It was the end of April.

After the spring rains, plants sprouted in fragrance, and birds chirped in the air. It was a good time to enjoy the season.

Lanterns were lit up one by one in each residence at sunset, swaying in the evening breeze.

Looking at the alleys from a distance, they resembled a dormant long dragon shimmering dimly in the dusky night.

Gu Yunxi arrived at the Baoyue Restaurant at the invitation and met Gu Yunyao, Zhao An, and Song Qin in a private room.

All three of them were dressed up as ordinary inner servants.

"Yunxi!"

"Sister!"

The sisters reunited again and held hands.

Gu Yunxi's gloomy eyes lit up at Gu Yunyao's attire delightedly and also worriedly as a faint frown touched her face.

"This is too risky. You shouldn't have come out at this hour!"

Gu Yunyao smiled. Her clear eyes were luminous with shining candlelight reflected inside.

"We both miss each other. Last time you entered the Palace to see me, so this time is my turn. Next to this restaurant is the gambling house. I heard from Zhao An that every night at the shift change, the servants would bribe the guards to let them out to gamble. Zhao An used this as an excuse to take me out to visit you in disguise."

"But it's very late. What if His Majesty summons you? Now that we have met and you can see that I am doing well, you can rest assured! Now go back to the Palace soon."

Gu Yunxi thought it over and was worried by the high risk. She grabbed Gu Yunyao's hand to pull her out.

"Ouch!"

Gu Yunyao stopped halfway, patting the back of her sister’s hand with her soft palm as she comforted her.

"Don't worry. His Majesty had decided to visit the little prince at the Chuxiu Palace tonight. He will not go to Xiaoye Chamber for sure."

While talking, she led Gu Yunxi back to the table. Then Song Qin presented hot tea to Gu Yunxi.

The sisters were seated. Gu Yunyao sipped a cup of tea and cast her studying gaze at Gu Yunxi on the side of the table.

Gu Yunxi noticed her sister's strange look, so she immediately put on a joyful face and grinned.

"The message came too late, so I had no time to prepare. Or else I will make some desserts for you provided with ample time. It's been long since you tasted my dishes last time!"

They all went quiet for a moment.

Gu Yunyao watched her sister closely. Her sight was soft, and gradually her eyes were covered with tears.

No matter how Gu Yunxi suppressed her emotions, she was betrayed by her complexion.

It had only been one month before the energetic and heroic young guard at the Kanfang Pavilion in the Palace vanished into thin air.

At this moment, Yunxi was so desolate and lonely, with her complexion withered and her eyes dull.

Gu Yunyao's eyes turned red, and she choked with sobs.

"I always believe that you and I must have been a pair of blood sisters in the previous life. Only that we had drunk the waters of Lethe and parted our way on the road of reincarnation, so we could be borne by the same parents in this life."

Yet, our bond is deeper than that of real sisters. You are in trouble now. How can I stand by and stay in the Palace with ease?"

Gu Yunxi's eyes were dimed as her long eyelashes fluttered and her nose quivered. Immediately several teardrops dropped into the steaming teacup.

Zhao An stood straight behind Gu Yunyao. Sighing, his spirit sank at this sight.

The fact that the Eastern Depot Master had wedded the maid from the Kunning Palace had provoked much discussion.

This was why Gu Yunyao ventured out in disguise. She knew that Yunxi must have been suffering now and needed someone by her side.

Holding the teacup, Gu Yunyao looked at Yunxi and spoke softly,

"I told you at the beginning that Lord Leng is too scheming to rely on. Now, you should believe my words, right?"

With remote eyes, Gu Yunxi smiled,

"He has a reason. I understand he had to lift the siege of the Eastern Depot..."

Seeing that her sister was still obsessed with no regrets, Gu Yunyao couldn't help shaking her head. She sighed solemnly,

"In the end, you are far less important than his Eastern Depot!"

Gu Yunxi's heart tumbled at her sister's words. She had spoken to the point.

Gu Yunxi felt her body sliced by countless sharp knives now, the pain of which was only known by her.

...

After some tea, Gu Yunxi told Gu Yunyao about what happened in Leng's Mansion after the Spring Banquet.

Gu Yunyao listened carefully with astonishments. When Gu Yunxi finished, she remained silent and was lost in thoughts.

Suddenly, she asked,

"The woman named Yanwan. Have you investigated her background?"

Gu Yunxi squinted slightly and replied firmly,

"I heard from the Master that she had been checked carefully. She entered the Palace less than a year ago and was clean indeed. Empress Qian was strict in selecting maids in her palace. Sister, is there anything wrong?"

Gu Yunyao frowned as her face darkened.

"I have a feeling that the woman is ill-meaning. Since she was from the Empress's palace, why did she come to your room and put her heart out to you? Don’t you think it’s improper for her to confess her role as the Empress's pawn?"

Gu Yunxi looked down with a cautious look.

"It's not unreasonable. When she was sent here the first time, everyone knew that she was a spy from the Palace. Now she returned. She must know her identity was not a secret, so she submitted herself to me for protection. After all, I have been following the Master for a long time and I know his habits the best."

Gu Yunyao waved her hand in exhortation.

"You still need to be careful. Women in the Palace live with intrigues and are accustomed to deceptions. Is there a single one of them who is not cunning? Yunxi, you must be cautious!"

"Sure, sister, don't worry."

Gu Yunxi nodded slightly and looked in the distance.

Zhao An saw that it was late, so he reminded,

"Your Ladyship, it's time to go back."

The two sisters stood up and interlocked their fingers. The farewell was imminent, and they were reluctant.

Gu Yunyao shed tears again. Then her expression froze in anger.

Her eyes were narrowed, sharp as blades. With thrilling hatred in her voice, she whispered,

"I won't let Leng Qingtang go! He ruined me by forcing me into the Palace, victimized Zhao An, and now he has betrayed you. When I meet him in the Palace again, I will definitely not make it easy for him."

"Sister!"

Worried, Gu Yunxi grabbed her arm and pled sadly,

"You can't blame him for this! He has lost the position as the Seal Keeper of the Imperial Ceremony Office. If he loses the Eastern Depot again, he will have nothing! Don't trouble him. I never blamed him!"

"Silly sister..."

Tears shone in Gu Yunyao's eyes as she raised her fair hand and stroked Yunxi's bloodless and dry cheeks. Sorrowfully, she said,

"Even if he loses the position of the Seal Keeper and the Eastern Depot, he still has you. As for you, you will have nothing without him, right?"

"Sister..."

Gu Yunxi was muted as tears welled in her eyes. Plunging into Yunyao's arms, she wept bitterly.

Gu Yunyao hugged her quietly and consoled her gently,

"I hate him! Just because he couldn't afford to love you yet he gave you false hope."

...

Gu Yunxi returned to Leng's Mansion and ran into the young eunuch Kang Hai head-on.

"Lord, why did you return so late?"

He was in a hurry and seemed anxious about something.

"What's wrong? Did something happen to the Master?"

Gu Yunxi's heart was grasped by fear.

"Oh, aren't you correct! Let me tell you..."

Kang Hai paused suddenly, looked around, and approached Gu Yunxi to whisper in her ear,

"The Master's scab fell off a few days ago. I thought it was a good sign. This afternoon, he felt wrong and sent me for Imperial Doctor Jiang. After checking it, the newly healed wound was festering. The one from the Palace said it was caused by your lamb bone and pig liver soup and sent me to look for you. I've been going back and forth several times!"

"How could this be?"

After Kang Hai's complaints, Gu Yunxi pulled him straight to the Master's room.

The Imperial Doctor Jiang, Cheng Wanli, Xiao Xiaoshen, Qinger, and Yanwan were all present. With two eunuchs at the service, the room was swarmed with people.

Seeing Gu Yunxi arriving with Kang Hai, Yanwan's lips twitched as she wiped her tears with a handkerchief.

Indignant, Qinger walked to Gu Yunxi's side and hugged one of her arms.

Gu Yunxi blankly looked around the room full of people. The atmosphere was tense with Yanwan's sobs.

Leng Qingtang was lying sideways on the bed, supporting his body with one arm on a pile of quilts. His countenance fell at her tears, and he shouted in a low voice,

"Stop crying! I'm not dead yet."

Yanwan stopped abruptly and shivered. She silently curled her fingers and twisted the kerchief.

"Master..."

Gu Yunxi walked to the head of the bed in a daze. His withered face fell in her eyes immediately, shocking her to dumbness.

Imperial Doctor Jiang was aside, inquiring nicely,

"Yun Guaner, tell me what ingredients and how you cooked the lamb bone and pig liver soup for the Master's lunch."

Gu Yunxi nodded and answered truthfully,

"Half a kilo of lamb bones blanched in hot water and then simmered for the marrow soup. One hundred grams of pork liver, sliced, blanched, and marinated in ginger juice for half an hour. Then I stewed them in the lamb soup with water chestnuts, lemongrass, and perilla. When done, I served it with salt, sesame oil, and green onion."

As soon as Gu Yunxi finished, Yanwan exclaimed in surprise with her beautiful eyes widened.

"Lord Yun, you have been taking care of the Master’s diet for a long time, and you should have known to avoid stimulating food in the warm spring season. The Master’s wound is healing and will surely be reinflamed with your mutton and ginger."

"I..."

Before Gu Yunxi could reply, Imperial Doctor Jiang suddenly interrupted,

"This dietary prescription is fine. Lamb bones and pig liver can warm the spleen and are the best for blood enrichment and muscle strength. Although the food might be stimulating in spring, Yun Guaner had supplemented the soup with perilla, lemongrass, and water chestnuts, which are all food for inflammation relief and will offset the internal heat. Ordinarily, it will not make the Master's wound to inflame."

Yanwan bit her lower lip unwillingly and added after a moment,

"So what's the reason? I just came to serve the Master and then something went wrong. How should I defend myself if questioned by the Palace?"

As she spoke, she stared at Gu Yunxi with sharp eyes.

As her chest rose and fell, Gu Yunxi's countenance changed instantly, revealing her nervousness and shame.

Scowled, Leng Qingtang scolded,

"If you don't say anything, the Palace won't know it and you don't need to excuse yourself."

With her delicate face fraught with grievances, Yanwan fell on her knees.

"Get out..."

Leng Qingtang gave her an annoying look, lowered his eyes, and ordered,

"All leave but Yun Guaner!"

The crowd left the room in succession.

Gu Yunxi stood still for a moment and then asked fearfully,

"Does it hurt?"

"..."

He raised his eyes abruptly and stared at her skinny face.

"Where have you been? You seem to like going out recently."

His unanticipated questions were asked out of the blue.

Gu Yunxi's lips shivered with no answer.

She didn't want to tell the Master about Zhaoyi Yu's adventure out of the Palace in the current situation. Her sister will never let a good word about him out of her mouth.

After waiting for a while, Leng Qingtang leaned over, took out something from under the pillow, and handed it towards her.

It was her lost red string.

Gu Yunxi's eyes were immediately filled with surprise.

"Where did you find it?"

Leng Qingtang gazed at her, closely watching for any change of expression. Then he repeated his question.

"Where have you been on the 15th?"