At night, when Wei Dongling was closing the window, she was greatly startled by Tian Qi outside. She stared at him in surprise and asked, "Why are you climbing through the window instead of using the door?"
Tian Qi looked a bit guilty. He clasped his fists at Wei Dongling and said, " Disciple Ruo Chen and her companions have come. I'm here to bid farewell to you, mistress."
Wei Dongling raised an eyebrow but said nothing. When she left the capital, she deliberately visited the Xiaoxiang Pavilion to inform Disciple Ruo Chen, hoping that her master, He Jingyao, would know about her departure and send people to search for Yu Zixi. After all, Yu Zixi's life or death was still unknown thousands of miles away. It would be better to search together than to act alone.
Tian Qi lowered his head and said, "Please take good care of yourself, mistress. If we find the young master first, we will surely bring him to you."
Wei Dongling nodded and said, "Okay, go then."
Tian Qi turned to leave, but then he heard Wei Dongling say behind him, "Oh, there's something I forgot to tell you. On my way here with Jingzhe, I met the Prince of Xiliang. Judging from his direction, he should also be heading to Hanzhong. I'm afraid he might cause trouble and hinder our search for Zixi. You should be more vigilant. If you see him, remember to stay away!"
"The Prince of Xiliang?" Tian Qi's face changed slightly. He nodded in agreement and then turned to leave.
Wei Dongling deliberately revealed this information, not because she cared about Tian Qi, but because she wanted to use He Jingyao and his disciples to check the Prince of Xiliang. After all, she was in a foreign land. With far fewer resources and manpower than the prince, if a conflict were to occur, she would surely be the one at a disadvantage.
At night, Wei Dongling hugged Cuihuan's waist and slept soundly without any dreams.
Ruan Niang forced her to drink bitter medicine every day. After another three or four days of rest, Wei Dongling finally bounced out of bed full of energy.
In the past two days, Jingzhe had quietly gone out to search for Yu Zixi on Wei Dongling's behalf.
Luo Xunlong and Cuihuan happily set up a stall to sell milk tea.
Ruan Niang took care of Wei Dongling on one hand, and on the other hand, she chatted with Aunt Fang when she was free. The two quickly became as close as sisters.
On the nineteenth day of September, Wei Dongling was kneading taro balls in the kitchen, her face smeared with dirty powder. Cuihuan rushed over from behind and shouted, "Miss Wei, a guest has come from afar. Hurry back and change your clothes!"
"Who is it?" Wei Dongling untied her homemade apron and washed her hands in a wooden basin. When she turned around, she saw Shangguan Yun, looking travel - worn, lift the curtain and enter. Wei Dongling stared at him in surprise and asked, "Young Master Yun, why are you here?"
When Shangguan Yun saw Wei Dongling, his eyes turned slightly red. He grabbed her sleeve and pulled her outside, whispering, "Dongling, I have something to tell you!"
Seeing this, Cuihuan tactfully walked away.
Wei Dongling stopped in the backyard, raised an eyebrow and asked, "Young Master Yun has traveled all the way to Hanzhong. Has something happened in the capital?"
Shangguan Yun didn't answer. He just looked at her with his head down, his eyes so intense that they made her feel flustered. Embarrassed, Wei Dongling withdrew her hand and asked, "What's wrong with you?"
Seeing her withdraw her arm, Shangguan Yun's eyes dimmed. He said in a deep voice, "General Qi has returned to the capital."
Wei Dongling nodded and said, "I've heard about this. He's back to report on his duties, right?"
Shangguan Yun said painfully, "Dongling, I didn't expect that as soon as General Qi returned to the capital, he immediately went to the palace to ask the emperor for a marriage decree, asking the emperor to betroth Miss Qi Jinxuan to me! Dongling! I'm not willing."
Wei Dongling was at a loss for words. She had known about this for a long time. Now that Shangguan Yun had come to tell her this, what could she do? What could she say? After all, Qi Jinxuan's only wish for all these years had been to marry Young Master Yun! Even though she knew that Shangguan Yun didn't have feelings for her, Qi Jinxuan was still willing to throw herself into the fire like a moth without hesitation.
Seeing that Wei Dongling didn't say anything, Shangguan Yun's eyes turned red. He summoned up his courage and grabbed her hand, asking, "Dongling! Would you be willing to come with me? Would you be willing to roam the world with me?"
I'm not Snow Beer! What kind of world am I supposed to roam?
Wei Dongling said helplessly, "Brother! This is more like fleeing for your life! Resisting the imperial decree means beheading!"
Shangguan Yun's hand trembled. He asked in a deep voice, "Are you really not willing to come with me?"
"Young Master Yun!" Wei Dongling snatched back her hand. She said seriously, "I've already fallen in love with Zixi. I can't love someone else while loving him. I also know that you have no feelings for Miss Qi, but I really can't do anything about it! Maybe you should go back to the capital and think of another way!" After saying that, Wei Dongling took two steps back, curtsied to him, and then turned back to her room.
Shangguan Yun stared blankly at her back, his heart aching as if being stabbed by a knife.
At night, after a busy day, Cuihuan came over and whispered to Wei Dongling, "You just let Young Master Yun go like this?"
Wei Dongling said impatiently, "Otherwise, should I keep him here to drink milk tea?"
Cuihuan sighed and said, "But once he goes back, he'll have to marry according to the imperial decree. He clearly doesn't like Miss Qi!"
Wei Dongling shrugged and said, "I can't do anything about this! Even if Miss Qi didn't force the marriage, Princess Qi, Murong Yunxi, would. Should I get involved in this mess?"
Cuihuan looked sympathetic and said, "Suddenly, I feel so sorry for Young Master Yun! He has no choice. He can't even have the happiness of an ordinary family!"
Wei Dongling laughed and said, "Come on! Young Master Yun is much luckier than us because of his good birth. Does he need to get up early and stay up late to sell milk tea like us? My hands are cramped from kneading taro balls. Does anyone feel sorry for me?"
Cuihuan laughed and said, "You're right!"
The next day, Wei Dongling woke up naturally after a good sleep. She washed up and went downstairs for breakfast.
Aunt Fang, the innkeeper, personally brought her a bowl of steaming mutton noodle soup. She asked in a low voice, looking envious, "The young servant you just hired is really handsome. Is he married?"
Wei Dongling was lowering her head to drink the noodle soup. When she heard this, she almost choked. She coughed for a long time and asked, "Aunt Fang, who are you talking about?"
Aunt Fang looked a bit jealous and said, "The one who helps you knead taro balls in the kitchen!"
Wei Dongling put down her chopsticks in horror and rushed into the kitchen. When she lifted the curtain, she saw Shangguan Yun kneading taro balls with great enthusiasm. When he saw her come in, he raised his eyebrows and said with a smile, "Are the ones I kneaded too big?"
His long and beautiful fingers were well - defined, with flour on the fingertips, kneading taro balls in the wooden basin.
Wei Dongling shouted in a hurry, "Quick, put it down! How can you do this?"
Shangguan Yun smiled. His good - looking eyebrows and eyes relaxed, as warm as the winter sun. "This is really fun! I've never done this in the prince's mansion."
Wei Dongling quickly stepped forward and grabbed the wooden basin. She said with an embarrassed smile, "I'll do it. You go and wash your hands."
Shangguan Yun said with a soft smile, "You go and eat your noodles first. Come and teach me after you're done."
Unable to persuade him, Wei Dongling had no choice but to turn around and leave.