She was exhausted, but when she heard Aoqian's coaxing tone, which sounded like he was coaxing a child, Song Xi smiled and her shoulders shook. She felt much more energetic.

Aoqian frowned and removed his hand from Song Xiwei's eyes, his ear tips turning red, but his expression remained serious as he looked at Song Xiwei.

For a moment, he seemed unsure of what to do with her.

Aside from her pale and weak complexion, Song Xiwei's already beautiful eyes now showed a hint of languor and weariness.

As if she hadn't been the one who was half-dead just moments before, she even had the leisure to curiously ask Aoqian, "Young Master, how did you manage to sneak around right under my Second Senior Brother's nose? Tell me! I'm so curious!"

Aoqian rolled his eyes at her, somewhat speechless.

If I hadn't been spending a lot of time with Song Xiwei recently and knew what she was like under normal circumstances, I would have been misled by her relaxed and mischievous appearance.

Song Xiwei in front of him was clearly exhausted and at her limit, but she still forced herself to joke about herself.

Aoqian didn't want to pay attention to her, but he couldn't bear to leave her with such lingering curiosity.

He finally spoke, saying dismissively, "It's just a smokescreen. The fact that he was fooled only proves his stupidity."

Song Xiwei wasn't at all repulsed by Ao Qian's arrogant attitude. Compared to Yan Ye's hypocrisy, she actually found Ao Qian much more pleasing to the eye. She chuckled and chimed in, "That's right, he's stupid! But since you've left, why did you still pretend to be a soldier?"

Aoqian fell silent and avoided eye contact with her.

Song Xiwei reached out and shook Aoqian's arm, "Young Master, just tell me, satisfy my curiosity, why did you disguise yourself as a soldier? Did you know beforehand that those soldiers were colluding with Yan Ye? Or..."

Although Ao Qian remained silent, Song Xiwei vaguely realized something.

Her eyes widened suddenly, and her tone rose several decibels from before, "You're not planning to take advantage of the chaos to seize Huicheng, replace it, and become the city lord first, are you?"

Ao Qian: "..."

Song Xiwei was rolled her eyes at by Aoqian, but instead burst into laughter. "Oh, Young Master, I was just kidding. Actually, even if you hadn't said anything, I could probably guess why you did that."

Upon hearing this, Ao Qian looked at her. "Is that so?"

Song Xiwei looked at Ao Qian with bright eyes. She was so weak that it was difficult for her to speak, but she was still excited. So much so that she found Ao Qian's appearance as a soldier all the more pleasing to the eye.

"Is it because of me?" Song Xi gazed intently into Ao Qian's eyes.

Aoqian lowered his eyes, avoiding her gaze, and his hand on his knee trembled slightly.

Song Xiwei smiled slightly, "I knew it!"

Hearing her still laughing, Ao Qian raised his face, somewhat annoyed, "Song Xiwei, do you know how dangerous you were today!"

Suddenly reprimanded by Aoqian, Song Xiwei immediately shut up.

Aoqian, still furious, said, "If I hadn't left something on that hairpin and sensed its unusual nature in time, you would have perished today, along with your senior brother, for the sake of those people, wouldn't you?"

Song Xiwei was speechless when questioned, which was indeed the case.

She had no other choice at the time.

The people are innocent; she cannot stand idly by.

There are many unfortunate people in the world, but she will not stand idly by when she encounters them.

Besides, the people of Huicheng had brought this disaster upon themselves, so how could she not care?