Xia Yixin didn't notice along the way that Cao Anmin's martial arts skills seemed to have made a qualitative leap again.
Because of the previous attack, Cao Anmin actually benefited from the misfortune. The surging golden spiritual power that had disappeared for ten years reappeared. Otherwise, he could not have recovered so quickly on his own.
Moreover, his eyes have fully recovered this time, and wearing the mask temporarily is just a habit and another inexplicable feeling.
They landed in the mansion's stables.
It looks very clean here, as if someone lives here and cleans it every day, but the house is unusually quiet and deserted.
The mansion wasn't large, but it exuded a strange sense of familiarity that Xia Yixin found hard to place, though she couldn't quite place it.
Then suddenly, an excited neighing of horses rang out from the stable.
She looked over and was shocked to see the familiar black horse.
Riding the wind!
A horse in its twenties is considered middle-aged, but with its excellent pedigree, it is still full of energy.
Unlike humans who judge by appearances, it sensed its master's presence and excitedly paced around the stable, eager to burst out immediately.
Even the clouds beside it let out a series of hissing cries, for they too had not seen their master for a long time.
How did Ta Feng and Liu Yun end up in this house?!
Xia Yixin didn't have time to ask questions before Cao Anmin led her to the very center of the mansion.
As Xia Yixin walked towards the main courtyard, she became increasingly alarmed.
Xia Yixin suddenly realized where this feeling of familiarity came from.
Isn't this a one-to-one replica of the Nanlin mansion where she and Qi Yu used to live?
The pharmacy and medicine stove she had just passed were exactly as she remembered them.
She couldn't help but look at the man beside her, and an absurd guess formed in her mind.
Who exactly is he?!
Surprisingly, the main building here has a hidden door leading underground, where there is a large ice room.
The temperature is definitely below zero.
As she walked through the long passage, she had a premonition, but when she actually saw the ice coffin, she still felt it was somewhat unreal.
A woman lay in the ice coffin, bearing a striking resemblance to her, though the body was severely decomposed, only slowed down by the ice. It also did not smell pleasant.
On the shelf next to her were even porcelain bottles of various sizes, all of which she recognized—the ones she had left for him years ago. It was clear that he hadn't eaten them at all, and had even preserved them.
Cao Anmin stopped in front of the ice coffin, as if he had absorbed all the chill in the room.
"My lord, where is this place?" Xia Yixin's voice trembled.
Because she herself couldn't explain what kind of answer she wanted.
Cao Anmin seemed to have finally resolved his biggest inner conflict, and slowly removed the mask from his face.
Xia Yixin's breath hitched as she looked at the man in front of her.
The candlelight in the ice cellar wasn't bright, but it was much better than the one in the cave that day, allowing her to see the man's entire face.
Ten years have long since transformed the boy into a man with sharp features, a cool demeanor, and an imposing presence.
She felt her mind go blank. She recognized the face and the eyes. He really was Qi Yu.
Cao Anmin had no idea that she was already experiencing a huge emotional storm, and that she was saying something she had already planned out.
"She was my wife, who died of a serious illness ten years ago. Although I agreed to the marriage, I will not give you anything else besides the honors that a chief eunuch's wife should have. If you are unwilling, I will not force you, but I can arrange your way out."
After he finished speaking, he was expecting the woman's reply, but instead he was met with her tears and an unexpected hug.
Fortunately, Xia Yixin still had her senses and didn't call out his name. But the moment she hugged him, the overwhelming grievances, sadness, guilt, and love completely overwhelmed her reason, and she hugged him tightly.
She couldn't imagine what he had gone through after falling off the cliff that day, transforming him into the Cao Anmin he was today. She couldn't imagine how much pain his physical disability had brought him. She didn't know what else she could do to repay him besides staying by his side, helping him, and loving him. She also didn't know whether she should reveal her identity, or whether he would forgive her or still hate her after she did.
But now, she doesn't want to go against her heart anymore.
She wanted to stay by his side, even if she was destined to leave, regardless of the outcome, she only wanted to be with him day and night.
"Let go." He felt very uncomfortable, yet inexplicably attached, especially to the fragrance that made him feel somewhat dazed.
He pretended to be fierce, but for some reason today, she was like a sticky candy, no matter how he pushed her away, he couldn't get rid of her, and the little girl with tears in her eyes actually made him feel sorry for her.
Gradually, when he realized it himself, he was actually gently soothing her back, which was hiccuping from crying for too long.
Until he heard the woman in his arms say a firm sentence.
"My lord, I am willing. I will do anything to stay by your side."
Cao Anmin, no, it should be Qi Yu.
He looked at her with a stern face. "Ms. Li, do you know what you mean by those words?"
"I know." Xia Yixin let go of his hand, looked up at him, her eyes filled with determination. "I want to become your wife."
After a long while, Qi Yu regained his composure and warned in a dry voice, "If you dare to betray me, I will make you wish you were dead."
Hearing such a direct confession for the first time, even the composed Qi Yu was a little overwhelmed.
Of course, it wasn't that no one had ever tried to seduce him before, but for some reason, when he met her eyes, he felt that familiar feeling of utter defeat.
"Ding! The male supporting character's happiness value has increased by 5, and the current total score is 75%. Host, you're awesome!"
The next day.
The marriage of the head of the Eastern Depot had already caused quite a stir when the young emperor bestowed the marriage upon him.
Moreover, it wasn't just Yu Shang; the remaining two countries, along with the princes of Nan Lin and Bei Wu, all received the news within three days.
The common people never tire of gossiping.
"Hey, you know, this is the first time I've ever seen a eunuch get married in all my years of life, haha, it's really something new."
"Of course! If you ask me, this young widow is quite unlucky. She actually caught the eye of a eunuch. Marrying him will just mean living a life of celibacy, hahaha!"
His words immediately drew rebuttals from those around him: "Don't talk nonsense, this is old news. I heard that the young widow has fallen in love with the Eunuch. Everyone says that the Eunuch's face after taking off his mask is stunningly beautiful, and she is even willing to risk her life for his!"
"Really?! Even so, she still married a eunuch..."
...
There was much discussion outside, as preparations were being made quickly because it was an arranged marriage.
The repairs are being carried out at the same pace as those repairing the palace gates and houses damaged during the previous rebellion.
Less than a week later, the "son of the Li family" who had been found based on her portrait was sent back to the Li family's ancestral grave by the people of the Eastern Depot and buried there. The Li family was also formally announced to the world to be divorced.
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