Chapter 239: Fated (1)

The dark black eyes darkened, and Yan Hongtian hummed coldly, "Including me?"

"Of course."

Qingfeng also broke into a cold sweat for Yue Sheng. According to Yan Hongtian's personality, he would definitely not let those who disobeyed him have a good time. She had already experienced this many times when she first entered the palace. Sure enough, Yan Hongtian laughed coldly, "Good, I promise you. From today on, no outsiders are allowed to step into Qingfeng Hall within three months. If her face is not healed after three months, I will take your life." Leaving this sentence behind, Yan Hongtian flicked his sleeves and left.

Yue Sheng didn't have a trace of fear on his face. Looking at Yan Hongtian's cold and cruel back, he sneered, "The evil spirit is too heavy, no wonder the offspring are sparse."

"You two go too." Waving his hand at Gu Yun and Zhuo Qing, Yue Sheng also drove them out of Qingfeng Hall.

Half a month passed. Gu Yun didn't enter the palace again and had been secretly looking for clues related to the child's death. Only after really investigating did she find that the palace was a solid castle, very difficult to find a breakthrough. Everyone inside was a conspirator good at hiding and planning. Gu Yun had been investigating cases for so many years and felt frustrated for the first time.

"What are you thinking about?" Her waist tightened suddenly, and a familiar male voice sounded in her ear. He seemed to have gotten used to putting his hand on her waist when he had nothing to do. It was very awkward at first, but now it seemed she had gotten used to it too. Not wanting to say too much about the investigation, Gu Yun said casually, "Nothing, just looking forward to the miracle three months later."

Su Ling laughed, "After we return from the sacrifice next month, you will be able to see your sister. There will definitely be a miracle." Usually, she only felt that she had a good relationship with Qing Ling, but she also cared so much about Qingfeng's affairs.

"Next month?" Gu Yun's heart suddenly jumped, "Isn't that in a few days?"

"Mm, so you can prepare."

Gu Yun's expression was not quite right. Su Ling asked in a low voice, "Why are you unhappy? Aren't you very interested in the clan emblem?"

Right, the Bagua pan. She would soon see the Bagua pan. She should be happy, so why was her heart so panicked? Gu Yun still lowered her head. Su Ling thought she had lost interest in the sacrifice again and said with a smile, "It's spring now, and the scenery of Feng Mountain is also very beautiful. I'll accompany you for an outing."

The doting tone and the pleasant laughter made her heart ache inexplicably at this moment. Gently breaking free from Su Ling's hand, Gu Yun said in a low voice, "I want to go tell my sister, after all, I'll be away from the capital for a long time."

Thinking she was just anxious to say goodbye to her sister, Su Ling didn't take it to heart and smiled, "Good, go."

Gu Yun didn't ride a horse and walked all the way to the Prime Minister's Mansion. The gatekeeper invited her in automatically when he saw it was her. In the strange environment of the Prime Minister's Mansion, Gu Yun felt her heart settle down a bit. She didn't know how long she had been sitting until Zhuo Qing's puzzled voice came from behind, "What's wrong? In a bad mood?"

Gu Yun sighed, "I'm going to sacrifice with Su Ling in a few days, and if there are no accidents, I should be able to see the Bagua pan."

So that was it. Zhuo Qing smiled knowingly and asked, "Then are you unhappy because you are worried about being able to go back, or not being able to go back?"

"I don't know." If it were in the past, she would definitely be very excited at the thought of having a chance to go back, but today, hearing Su Ling talk to her about going back for the sacrifice, her heart panicked for no reason.

Looking at Zhuo Qing, Gu Yun asked in a low voice, "Do you still want to go back?"

Zhuo Qing shook her head and replied with a smile, "I have already made my choice. There are people here I cannot let go of."

She also seemed to be less and less able to let go of Su Ling. Was it true that she didn't want to go back?

Zhuo Qing didn't force her to answer, holding Gu Yun's cold hand, and smiled, "Yun, no matter what decision you make, I support you. No matter whether we can see each other again in the future, you will always be my best friend."

Gu Yun glared at Zhuo Qing and cursed in a low voice, "Please, don't make me cry."

Zhuo Qing replied seriously, "Be moved, I just want to see you cry!"

"Go to hell!"

The laughter and noise diluted the sadness. Yes, no matter whether they could see each other again in the future, or whether they were still in the same space-time, they had each other in their hearts, and that was enough.

Spring was warm and flowers were blooming. Everywhere she looked was red flowers and

"You are already standing on Su family land."

The smile on Su Ren's face was somewhat eerie. Gu Yun guessed, "Don't tell me that after passing the small town this morning, everything else is your Su family's territory?"

Su Ren shook his head. Just as Gu Yun was about to say it was a good thing it wasn't, Su Ren continued, "Fengshan Town also belongs to the Su family."

Huh? That was too exaggerated. Looking at Su Ling beside her, Gu Yun teased, "So you're a wealthy landlord! No wonder the General's Mansion is so rich!" Even the anti-piercing vest was made with gold thread!

Su Ling raised his eyebrows slightly and chuckled, "If I am a wealthy landlord, then what are you?"

Gu Yun was stunned, but Su Ren laughed loudly without giving her any face. Rolling her eyes at them, Gu Yun decided to ignore them; with the green mountains and clear waters, blue skies and white clouds, she would just enjoy the scenery.

After walking a bit further, she saw a magnificent and imposing residence built halfway up a mountain among the peaks. From a distance, it looked as if it were suspended in the lush green mountain forest; it was very distinctive and had quite a feeling of being detached from the mortal world.

Along the way, Gu Yun noticed many people traveling toward the residence just like them. Most of them were riding horses, and each one looked heroic and spirited. Gu Yun smiled, "Your Su clan has quite a lot of people."

Su Ling replied, "Yes, for the once-every-three-years sacrifice, all Su descendants must return."

These past few days, they had been playing while traveling. Firstly, because Su Ling's injuries hadn't fully healed; secondly, it was his first time traveling with her, and he wanted her to have time to see more of the scenery along the way. Therefore, by the time they reached the ancestral residence, it was already near sunset. The three of them had just walked through the main gate when they happened to run into Su Yan.

Seeing Gu Yun, Su Yan immediately laughed happily, "Qing girl, you've come."

The booming voice could probably be heard at the foot of the mountain. Many Su family members looked over toward her, and upon seeing the Bing Lian she held in her hand, they all wore expressions of understanding. Suddenly becoming the focus of everyone's attention, Gu Yun felt a bit awkward and replied with a sheepish laugh, "Uncle Yan."

"Yes, good girl." Su Yan walked over to them and suddenly saw Su Yu returning from outside. He had been about to walk toward them, but now he turned around to leave. Su Yan shouted loudly, "Su Yu, what are you hiding from?"

Roared at by Su Yan, Su Yu couldn't hide even if he wanted to. He slowly turned back and walked toward them, his head slightly lowered, and called out, "Big Brother, Big... Sister-in-law." Having lived in the ancestral residence for a while and reflecting on the past, he still couldn't let go of his feelings for her, but he was gradually able to accept the fact that she had become his sister-in-law.

Su Ren slapped Su Yu's thin shoulder hard and laughed, scolding, "You brat, how did you get so thin? You've really become a little chicken!"

This "little chicken" comment made everyone laugh. Su Yu roared, "Second Brother!"

Seeing that Su Yu had finally woken up, both Su Ling and Gu Yun breathed a sigh of relief. If anything had really happened to him, neither of them would have felt at ease.

"Qing girl, you must be tired. Uncle Yan has prepared the best guest room for you. Come, let me take you to see it." Su Yan suddenly pulled Gu Yun toward the backyard with enthusiasm. Gu Yun was baffled and looked back at Su Ling, but Su Ling just waved at her with a smile, showing no intention of helping her out of the situation.

The Su family residence was very large, and every small courtyard was built with grandeur. After being led around for a long time, Su Yan finally stopped in front of a small courtyard. A wooden plaque hung on the exquisite door lintel, inscribed with the words "Baihua Residence."

Gu Yun broke into a sweat; this name was a bit too tacky. Su Yan pushed open the door and asked as if expecting praise, "Do you like it?"

Gu Yun stared at the courtyard before her, swallowed hard, and only after a long time did she ask with a dry laugh, "Isn't this a bit exaggerated?"

Gu Yun asked very tactfully, but inside she was wailing. This was more than just "a bit" exaggerated—it was simply too much! It truly lived up to the name "Hundred Flowers"! Starting from the courtyard gate, except for a thin path leading to the rooms, every place she could see or imagine was planted with flowers. Really, it was all flowers! All kinds of varieties, all kinds of colors. Gu Yun only felt dizzy now; if she really lived here, would she get hay fever?

Su Yan didn't feel there was anything wrong at all and laughed happily, "Not at all, not at all. You rest first, Uncle Yan won't disturb you."

Gu Yun didn't dare to walk in. She took a step back, grabbed Su Yan's sleeve, and asked, "Wait, Uncle Yan, when does the sacrifice begin?" It would be best if it started soon; if she lived in a courtyard like this for long, she would definitely have a nervous breakdown.

Su Yan shook his head and smiled, "Not so fast. It starts in three days. You rest well; tomorrow I'll have Ling take you around to walk and play."

Gu Yun thought for a moment and asked, "Where is the Clan Leader? I have some things I'd like to ask him."

"He is in the meditation room. Do you want to go now?"

"Is that allowed?" Hearing a name like "meditation room," it felt like a place one shouldn't disturb.

Su Yan patted her shoulder and replied somewhat mysteriously, "If it's you, then it's allowed."

Gu Yun didn't understand the meaning of this sentence, but she followed Su Yan toward the back of the courtyard. Arriving in front of a wooden door, Su Yan stopped and said, "Go in yourself." Having said that, he didn't wait for Gu Yun to answer and turned to leave.

Gu Yun looked up slightly. A thin bamboo plaque hung above the wooden door, inscribed with the four characters "Shang Shan Ruo Shui" (The highest good is like water). The calligraphy was very bold, not quite fitting the artistic conception of those four words. With her hand on the door panel, Gu Yun suddenly felt a bit uneasy. As for why she was uneasy, she couldn't explain it clearly. Taking a deep breath, Gu Yun pushed open the simple wooden door.

She had originally thought there should be a house inside the wooden door; even if just to show elegance, a thatched cottage should at least be there, right? But behind the wooden door was actually an empty wasteland. From here, one could see the layered mountain peaks in the distance. Although it didn't have the openness of "viewing all mountains at a glance," it contained the tranquility and detachment of being amidst the peaks.

"Sit," Su Qing said.

Sitting down on a small wooden stump, Gu Yun looked at the clear tea steaming in front of her. She suddenly had a feeling that beating around the bush to get information out of Su Qing was a particularly unnecessary and stupid thing to do. Gu Yun straightened her posture and said bluntly, "I came because of two things. First, I heard from Su Ling about Bing Lian and Chi Xue. They are both too pitiful. I want to know if the Su family has any ancient books or maxims that mention a way to help them break their seals, so that their souls can be free."

(End of chapter)