The empty city was destroyed (24)
The shopkeeper downstairs and Ye Yingying, who was eavesdropping upstairs, were both stunned. The news came so suddenly that they were really caught off guard.
Yun Yanqiu actually has an older sister? Ye Yingying became interested and couldn't help but prick up her ears to listen more attentively.
The shopkeeper, clearly still not quite understanding, stammered, "He...he..."
“I’ve never really approved of him marrying my sister,” Yun Yanqiu said to himself before he could finish.
Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper immediately calmed down and asked, "Why?"
"Because I know this man has lofty ambitions, and if my sister follows him, she won't get the harmonious life that ordinary families have."
This statement made some sense, leaving the shopkeeper speechless.
Yun Yanqiu added, "But back then, my relationship with my sister was so strained. I was proud and arrogant, and I refused to talk to her no matter what."
“But I still went to their wedding. My sister looks great in red, and she wore red on her wedding day. She looked beautiful.”
"At the time, I thought that maybe she made the right decision to marry him. At least this man knew how to make her happy, unlike me, who always made her angry."
Yun Yanqiu spoke softly, his voice filled with longing. But suddenly, his gaze darkened, and his longing turned into sorrow: "But I regretted it afterward."
The shopkeeper, also overcome with sadness, quietly asked, "What did that man do?"
"He didn't do anything wrong, he just failed to protect my sister."
"Do you hate him?"
"No." Yun Yanqiu slowly closed his eyes and exhaled a heavy breath. "I hate myself. After cultivating for decades, I still couldn't protect her."
Ye Yingying didn't understand what this meant, but after waiting for a long time, she still didn't hear anything more. Downstairs remained silent for a long time, so long that Ye Yingying began to get impatient.
Just as she was about to give up eavesdropping and go back to her room, the shopkeeper suddenly spoke up: "So, did you apologize to your sister in the end?"
Yun Yanqiu didn't speak, but when the shopkeeper saw him shake his head, he understood: "Is that so..." He murmured a few words, his tone devoid of emotion.
Then came another silence, so quiet that the air seemed to freeze. Finally, the innkeeper spoke first: "It's getting late, guests, you should go and rest. I also need to go back and rest."
It was all in vain. Ye Yingying felt regretful, but this result was also expected.
As Yun Yanqiu watched the shopkeeper walk straight past her, the last glimmer of hope in her eyes gradually faded.
Just then, the shopkeeper suddenly turned around: "That's right."
Yun Yanqiu was slightly taken aback. He turned around and met the shopkeeper's calm gaze.
"Aren't you looking for the Imperial Advisor?" the shopkeeper said, the flickering candlelight illuminating half of his body.
His entire face was hidden in shadow, except for his bright eyes that were still fixed on Yun Yanqiu: "He has been watching you all along."
Ye Yingying was shocked. The shopkeeper also knew about Zhan Yan? What did he mean by "he's been watching us"? Did Zhan Yan really have spies everywhere in this illusion? If he truly had connections throughout this illusion, why hadn't he made a move yet? The shopkeeper's words were ambiguous; what was he trying to tell us?
A series of questions flooded her mind, and Ye Yingying became lost in thought, not even noticing when Yun Yanqiu had already stood beside her.
"Did you hear everything?" His icy voice pulled Ye Yingying back to reality.
Caught red-handed, Ye Yingying was clearly embarrassed: "Um... why did you guys stop talking..."
"Isn't this a case of 'walls have ears'?" Yun Yanqiu looked down at Ye Yingying, who was squatting on the ground, and said sternly, "Go back inside."
Ye Yingying stood up dejectedly and followed Yun Yanqiu into his bedroom.
As soon as the door closed, Ye Yingying immediately opened her arms in a conciliatory manner and hugged his waist, saying, "I'm sorry."
"Apologize for what?"
"I shouldn't have eavesdropped on your conversation."
"That's it?" Yun Yanqiu's expression was calm, but his tone left no room for doubt.
Ye Yingying was stunned. She blinked, feeling a sense of déjà vu about the current situation. But no matter how hard she racked her brains, she couldn't remember what she had done to offend him recently.
Seeing this, Yun Yanqiu stopped beating around the bush and said directly, "You slept with me for one night and then went back to sleep."
"Huh?" Ye Yingying opened her mouth in disbelief, too shocked to speak. Didn't he just mean for her to spend the night with him? Had she misunderstood?
If he wanted me to stay and keep him company every night, why didn't he just say so openly?
Seeing the resentful look in Yun Yanqiu's eyes, Ye Yingying shut her mouth and swallowed her inner turmoil. "Oh well," she thought, "he's just shy, that's why he's being so reserved." Ye Yingying found a reason for herself and believed it wholeheartedly.
“Then I’ll stay with you every night from now on.” She tilted her head back and replied with a grin, then gave Yun Yanqiu a quick peck on the lips.
Seeing that his plan had succeeded, Yun Yanqiu subtly curled the corners of his mouth, then quite pleased, he broke free from Ye Yingying's embrace and walked to the bedside.
Ye Yingying watched him undress with his back to her, and couldn't help but swallow hard. She took three steps in two and jumped to Yun Yanqiu's side to ask, "Senior Yun, do you remember what you promised me at the Yuancheng Inn?"
"What? You don't remember?" Yun Yanqiu shamelessly denied.
Ye Yingying shrank back, wondering why this wasn't what she had guessed. Had she really forgotten? So she cleared her throat, stood on tiptoe, and whispered in Yun Yanqiu's ear, "You said you'd wait until I'm healed..."
Yun Yanqiu paused in undressing, then put the robe back on, his face stern, and said, "Go to sleep."
So you've been tempting me for so long, and now you're playing the gentleman yourself? Seeing Yun Yanqiu lying on the inside of the bed with his back to her, showing no other intentions, Ye Yingying was completely dumbfounded.
"You rascal, Yun Yanqiu!" Realizing what she'd said, she angrily lay down on the bed, turning her back to Yun Yanqiu without uttering a sound. So all that hinting earlier was just a ploy to sleep in the same bed with her?
Ye Yingying grew angrier the more she thought about it. She felt like a fish, swimming happily in the water, when suddenly Yun Yanqiu hooked her up. What was even worse was that this guy just fished her up but didn't eat her, leaving her the only one itching for more.
If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have agreed to him so easily. Ye Yingying concluded to herself. She was so angry that she couldn't sleep. Suddenly, she felt an arm gently and naturally put its arm around her waist from behind.
How could Ye Yingying tolerate this? She grabbed his wrist and tried to pull him away, but Yun Yanqiu used all his strength and couldn't budge him.
Enraged, Ye Yingying turned her head and met Yun Yanqiu's beautiful face, which seemed to be asleep. She stared at it for a moment, then quickly turned back, scolding herself for being so weak-willed.
"So what if he's good-looking? It's not like we haven't seen him before." Ye Yingying thought defiantly, determined never to throw herself at him again until he apologized.
The curfew passed quickly, and dawn broke again in the blink of an eye.
Ye Yingying sat up in bed with a look of utter despair, and pried Yun Yanqiu's hand away, signaling him to let go.
This time, Yun Yanqiu obeyed. He withdrew his arm, straightened his upper body, and looked at Ye Yingying with a hint of teasing in his eyes.
This was undoubtedly a blatant mockery to Ye Yingying, who had endured a grueling night. She angrily got out of bed and left the room without a word. As soon as she opened the door, she saw Shaoling in the hallway.
"Miss Ye..." Shaoling greeted her timidly, seemingly puzzled as to why she had come out of Yunyanqiu's room.
Ye Yingying didn't bother to explain, and said to him, "Where's Zhao Yuxiao? Take him with you, let's go find Gu Wusi."
"Here they are!" Zhao Yuxiao pushed open the door and looked at the two of them. "Leaving already? Aren't you going to say goodbye to Senior Yun and the others?"
“No need.” Ye Yingying’s expression turned displeased when Yun Yanqiu was mentioned.
“Who said we don’t need it?” Wu Yue popped up from behind. She pointed at Shao Ling and said to Ye Yingying, “That guy has a pass, right? Let him get us all into the palace.”
Ye Yingying glanced coldly at Wu Yue, then turned to Shao Ling and asked, "Do you have a way?"
Shaoling took out a wooden plaque and displayed it to everyone. The plaque was not exquisite, but it had a valuable-looking gemstone set in the center to highlight her status.
Shaoling said, "The guards recognize the wooden plaques. Outsiders are allowed to enter the palace today. We can use this to bring one or two people in."
"Others can also sneak in with the caravan; they will all be transporting goods inside on the second day of the celebration."
“That’s easy.” Wu Yue smiled. “Give the wooden plaque to me and Yun Yanqiu, and you two can blend in with the caravan.”
"This is his wooden plaque. He's one of us. How come you got to use it?" Ye Yingying said, dissatisfied.
“You’re the ones investigating the caravan and the prison. I should go directly to Zhan Yan. It’s definitely more appropriate for me to do that,” Wu Yue replied matter-of-factly.
Then, she keenly noticed Ye Yingying's change and asked, "Why do you seem so agitated today? What's wrong?"
Ye Yingying paused, then turned her head and said, "You're overthinking it. Ask Shaoling if she agrees."
Wu Yue felt confused. She turned to Shao Ling and held out her hand: "Give it to me?"
Shaoling was easy to talk to and obediently handed over the wooden plaque.
Yun Yanqiu came out of the room at this time. Ye Yingying was still angry and did not want to see him at all, so she turned around and left without saying a word.
Upon seeing this, Zhao Yuxiao didn't have time to think much. He quickly greeted Yun Yanqiu and then pulled Shaoling to chase after the person.
"What's wrong now?" Wu Yue put the wooden plaque into her pocket and looked at Yun Yanqiu speechlessly. What's wrong with these two? What time is it and they still have the mind to argue?
Yun Yanqiu watched Ye Yingying's departing figure, sighed softly, and then muttered to himself, "Looks like we went a little too far..."
"Huh?" I bet you're going to mess this up sooner or later! Wu Yue frowned and rolled her eyes at Yun Yanqiu in her mind.
But then she thought, what does this have to do with her? Wu Yue clicked her tongue and brought the topic back to the point: "Have you finished talking to the shopkeeper? If you have, it's time to get started."
"I'm done talking." Yun Yanqiu pulled back to reality and calmed Wu Yue down. "But we're not in a hurry to alert them."
"What? You've found a clue?"
Yun Yanqiu didn't answer, but calmly said, "Let's go to the palace first. There's something else we need to confirm."
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