The night sky was vast and dotted with twinkling stars.
A full moon rose, like a bright lamp hanging high in the heavens.
Qinglin Courtyard.
Sang Li sat in front of the bronze mirror, looking at her somewhat reddened eyes in the reflection, and couldn't help but fall into a daze.
Why was she like this?
Even if Gu Zhi had killed Zhu Mu, why was she so angry?
Why could Gu Zhi affect her emotions like this?
She shouldn't be like this. She should always be rational and elegant.
Anger only made people become ugly and unpleasant to look at.
Sang Li sighed and slumped over the dressing table, trying to calm herself down.
After a long while, a hoarse voice came from the doorway.
"Sister..."
Hearing Gu Zhi's voice, Sang Li lifted her head.
She turned to look at Gu Zhi standing in the doorway and said, "Come in..."
Gu Zhi walked in and stood in front of Sang Li.
He was already very tall. Now with Sang Li sitting and him standing, they looked at each other this way.
After a moment, Gu Zhi suddenly squatted down. His hands came out from behind his back.
He was holding an exquisite pair of boots. They were white with intricate embroidery of a flying white crane on them.
Seeing the shoes in his hands, Sang Li's eyes involuntarily became wet.
"Sister, these are the shoes I made for you. I don't know if they fit your feet. Will you try them on?" Gu Zhi asked pleadingly.
Looking at him, Sang Li's voice was slightly broken as she said, "Gu Zhi, why do you do these things? I don't need you to do these things at all!"
Gu Zhi looked up at her. "Sister, you're so smart. Can't you see my feelings for you? I like you, so that's why you want me to leave, right?"
Hearing his words, Sang Li was speechless for a long time.
Tears welled up in Gu Zhi's eyes. "I know it's just me being presumptuous, just me foolishly liking you sister. I know I've caused you trouble. I'm sorry sister. As long as you accept these shoes, I will leave Qinglin Courtyard and leave you as you wish... Don't be angry or sad anymore, okay?"
Tears suddenly rolled down Sang Li's face. She didn't even know why she was crying.
Gu Zhi reached out and wiped the tears from her face.
He lowered his head to hold Sang Li's ankle, took off her original shoes, and put on the new shoes he made for her.
Sang Li didn't say anything or try to stop him, as if she were a puppet.
Not until Gu Zhi put on the shoes for her and stood up.
"Sister, thank you for helping me at the Splendid Tower, and for saving me on the street. I'm leaving now. Take good care of yourself."
Gu Zhi turned to leave Sang Li's room, but when he got to the door, he stopped again.
He turned his head and looked at Sang Li, saying, "Sister, I really didn't kill Zhu Mu..."
After speaking, Gu Zhi left gloomily.
Sang Li sat there the whole time without saying anything or doing anything.
Her heart felt as if it was being torn apart. She had never felt such distress before.
In a daze, she looked at the shoes on her feet. There was still a small wet spot on them, apparently from the tears Gu Zhi had just shed.
Sang Li closed her eyes, and more tears slid down her face.
Gu Zhi, I'm sorry...
You and I were destined to have no future.
...
When Su Mo and the others came back, they saw Gu Zhi packing up a bundle, preparing to leave Qinglin Courtyard.
"Gu Zhi, what are you doing? Are you leaving?" Su Mo immediately went up and asked.
Gu Zhi lowered his eyes and responded, "Yes, if me leaving makes sister happier, then I'll leave..."
"Ah? Isn't this too sudden?" Even Xiao Han couldn't help saying.
"Thank you all for taking care of me this time. Farewell...for good." Gu Zhi said and then turned to leave the yard.
The others were still stunned in the yard even after Gu Zhi left, not having reacted at all.
Xia Miaomiao was the first to regain her senses and immediately chased after him.
"Gu Zhi!" Xia Miaomiao called out to him.
Gu Zhi stopped and Xia Miaomiao quickly went up to him and gave him a bag of silver.
"Take this money with you. It's so late, where can you go? If you want to leave, leave tomorrow morning!" Xia Miaomiao said.
"No, I don't want to anger sister anymore." Gu Zhi looked at the bag of silver in his hand. "Thank you sister Xiaomiao."
Gu Zhi took the silver and left. Xia Miaomiao didn't try to keep him either.
She sighed and went back to the yard. Su Mo immediately asked, "What happened between him and sister Sang Li? Why did he leave so suddenly?"
"I don't know either. Let's go see sister Sang Li!"
"Wu Ying, go back to your room first. We'll go see sister Sang Li first!" Su Mo said to Wu Ying.
"Alright." Wu Ying responded.
Only after Su Mo and the others left did Yu Yifan ask, "Master, why did Gu Zhi suddenly leave Qinglin Courtyard? In the end, is he from the Miao region or not? Was Zhu Mu killed by him?"
Wu Ying glanced at him. "Even if Zhu Mu wasn't killed by him, he still can't get rid of involvement. I'm going out for a bit. If your master asks for me later, just say I went to the latrine."
"Ah? Where are you going, Master? Can I go with you?" Yu Yifan couldn't help asking.
Wu Ying looked at him coolly. "If I bring you, who's going to cover for me? I'm going to see where Gu Zhi will go."
He had previously gotten news that there was a treasure map in the Miao region. If Gu Zhi really was from the Miao region, then his identity there shouldn't be simple.
...
When Su Mo and the two others arrived at Sang Li's room, they saw her slumped over the dressing table with her face buried in her arms.
The three of them looked at each other. Su Mo nudged Xiao Han next to her, signaling for her to go first.
Xiao Han then nudged Xia Miaomiao next to her, signaling for her to go first instead.
"I..." Xia Miaomiao pointed at herself and whispered, "You two fake sisters..."
The two smiled at her and made a "be quiet" gesture. Then they shrugged, indicating they weren't very good at speaking and were afraid of upsetting Sang Li even more.
They immediately pushed Xia Miaomiao forward.
Xia Miaomiao glared at them before carefully moving forward.
"Sister Sang Li, are you...alright?" Xia Miaomiao asked gingerly.
Sang Li remained slumped over without speaking.
"Gu Zhi has...already left Qinglin Courtyard."
Only upon hearing this did Sang Li slowly raise her head.
Her eyes were red, evidently from crying.
"Did he leave?" Sang Li's voice carried a hint of choking.
Seeing that Sang Li was speaking, Su Mo and Xiao Han also immediately stepped forward.
"Yes, he's already left." Xia Miaomiao said.
Su Mo stepped forward and hugged Sang Li. "Sister Sang Li, don't be like this. When you're like this, we don't know what to do!"
