Mu Changxi looked around the bare room and sighed, "Otherwise, you wouldn't have married Liu Rumei, and even after being hurt by her to this extent, you still wouldn't have any complaints, would you?"
In fact, Tan Ye really didn't want to admit that he still loved the "A Shu" in his heart.
But he was too obvious, to the point where it was impossible not to admit it.
Even after so many years, upon receiving definitive news of this person again, Tan Ye couldn't help but his eyes reddened. "Yes, I have never forgotten her."
"So, please save her!"
Mu Changxi, who never bowed his head, couldn't help but lower his head when facing Tan Ye, his voice laced with pleading. "It's truly a pity that you couldn't be together back then. You both have your own lives, and perhaps I shouldn't be asking this of you. She said that perhaps death is a form of atonement for what their Li family did back then, but this sin, I am willing to atone for her."
Mu Changxi clenched his fists at his sides. "Please save her. As long as she can be saved, I am willing to do anything!"
Yes, as long as the noble consort could be saved, Song Chaoyu was also willing to do anything.
Tan Ye finally looked up and met Mu Changxi's gaze seriously.
He paused for a moment, then turned to look at his son, Tan Xing. "Xiao Xing, you, like him, are people who value loyalty and righteousness. You are the truly loyal and righteous ones!"
He reached out and took Tan Xing's hand, then said seriously to Mu Changxi, "Alright, I can agree to your request. I will take you to Taoyuan territory to meet the person who poisoned her. But you must also promise me that from now on, Xiao Xing's life will be under your care!"
He sighed to himself, then added, "You are not ordinary people. Xiao Xing will not suffer by your side."
"Good."
Regarding this condition, neither Mu Changxi nor Song Chaoyu would hesitate.
Moreover, they had already planned to take Tan Xing back to the capital with them.
"You... don't pretend to care about me!"
Tan Ye's words made Tan Xing's cheeks flush slightly. "You don't care about me at all, nor about Mother and elder brother! My future doesn't need your interference!"
Tan Ye understood Tan Xing's stubbornness and didn't say much more, only sighing. He then said to Song Chaoyu and Mu Changxi, "When do you plan to go to Taoyuan territory?"
Mu Changxi nodded. "Naturally, the sooner the better."
Tan Ye also understood. "Then you will stay in the village tonight, and as soon as it's dawn tomorrow, we will head to the marsh."
This small Tan family indeed had no place for them to stay.
Fortunately, there was a small inn in the village, which was enough to accommodate them.
However, when Song Chaoyu and Mu Changxi arrived at the inn, they saw Tan Xing volunteer, "I know the person you are looking for is at the village chief's house. I'll go and gather some information for you. Don't worry, I'm from the village, no one will suspect me!"
This Tan Xing was quite clever.
Mu Changxi patted his head. "Be very careful."
---
Although they had traveled all day, when it was time to rest, Song Chaoyu had no sleepiness at all.
Everything about the Tan family, the Zhu family, and Cong Fei was like a heavy mist surrounding her and Mu Changxi, making them feel almost at a loss.
But the truth was probably just around the corner, wasn't it?
Tan Xing, being quite clever, returned safely from the village chief's house before midnight.
He naturally brought news of that person.
He said that there was indeed someone surnamed "Zhu" living at the village chief's house, and his name was Zhu Xuri.
The village chief said that he was a medicine merchant and seemed to have some connection with the Imperial Academy.
But this person appeared very mysterious and vigilant. After Tan Xing entered the village chief's house under the guise of "catching up and reporting safety," Zhu Xuri shut himself in his room and never came out again.
Before Tan Xing left the village chief's house, he circled around to the back and, through the gaps in the worn-out window, saw the situation in Zhu Xuri's room.
Tan Xing said that in Zhu Xuri's room, there were also a man and a woman.
And their appearances were exactly as Song Chaoyu had described Dong Shuang and Cong Fei!
However, Cong Fei's condition seemed worse, while Dong Shuang appeared to be very obedient to Zhu Xuri.
Speaking of this, Tan Xing frowned. "I saw Dong Shuang wearing chains on her feet, and she had injuries on her body. I'm afraid she was coerced by that Zhu Xuri. This person is truly not a good person!"
So Dong Shuang hadn't resisted, but the difference in abilities between her and Zhu Xuri was too great.
This Zhu Xuri was definitely not someone easy to deal with!
Song Chaoyu felt increasingly uneasy, but Mu Changxi patted Tan Xing on the shoulder. "Thank you. I'm afraid we'll need your help with many things in the future!"
Tan Xing smiled and, instead, proudly patted his chest. "Just ask me if there's anything! Since I'm going to follow you, I should also achieve something!"
This child was a stubborn and proud child, and Song Chaoyu felt that he would surely achieve great things in the future.
But the most important matter was still to be dealt with. Kan Dan.
Tan Xing said that the Zhu Xuri seemed to be here to collect medicinal herbs and to meet someone.
So he would be staying here for a few days, and there was no rush to rescue Dong Shuang and Cong Fei.
Going to Taoyuan territory first was the priority.
---
The next morning, before dawn, Tan Ye was waiting for them at the entrance of the inn.
Rarely, he was clean today, and even his hair was neatly tied.
Seeing them, Tan Ye smiled, his gaze seeming to soften.
In fact, Song Chaoyu could tell from the dark circles under his eyes that he had probably not slept all night.
But his eyes were clearer than ever before.
Especially when he saw Tan Xing, he even smiled kindly at Tan Xing. "Xiao Xing, last night, I signed the divorce papers with her. After we return from Taoyuan territory, I plan to sell our small courtyard. The money won't be much, but take it all, consider it my provision for you."
"I don't want your money! You can keep that broken courtyard for yourself!"
Tan Xing turned his head away, unable to get used to Tan Ye speaking to him like this.
Tan Ye still smiled. "Xiao Xing, I'm leaving here. I don't know what I've been living for all my life. In the years to come, I should bear the consequences of my mistakes. If you are willing, I will go to the capital with you and teach you the Tan family's medical skills. But don't worry, I won't bother you. I won't ask you for money or wine. If you want to learn my medical skills, I will naturally teach you."
He seemed to have thought through his future. "If you don't want to learn, and you don't want me to follow, then I will live on my own. Perhaps... I will go to a farther place, to see those medicinal herbs that I haven't touched for half my life. Then I will write a book, and it can be considered that my life was not lived in vain."