She had to go forward and kneel. She closed her eyes and shook the bamboo bucket as Chus.h.i.+ Weiyang did, only to listen to the ‘crack', and a bamboo stick fell out of the bucket onto the ground. She opened her eyes and stood up to pick up the stick. She then walked to the monk.

The monk took the stick and looked at Yang Zijin and said, “What you ask for is also your fate. Your fate is set at the very beginning, and you're not expected to persist in acquiring something that doesn't belong to you. The stick says that you will go back to where you're from.”

Did that mean she was going to come back?

Qiao Shu was thinking about the time, and she estimated that the people she arranged were about to arrive. She told Shuo Ling, “My Lord, I also saw a fortune-teller on the way here. Let's go there to have a look.”

Seeing that Yang Zijin and Chus.h.i.+ Weiyang behaved so intimately, he complained for a thousand times in his mind. It would be better to go out and keep himself away from them.

He nodded and went out together with Qiao Shu…

Shuo Ling didn't forget to remind Mo Li of protecting them.

At the time, the monk looked at the stick and frowned. Then he looked at Yang Zijin and asked, “Aren't you a local?”

Yang Zijin was shocked. She knew what he meant!

His words were also heard by Shuo Ling, who intended to return for more information, but he was interrupted by Qiao Shu. She said, “My Lord, you see, there is the fortune-teller that I said.”

Then she went to the fortune-teller who was arranged by her, too. She asked the fortune-teller to suggest Shuo Ling that he would be with her in the future, and they would be a happy couple.

“Shuo Ling, you…” Qiao Shu turned around and called, but didn't find Shuo Ling. He followed her out but disappeared in just a minute… Did he go back to the hall?

She went back and walked into the hall, but Shuo Ling was not there. Yang Zijin and Chus.h.i.+ Weiyang left, too. She then went out to find them.

Shuo Ling was not deliberately avoiding Qiao Shu. He received a signal sent by one of his guards, so he went to a covert place to give a response. He then hid in a room at the corner of the temple, waiting for his guard.

After asking the monk for their fates, Yang Zijin and Chus.h.i.+ Weiyang came out of the hall to find a quiet place. They sat down for a rest and waited for Qiao Shu and Shuo Ling back.

Just now, Chus.h.i.+ Weiyang deliberately behaved intimately with Yang Zijin in front of Shuo Ling, and he saw Shuo Ling's discontent. At first, he didn't believe the rumor, but Shuo Ling's behavior proved that the rumor was true.

He regarded Shuo Ling as his benefactor since he was a child. He knew Yang Zijin for just one day but took him as a mind-like friend.

So he didn't want to see them turn out to be sensual people.

Or maybe it was Shuo Ling fell in one-sided love with Yang Zijin. As far as he knew, there was nothing that Shuo Ling couldn't acquire. If there were, then it would disappear forever.

Chus.h.i.+ Weiyang decided to observe Yang Zijin and identify the relations.h.i.+p between them at first so that he could find out a solution accordingly.

“Young Master, I heard that you live in the mansion of Marquis Shuo. What do you think of him?” After chatting for a while, Chus.h.i.+ Weiyang asked.

Yang Zijin felt puzzled, why would Chus.h.i.+ Weiyang suddenly ask her about Shuo Ling? After thinking for a while, she said, “Marquis Shuo often stays alone. Although I live in his mansion, we don't see each other frequently.”

Chus.h.i.+ Weiyang nodded, “What do you think of the rumor?”

“I don't care what people say. I have no right to make them shut up!” Yang Zijin was a little angry.

Chus.h.i.+ Weiyang didn't get an accurate answer, so he continued to ask, “If the rumor is not true, why would it become so vivid?”

Yang Zijin kept silent.

Chus.h.i.+ Weiyang was unwilling to give up, “So you….”

Before he spoke, Yang Zijin stood up and interrupted him, “Young Master, what do you mean? So how are you different from people who spread the rumor? As you are Shuo Ling's friend, so I won't blame you for this.”

Then she left.

“Ah… no, I don't mean that.” Chus.h.i.+ Weiyang didn't expect that this would provoke Yang Zijin. He wanted to explain.

But Yang Zijin left without turning around. She was angry. She went to find Qiao Shu and Shuo Ling and then went back together.

…

The guard appeared.

Jifeng saluted, “Your lords.h.i.+p.”

Shuo Ling waved his hand, motioning him to stand up. He asked, “What's the matter?”

“Your lords.h.i.+p, news from the frontier said that there were frequently disappeared people from the Central Plains in recent days, but we couldn't find out who made this happen. I come to ask you how we should deal with this.” Jifeng told Shuo Ling the whole story.

Shuo Ling frowned and asked, “Was there anyone to investigate the case?”

“Officials there have already done the investigation, but they didn't get any useful information, and they have no idea about the investigation,” Jifeng said.

Seeing that Shuo Ling was thinking, Jifeng continued, “There was news from the imperial palace that said His Majesty had received a secret letter from the frontier, so he also knew that. It was said that His Majesty intends to ask Your Lords.h.i.+p to do the investigation, so I come to tell you, and you can make preparation earlier.”

Shuo Ling nodded and motioned Jifeng to leave. While he was thinking, sounds came from outside the door.

“Who is that?” Shuo Ling quickly moved to the door and opened it, and only saw a panic-stricken Qiao Shu standing at the door.

Qiao Shu answered quickly, “Shuo Ling, I didn't see you just now, so I come to find you. I heard there was a sound from this room, so I came over. I didn't expect you're here.”

Qiao Shu's said with joy, but Shuo Ling had no time to talk to her.

“Do you know where they are?” Shuo Ling asked.

Qiao Shu shook her head, “I just went to the main hall and found that they were no longer there, and I didn't see them on the way.”

As she was saying, Yang Zijin approached. It seemed that she was not happy. Shuo Ling only saw Mo Li. Chus.h.i.+ Weiyang didn't follow her.

It seemed that Chus.h.i.+ Weiyang irritated Yang Zijin. Seeing his behaviors today, Shuo Ling decided not to go to him. Then they went out of Qijing Temple. Shuo Ling let Mo Li hire two carriages. He intended to sit together with Yang Zijin.

He rarely saw Yang Zijin angry. At the time, Yang Zijin was silent and stared at Shuo Ling with resentment. Shuo Ling didn't know why. It was clear that Chus.h.i.+ Weiyang irritated her, but why would she look him like that?

Shuo Ling asked, “Zijin, what's wrong?”

“You should ask yourself the question! You're the one to be blamed. Since you took liberties with me in Spring Breeze, so the rumor started!” Hearing Shuo Ling asked her about that, and Yang Zijin lost her temper.

Seeing Yang Zijin angry, Shuo Ling became more and more fond of her. He looked at Yang Zijin with a smile, “I see!”

“You see? Okay, I'll let you know my anger!” Then Yang Zijin tried to hit him with full strength.

Shuo Ling quickly grabbed Yang Zijin's fist and pulled her. They looked at each other. Looking at her pink and soft lips, Shuo Ling kissed her. He didn't see Yang Zijin in recent days and missed her so much. His hands were groping on her body.

Shuo Ling finally stopped. Yang Zijin tried to get up quickly, but Shuo Ling hugged her tightly into his arms. He just kept holding her and watched her all the way home without saying anything.

Yang Zijin was helpless. She was the one who got angry, but now she was thrown into a pa.s.sive position. She didn't want the driver to hear her fight with Shuo Ling because that would make the rumor worse. So she had to keep silent.

What Shuo Ling thought in his mind was that when he deliberately kept a distance with Yang Zijin, he missed her so much that he wanted to see her and hug her in every minute.

The carriage finally stopped. It was a torture for Yang Zijin to sit in the same carriage with Shuo Ling.

At the time, Chus.h.i.+ Weiyang was still looking for them in Qijing Temple. After he asked other people, he realized that they had already gone back. Chus.h.i.+ Weiyang mumbled with disdain, “Shuo Ling, how can you be so stingy. I just touched him a few times. How can you leave me here alone? I even find you all around.”

Chus.h.i.+ Weiyang went out of Qijing Temple with displeasure.

As soon as they entered the mansion, Eunuch Li came.

It seemed that His Majesty thought the thing very important, so he sent Eunuch Li here immediately. People in the frontier would be panic-stricken if they couldn't find out the reasons soon. Even if it were not caused by outsiders, His Majesty would worry that someone would attack the country.

“His Majesty asked Marquis Shuo immediately go to see him without delay.” Eunuch Li said in a shrill voice.

Everyone knelt.

Eunuch Li walked to Shuo Ling and said, “Marquis Shuo, hurry up and follow me. His Majesty is waiting for you!”

“Okay.” Shuo Ling stood up and went out with Eunuch Li. He got on the prepared carriage and moved towards the palace.

Qiao Shu and Yang Zijin were wondering why His Majesty would call Shuo Ling so urgent.

Yang Zijin failed to make it clear and forgot it soon. She went to her yard. Now she was busy with her business. If she was not here today, she wouldn't have the time to go out of the city, and wouldn't be teased by Shuo Ling, too.

Qiao Shu was worried. As Eunuch Li came with anxiety, she was afraid that there was something terrible happened. After returning to her courtyard, she was still restless and paid attention to the outside.

Study room in the imperial palace.

Chus.h.i.+ Youtian looked worried. Within just a few days, he had more grey hair.

Frontier fortress was a critical defense for a country. If there was trouble with the frontier fortress, the consequences could be unbearable.

“Your Majesty.” Shuo Ling knelt.

Seeing Shuo Ling coming, Chus.h.i.+ Youtian raised his head with a tired look. He said, “Shuo Ling, make yourself at home.” Then he said to Eunuch Li, “Take a chair for him.”

Eunuch Li took a chair for Shuo Ling and went out.

A servant shall be smart, and this was also the reason why His Majesty put him at a critical position.