kvmb Chapter 378 A Heartbreaking Search
Chapter 378 A Heartbreaking Search
Chapter 378: Searching for the Trail in Distress
In the stillness of the night, Qi Yuxuan sat alone by candlelight.
His shadow was stretched long and lonely by the candlelight, and the room was deathly silent.
All that could be heard was the faint sound of the candle burning.
He was holding a soft nightgown, which Qiu Ziyue had given him.
Once, this dress carried her warmth and affection, but now it only holds endless regret after he slapped Qiu Ziyue.
When he looked closely, he was surprised to find that the nightgown was embroidered with a pair of small and exquisite mandarin ducks.
He knew that this was Qiu Ziyue's handmade item.
So he took out a few other items and discovered that each one had mandarin ducks embroidered by Qiu Ziyue stitch by stitch.
The mandarin ducks were so lifelike, as if they were snuggling together, whispering vows of eternal love.
"My heart is bound to you like a thread, but you seem to doubt that we are separated by the Chu and Xiang rivers."
The embroidered handkerchief holds deep affection and secret words; the silk robe is embroidered with mandarin ducks, a symbol of love and tenderness.
Rumors spread like wildfire, adding to my sorrow; rain beats down on me, and my longing for you grows like frost.
Only after seeing through the illusion did I realize it was all a dream; regret and tears flowed endlessly across the world.
At this moment, the pair of mandarin ducks seemed particularly ironic—
They remained together, while he and Qiu Ziyue were separated by vast distances.
"My wife, I was wrong, can you still forgive me..."
Qi Yuxuan murmured softly, his voice choked with sobs.
He hugged his pajamas tightly to his chest, as if that would allow him to feel Qiu Ziyue's presence.
Tears silently streamed down her face, soaking her clothes.
He knew that Qiu Ziyue was truly heartbroken this time.
She chose to leave not on a whim, but because she had lost hope in the relationship.
Meanwhile, inside the Prince of Jinyang's residence, Li Cunxu was also plunged into deep sorrow.
He sat alone in his study, clutching a sachet in his hand—a gift Qiu Ziyue had once given him.
The sachet emitted a faint, pleasant fragrance, as if one could still smell Qiu Ziyue's scent.
Li Cunxu stared at the sachet for a long time.
Qiu Ziyue's smile, her words, and all the moments they spent together kept flashing through my mind.
But reality, like a sharp dagger, mercilessly pierced his illusions.
Qiu Ziyue not only left him, but also took Zhao Wanqing with her, and the two have been missing ever since.
What angered Li Cunxu even more was:
The fact that news of Qiu Ziyue's miscarriage was leaked was clearly not accidental, but rather a deliberate act by someone.
Therefore, he decided to thoroughly investigate the matter.
A few days later, Li Cunxu ordered the news to be blocked and began to investigate the servants and attendants in his residence one by one.
He used every means at his disposal, even resorting to torture, and finally uncovered the spy hidden in the Prince of Jin's mansion.
These people readily admitted that they were employed by Zhu Wen's forces.
"What a clever divisive tactic, Zhu Wen! Just you wait, I will definitely get my revenge!"
Despite his anger, Li Cunxu did not stop.
He ordered people to issue notices widely, offering a large reward for information leading to the whereabouts of Qiu Ziyue and Zhao Wanqing.
The notice attracted the attention of countless people after it was posted.
For a time, the entire Central Plains was abuzz with talk of the missing princess and her female companion.
Some speculate that they may have already left for distant lands, or even crossed oceans.
Meanwhile, Qi Yuxuan embarked on another journey to find his wife.
He bid farewell to Valley Master Qiu Ruoshui and his four masters, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.
Despite the many criticisms he received from his masters, he did not defend himself.
He knew that he had indeed let down and hurt his lover, and now he could only make amends through his actions.
Along the way, Qi Yuxuan endured wind and rain, traversing mountains and rivers, asking everyone who might know Qiu Ziyue's whereabouts.
However, no matter how hard he tried, he never got any valuable clues.
Every night, he would silently gaze at the starry sky.
He believed that Qiu Ziyue was still alive somewhere, she just needed time to heal her wounds.
Where did Qiu Ziyue go? Nobody knows the answer.
Many people, drawn by the large sum of money offered by Li Cunxu, abandoned their work and embarked on an adventurous journey to find this extraordinary woman.
They knew that if they found this fortune, they could never spend it all in several lifetimes.
Qi Yuxuan and Li Cunxu went to Cui Ci Mountain Cave, Demon Spring Palace, Liu Mengdie's residence, etc., but found nothing.
Time flies by unnoticed.
The winter wind howls, and withered leaves flutter down.
A group of officials carried a magnificent sedan chair slowly along the winding mountain road.
The sky was overcast, with dark clouds hanging low, as if foreshadowing an inevitable disaster.
The sedan chair carriers yawned and hurried on their way.
They were exhausted, but they persevered to protect the person inside the sedan chair.
A cold wind swept through the snow-covered forest, the drifting snowflakes making a rustling sound that sent chills down one's spine.
Suddenly, a sharp, piercing neigh broke the silence.
Along with the sound, several strong black horses galloped out of the woods and stopped in the middle of the road.
Several fierce-looking bandits sat on horseback.
They held large knives, their faces were full of fierce features, and their eyes were like those of wolves, staring greedily at the sedan chair and the officials accompanying them.
"Leave your money or leave your heads! The choice is yours!"
The leader of the bandits shouted loudly, his voice cold and cruel.
After a slight noise inside the sedan chair, a clear but still somewhat childish voice rang out:
"You bandits, how dare you openly rob people of their money! You have no nerve!"
The bandits ignored these words and charged forward, brandishing their throwing knives.
Although the officials' servants tried their best to resist, they were powerless against the enemy's sharp blades and were all killed in a short time.
The ground was stained red with blood, and the air was filled with the stench of blood.
At this moment, the sedan curtain was slowly lifted, and a young man dressed in brocade robes stepped out.
He looked to be no more than eighteen or nineteen years old, with a handsome face and clear eyes that revealed a hint of stubbornness and determination.
"You are incredibly audacious to murder an official of the imperial court! Aren't you afraid of the death penalty?"
The boy looked coldly at the bandits, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable authority.
The bandit leader laughed heartily:
"What kind of official position do you have? This is a chaotic world, who cares about your status! As long as you can eat, that's all that matters!"
After saying that, he waved his hand, signaling his men to pounce on the boy again.
Just as the sharp blade was about to strike the boy, two agile figures suddenly darted out from the depths of the forest.
Their movements were as fast as lightning, their longswords gleaming coldly as they drew graceful arcs through the air.
Several screams rang out, and most of the bandits had been killed by sword.
The remaining bandits were so frightened that their faces turned pale, their legs went weak, and they all knelt down and begged for mercy.
"Hero, spare us! Hero, spare us! We're just nobodyes, trying to make a living!"
The two men sheathed their weapons and stood opposite the boy.
A young girl wore a red cloak that swayed gently in the wind, like flames leaping behind her.
His eyes and brows exuded a heroic air, and his long, black hair was tied up and hidden under a straw hat, adding to his handsome appearance.
The other was dressed in a light blue outfit, the fabric of which clung to his body, outlining his agile figure.
The two stood together, one like fire, the other like a pine tree, both with striking features that drew attention.
The boy looked at the corpses scattered on the ground, sighed, and said to the surviving bandits:
"Since that's the case, you will carry the sedan chair, but don't do anything immoral or unethical again, or you will not be spared!"
The bandits readily obeyed and became sedan chair carriers.
The boy in the red cloak smiled at the official's son:
"This young man is quite courageous, but unfortunately he has no martial arts skills. In this chaotic world, he might not even have enough heads to go around."
The young official smiled slightly, preparing to express his gratitude, when suddenly his eyes lit up and he said:
"Sister, it's you! Do you remember me?"
To be continued in the next chapter!