The surroundings were bustling with activity. The air below the stilt houses was thick with the aroma of alcohol. Vendors on both sides of the river shouted their wares, and the sounds of acrobatics, opera, fire-breathing, and stilt walking filled the air.
Fireworks lit up the sky, and bright lights enveloped the river. Children ran and played happily along the bank, carrying lanterns. Colorful lanterns of all sizes floated on the river, emitting a soft glow.
Xie Rongyue stood up, carrying the crossbeam. The lake water and moss on the shore wet her dress. The man in the pine-colored robe beside her smiled and handed her a white handkerchief.
She took it and was about to speak when suddenly, a gust of wind came from behind her, and her jade-white hand was suddenly grabbed, causing the handkerchief to fall to the ground.
She turned around in shock, her long black hair billowing in the wind. When she saw who it was, her mind went blank, and she stood there stunned.
With a bang, a dazzling display of fireworks suddenly burst forth in the sky, scattering countless bright flames that illuminated the bustling crowd. The flickering lights reflected into the eyes of the two people, their brightness uncertain.
Wang Hezhan stared intently at the familiar face before him, at the eyes, mouth, and nose, where a dark undercurrent seemed to surge and churn within.
The torment of countless nights seemed to surge back in an instant, the pent-up longing and yearning erupting forth as if a huge spark had suddenly burst forth, striking his heart with tremendous force.
He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her tightly into his embrace, his voice trembling, "You're not dead, you're really not dead---"
Xie Rongyue smelled the familiar scent of agarwood on him, and her numb heart tightened. It was as if the sealed memories had been broken in an instant and surged into her heart. A sour feeling, pain, love and hate were intertwined intensely, and her body trembled as he held her.
"Let go—let go—"
He wouldn't let go, holding her tightly, greedily inhaling her fragrance as he nestled against her neck, his voice hoarse, "You lied to me, you lied to me again, you even went so far as to use a fake corpse to escape from me, Yue'er, you have such a cruel heart."
When Xie Rongyue heard him say that, she felt as if her heart was being torn apart. All sorts of complex emotions surged through her body, and those tumultuous memories flashed through her mind like a tide. She bit her lower lip and reached out to push him away forcefully.
As the wind and dew deepened, the painted boats on the lake floated quietly, and a bustling crowd surged in. The young general, dressed in fine clothes, quickly attracted countless onlookers.
Stunned by the scene, Su Xuanzhi heard the whispers and pointing around him. Coming to his senses, he grabbed Su Xuanzhi's wrist and shouted angrily.
"Who goes there? Let her go."
Wang Hezhan glanced sideways, his eyes flashing with a cold light. Instantly, a musket appeared in his hand, which he pressed against the man's forehead, startling the surrounding crowd who retreated in panic.
Su Xuanzhi stared in shock at the musket in his hand. Who was this person who dared to carry a prohibited weapon in public?
Xie Rongyue's face turned pale. She quickly struggled to grab his hand, saying, "What are you doing? Let go."
"who is he?"
His eyes were bloodshot as he angrily questioned, his gaze filled with venom as if he wanted to kill.
Xie Rongyue's eyes reddened as she looked at his expression. He had always been like this, ruthless and willful just like before.
“My elder brother’s superior.”
Su Xuanzhi, the eldest son of the Prefect of Changzhou, was Xie Zhi's superior.
Wang Hezhan's eyes blazed with fury as he kicked the man right in the chest, venting his anger viciously. As the man collapsed to the ground in agony, the vicious murderous intent in his eyes was impossible to conceal.
In the southwest, there are fourteen cities in Liangzhou. Liangzhou is the largest city in the area. Changzhou and Yangxia are also relatively large prefecture cities. The highest official in these prefecture cities is the governor.
Su Xuanzhi's father was a prefect, and he had been spoiled since childhood. Relying on his family's protection, he rose through the ranks in the officialdom. He had never suffered such humiliation. His eyes turned red with anger, and he didn't care about the identity of the person who came. Suddenly, a knife appeared in his hand, and he slashed directly at the back of the figure.
Wang Hezhan sneered, turned around abruptly, and the musket in his hand made a loud "poof" sound. A chorus of screams erupted, and the people and children scattered in fright, leaving a large open space in the blink of an eye.
Su Xuanzhi coughed up blood and collapsed to the ground.
Xie Rongyue turned around, her mouth agape in shock, her whole body trembling with cold. Her body went limp, her eyes bloodshot as she broke free from him and tried to run away.
Wang Hezhan held her waist tightly. Seeing her nervous expression, he raised his hand and pulled the trigger, ready to kill her.
She saw through his intentions and was so terrified she almost knelt down to beg for mercy. She covered the dark opening with her hand, sobbing, "Please, don't do this, please, don't—"
"You're begging me for his sake?"
Xie Rongyue was nearly driven to the brink of collapse by his furious roar, "What are you going to do? Kill him and make me live with guilt for the rest of my life?"
Wang Hezhan couldn't stand her like this, and shouted angrily, "Who is he to you? Why are you so nervous?"
“I’m not a madman like you who kills without hesitation. I can’t let others die because of me with a clear conscience.”
Silence reigned between heaven and earth. The violent, churning energy within his chest roared like the grotesque claws of a demon. He gripped her wrist tightly, his voice as terrifying as a demon from hell, "You faked your death to leave, just to live and fly away with someone else?"
Xie Rongyue was driven crazy by his appearance. Knowing that he was unyielding, she gripped the dark opening tightly with her hand, her eyes red and her voice hoarse.
"Kill me first."
Time flew by, the wind howled as it swept across the lanterns on both banks, and rows of lights illuminated the entire dock. Soldiers, their heads obscured, surged forward with their weapons, surrounding the area. Ordinary people on the periphery peered out, watching the spectacle and chattering excitedly.
Gao Zhen, the governor of Yangxia, was a close friend of Su Xuanzhi's father. Upon hearing that Su Xuanzhi had been attacked here, he immediately led his troops over. He was furious when he saw the man lying on the ground.
"Put them in jail for me."
No sooner had the words been spoken than countless soldiers, dressed in black armor and wielding sharp blades, disembarked from the ornate pleasure boats moored on the shore and surrounded them.
Gao Zhen roared angrily, "Where did this thief come from, daring to commit violence with a knife in front of the government officials?!"
Hearing the commotion, the governor of Liangzhou, who was on the pleasure boat, quickly got off to stop them and reprimanded them.
"Don't be silly."
The night was pitch black when several people, all officials from Liangzhou City, stepped off the painted boat. Gao Zhen was shocked to see his superior and hurriedly bowed obsequiously as he approached him.
"Why has Your Excellency come to Yangxia?"
The governor of Liangzhou gave him a look, and the latter was slightly startled. Looking at the richly dressed young man, he couldn't guess his identity for a moment.
A guard quietly approached and whispered in his ear.
"Ignore the people of Kyoto."
With so many people watching, Xie Rongyue felt a sudden boom before her eyes and a burning pain in her cheeks. She tried her best to suppress it, looking at the person opposite her with bloodshot eyes, and spoke each word in a cold voice.
"Let the doctor treat him. I'll go with you and explain things to you."
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