Chapter 50, "Private Relationship," has been corrected to "Gu Shanyue."
Li Yuheng asked Gu Shanyue, "Has he gone mad?"
Qi Baitong: "You're the one who's crazy."
Li Yuheng: "...I think you're asking for trouble."
Qi Baitong sneered: "Heh."
Li Yuheng: "?"
No, even someone who's lost their mind wouldn't be this crazy. What could have triggered him?
Gu Shanyue suppressed her laughter for a while, but couldn't hold back any longer, so she slapped the chair and burst into laughter.
For some reason, she couldn't help but laugh whenever she saw Qi Baitong cursing.
Gu Shanyue's laughter was so infectious that tears welled up in her eyes. Li Yuheng, who was initially annoyed, was rendered speechless by Gu Shanyue's laughter.
He said helplessly, "Is it really that funny?"
Li Yuheng reached out to touch Gu Shanyue's face. Gu Shanyue was caught off guard and only flinched when Li Yuheng's fingertips touched her. The smile on her face instantly vanished.
The two looked at each other and remained silent for a moment.
Li Yuheng's heart sank. He slowly withdrew his hand, his voice low: "Sister, do you hate me?"
Gu Shanyue rubbed her temples: "I don't dislike you."
Is this what you call not disliking someone?
Li Yuheng smiled bitterly, wanting to explain: "What I said on the cruise ship was influenced by the Illusion Butterfly Poison, wasn't it?"
Gu Shanyue did not refute, but only gave a faint "hmm".
That day, Bai Yan said that the Illusionary Butterfly Poison would amplify the thoughts in people's hearts, and what he said was the truth, only he never said it out loud.
"If that's the case, why are you avoiding me, sister?" Li Yuheng looked at her like a wronged child.
The more persistent he became, the more impatient Gu Shanyue grew: "I don't want to talk about this. We've already said enough on the cruise ship."
She's already sworn a solemn oath, what more do you want?
Perhaps it was her fault; she shouldn't have kept him by her side to take care of him, which led him to have such thoughts.
In plays, men are often portrayed as heartless, and judging from Li Yuheng's appearance, he doesn't seem like the type to be driven to despair over a woman. Since that's the case, once she leaves, he can naturally live his own life well.
Gu Shanyue had already unilaterally decided all the boundaries between the two of them, and had no intention of informing Li Yuheng.
She's always been like that.
Li Yuheng was silent for a moment, then said softly, "It's okay if we don't talk about it, but you're very important to me. Don't always avoid me, okay?"
Gu Shanyue smiled and said calmly, "If I were hiding from you, do you think you would still be able to find me, or sit in front of me and say these things?"
That's true. If Gu Shanyue doesn't want to see him, what can he do?
Li Yuheng sighed softly, "...I understand."
Gu Shanyue is not one to back down. This is her limit. If she takes another step closer, she might just make him never find her again, just as she said.
Why do I always want to leave?
Li Yuheng closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again, a glint in his eyes. He suddenly asked, "Sister, do you know where the antidote for the Needle-Piercing Gu that the Imperial Guards use to suppress it comes from?"
Gu Shanyue's eyes suddenly turned to him, her lazy demeanor vanishing instantly: "Where?"
"Wanhua Butterfly Valley".
An answer that is not surprising.
Gu Shanyue frowned and pondered for a long time before asking, "Is it Bai Town?"
"The Needle-Threading Gu has no cure. The antidote that suppressed the poison back then was developed by Wanhua Diegu. The formula was circulated to the Imperial City Guard through Baizhen," Li Yuheng said in a deep voice. "That formula was more than ten years ago. Wanhua Diegu has many talented people. Perhaps there is a new formula with better medicinal properties."
“You’re right. Even if there isn’t one, I’ll ask the Valley Master to take action. I refuse to believe that he can’t cure this tiny Gu worm.”
Gu Shanyue's eyes were bright as she looked at Qi Baitong's back as he tended to the flowers and plants.
She won't let him die.
“When we return to Zhuoguang Mountain, we can stop by Wanhua Die Valley. If we can find the antidote and cure Father, the truth that Sister wants will naturally come to light,” Li Yuheng said softly, his voice somewhat unsteady.
Gu Shanyue smiled with satisfaction and raised her hand to pat Li Yuheng on the shoulder, but then, remembering his infatuated gaze, she withdrew her hand and praised, "Well said."
Li Yuheng nodded slightly and said in a low voice, "Then I'll head back now. I still have a lot to do."
Gu Shanyue: "Go."
Li Yuheng left, his back view thin and desolate.
Gu Shanyue knew she had hurt him, but there was nothing he could do; the hurt had to be endured.
She let out a long sigh, drew her sword, and leaped into the air, the sword light scattering across the ground, fragments of light flashing.
Qi Baitong stood quietly to the side, noticing that she was in a bad mood.
He drew his sword and charged forward. The swords clashed with a resounding clang that shook the eardrums.
Above the spotless, bright sword blade were Gu Shanyue's eyes, even more clear and bright than the sword's light.
Without uttering a single word, swords clashed, their humming incessant, the flashes of blades and the swirling energy of swords cutting through fallen leaves.
After fighting for an unknown amount of time, amidst the falling leaves, Gu Shanyue seemed to release the pent-up frustration in his chest.
She sheathed her sword and stopped, and Qi Baitong also sheathed his blade. The two looked at each other, and he smiled and asked, "A-Yue, are you hungry?"
Gu Shanyue shook her head, brushing aside stray hairs, and laughed, "I'm hungry."
"I'll go cook, you can have some pastries first."
Qi Baitong turned and left. Gu Shanyue took a piece of pastry and put it in her mouth. The pastry was sweet and delicious, and it was also prepared by Qi Baitong.
Looking at his back, she felt that Qi Baitong was the most useful person that God had sent her, especially compared to Li Yuheng.
At the same time, a carriage stopped in front of the Crown Prince's residence. The servants immediately announced its arrival, and Li Yuheng, upon hearing that it was the Princess Consort of Pingliao visiting, immediately came out to greet her personally.
The Prince of Pingliao had no son, was deeply trusted by Emperor Yong, commanded hundreds of thousands of troops to guard the frontier, and maintained a neutral stance.
Li Yuheng tried to curry favor with Li Jing many times, but Li Jing never gave in. The reason Li Yuheng could remain calm was because Li Jing's attitude towards Li Kaiyang was equally impeccable.
At this moment, the Princess Consort of Pingliao actually came to visit in person, perhaps the scales were tipping in his favor.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
In the main hall, Princess Fang Wanqing of Pingliao bowed, and Li Yuheng personally helped her up: "Auntie, you are too kind. We are family, so there is no need for formalities. I was unaware that you were coming, and I have failed to greet you properly."
"Your Highness is too kind. I did not send my visiting card first and came on my own. Your Highness's not blaming me is already a great favor." Fang Wanqing's words were polite and respectful, but there was no intention of being close to her.
Li Yuheng pondered for a moment, then smiled gently and said, "We're all family. Auntie, you must have something important to say. Just say it."
"Then I will be frank. I have come to pay my respects to Miss Yue and wish to speak with her. I hope Your Highness will grant me permission." After Fang Wanqing finished speaking, she curtsied again.
Li Yuheng thought for a moment, then helped the woman up and smiled warmly, "Not at all, Auntie can go. I'd be so happy to have an elder to talk to A-Yue."
After exchanging pleasantries, Fang Wanqing left with her servants.
Li Yuheng narrowed his eyes slightly. Although it was a good thing to have a private relationship with the Pingliao Prince's Mansion, he had never heard of any connection between Gu Shanyue and the Pingliao Prince's Mansion, which was why the Pingliao Princess had come to pay a visit in person.
He always had a sense of unease, as if things were slipping out of his control, yet upon closer inspection, everything seemed perfectly fine.
A servant knocked on the door: "Miss Yue, the Princess Consort of Pingliao has come to visit."
Gu Shanyue was wiping his sword in the wind, not even looking up: "Just come in."
The servant was ashamed. He knew that Miss Yue was aloof, but he did not expect that she would not even get up to open the door to greet him. She only moved her mouth, so the servant had no choice but to push open the door himself and bow to invite Fang Wanqing in.
Fang Wanqing stepped into the courtyard, and Gu Shanyue raised her eyes slightly: "What is it?"
Although we met a few times when we were young, we didn't really have any other relationship.
Gu Shanyue was just an ordinary commoner, while Fang Wanqing was a high-ranking princess. Her attitude was utterly rude.
Fang Wanqing already knew what kind of temperament Gu Shanyue was, and she smiled gently: "Your temperament really hasn't changed over the years."
Gu Shanyue hummed in response, but did not reply, her eyes fixed on the Immaculate Sword in her hand.
Seeing her like this, Fang Wanqing spoke up on her own: "I came today to thank you in person. Thank you for enlightening the Prince. There has been no progress in the search for the son for twenty years, but recently there has been new information. Perhaps... we can really find Lin'er."
She had been calm at first, but by the end her voice trembled slightly, and there was a hint of emotional sobbing.
Gu Shanyue raised an eyebrow: "No need to thank me, I was just saying it casually."
This was something that had nothing to do with her.
Fang Wanqing smiled and wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, saying softly, "Of course I should thank you. It was just a small favor for you, but for the Prince's Mansion, it was like rain after a drought. This jade pendant is a gift for you; I hope you will accept it."
She took the sandalwood box from the maid and opened it. Inside lay a jade pendant, its green color as vibrant as a new sprout. Even lying at the bottom of the box, it still shone brightly, clearly an extraordinary object.
Gu Shanyue didn't even look at it: "No need."
Fang Wanqing remained silent, only smiling as she looked at her, holding the box in her hands.
After all, she was her senior sister's only friend in the palace. Gu Shanyue looked up helplessly and asked, "Do you really have to accept her?"
Fang Wanqing took out the jade pendant, squatted down, and tied it to Gu Shanyue's waist.
Gu Shanyue was slightly startled and moved the sword away, afraid of accidentally injuring the gentle woman. She looked gentle, but she actually had a rather stubborn temper.
After fastening the jade pendant and letting the silk ribbon sway gently, Fang Wanqing stood up: "If we can truly find Lin'er, the Prince's Mansion will surely offer a generous reward. From now on, the Prince's Mansion will definitely help you with any problems you may have."
This promise came from the Princess of Pingliao, from a strategically important border town; an ordinary person would probably be overjoyed to hear it.
Gu Shanyue chuckled lightly: "I don't need you."
These words were arrogant, but Fang Wanqing wasn't annoyed. She looked at her with a smile and said, "Whether we need them or not is a matter for the future."
She might not have been entirely without ulterior motives in saying this. Li Jing's influence and methods of searching came from the government, and a single word from Gu Shanyue could make things progress. Fang Wanqing couldn't help but think that if Gu Shanyue could lend a hand in the search, utilizing the power of people in the martial arts world to find an alternative path, perhaps they could also achieve unexpected results.
Therefore, her promise was also a test and a gesture of goodwill. If Gu Shanyue was willing to help, the Wangfu would benefit even more.
Unfortunately, Gu Shanyue was still the same Gu Shanyue, and these worldly benefits couldn't sway her at all.
With just her sword, she could cut away countless worries.
Just then, Qi Baitong returned.
"Ah Yue." A steady voice rang out.
Fang Wanqing's heart skipped a beat for some reason. She turned around and saw a tall, slender man walking towards her. He was backlit, so she couldn't make out his face clearly. Fang Wanqing murmured silently, "Your Highness..."
The man walked in, revealing a calm and handsome face. He didn't resemble Li Jing at all; perhaps it was just that their figures were somewhat similar, which made her mistake him.
Qi Baitong naturally knew who the visitor was. He gave a simple bow and quickly walked to Gu Shanyue's side, placing the food from the food box out.
"You were a bit slow today, you must be starving," he said with a hint of guilt as he added rice to Gu Shanyue's plate. "Eat quickly."
Gu Shanyue took the bowl and ate a few bites before noticing that the back of his hand was bright red.
"Did you get burned?"
"It's nothing, it's just a little steam. Eat up."
Qi Baitong hid his hand under the table. He had been in a hurry while cooking and had accidentally injured himself; it was nothing serious.
Gu Shanyue instructed, "Remember to apply the medicine when you get back."
"I will."
"What are you standing there for? You eat too."
"Mmm, eat."
The two chatted and ate as if no one else was around, completely ignoring Fang Wanqing. She wasn't annoyed, her gaze constantly lingering on Qi Baitong's profile, as if trying to find out a few things.
When Lin'er was first lost, she was almost driven mad. She would rush up to any child of similar age she saw, frightening their parents. Later, whenever she saw a young man who resembled Li Jing, she would always approach him and question him, which drew a lot of criticism.
More than twenty years have passed, and she rarely feels that urgency to ask a young person everything when she sees them.
"This must be Lord Qi Baitong, right?" Fang Wanqing hesitated for a moment before speaking.
It's not hard to guess Qi Baitong's identity, after all, the affair between Gu Shanyue and Li Yuheng had already been widely discussed in Shengjing, and the names of Gu Shanyue's secret guards were naturally known to everyone.
"Yes." Qi Baitong held the bowl, without the usual self-awareness of a bodyguard standing up to reply.
He used to have that quality, and he would answer with utmost deference.
Ever since Gu Shanyue said she would take him away, in Qi Baitong's heart, he no longer belonged to the Imperial City Guard.
He willingly and ecstatically corrected his master to Gu Shanyue, instead of any member of the Li family.
"you……"
Fang Wanqing wanted to ask a few more questions, but Gu Shanyue clicked her tongue lightly and said, "It's lunchtime, go home and eat. I don't have that much free time to help you find your child."
The hostess was asking her to leave, and Fang Wanqing, being a high-ranking princess, couldn't stay any longer, so she had no choice but to leave.
Before leaving, she couldn't help but look back at Qi Baitong's retreating figure.
This young man is clearly the least like him, whether it's his lack of official position or his demeanor, yet there's a strange sense of familiarity about him.
Qi Baitong… Fang Wanqing silently repeated the name in her mind. It seemed she would have to make a trip to the Imperial Guard to retrieve some information.
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