After entering the room, Shen Suqing did not speak again.

With a cold expression, he sat down at the table and picked up an open book, turning the pages by candlelight. For a moment, the room was silent, with only the occasional rustling of the pages as he turned them.

Zhan Xinjia suddenly understood the saying that a beauty looks even more beautiful under the lamp.

The dim candlelight slanted across his profile, making his already refined and otherworldly features even more elegant. His nose was high and straight, his phoenix eyes were narrow and long, and his appearance was as beautiful as snow, like a fairy in a painting.

At this moment, his long eyelashes were lowered, and his tightly pursed, pale white lips revealed his less-than-pleasant mood.

For some reason, she always felt that Xiao Shen looked more approachable when he was fierce, which had a unique charm.

Of course, she had the desire but not the courage to act on it.

Zhan Xinjia felt a mix of excitement and trepidation. She took small steps to his side and, in a fawning manner, raised her fist to massage his shoulders.

"Hehe...Young Master Shen, let me explain..."

"oh?"

Shen Suqing glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.

"Where do I begin to explain? For example, your identity? Your purpose in staying by Shen's side, or... what are your thoughts about Shen's friends?"

"No!! This is a misunderstanding."

The letter was torn open.

"Holy crap, that was just a temporary measure!! Humans and dogs are different, how could I possibly have feelings for Lord Fu! Although lying is wrong, it's true that I'm homeless, actually... actually..."

Zhan Xinjia secretly glanced at Shen Suqing's gloomy face. She then adopted a serious expression and carefully considered her words.

"Actually, I am the daughter of a disgraced official whose property was confiscated."

She didn't lie at all in what she said.

Upon hearing this, Shen Suqing was taken aback.

He put down the book in his hand, looked up at Zhan Xinjia, and his eyes were full of concern.

He was genuinely worried about her at that moment.

"So that's how it is... What crime did you commit? Where are your family members now?"

"Ah, I can't really explain it. It seems like it's because I offended the Emperor. My family... *sobs*, they're all far away now."

This place is very, very far from the capital.

Although Zhan Xinjia thought so, Shen Suqing interpreted these words in a different way.

Offending the Emperor?

Perhaps it's some old case with hidden motives, who knows? As for the faraway place she mentioned... her family was probably exiled to Ningguta, right? Could she be an escaped slave?!

Upon realizing this, Shen Suqing was immediately alarmed.

If she were arrested and taken back, her punishment would likely be more severe. But if he were to cover it up for her, wouldn't that be protecting a criminal?

Shen Suqing has always been an upright, selfless, and incorruptible person. He naturally knew that the best solution now was to hand over the escaped Azhi to the government, but her fate would certainly be exile.

Ningguta is bitterly cold year-round; how could she endure it...?

As his thoughts wandered, Chen Suqing remembered another important matter.

"You know martial arts?"

Zhan Xinjia's heart skipped a beat at the question, and she gave a vague and evasive answer.

"Because you know my family situation (choking up)... When I was little, in order to avoid being bullied, I learned some tricks from others. I only know a few tricks, I know a little bit."

Shen Suqing remained skeptical and said nothing more.

He rested his forehead on his palm, his tightly furrowed brows never relaxing. Just as Zhan Xinjia was trembling, thinking he was angry, the young man suddenly stood up and gripped her shoulders tightly with both hands.

His words were earnest, as if he had made a great decision after a struggle, and his eyes, filled with worry, gazed at her as he gently advised her.

"Once we get back to the capital, come with me to the palace. Ah Zhi, you must know that running away is illegal and wrong. We can't do that. I'll plead for you before the Emperor, understand?"

Escaped without permission?

Zhan Xinjia was completely confused. Although she didn't quite understand, she was certain that Lord Shen was worried about her.

Seeing her nod blankly, Shen Suqing slowly released his hand from her shoulder.

The young man slumped back in his chair with a sigh of relief. He looked tired and dazed, with a few strands of hair falling from his hair ornament and hanging down his side, making him look weak and haggard.

Zhan Xinjia didn't know what Lord Shen was worried about, but she couldn't bear to see the beauty sad.

The little girl felt sorry for him and took one of his hands, which was resting on his knee, into her palm.

"Young Master Shen, have I caused you any trouble?"

After regaining his composure, Shen Suqing grasped her hand and examined her closely by the candlelight.

Her hands looked delicate and fair, but they weren't as smooth as those of an ordinary girl; there were calluses on her palms and fingertips.

Shen Suqing initially thought it was because Azhi had worked hard and suffered a lot in the past, but now it seems that it is probably because of years of martial arts training. But strangely, it doesn't look like the calluses that can be formed from holding a knife or sword.

His eyes were half-closed, and his lowered brows made it impossible for Zhan Xinjia to see his expression, but his voice was unusually gentle and affectionate.

Aren't you scared?

It took Zhan Xinjia a while to realize that Lord Shen was asking her if she was afraid of killing people.

What's there to be afraid of? Cutting a person is no different from cutting vegetables!

She was puzzled, but gave a few dry laughs.

Feeling a little embarrassed, Zhan Xinjia withdrew her hand and casually came up with a seemingly reasonable excuse.

"Haha, I only killed bad people who deserved to die anyway, why should I be afraid of doing good deeds?"

Shen Suqing's expression darkened further after hearing this, clearly indicating his disagreement with her statement.

He closed his fingers and completely enveloped her hand in his warm palm, then looked her in the eye.

If you look closely, her eyes, still red from crying, clearly reflect his image.

He squeezed her hand.

“Ah Zhi…”

He had no intention of stopping her or accusing her of murder, nor did he intend to interfere or meddle in her affairs.

He felt a pang of sadness at that moment.

I used to see girls in the countryside, holding nets and catching butterflies freely and carefree. Although they lived in poverty, at least their families were around, and their days were happy and peaceful.

But what kind of environment must Ah Zhi have grown up in to think that even killing someone is insignificant?

Faced with his silent gaze, and after reading some "loving" concern in his eyes, Zhan Xinjia, who was embarrassed and trying hard to change the subject, finally remembered something important.

"By the way, Lord Shen, do you have a medicine kit with you?"

How could she have forgotten that!

Shen Suqing frowned, instantly becoming tense.

"Are you injured?"

"It wasn't me, it was someone... well, I don't know if it was an older sister or a younger sister, anyway, she didn't look well, and I suspect there's something wrong with this inn."

At this point, Zhan Xinjia lowered his voice.

The two, carrying medicine for their injuries, pushed open the door and walked out, only to unexpectedly bump into Fu Shou'an in the corridor.

Upon seeing Zhan Xinjia emerge from Shen Suqing's room, Fu Shouan was momentarily puzzled, but his brain immediately overloaded.

He clearly remembered that it was the young cook who went in, so how come this girl came out?

Isn't this little girl in the capital?

Facing Fu Shouan's blank stare, Zhan Xinjia casually revealed a hearty smile.

She waved confidently.

"Haha, what a coincidence, Lord Fu! You're here too? We must have been carrying manure together in our past lives to be so destined for each other."

Shen Suqing: "..."

Fu Shouan: "..."

But now is not the time to chat about everyday things or scold the children.

Coming to his senses, Fu Shouan tapped his knuckles on the hilt of the longsword at his waist, his half-closed eyes scanning the dark surroundings warily.

"There's something wrong here; the wine that was delivered has been poisoned."

"ah?"

This question came from Zhan Xinjia.

She said that Fu Shouan's expression looked strange and he wouldn't let her go.

If you don't count them, there are only four people in this simple inn: the innkeeper, the waiter, the old cook, and the girl she knocked unconscious in the storeroom.

Who poisoned them, and what was their purpose?

With growing doubts, Zhan Xinjia greeted Shen Fu and the other two, then tiptoed around the kitchen and sneaked into the storage room. She carried the still unconscious girl out in her arms.

In the end, the group quietly returned to Fu Shou'an's room.