Interpretation by the Bureau (Part 1)
A thin layer of clouds covered the sky again, obscuring the clear night sky; this ethereal and mysterious atmosphere added a unique charm to the scene.
Zhao Yi stared into the distance, lost in thought. He struggled several times, but it all ended in a sigh.
"Zhao Yi?" Chen Zhuangmu turned to look at him, who was staring intently, but by then he had already gotten into bed. He leaned against the headboard, his legs dangling over the edge, his arms wrapped around Chen Zhuangmu from the side, and his head resting on her.
Chen Zhuangmu was most afraid of him being like this. If he wasn't upset, the two of them could still have a good talk, but now he gently rested his head on the back of her neck, looking like he didn't want to talk anymore, and she suddenly didn't know what to do.
After much hesitation, Chen Zhuangmu tentatively reached out and gently squeezed his hand. Sensing her intention, Zhao Yi peeked out from behind and noticed that his usually bright eyes, which adorned his prominent nose, had dimmed, making him look like someone who had been abandoned.
Chen Zhuangmu felt intoxicated, but didn't know what to do. Her intuition told her that talking would be useless at this moment.
Zhao Yi looked at her from her shoulder. Chen Zhuangmu, emboldened by some unknown force, quickly kissed his eye and then pulled away. Zhao Yi's gaze suddenly changed.
The touch was fleeting, and his eyes were fixed on Chen Zhuangmu's lips again. Seeing his intention, she slowly leaned her head closer. Zhao Yi acted first, holding her chin with both hands, brushing a handful of her hair, and then kissing her nose and lips aggressively.
Chen Zhuangmu felt his kiss gradually change from awkward and tentative to skilled, and the intensity made her a little breathless. At this moment, Zhao Yi gently released her lips.
He swallowed hard, buried his face in the crook of her neck, and his voice was a little hoarse.
"I disagree," he said sullenly. "Go to Miao territory."
Chen Zhuangmu fell silent. To say she didn't want to go, didn't want to gamble with her life, was definitely a lie. But as she said, she knew her own body. Miao territory was a long way away. Not only could she not guarantee she'd see it when she got there, but what would happen to her mother's revenge if she was exhausted by then?
Thinking about this, Chen Zhuangmu's head started to ache again.
The grip on her arm tightened, and Chen Zhuangmu snapped out of her daze, asking, "Qingzi, what's wrong?"
Zhao Yi's voice returned to normal as he said, "Am I destined to be unable to keep people?"
He sat up straight, and the two stared at each other for a long time, neither yielding. Finally, Chen Zhuangmu smiled and said, "If you can bring me to Miao territory within three days, I will cure your illness. If not, I will return to Huijing. Is that alright?"
Before Chen Zhuangmu could even ask "Is it okay?", Zhao Yi had already exclaimed "Yes!"
That firm yet joyful voice was for her life; their struggle in the darkness was also his effort to save her life.
Chen Zhuangmu ultimately softened because of Zhao Yi's words, "I can't keep him here." She dared not imagine how much pain he would feel when facing separation time and time again. Moreover, from a selfish perspective, she was also taking a gamble.
"How far is Miao territory? Just tell me?" Chen Zhuangmu asked with a smile.
Zhao Yi never expected this: "I'm surprised you agreed. I was just thinking that if you still didn't agree, I would drug you and take you away."
Chen Zhuangmu was surprised for a moment, then said, "We were thinking the same thing."
It had been more than a year since she returned to Huijing. Everything that had happened seemed to push her to grow up. She was past the age of complaining about being tired in her uncle's arms, but as she walked along, she discovered someone who was surprisingly compatible with her.
Though unconventional, it was for the greater good of the nation; though he frequented brothels, it was to conceal his true nature. Like her, beneath a whole exterior, lies a yearning heart.
Chen Zhuangmu originally wanted Zhao Yi to sleep in the bed, but he refused no matter what and kept saying that he wanted to cure her illness, so she had no choice but to let him be.
Early in the morning, Chen Zhuangmu said to Zhao Yi, "From now on, I'm entrusting the matter of going to Miao territory to you."
"Okay," Zhao Yi agreed with a smile.
They had a simple breakfast and then left the small village that was full of hidden talents.
They hadn't gone far when two neatly dressed men approached. Under Shen Zhuangmu's wary gaze, they handed the carriage to Zhao Yi and then walked away, leaving Shen Zhuangmu looking on with suspicion.
"What's going on?" Chen Zhuangmu asked hurriedly.
Zhao Yi calmed the horse down, packed the things, and said, "Let's go first, time is tight, we'll talk about it next time."
"..." deliberately keeping us in suspense.
Chen Zhuangmu climbed the low ladder and boarded the carriage. Zhao Yi lowered the curtain in front of her and sat down on the embankment to drive the horses. Chen Zhuangmu had never been here before. She lifted the curtain twice but only saw wasteland. She never lifted it again after that.
They traveled along the island road to the edge of the region, a place rarely visited by anyone. With winter drawing to a close, the area appeared even more desolate.
Chen Zhuangmu lost interest and instead began to think about what had happened in Xiyao. There was no reason for Uncle Wang to lie to her, which meant that it really was her uncle who killed his mother.
Thinking about this heavy makeup scene makes me feel sad, and I don't know where to turn my attention. I just feel so sad.
As the carriage swayed, Chen Zhuangmu's head, pressed against the carriage wall, made a "clattering" sound. For some unknown reason, Zhao Yi would call her every now and then, and she would answer without hesitation.
After a while, they heard someone say from ahead, "Come down, let's get something to eat."
She breathed a sigh of relief. The land outside was dry, with several cracks in some places, and the surface was covered with dry soil. When the wind blew, it was choking and painful.
There weren't many good food options here; there was only a small stall in front of us, covered in dry soil. Luckily, there were no holes in the cloth, otherwise the food underneath would have been inedible.
There were many travelers in front of them, and everyone had their luggage tied to their bodies so they could get up and leave after eating.
Stepping into the stall, Chen Zhuangmu realized how difficult it was to even get a meal. The people here couldn't understand what they were saying, and they couldn't understand what the people here were saying either.
“If they understand Su language, I can speak it.” Zhao Yi shrugged and smiled, trying to ease her furrowed brows. Chen Zhuangmu understood his intention and cooperated, saying, “You’d better save your breath. The people here are definitely more sensitive to other languages. In the end, neither of us will be able to get food.”
So, Chen Zhuangmu walked up to the person in front of the big pot, pointed to the food in the pot and gestured some numbers, and the person nodded.
They chose a spot to sit down, their luggage, like everyone else's, unpacked. The area was covered in yellow sand and sparsely populated, yet there was a food stall, indicating that many people regularly passed through. She glanced at the time; everyone was focused on eating, showing no interest in them, the two new travelers.
A smile played at the corners of her lips.
Soon, they brought out two bowls of soup, and it seemed that was all they had.
The soup was a thick, dark brown color; chopsticks dipped into it couldn't see any color at all, making Chen Zhuangmu wonder if there was dirt in it. But she still needed to fill her stomach, so she used one chopstick to pick up a little soup, tasted it, and felt the flavor on her tongue.
It has a slightly burnt smell, but it seems pretty good. Chen Zhuangmu was about to tell Zhao Yi that it was delicious when she saw that Zhao Yi had already put down his empty bowl and was planning to order another serving.
"How did you get here so fast?" Chen Zhuangmu exclaimed in surprise.
Zhao Yi glanced at her untouched bowl and smiled, "You don't need to worry about me, just eat slowly."
And so, Zhao Yi watched her drink two bowls of soup contentedly on this barren land where the yellow sand had turned to dust. The sigh of relief in her eyes at that moment was a true release from her constraints.
"Let's go, let's set off!" Chen Zhuangmu smiled and walked towards the carriage, thinking only of her own body along the way.
It took them two whole days to reach their destination.
A few scattered trees are in front of us, their clever placement making it impossible to tell which way to go. Behind them are dense forests, a dark, overwhelming mass, and from the outside, it's impossible to tell how many there are.
Zhao Yi remembered that when he first came here, there was no such forest, and the area was much larger. Could this be a trick?
Chen Zhuangmu stirred against his back. "What's wrong?"
Zhao Yi turned his head and replied, "It's nothing. I'll think about a place."
The sun has now disappeared behind the clouds, preparing to set. The forest before us stretches endlessly, with no end in sight. The most dangerous thing is to be wary of whether the Miao people, because of what happened back then, might be poisoning the air or the forest.
Zhao Yi gazed at the area, recalling the original location, and resolutely walked towards it. He couldn't possibly arrive there easily; he'd have to use some of the old routes.
He walked to the side, handed Chen Zhuangmu a handkerchief to cover her mouth and nose, tied one on his own face, and parted the dense twigs and leaves, only to find that it was still twigs and leaves.
The lush vegetation is so dense that you can't see anything around you; all you see is a sea of green.
Zhao Yi sensed that the situation was more complex than it seemed, and they couldn't afford to act rashly. The Miao people were much more vigilant than before, and it would be disastrous if they happened to encounter poisonous creatures.
Thinking of this, he went back.
He felt a gentle pat on his back and stopped to listen attentively to what she was saying.
"Put me down. I'm much better now." Her voice was still a little hoarse, but she was definitely more energetic than before.
Zhao Yi looked at the blank space before him and didn't insist. He knelt down and lowered the heavy veil. She tucked her clothes in and stood beside him.
"You burned down their houses a few years ago, and now the Miao people are going back to the same place?" Chen Zhuangmu said, puzzled.
Zhao Yi remained silent, still gazing at the location he had already determined, and said, "Possibly. There's an old saying that the most dangerous place is the safest place."
Upon hearing this, she couldn't help but smile. Just as she was about to speak, the image of a boy dressed in shabby clothes suddenly flashed into her mind, and her teasing words turned into a probing question.
"You wish to meet that young master?" Chen Zhuangmu bent down and peered to see Zhao Yi's reaction.
Zhao Yi remained silent, showing no reaction after listening. He simply tightened his grip on Chen Zhuangmu's hand and said, "Trust me one more time."
Chen Zhuangmu looked at his pleading eyes and couldn't help but chuckle. A long time ago, Zhao Yi had said she was headstrong and wouldn't dare make decisions on her own. But now, he had been the one making all the decisions along the way, and even on such a small matter, with her by his side, he still wanted her support.
Chen Zhuangmu grasped his hand and said, "Okay."
The two then walked in the direction they had started from. As they walked, they heard Chen Zhuangmu say, "When I first arrived in the capital, I heard everywhere that you and Xiao Zhong had brought down the Grand Tutor. It was said on the streets that Deputy Envoy Shu Mi was scheming and even had a ladder to the sky. But now, it doesn't seem like that to me."
Zhao Yi brushed aside a large patch of leaves in front of him and laughed, "Are you not satisfied?"
Chen Zhuangmu smiled but didn't say anything.
As they walked, they realized something was wrong. They had walked for so long and could only see a wall of trees in front of them. What lay ahead?
They arrived here without a map, relying solely on their memory. So many years have passed; how could they not have changed locations?
Chen Zhuangmu wanted to step back and take another look, but Zhao Yi shook his head and said, "The Miao people live in seclusion and never leave the world. This place is very likely their ancestral home. The Miao territory is only so big, and there aren't many places suitable for living. Would they give up something that's already there?"
"The deception here is quite elaborate, and it's likely not just due to the location. Besides, I have another idea."
Chen Zhuangmu watched helplessly as he chopped off tree branches in a few strokes, took out a tinderbox, and tried several times before he could see a flame. However, the flame went out before it even touched the leaves.
"The air couldn't possibly be this humid; something must have fallen around here."
Chen Zhuangmu grabbed Zhao Yi's sleeve, worried that something might go wrong and trying to tell him not to burn it, but Zhao Yi turned around and told her not to worry.
He continued to grind the tinderbox, and soon a flame actually caught fire. The flickering flames were on the leaves. Zhao Yi turned the leaves upside down, and the leaves, which were originally dimly lit, showed faint signs of burning.
At this point, there's really nothing more to say. She understood Zhao Yi's thoughts. Faced with such a forest, there was no way they could find their way, and without a map, they had no idea where they were looking.
He started the fire so that someone would notice and come to put it out. But first, there would have to be people within a few miles, right?
Chen Zhuangmu's gaze fell on the tiny flame—so small that even a child could easily stomp it out...
Suddenly, the flames illuminated a large area. Although it was clearly fire, it only appeared as a wet, red mass rushing forward, eventually reaching another tree and continuing to burn outwards.
"Those people probably don't welcome us..." Chen Zhuangmu sighed, rubbing her forehead.
Zhao Yi wasn't sure either, but he never intended for the Miao people to accept it, saying, "If it doesn't work, we'll just rob them."
Without warning, the leaves on the trees next to them began to sway and twist. The two of them quickly grabbed each other's hands, and after two rustling sounds from the leaves, a person emerged.
Immediately, one after another, people dressed in red and blue emerged, each carrying a large bucket of water. Without even glancing at them, they extinguished the fire first.
After the fire was extinguished, he angrily looked at the two men, only to find that their leader seemed to know them.
But in fact, everyone was surprised.
"You've come all this way?" Zhao Yi looked around at the people and then said, "So you're going back to being the Miao Sage?"
Miao Xin, who had been indignant, was no longer as relaxed and natural as he was. He stood there, not knowing how to answer, staring blankly at the two of them for a long time before finally saying, "Why are you here?" He then hurriedly added, "And you set fire to the place."
“I came here on important business. I couldn’t find anyone, so I thought I’d start a small fire, but you guys actually showed up.” Zhao Yi added, “Could you translate for them?”
"They" refers to the group of people behind Miao Jie. They are clearly Miao people, but judging from their clothing and eyes, the Miao Xin should be the highest-ranking among them.
Miao Xin did as he was told, but the group became even angrier after he spoke, chattering on and on. It was unclear what Miao Xin said to them, but they calmed down.
"Let's go." Miao Xin didn't ask them what was going on. She turned around and was about to leave with her people, but then she came back and said to Shen Zhuangmu, "Give me your hand."
Chen Zhuangmu, unaware of what was going on, reached out her hand.
Two cold fingers touched her pulse, and after a moment, Miao Xin said, "You carry her on your back."
This refers to Zhao Yi.
The two of them then followed Miao Xin, walking in the middle of the group. Zhao Yi took the opportunity to explain how Miao Xin knew the purpose of their visit.
After walking through a large forest and through bumpy, muddy ground, and passing a few scattered huts, they finally reached their destination.
This is the real Miao region.
The Miao people were able to acquire land, and all their houses were built on stilts with wood. Children played there, and people hung clothes out to dry.
When we live our lives earnestly, we are all the same.
“Come with me,” Miao Xin said to them, and waved away the group of Miao people behind him.
They followed Miao Xin, almost passing right through the crowd. Everyone wore a smile of relief, as if they had found something they had lost. Many houses were not yet built, but everyone's face was filled with hope.
Zhao Yi withdrew his scanning gaze, no longer in the mood to look.
Before long, they arrived at Miao Xin's residence.
The interior was simple. Once inside, you could see the dining table, the sleeping bed, and a small courtyard in front. Miao Xin brought out the dining table and a few small stools, saying, "Sit down."
"Everything is still under construction, so it looks a bit dilapidated."
"It's great." Chen Zhuangmu praised sincerely.
Miao Xin didn't say anything more polite, nor did he look at Zhao Yi again, as if he didn't know him. He asked Chen Zhuangmu, "What brings you here? If I'm not mistaken, are you here to see your Gu poison?"
Chen Zhuangmu nodded and said, "Some things have happened recently, and they may be more serious than before."
Miao Xin didn't react much, and said, "The poison you were afflicted with was not a simple Gu poison. The fact that someone of my skill could detect it in the hairpin shows that the Gu worm is very special."
He paused for a moment, then continued, "All the original Gu books were burned to ashes in a fire." As he said this, his eyes remained fixed on Zhao Yi, and he finished the sentence himself, "Fortunately, the arsonist was blind, and there was still a library left. There are no skilled Gu practitioners here, so I can only find answers in the books."
"You're willing to help me?" Chen Zhuangmu's eyes lit up; she couldn't believe this trip would be so easy.
Miao Xin's expression was indifferent. "Consider it as accumulating good karma for my clansmen."
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