Chapter 426 - 425: Two Days
Mu Lianxiao raised his hand to cover his eyes and slowly exhaled.
After his grandfather and father died in battle, Mu Lianxiao only had Mu Yuanmou as an uncle.
He respected his uncle as he did his father, and Mu Yuanmou was like a kind father to him.
To suspect Mu Yuanmou, Mu Lianxiao felt a heavy blockage in his heart.
He should have felt suffocated, but Du Yunluo’s tears disrupted his emotions. After comforting his wife, he found that the burden on his heart had lightened considerably.
Looking back at Mu Yuanmou now, his state of mind was different from before.
He wasn’t without sadness, but more so without understanding.
They were blood-related uncle and nephew; why did Mu Yuanmou have to...
A sleepless night.
Mu Lianxiao got up at dawn to practice martial arts in the courtyard.
Du Yunluo woke up, her eyes too painful to open.
She rubbed them hard, but even after wiping them the night before, the traces of her crying fit didn’t go away.
Sitting in front of the mirror, her eyes swollen, Du Yunluo quietly asked Jin Rui, "Can powder cover this?"
Jin Rui shook her head. She knew Du Yunluo cried last night, but with Mu Lianxiao in the inner room, Jin Rui could only pretend not to hear and couldn’t get up to light the lamp and ask around.
Peeking at Mu Lianxiao and Du Yunluo in the morning, they didn’t seem like they had a fight, which reassured Jin Rui.
"It’s hard to cover. There’s no ice here either. Madam, use a cloth for a while," Jin Rui suggested.
Du Yunluo just did as told.
Otherwise, if Mu Liankang saw her like this, it would be a big joke.
While applying the compress, she heard the sounds of fists and feet from outside.
Jin Rui glanced out the window and said, "Madam, the Princely Heir and Mr. Ye are sparring."
Upon hearing this, Du Yunluo grew interested, walked to the window, and watched with one eye while the other was covered.
Both Mu Lianxiao and Mu Liankang were martial artists, and their skills could kill enemies, unlike mere flowery forms. Their sparring was powerful and intimidating.
Brother Yan also woke up, and Lady Peng brought him out of the room.
His big eyes followed the two men’s movements, cooing continuously.
Du Yunluo found him amusing.
The pair stopped, and Mu Lianxiao looked back at his son. Sweating all over, he didn’t go to hold Brother Yan but glanced at Du Yunluo standing by the window and smiled at her gently.
Mu Lianxiao returned indoors to freshen up.
Du Yunluo took Brother Yan in her arms, speaking softly, "Can you tell that your father and uncle are practicing martial arts? Everything you look at is so fascinating, and you’re cooing."
Mu Lianxiao changed into clean clothes, took Brother Yan over, and kissed him on the cheek hard: "Grow up quickly, and I’ll teach you to box."
Brother Yan cooed.
Du Yunluo laughed and playfully scolded Mu Lianxiao, pinching her son’s nose: "Brother Yan, your father hasn’t even taught Mother to ride yet."
"You," Mu Lianxiao said with a smile, "Next time I’m free, I’ll take you riding."
Du Yunluo beamed.
After breakfast, Du Yunluo had Lady Peng take Brother Yan back to the room and spoke privately with Mu Lianxiao: "How should we write the family letter? How should we talk about Uncle’s affairs?"
Sighing deeply with drooped eyes, Mu Lianxiao knew some things must be faced.
"I’ll think about it today, and if I don’t return tonight, I’ll have Shuying bring you a message," said Mu Lianxiao in a deep voice.
Du Yunluo nodded in agreement and saw off Mu Lianxiao and Mu Liankang returned to Shanyu Pass.
Inside Shanyu Pass, everything was as usual.
Mu Lianxiao went up the city wall, where he was greeted by the vast Great Desert, where, when the wind blew, yellow sand filled the sky, stinging his eyes to the point he couldn’t open them.
Ye Yuzhi had rejoined the team and stood guard on the city wall today. Seeing Mu Lianxiao frowning not far away, he hesitated and spoke: "Does the Princely Heir have any difficulties? Is it related to Mr. Ye?"
Mu Lianxiao pursed his lips: "I’m thinking about my elder brother’s disappearance back then."
"Ha..." Ye Yuzhi chuckled and directed his gaze to the vast desert, his tone calm but certain, "The fact that the Princely Heir is thinking about it means that Mr. Ye’s disappearance wasn’t an accident but deliberate."
Mu Lianxiao’s body stiffened, and he gave Ye Yuzhi a complex look.
Having heard about it back then, Ye Yuzhi knew the identity of the Mu Family people who went to collect the spirit and thought for a moment: "Is it the Princely Heir’s second uncle?"
"It’s just suspicion; ultimately, it’s my second uncle," Mu Lianxiao tightened his jaw and said, "Is this a case of you as an outsider seeing the situation clearly while I’m confused as an insider?"
Ye Yuzhi smiled bitterly, shaking his head: "No.
Many things are unseen when trusted. Once a corner is lifted, the rest follows.
Does the Princely Heir believe a true uncle wouldn’t be ruthless?
Look at An Ran and me; the human heart is such that nothing should be impossible."
Grandparents and parents would still do such things, so what an uncle would do is hardly surprising.
Mu Lianxiao laughed too, bitterly.
The two men spoke no further, standing on the city wall, hands behind their backs.
After a long time, Mu Lianxiao exhaled the stifling air from his chest and asked someone to fetch Mu Liankang.
Mu Liankang came, stood beside Mu Lianxiao, and the yellow sand and dust before him had long been a part of him.
"Brother," Mu Lianxiao asked him, "Is the oasis where our sister-in-law is far from here?"
Mu Liankang laughed and said, "With a swift horse, three days will do, but the desert isn’t like mountain roads; riding fast at noon is too much for the horse."
"Have you been to Ancient Meili? How long does it take to get from Shanyu Pass to Ancient Meili?" Mu Lianxiao asked again.
Mu Liankang’s eyes tightened at his words, and he turned to Mu Lianxiao: "Non-stop, two days."
Two days?
Mu Lianxiao looked at Mu Liankang in disbelief.
"There’s a shortcut through the Gobi, straight to the outskirts of Ancient Meili City," Mu Liankang extended a finger and said, "Just two days."
Mu Lianxiao’s heart began to race; if it only took two days, with enough provisions and water, the horses should be able to cross the desert and reach Ancient Meili.
"Brother..." Mu Lianxiao pondered, "Your relatives outside the pass, and with Ancient Meili..."
Mu Liankang’s smile turned grim as he clenched his fist: "The leader was driven out of Ancient Meili, and he and Wuna Li have an irreconcilable hatred.
My life was saved by the leader, and if I could defeat Wuna Li before returning to the capital, it would be repaying the favor."
Mu Lianxiao nodded heavily and set off with Mu Liankang to find General Huang.
General Huang was both surprised and delighted to hear this, rubbing his fists together: "With a reliable guide, we can surely take Ancient Meili for the Holy Emperor."
Mu Liankang moved to the map, tracing with his finger: "Take this route, and two days are enough."
Huang Yun was stunned: "So, there’s even a shortcut..."
"In the desert, people usually stick to familiar routes and rarely change paths, so only a few know about this path," Mu Liankang explained, "Since I’m a bandit, I obviously know some shortcuts."