principal wife was pregnant, none of the four concubines in the mansion were jealous of him, and the harmonious harem had become a model for Dunyang City.
Upon hearing this, Cui Shenghe said directly, "Cui Jiu, are you envious of Li Ye?" Cui Jiu quickly retorted, "This humble subject is not envious at all! This humble subject does not have General Li's stamina. Although dying under the peony is a romantic death, this humble subject would like to live a few more years!"
"To die beneath the peony blossoms... even as a ghost, one would be romantic..." Cui Shenghe murmured these words repeatedly inside the carriage, a fire slowly igniting in his eyes.
A white mist slowly filled his vision, making him feel disoriented. The sounds around him gradually became distorted, and the rumbling of the carriage seemed to come and go. His eyes slowly closed, and he fell into a deep sleep.
"Jiaojiao, I'll make you feel even better than Yunling." The carriage swayed violently, and Yun Shu tore Cui Jiao's clothes to shreds. She struggled fiercely, muttering curses, "Yun Shu, you'll die a horrible death!"
"Jiaojiao, you must have heard the saying, 'To die beneath a peony is to die a romantic death.' If I could die on your body, I would have no regrets in this life." Yun Shu's large hand slowly stroked Cui Jiao's back through her gossamer-thin gauze dress.
Cui Jiao was aroused by his teasing and convulsed. She bit Yun Shu's shoulder hard. Yun Shu winced in pain, but his actions did not stop. Instead, he became even more arrogant.
The carriage rumbled and chugged along the cobblestone road, accompanied by Cui Jiao's low sobs and Yun Shu's heavy breathing, which rose and fell with each breath.
"Slap!" A loud slap rang out from inside the carriage, followed by Yun Shu's furious voice, "Cui Jiao! Don't push your luck!"
Yun Shu clutched his bloodied chest, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Cui Jiao. In a fit of rage, he used his belt to bind Cui Jiao's hands, repaying her for the pain she had inflicted upon him tenfold.
“Ah—ah—” Cui Jiao’s shrill screams came from inside the carriage.
After a long while, the voice finally weakened as Cui Jiao's strength gave out.
"No—" Cui Shenghe suddenly woke up. He then realized that what he had just seen in his dream was the scene he saw when he used the Soul-Searching Technique to examine his mother's remains.
"Ugh—ugh—" He recalled the scene in his dream and couldn't help but vomit.
The sound of vomiting inside the carriage startled Cui Jiu outside. He quickly tightened the reins, and the carriage slowly came to a stop.
Upon hearing the sound, Zhao Zhi and Zhu San Niang turned around to look at the carriage simultaneously, their eyes filled with concern and worry.
"Brother, how are you?" Zhao Zhi hurried forward and gently lifted the carriage curtain. She saw Cui Shenghe, pale-faced with fine beads of sweat on his forehead, hunched over in a corner of the carriage, retching incessantly.
She quickly handed him a handkerchief and gently wiped the corners of his mouth.
"I'm fine, I just had a nightmare." Cui Shenghe took the handkerchief, suppressing his discomfort and forcing a smile.
Zhu Sanniang also came forward and said with concern, "Young master, your health has not been very good since you came down from Chaoyu Mountain. You must take good care of yourself for a while after you go back."
Cui Shenghe nodded, closed his eyes to rest for a moment, and finally caught his breath.
He reminded himself not to dwell on the pain of the past, that there were more important things waiting for him to do. However, ever since he used the Soul-Seizing Technique to examine his mother's remains that day, every time he closed his eyes, he saw the image of Yun Shu abusing his mother.
At these times, it felt as if a thousand needles were piercing his heart, causing him unbearable pain.
"Let's keep going," he said softly.
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