Chapter 44 (1/2)

I’ love for one particular male lead in Lost You Forever, and my just one step below love for the other two enuinely no one I dislike aet Zhuan Xu and all his choices (probably because he was the alluded to male lead for Xiao Yao when I firstpersonality that cout that there is no other choice for Xiang Liu than to keep pushi+ng Xiao Yao away

The novel is winding down but not slowing down, as this chapter ra way than Xiao Yao’s brush with death in the ocean in the last chapter This ti Liu isn’t around to rescue her (booooooo), but another person will step in when Xiang Liu/Bei can’t Jing is still dead for all we knohile Zhuan Xu’s secret love is getting closer to being blown open and the results will be good for no one If Xiao Yao loved him like that then so be it, but she doesn’t and it’s all because of what he did way back when to conceal his heart Now he just has to lay in his own bed and boy does it suck to be hies Easily

All the wedding decorations in Xiao Yao’s residence were taken down as if nothing had happened No one , and no one mentioned Xiao Yao’s disappearance Xiao Yao’s life returned to the way it was before, froed But Xiao Yao kneas all different – nohen she looked skyward, there would never be a white crane carrying Jing flying towards her

The guards increased on Xiao Yue Peak, and clearly Zhuan Xu said so to Left Ear and Miao Pu because Left Ear followed her wherever she went He was as unobtrusive as if he wasn’t even there, and initially Xiao Yao thought he wasn’t even around She would call out “Left Ear”, and then a head ht pop up from the tree above, or a voice would answer from the bushes, or a sleeve would peek out from behind a corridor beam Left Ear was like a beast in the wild, able to conceal his

Xiao Yao asked about the Tu Shan clan situation and Zhuan Xu said “It’s a bit of a mess Tu Shan Zhen is the successor in na’s real son so they are co The Tu Shan clan is a prime piece of flesh that everyone wants a bite out of, and the world would be thrilled to see internal strife in the clan so are fanning the discord”

Zhuan Xu neveractively but if Xiao Yao asked then he discussed it directly He was like a doctor treating a patient, he didn’t hide the injury but also didn’t actively exacerbate it He knew Xiao Yao was very sensitive to any ’s death but he chose not to shy away froet involved with the Tu Shan clan situation?”

“Of course I can’t openly, but neither can the other players So everyone is getting involved behind the scenes”

Xiao Yao said “As long as I am alive, I don’t want the Tu Shan clan to fall”

Zhuan Xu asked “What do you want to do?”

Xiao Yao said “Tu Shan Zhen is not Jing’s son but he is the bloodline of the Tu Shan clan I think the Tu Shan Grand Mada the clan leader”

Zhuan Xu asked “His parents killed Jing, don’t you hate hi “If Hou was still alive I could cut him into millions of pieces, but Tu Shan Zhen is just a child and he did nothing wrong You and I knohat it’s like to groithout parents, and his birth isn’t so to be hard If he can’t be the clan leader then others will likely harm him one day He is the successor in na to coone”

Zhuan Xu was startled into silence by Xiao Yao’s words, but after a few moments he smiled “Fine, let Tu Shan Zhen be the clan leader then”

Xiao Yao said “Thank you”

Zhuan Xu rapped Xiao Yao on the forehead “Why are you being polite with et beat?”

Xiao Yao rubbed her forehead “Don’t think you can be et you back!”

“Bring it on!” Zhuan Xu sassed right back

Xiao Yao grew soley or interest in fiddling with her poisons or concoctions

Zhuan Xu rubbed Xiao Yao’s head “You’re on Xiao Yue Peak 24/7, you’ll get sick this way” Last tis to busy herself with but this time she didn’t even seeuards to protectme enNong Mountain that I haven’t been to” Xiao Yao s, at the end one has seen everything”

Zhuan Xu said “How about this then? You can open a medical clinic in Zhi Yi Castle”

“You can handle havingaround outside? I don’t want the medical clinic to becouards around”

“I don’t feel safe having you running around but I feel even worse seeing you like this I’ll handle how toyourof others”

Xiao Yao thought about it and re with her to open aQiu Xiao Yao so to Zhi Yi to open a ate anted to kill her If she stayed on Xiao Yue Peak all day long, tightly protected by guards so that no one could access her, she would also not be able to access others to figure out the attempt on her life

Xiao Yao used her own pocket money to open the medical clinic in Zhi Yi

She cross-dressed as aMiao Pu and Left Ear around, the only other people working at the clinic were two young men Xiao Yao hired She tested them personally and confiruards sent by Zhuan Xu

Medical clinics are not like other businesses, patients need to trust and know the doctor, so initially business was bad Xiao Yao wasn’t anxious, she used the ti men to identify herbs and plants, and also teach Miao Pu and Left Ear to read

Miao Pu ith her for years so she already recognizing some characters here and there, so Xiao Yao sometimes had Miao Pu teach Left Ear how to read and write All Xiao Yao could hear was Miao Pu’s voice nagging and haranguing Left Ear Miao Pu was fully aware of how strong and powerful Left Ear was, so when Xiao Yao asked her to take care of him, she would roll her eyes and snark “Who would dare bemean to him

Because Xiao Yao’s medical skills truly were exceptional, when patients did co ed a not cheap fee, but her prescribed treatment used common plants and made it affordable Gradually word spread and Xiao Yao’s clinic got busier with more patients from nearby

Xiao Yao said to Miao Pu and Left Ear “I can finally afford to take care of you two by myself”

Miao Pu couldn’t understand why Xiao Yao insisted on earning money herself, but Left Ear sain In his eyes, only thefro about being fed, Left Ear was even uards sent by Zhuan Xu were not his so were not reliable Left Ear asked Xiao Yao “Don’t you want to knoho tried to kill you?”

Xiao Yao replied “Already investigating it!”

Left Ear stared in confusion so Xiao Yao laughed It wasn’t clear if it was because Left Ear hung around Miao Pu all day long, but Left Ear added more expressions these days which made him see to kill ain or because of hatred If it’s because of hatred, then if the person you hated didn’t die and is instead parading around all happy and healthy, hoould you feel?”

Left Ear said “I will kill!”

Xiao Yao patted Left Ear on the shoulder, sighing with the hope that one day Left Ear will stop it with this one answer to all questions

Miao Pu scoffed “The person trying to kill Miss, seeing you come back fine will likely cause that person to sleep poorly and pay more attention to Miss The happier Miss is, the worse that person will feel Likely that person will try to kill Miss again, and if that person strikes then we find out who” Miao Pu raised her chin and glared at Left Ear “This is what His MajestyAn uncouth brute like you would never understand”

Left Ear said nothing as usual but Xiao Yao could see through to his feelings Miao Pu saerful he was yet she still sassed him around, which meant she wasn’t afraid of hihtly and said in a low voice “I don’t want to tell His Majesty about this matter yet”

Miao Pu was silent and then nodded “I understand” After the discussion last time, she knew that between her old master and current master her loyalty could only reside with one

Xiao Yao clapped and said with a s that person can sit tight”

One afternoon Xiao Yao was seeing a patient when Feng Long walked in Xiao Yao s her patient Miao Pu walked up to greet hi but his entire body was coiled in readiness for any sudden attack

After Feng Long drank his tea, Xiao Yao finished with the patient and walked over while the patient left gruh price of the consultation Xiao Yao just smiled and didn’t try to explain but also didn’t lower the fee

Feng Long said “If the patients knew the doctor they were seeing helped compile Yellow Emperor Internal Medicine Guide and the Yellow Emperor External Medicine Guide, they wouldn’t coh fees” Since the two manuals were released to the world, the doctors of the world praised it to the heavens and even the ordinary people who didn’t understand ritten in it knew that it saved lives and was invaluable Doctors ere ruh prices for medical visits, and often couldn’t even be summoned for a consultation

Xiao Yao explained “His illness is a coh so his complaint was valid, so next ti wondered “If you’re not doing charity, why open the clinic under a false identity? But if you’re doing charity, why charge such high a consultation fee?”

Xiao Yao explained “My ood that if the fee is low and everyone comes to see me, I can’t handle that volume But I don’t need to use my medical skills to earn money to feed my family, but other doctors do, so I can’t do charity at the expense of ruining their livelihood This way soo to the other doctors, and everyone gets a way to live”

Feng Long chuckled, Xiao Yao really had a way of thinking that was always different than other people He could never understand her thought process Perhaps the only one who understood her was Jing, but……Feng Long’s sreed to let Tu Shan Zhen become clan leader, and will assist and support hie The elders handle the Tu Shan clan affairs together, and with His Majesty’s support, the Tu Shan clan can rows up”

Zhuan Xu had already told this to her so Xiao Yao didn’t believe Feng Long came all this way just to tell her this She silently stared at hiether with old friends fro families In the past they did whatever I wanted, but now they are evenI felt bored so slipped away early I was just wandering and didn’t intend to co in What happened to Jing…I’m very sad about it”

Xiao Yao looked doard

Feng Long continued “When I was s free to doof the childhood days Back then, Jing and Hou were so close I was super jealous Hou was very active like ether Every ti’s roorand drea headed bastard, he loved to opposewasn’t around, ould end up fighting Us boys fought and played and soot a polite smile and is very wellisn’t here anymore either In the blink of an eye, I discovered that I don’t have any friends to play with genuinely any s you all this, likely I used to go find Jing when I was frustrated to vent so today I’ to you I hope you don’tan ear, I don’tstood up “I’ life ahead, Jing ant you to be well” Feng Long suddenly felt rather absurd, Xiao Yao was going to be his bride and after she ran away at the wedding, he thought he would never forgive her He once cursed her a lifeti her like this, he actually felt bad hi to the door and casually asked “How did you know I opened a medical clinic here?”

“The E Yue didn’t just ust, which didn’tSince Xiao Yao ran off at the wedding, Xing Yue hated her guts She called her witch and slut all the ti it Every ti Yue heard about Xiao Yao, she would launch into a diatribe, and one time even said Xiao Yao was a whore like herfinally had enough and chastised her but Xing Yue just huffed off Feng Long couldn’t do anything since she was the Empress now

Xiao Yao walked back inside and silently sat there thinking Was it really Xing Yue? But why? Feng Long said he didn’t understand how it ca it was just superficial talk Xiao Yao didn’t kno it ca Yue, covering for their own brothers, worried for Zhuan Xu together……so why did she want Xiao Yao dead so badly now?

Left Ear said “Miao Pu said he is Chi Sui Feng Long Is it him?”

Xiao Yao replied “If he isn’t the best actor around…the it’s likely not hio kill her now”

“Stop!” Xiao Yao grabbed Left Ear and said harshly “WithoutGot it? Otherwise I won’t let you be uard anymore!”

Left Ear’s impassive face flashed across a pout but he said “I understand”

Xiao Yao didn’t knohy she would suddenly thought of Xiang Liu pouting, which h and want to comfort him, so her voice turned war about killing people A bodyguard is different than being a killer”

Left Ear gru you”

Xiao Yao’s head hurt so she handed it over “Miao Pu, you explain to hiuard and a killer”

Miao Pu giggled and ran over to Left Ear and started her haranguing

Before Zhuan XuYue, Xiao Yao had already left Zhi Jin Summit, and since then she hadn’t visited once

When Xiao Yao arrived at Zhi Jin Palace, no one recognized her, so she flashed the Yellow Ee and shocked everyone while Miao Pu said “This is Ms Xi Ling fro Yi Palace”

People had heard of this Ms Xi Ling with unique birth background and colorful life, but even more had heard of how much the Yellow E the Yellow Ee today confirmed the rumors They opened the door quickly to welcome Xiao Yao inside

When Xiao Yao left, Zhi Jin Palace was a bit desolate but that ht and shi+ny, every blade of grass well-tended, countless people coiving off a sense of silent pressure People’safraid of one tiny e

Xiao Yao s Yue wanted

Today was March 3rd, a Middle Plains holiday where people went to bath in the rivers and pray to the heavens, and later that night walk through the spring foliage to admire the blooms This holiday was as important to the people of the Middle Plains as the lantern festival on May 5th was to the people of Gao Xing

Zhuan Xu treated all tribes the sa all the major holiday traditions of Xuan Yuan, Middle Plains, and now Gao Xing Every holiday Zhuan Xy would celebrate according to the tradition of that place, while letting the ordinary folks decide whether and how to celebrate it themselves

The consorts in Zhi Jin Palace came from all over the vast wilderness so every holiday would be celebrated, but because the Empress was from the Middle Plains, this holiday was even ’s celebrations, Zhuan Xu would be attending as earlier in the day he already went to see the Yellow Emperor and Xiao Yao

Xiao Yao followed the servants lead into Hundred Flower Garden

Inside the garden, there were creeks and trees everywhere, and hundreds of flowers blooes, andhere and there, and a dragon phoenix raised dais was placed in the center where Zhuan Xu and Xing Yue sat together Zhuan Xu was half reclining while Xing Yue sat very de to thewas done, everyone clapped but one consort Xiao Yao didn’t recognize said “The tune was good but cannot co shness , and His Majesty heard Her Highness playing her zither so he joined her on his flute They hadn’t even met yet and already played so in sync with each other Back then they were strangers but now as husband and wife, playing together would be even more destined”

Some other consorts added their voice to the request, while other consorts said nothing and looked rather annoyed Xiao Yao had Miao Pu stop the servants fro her presence and stood under a tree to observe

Xing Yue’s expression was a bit upset, a bit excited, and a bit blushi+ng, clearly she wanted to play the zither with Zhuan Xu He said nothing so the chatter gradually grew silent

Xing Yue looked around and said to Zhuan Xu “His Majesty, tell the hed “Today is a holiday so if they want you to be a musician for a day there is no harm in that I’ll keep you coes on the consorts faces was a sight to behold, while Xing Yue’s face lit up as a zither was placed before her and a flute handed to Zhuan Xu

Xing Yue readied herself while Zhuan Xu walked over to the side of the creek with the flute Xing Yue started playing first, and it was the tune she played that day with Zhuan Xu He joined on the flute and there was dead silence all around so theand forceful, the other tender and docile, one was bold and daring, the other careful and conservative, one was soaring and casual, the other followed the lead

Xiao Yao rehty and challenging back then, daring to cory as to snap a string Xing Yue gave that kind of playing up and chose this type of playing now Xiao Yao unconsciously sighed, and it wasn’t a loud sigh but because it was complete silence all around as the Black Eh was heard by all and came across as especially rude and insolent under the circu Yue both furrowed their brows and looked over at the tree

Xiao Yao knew she had been rude and sighed inwardly that she really wasn’t suited to behave at important events She stepped forward and bowed to Zhuan Xu and Xing Yue, and despite the gesture being so subservient, when Xiao Yao lifted her head sheYue could see that clearly showed Xiao Yao wasn’t being subservient in the least

Xing Yue’s hand jerked so hard that she snapped a string on the zither, while Zhuan Xu was so shocked to see Xiao Yao that he stopped playing at the same moment so it appeared their tune stopped in sync and didn’t seem odd

Zhuan Xu composed himself and asked “Why are you here?”

Xiao Yao lowered her head respectfully and said “Grandfather’s cherries are ripe earlier than expected, knowing Your Majesty is here celebrating the holiday, he askedit over”

Miao Pu stepped forward and presented a basket of cherries The servants received it and Zhuan Xu said “If it’s Grandfather’s gift then everyone have some!”

The servants quickly passed out the cherries to each consort present

The Yellow Emperor lived on Xiao Yue Peak and never cahter-in-law to go see hi her respects, none of the wives had ever interacted with him The consorts were so shocked and pleased at this unexpected gesture and happily ate the cherries They thanked the Yellow Eenerallyto do all just to arden was lit up with beautiful women all atwitter

Xiao Yao smiled as she looked around and Zhuan Xu plastered a smile on his face but didn’t see he shouldn’t have been and was caught by Xiao Yao He looked over at the servant “It’s getting late, the consorts should be retiring”

The consorts weren’t surprised, the Black E but was actually quite aloof and uninterested in celebrations Every event, he would either come early and leave early, or coht after, he never had the interest to partake of an entire celebration

As the consorts were leaving, Zhuan Xu handed his flute to Xing Yue with a smile “Will the Elanced at Xing Yue before looking away and hiding their own disappoint Yue s rage in her heart that she could barely contain She wanted to screauys all blind? Can’t see it? He doesn’t even care aboutme so no one notices that he ended the celebration the second Xiao Yao arrived He’s doing this so later on when people remember today, they will only rethe person he’s hidden away all this tiuys want to be jealous, to hate, it should be towards her!” But Xing Yue couldn’t say any of this so she just bowed low and took her leave beautifully

Xing Yue knew she shouldn’t keep looking but she couldn’t control herself She purposely slowed down behind everyone and then made up an excuse to circle back to look for a dropped satchel As she got close to the edge of the creek, she didn’t dare get any closer so she couldn’t hear what Zhuan Xu and Xiao Yao were saying All she could see was the talking side-by-side along the creek edge

Xing Yue thought back in her side hi out whether it was his authority or her own consideration, until it becaside the Emperor, the other consorts would also never dare With no woside Zhuan Xu, itYue feel like her one step behind wasn’t a probleht she suddenly realized that there was a woside Zhuan Xu

Zhuan Xu walked slowly and cal on the stones next to the creek Whether Xiao Yao was fast or slow, Zhuan Xu always kept pace right next to her Xiao Yao stepped on a moss covered stone and her foot slipped and was about to fall into the creek Zhuan Xu reached out to grab her so only one foot landed in the water Her shoe and heot wet so Zhuan Xu bent down to pick up her wet hem to dry it for her

Xiao Yao bent over with her hand on Zhuan Xu’s shoulder so she could take off the wet shoe As Zhuan Xu stood back up, he took the wet shoe from Xiao Yao to carry for her Xiao Yao pointed to the creek and said soed ride arrived and Zhuan Xu vaulted on with Xiao Yao before flying off towards Xiao Yue Peak

Xing Yue wanted to leave but she had no strength left in her She took two steps forward before her knees buckled and she collapsed on the ground Xing Yue felt this irl and realized she wasn’t soe to keep her father in line She could be killed at anytaken away, so she was so scared and fearful that everything she had would be gone in the blink of an eye

She once thought that Zhuan Xu was a fickle playboy, and wondered if she was up to enduring hiular basis But once she married him, she discovered that Zhuan Xu was actually very distant to all wo He wasn’t loving towards her, but he also wasn’t loving towards any other woave her due preference over the other consorts in public, letting her wield her Eht Zhuan Xu was this aloof so she accepted it without worry But once she started to have doubts, then she grew htened every day, scared that Zhuan Xu wasn’t aloof or uninterested in woiven his entire all to one woman already

Zhuan Xu kept Xiao Yao so well protected that Xing Yue observed for tens of years and still never saw a single slip up He went to Xiao Yue Peak every single day, rain or shi+ne, he let Xiao Yao hit hi when he touched the injury, he illing to carry Xiao Yao’s wet hem and shoe……

All the women on Zhi Jin Summit competed and vied with each other, but they never realized that the one woman Zhuan Xu spent the most time asn’t even on Zhi Jin Su Yue at most saw Zhuan Xu once a o when she ht she was unparallel, and the confidence ca and Chi Sui behind her But then ca Yue and even dom when she married Zhuan Xu Everyone told her to accept it then, even her Gege went to Five Gods Mountain to request the e alliance She had no choice but to accept since she had no ability to fight it

Xing Yue was furious with Ah Nian but wasn’t scared of her Ah Nian lived on Five Gods Mountain and just had the E Yue would even scoff that Ah Nian wouldn’t even be able to hack it as the Ehter’s lirowing more and more scared, as the vast wilderness united as one, the i to Zhuan Xu If Zhuan Xu would let Xiao Yao hit him, could carry her shi+rt and shoe, then whatever Xiao Yao wanted Zhuan Xu would give it to her Down the road, forget Zhuan Xu spending tiht be in peril!

Xing Yue bitterly laughed – it didn’t even need to wait for Xiao Yao to want soht, Xiao Yao appeared and Zhuan Xu sent all the wives away so he can give Xiao Yao his undivided attention Xing Yue knew that it was a frightening idea, to kill Xiao Yao, and if Zhuan Xu found out the consequences would be uniet rid of Xiao Yao, wouldn’t her future be just as uniinable? At that time, it would be even more unbearable!

After the holiday passed, Xiao Yao waited for Xing Yue tohappened Xiao Yao was confused, was it not Xing Yue after all? That time she went to Zhi Jin Suet yelled at for no reason?

At the end of April, Zhuan Xu went to Five Gods Mountain and ordered Xiao Yao not to go to the medical clinic and to stay put If she was bored then to wander around Sheng Nong Mountain

Xiao Yao pro Nong Mountain before Zhuan Xu felt assured enough to depart

Xiao Yao got an invitation fro She was inviting Xiao Yao in early May to attend the lantern release in Sheng Nong Mountain The invitation include instructions foron botto was on top She wrote that the event would be great fun and invited Xiao Yao to attend

The Li Jie Consort was neutral on Zhi Jin Summit, she neither supported nor opposed the E Yue And the close friendshi+p between Li Jie Chang and Jing made Xiao Yao warmer towards the Li Jie Consort, but even then there were no close ties so Xiao Yao didn’t understand why she suddenly got invited

Xiao Yao thought about it and decided to go, it was years since she went to a lantern festival

Xiao Yao and Left Ear set off around dusk Left Ear hadn’t learned how to ride a winged horse yet so Miao Pu loudly mocked him for it But then she went on to earnestly show hie and looked at the two sitting up front Left Ear pulled on the reins but used too hed in discorab Left Ear’s hand to show hied horses stabilized, Miao Pu’s body was half sitting in Left Ear’s ar Left Ear’s body posture tensing up as his ears turned bright red Who knew the cold brutal killer would turn shy and nervous like this? Xiao Yao’s heart turnedwas once this aard and shy Xiao Yao used to be so frustrated with hih, and even thought about ending the relationshi+p But looking back now, she understood it was a type of cherishi+ng, of caring too much as to be hesitant That was so precious, because it was the first and the truest heart

In Left Ear’s nervous and aard flying, the cloud carriage arrived at theplace

It really was an exquisite vieith a large rock that seemed to have been dropped off the air into the top of theover, yet securely reathered on the rock, chatting amiably as the party was underway

Xiao Yao’s cloud carriage landed in one corner as another cloud carriage landed in the other Xiao Yao and Xing Yue got out one after the other and the Li Jie Consort hurried over to greet both, with the three exchanging pleasantries

Xing Yue looked around and said with a smile “This place is so unique, how did you find it?”

Li Jie Consort laughed “Sheng Nong Mountain is thousands ofhere there are places one will never see even in a lifetime In my free time I like to wander around the mountain since I have so much free tihness is so busy, otherwise there areodd places to explore”

Li Jie Consort’s words see Yue didn’t continue that conversation and instead asked “Your invite said releasing lanterns, I prepared many lanterns but there is no water here so how to release the lanterns?”

The Gao Xing people lived by water so their lantern festival was releasing lit lantern the water surface If it floated longer before sinking it end had it that wishes onYue and the Li Jie Consort were still unirlfriends to release lanterns before

Li Jie Consort laughed “Sheng Nong isn’t like Gao Xing, if we release lanterns in water it’ll disappear froht up an unique idea to release lanterns here”

“What unique idea?”

Li Jie Consort nodded to herto the sky “Look!”

They were standing on the surface of a rock perched on the top of aaround theed shapes A ed ride into the clouds and lit up a lantern before releasing it into the clouds The lantern moved with the clouds as if it was on the surface of water, yet different as soher and others lower rather than all on the sahts flickered all around the Yue nodded her head “Very unique indeed!”

Li Jie Consort smiled at Xiao Yao “What do you think?” Xiao Yao exclaimed “It’s fantastic!”

Li Jie Consort said “When more lanterns are released it’ll be even o first”

TheYue said “Then I shall” Xing Yue’sYue took one in hand before getting on the s and flying into the air She closed her eyes tothe lantern

Everyone watched the Empress release her lantern and followed suit on ss to release their lanterns Some were lazy and just tossed lanterns into the sea of cloud, with so over and the light extinguishi+ng Those with loers decided not to be lazy and got on the ss to release it properly into the clouds

Everyone had different design lanterns, in various colors and shapes, and as more and rew hts…as if various colored gehtly

Li Jie Consort asked Xiao Yao “Pretty?”

Xiao Yao stared at the lanterns around her “Very pretty!”

Li Jie Consort said “Chang wantedwas alive or dead, he had the same wish for you to be happy Even if he wasn’t the one to make that wish come true, he would still only want you to be happy”