Many years have passed since we last met.
Bai Muqiu returned to the shop and continued to run it, enjoying his leisure time when no one was around.
It was because of his existence that the area was protected, and the prefectural city was peaceful and free from disaster.
Kyoto, however, was far from peaceful.
The reforms were underway, and Xu Mao's life was being consumed by them, but the emperor was the one who left before him.
The new emperor, though still implementing reforms, was not as resolute as the previous emperor. The old faction in the court was restless, and Xu Mao was caught in a pincer movement.
However, he was not alone. As the advantages and benefits of the reforms became apparent, he also gained the support of many reformist ministers.
When Bai Muqiu heard of the emperor's death, he worried about Xu Mao. Xu Mao wanted to go to the capital, but Bai Hao, who was visiting him, stopped him and wouldn't let him interfere.
Helpless, Bai Muqiu cowered in the shop like a coward.
Fortunately, he could still receive letters from Xu Mao, even if they had been opened by someone else; they were still letters sent to him by Xu Mao.
Xu Mao was in a very bad situation, but he didn't look back and kept moving forward.
Time has passed little by little, and the new policies, though difficult, are being implemented and are becoming increasingly solid.
But when he was not yet fifty, the new policies suddenly had a major flaw. Xu Mao and the reformists were impeached before they could investigate the problem.
Everything seemed premeditated, and the conclusion was drawn too quickly, leaving everyone speechless.
Xu Mao, however, remained calm, calmer than anyone else.
He was sitting in his residence making tea when the soldiers raiding the prime minister's mansion burst in. They ransacked the place, trying to plunder something, but...
—It is completely empty.
The leading general looked at the impoverished mansion and at the old man with gray hair. His thin spine was very straight, and even though his hands had begun to tremble, he still stood upright and proper.
He calmly drank a cup of tea, the cup covered with tea dust and crumbs.
He was out of tea leaves, and the fine tea dust was barely enough to brew the last pot of tea.
All the officers and soldiers remained silent, and no one stepped forward to escort him.
Xu Mao slowly got up, stroked his beard, and walked away step by step.
They followed behind him, not like they were arresting or escorting a prisoner, but more like they were seeing him off.
Madam Xu stood up straight as she and her female relatives were escorted away.
None of the Xu family children cried or made a fuss; they were calmly led into the prison cell.
Bai Muqiu lay on the shop's table, with Bai Hao sitting beside him, still forbidding him from going to Kyoto.
He was sad and depressed, but he also knew that he might not be able to control himself. Bai Hao knew that he had used spiritual fruits and medicine to treat Yu Liang and the Xu family, and was afraid that he would lose control and cause trouble again.
"Didn't Bai Jue tell you not to get too deeply involved in the mortal world?"
Bai Muqiu puffed out her cheeks and remained silent, turning her head in the opposite direction so that the back of her head faced Bai Hao.
Bai Hao raised his hand and gave him a light slap on the head.
"Are you still angry? If I weren't afraid Aunt Jing would come after me, I wouldn't bother with you!"
"But...but...why should he die?"
"Everyone has their own destiny, what right do you have to rely on anything? Good people don't live long, but evil people live for a thousand years."
Bai Muqiu was unconvinced, but his throat tightened and he couldn't speak anymore.
He knew Xu Mao and lived through almost his entire life. He watched him study hard, passed the imperial examination, and became a good official praised by the people.
He watched him come this far, and he watched him grow old.
To Bai Muqiu, he was just a fleeting passerby, but to him, Bai Muqiu was a lifelong friend.
Bai Muqiu's fleeting moments were Xu Mao's entire life.
The autumn wind rises as the weather cools, and the rain falls on the paulownia trees, bringing sorrow to the heart.
Bai Muqiu stared blankly at the falling autumn rain, as if she had lost her soul.
Bai Hao shook his head and sighed helplessly. Entering the world is easy, but leaving it is difficult.
A sudden storm arrived with great force.
Many members of the new political party were convicted, ranging from minor demotions to imprisonment, and some even had their homes confiscated and were executed.
Bai Hao held Bai Muqiu down until everything was settled.
Xu Mao is in prison, awaiting his death.
Bai Muqiu tried to sneak out at night, but was caught by Bai Hao. He transformed into his original form and fought with Bai Hao, but was beaten up, tied up, and thrown onto the tea table in the guest hall.
Bai Muqiu was filled with regret and tears streamed down his face. Why hadn't he cultivated properly?
Bai Hao could easily crush him.
After several days of turmoil, Bai Muqiu was exhausted and lay motionless on the tea table like a corpse.
As night fell, the next day would be the day Xu Mao's family was executed.
Bai Muqiu was heartbroken beyond measure, yet there was nothing she could do.
As Bai Muqiu lay there, she felt increasingly uncomfortable, and soon tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.
Bai Hao lay on the soft couch next to him, raising his hand to cover his ears. He regretted not calling Bai Jue or Bai Shujin to watch over Bai Muqiu. He shouldn't have taken matters into his own hands!
Bai Muqiu cried harder and harder, and finally sat up and burst into loud sobs.
Bai Hao had a terrible headache, covering his ears and frowning.
Suddenly, a huge silver array appeared on the ground in the center of the hall, its dazzling light interrupting Bai Muqiu's crying.
Bai Hao breathed a sigh of relief. It was finally over!
A flash of light appeared, and Xu Mao, dressed in prison clothes, disheveled and thin with a hunched back, was sitting cross-legged on the ground. He had been suddenly teleported there and seemed to be in a daze.
Bai Muqiu was also stunned. She broke free from the rope that Bai Hao had tied her with, which was not very tight, and scrambled to her knees in front of Xu Mao.
Xu Mao was stunned for a moment, then regained his composure.
"Long time no see, Muqiu, Young Master Bai."
Bai Muqiu's face was covered in tears, and Xu Mao wanted to wipe it off for him, but he was too dirty to wash up in prison. Only tonight did he get a good meal, even though it was his last meal before his execution.
Bai Hao made no attempt to hide his cleansing technique on Bai Muqiu.
Xu Mao looked at Bai Muqiu and smiled lovingly. He never expected that he would be able to see her one last time before he died.
"Waaah, Scholar, you're going to die!"
"Yes, I'm going to die."
"Waaah, I can't bear to part with it!"
"I'm just an ordinary person. How can I escape birth, aging, sickness, and death? It's just a matter of time. You have a long life ahead of you, so don't worry about it."
"Huh? How did you know?"
"Slap!" Bai Hao slapped Bai Muqiu on the head.
How could he ask such a stupid question? He actually thinks he's just an ordinary person in Xu Mao's eyes?!
"You're stupid! Don't drag the Bai Ze clan down with you!"
Bai Muqiu, bewildered, covered her head with a pitiful expression.
Xu Mao chuckled softly, but then he coughed. Bai Hao raised his hand and gave him a simple treatment to stop his cough.
"So that's how it is. It's different from what I thought."
Xu Mao, having recovered his strength, spoke in a somewhat hoarse voice.
"But why am I here?"
Bai Muqiu shook her head in confusion.
Bai Hao understood the meaning behind Xu Mao's words.
"Because you wanted a dream, you appeared here. When you wake up, you will return to where you came from."
Xu Mao pondered upon hearing this, seemingly having grasped the meaning.
Only then did he suddenly remember that Bai Muqiu was a dream interpreter.
"Huh? Scholar, are you dreaming?!"
Bai Hao: "..."
Bai Hao put his hand to his forehead, speechless and choked with emotion.
Who exactly owns this dream interpretation shop?!
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