Can't a girl be a traitor like Cao Cao?

Shrimp.

They were heading back towards Mount Jiuyi, looking disheveled and exhausted.

Naturally, Fu Ruiying was also with him.

It wasn't that Ding Xia had a sudden change of heart, that he would run away with this woman even in the face of a life-or-death crisis.

The main reason is that Ding Xia has already seen the wanted posters for the two men that have been issued in the capital and posted in various places.

If Ding Xia comes back alone, he won't be able to explain why he was wanted by the police.

He had to explain to his teacher's wife that he had been framed and was forced into this situation.

Fu Ruiying was also a loyal subject who was framed by the imperial court.

So for Ding Xia, she is a witness, a witness who can prove that she did nothing wrong.

Ding Xia knew that Tong Yan was very dissatisfied with him now, and even somewhat disgusted with him.

Ding Xia was indeed unable to explain it.

Because when he was still in the sect, he once spied on his senior sisters taking a bath, and was discovered by Tong Yan.

It was after that incident that Ding Xia was forced by Tong Yan to practice the Heavenly Child Divine Skill.

He's made almost no progress in his martial arts training, and he hasn't completed the task Tong Yan entrusted to him. He's also burdened with such a serious case and is wanted by the imperial court.

He never imagined he would face Tong Yan's wrath if he went back alone.

If Tong Yan were to get angry and actually expel him from the sect, then he would be truly finished.

The miserable experiences Ding Xia went through on his way back were simply indescribable.

He slept in pigsties, stole sweet potatoes, and even disguised himself as a woman to evade capture.

Even the time she dressed up as a woman, she almost got groped by a burly man.

Fortunately, no matter what risks he encounters, Ding Xia is always able to turn danger into safety through his own good fortune.

Now, after many twists and turns, he has returned to Mount Jiuyi and is about to return to his sect.

Seeing the familiar mountain path not far away, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

But just as Ding Xia was about to go up the mountain, he suddenly discovered that, for some reason, many constables and soldiers had gathered on the mountain path.

Ding Xia was startled when he saw this.

I have a feeling these guys are here to arrest me.

Because he even saw Zheng Gaoda surrounded by a group of soldiers.

Thinking about this, Ding Xia felt extremely angry.

Is it really necessary? Why wouldn't they let you go even after chasing you all this way?

What grudge do I, Ding Xia, have against you?

Can't we just let him off this time, and let bygones be bygones?

However, at this point, Ding Xia could only complain and dared not disturb the soldiers.

Instead, he took Fu Ruiying and sneaked into the mountains via a mountain path.

Upon reaching the mountain, Ding Xia saw many more soldiers.

So he became even more cautious.

After avoiding these government lackeys, Ding Xia went to the kitchen in the backyard and had Fu Ruiying hide in the woodshed.

Then, he went to the vicinity of the disciples' courtyard and found Liuli practicing her skills there.

"Junior Sister... Junior Sister..."

Liuli heard a sound coming from the corner, and curiously went over to take a look, only to be startled.

"Senior brother? What are you doing here?"

Liuli was startled, then looked around and whispered, "Senior brother, you're in real trouble this time!"

Ding Xia looked miserable; how could he not know he was in big trouble?

However, there was no time to explain to Liuli at that moment.

Ding Xia quickly asked, "Is there anything to eat?"

"Oh, yes. The steamed buns I didn't finish this morning."

Liuli took out a piece of steamed bun, just about to say something.

Ding Xia couldn't wait any longer and snatched it away, stuffing it into his mouth.

Looking at Ding Xia's dirty and smelly face, Liu Li couldn't help but feel disgusted.

Ding Xia ignored Liu Li's gaze and continued, "I haven't seen Master's wife. Do you know where she went?"

Upon hearing this, Liuli said, "If it's not in the front, then it should be in the inner courtyard, right? Does Senior Brother need to see Mother about something?"

Ding Xia nodded and said, "Yes! It's something very important!"

Chapter 85 The Lamentations and Sighs in the Small Courtyard

After learning about Tong Yan's whereabouts from Liu Li, Ding Xia did not hesitate.

He quickly turned around, preparing to leave through the dog hole.

Looking at Ding Xia now, Liu Li felt that he was both pitiful and disgusting.

For some reason, she no longer sees Ding Xia as having that extra aura.

She was also a little puzzled as to why she used to think Ding Xia was both handsome and masculine.

But now, she's not even worth a single strand of your beloved sister's hair...

Regardless of anything else, Ding Xia is still his senior brother.

Even though he was already a wanted criminal by the imperial court.

As she watched Ding Xia disappear through the dog hole, Liu Li remembered something else.

Oh, I forgot to tell him that Mother and Consort Gui are probably discussing something important.

Liuli scratched her head, thinking it shouldn't matter.

Once Mother sees Senior Brother Dingxia, she'll surely make Sister Guiren leave...

With that thought in mind, Liuli put aside these miscellaneous thoughts.

I cleared my mind and continued practicing.

-

After leaving the disciples' courtyard, Ding Xia secretly sneaked towards the small courtyard where Tong Yan lived.

Ding Xia had lived in the Sword Harmony Sect for so long that he was quite familiar with the place.

They easily bypassed everyone's sight and arrived near the courtyard.

Ding Xia noticed that compared to the outer courtyard of the sect, the area around the small courtyard was exceptionally quiet, with not a single person in sight.

Clearly, the officers and soldiers respected the teacher's wife and did not disturb her daily rest; they were only searching for her.

Ding Xia was relieved.

However, just as he was about to climb over the courtyard wall, he vaguely heard some strange noises inside.

It sounded like a woman's long, low sigh.

It seems to be talking to someone.

Ding Xia was a little puzzled, not knowing who his master's wife was talking to or what they were saying.

Then he heard Tong Yan's voice coming from the other side of the wall, the voice faint and intermittent.

"...Mmm...Husband...my husband..."

Upon hearing Tong Yan utter a few words in a low voice, Ding Xia roughly understood.

It's likely that when the mistress was alone, she felt sorrow and thought of her master.

Although Ding Xia had never met his master many times in his life, he knew that his master and his wife had a deep and loving relationship.

Sometimes, in the quiet of the night, I would see things that reminded me of people and cry alone.

At this moment, Tong Yan must have been thinking of her master, and couldn't help but shed tears as she looked at her reflection.

Thinking of this, Ding Xia sighed, then climbed over the wall and entered the courtyard.

Tong Yan was, after all, a person with superb martial arts skills, and his hearing had always been outstanding.

Just as Ding Xia climbed over the wall, Tong Yan heard the noise.

Immediately, Tong Yan inside the room exclaimed in surprise, calling out to the outside, "Who is it!"

Ding Xia steadied himself and immediately called out into the house, "Master's wife, it's me, it's Ding Xia."

"Man……"

Tong Yan's voice seemed to tremble slightly, tinged with panic.

They clearly didn't expect Ding Xia to appear here.

So she immediately said to him, "Xia'er...you...you shouldn't come in yet. Your master's wife is practicing her martial arts...it's not convenient for her to see you right now..."

Ding Xia thought about it and understood Tong Yan's feelings.

After all, Tong Yan might have just been crying over her master's green flute relic, and her eyes were red and swollen, so it was indeed inconvenient for her to see him.

At this moment, Ding Xia himself was also covered in dirt and stench, looking extremely disheveled.

He also didn't want Tong Yan to see himself like this.

At this moment, Tong Yan inside the room calmed her breathing and tried to steady her tone as she asked Ding Xia, "Xia'er, how... um, did you come back?"

Upon hearing this, Ding Xia sighed, thinking that he must make Tong Yan feel his remorse and not let her expel him from the sect.

So he tried to think about the sad things he had experienced.

Then, he thought of the hardships he had endured along the way, and how he had almost been raped. He couldn't help but feel extremely sad, and tears immediately streamed down his face.

"Master's wife, sob sob sob... Ding Xia is unfilial, he has disappointed you..."

Hearing Ding Xia's cries, Tong Yan seemed to empathize, recalling past moments, and couldn't help but cover her mouth to suppress her tears.

"...Ugh...Mmm..."

Ding Xia cried for a while, but still remembered the most important thing.

So he asked Tong Yan, "Master's wife, now that I'm wanted by the imperial court, will you... expel me from the sect?"

Upon hearing this, Tong Yan stopped her soft sobbing.

Then, her voice trembling, she said to Ding Xia, "Xia'er... um... after all, I watched you grow up, I... um... how could I bear to... ah..."

Ding Xia heard Tong Yan's uncontrollable voice from inside the house, and guessed that she must be in tears just like him.

Ding Xia felt relieved.

He continued, "Master's wife, you must believe me. I was framed by treacherous officials in the court. I absolutely did not do anything to harm the sect. I have witnesses; she is here..."

“…Um…Shrimp…Master’s wife…I believe you…”

Before Ding Xia could finish speaking, Tong Yan hurriedly interrupted him, clearly showing that she trusted Ding Xia to the extreme.

As Tong Yan spoke, she seemed unable to contain her emotions, tears welling up in her eyes, and then something covered her mouth.

Ding Xia was slightly touched.

Then Tong Yan took a deep breath and said as calmly as possible, "Xia'er...you...you go hide in the back mountain first, um...don't let anyone else find out."

Master's wife... um... I'll go tell you later... what should you do...

"Master's wife..."

Ding Xia's eyes were filled with tears, and he didn't know how to express the emotion in his heart.

"Um……"

Tong Yan hurriedly said to Ding Xia, "Okay... stop... stop talking... hurry up and go, don't... don't let anyone find out... sob sob..."