Long Fei Ye brought Han Yunxi back to Tianning without any ostentatious entourage or any servants. It was just the two of them riding on the same horse.
The autumn winds rose as the weather grew colder.
Long Fei Ye draped his cloak over Han Yunxi's shoulders before taking her into his arms.
Han Yunxi was probably the only woman in the world who knew how warm the embrace of this cold-hearted man was.
The man was handsome and noble, while the woman was beautiful enough to topple cities with an uncommon air. As soon as they stepped out into the streets, they attracted the attention of passersby.
But soon enough, people recognized Han Yunxi as the woman on the wanted posters. Soon enough, the attention turned into a crowd of onlookers. More and more people were attracted until all of Medicine City turned out!
Among the restless crowd, there was envy, jealousy, adoration, and reverence. Many women stared fixedly at Long Fei Ye, afraid that they'd miss a second. There were also plenty of women who shot hostile looks at Han Yunxi. As for the sounds of discussion, it was even louder.
But even so, everyone stopped on both sides of the road. No one dared to block their way.
Han Yunxi had always done things her own way and ignored the looks of others. She'd seen all sorts of situations in her life, but she still felt a little uneasy right now.
It wasn't that she was afraid or nervous, but that she preferred to keep a low profile.
Long Fei Ye, the wanted posters are still all over the world. Is it really okay for you to show off your love like this?
Long Fei Ye stared straight ahead expressionlessly. He was a lofty ruler who didn't care about the people around him at all.
He held Han Yunxi in his arms as they walked through a street in Medicine City. By the next day, the news had spread all over Cloud Realm Continent.
All sorts of guesses about the wanted posters collapsed on their own. Everyone knew that Han Yunxi had really gone missing, and that Long Fei Ye was truly panicking.
Moreover, news of Han Yunxi fighting Third Elder to a draw at the medical academy had spread as well. Han Yunxi's fame rose to a new height as she became the focus of all of Cloud Realm Continent. All sorts of powers wanted to catch a glimpse of her true face and her poison skills.
By now, Chu Qingge had heard the news for three days. Afraid that she'd miss the Long Fei Ye, she stubbornly waited for him at the club for three days and three nights.
On the fourth day, Wang Shuchen couldn't stand it any longer and told her that His Highness Duke of Qin had already left Medicine City.
Chu Qingge immediately lost her temper. "Why didn't you say so earlier?!"
Wang Shuchen said innocently, "Miss Chu, I was merely passing on His Highness Duke of Qin's words."
His Highness Duke of Qin had said, "Let her wait."
For a moment, Chu Qingge couldn't retort. She was both embarrassed and angry, so she didn't even bother to seek compensation from the Medical Materials Association. Biting her lip, she rushed out.
Compared to others, one would die, and goods would be thrown aside. The man had ridden on the same horse as him and made a name for himself, but she'd foolishly waited here for three whole days.
Anger, sadness, and unwillingness filled her heart. Chu Qingge hated Han Yunxi to the core, but she also wanted to know what she'd done to attract Long Fei Ye's attention.
She left Medicine City that very day and prepared to head for Tianning Country, but ran into Chu Tianyin at the city gates.
"Big bro, why can't I touch Han Yunxi? Tell me the truth, or else …"
Before she could finish, Chu Tianyin cut her off. "If you suspect me, you can ask father yourself!"
"I …" Chu Qingge was already in a gloomy mood, but his scolding only made her even more displeased. She turned to leave.
"Hold it, where are you going?" Chu Tianyin pressed.
"Tianning!" Chu Qingge didn't mind telling him.
But Chu Tianyin only said, "Tianning's empress dowager's birthday is just around the corner. Crown Prince Ye has been ordered to give his congratulations. You should come with us as well."
Only then did Chu Qingge remember someone. "How's Princess Duan?"
Han Yunxi had exposed Duanmu Yao's collusion with the Duke of Kang in front of everyone, then confirmed by Long Fei Ye. Before Duanmu Yao could return to Western Zhou, Emperor Chongrui had ordered her banished to the Cold Palace. He even wrote a personal letter to Emperor Tianhui to explain the situation.
Last time, Western Zhou had made things difficult for Tianning because Duanmu Yao's marriage alliance had been rejected. Who knew how Emperor Tianhui would deal with the situation now? Most likely, Crown Prince Ye hadn't come just for the sake of congratulating the empress dowager.
"I heard she's afraid to go back. She's probably gone to Celestial Mountain," Chu Tianyin said, before adding, "I'm not sure. You should keep your distance from her."
Losing favor was already a foregone conclusion. Chu Qingge had no interest in that at all. The only person she was interested in right now was Han Yunxi.
She was definitely going to Tianning!
Han Yunxi, I won't let you off so easily unless I have a good reason.
Because Long Tianmo's old illness had relapsed, Han Yunxi and Long Fei Ye had left Tianning's capital city for a few months now.
Still, they walked slowly with a tacit understanding, in no hurry to go back.
This wasn't their first time traveling together, but it was the most relaxing time they'd ever had.
Long Fei Ye was the same as ever, his expression indifferent and taciturn. Han Yunxi was the same as ever, a little nervous in front of him. Occasionally, she'd be lost in her thoughts when she looked at him, but she was more used to his large arms now and then. A few times, she even fell asleep in his arms.
Lil Thing was the most pitiful of them all.
Every time Long Fei Ye tossed it far away, it had no choice but to chase after the horse with all its might. Only after a while could it hop onto the horse's back.
Later on, it learned to be obedient and didn't dare to approach them. All it could do was lie on the horse's butt.
It was so melancholy!
In the past, it liked to snuggle into its master's sleeves to sleep after eating its fill. But now Long Fei Ye's large hands were either hugging it by the waist or hugging it by the arm. It couldn't sleep well at all.
It silently jabbed its fingers in resentment, unaware that this was all its own doing.
Still, it was quite ambitious. It silently bared its front teeth and thought, Your Highness Duke of Qin, you better not come begging me one day!
"Long Fei Ye, do you think my father is both a remnant of the Poison Sect and a descendant of Western Qin's imperial clan?" Han Yunxi had been mulling over this the entire way.
She'd asked Long Fei Ye about it once in the poison grounds, but Long Fei Ye had dismissed her with a 'I don't think so'.
Actually, whether it was in the past or now, she'd never planned to hide her identity from Long Fei Ye.
She'd naturally suspected Mu Xin of being a descendant of Western Qin's imperial clan, but the possibility wasn't high. Instead, it was more likely that her unknown father was a member of Western Qin's imperial clan.
A complicated look flitted through Long Fei Ye's eyes. "Western Qin's imperial clan has already been exterminated. The last male infant was shot to death by the Nether Clan. The history books don't record it in detail, but quite a few of the Seven Noble Families saw it."
His meaning was clear: Western Qin's imperial clan didn't have an orphan.
But Han Yunxi still didn't understand. "That white-robed man …"
"He's here for the poison beast," Long Fei Ye said with certainty.
However, Han Yunxi didn't believe him. "Maybe, he's not …"
If the white-robed man hadn't saved her from Jun Yi Xie, maybe she would've thought that the white-robed man was here for the poison beast and just wanted to kidnap her to help steal it. However, the white-robed man risked his life to save her, so she couldn't help but doubt him.
She'd asked the white-robed man, but he'd said that he'd answer her the next time they met.
Han Yunxi hesitated for a moment, then told him about how the white-robed man risked his life to save her. However, she avoided the part where she was bullied by Jun Yi Xie.
It was all in the past, and she wasn't used to complaining about her pain to others, especially to a man.
"Jun Yi Xie …"
Long Fei Ye muttered to himself. If Han Yunxi hadn't told him about it, he would've been careless!
He'd thought that Jun Yi Xie would also think that the white-robed man was here for the poison beast and wouldn't be too suspicious of Han Yunxi's identity. But now, it seemed that there was one more person in the world who knew this secret.
"Mu Xin's identity can't be wrong. The Shadow Clan won't recognize the wrong master," Han Yunxi said confidently.
Whether Mu Xin was Lady Tianxin or how she'd gotten involved with the remnants of the Poison Sect, these questions would have to wait until Mute Granny was cured. However, she was certain that she was the Shadow Clan's protector.
Long Fei Ye's lips curved into a Cold self-mocking smile when he heard Han Yunxi say the same words that Tang Li had said.
He didn't explain himself, but asked instead, "If he was sure of your identity, why didn't he tell you the truth?"
Long Fei Ye had been mulling over this question the entire time, but now he was only asking Han Yunxi the same question. He didn't want to think too much about it.
In his heart, there was only one answer: Han Yunxi wasn't and would never be the orphan of Western Qin's imperial clan.
"He said he'd tell me the next time we met," Han Yunxi muttered to herself.
A complicated look flickered past Long Fei Ye's eyes before he dropped the topic.
A few days later, they returned to Tianning's capital city. They'd just reached the Duke of Qin's estate when Chu Xifeng arrived.
His entire body was covered in blood and wounds.
Han Yunxi grew alarmed. "You … where's Mute Granny?"
Chu Xifeng's brows furrowed into creases as he broke out in sweat. "Your Highness, esteemed wangfei, this subordinate ran into an assassin group on the road and fought for an entire day and night. There were too few of us, so this subordinate really …"
"Where's Mute Granny?" Han Yunxi grew uneasy.
Chu Xifeng lowered his head, his voice heavy. "Mute Granny has a stubborn personality. She'd rather jump off a cliff than submit. This subordinate's already sent people to search for her, but …"
Han Yunxi's face turned white. She never expected something like this to happen. On the way back, she'd already given the prescription to Long Fei Ye so Long Fei Ye could find the ingredients!
"Which cliff is it?!" she asked anxiously.
"It's on the western outskirts, behind the Dragon King Temple," Chu Xifeng replied hastily.
Without another word, Han Yunxi prepared to rush out. Mute Granny represented the truth. Moreover, leaving that aside, an innocent old granny had already been abused to such an extent. How could she still …
Long Fei Ye blocked Han Yunxi. "Where are you going?"
"I'm looking for her!" Han Yunxi panicked. If she'd known this would happen, she wouldn't have taken Mute Granny with her.
Long Fei Ye ignored her and grabbed her hand. "Chu Xifeng, send more men to search. If she's dead, I want to see her corpse."
"Yes!" Chu Xifeng obeyed and left.
Han Yunxi finally calmed down. She knew it was useless even if she went. She fell to sit on the side, her eyes cold. "Is it the Mu Clan?"
Who else would want to silence Mute Granny besides the Mu Clan?
"Let's find her first before we discuss further," Long Fei Ye said mildly.
Han Yunxi sat for a while before rising to her feet. "Where's Mu Ling 'er? I want to see her."
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