Clearing the Bureau (Part 1)
Even under the bright sunshine, the climate in Miao region remains pleasant.
At this moment, everyone's eyes fell on the two people who should have been in the dismissal room.
"Are you crazy?! Are you out of your minds?!" Uya, who had fallen to the ground, roared in disbelief. She had been stabbed right into the shoulder blade and was in so much pain that she couldn't stand up.
"Why did you come out?" Zhao Yi asked anxiously as he ran towards Chen Zhuangmu.
"You're one to talk! Are you out of your mind?" Chen Zhuangmu didn't notice what Zhao Yi said and walked towards him with her head covered.
They looked each other up and down and found that they were both in a terrible state.
Their hair hung down, with yellowish water droplets clinging to it. Their once clean clothes were now soaked with drops of blood, creating a rather pleasing sight if you didn't look closely.
"Men, take Wuya away!" Miao Xin ordered sternly, his youthful face suddenly revealing an intolerance for questioning.
"Wait!" Shen Zhuangmu called out to stop the people who were making the move, but Miao Xin only glanced at her and waved to the servants. Soon, Wuya was taken away.
Zhao Yi stared at him anxiously from behind the heavy makeup curtain, and then he suddenly laughed.
"Hahahaha!" Miao Xin was mischievous. Seeing that Zhao Yi was about to beat him up, he hurriedly stepped back and said, "Brother, listen to me!"
Miao Xin hurriedly ran away before saying, "You all came to ask me last night what would happen if one side interrupted the process of removing the curse. At the time, I only knew that the other side was fine and nothing would happen."
He rubbed his arm and laughed, "Then I started looking it up in the book, and while I was looking it up, my sister came to ask me again, and that's when I knew what you guys were up to."
He wasn't wearing Miao ethnic clothing, but rather a thin shirt he brought from Huijing, and now he was squatting down, speaking freely.
He glanced at the two bewildered people and said, "The Lian Sheng Gu I gave you is the only pair left in the village. It's not pure. Now, as long as we use something to lure it out, there won't be any problems."
As he spoke, he pulled a half-open bamboo tube from his sleeve, the inside of which was coated with some kind of dark substance.
He made Shen and Zhao sit cross-legged, while he busied himself at the blood vessels between their pulse points. Perhaps the fishy and foul smell of the tubes attracted the worm, which clumsily twisted outwards, almost bursting the thickness of a human blood vessel. Just as its head emerged, Miao Xin grabbed it, pulled it out, and threw it to the ground.
When it was put in, it was only an inch long, but in just one day it grew to more than three inches and was more than twice as round as before.
"If you don't take them out, you'll either turn into mummies or become Gu people." Miao Xin spoke seriously, and without stopping, he took out Zhao Yi's as well.
Despite the seemingly effortless movements, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
"What's wrong with you?" Zhao Yi then noticed that something was wrong with him; his lips were very pale, and he looked weak.
Chen Zhuangmu, who had been keeping her eyes closed, looked at the child after hearing this and found that the child did indeed look extremely weak.
"What’s wrong with you?"
Miao Xin, however, remained calm and raised the bamboo tube he had just used: "There is my blood in this. I haven't used it for several years, so I'm not very good at controlling the amount. I used too much at once."
"Hmm," Zhao Yi replied without saying anything more, because he really didn't know what to say.
When Zhao Yi found him a few years ago, the child was covered in wounds of all sizes, inflicted by someone raising Gu poison.
After returning to Huijing with him, he went up the mountain to catch fish and go to school like other children. Now, he is required to do the same thing as before.
Fate.
"Alright, you two, stop looking so apologetic. You need me, and I'm happy to help. Isn't that great? Besides, you'll recover quickly..."
Miao Xin kept talking, and together with Zhao Yi, they helped Chen Zhuangmu up. Chen Zhuangmu said, "Miao Xin, do you want to come back with us?"
Should we leave this place? The thought crossed Miao Xin's mind. He looked around at everything that had just been set up. Everyone around him was confused because they couldn't understand their conversation, and there were even children who were cautiously afraid to approach them.
He finally shook his head. "Never mind."
Chen Zhuangmu smiled and said, "If you leave, I can send someone over, but the place you like is the best." With their help, she stepped onto the dark brown earth and said, "If you miss us, just send a message by carrier pigeon. I guess we won't have much to do in the future, so you can come and go as you please."
Zhao Yi echoed, "Let's listen to her."
Miao Xin's mood was indifferent just now, but hearing the two of them say this about him made her feel a little sore, and she whispered, "Mm."
Having walked this far, Chen Zhuangmu was already exhausted. Zhao Yi, who practiced martial arts regularly, also needed to train. Besides, the Gu worm had only been inside him for a day, so he couldn't feel any significant changes in himself.
Miao Xin pushed open the door to their small house, and Zhao Yi helped Chen Zhuangmu sit down.
Miao Xin handed the water she had just poured to Chen Zhuangmu and said, "Sister, you will feel very tired for the next month or so, but you can live like an ordinary person in the future. The Gu worm and the poison have been in your body for so many years. The two have been resisting and attracting each other. The problem has been solved, but your blood will still be different from others."
"Go ahead and speak, I'm listening." Chen Zhuangmu knew that Miao Xin hadn't finished speaking yet.
"Winter will chill you to the bone, and I'm afraid I won't be able to have children in the future," Miao Xin said in a low voice.
Upon hearing this, both of them turned pale, but quickly recovered. Having gone through all this, she hadn't even considered the issue of the child; in truth, thinking about it, this was probably the likely outcome.
She nodded and took a sip of water.
"You guys rest for a bit, I'm going out for a bit," Miao Xin said, closing the door and leaving, actually giving them some time.
Someone pulled a stool over to him, and Zhao Yi sat down and opened his arms to hug Chen Zhuangmu, sniffing her incessantly.
She found it amusing and said, "What else could it smell like but fishy? What are you smelling?"
Zhao Yi raised his head slightly in her arms and said, "It's finally all better, it's finally all better." As he spoke, he straightened up, brushed a strand of hair from Chen Zhuangmu's forehead, and said, "If it was my fault that I couldn't save you, what should I do?"
"Don't think about these things." Chen Zhuangmu held his hand, her fingers tracing the fabric of his clothes inch by inch, and said, "We've overcome so many hardships along the way, things will only get better."
Before she could finish speaking, Zhao Yi removed her finger and said with a smile, "Why are you touching me when you're supposed to be talking?"
She looked at him with bright, clear eyes behind her makeup.
She leaned forward an inch, but Zhao Yi couldn't help but lift her chin, his head slowly lowering, first to her forehead, then her nose, and finally her soft lips.
Chen Zhuangmu hugged him. He lightly drew his lip line and sucked on it bit by bit. This changed her mood. She had originally just wanted to tease him.
She responded to him involuntarily, enjoying the breath they exchanged. After a long while, Chen Zhuangmu couldn't breathe and punched Zhao Yi.
Zhao Yi slowly withdrew, sighed as he looked at Chen Zhuangmu's bright red lips, and rested his head on her shoulder, saying plaintively, "You're just taking advantage of your current weakness to bully me."
Chen Zhuangmu smiled slightly, placed her hand on Zhao Yi's shoulder to separate the two, and said, "Let's go back tomorrow morning."
Zhao Yi said seriously, "Okay."
After saying that, neither of them spoke, looking awkward and unsure how to continue. Looking at each other's expressions, however, they both understood each other perfectly.
Zhao Yi smiled slightly and said, "My men have probably already started making moves in Huijing. Tomorrow we need to find a way to get back to the capital." After he finished speaking, he didn't dare to look into Chen Zhuangmu's eyes and turned around and said, "I already discussed it with Zhang Jiao when I came. He will cover our entry into the capital, and someone will come to pick us up when we return."
Chen Zhuangmu chuckled softly, then sat up straight and turned away from him, saying, "Well... actually, I've already contacted Li Chu. Once we return to the capital, someone will inform us about the situation in Huijing."
Hearing this, Zhao Yi turned his head, his eyes becoming subtle. "When did you make these arrangements?"
Chen Zhuangmu pouted and said, "What, you're allowed to plan ahead, but I'm not allowed to find someone to help me? I contacted Li Chu the day I realized something was wrong between you and your uncle."
She has capable people around her, and their abilities are certainly not a problem. But when it comes to trust, she still knows that Li Chu is the person she trusts the most. It's just that she doesn't know if she will report to that emperor this time.
She and Li Chu established a secret code that only the two of them knew. They first tried it in the palace, thinking that no one would answer, but they heard a whistle from the other side.
That night, Li Chu quietly stepped into her room and gently woke her up from her sleep. Only then did she see the person she hadn't seen in a long time.
Chen Zhuangmu was very surprised. Li Chu looked terrible. She was so thin that she was unrecognizable. The flesh on both sides of her cheeks was almost shrunken into her bones. Her wrists were even thinner than Chen Zhuangmu's.
Faced with Shen Zhuangmu's persistent questioning, Li Chu simply lowered her head and whispered, "It's only right to be punished for not completing the mission. Don't worry, Miss."
In an instant, Chen Zhuangmu felt as if the whole world had stopped. Everything around her was unimportant, and her eyes were focused solely on the girl in front of her.
“I just didn’t want anyone watching me, so I was thinking of letting you go back to work for your uncle. But how did it turn out like this…”
Faced with her sadness, Li Chu remained calm, saying only, "Miss, my life's mission is to be by your side. I am guilty for failing to protect you."
Thus, Chen Zhuangmu did the first thing in her life that could be considered a true act of disobeying the emperor.
She told Li Chu what she needed to do and then hid her away.
Now it seems that everything is normal for Li Chu, and in the emperor's eyes she is already a discarded pawn.
As she was thinking, she felt someone cup her face. Zhao Yi's image flashed through her mind, and she couldn't help but gently rub against him.
Realizing what she had done, she froze. Staring blankly at what was in front of her, she turned around.
Zhao Yi was also stunned. He was overjoyed and had no idea what to do next. He picked up Chen Zhuangmu and placed her on the bedside.
He squatted down beside her legs and said, "Since we're like this, you're not allowed to scold me."
At this time, he would always pretend to be well-behaved, but Chen Zhuangmu just couldn't resist this act.
Laughing would be too undignified, so she pursed her lips, gently stroking his forehead with her left hand, and said, "Our acquaintance was based on mutual exploitation and ulterior motives. Neither of us could have predicted this...but anyway, in this round, I've won."
She bent down to look at Zhao Yi's expression; his eyes were bright, and his gaze was fixed on her.
He straightened up as Chen Zhuangmu stood up, leaned over and pecked her lips, "I've got my darling."
His voice was surprisingly low and hoarse. Noticing the change in himself, he turned and buried himself in his makeshift bed on the floor, saying, "Go to sleep, Zhuangmu. We'll be on our way tomorrow."
"..."
As night fell, it undoubtedly seeped into every corner of the land, plunging the Miao region into complete darkness and tranquility. Yet, under the same night sky, the royal palace was in turmoil.
The Crown Prince's Palace, Xichen Hall.
All the oil lamps along the way were lit, and much of the oil had solidified at the bottom due to the cold temperature. The celebratory red silk had not yet been removed, and the rituals inside the hall remained in place, with the joyous atmosphere still lingering.
Inside the hall, Yu Hongqi, dressed neatly, sat on a chair, his hand involuntarily scratching his knee. He looked at Xiao Hanfeng, who was dressed in a woman's hair bun, and said, "Miss Xiao, our marriage is both an explanation for what happened that day and a way to protect you."
Xiao Hanfeng looked at him with his usual cold gaze and said, "I understand. But that day, I didn't do it on purpose."
Yu Hongqi nodded and moved closer to her. "Yes. Since I've been watching over you, I will definitely take responsibility. But if you have other plans, please wait until it's safe before you leave."
The stiff atmosphere began to warm up slightly after those words. Xiao Hanfeng smiled and lowered his head, remaining silent.
Seeing her smile, Yu Hongqi breathed a sigh of relief, but her silence made him anxious again. He said, "I didn't mean..."
“I know,” Xiao Hanfeng interrupted him, “It’s late, get some rest.”
So she stood up, and under Yu Hongqi's incredulous gaze, took off her outer robe, leaving only her inner garment, and crawled into one of the quilts on the bed.
Yu Hongqi was stunned for a moment before he dared to believe her meaning. His steps from the chair to the bedside were somewhat clumsy, which made Xiao Hanfeng burst out laughing.
He tiptoed into bed, dutifully covered himself with the blanket, but his heart was filled with joy.
Her heart had drawn a little closer to him.
"You're setting off for war tomorrow, aren't you?" Xiao Hanfeng asked.
“Okay,” Yu Hongqi replied, “Go out and gain some experience. Don’t be afraid, I’ll leave the people with you.”
Something seemed to bloom in Xiao Hanfeng's heart, a bittersweet joy welling up inside her. She concealed the emotions in her eyes and pretended not to hear.
There was no sound in the room, and the two of them could hear each other's breathing. Xiao Hanfeng suddenly opened his eyes.
Her hand emerged from under the covers, closed, then opened again. Finally, she slipped her hand along the seam of another quilt and placed it on the sash of Yu Hongqi's undergarment.
The moment she placed her hand on him, a hand gripped it tightly. His burning heat warmed her hand through the touch, and she felt warmth spreading through her heart.
"Yu Hongqi, we're married." She said in a soft, breathy voice.
"Hmm," Yu Hongqi responded, kicking the blanket off the bed.
A few streaks of white light suddenly appeared in the deep night, and as the red sun rose on the horizon, the earth was transformed in an instant. Unlike the crisp air of the past, everything illuminated by the light was now glowing red. If it weren't for the dewdrops still clinging to the new leaves, it would be impossible to tell whether it was dusk or dawn.
Zhao Yi slept through the night as before, and after the crescent moon and the sun took their turns, the sunlight shone through the window onto their eyes, and they got up.
This morning, they ate breakfast with Miao Xin in silence. After finishing, they walked to the village gate while talking. The three of them blinked at each other, reluctant to part, but each had to go on to their own lives.
"Miao Xin," Chen Zhuangmu spoke first, her voice sounding very steady, "If you need anything, just tell your brother. Although we are separated by distance, we will eventually reunite."
Miao Xin nodded and looked at Zhao Yi. Zhao Yi looked somewhat heavy-hearted. After all, he was the child she had raised. She had always hoped that he would stand on his own two feet and act like an adult. Now, she just hoped that he would not be reckless in the face of adversity, not exhaust himself, and take good care of himself.
Zhao Yi's usual shameless demeanor in front of Shen Zhuangmu was nowhere to be seen. He patted Miao Xin's shoulder as if he didn't know what to say and said, "Take care. Don't be reckless when things happen. Remember that I'm here for you."
"Um."
Miao Xin's throat was dry, but he could only nod. Behind him were his people who still needed him.
The two walked further and further away in silence. As Zhao Yi walked through the woods, Chen Zhuangmu suddenly felt a strong sense of reluctance, as if a piece of her heart had been torn out.
She said to Zhao Yi, "Qingzi."
"Hmm?" Zhao Yi replied.
"Time flies here, I've almost forgotten my original life."
Amidst the clash of swords and the shadows of intrigue, a constant cycle of reshaping and scheming.
Zhao Yi remained calm about this, saying, "No one is born to live a certain way. The kind of life we like can change. I believe we can do it. Zhuangmu, I'm here for you."
Chen Zhuangmu breathed a sigh of relief, and as they were about to pass through the woods, they saw two people riding two horses galloping towards them.
Zhao Yi reached under his legs, intending to take out the hidden dagger, but Chen Zhuangmu grabbed his hand and said, "No need, these are horses prepared for us."
"Didn't I tell you? I hid Li Chu." She laughed like a mischievous little devil.
The two received the horse from the horseman and set off on their journey back to the capital.
The surrounding trees swept past them, and the dry dust was kicked up by the horses' hooves, hitting their faces and getting all over their eyelashes and noses, but they didn't care at all.
They stayed at a nearby inn late at night for a while, slept for a while, and then got up and continued their journey. They came to a large river with a ferryboat, but if they took it, they would have to abandon their horses. After calculating the time, they realized that riding horses would be faster, so the two of them decided to continue on horseback.
This was the longest horseback ride Shen Zhuangmu had ever taken. Zhao Yi asked her if she wanted to rest or ride with him, but she refused. She thought of her mother, her bravery on the battlefield, and her pained appearance in her dreams.
Not only was she waiting for an explanation, for the truth, but her mother was also waiting, as were the fallen soldiers.
With increasing determination and a steady breath, Chen Zhuangmu finally arrived at the outskirts of the city after nearly seven days of travel.
"Whoa." Chen Zhuangmu reined in her horse and stopped, looking at the three rows of lush green trees beside her. "Qingzi, look, these trees are growing really well." Zhao Yi nodded in praise. Now that spring has returned, many birds are circling and flying around in the air. The sky is all blue, especially the new buds on the trees, which are green and vibrant.
They had disguised themselves somewhat before they came, wearing patched coarse cloth clothes, their hair disheveled and covered in mud.
Now, I boldly walked towards the city gate, but just a few dozen meters away, I found that the city gate looked completely different from when I left.
Many people were squatting by the city wall, some even foaming at the mouth. Most of them wore clothes that looked like they were made of decent but were tattered. They were so thin that their flesh and skin had shrunk to their bones, and everyone's eyes were filled with a blank stare at death.
"How could this be?" Chen Zhuangmu exclaimed in shock.
But at that moment, they heard two bells that seemed to resound throughout the heavens and earth.
"Thump! Thump!"
When the founding emperor established the dynasty, he named the princess as a member of the divinely bestowed bloodline, a noble member. Therefore, when the princess died, two bells were rung, and the others added to the sound.
Two sounds, it's the princess.
Chen Zhuangmu felt her mind go completely blank, and she almost doubted what was going on in her head.
The only princess of the Qun Dynasty is Hong Ning!
Hong Ning!
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