In the Eastern Depot, Gu Yunxi was chatting with Wu Yong in the wing-room when she heard Master's summon.

Wu Yong had traveled across Da Yi and many other foreign countries over the years while serving the Wans. Thus, he was quite knowledgeable and experienced.

After staying in the Eastern Depot, he would shamelessly beg Gu Yunxi to cook the dishes he wanted every day. Having dined and wined to satiety, he would force Yunxi and the guards to listen to the folk customs and anecdotes of different countries. During the whole time, he would dance and act, more professional than the storytellers in teahouses.

Seeing faces of the audience who were surprised, nervous, and sometimes even envious, he would become more impassioned as a strong sense of accomplishment flooded through him.

Gu Yunxi was disgusted and contemptuous of Wu Yong at first. But gradually she became attracted by his stories. During the last days, she even admired him for his knowledge.

One thing wrong with Priest Wu was his deformed lips, which caused his excessive spits during speech. When he spluttered, Gu Yunxi would lean backward to avoid his spittle.

When she arrived at Master's room, Gu Yunxi saw a silhouette basking in the red dusky haze behind the desk. It was simplistic and beautiful.

"Come here."

Seeing her standing at the door and listening seriously, Leng Qingtang smiled and waved to her.

Gu Yunxi walked closer and quietly called him "Master". Her ears burned when she met his dark and deep eyes.

"Come, sit."

Leng Qingtang extended his arm and held her into his chest.

Gu Yunxi frowned, fearing that Master was teasing her again. She shifted awkwardly on his lap.

"What are you doing? Don't be so close to me. I just came from the kitchen."

Smiling with drunk eyes, he deliberately pressed his nose to her arm and sniffed,

"Isn't this the happiest smell of ordinary people? I like it."

Gu Yunxi was stunned for an instant and then resisted no more.

"Girl, thank you for the last days."

Gu Yunxi knew that Master meant her service for Wu Yong. She shook her head generously,

“At first, I was reluctant. After all, he helped the Wans to frame Yunyao and did a lot of bad things. However, after hearing his anecdotes, I really envy him for his knowledge.”

“By the way, Master, he says that the foreigners have golden hair, blue eyes, and white skin. Isn't that true?”

Leng Qingtang gazed at Gu Yunxi, who was frowning as her little face became serious, and suddenly he burst into laughter. He took her little hands and explained,

"Yes. They’re different from Da Yi's people. Yunxi, will you dress sexy after we get married?"

Smiling shyly, Gu Yunxi blinked and rolled her eyes.

"I have something for you."

Leng Qingtang said as he picked up the red silk-wrapped block on the desk.

"What is this?"

Gu Yunxi took it and undid the red silk as indicated by Master. His clear eyes suddenly froze.

It's "the Exquisite Collection of Delicacies", the book by Pei Rushi, her mother. She saw it again!

Gu Yunxi blankly studied the beautiful writing on the cover. She felt her heart rippled by a warm stream and her eyes went red.

"Master, do you want to give me this book?"

Gu Yunxi sniffed and looked at Master with watery eyes.

Leng Qingtang smiled affectionately as he touched her forehead,

"Naturally yes."

Gu Yunxi's eyes lit up. Despite her uplifted mood, she turned her head and said sorrowfully,

"Didn't my mother leave it for you?"

Leng Qingtang hugged her tightly, lowered his head, and whispered in her ear,

“Indeed, every delicacy recorded in this is a result of your mother's efforts. Now that I have you, I want to hand over myself and my past to you unreservedly.”

“Girl, you inherit your mother’s talent in cooking and medicine and are not timid to innovate. Only in your hands can this book show its true value.”

After a moment of concentration, Gu Yunxi slowly raised her head, looking at Master with bright eyes.

The Master's eyes were deep like the galaxy, so mysterious that they could capture anyone.

It was his affection and frankness that moved Gu Yunxi. Her nostrils flared and quivered.

Doleful Leng Qingtang cupped her face and stroke her lips back and forth with his callus thumb. He called her pityingly,

"Silly girl!"

Suddenly, she greeted his lips with hers, sucking gently and naively.

This was unexpected!

Leng Qingtang felt her demure tenderness and gradually drifted.

The girl's lips were soft and tiny with a hint of sweet and honey-like fragrance. Drunk in indulgence, he held the back of her head and took the lead, long and deep.

...

In Kanfang Pavilion, the Palace…

"Yunxi, don't be sad. Everything is over. From now on, you will have a sister in the Palace and I will have my own way to help you escape the clutches of the Imperial Noble Concubine."

Seeing the girl crying harder, Gu Yunyao couldn't help but shed tears, cursing the heartbreaker Leng Qingtang again in her mind.

Tu Muxue stopped crying abruptly and grabbed Gu Yunyao's soft hands. Her damp but beautiful face suddenly shone brightly with a pleasing expression,

"Sister, do you mean it? What way do you have to rescue me? I really don't want to go back to Yongning Palace again. I'm afraid of the Imperial Noble Concubine!"

When speaking of Wan Yuyao, the girl's complexion immediately turned pale. Her limbs curled up tightly and her eyes looked around in horror, helplessly.

"Yunxi, don't be afraid!"

Gu Yunyao felt her heart broken into pieces. She leaned over and hugged the girl to patiently console her,

"Don't be afraid. I am here and will protect you. I come to see you in person today, just to teach you the way of escaping from Yongning Palace."

"Sister, I'm not afraid. Just tell me how, please."

Sobbing and begging, the girl slowly calmed down.

Gu Yunyao looked up and called, "Song Qin."

The chief maid came forward, took out a parcel from her sleeve, and offered it with her hands.

Gu Yunyao handed it over to "Gu Yunxi" and said with joy,

“Take it. These are stinging hops and descending dragon wood. Drink the decoction of them and you will have sores like smallpox after a day.”

“The Imperial Noble Concubine will be tricked into believing that you have smallpox. For her two young princesses, she will expel you out of the Palace. I will let Zhao An rent a house outside lately. You can live there first and we will make future plans.”

The girl bowed her head in contemplation, aggrieved and confused.

"Sister, I'm still afraid... The Imperial Noble Concubine watches me very closely. If she finds out, she will torture me to death..."

Gu Yunyao patted the girl's little hands, her eyes glowing with affection.

"Yunxi, be bold. You used to be smart and brave. The slight sufferings today are definitely nothing to you. To escape from the sea of suffering as soon as possible and to reunite with me, you can’t be scared at this moment. Understand?"

The girl bit her lip tightly in thoughts and then nodded eagerly,

"Sister, I know. It was late when I went out and now I need to go back to Yongning Palace as soon as possible in case the Imperial Noble Concubine is looking for me."

"Go ahead and remember to take the herbs after two days."

The girl put the packet into her sleeve and smiled gratefully at Gu Yunyao and then walked out of the garden as Yunyao watched her tearfully.

Gu Yunyao walked out of the stone pavilion in a daze and went back to Jingyang Palace on the sedan chair.

As soon as she entered the main hall, Gu Yunyao noticed Zhao An's hesitation. He seemed to worry about something.

"Are you ok? Is there anything wrong?"

Gu Yunyao had been walking slowly on the soft carpet. She stopped before Zhao An suddenly and raised her head to ask.

Zhao An gave a start and woke up from his contemplation, looking embarrassed.

"Your Grace... I feel that there is something wrong with the young lady..."

He would never beat around the bush when he talked to Gu Yunyao. He always told her the thoughts in his mind without reservation.

Gu Yunyao's eyelashes fluttered as she stared at Zhao An, calmly and curiously, not knowing what he meant.

Zhao An wrinkled his brows and let out a short sigh,

"Your Grace, the young lady worked in the Eastern Depot for a long time. She used to be witty and agile with her cooking and martial skills. How could she act so cowardly like this? I thought she would be careful and thoughtful. Yet she cried so easily for Your Grace's help. Also, she met you in Kanfang Pavilion not long ago, but she said that she didn’t remember the way."

Gu Yunyao's face gradually darkened as she listened to Zhao An's endless words. Her beautiful eyes dimmed suddenly as strange darkness flashed through them.

"Zhao An, what are you trying to say?"

Zhao An's half-open mouth trembled awkwardly. He could already feel Gu Yunyao's impatience from her questioning tone.

Zhao An looked embarrassed. But for the sake of his beloved woman, he couldn't help not suggesting it. After a moment of silence, Zhao An lowered his eyes and voice, mumbling as if he dared not to say the words.

"Your Grace, I think... the young lady's identity is suspicious. Shouldn't we ask Leng..."

"Shut up!"

Gu Yunyao exploded unexpectedly. Her eyes darted sharp blades at Zhao An and froze him on the spot.

"Pardon me, Your Grace."

Aggrieved, Zhao An did not forget his place and was about to kneel with Song Qin. But Gu Yunyao waved angrily and shouted,

"Fine, stop it."

After the two stood up in anxiety, Gu Yunyao approached Zhao An, raised her chin slightly, and glared at the worried man.

“Remember, I won't hear such nonsense anymore. Think about it, the sixteen-year-old girl was first abandoned by her beloved man and then abducted by a gangster. Who knows what she has gone through? She has been wishing to get rid of the nightmare in the capital, only to fall into the claws of the Western Depot. All the hardships have blunted her edges. How do you expect a weak woman to behave strongly?”

“The last time she and I met at Kanfang Pavilion was two years ago and Song Qin led the way at that night. How could she know the way? She is my only sister. She is surely Yunxi. Who else can she be? To be suspicious of her just because of those two points is too far-fetched and unreasonable!"

"..."

Anxious and helpless, Zhao An raised his eyes and was about to say something. When he saw Song Qin shaking her head and winking constantly, he gave up in the end. Casting his eyes back to the ground, he apologized softly,

"It's my fault. I shouldn't have doubted the young lady. I am just worried about you and don't want anyone to be a disadvantage for you."

Gu Yunyao rolled her eyes and turned back coldly to sit.

"She is my sister. Why will she harm me? Just stop talking about that, I'm exhausted. Song Qin, help me go to bed. You can go back!"

Zhao An knew she was angry with him, so he said no more. Bowing humbly, he carefully walked out of the main hall.

In Yongning Palace…

Hearing a little pattering of feet, Wan Yuyao lazily raised her eyes on the couch and smiled coldly at the graceful figure who had just entered the hall.

Tu Muxue stopped five steps away and presented a parcel of herbs after a curtsy. Her smile was poisonously radiant,

"Your Grace, I just met Concubine Yu in Kanfang Pavilion. She gave me this..."