"Congratulations to you both, here are your rewards!"
The shop owner handed over the tray holding the white jade hair crown and hairpin for everyone to see.
Just as Li Yue Shu, who had snapped back to reality, reached out to take it, Qin Mo Yuan’s action was faster.
He didn't take the tray, but directly picked up the white jade hairpin. "A Shu, I'll put it on for you."
His gentle voice startled Li Yue Shu, and she couldn't react for a moment.
Qin Mo Yuan walked up to her, facing her directly, and gently tucked the white jade hairpin into her hair. "The hairpin I gave you before is gone, consider this a replacement. Once it's on, you can't take it off."
Li Yue Shu instantly remembered the red hairpin he had given her. Meeting his eyes, which were filled with doting affection, she couldn't help but blurt out, "But that was the first birthday gift I ever received..."
Her voice was weak, carrying a hint of grievance.
As soon as the words were out, both Li Yue Shu and Qin Mo Yuan froze.
For some reason, Qin Mo Yuan felt a sharp squeeze in his heart, a pain he couldn't describe.
The awkward atmosphere lasted only a moment before being broken by the shop owner's enthusiastic voice, "The two of you have such a good relationship!"
Li Yue Shu quickly pushed the person in front of her away, her ears turning slightly red.
The shop owner continued to speak, mostly introducing his establishment.
After Li Yue Shu and Qin Mo Yuan came down from the stage, they didn't rejoin the crowd but left directly from the back.
The figure waiting for them saw this and quickly gave chase.
Seeing the hair crown Qin Mo Yuan held in his hand, Li Yue Shu took out sixty taels of silver from her spatial artifact. "As we agreed, the reward is mine."
Qin Mo Yuan glanced at the money pouch in her hand and didn't reach for it. "I only said I would give A Shu what she deserved. This was won together, and the one that belongs to A Shu, I have already personally put it on for you."
As he spoke, he gestured meaningfully to Li Yue Shu's hair.
Li Yue Shu stopped in her tracks, her eyes wide as she stared at him.
He dared to trick her?!
Angrily, she pointed to the hair crown on Qin Mo Yuan's head. "You already have one! Besides, someone as distinguished as you... shouldn't care about this white jade hair crown!"
In her excitement, she almost blurted out Qin Mo Yuan's true identity.
Qin Mo Yuan smiled calmly. "This is A Shu's birthday gift for Shen Wei, not mine. In my eyes, this white jade hair crown is priceless."
Meeting his deep gaze, Li Yue Shu's heart skipped a beat for no reason.
She had a feeling that since she woke up after fainting that day, Qin Mo Yuan had become a different person. Was this the real him?
She looked at Qin Mo Yuan with suspicion, and finally snorted, "You acted quite well, so you do know you're not Shen Wei!"
Qin Mo Yuan's expression stiffened.
Li Yue Shu rolled her eyes and turned to leave.
Qin Mo Yuan quickly chased after her. "A Shu..."
"Master, Madam, I finally found you!" a voice filled with relief suddenly interrupted him.
The two turned, and saw Xing He running over with excitement, a bruise under his eyes and looking utterly haggard.
Seeing his condition, Li Yue Shu felt a pang of panic. The unease that she had been suppressing seemed to erupt at this moment.
She asked with confusion, "Why are you here?"
"Madam, Third Miss is in trouble!" Xing He cut to the chase. "Poison King of Pangshan has abducted Third Miss from the medical hall and told you to find him at Liuxian Wine House when you get back."
"Poison King of Pangshan? Why would he suddenly abduct A Yi, and specifically ask me to find him?" Li Yue Shu frowned, somewhat surprised.
She was no stranger to the name "Poison King of Pangshan." In the original book, A Yi's master was the fearsome Poison King of Pangshan, notorious in the martial world. However, the book didn't explain how he took A Yi as a disciple.
In Li Yue Shu's memory, the Poison King of Pangshan in the original book was cruel and ruthless, not a good person. Therefore, as his disciple, A Yi was met with widespread condemnation as soon as she appeared in the martial world.
But this character was very similar to Qin Mo Yuan, existing only in rumors and never appearing in the book. She had never met him, so why would he specifically request to see her?
Sensing her confusion, Qin Mo Yuan explained, "The old man who kidnapped you last time was the Poison King of Pangshan."
His voice was slightly cold, and a hint of killing intent flickered in his eyes.
"What?!"
Li Yue Shu gasped, her face turning pale.
That old man who poisoned his disciples was the Poison King of Pangshan...
Instantly, a chill crawled up her back.
The next moment, her hand was suddenly grasped.
Qin Mo Yuan's steady voice came, "A Shu, don't worry, we'll go home now."
Li Yue Shu's mind snapped back, and she nodded repeatedly, quickly following Qin Mo Yuan's steps, completely forgetting to pull her hand away.
Because it was the Lianli Festival, Yunsu did not close the city gates. The three of them, with two horses, sped towards Tongmu County.
Li Yue Shu couldn't ride a horse. To get back as soon as possible, she had to share a horse with Qin Mo Yuan.
The clatter of hooves echoed in the silent moonlight. The whistling wind struck her face, making Li Yue Shu's hazy consciousness seem to clear a bit.
She gripped the reins tightly, her force so great that her nails seemed to dig into her flesh.
Suddenly, a warm hand held hers, seemingly driving away the chill from her fingers.
"A Shu, don't worry, I'm here."
A deep, resonant voice came from behind, cutting through the wind and striking Li Yue Shu's heart heavily.
Her eyes suddenly welled up with tears. "I should have killed that old man..."
If she hadn't been so soft-hearted, A Yi wouldn't have to go through this.
Her voice was soft, but it carried with the wind into Qin Mo Yuan's ears, piercing his heart like needles.
Qin Mo Yuan tightened his grip on her hand. "You didn't do anything wrong, A Shu. Your kindness is not wrong. The children rely on you precisely because you have a kind heart. A Shu, the one who is wrong is the Poison King of Pangshan, not you."
His tone was firm and carried an unparalleled conviction.
Li Yue Shu didn't reply, just stared blankly ahead, hoping they could get there faster, much faster!
The three of them rushed towards Tongmu County and finally reached a town at dawn.
Li Yue Shu wanted to change horses and continue their journey, but Qin Mo Yuan insisted she rest. "A Shu, you know better than anyone how serious the injury on your head is! A Yi's matter requires you to handle it personally. You can't collapse before you even get home."
He knew this was the only way to persuade Li Yue Shu.
As expected, Li Yue Shu hesitated for a moment before finally agreeing to rest.
Her head was injured, and the jolting on horseback could easily cause a concussion.
She was worried about A Yi, but she couldn't act impulsively, or it would only cause more trouble!
Li Yue Shu rationalized to herself, but the thought of the Poison King of Pangshan's methods made her heart ache to fly back immediately!
Qin Mo Yuan naturally saw her anxiety. He was equally worried about A Yi, but he feared even more that Li Yue Shu would collapse on the way.
With Chai Yang there, and the reinforcements he had previously sent from Chongzhou, the Poison King of Pangshan would surely not be able to leave Tongmu County.
However, after this trip back, he probably wouldn't be able to stay in Tongmu County anymore.
Xing He brought some food and was about to hand it to Qin Mo Yuan when he suddenly saw his back and his expression changed. "Master, you..."