The Western Yue Kingdom and the Xuan Yue Kingdom are separated by only one river, but their climates are completely different.
Compared to Xuan Yue Kingdom, Xi Yue Kingdom is much colder.
After crossing the border pass of Xuan Yue Kingdom, one comes to a frozen river.
Normally, people would choose to cross the river to the other side, but in the current weather, the only option is to walk.
Li Xi returned to the interior and rented a sled team at a high price.
The three of them were dressed in fox furs. Hong Gu sat on the sled, which was pulled by an experienced dog owner who controlled the sled dogs.
Li Xi and Qin Xiaolin chose to follow on foot.
They moved with agility and possessed profound inner strength, showing no signs of fatigue as they traversed the vast snowfield alongside the sled team.
After crossing the glacier and arriving at the Xiyue Pass, they presented their travel documents, and the guards let them pass.
The seven countries had agreements on mutual trade and customs, but they were also wary of each other and strictly controlled the movement of people between the countries.
Once you pass through Xiyue Pass, you've entered the territory of the Xiyue Kingdom.
Qin Xiaolin found a horse-drawn carriage.
The carriage traveled for a while longer, and a city appeared ahead. The city was not large, and the city walls looked rather old.
This is a small city in the Western Yue Kingdom, called Sunset City.
The sky was getting dark.
The carriage entered the city, and the three of them found an inn and stayed there.
"Grandmother, are you alright?" Li Xi asked, looking at her with some concern.
Now that my grandmother's internal energy is sealed, without the protection of internal energy, she probably won't be able to withstand this frigid weather.
Grandmother smiled and shook her head, saying, "Don't worry, I'm fine. There's a stove in this inn, it's warm."
The image of Xiao Lian, the fifth princess of Xiyue, flashed through Li Xi's mind. She couldn't help but worry about Xiao Lian's current situation and wonder if she was alright.
Seeing that she was lost in thought, Qin Xiaolin gently interrupted her: "Xi'er, what's wrong? You seem a little absent-minded."
“Nothing special, I just remembered that Lan’er asked me to find out about Mo Lian before we left. I wonder how she’s doing now that she’s back in the palace.” Li Xi said, blowing away the steam from the hot tea in her hand before taking a slow sip.
Mo Lian had already been taken back to the embassy by the Prince of Xiyue, and shortly after the trade fair ended, she embarked on her journey home.
Before her departure, Li Xi and the others prepared many self-defense items for her and even specially invited several martial arts masters from the martial arts world to secretly escort her back to China.
"Don't worry, she'll be safe and sound. Our people have sent word that the Fifth Princess has returned safely to the palace. And we've heard that she'll be marrying the Grand Tutor's grandson after the New Year," Qin Xiaolin reassured him, his tone resolute.
During the Jingyuan era, after Mo Lian reunited with her maid Meng Yun, she saw familiar faces and later regained her memories. However, her expression was somewhat forlorn.
The Hidden Sect has no base in Western Yue, so they have no way of knowing Mo Lian's current situation.
Her gaze involuntarily turned to Qin Xiaolin, because only a powerful force like the Hidden Sage Manor could find a solution.
Qin Xiaolin smiled slightly, as if he had already seen through her thoughts.
He clapped his hands lightly, and a man in black emerged from the shadows, bowing to him.
"This is my informant in Xiyue. Let him investigate anything you want to know," Qin Xiaolin said.
"Thank you," she replied softly.
The man in black accepted the order and left.
Only the two of them remained in the room, and Qin Xiaolin took off his mask.
"Brother Qin, you're still as handsome as ever," she exclaimed sincerely.
Qin Xiaolin smiled faintly and remained silent.
Then he asked, "So, do you like Feng Monian or Qin Xiaolin?"
She was slightly taken aback, not expecting Qin Xiaolin to ask such a question. She mumbled, "These two are both you, aren't they the same? Besides, we're all brothers, I'll like you no matter what."
Qin Xiaolin looked at her intently, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
He was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Brotherly love is certainly deep, but romantic love is a different kind of feeling. I know what you are thinking, but you need to understand that although Feng Monian and Qin Xiaolin are the same person, their identities and responsibilities are different."
She was somewhat confused by his words and lowered her head to ponder their meaning.
He continued, "If these were two people, which one would you prefer?"
For some reason, Qin Xiaolin said that.
Li Xi was momentarily at a loss.
She looked up and met Qin Xiaolin's deep gaze, a strange sense of panic welling up inside her.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, and then replied, "Brother Qin, this is a very difficult question to answer. Whether it's Master Feng of Yinxian Manor or Qin Xiaolin of the Duke's Mansion, you are both my good brothers. But now they are all you, and I can't separate you two."
Given our current situation, let's remain brothers for now.
Qin Xiaolin gave her a deep look, then burst into laughter: "Haha, Xiaoxi, you're such a clever little devil."
Now is not the best time. He will wait until the day he can truly hold her hand before telling her his overwhelming love.
Qin Xiaolin stood up, walked to the window, looked at the bright moon outside, and calmed the urge to hold her in his arms.
Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Li Xi smiled awkwardly and said, "Brother Qin, I'll head back now. We have to get up early tomorrow, so get some rest."
After saying that, she quickly left his room.
Qin Xiaolin watched her retreating figure and smiled helplessly.
The night in Xiyue was cold, and Mo Lian was still hunched over her desk, writing something intently.
"Princess, it's already past midnight, aren't you going to rest?" Mengyun adjusted the lamp wick, somewhat worried.
Since returning to the palace, the princess has spent almost every day in her own palace.
After a long while, she gently put down her pen, stretched, and smiled: "Mengyun, have someone send the letter out first thing tomorrow morning."
"Yes, Princess." Mengyun didn't know what the princess wanted to do.
But she knew that Princess Mo Lian always had her own reasons and plans.
"Mengyun, go to sleep. I'll sit here a little longer." Mo Lian waved her hand gently, indicating that Mengyun could leave.
Mengyun nodded, draped an outer garment over Mo Lian's shoulders, and then quietly left the room.
The night was deep and all was quiet.
Mo Lian sat alone at her desk, gazing at the bright moon outside the window, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside her.
She recalled her brief time in Jingyuan, the happiest period of her life. Although she had lost her memory, everyone at Tingfeng Courtyard had been kind to her. Even the wind there was free. If she could, she would want to stay there forever.
But now he's back in this palace, rife with intrigue and scheming, surrounded by a group of brothers and sisters, each with their own hidden agendas, who fawn over him.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com