He never had a plan, he just went with the flow

Chapter Twenty-Four

Mo Xuanyu walked through neverending halls, trying to find his brother. The flyer clenched tightly in his fists as he looked everywhere. He really didn't want to ask his father for permission to leave Lanling for a few days, but it was increasingly seeming that way.

While he hadn't seen his brother since the explosion from the Burial Mounds, he knew that he had returned from the meetings already. But he hasn't seen a single sign of his gauze cap. He couldn't even ask his occasional roommate because he appeared to have left his cell. Not that he can confirm that because he was told not to open his cell door.

Jinsha was napping in his room and he didn't want to wake her, so he was on his own. Even after almost a year here, these winding halls still leave him walking in circles.

Peeking around a corner, Mo Xuanyu pursed his lips. Has he already been down this hall? They all looked so similar that he could barely tell them apart on a good day.

Looking at the hall on the right, Mo Xuanyu wanted to cry. Was that one the hall he used earlier? Or was it the hall on the left? But, then how did he end up here again?

"Ah, Mo Xuanyu... You've been passing this hall multiple times. Are you looking for something?" He perked up at the familiar voice. "Sister-in-law," He bowed before showing her the flyer. "I was looking for Yao-ge so I could ask permission to leave for a few days."

"Oh, is that all?" She seemed relieved and he wasn't sure why. Mo Xuanyu lowered the flyer, "Yeah, that was it. I was only passing through here so many times because this place is like a maze." He glanced at the splitting path, "Did I go left or right before?"

"You went down both paths at least once." She giggled into her sleeve. Mo Xuanyu flushed in embarrassment as he lowered his head, "Hah, I guess that's how it went."

She patted his shoulder, "A-Yao's been busy lately, so he's been cooped up in his office. I'll ask him if you can enjoy the festivities."

"Really?" His eyes sparkled, he needs to go! A traveling theater group that he's been interested in is having a performance there! He might not get another chance to see them for a while! "Thank you, Sister-in-law!" He bounced in place before pausing, "How do I get to the disciple dorms from here?"

Qin Su laughed to herself as she watched him bounce down the hall. The interaction had calmed her nerves a bit. He seems to be a good kid with honest intentions.

Walking to her husband's office, Qin Su thought about some recent events. A-Yao had not disclosed what occurred at the Burial Mounds following that explosion but she gets the feeling it wasn't good. When he finally returned, he looked exhausted with dark bags under his eyes. And then her father-in-law kept placing more and more work on him. The last time she saw his pile of work, it was ten large piles of paper on his desk.

She's been worried about his physical health, he hasn't left his office in over a week. Having meals and everything sent to his office so he doesn't have to leave. She knocked softly on the door, no answer. She knocked a little harder, "Who's there?"

"It's me, A-Su."

"Oh, come in." She ignored the slight disappointment in his voice. Gently opening the door she peeked inside. A-Yao was sitting at his desk surrounded by papers with dark heavy bags under his eyes. He smiled as she stepped in, "Do you need something, A-Su?"

She handed him the flyer, "I found Mo Xuanyu walking in circles earlier trying to find your office. He wanted to request a few days off to go to this year's Masked Festival."

Jin Guangyao frowned, he still needed Mo Xuanyu to decipher some texts for him. If he goes away for a few days then they'll be behind and Father might get suspicious. Not to mention with Xue Yang gone-