This reminded Qi Yue of a certain desolate courtyard.
There was a deep eave in the courtyard, under which sat a man in white on a rocking chair.
His long robe was elegant and flowing, his appearance incomparably stunning.
More vibrant than an orchid in a deserted valley, yet less domineering than a flaming rose.
When the man turned his head with a smile, it was shockingly the likeness of Zhao Xiyan.
A sense of grievance and sourness instantly surged in her heart.
She didnât know what love was like for others.
But for her, Zhao Xiyan was the art of her life.
Someone once said that art is there to suffer.
She didnât believe it before, but now she did.
Even though she had let him go, he still popped up unexpectedly.
At all times, silently and without warning.
Even during such a moment of being confessed to, he still managed to dive into her heart and pull out a shipload of blood.
Streaming endlesslyâ¦
ââ¦I should go nowâ¦â
She glanced hastily at Song Qiyuan and hurried away.
âMiss Qi, tonight during the 7-9 PM hour, Iâll wait for you.â
Song Qiyuanâs steady voice came from behind her.
Qi Yue suddenly came back to her senses.
This seemed to be the first time she hadnât outright rejected a man other than Zhao Xiyan, hadnât it?
She found it strange that, while just as bold and upfront, why didnât this man seem greasy and annoying?
It was just that Song Qiyuan had only met her hurriedly twice and exchanged a few words, so why was he confessing his feelings so fervently?
Her wariness suddenly returned.
Qi Yue turned around and said to Song Qiyuan who hadnât moved from his spot, âIâm sorry, thank you for your kind intentions, but I prefer to enjoy the moon alone. Goodbye.â
ââ¦â Song Qiyuan opened his lips, but in the end, no sound came out.
Ultimately, he watched Qi Yueâs quickly departing figure with a sigh, his expression regaining its calmness soon after.
Qi Yue returned to her residence and told Qu Wei about the situation outside.
âWhat do you think?â@@novelbin@@
Seeing Qu Weiâs troubled expression, she could understand.
Qu Wei, although he had practiced some skills, was still a half-baked literati and climbing high or stooping low was not suitable for him.
Unlike her, who had liked all kinds of extreme sports since she was young, she had no opportunity in her previous life because she was too busy, but this life had been satisfying.
Moreover, with the space artifact in hand, as long as she didnât seek death recklessly, she basically couldnât die.
She suddenly thought of a method that seemed feasible.
âHow about, when the city gate closure order is lifted, you follow a merchant caravan? But with the commotion this time, Iâm afraid it wonât be easily settled for a while.â
âIâll leave some silver for you, and you find a place to stay. Just pretend youâre residing in Yanjing for a while, what do you think?â
Upon hearing that he was to be left behind, Qu Wei instantly became agitated.
âNo way, absolutely not. You make it sound nice, saying itâs just residing, but who knows when I might be captured by that Qing surname again!â
Qi Yue was speechless.
âIâve already said, Qing Nanzun is dead.â
Qu Wei kept shaking his hands.
âI donât believe it unless I see him crumble into pieces right before my eyes.â
âIt seems youâve been scared witless by that Qing surname.â
âJust consider me scared witless, but you canât abandon me, I am your own older brother!â
Qi Yueâs lips twitched.
What an âown older brotherâ!
If sheâd known he would be such a burden, she would never have taken him to Dongjiang, and he had even said he would protect her!
Good-for-nothing man!
With that thought, Qi Yue scared him with another warning.
âYouâd better think this through. Right now, Iâm a wanted fugitive. By letting me stay, you might be putting yourself in even greater danger.â
Unexpectedly, Qu Wei firmly stated, âThatâs still better than being alone here.â
Qi Yue originally wanted to mention the rescue of hundreds of Beiyuan people, but when she saw his timid demeanor, she refrained from saying more.
And so, the plan she had to leave that very night had to be put on hold.
Back in her space that evening, Qi Yue read Chu Yuntianâs last letter again, and her unease intensified.
Although Chu Yuntian hadnât specified what the matter was, given his personality, he would never have told her to return early if it werenât a big problem.
In fact, Qi Yueâs premonition was spot on.
At this moment, Longnan County Government was facing a shocking conspiracy.
Ever since Hu Keqing married the Grand Tutorâs daughter, the Hu Family had swiftly become favored in Beiyuanâs Imperial Court.
Hu Chengxuan seemed quiet on the surface, but he was continuously plotting behind closed doors.
First, he colluded with Nanyue, allowing the Nanyue Army to disturb Longnanâs coastal borders via the sea routes incessantly.
Then, using this as a pretext, he kept submitting petitions to the Imperial Court for more silver, provisions, and troops.
The Baohe Faction, which had always advocated for strong defensive strategies, was now clamoring to build warships to strike back at Nanyue and redeem their past humiliations.
Anyone with discernment knew that Hu Chengxuanâs war efforts were a farce; in reality, he aimed to compensate for the losses from the exploded warehouse and, additionally, likely harbored ambitions to expand his influence and establish an independent force.
What was terrifying was that the Imperial Court had actually agreed to this.
Chu Yuntian realized this, but he was powerless to change it.
Though he was the Prefectural Governor of a province, he managed only civil affairs and was helpless against a Great General like Hu Chengxuan, who dominated the region.
He submited one memorial after another, but it was like throwing stones into the sea, of no use whatsoever.
Under these circumstances, he thought of Qi Yue.
He even believed that, as the daughter of the late Protector Great General, Qi Yue had the ability and strategy to save Longnan and return peace to its people.
But Qi Yue wasnât considering as much as he was.
All she worried about was the friends she left at Longnan County Government.
Chu Yuntian, Huang Zaiâan, Song Genshengâ¦
She was also primarily concerned about the cause of Qi Yunzhangâs death.
She had originally planned to confront Hu Chengxuan and clear up the whole affair as soon as he was back to normal, but this trip to Dongjiang had unexpectedly taken up more than four months of her time.
When she left it was spring, and now it was almost autumn.
It was time to go back!
Just as she was worrying about how to return, the situation suddenly changed.
Soldiers from the Donggao Army started appearing in greater numbers on the streets.
They carried portraits, searching for two people from house to house.
One of the portraits was unmistakably Qi Yueâs likeness, and the other was Qu Weiâs.
These two portraits, unlike those on the posters, were evidently drawn by someone who had seen them closely and meticulously crafted.
Luckily, Qi Yue had superb make-up techniques. That day, as the Donggao soldiers arrived with the portraits, she had already transformed herself into the guise of a middle-aged woman, while Qu Wei had been dressed up as a dashing young lad, looking a decade and a half younger, playing the role of her son.
Facing two people who bore no resemblance to those in the portraits, the Donggao soldiers naturally had no further questions.
Initially, she believed one search would be the end of it, but the next day, the soldiers came knocking again.
The situation seemed to be growing more urgent.
Qi Yue wasnât particularly afraid, but Qu Wei started to get restless.
âYueyue, maybe you should go. You head back to Longnan County Government first. Iâll find my own way back,â he said, regretting not letting Qi Yue leave earlier.
âIf Iâd known this would happen, I shouldnât have persuaded you to stay.â
Qi Yue shook her head repeatedly.
âThatâs not the right way to put it. Donât you find this whole thing strange? How could they have such detailed portraits of us?â
âWhatâs so strange about that?â Qu Wei was still mired in regret. âItâs normal for someone to have seen you saving me. They find an artist, and in a day or two, they have a portrait. I can draw too. If you let me, I can make one for you that is ten times prettier than theirs.â
ââ¦â Qi Yue furrowed her brows and glared at Qu Wei. âSpare me the weird talk. Iâm serious. Donât forget, on the day I saved you, I was wearing a veil.â