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That night, Ziyan enjoyed dinner the most.
With a good mood, her appetite was naturally wide open.
After everyone had dispersed, Ziyan returned to the small courtyard with her Demonically Charming Man. At this moment, she was so excited that she felt no trace of sleepiness.
So, the two of them secretly held hands and leaped onto the roof. This startled several hidden guards who were originally concealed on the rooftop, causing them to quietly retreat dozens of feet away.
Ling Yuxuan sat quietly on the ridge with his Beloved Child.
The two gazed up at the horizon simultaneously.
The night was extremely quiet, with a jade-like full moon traversing through the clouds. Occasionally, some faintly twinkling stars could be seen, casting a soft, pure light upon the earth.
Ziyan leaned quietly against her beloved fiancé, fully enjoying the moment.
Although Ling Yuxuan's lips maintained a slight smile, there was an unintentional hint of sadness that occasionally surfaced.
He knew that once his Beloved Child's situation was completely safe and stable, it would be time for him to leave. He would have to face that person alone—the one who had caused him to lose his home and parents since childhood.
In truth, during their daily interactions, Ziyan was not completely oblivious; rather, she tried her best to ignore the potential bad things that might happen. She chose to be happy for one day at a time and to strive each day she lived.
This was Ziyan's own philosophy of life.
Thus, even though she felt something in her heart, she still chose not to inquire further.
Because she understood that some things were destined to happen by fate, and no matter what she did, she could not change the outcome. So it was better to take things step by step and observe changes calmly, responding to changes with constancy.
"The moonlight is beautiful tonight!" Ziyan looked up at the sky and couldn't help but murmur.
"Well! I hope the sky can be as beautiful every night as it is now," the voice of the Demonically Charming Man came to my ears.
"Everything in the world is constantly changing; the moon has its phases, and people experience fortune and misfortune. No matter what happens in any world, nothing is ever smooth sailing or unchanging."
Ziyan couldn't help but express her thoughts as well.
"Tomorrow we have to start working tirelessly again, can you handle it?"
Ling Yuxuan's question was not one of doubt about his beloved's abilities; he was more concerned about her getting worn out.
"Don't worry, I'm fine. After all, I have you by my side, right?"
After Ziyan said this, she slipped out of his embrace and stared at him intently.
"Yes, that's true. However, I still don't want you to overexert yourself."
Ling Yuxuan frowned at her and affectionately stroked her fair and rosy little face.
"Yes, I know. I will balance work and rest and arrange my days well. Don't worry; you understand me. If I had nothing to do every day, I would go crazy. A bit of busyness only makes me feel that my life is fuller and more meaningful. While we're young, we should work hard; when we get older, we'll naturally have plenty of time to rest and enjoy life. But right now, my heart can't completely relax."
Ziyan persuaded him with emotion and reason.
"Alright, I knew you would say that."
Ling Yuxuan nodded helplessly in understanding.
So, the two of them chatted about everything under the sun, moving from this world to many things from Ziyan's past life. When Ling Yuxuan finally heard his Beloved Child express her desire to implement all those new ideas in this world, he felt a mix of emotions.
"In the future, Future Husband, will you see me as a monster?" Ziyan asked, realizing she had probably said too much that might be beyond his comprehension. She couldn't help but pose the question to him.
Of course, he was utterly astonished. Although she had shared many things about her world with him in the past, none had been as profound or as clear as what she spoke of at that moment.
That night, the two of them chatted for an unknown length of time until Ziyan gradually drifted into sleep while still talking.
When she woke up the next day, she found herself peacefully lying on her large bed in her room. The Demonically Charming Man had already vanished without a trace.
Outside, the sky was brightening, and the sun had risen above the eastern horizon, shining directly into the room through the northeast window.
The Night Pearl in the room had long been covered with silk, allowing only a faint glimmer of light to seep through. Ziyan guessed this must have been the work of her Demonically Charming Man.
After shaking off her morning grogginess, Ziyan got up and vigorously shook her little head. Then she quickly jumped out of bed and hurriedly opened the door.
The maid Yang Xiaodie was already waiting in the corridor as usual.
Without needing to say much, Ziyan quickly freshened up under Yang Xiaodie's care. She noticed Ling Yuxuan and Head Innkeeper Qi Yu were chatting about something in the Reception Room on the first floor.
"What are you talking about?"
Ziyan stepped forward, hoping to find out. However, as soon as she entered the Reception Room, both of them abruptly stopped their conversation and said nothing.
"Uh? Looks like my timing is off?" Ziyan pretended to be displeased and frowned.
"A bit!" Ling Yuxuan replied decisively.
"Indeed!" Even Head Innkeeper Qi Yu wore a somewhat rude expression.
What was going on?
Was it acceptable for Ling Yuxuan to act this way? But hadn't Head Innkeeper Qi Yu always been very respectful and cautious towards her over the past few dozen days?
In just one night, it seemed that these two had become a pair.
At this moment, Ziyan had no idea that after she fell asleep last night, a familiar person had come from afar, specifically from Hengfeng County Town to find them.
Since Ziyan was asleep, Ling Yuxuan did not wake her.
He carried her back to her room, took off her shoes, and covered her with a blanket. He then left the room alone and brought Wu San into his own room to inquire about the purpose of her visit. He vaguely sensed that something must have gone wrong in Hengfeng County.
Wu San then informed Ling Yuxuan that there was trouble again at the Zhi Family Old Residence in Hengfeng County Town.
This summer and autumn, the Mengman nomads in the north were no longer just stirring; they had already begun to launch large-scale attacks on the border residents of the Nanchu Kingdom, committing arson, murder, and raping women and children. They were gradually advancing deeper into the Nanchu Kingdom. Therefore, the court had no choice but to recruit soldiers on a large scale again, with two slots specifically for the Zhi Family Old Residence.
Thus, the Purple Old Man's first thought was to send his second son, Zi Lao Er, to the battlefield. The other slot still needed to be resolved by Zi Lao Er. How could it be resolved? Of course, with money. The Purple Old Man demanded that Zi Lao Er pay him one hundred taels of silver at once and claimed that from then on, he would no longer trouble Zi Lao Er regarding life or death matters.
One hundred taels of silver? For Zi Lao Er, that was a life-or-death situation because all the income from the shop was managed by Ziyan. While one hundred taels could be managed somehow, Ziyan certainly did not lack this amount of money now.
However, regarding the actions of the Zhi Family Old Residence, no one could understand why they would send a son who had never received any benefits to the battlefield; it was equivalent to sending him to his death. If this son could die, then another son could not; only Zi Lao Er's life was expendable, and he would also have to provide the money for the other slot.
Even a clay Buddha has its temper. So even if Zi Lao Er had been patient in the past, how could he endure such ruthlessness from his father?
Thus, upon learning of this news in the afternoon, he angrily rushed back to the Zhi Family Old Residence in a carriage.
That day it happened to be pouring rain; Zi Lao Er was anxious to get back and relentlessly whipped his horse.
As a result, before he could reach Zijia Village, he lost control of the horse. At a bend on a hillside, both he and the carriage fell down the slope and rolled into the river.
By the time he was discovered, it was already the next day. He was alive but severely injured.
The next day, several kind villagers rescued Zi Lao Er and brought him back to County Town's Zi Family Spiced Braise shop. However, he had already missed the best time for treatment, and Mo the Divine Physician could do nothing to help.
Mo the Divine Physician provided the most definitive diagnosis: the person will not die! However, they will likely never be able to walk again, as the spine has been injured, specifically with a comminuted fracture in the middle section. In this situation, even if Hua Tuo were to return, there would be no way to help. This means that Zi Lao Er will be completely paralyzed from now on.
Immediately, the Zi Family fell into a state of devastating sorrow, completely overwhelmed by grief. Zhou and her daughter Ziying were crying uncontrollably, while Zi Lao Er remained in a coma.
In light of this situation, Old Man Mo and Qin Ming quickly discussed and decided to send Wu San to Chu County to inform the two masters.
When Ling Yuxuan learned of the entire incident, her heart was also filled with deep sorrow. It seemed that she and Beloved Child had been too soft-hearted towards the people of the Zhi Family Old Residence.
Had she known that today’s events would unfold, it would have been better to eliminate them all from the start.
Currently, Ziyan was in a critical situation. Although she had just established some prestige in the Heavenly Pivot Sect, the next two months would be the most important time of her life. Especially since she had to go to the capital next month; failing to meet her obligations could cost her life.
After much contemplation, Ling Yuxuan ultimately decided to keep things from Beloved Child for now and return alone to Hengfeng County Town to take care of Zhou and her family.
She left Ziyan to focus entirely on winning these two crucial battles in her life. As long as she won these two battles, her first major endeavor would be a complete success.
……
In Hengfeng County Town, at the Purple Family Fragrant Braised Meat Courtyard.
Zhou and her eldest daughter were mourning daily with tears, while also gritting their teeth in anger.
Outside, there was a commotion.
Just as they had no mood to be curious or concerned about the outside disturbances, the noise had already entered the Courtyard from the outer hall.
Another Clerk had rushed into the courtyard to inform Zhou: Zi Lao Er’s brothers were leading Old Master Zi and demanding to see Zi Lao Er, insisting that regardless of whether he was dead or alive, he should at least crawl out to meet his father.
When an enraged Zhou and her eldest daughter stepped out of the room in the Courtyard, they saw that a group led by Old Master Zi from the Zhi Family Old Residence had already barged into the courtyard.
Because they claimed to be relatives, the guards did not dare to obstruct them too much.
Zi Lao San saw Zhou and immediately started cursing: "Second Brother is just pretending to be dead, looking for someone to partner up with in this act, all to avoid military service. You damn scoundrel, you raised a white-eyed wolf. Your family is living well in County Town, ignoring your own brother, and now when something happens, you still pretend to be a dead dog."
Zhou was so furious at Zi Lao San's words that she almost spat out blood. What kind of people were these? Clearly, she had kicked them out of the old house and they had ignored her family, yet now they were turning the tables and accusing her family of neglecting the people in the old house.
"You’re talking nonsense! It’s clearly you who are slandering. If it weren’t for you beasts pretending to be relatives forcing Second Brother, would he have ended up like this?"
Unable to endure any longer, Zhou finally retorted.
"How dare you! Purple Zhou, you a mere woman, actually dare to insult your husband's relatives like this. You will definitely die a terrible death!"
Purple Old Man was even more enraged when he heard his daughter-in-law using the term 'beasts,' and he lost all sense of civility.
"Haha, I may die a terrible death, but that’s my fate. Don’t forget that what goes around comes around! The people from your old house will also face retribution."
Zhou was completely fearless.
"Hmph! I have already reported Second Brother's name to the recruitment station. Even if he can’t get up, he has to crawl there to serve in the military. If he tries to be a deserter, your whole family will suffer the consequences; none of you will have a good ending. I suggest you call Second Brother out while you still can."
Zi Lao San deliberately tried to intimidate Zhou, this woman.
Meanwhile, completely unaware of the earth-shattering events happening in Hengfeng County, Ling Yuxuan thought of an excuse to return and congratulate Old Man Mo on his birthday. He planned to set off for Hengfeng County Town right after saying goodbye to Ziyan at dawn.
Thus, to prevent Zhou and others from getting anxious and worked up, he sent Wu San back overnight while he went directly to Head Innkeeper Qi Yu's third floor.
In the dark of night, Ling Yuxuan's arrival startled Qi Yu greatly.
Ling Yuxuan did not engage in much small talk and directly stated his intention: "I suppose you already know my identity?"
"Uh? Well, of course, you still don't want to acknowledge me?"
"It's not that; it's just that our current situations are quite complicated, aren't they?"
The two of them began with some hesitation, but as they continued to drink from their jugs of wine and chat, it felt as if they had returned to the candidness of many years ago.
Eventually, they both became aware of each other's painful life experiences, and suddenly they laughed out loud together.
A tragic birth, a tragic fate; their lives were almost identical.
But the only thing was that Ling Yuxuan did not inform Yuwen Qi about his imminent plan for revenge.
As they chatted on, it was already close to dawn. The two of them, thoroughly drunk, ended up lying on the ground and fell asleep one after the other.
When they finally woke up, there was an awkward moment. Ling Yuxuan briefly told Yuwen Yu about his need to return to Hengfeng County Town and also asked Yuwen Yu to take good care of Ziyan during his absence.
Yuwen Yu made no excuses and readily agreed without hesitation.
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