A bonfire was lit inside the dilapidated temple, and everyone found a place to sit, maintaining a certain distance.
The autumn night rain brought a chill, but the warmth of the campfire dispelled the cold inside the house.
The middle-aged man remained standing at the door, glancing inside every now and then.
Li Xi felt that the person's aura was very familiar, so she walked quietly towards the door.
When the man saw her approaching, a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes, but he quickly became wary.
Li Xi smiled and said, "Brother, it's a cold rainy night. Why don't you come in and warm yourself up?"
"No need." His voice was cold and hard, as if carrying a hint of defensiveness.
She didn't continue talking to him, turned around and went back to the fire, but her heart was filled with curiosity about the man.
The campfire leaped, casting shadows on everyone's faces, reflecting their different thoughts and feelings.
Suddenly, a breeze blew by, the temple door opened, and raindrops drifted in, wetting the hem of the man's clothes at the entrance.
He frowned slightly, but did not move his feet. He simply looked up at the night sky, a fleeting, unfathomable emotion in his eyes.
The heavy rain didn't gradually stop until the morning of the second day.
The bonfire inside the temple had long since gone out, leaving only a little warmth.
Outside the temple, sunlight streamed through the clouds, illuminating the damp earth.
The group continued on their journey, and the woman from the previous night also set off with Meng Zhelan.
The woman was diagnosed with amnesia, so they couldn't possibly abandon her.
Although the woman had amnesia, she behaved quite well, following silently the whole way without saying much.
A few days later, they arrived in Mu City and were warmly received by Feng Monian's men.
"Master Feng's residence is truly unique; the rockery and flowing water are exquisitely designed," Master Huang said to Li Xi as he admired the scenery of the villa.
Over the next few days, Prince An and Li Xi took Huang Er around Mu City.
The city of Mu was bustling and the streets were lively. Master Huang watched with great interest, nodding in approval from time to time.
"Brother Li, I must say you have a good eye; this is indeed a great place." With that in mind, he felt relieved and agreed to work with the two to make money.
After several conversations, Master Huang became increasingly satisfied with the business environment in Mucheng.
The place that Prince An prepared was a house he bought in Mu City, which was antique and full of traces of time.
The courtyard is surrounded by lush trees, birdsong, and fragrant flowers, giving people a sense of tranquility and comfort.
As Master Huang entered the courtyard, he was immediately greeted by a refreshing breeze, as if he had stepped into a paradise.
He looked around, nodded in satisfaction, and expressed his appreciation for Prince An's arrangements. "Young Master An, you truly have an eye for talent. This residence is indeed extraordinary."
Prince An smiled and replied, "Second Master Huang, you flatter me. Although this residence is quite old, it is still elegant. I hope it will meet your standards."
After speaking, Prince An led Master Huang into the main hall. The interior was decorated in a simple and elegant style, with several landscape paintings hanging on the walls, which further highlighted the cultural heritage of the residence.
Master Huang couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. This place was far from the hustle and bustle of Mu City's center, yet it was easily accessible. The surrounding environment was tranquil, making it a truly rare gem.
Li Xi followed behind the two, quietly watching their interaction.
Although Prince An was a grumpy person, it must be said that he was a very capable person.
In just a few days, we found this wonderful house.
With Prince An around, Li Xi no longer needs to deal with Huang Er all day long; the most important thing now is the antidote.
Meng Zhelan stayed at the villa for a few days before returning to the capital with Gu Cheng and the others. She needed to quickly discuss with her father about an antidote for quitting smoking. "Xi'er, once the antidote is made, I'll have Chen Quan send it over as soon as possible."
"Don't worry, I'll go back when I have the chance." Li Xi asked Chen Quan to escort them back.
Huang Er doesn't truly believe them yet, so she'll have to stay here for a while longer.
Not far away, Prince An watched the two chatting and laughing, his gaze gradually turning gloomy.
"Your Highness, they are about to leave," said Lu Yi, who was standing nearby.
"Hmm." He replied with just one word and walked away.
The house is ready, but the actors haven't been cast yet.
This kind of tobacco paste is addictive once you try it, and you can't stop.
Resisting its temptations requires immense self-control and profound inner strength.
Unless Huang Er sees obvious benefits, he probably won't easily let his guard down.
Li Xi once asked his fellow disciples in the Hidden Sect to investigate the origin of the opium paste, but despite their efforts, they were unable to obtain any definite information.
Prince An also sent people to secretly follow them, but they also failed to obtain any valuable intelligence.
After discussing it, the two decided that this was the only arrangement they could make.
On the first day of the ninth lunar month, the sky was clear and the breeze was gentle.
Prince An and Li Xi arrived at He Xi Courtyard early in the morning. The poem, composed by Li Xi, reads: "The wind rises on He Xi, the night is not yet over; the moon shines on a lone boat, its shadow a pair."
Huang Er also arrived early with his men carrying a large box. He patted the box with a smile and said confidently, "These are all gold nuggets."
He then led his men to various places to keep busy.
As night fell, guests began to arrive one after another, and He Xi Courtyard became lively.
Laughter, conversation, and the sounds of musical instruments mingled together, creating a vivid picture of the night.
Li Xi, Prince An, and Huang Er sat in the backyard enjoying tea. Although the weather was a bit cold, each of them had their own thoughts.
Holding a celadon teacup in my hands, I can almost taste the subtle charm of life through the delicate aroma of tea.
Prince An felt a little sleepy, so he decided to leave first.
Seeing Prince An leave, Li Xi said to Huang Er, "Brother Huang, you rest here for a while. I'll go check on things up ahead. After all, many of those guests were brought by me, so I should at least go and greet them to make it proper."
"What you said makes sense. Go ahead, I'm a bit tired too, so I'll leave it to you to keep an eye on things." Huang Er finished speaking, yawned, and went back to his room after arranging for his attendants.
As the indifferent-faced guard passed by Li Xi, he casually slipped a note into her hand before leaving with Huang Er.
She paused for a moment, and after they left, she looked down at the note in her hand and a sense of doubt arose in her heart.
Carefully unfolding the note, I saw a line of small writing: "See you at midnight."
Li Xi's heart skipped a beat, and her brows furrowed. Meet at midnight? When did their relationship become so close that they could meet in the middle of the night?
She hesitated for a moment, then quickly forgot about it. She walked to the front yard and greeted her "friends."
As night fell, all the guests had left.
Seeing that everything was calm and peaceful, she decided to go back to her room to rest.
Currently, the three of them are temporarily residing in the backyard of He Xiyuan. This is also to be prepared for any emergencies.
Just as Li Xi was about to lie down and rest, a few soft knocks broke the silence of the night.
She paused slightly, a flicker of curiosity rising within her. Who could it be so late? She got up, walked to the door, and softly asked, "May I ask who it is?"
A familiar voice came from outside the door: "It's me."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com