A piece of Japanese incense

Chapter 175 Something Happened to the Yun Family

Zhi Yihe listened to the conversation of several people and walked towards the ancient banyan tree.

The banyan tree has a well-developed and intricate root system. Its trunk is thick and twisted, and some roots hang down from the trunk and penetrate deep into the earth, like the tentacles of time, exploring the secrets of the earth. These aerial roots gradually become part of the trunk over time, making the whole tree look more stable and majestic.

The tree roots were like the outstretched arms of an old man, exposed on the ground. Zhi Yihe just looked up at this ancient tree that had experienced many vicissitudes of life. One of his feet accidentally collided with a tangled root. His center of gravity was instantly unbalanced, and his body tilted forward. His arms instinctively stretched forward, trying to grab something to stabilize his body.

However, everything happened in an instant, and she once again had an intimate contact with the earth.

"Miss Zhi!"

Zhi Yihe sat up swiftly, dusted himself off, and said with a wry smile: "It's okay! It's okay! Nothing's wrong! Hehe!"

"I really admire you. I didn't let you get off the horse just to see that the temple was overgrown with weeds. Yet you limped in even after falling off the horse. Now you're well again, and you've fallen again. You've really forgotten the pain after the wound has healed!"

Hefeng ran towards her immediately and squatted in front of her. Although he kept scolding her, his hands were honestly and carefully examining her limbs.

Zhi Yihe looked at him blankly, her cheeks slightly hot, and she curled up her fingers to tidy up the messy hair around her ears that was messed up by the tree branches.

The gentle breeze took her hand, opened her palm, and blew away the sand and dust on her palm. Zhi Yihe felt his warm breath, her heart trembled, and she couldn't help but move her knuckles.

"Now you feel the pain!" Hefeng took the kettle from Fanzhou and said in a tough tone, "Bear with it!"

When the cool water washed over the cut palm, Zhi Yihe couldn't help but step back in pain.

As if everything was within Hefeng's expectations, he turned sideways, held her wrist firmly, leaned back, and Zhi Yihe actually sat directly on his lap.

Zhi Yihe immediately stood up, panicking. It was not right to turn away, nor was it right to not turn around.

"Don't try to hide. You have to rinse the wound clean." Hefeng pulled her back gently, letting Zhi Yihe lean on his knees and cleaned her wound gently and attentively.

Zhi Yihe wanted to stand up but was too embarrassed. She felt a burning sensation from her ears to her neck and back. She had no choice but to lower her head and try her best to hide her abnormality.

However, the water washed through the mud, penetrated the thin layer of soil, and exposed the secrets buried underneath.

The white bones shone coldly in the sunlight, and a breeze happened to blow by, bringing a hint of coolness.

"Look!" Zhi Yihe pointed at the bones and said, "Come and help! Dig him out!"

As soon as he finished speaking, several people came with swords in hand and began to dig.

Just as Zhi Yihe was gathering tools and preparing to do it himself, He Feng pulled him aside and said in a cold tone, "Wait here."

"Oh!" Zhi Yihe pouted and squatted on the doorstep.

She didn't know whether it was because the bones were buried too deep, or because today's trek made her feel as if she had walked for half a month. Exhaustion came over her, and she leaned her head on her folded arms and fell into a deep sleep in an instant.

"Ahe! Eida Ihe!"

Someone was calling her. She rubbed her eyes with her fingers, hoping to wake up a little, but sleepiness came like a tide, wave after wave, and every blink became long and heavy.

She wanted to say that she was very sleepy, but she couldn't open her mouth. She took a deep breath and tried to use her willpower to keep her eyes open, but every time she tried, it was like walking against the wind.

In the dimness of the branches, she felt a pair of warm arms, hugging her knees and back, gently lifting her up. She heard the rapid and powerful heartbeat, and she wanted to get closer to listen to the clearer rhythm, but at this moment, she caught a hint of the fresh breath of the forest after the rain, which was the fragrance of the soil and the vitality of the green leaves...

She wanted to trace the source of the fragrance, but in the end, she let go of her resistance, letting her eyelids slowly close and sinking into sleep.

The world is quiet, with only the sound of my own even breathing, the occasional whisper of the night wind outside the window, and this familiar fragrance, which is the soothing incense I light every night before going to bed.

"He Baoer, grandma misses you..."

"Ah He, why don't you come to see me?"

"Ah He, you've been running around again and haven't come home for such a long time!"

"Girl, wake up!"

"Grandma~Mother~I miss my brother! Yuyi!" The light passed through the eyelids, a blurry and warm orange.

"Girl! You're awake! You're finally awake!" Yu Yi lay in her arms, hugging her tightly, as if afraid of losing her.

"Yuyi..." Zhi Yihe was a little dazed, as if he had escaped from a long dream, but was not sure whether he was firmly rooted in reality.

"Girl, I was so worried. You were in a coma for a long time again this time!"

"Sleeping... I just took a short nap..." Zhi Yihe wanted to get up, but felt his body heavy.

"Don't move, girl! Your addiction rash is so severe, yet you are still so careless that you don't even know you fainted."

Zhi Yihe scratched his forehead and said with a smile: "Grandma, where are grandpa and the others? Go and call them over. I miss them and can't wait to see them!"

Yu Yi turned away, shook her head, and whispered softly: "I... don't know either."

Zhi Yihe noticed that Yu Yi was acting strange, and nervously grasped the corner of her clothes: "How could you not know! Didn't you go home? What happened in Yun Mansion? Yu Yi! Don't hide it from me! Tell me now!"

Yu Yi was silent for a moment, her voice trembling a little: "I really don't know, girl, don't ask!"

"No! Something must have happened! Yuyi!"

"You're awake! Well, you're indeed much better." Hefeng sat beside the bed.

When Yuyi saw Hefeng coming in, she hurriedly wiped away her tears and walked out of the room holding the basin of water.

"Brother He! Did something happen to the Yun family? Do you know something?!"

He Feng gently placed her hand under the quilt and replied calmly, "I only heard that the entire Yun Mansion disappeared without a trace overnight."

"That's impossible. Grandfather must have left some clues for me. They won't abandon me and walk away. Yuyi! Please help me call Yuyi back!"

Zhi Yihe was very emotional and struggled to get out of bed, his hands clenched into fists, his nails almost digging into his skin.

"Ah He! Ah He! Zhi Yihe!" Hefeng called out loudly, clasping Zhi Yihe's shoulders with both hands.

Zhi Yihe was controlled by him and couldn't move. The room was silent.

"Please tell me, I can tell you everything I know. I only ask you to tell me what happened in the Yun family." A hint of pain flashed in Zhi Yihe's eyes, and the five fingers that were holding Hefeng's wrist trembled.

He Feng's eyes were tinged with sadness, and he said hesitantly, "I only know that on the night of the Lantern Festival, Zhi Xueshi led a group of people to break into Yun Mansion and took away everyone in the mansion."

"My dad..."

"Yes, Queen Yingyi personally led a team of Yan's soldiers to intercept them. There was a fierce battle between the two sides. It is said that in the end, only one man and a body were taken away."

“Body?! No way… How could Daddy kill someone… What on earth happened… How could this happen…” Zhi Yihe’s eyes lost focus and his chest heaved violently, as if with every breath, he was trying to suppress the sadness back into his chest.

"As for the other people in Yun Mansion, no one knows their whereabouts. Even Master Zhi, who is now in prison, has not revealed a single detail."

"Brother He, as the prince's personal guard, can you take me to see my father?" Zhi Yihe closed her eyes, not to rest, but to escape. She was afraid of hearing a negative answer.

"Well... I can ask for your advice..."

Zhi Yihe raised his eyes hopefully.

"However - the prince also has some questions for Master Zhi..."

"What do you want to know? I'd like to ask for you!"

"Okay! I'll make the arrangements! You should just calm down and rest your mind for now. Who knows, after meeting Master Zhi, you might be able to see your relatives."

"Hmm!" Zhi Yihe's expression relaxed slightly and he suppressed the panic in his heart.

Hefeng stood up and turned his head inadvertently, catching a glimpse of Yuyi, who quickly lowered her head.