“This one?” Zhong Li untied the jade pendant from her waist and placed it on the table.
She only knew it belonged to Ge Meng. So, according to Lu Wuxie, this Ge Meng had a romantic connection with Xie Yunxia?
Lu Wuxie nodded, flipping the jade pendant over and pointing to the character 'Meng' carved on it. "My mother carved this."
Upon hearing this, Zhong Li looked at the man opposite her with disbelief. Though she had guessed it, hearing it from Lu Wuxie's own lips still surprised her, especially given how unsightly the carving was.
Lu Wuxie, sensing Zhong Li's thoughts, chuckled softly. "My mother wasn't skilled at carving. No matter how elegant her handwriting, it would look unrefined when carved. It's a pity for such fine soft jade."
As he spoke, his fingertip traced the character 'Meng.' "Ge Meng was older than my mother. By the time she came of age, Ge Meng had already begun to distinguish himself in the military camp. This jade was a gift from my mother to him upon his receiving the Emperor's favor."
"So, did your mother like General Ge?" Zhong Li ventured. She wasn't surprised that Xie Yunxia had liked Ge Meng before developing feelings for Prince Xian, after all, everyone has a first love.
Lu Wuxie shook his head. "She only saw him as an elder brother."
Zhong Li remained silent.
"However, General Ge... likely liked my mother." He narrowed his eyes, recalling how Ge Meng, upon learning of his mother's death, had risked capture to see her one last time, and then the half of the jade pendant had vanished. A sense of suppressed emotion welled up within him.
"Twenty years ago, Ge Meng suppressed the Northern Di and defended the Southern Yue Kingdom. In the same year, he was enfegeted as the Great General who Protects the State, and then he disappeared. Was it related to your mother?" Zhong Li asked.
Lu Wuxie shook his head. He had lived two lives and still didn't fully understand this matter. Those who knew the truth were all dead, making a thorough investigation as difficult as climbing to the heavens. But...
He looked at Zhong Li and said, "The only thing I can be sure of regarding General Ge's disappearance is that he was protecting her."
"How do you know?" Zhong Li knew the 'her' he referred to was Xie Yunxia.
Lu Wuxie remained silent, his gaze drifting to the vast expanse of stars as memories slowly surfaced.
The year his mother died, he was twelve. He had believed that by reliving his life, he could prevent his mother's death. Little did he know, the day he was reborn was the very day his mother was murdered and was being brought back from Lingshan.
Despite being an adult who had already died once, despite his frail body housing a soul weathered by vicissitudes, he was, like everyone else, flustered and lost when facing his mother's death and the loss of her.
He had failed to prevent her death, and consequently, had also failed to prevent Xie Yunxi's arrival.
The only thing that surprised him was that on the day of his mother's funeral, instead of obediently guarding the tomb as in his previous life, he had bypassed the mourning hall to catch a final glimpse of his mother. It was then that he encountered Ge Meng.
Ge Meng might have recognized him, or he might not have. But Lu Wuxie recognized Ge Meng, the man who, in his previous life, had been torn apart by five horses.
"Come here!" Ge Meng, seeing him, showed no surprise. He beckoned him over with a face etched with hardship.
Lu Wuxie, unlike his naive self in the previous life, walked towards him calmly.
Ge Meng smiled, his eyes filled with boundless affection, and said, "You look so much like Ah Xia."
At that moment, Lu Wuxie had already discerned the deep affection in the eyes of the disheveled man.
"What are you doing here?" he asked coldly, his brow furrowed.
"This is unlike you! You're like a little adult, not as cute as Ah Xia when she was little!" Ge Meng wasn't angered by Lu Wuxie's coldness. He simply ruffled his hair, complaining with a smile.
Lu Wuxie remained silent. He was already an adult.
"I'm here to see your mother, and I'll leave shortly!" Ge Meng continued to stroke his hair, explaining.
Lu Wuxie lowered his gaze. Having just been reborn, he wasn't accustomed to such attention from others, especially from Ge Meng, who was a stranger in his mind.
Seeing his silence, Ge Meng mistook it for anger. He casually took out a jade pendant from his embrace, broke it in half, and handed it to him. "This is for you. Take it out and look at it whenever you miss your mother."
"This..." Lu Wuxie frowned.
"Your mother gave it to me when she was young," Ge Meng said.
Hearing this, Lu Wuxie looked at the other half in Ge Meng's hand.
"I can only give you half," Ge Meng, understanding his gaze, said. "I'll keep the other half for my longing."
Lu Wuxie's eyes clearly showed displeasure upon hearing this.
"Your mother doesn't like me. She told me not to worry about you," Ge Meng looked at Lu Wuxie's clear eyes, which held a wariness beyond his years, and explained, "She told me herself."
"Then why are you here?" Lu Wuxie sneered.
Ge Meng shook his head. "You wouldn't understand."
Lu Wuxie, unwilling to converse further, tossed out, "Look at it and then leave," and turned to walk out of the room.
"Ah Xia, I thought my departure twenty years ago would ensure your safety. I never imagined you would ultimately be unable to escape this calamity."
Ge Meng watched Lu Wuxie walk out of the room and sighed softly.
Lu Wuxie, now leaning against the doorframe, heard the words from inside and his brow furrowed.
With his memories reaching this point, Lu Wuxie drained the Hundred Flower Brew in his hand and turned to look at the woman opposite him.
Unbeknownst to him, Zhong Li had already fallen asleep, her head resting on the table.
"Young Master..."
"Hush..."
As Lu Wuxie stood up, a gust of wind blew through the window, and Lin Jin entered the room, flipping in. Lu Wuxie made a silencing gesture.
Lin Jin quickly closed the window.
Lu Wuxie didn't look at him, slowly approaching Zhong Li. With gentle movements, he picked her up, turned, and walked into the side room. A moment later, he emerged and glanced at Lin Jin.
Lin Jin followed Lu Wuxie directly out of the room and to the balustrade.
"Why are you so late?" Lu Wuxie's gentle expression vanished, replaced by a stern inquiry.
Lin Jin clasped his fist. "Young Master, the target was lost."
"Qi Shuishui?" Lu Wuxie asked.
"Yes. As per your instructions, since you set sail, I have been following Qi Shuishui. After arriving in Yongcheng, she seemed to realize she was being followed. In Wuxiang Alley on Fenghe Street, she disappeared." Lin Jin replied truthfully.
"Wuxiang Alley." Lu Wuxie narrowed his eyes. "It seems Qi Shuishui knows Yongcheng very well, knowing how to use the terrain of Wuxiang Alley to shake off pursuit."
"I have failed in my duty, please punish me, Young Master," Lin Jin quickly replied.
"Forget it!" Lu Wuxie waved his hand. "Wuxiang Alley is inherently complex. If it were me, I might have lost her too. Mobilize all our people stationed in Yongcheng and inform me the moment you find any news of her."
"Yes!" Lin Jin clasped his fist and stood in place.
"Is there anything else?" Lu Wuxie asked, glancing at him.
"After you left, Young Master, I received a letter," Lin Jin took out a letter from his embrace and presented it with both hands.
Lu Wuxie tilted his head, looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar handwriting on the letter. "He wrote to me? Has the sun risen from the west?"