Distress

The winter morning light shines through the gauze window, casting wooden lattice shadows on the blue brick floor.

"Young lady, you've finished your hair and makeup."

Xiuhe came in carrying a copper basin, the steam rising from it obscuring her face.

The bronze mirror reflected Li Wan's pale face, with faint blue under her eyes barely visible.

She had a jumble of dreams that night. Sometimes she was Jiang Feiwan in the capital, and sometimes she felt like she had returned to Niutian Village. Her mother's nagging voice could be heard in her ears, and she couldn't tell whether it was a dream or reality.

"girl!"

Xiuzhu stormed in, lifting the curtain angrily. "Last night, the eldest young master summoned Jixiang to his room to serve him, and this morning he even gave her a lot of gifts. Jixiang didn't say anything, but those gossipy people in the manor said that you were just a decoration the eldest young master brought home, and they even said..."

Xiuhe glared at her fiercely, and Xiuzhu reluctantly stopped talking.

Li Wan smiled indifferently and comforted Xiuzhu, "Anyway, we have no worries about food and clothing in the mansion. Let others say what they want. We just need to live our lives well."

Xiuzhu secretly pursed her lips, "It's all Madam Zou's fault. She didn't teach you any tricks of the trade in the inner quarters before you got married."

Upon hearing this, Li Wan and Xiu He exchanged a glance and laughed, "You've taken a pretty big turn."

Xiuzhu snorted loudly, then couldn't help but laugh.

For the next few days, Li Wan stayed inside the Hou Mansion, never venturing out, fearing that Xiao Xian would seek revenge on her.

Since Xie Qi left her room that day, he has been busy all day long, and she hasn't even been able to see him.

Two weeks later.

As the year draws to a close, the old lady of the Marquis's mansion would go to her old residence in the suburbs to worship Buddha for ten days every year at this time.

Li Wan was entering the mansion for the first time, and it was only right and proper that he accompanied her.

At dawn, the luxurious carriage of the Marquis's mansion slowly drove out of the city gate.

The old lady had a personal maidservant in her carriage, so Li Wan rode in a carriage alone.

"Miss, are you cold?" Xiuhe was about to hand him a hand warmer when the carriage suddenly lurched!

"boom!"

The roof of the car suddenly collapsed, and a dark figure darted in from above.

Before Li Wan could even cry out, she was grabbed by the waist and pulled up by a hand as strong as an iron clamp.

Xiuzhu lunged forward and grabbed her sleeve; with a "rip," the crimson cloak tore in mid-air.

"Help! Help the young mistress!" Xiuzhu cried out in panic.

However, by the time the servants from the Marquis's mansion rushed over, the dark figure had already vanished with Li Wan in tow.

The old lady was helped down from the carriage by her nanny, and looked at the empty carriage with a heavy expression.

After calming down for a few moments, she ordered in a deep voice, "Go and inform the eldest young master immediately." Then she gave the old woman beside her a look.

The old woman understood, looked around at everyone, and said coldly, "Everyone keep your mouths shut. If anyone leaks even the slightest secret, they will be beaten to death."

"Yes," everyone bowed and responded in unison.

*

"woke up?"

A gentle voice boomed like thunder, and Li Wan suddenly opened her eyes, meeting a pair of dark eyes.

Xiao Xian, dressed in a plain white brocade robe, sat on the edge of the bed, her hair tied up with a jade crown, her eyebrows and eyes delicate and beautiful.

When he saw that she had woken up, he reached out to help her, but she suddenly dodged away.

Li Wan looked around and found herself in an elegant little house.

"What does Your Highness mean by this?"

Li Wan propped herself up, pretending to be calm, but her hands were already clenched tightly under the quilt.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Xian kidnapped her in public. It seems he hates her to the bone and can't wait to get rid of her.

If they want to save their lives now, the only way is to show weakness.

Is she going to lie to herself and say that she was forced by Xie Qi to distort the truth to the Dali Temple, or cry and say that she is a weak woman who is afraid of going to jail, or she could say that she has never even met anyone from the Dali Temple...?

Li Wan lowered her eyes and quickly thought of what to say.

"Wanwan."

Xiao Xian suddenly raised his hand, and Li Wan was so startled that she trembled all over. She subconsciously looked up and met his gaze.

However, there was no doubt or hatred in his eyes, only tenderness and... self-reproach.

"Your Highness," she tentatively began.

"Wanwan, I'm so sorry, you've suffered these past few days."

Xiao Cheng's eyes were bloodshot, but her voice was gentle and tender.

"Don't worry about Xiao Fan's matter. The Dali Temple has already made an announcement that he died in an accident. I also know that you framed me to the Dali Temple because you were angry that I gave you to Xie Qi. You didn't come to see me and you hate me for betraying you. I accept it all."

Li Wan: ...

"Wanwan." Xiao Cheng took her soft fingers into his large hand. "Just as we agreed, two years. You only need to stay by Xie Qi's side for two years. Once things are done, we can spend the rest of our lives together."

Upon hearing that the year was approaching and the matter was about to be accomplished, Li Wan's heart suddenly pounded violently. The truth was right before her eyes; she had to stay calm.

Li Wan dared not ask any questions, fearing that it would reveal that she was not Jiang Feiwan. So she bit her lower lip, a tear rolled down her cheek, and continued to pretend to be aggrieved and sad.

Xiao Xian felt even more heartbroken and bent down to pull her into his arms.

Li Wan resisted the urge to push him away and asked in a low voice, "How can Your Highness be so sure that it will be successful in two years?"

The charcoal fire crackled softly inside. Xiao Xian's arm around her stiffened slightly, but the doubt in his eyes vanished in an instant.

He placed his large palm over the back of her hand. "Wanwan, are you worried that Lin Youke's secret report is false?"

Lin Youke?

Li Wan felt her brain wasn't working properly; what did this have to do with the second young master of the Lin family?

After a few moments of thought, she could only go along with him and say, "Well, there are still two years left. If something goes wrong, I... wouldn't I have to follow Xie Qi forever?"

She squeezed out a few more tears and gently pounded his back with her soft fist.

The woman's worried and helpless appearance completely dispelled Xiao Xian's doubts.

He bent his index finger to wipe away the tears on her face and comforted her gently, "Don't worry, Mother Consort has also received a secret message. The Northern Qi Kingdom has been secretly training a large army and stockpiling provisions. They will definitely go to war with the Great Jin in two years."

Xiao Xian's words struck Li Wan like a thunderclap, and she quickly processed the information in his words.

Lin Youke was the illegitimate son of Lin Shang, the commander of the Jinlin Army, and Xiao Xian's mother was Consort Xue.

The son of a commander-in-chief, a favorite concubine of the emperor, and Prince Xiao Xian—they actually knew when the enemy country would launch its attack!

Secret reports, secret letters...

So, in other words, they are colluding with the enemy; they are acting as traitors!

Li Wan desperately suppressed her thoughts and asked calmly, "Then Xie Qi..."

Xiao Xian embraced her, saying, "Lin Shang will return to the capital soon, and Xie Qi will soon take over the Jin-Lin Army. When the two countries go to war, it will be only natural for Xie Qi, as the commander-in-chief, to die on the battlefield."

He gently stroked Li Wan's hair with his palm and sighed, "With Xie Qi dead, Lin Youke can seize the opportunity to gain military power and help me ascend the throne. At that time, you and I can stay together."

Xiao Xian's words were full of deep affection, but at this moment Li Wan exclaimed in her heart: What a grand scheme this is!

It turns out that the tragic battle at Yugu Pass in the previous life was caused by their conspiracy.

They colluded with the enemy to kill Xie Qi, and then seized military power by taking advantage of the situation. With the help of both inside and outside forces, they rose to power in one fell swoop!

But... Li Wan's emotions were in turmoil, and confusion followed one after another.

In the previous life, the Jinlin Army was completely wiped out, so there was no point in them seizing military power again.

Something must have happened...

But in any case, she finally found the culprit behind the tragic battle of Yugu Pass.

Not as good as...

Li Wan curled her fingers. She remembered that before she left home, Xiuhe had given her a silver hairpin with a sharp, long tip that could pierce a person's neck with a sudden burst of force.

With Xiao Xian dead, Consort Xue and Lin Youke would have no hope left and would lose their desire to harm Xie Qi.

Killing bad guys is just like slaughtering pigs and sheep, don't be afraid!

Li Wan comforted herself, took a breath, and quietly raised her hand that was hanging by her side.

"Wanwan."

Caught off guard, Xiao Xian suddenly spoke up, and Li Wan jumped in surprise, quickly lowering her hand.

"Wanwan, are you alright?"

Xiao Xian looked at Li Wan's pale face, her eyes filled with self-reproach, "You've suffered so much being kidnapped in this cold weather."

Li Wan rolled her eyes silently: My face turned white from being scared by you.

"I know you are worried about the Marquis's residence. Don't worry, I will send someone back after I finish speaking with you. I believe the Xie family will not make a fuss about losing their lady."

Li Wan gritted her teeth, wanting to retort: ​​"Didn't you think about the woman's reputation, and her future situation in the Marquis's mansion?"

"Wanwan, you..."

Xiao Xian gently pulled Li Wan apart by supporting her arms, looked down at her, and hesitated to speak.

Li Wan frowned, about to ask a question, when she heard him speak in a low voice.

Did he touch you?

Huh? Li Wan was stunned for a moment before she realized what was happening, and then anger surged to her head.

What does he mean? Is he afraid that Jiang Feiwan will give in to Xie Qi and cuckold him?

But it was clearly he who went to great lengths to give his woman to another man.

What, does he still expect Jiang Feiwan to remain chaste for him even after marrying someone else, or does he think that Jiang Feiwan can resist if Xie Qi forces her?

Li Wan felt a surge of disgust, but dared not show it, and simply lowered her head without saying a word.

The silence was interpreted by the man as tacit agreement.

Li Wan could clearly feel the fingers gripping her arm trembling. When she looked up, she met his bloodshot eyes.

Li Wan suddenly had a thought and asked him, "Your Highness, are you sure you'd still want a woman who's been married to someone else for two years?"

"Don't talk nonsense." Xiao Xian raised his hand and pressed her against his chest, her chest trembling slightly with his breath. "Wanwan, my feelings for you will never change."

Yeah?

Li Wan held the silver hairpin she had just taken from him when he was distracted, and smiled mockingly.

He said his feelings would never change, but just now, she clearly caught a fleeting struggle and hesitation in his eyes.

Then, thinking back to Xie Qi's previous life when he was falsely accused of committing suicide for love, everything clicked together.

Jiang Feiwan was part of their conspiracy. They sent Jiang Feiwan to Xie Qi in advance, and three years later, after coordinating with the enemy, they made Jiang Feiwan "die of illness," then killed Xie Qi and smeared him with the stigma of committing suicide for love.

Insidious and despicable!

Li Wan slowly pulled out the silver hairpin. She thought, even if it was for Jiang Feiwan's sake, he deserved to die.

Li Wan stared at the throbbing pulse in his neck, the gleaming tip of the silver hairpin gradually becoming visible. She thought to herself that she must hit him in one fell swoop...

Suddenly, a sharp sound of an arrow piercing the air came from outside the window.

"Whoosh!"

A black-feathered arrow was embedded in the pear wood table beside her, its fletching still trembling.

Xiao Xian's expression changed drastically, and he overturned the tea table to shield himself: "Lie down!"

"boom!"

The carved wooden door was kicked into pieces, and several masked killers rushed in with knives.

The next moment, Xiao Xian's guards rushed in, and the two sides engaged in a fierce battle with flashing swords.

"Walk!"

Xiao Xian grabbed Li Wan's wrist and rushed out. Li Wan staggered as he pulled her out of the courtyard.

Only then did they realize that the outside world was a desolate snow forest. This must have been a small summer retreat that Xiao Cheng had hastily found for their convenience.

"Get in the carriage!" Xiao Xian pulled Li Wan into the carriage.

Just as the driver raised his whip, a swift knife severed the horse's hoof, and the horse neighed and fell to the ground, causing the carriage to tilt violently.

Li Wan rolled down the snow and saw masked men surging out of the path like a black tide—there were nearly a hundred of them!

It seems that the person who assassinated Xiao Xian was determined to kill him on the spot.

"Protect His Highness!" shouted the outnumbered guards.

Covered in blood, Liang Huan grabbed Xiao Xian by the back of his collar and threw him onto the horse with all his might.

"Wanwan, come quickly." Xiao Xian turned around and reached out to Li Wan.

Li Wan hurriedly got up and reached for his hand.

"Whoosh!"

Another arrow was shot at Xiao Xian. Xiao Xian instinctively pulled his hand back, causing Li Wan to miss and fall heavily onto the muddy, snowy ground.

"Your Highness, let's go!"

At this moment, Liang Huan dared not delay any longer. He drew his knife and slashed the horse's rump. The horse neighed and charged out like an arrow, disappearing at the end of the path in the blink of an eye.