Chapter 158

The lips of Duanmu Xue and Huangfu Che who were left aside by Duanmu Xi both twitched with disgruntlement. They were leaving today too. Why did Duanmu Xi treat them so differently? Was Duanmu Xi really their daughter or not?

Looking at their disgruntled eyes, Xuanyuan Mo shook his head resignedly and went forward, “It’s a long way from here to the Zhuque Empire. Father, Mother, please take care.”

Duanmu Xue and Huangfu Che nodded with satisfaction. Their daughter neglected them but luckily, their son-in-law still cared about them.

Huangfu Che went forward and patted Xuanyuan Mo’s shoulders, saying, “Help us take good care of Xi.”

Hearing that, Xuanyuan Mo nodded seriously, “Father, rest assured. I will.”

Xuanyuan Lie aside stared at Xuanyuan Mo calling Duanmu Xi’s parents father and mother and felt a bit jealous. Xuanyuan Mo had never been so respectful to him before.

Huangfu Cang and Duanmu Xi had finished saying goodbye more or less.

Huangfu Cang wiped the tears off the corners of Duanmu Xi’s eyes, “Go and talk with your parents. Don’t keep them eyeing aside covetously.”

His words made Duanmu Xi smile through tears. She nodded and turned to walk to Duanmu Xue and Huangfu Che.

Looking at Duanmu Xi going away, Huangfu Cang called Xuanyuan Mo not far away, “Mo, come here.”

Hearing that, Xuanyuan Mo slightly bowed to Duanmu Xue and Huangfu Che before walking to Huangfu Cang and bowing, “Grandpa.”

With mixed feelings, Huangfu Cang looked at Xuanyuan Mo who acted respectfully in front and didn’t speak until a while later, “I don’t care why you forgot Xi or whether you will regain your memory. Anyway, you mustn’t hurt Xi. Be nice to her. If you dare to let her down, I will not let you go.”

His voice was low as if he didn’t want others to hear him and yet majestic with absolute potency.

Xuanyuan Mo didn’t get angry because of Huangfu Cang’s words. Instead, he was happy about her having such a grandpa who loved her so much. He also seemed to understand why his wife liked this majestic old man in front so much. Her grandpa really loved her.

Xuanyuan Mo looked up at Huangfu Cang and said with determination, “I love her. She is my only wife in this life. Never will I have another woman.”

No one but her was qualified to be his wife in the world.

Huangfu Cang’s dark eyes glittered with satisfaction.

Long Ri aside raised his head and looked at the sun in the sky. He went forward and said respectfully to Huangfu Cang, “Your Majesty, it’s not early now. It’s time to set off.”

Hearing that, Huangfu Cang slightly nodded.

There were many people to see them off today, including Xuanyuan Lie, Situ Kong and Nalan Xi. Mei Luo was not here. Seeing that Huangfu Cang and the others were leaving, everyone went forward and said farewells. Situ Kong even sent many superb elixirs to Huangfu Cang.

The time of gathering was always short. Very quickly, Huangfu Cang and Duanmu Xue, Huangfu Che got into the carriages respectively.

Huangfu Cang lifted the curtain and took another glance at Duanmu Xi. Then, he put down the curtain and ordered in a stern voice, “Set off.”

Two carriages and two teams set off at the same time.

Looking at the carriages going farther and farther away from her, Duanmu Xi felt so sad, her dark purple eyes becoming tearful.

Xuanyuan Mo held her into his arms and comforted her gently, “Don’t be sad. Let’s go to Qinglong and Zhuque if we have time. You can stay there as long as you like.”

“Snow…” Duanmu Xi held Xuanyuan Mo and buried her face in his arms.

…

In the imperial study in the imperial palace, Xuanyuan Lie looked at Zhuge Weiming and Lian Zhengyu in front with a frown, “May I know what brought you here today?”

Hearing that, Zhuge Weiming slightly bent his body and said, “I’m here to say goodbye to you.”

Xuanyuan Lie arched his eyebrows in shock, “Prince Regent, Young General Lian, are you going back to Xuanwu?”

As Zhuge Weiming heard that, his facial expression stiffened, “Yes, our eldest princess has been deceased for a while. I must take her body back to Xuanwu as soon as possible so that our emperor and empress dowager can meet her for the last time.”

Crown Princess of Qinglong and Prince Zhan of Baihu were married now. It was pointless for him to continue staying in the Baihu Empire. He could make trouble for Baihu with the death of the eldest princess but now that Qinglong, Zhuque and Baihu were allies, Xuanwu couldn’t act rashly now. Hence, he had no other choice but to go back to Baihu for further consideration.

Xuanyuan Lie’s dark eyes flashed with a shimmer of fierceness. He looked at Zhuge Weiming and said, “We should show respect for the deceased indeed. You are quite thoughtful. Such being the case, I will not insist you stay then.”

“Goodbye.” Zhuge Weiming made an obeisance towards Xuanyuan Lie by cupping his hands and then left the imperial study with Lian Zhengyu.

…

In the imperial study of Prince Zhan’s mansion, Xuanyuan Mo was drawing a woman.

The woman was dressed in white, like a fairy maiden and a spirit. Her long and black hair was simply tied up with a black silk ribbon. She was so strikingly beautiful that she looked like a fallen fairy maiden. Her watery eyes were like the seas of purple flowers, bewitching and fascinating. Her faint smile made her appear like a female celestial walking from the illusion.

Xuanyuan Mo was still dazed to stare at the woman in the painting. How beautiful she was! He had never seen her in such a look. This painting was subconsciously drawn in this way as if the memory deep in his mind were instructing him.

“Your Highness.” Outside the study, someone knocked on the door.

“Come in.” Xuanyuan Mo put down the brush pen and picked up the painting gently.

Lishang came inside and said to Xuanyuan Mo respectfully, “Your Highness, am I wanted?”

“Yes,” Xuanyuan Mo replied casually and meanwhile put the painting away carefully.

“Your Highness, what can I do for you?” Lishang glanced at the painting in secret and only saw the corner of the white clothes.

Xuanyuan Mo didn’t answer him in time. Instead, after he put away the painting completely, he said, “When did I meet Xi for the first time?”

Lishang was slightly dumbfounded to hear that and then said respectfully, “I don’t know the specific time. I only know that you loved Her Highness very much.”

Long Yue and Yu Ying said that His Highness had forgotten Crown Princess of Zhuque but he didn’t believe it. Unexpectedly, it was the truth.

Xuanyuan Mo slightly frowned, “Tell me all you know.”

He wanted to know everything between him and her. Since he couldn’t remember the past between them, he would ask others to tell him. He would never forget it again this time.

Hearing that, Lishang pondered for a bit and then said, “You used to be distant from women. No woman could approach you but Her Highness. Four years ago, you came back to Prince Zhan’s mansion and asked me to switch the name of Moyuan House to Xuelan House. I didn’t understand why before. Afterward, when I met Her Highness, I realized the reason. It is because Her Highness always calls you Snow (which is pronounced as Xue in Chinese). Thus, Moyuan House became Xuelan House. A year ago, for Her Highness, you led 100,000 soldiers to the border of the Xuanwu Empire to force the Xuanwu Empire to withdraw troops from the border of the Zhuque Empire. Ten days ago, you took Her Highness back to Prince Zhan’s mansion. Her Highness meant to ask you to marry into Zhuque. However, because you lost the memory, Her Highness agreed on your proposal.”

Even though His Highness forgot Her Highness, they were still together. This seemed to be destined.

Hearing that, Xuanyuan Mo seemed to be lost in thought. So, that was the origin of Xuelan House. He couldn’t recall when Moyuan House was renamed Xuelan House. He had no idea what Lishang had mentioned but he would remember everything Lishang talked about.

Looking at Xuanyuan Mo lost in thought, Lishang said, “Your Highness, I don’t know much indeed. Why don’t you ask Phoenix Five? She has followed Her Highness for years. She must know a lot of things between you and Her Highness.”

Xuanyuan Mo’s eyes sparkled. He looked at Lishang and gave the order, “Go and get Phoenix Five. Keep this from Xi.”

“Yes,” Lishang immediately replied with a bow upon hearing that. He turned around and wanted to get out of the door but he was stopped by Xuanyuan Mo.

“Hold on.”

Hearing that, Lishang immediately turned around and asked, “Any other orders, Your Highness?”

“Ask the embroiders to make ten suits of red clothes and ten suits of white clothes for me and Xi respectively. Throw all my black clothes in the wardrobe.”

Hearing that, Lishang was directly stupefied and blinked his eyes. He was doubting whether he had heard it wrong. His Highness asked him to throw away all his black clothes? Didn’t His Highness only wear black clothes?

Seeing Lishang’s dumbfounded look, Xuanyuan Mo said with disgruntlement, “Do as told now.”

Lishang immediately turned around and bowed, “Yes, I’m on it.”

Ten minutes later, Phoenix Five arrived at the imperial study.

“Greetings, Mr. Xuanyuan.”

Hearing that, Xuanyuan Mo slightly knitted his eyebrows. He didn’t understand why she always called him Mr. Xuanyuan but he didn’t ask her to change it. He only said casually, “I asked you to come here only to inquire about what has happened between me and Xi.”

Hearing that, Phoenix Five was slightly dazed and then asked with a frown, “Why don’t you directly ask Her Highness?”

Wasn’t it better to ask Her Highness about this? Even though she often stayed with Her Highness, there were many things she didn’t know.

Xuanyuan Mo’s body stiffened and his amber eyes glittered with a shimmer of sorrow. A moment later, he said, “I don’t want to hurt her feelings.”

He had thought about asking her but at the thought of her crying in his arms that night, he felt a heartache. He couldn’t bear to ask her and talk about the past with her.

Hearing that, Phoenix Five nodded and became softhearted. Her eyes were not as fierce as before. Even her voice was a lot softer.

“Mr. Xuanyuan, thank you for your consideration. For the sake of Her Highness, I will tell you everything I know.”

Phoenix Five talked for four hours in detail. Xuanyuan Mo also listened to her very carefully and asked a few questions once in a while.

“Mr. Xuanyuan, that’s all I know. I hope it can help recover your memory.”

She hoped that he could gain his memory back. Only when he gained his memory back as soon as possible could he and Her Highness really become the same old affectionate couple.

Hearing that, Xuanyuan Mo looked at Phoenix Five and nodded, “Thank you. You can leave now! Don’t tell Xi about today.”

Slightly dazed, Phoenix Five said respectfully, “No problem.”

After Phoenix Five left, Xuanyuan Mo unfolded the painting on the desk and looked at the beautiful woman in the painting. He closed his eyes slowly and imagined the scenes Phoenix Five had mentioned.

As the images became clearer and clearer in his mind, Xuanyuan Mo had more and more sweat on his forehead and then felt surges of familiar pain.

The gut-wrenching pain made Xuanyuan Mo hold his head tightly.

“Argh…” After a cry in pain, his mind became blank again.

Xuanyuan Mo opened his eyes slowly. There was no pain but guilt in his amber eyes. He still couldn’t think of the past.