"So why did you choose to tell me now?"
Bu Ran replied, "Because now, you're strong enough."
Zhao Shuning stretched out her hands, pouting like a little girl asking for a hug from Yan Ruyu.
Yan Ruyu smiled tenderly, stepping forward to embrace her.
Zhao Shuning looked at Yan Ruyu's white hair, her heart aching.
"Bu Ran, I'm sorry. It's because of me that you've become like this."
"Silly girl, what are you talking about? If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have had to go through all this."
Zhao Shuning made a funny face.
"I'm willing."
After all, she had finally won Bu Ran's whole heart and person. All the hardships she had endured before were worth it.
"You rest first. I'll go to the imperial kitchen and get you some nourishing food."
"I don't mind what it is."
"Ning'er, you should rest. You'll have a lot to do next."
Zhao Shuning nodded.
She truly relished Yan Ruyu's love at this moment, enjoying it while secretly rejoicing.
At this time, in the Jun family's residence in the Western Garden of the capital city.
Dongfang Yuxi had just returned from the Eastern Continent. He had just arrived at his courtyard and planned to drink a few cups of tea to refresh himself before going to bed.
As soon as he poured the tea, a figure appeared at the courtyard gate. It was Jun Xuanmo, the eldest son of the Jun family.
Seeing Dongfang Yuxi, Jun Xuanmo was extremely polite.
"Dongfang, when did you come back? You should have told us in advance so that we could hold a banquet to welcome you back."
Dongfang Yuxi picked up his teacup and took a sip, saying nothing.
Dongfang Yuxi, the first divine fortune - teller in Qingyun Kingdom and the first military advisor of the Jun family, was a man of great talent.
He was not only handsome but also had impeccable abilities. However, there was one thing that made it hard for people to like him. He didn't like to talk.
In Qingyun Kingdom, there were very few people who could talk to him, even the current king was no exception.
Jun Xuanmo felt a bit embarrassed. He scratched his nose and continued.
"By the way, Dongfang, did you gain anything from this trip?"
Dongfang Yuxi frowned and put down his cup.
"I didn't prepare a cup for you."
What he meant was that he wanted to be alone for now. He wasn't welcoming Jun Xuanmo at the moment, and Jun Xuanmo should leave.
Under normal circumstances, Jun Xuanmo wouldn't have dared to bother Dongfang Yuxi like this. But this time, it was for a special reason. He was on a mission.
So even though he understood Dongfang Yuxi's intention to drive him away, he didn't get up. Instead, he continued, "It's okay. I'm not thirsty. I just came to see you and have a chat with you."
Dongfang Yuxi glanced at Jun Xuanmo.
Jun Xuanmo felt a bit guilty. He kept fidgeting with his hands in front of him, unable to find a proper posture.
Right now, the word "fidgety" could perfectly describe Jun Xuanmo. At this moment, countless thoughts of running away flashed through Jun Xuanmo's mind. Dongfang Yuxi's glance was really too intimidating.
However, he really couldn't run away at this moment.
As the saying goes, those who receive the king's salary should share the king's worries. Since the king had entrusted him with such an important task, and Dongfang was a military advisor in his mansion, if he couldn't handle this matter well, he would really have no face to show himself.
"Dongfang, how are the clan members in the Eastern Continent?"
Dongfang Yuxi lowered his head and continued to drink his tea.
"By the way, Dongfang, I almost forgot. A few days ago, Jiujiu said she wanted to come and play with you and give you a gift. Look, I was in such a hurry that I forgot to bring the gift she prepared for you."
"Dongfang, I think your dressing today is quite different. Even such an ordinary robe looks so good on you. You look like a painting. It's really true that good - looking people look good in anything. It's just that people in Qingyun Kingdom haven't seen you many times. Otherwise, the title of the most handsome man in Qingyun Kingdom would never go to Wei Ziyun. Am I right?"
Dongfang Yuxi's cup of tea was already empty. But Jun Xuanmo still didn't get a response.
To make matters worse, now Dongfang Yuxi had started to put away the teacups and was about to go back to his room.
You know, according to Dongfang's temper, others were allowed to enter the courtyard, but no one dared to enter his room. Even the servants who served him could only wait in the courtyard if he didn't specifically summon them.
During the years he had lived in the Jun family, Jun Xuanmo had only entered Dongfang Yuxi's room a few times, which could be counted on one hand.
Just as Dongfang Yuxi was about to stand up, Jun Xuanmo spoke.
He lowered his head and blurted out all the things he needed to say in one breath.
"Dongfang, here's the thing. Not long after the court session ended today, the king came to me. I don't know where he got the news that you had returned to the Jun family today. I guarantee that I never leaked any of your privacy."
"The king came to me and said that he hoped you could do him a favor regarding the celestial phenomena. He wants you to choose an auspicious day according to the almanac of Qingyun Kingdom because there is an important person in the palace who wants to get married. So, do you have time to... go?"
"Bang!"
Before he could finish speaking, Dongfang Yuxi's door slammed shut in front of Jun Xuanmo.
He was stunned.
As if he had predicted this, he murmured, "I knew it. It wouldn't work no matter who came to talk to him. Dongfang has such a bad temper. If he were willing to talk to people, it would be a miracle."
Inside the room, Dongfang Yuxi's face turned ashen. He tightly grasped the teacup in his hand.
Due to the great strength, the teacup soon turned into pieces. The fragments pierced into his hand, and blood trickled down.
But Dongfang Yuxi seemed not to notice and felt no pain.
His back was against the door.
It was not until the sound of dripping blood came that he realized what he had done.
His expression was dull. He slowly knelt down and began to clean up the fragments and the blood on the ground.
As his robe swayed, the skin under the hem was exposed.
Within the visible range, his arms were covered with scars of all sizes.
Each of these scars was left by the Su family when they cut him one by one.
Although the Su family's act of exterminating his clan was not directly the work of Su Mu, it was still related to him. He was from the Su family and the son of that person.
Even though the Su family had received due punishment later, the shadow left by the things he had experienced in his childhood could never be erased.
As for Su Mu, although Dongfang Yuxi lived in Qingyun Kingdom now, he didn't even want to see his face once.
His former friend was now no different from a stranger when they met. Maybe it could be said that he was even more indifferent than a stranger.
Because Dongfang Yuxi still harbored resentment towards Su Mu.
The events of that year could have been avoided.