Chapter 6

#Night

---Dark alley---

@Basement

"Not bad. You guys passed." Dongfang Qingyuan said. "What do you want to do, leader?" Lu Yi asked calmly. "I just need some information for now. You guys have given enough for the time being." Dongfang Qingyuan explained.

"Are you going on a mission tomorrow?" Lu Ming asked suddenly. "You don't need to know. If there is any other important information then you can contact Qiu Ruiwen for the time being." Dongfang Qingyuan said.

The seven people stared at the person behind Dongfang Qingyuan without saying anything. They could feel it. Qiu Ruiwen's aura was different from ordinary people.

The small meeting ended quickly and they all dispersed without saying anything. But one thing they knew, their leader was very cruel.

The next morning, the big day arrived. Xue Yanzhong and Liang Lixue's wedding day. Liu Mu was already preparing in the aisle. This route would be passed by the bride so Liu Mu intended to save Liang Lixue. As the music started to approach, Liu Mu started to walk out but he was hit and passed out.

Meanwhile, the ambushers who were with the bride were quite confused because Liu Mu did not appear. Liang Lixue was also restless.

@old hut

Dongfang Qingyuan stared at Liu Mu who was slowly getting up. "Who are you? Why am I here?" Liu Mu asked warily. "I'll take you to your brother." Dongfang Qingyuan said coldly.

"Why did you stop me? Are you someone who works for the second prince? You're afraid that I'll take Lixue away with me. Coward!" Liu Mu said angrily. "You think that woman is sincere to you? You are so naive. You think you would have caught her interest if it weren't for your brother being the deputy general of the Light Army." Dongfang Qingyuan said angrily.

"She's not that kind of person. Don't badmouth Lixue if you don't know anything." Liu Mu said angrily. "You're the one who doesn't know anything about that woman." Dongfang Qingyuan said angrily. Liu Mu attacked Dongfang Qingyuan with a sword and was blocked by Dongfang Qingyuan with a short sword.

The sword fell to the ground. "Holding a sword is still weak. You need ten years to defeat me." Dongfang Qingyuan said mockingly. Dongfang Qingyuan kicked Liu Mu to his knees and forced Liu Mu's mouth open before pouring the medicine in the bottle into Liu Mu's mouth before pouring water into Liu Mu's mouth.

Liu Mu almost choked on the water but Liu Mu swallowed the medicine accidentally. Liu Mu felt drowsy and fell asleep. "It seems that the medicine Ruiwen gave me is effective. But I forgot how much I should give." Dongfang Qingyuan muttered flatly.

Dongfang Qingyuan lifted Liu Mu's body onto the horse and covered it with a black cloth before getting on the horse and spurring the horse at a moderate speed. He wanted to go see his two friends before returning to his home.

---Second Prince's Residence---

The wedding procession went smoothly and perfectly. But Xue Yanzhong and Liang Lixue's faces were not too happy. Their plan was perfect but where was the mistake. They couldn't find it.

Liang Lixue returned to the bridal chamber. Gu Ying whispered something in Xue Yanzhong's ear. Xue Yanzhong looked at Gu Ying and was answered with a nod from Gu Ying. Xue Yanzhong took his leave from there.

---Lily of Valley City---

@riverbank

Dongfang Qingyuan stared at the carriage parked on the road not far from the riverbank. It was his carriage. Dongfang Qingyuan lifted Liu Mu's body onto the carriage before looking for Liu Yue on the riverbank.

Liu Yue was holding his sword while sitting on the rocks in the river looking at the sky, not far from there was Hua Ling who seemed to be looking at the rocks on the riverbank.

Dongfang Qingyuan walked slowly towards the two of them. Dongfang Qingyuan's eyes were glassy. Hearing the sound of footsteps. Liu Yue looked at Dongfang Qingyuan smiling. Liu Yue stood up and approached Dongfang Qingyuan. "General" said Liu Yue happily.

Dongfang Qingyuan hugged Liu Yue tightly. Liu Yue looked shocked. Hua Ling who also approached them immediately separated Dongfang Qingyuan from Liu Yue. The hug broke and Liu Yue could see Dongfang Qingyuan's tears flowing profusely.

"What's wrong, General?" Liu Yue asked in panic. "I just separated you two. Why are you angry and crying?" Hua Ling asked even more panicked. "I'm fine. I'm just happy to see you two." Dongfang Qingyuan said trying to stop his tears. But it didn't work, his tears flowed even faster.

"Did someone bully you in the capital? Tell me! I'll beat them black and blue." Hua Ling said in annoyance. Dongfang Qingyuan's tears flowed even faster but this time with laughter. "You made the general cry even worse." Liu Yue grumbled at Hua Ling. "I also don't know why the general could cry like that. You also know, the general never cried even at the funeral of the Marquis or Princess Xue Lian." Hua Ling said in confusion.

Dongfang Qingyuan's body was suddenly turned over by someone and a kiss landed on his lips. Dongfang Qingyuan's eyes widened in surprise. Hua Ling and Liu Yue stared at the newcomer in shock. They both didn't feel his presence at all.

Dongfang Qingyuan pushed the person's body away. "Lord Yue, your joke is too much." Dongfang Qingyuan said angrily. "Look, your tears have stopped. Besides, I came to give a gift to Deputy General Liu. Evidence of your brother being used by Xue Yanzhong and Liang Lixue." Xue Zhengming said handing a cloth bag to Liu Yue. Liu Yue accepted it suspiciously.

Dongfang Qingyuan held his cheek. His tears did stop. "You won't give this gift for free, right?" Liu Yue asked suspiciously. "Someone wants you alive. I'm just granting that person's wish." Xue Zhengming said.

"Is it him?" Dongfang Qingyuan asked. "I'll wait for you." Xue Zhengming said walking away without answering. "Who is he?" Hua Ling asked. "Dongfang Ruo Cheng is not dead and is working for Lord Yue. The attack on our military barracks, is likely from our own people." Dongfang Qingyuan explained.

"So he is investigating the mastermind with Lord Yue. Then why did Lord Yue help with the matter regarding my brother?" Liu Yue asked not understanding. "I don't know about this either. But be careful. Xue Yanzhong is targeting you, me and Hua Ling." Dongfang Qingyuan said looking at Liu Yue seriously.

"I know, I will be careful." Liu Yue said handing a cloth bag to Hua Ling. Hua Ling accepted it and slung it over his shoulder. Liu Yue took out a book of accounts and gave it to Dongfang Qingyuan. "This is evidence of smuggling by Li Tao, Governor Wu and Bian Jun. They smuggled a child into the Four Season Kingdom." Liu Yue explained.

'Because of this they killed Liu Yue. If only I had been more responsive and less selfish then Liu Yue would not have died.' thought Dongfang Qingyuan clenching his fists tightly until his palms bled.

Liu Yue held Dongfang Qingyuan's wrist. Dongfang Qingyuan woke up from his reverie. "General, your palms are bleeding. Are you sure you're okay?" Liu Yue asked releasing Dongfang Qingyuan's fists.

Liu Yue and Hua Ling's faces showed concern. "I'm fine. I hope you guys return safely. It's already noon. You should leave now." said Dongfang Qingyuan smiling sweetly.

Hua Ling and Liu Yue looked shocked. This was the first time they saw Dongfang Qingyuan smile like that. "You scared us. I'm not sure if you're okay. You didn't even comment on our clothes." Hua Ling said suspiciously.

"Good choice of clothes. No one would have expected you two to wear such flashy clothes. Come on, you should hurry back before others ask you more questions." Dongfang Qingyuan said, pushing Liu Yue and Hua Ling. "You always comment on my flashy clothes." Hua Ling said in protest.

"From now on, I won't comment on it. So take care of yourselves. There will be someone going to check on the barracks so you two should go home before then." Dongfang Qingyuan said. "The barracks? Do they have the right after they let us live even worse." Hua Ling said stopping. Dongfang Qingyuan also stopped pushing Hua Ling and Liu Yue.

"The money probably went into Li Tao and Governor Wu's pockets." Dongfang Qingyuan explained. "That's why you didn't bring Ruiwen. You need to stay here. How long?" Liu Yue asked displeased. "I don't know. I hope it's over soon." Dongfang Qingyuan said sadly.

"If you need to..." Hua Ling was cut off. "You need to go back and help me take care of the barracks. Make sure all the troops know what they're coming for." Dongfang Qingyuan said seriously. "Don't worry." Liu Yue said. With that Liu Yue and Hua Ling returned to the carriage and continued their journey back to their military barracks in Blossom Village.

Dongfang Qingyuan returned and did not find his horse. "I've already ordered my subordinates to take the horse somewhere else." Xue Zhengming said. Dongfang Qingyuan looked at Xue Zhengming in annoyance.

Xue Zhengming pulled Dongfang Qingyuan up. Dongfang Qingyuan sat in front of Xue Zhengming. "You go home with me. Your enemies are heading towards your house." Xue Zhengming said before riding his horse at high speed. They arrived at the capital quite quickly.

---White Mountain---

°bottom of the mountain°

¢Dongfang Residence¢

Dongfang Qingyuan got off horse and immediately entered his residence. Xue Zhengming got off and tied his horse to a tree before following him inside.

@living room

Xue Xingrui was sitting there drinking tea. "What's wrong?" Dongfang Qingyuan asked coldly. "Ruan Shuye wants to see you." Xue Xingrui said. "I don't want to see her." Dongfang Qingyuan said coldly.

"Why? You were the one who handed the box to her. You have to take responsibility. You knew it was Ruo Cheng's box but you still gave it to her." Xue Xingrui said angrily. "That was my promise to Dongfang Ruo Cheng. Since his identity is dead, Ruan Shuye has the right to know." Dongfang Qingyuan said coldly.

"Can't you understand the feelings of both of them?! You also know that Dongfang Ruo Cheng didn't die. Aren't you too cruel?!" Xue Xingrui said angrily. "Cruel? Have you ever been humiliated for something you never did?! Have you ever felt hopeless when you couldn't save anyone even though they were someone precious to you?! Have you ever felt your family stabbed by dozens of swords and arrows to protect yourself? Have you ever been betrayed by someone you trusted the most and also accused of a crime you never committed?! You've never felt it. I know that kind of feeling. If Ruan Shuye is so weak then let her be destroyed. But I'm sure that Dongfang Ruo Cheng is not a weak person." Dongfang Qingyuan said coldly. His killing aura came out.

Dongfang Qingyuan immediately left there. 'You also came back. Just like me.' Xue Zhengming thought. In the past, in order to save Dongfang Ruo Cheng. Xue Zhengming died with thousands of arrows stuck in his back. This time Xue Zhengming wanted to save Dongfang Qingyuan so that Dongfang Ruo Cheng would not do something reckless like his previous life.

But Xue Zhengming did not expect that Dongfang Qingyuan was also the one who returned. Whether this was irony or luck for him. "Xingrui, you go back first. He is not stable now. Especially after his subordinates almost fell into Xue Yanzhong's trap. His mood is quite bad." Xue Zhengming explained.

Xue Xingrui fell silent. "I don't know. I'm sorry, uncle." Xue Xingrui said sincerely. "When his condition improves, you can apologize to him instead of me." Xue Zhengming explained with a smile. Xue Xingrui nodded.

@back garden

Dongfang Qingyuan hugged his knees there and stared into the distance silently. "I didn't see Ning An." Xue Zhengming said flatly.

"Do you know Ning An?" Qingyuan asked confusedly. "I'll tell you later. Now you need to change your clothes. They will arrive soon." Xue Zhengming said. Dongfang Qingyuan understood and wore the clothes gifted by Emperor Xue Feng Ning.

Dongfang Qingyuan understood that this dress was originally for Ruo Cheng but rather than wasting it, it was given to Dongfang Qingyuan. Dongfang Qingyuan would wear it until the clothes he ordered arrived. This outfit really didn't suit him. This type of outfit was like the ones worn by Hua Ling and Liu Yue.

...Liu Yue...

...Hua Ling...

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