The weather was excellent on the day when the Eastern Depot set off. Leng Qingtang rode his horse under the tower. The team of Imperial Guards and guards behind him was neat and impressive.

Emperor Jingxiao had wanted to hide in Elixir Chamber but was persuaded to go to the tower by Yu Xuanji. He saw off the guards of the Eastern Depot under the dazzling sunlight personally.

With flying flags, the beatings of gongs and drums, as well as wild lion dance, the armies shouted heroically. Their voice was sonorous and forceful, imbued with a spirit that could conquer mountains and rivers.

When the auspicious time arrived, ten thousand soldiers drank wine and smashed bowls together. Then the brigade went out of the Zhengyang Gate with great strength and vigor. Along the way, there were citizens who sent the army off.

Leng Qingtang, as the supervisor of the army, removed a python robe and jade belt. He was wearing bright gold armor and riding a black warhorse.

The hubbub from people on the west side of the road was noisy. When Leng Qingtang caught it with his keen eyes, a thin person separated the crowd and made a way to the forefront of the road.

She was dressed in women's clothing, a turquoise embroidered floral dress, with a single hair bun. And the suet jasmine hairpins on her sideburns were very unique.

She chased the horse all the way, ignoring the surprised gazes of the people around her. Her two small hands clasped tightly, and she immediately stared at the man's eyes with deep affection and perseverance, like a lock on a red rope tightly tying his heart.

Gu Yunxi was in the Master's Mansion these days because she was angry with the Master

Anyway, determined not to take her to the south, Leng Qingtang simply didn't coax her.

Unexpectedly, on the day when the Eastern Depot set off, she would still come to see him off in person.

The marching time should not be delayed. Even though Leng Qingtang was moved, he couldn't stop or dismount for a moment.

In his eyes, the light shone. He gave a small smile and opened his lips.

She stopped abruptly and watched blankly until the team disappeared. Her cheeks were slightly hot.

At that moment she understood his lip language. He said to her,

"Wait for me to come back and marry you."

The following days were relatively leisure for Gu Yunxi.

She visited Gu Yunyao and the Seventh Prince in the Palace every day. It was not so much to visit as to seek companionship. They gave Gu Yunxi comfort in her lonely days.

The Seventh Prince grew up and became very intimate with Gu Yunxi. Whenever she came, he would crawl into Gu Yunxi's arms, put his arms around her neck, and called out sweetly,

"Auntie."

On this day, Gu Yunyao and Gu Yunxi gathered around the table and chatted with tea.

"His Majesty came to Jingyang Palace a few days ago. Why did I see that he was too weak to hold Lin'er?"

Gu Yunyao held the teacup in her hand and stroked the golden rim of the cup with her fingertips, worriedly.

Gu Yunxi knew it very well in her heart. She blinked and tentatively asked,

"Have you ever called the imperial doctor?"

Gu Yunyao shook her head in denial with the fringe at her temple swaying.

"He, how can he believe in any imperial doctor? Just sitting here, he took Jindan Pill four or five times. When Lin'er saw it, he even took out Jindan Pill and gave it to Lin'er for fun."

Hearing that, Gu Yunxi was horrified. She suddenly opened her eyes and shouted,

"Sister, you have to be careful. Children are not allowed to play with those pills!"

Gu Yunyao fixedly looked at Gu Yunxi, and smiled with deep meaning,

"Certainly I understand... But, Yunxi, tell me the truth. Is Yu Xuanji an informant of Leng Qingtang?"

A sip of tea almost squirted out. Gu Yunxi looked at Gu Yunyao in surprise, not knowing how to answer her for a moment.

The woman on the other side smiled and continued to ask,

"The Wan clan has fallen from power. Leng Qingtang...What is he still planning in secret?"

Gu Yunyao was originally a smart woman, and she had been in the deep palace for many years. She had a clear view of many things, so it was not easy to hide anything from her.

Suddenly a maid outside told them about the arrival of Imperial Doctor Jiang.

Gu Yunyao was confused,

"It's weird. He doesn’t have to take my pulse today. Since he comes, let him in."

The curtain was raised, and Jiang Huaian entered the hall and bowed to Master Yu.

When he saw Gu Yunxi, his eyes widened with an indescribable surprise. Then he saluted Gu Yunyao,

"Miss Yun is indeed in Jingyang Palace. Please forgive me for my impoliteness. I just went to the Eastern Depot to visit Miss Yun. Learning that she has come to the Palace to visit Your Grace, I especially come here."

Hearing this, Gu Yunyao hid her mouth and smiled without blaming him,

"What is the important thing, Imperial Doctor Jiang? Why do you come all the way here for her?"

Imperial Doctor Jiang lowered his head,

"Your Grace, please forgive me. I come here with my teacher, Tantai Zhufeng."

—

It was late in the morning when Gu Yunxi pushed the door into a darkroom in the Eastern Depot.

A guard inside was squatting in the corner of the wall, holding a spoonful of liquid food, and was about to pour it into the mouth of the girl in the altar.

This bowl of meat soup contained a lot of knockout drops. When she slept over, the medical sage could exchange her face with Gu Yunxi's.

The bloodless girl now had blank eyes now. Feeling the breath of an acquaintance, she suddenly became excited and a vague mellow tone came out from her throat.

She shook her mutilated body vigorously, causing waves of soup in the altar.

Gu Yunxi took the bowl and spoon and ordered the guard to leave the house.

Sitting on the chair, Gu Yunxi scooped up a spoonful of meat soup and fed it to the girl.

With infinite resentment buried in her heart, she deliberately slammed her head away to hit Gu Yunxi's hand.

The meat soup was sprinkled on the jar. Gu Yunxi sighed without getting angry and said quietly for a moment later,

"Tu Muxue, I'm here to tell you that the Eastern Depot has found the medical sage. He was chased by you and fled all the way to the western tribes. It was Brother Lu who saved him..."

Suddenly she stopped and surged with emotions.

Some people in this world were destined to spend their entire lives on you, yet you couldn't repay everything you owed them.

What a retribution!

At the altar, the girl gradually calmed down. Her white and bright apricot eyes were bleak, and two rows of tears slowly fell.

Gu Yunxi gave a wry smile and stirred the meat soup with the spoon slowly. She said firmly,

"I know that you hate me and that you have been coveting my face, but other people’s things aren’t yours. You shouldn’t be concerned, let alone go to the Palace to allay with Wan Yuyao and use all despicable means to persecute Yunyao and the people around me.

His Highness is not dead. He will definitely meet the Eastern Depot and me again after I get back what belongs to me. However, no matter what you want to do this time, I will let you fall flat."

Suddenly getting up, Gu Yunxi grabbed Tu Muxue's neck with one hand and poured the bowl of meat soup into her mouth with the other hand.

The girl was unable to struggle and then tilted her head unconscious after swallowing the soup passively.

—

Leng Qingtang led the team all the way to Jinmen to embark on the ship. After arriving in the Wei Sea, he would meet Duke Min's navy and head south together.

The capital was far from Southern Jiang and the wars on the border erupted. It would take more than 20 days for the central reinforcement army to reach Yunnan by traveling day and night. If Leng Qingtang departed from the capital, he would spend two months reaching Yunnan.

If he went to the south by ship, it would take ten days to reach Qiongyang and land in Guangxi and then to Yunnan, which was much faster.

That night, Leng Qingtang had a very strange dream on the ship.

He dreamed of Gu Yunxi, his baby girl

She actually changed back to her previous beautiful face. When she looked at him, she gave him an intoxicating smile with dimples on her face.

He was so pleasantly surprised that he walked towards her, but he suddenly fell off.

When Leng Qingtang turned over and was waken up, Shi Lei, the seventh captain, quickly walked to the bed, and said in surprise,

"Master, we'll be near Qiongyang!"