Chapter 459: Why Don’t You Follow Me

Chapter 459: Why Don’t You Follow Me

“Zhe Jing, why are you back again?”

Jin'er was at a loss, and since Miss Su wasn’t speaking, her anxiety only grew. Seeing that she was becoming increasingly anxious, she asked in confusion.

“My lady, those assassins might target you as well. I am following Lord Xie’s orders to stay by your side temporarily,” Zhe Jing said, kneeling on one knee and showing no intention of rising until Lady Su agreed.

To his surprise, Lady Su immediately gave her consent.

“Alright.”

But the next sentence left Zhe Jing completely stunned.

“Let’s go together to find Xie Yuan.”

Su Youyue’s voice was light, as if it carried no weight.

But to Zhe Jing’s ears, it was as heavy as a thousand jin.

“My lady, are you sure...?”

“You want to go too, don’t you?” Su Youyue interrupted him directly. “Don’t try to persuade me. I’ve already decided. Go gather the men.”

Zhe Jing hesitated, then bowed his fist and said, “Yes!”

As soon as Zhe Jing left, Jin'er hurriedly came over. “Miss, I want to go with you as well.”

Su Youyue was just about to refuse when she suddenly felt a bit dizzy.

She quickly steadied herself, and Jin'er’s voice reached her ears, “Miss, you never take good care of yourself. If you get hurt or lose weight because you’re not eating properly on the way, Lord Xie will surely be heartbroken when he sees you!”

What had been a refusal on Su Youyue’s lips became an agreement.

“Alright, let’s go together.”

The news of Xie Yuan’s disappearance soon spread throughout all of Liao Dong. However, Prince Rong was dead, and only remnants of his army remained, while the Dong Rong troops had already retreated. Liao Dong was not thrown into chaos.

While cursing the assassins, the citizens, one after another, went spontaneously to the area near the Jiuyuan River, hoping to search for Lord Xie’s whereabouts.

A few people from the Jinghai Marquis Mansion also arrived and joined the search alongside Su Youyue.

Hua Qingyun continuously analyzed the terrain and water currents near the Jiuyuan River, speculating about where Xie Yuan might be at that moment, while Chu Xiaozi followed him in the search and occasionally returned to check on Su Youyue’s condition.

“My teacher and General Xie share a deep bond as a couple. Now that General Xie is missing, she must be feeling incredibly distressed,” Chu Xiaozi thought, her eyes welling up with tears.

Chu Xiaozi was seeing this youngster on the verge of tears for the first time. In the past, every time he saw her, she was like a mischievous monkey, as if nothing could make her cry. This time, he was surprised.

In private, he said to Hua Qingyun, “I wonder how Chu Xiaozi got to know Lady Xie. She actually refers to Lady Xie as ‘teacher’ every time…”

Before Shu Mo could finish speaking, Hua Qingyun lightly tapped his forehead with the back of his brush.

“Lady Xie is talented and virtuous, with the ability to command respect. Even the Emperor has recognized her by appointing her as a female official. Who else wouldn’t be able to call her ‘teacher’?”

Shu Mo fell silent, realizing Hua Qingyun was right, and tossed aside his previous thought that it was improper for a man and a woman to address each other as teacher and student.

Lady Xie and her mother, Madam Su, the Minister of Personnel, had created divine weapons that turned the tide of two major battles, easily reversing what had been dire situations. They were truly extraordinary women, worthy of being called ‘teacher.’

“Young master, according to our speculation, we should be correct, right? We’ve even found the assassins who fell into the river with Lord Xie, so how come we haven’t found Lord Xie?” Shu Mo was puzzled.

Even if Lord Xie has really sacrificed his life, we shouldn't be unable to find his body...

Hua Qingyun turned another page of the map in his hand and drew a stroke on the winding river.

"Alive, no sign of the person; dead, no sign of the body, there's another possibility... It's also possible that someone has rescued him."

Shu Mo's eyes lit up. "If that's true, it would be wonderful. Lord Xie, a hero who serves the nation and its people, must not meet his end here! Let's go tell Lady Xie at once..."

Hua Qingyun slightly looked up, intending to shake his head. This was merely his speculation and had not been confirmed yet. If they informed them too early, it might just give them false hope, which wouldn't be good. Just as he was about to speak, he heard Shu Mo murmur.

"Lady Xie will feel better knowing this, and Chu Xiaozi won't be so heartbroken."

After spending some time together, Shu Mo's impression of Chu Xiaozi improved significantly. She was now respectful and polite, unlike before when she called him a big oaf. Moreover, this kid had been living next to him and Hua Qingyun in Jiuyuan Town, so Shu Mo naturally felt closer to him.

Hua Qingyun's gaze paused in the air for a moment before he nodded. "Alright, now that the search teams have scoured the downstream, it's indeed time to inquire if there are any hidden villages nearby."

Shu Mo responded happily and dashed out.

Watching his departing figure, Hua Qingyun helplessly shook his head.

Although the sky was a clear blue, the air was growing colder. Standing by the river for a while would cause one to shiver from the cold wind. By the time the sky darkened, the cold seemed to seep in through every gap in the clothes, trying to penetrate the skin.

Jin'er draped a cloak over Su Youyue, bringing her out of her daze.

"Miss, it's too cold outside. You should go inside and wait for a while. Don't risk your health. What if, after all the effort to find Lord Xie, you fall ill and can't see him immediately?"

"Yes, Yue'er, go back and rest for a while. If Xie Yuan knew that you were searching for him without rest, he would be heartbroken," Xiao Feiyan also advised.

Their words seemed to be carried away by the wind as Su Youyue's mind remained blank, staring at the dark river under the night sky.

When Xie Yuan searched for her, he had endured countless hardships and sufferings along the way. He had only briefly mentioned them, and she knew nothing of the details. But she could empathize with his feelings.

Thinking of him constantly, her heart ached continuously, yet it felt so empty, as if she had been condemned to life imprisonment, or as if she had been held underwater, unable to struggle or breathe.

The night deepened.

"I wonder if he's feeling cold now."

Su Youyue muttered to herself, as if she hadn't heard Jin'er and Xiao Feiyan.

The two girls stared at her, their hearts feeling as if they had shattered along with hers.

After a moment, Xiao Feiyan suddenly clenched her teeth and forcibly grabbed Su Youyue's hand. "Yue'er, go back and rest. If you don't, I'll have my Third Brother and Fourth Brother send someone to knock you out and take you back to Yanjing!"

Before Su Youyue could respond, still dazed, an arrow suddenly flew toward them.

Xiao Feiyan's arm was grazed, forcing her to let go and step back.

"Miss Xiao!"

Hearing Jin'er's cry, Su Youyue was finally jolted out of her thoughts. As she opened her mouth to check on Xiao Feiyan, a group of horsemen suddenly charged from behind.

The guards immediately drew their swords and rushed forward, but the enemies were unstoppable and quickly opened a path.

Xiao Feiyan's pupils shrank as she reached out to pull Su Youyue, but it was too late. Su Youyue was yanked onto a horse.

"Ha... Su Youyue, you're finally in my hands again."

The young man's voice carried a maniacal malice.

"Xie Yuan is dead. What will you do now, how pitiful. How about you come with me?"