The moonlight was dim in this dark night.
On the Eye Mountain, a group of people was riding on the winding mountain road steadily.
They came from the Squad Seven of the Eastern Depot.
Recently, the Eastern Depot received a message that people sent to western tribes for Qiangwu fern had entered the Baishui Gate within Dayi's territory.
Leng Qingtang was always meticulous that he told the captains he was poisoned only after he had found the whereabouts of Qiangwu fern.
Jiang Xiong of the Squad Seven took the order to associate with his colleagues who had gone to seek this herb. He traveled day and night with twenty men, riding on fine horses, to a post house near Baishui Gate.
After they reached Baishui Gate, Jiang Xiong smoothly got in touch with his colleague. They couldn't delay any longer. After they received Qiangwu fern, Jiang Xiong and his team rested for an hour. Then they changed the horses and went
It was dusk now. In the Pingan Market Town of Luoshui County, the bustle of the day was gradually coming to its end together with the setting sun.People were on their way home. The bustling street gradually cooled off, revealing the broad and wide ground. Among the rows of houses on both sides, restaurants and teahouses lit up the lanterns on the lintels to attract coming and going customers.A carriage train was moving slowly along the main road from south to north. A carriage stood out in the line.The carvings on the carriage's walls were not intricate but delicate, and the doors and windows were all covered with water-green curtains made of pearl velvet. When the carriage moved, the crystal tassels on the top of the curtain made clear sounds, and their shadows swayed.Some pedestrians stood and watch. It was easy to discern that the person in the carriage must be a young woman.Pingan Market Town was one of the la
In the evening breeze, the lanterns swayed and cast shattered shadows under the dim moonlight.Gu Yunyao and her servants knelt to greet Emperor Jingxiao, who suddenly graced the Xiaoye Chamber.Emperor Jingxiao was full of delights and high spirits. He stretched his arms to help Gu Yunyao up and asked her eagerly,"Yunyao, something just came up in the Palace. Have you heard of it?"Gu Yunyao cuddled in the Emperor's arms, looking obedient, tame, and marginally shy. She pursed her perfumed rouge lips and replied,"I heard that a group of carriages suddenly arrived at sunset, which was quite a splendor. The strict rules forbid the entry of foreign carriages, so it's very unheard-of."Emperor Jingxiao chuckled with his face beaming with smiles. He declared loudly,"Leng Qingtang is indeed resourceful. I thought he would be recuperating in his mansion after a good beating. Yet he has not been id
The cells of the Royal Prison in the Eastern Depot were dark and gruesome. The cell was walled on three sides and railed on the last.In this dark environment, Gu Yunxi couldn't know the day and night. She ate when she was hungry and slept when sleepy.At first, she would ask the jailer about the time when he came to send food and water. Later, the jailer would tell her the time without being asked. In this way, she spent over ten days in prison.Gu Yunxi didn't know why Leng Qingtang became extreme like this.His indifferent face, angry face, and fierce face made her shuddered as they came into her thought.The Buddhist saying went, "Who is the most affected one in the vicissitudes of life?" The better the beginning of destiny was, the more miserable the end would be.If the saying had been wrong, why would so many events have happened in a year, making his feelings for her go from indulgences to indiffer
In Master's Mansion.Wearily, Leng Qingtang took some blood ginseng soup and put the bowl on the plate, gesturing the eunuch to take it away.Cheng Wanli watched with worry.Master's health was growing worse, but why the team went for Qiangwu fern hadn't gone back yet?Leng Qingtang's sight was a little hazy. He looked at the front,"This action went well. The branches in Chongcheng and Muyang helped a lot. They deserve a handsome reward.""Yes."Cheng Wanli bowed slightly and replied,"There's also good news from the Palace. Zhaoyi Yu passed on a message that, His Majesty was overjoyed when he received the money. Before the morning ritual, he said in Xiaoye Chamber,'Dayi cannot operate without the Eastern Depot, and the Eastern Depot cannot operate without Leng Qingtang.'""Humph!"Leng Qingtang snorted. He curled his lips and revealed a mo
Stunned for a moment, Leng Qingtang's dark eyes shone with amusement."To seduce one in my condition... You are mischievous indeed."There was a hint of fatigue in his voice existed."I'm serious!"Thinking that the Master did not believe her, Gu Yunxi anxiously grasped the big hand on the edge of the bathtub. The back of his hand was as fair as jade, but it was utterly cold. Even if it was soaked in hot water for a long time, there was no warmth at all.Her heart instantly sank to the depths, desperate and bleak.Bursting into tears, she could not disguise herself anymore. She plunged her smooth forehead on that cold hand, wailing.Leng Qingtang calmly looked at her crying as his other palm slowly fell on her head, petting smilingly,"There, there, don't be sad. I will be fine, and I will marry you."The water in the tub was getting colder. He took a soft, thin blank
A glimmer of light flashed through the eyes of the stunned girl. After a while, Gu Yunxi stammered,"Is it... tear?""Correct!"Yu Xuanji's eyebrows rose in complacence, "The legend has it that Jiaozhu is transformed from the tears of mermaids. Jiaozhu Pear Curd is the original creation of a man of talent; and its main ingredient is the tears of farewells, also reputed as 'Liyu'.The icy curd is made from a beauty’s tears and hence comes its unique taste of bitterness and tartness. It cannot be replaced by any material in the world!"She saw it now...The Jiaozhu Pear Curd was a parting gift created by Pei Rushi before leaving the palace, expressing her sadness and yearning to her beloved boy.The realization struck Gu Yunxi!She, as stupid as she was, copied the dish and gave it to others behind the Master's back. It was no wonder he had been so angry!Yu Xuanji gaze
A bolt of lightning tore through the night sky as heavy rain poured.Xiao Xiaoshen's roar from the ground suppressed even the thunder."Don't touch her."As soon as he drew his broadsword, An Hong swiftly beckoned the Western Depot guards to swarm up.Two of them protected their Master Ming Lan while the rest armed men surrounded Xiao Xiaoshen.The swords scraped out of the sheaths and swished in the rain with a chilling shine.The fierce fighting unfolded immediately with the bladed flickering in the glaring storm. The clank and rattle, along with the thunder, shook the sky.On the other side, Gu Yunxi hardly rose from a rain puddle, her ears ringing and her eyes seeing stars.Her head was numbed by the heavy raindrops, yet she gritted her teeth and forced herself to look up into Ming Lan's eyes.His eyes were muffled by the curtain of rain, but the slender figure lo
Scattered with clouds, the sky brightened up, where sunlight beamed down magnificently and majestically.A shaft of light passed the mullions, penetrated the curtain, and fell on the grand bed. A halo gleamed, gilding the outline of a robust man on the bed.The man opened his eyes with a flutter of his eyelashes.Leaning against the edge, Kang Hai was sitting on the footrest before the bed, dozing off with his head dropping now and then. It was natural for one to get sleepy at dawn after a whole night up.Sensing the movement in the bed, Kang Hai shivered to lucidity."Master? You are awake!"Seeing Leng Qingtang have sat up, Kang Hai jumped up from the footrest with excitement.Covering the Master with a cloak, Kang Hai welcomed him with incessant questions of care, "How do you feel? I will send for Doctor Jiang immediately. What do you want to eat? I will tell the kitchen..."Su