blindness

On the day of the funeral, Xie Daoqing and Li Yi talked for a long time in the main hall. Xie Wanqing was dead, and Xie Daoqing locked himself in his study for a month, making the already desolate Xie family even more lonely.

Bai He stayed with the Xie family and became Gu Youan's junior doctor.

They were self-reliant when they were on the Emperor's throne, but now they live a life of being waited on by the Xie family.

The Xie family is very wealthy. Bai He lay on the couch and said, "Gu Youan, if you weren't an assassin from the Emperor's Creed, and you were just Gu Youan, the Xie family's life would be truly wonderful."

Gu Youan stuffed an apple into his mouth. "You've always had a problem with me, so why are you so peaceful now?"

The white crane removed the apple from its beak. "The Gu worm inside you is dead, and Qingyang has recovered."

Gu Youan paused, "How is his health?"

Bai He smiled and got up from the couch. "If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have survived, Gu Youan. Qingyang and I are both grateful to you."

Gu Youan pouted, "Then why are you spying on me?"

Bai He choked on his water. "I'm here to protect you too. Xie Daoqing is no pushover." He recalled the scene of Xie Daoqing and Gu Changming attacking the three of them at the Gu family that day.

"You can't trust him. Xie Daoqing is a formidable opponent. You are an assassin from the Emperor's Ship. You are natural enemies."

Gu Youan closed her eyes briefly. "Stop. I know you have a lot of opinions about him, but we're eating and drinking for free in his house right now. Can you please tone down your malice a bit?"

"You haven't actually fallen in love with him, have you?"

Gu Youan frowned. "Are you out of your mind? Did I enter the Emperor's Mansion at the age of seven just to get married?"

"Baihe, I've heard that the Chunfeng Tower in Biancheng can gather information. Why don't you go there and work as a courtesan to find out some news?"

He suddenly stood up, looked at her, and said, "Gu Youan, what kind of place is that? If I become a prostitute, will I still have a way out?"

She looked at that beautiful face and said, "I think you'd be perfect as a maid."

Bai He took two steps back. "I think you've gone mad, Gu Youan."

He looked at Gu Youan and said, "Xie Daoqing has been staying at home these past few days. Aren't you going to go and see him?"

"Xie Wanqing is dead. He needs time. How's your investigation of the Xie family going these past few days? Killing Xie Yu is a simple matter." Even if Xie Daoqing is used to kill Xie Yu, the matter still needs to be handled with care.

Bai He's eyes dimmed. "What happened to the Zhao family won't happen again."

Gu Youan withdrew her hand. "Killing Zhao Huai almost cost me half my life!"

"I want to see Boyan." Boyan is gentle and would never give such an order. Only Xingxiu or Fengyun would give such an order.

"White Crane, pretend to be me, I want to go back to the Emperor's Ship."

Bai He paused for a moment, then slowly spoke, "Gu Youan, have you thought this through? In just one or two years, the world on the Emperor's Ship has changed dramatically."

Gu Youan raised her eyes and looked at him sadly, "I guessed right, the assassination of Zhao Huai was not a simple matter, was it?"

Bai He nodded gently, her hand falling limply to her side. "Why? Why? I just want to know the truth."

She took out a dagger and held it to Bai He's neck. "I want to know the truth. I want to know all the truth. Bai He, why is Jian Nan asleep? You are not surprised by his identity as Sheng Jingche. What are you hiding?"

Bai He gripped the sword blade with his right hand. "Don't hurt yourself, Gu Youan. I know you have many questions, but I don't want you to hurt yourself."

Blood dripped from his hand onto the ground, but he felt no pain. Gu Youan suddenly pulled back the knife, pointed it at his own neck, and said, "If you don't tell me, I'll kill myself."

Bai He raised his hand. "No, I will tell you the truth you want to know. All of this was to make you and Xie Daoqing engaged. Everything we did, including killing Zhao Huai, was to make you and Xie Daoqing meet."

"Haoyue became the only flaw."

Gu Youan sneered, "Whose idea was it? Only Jiannan and I are unaware, right?"

Bai He nodded, and Gu Youan punched him on the shoulder. She pressed Bai He's head down, then bit down hard on her neck.

Bai He closed her eyes tightly, blood entering her mouth, a salty, rusty taste. Gu Youan pushed him away, "Why did you hide it from me and Jiannan? We assassinated Zhao Huai at the Zhao family, but you were plotting against us."

Blood flowed down his neck, and he touched it with his hand. "I know you're sad, but Gu Youan, this is who we are. We are assassins. The biggest enemy of the Emperor is the Xie family. Every brick and tile of the Xie family is stained with the blood of countless innocent people. The Xie family is the eagle claw of the royal family, the knife of the royal family. The existence of the Emperor is to remove this knife."

Bai He took out a packet of medicine. "Xie Daoqing is currently immersed in grief. Put this medicine in his food."

Gu Youan frowned. "You want to blind him?"

“The Xie family is currently undergoing a major upheaval. We only have this one chance. Gu Youan, he is not killing you now because his illness has not been cured, but he will kill you in the future.”

Gu Youan shook her head. "I won't do that, Bai He. Now that I've joined the Xie family, we need to carefully consider matters concerning them."

Bai He looked into his eyes. "What are you hesitating about, Gu Youan? Do you really want to be her wife? You're after the Xie family's wealth and status, aren't you?"

Gu Youan sighed and lowered her eyes. What was all this about? "Bai He, this is Biancheng, right under the emperor's nose. Are you really going to drag all of us down with you?"

From Xie Yu to Xie Daoqing, they truly lived up to their reputation as the last surviving assassin organization, handling matters cleanly and efficiently. However, Xie Daoqing and Ye Qingchen are the male protagonists of this book, and the story ends when they die.

Gu Youan pressed down on Bai He's arm. "The Xie family has already lost Xie Wanqing. If Xie Daoqing dies too, I'll really become a jinx to my husbands. You should at least think about me, Bai He. She's seriously poisoned. If she takes this medicine, there will be no way to save her."

Bai He stared intently into her eyes. "Gu Youan, you feel sorry for him, don't you!"

He gripped her arms tightly, trapping her within a small space. Her head slammed against the pillar, tears glistening in her eyes. "I am the Xuanji Envoy, Bai He. You know your place."

"Xuanji Envoy? Gu Youan, the person behind the Xie family is Emperor Zhaoyuan. Emperor Zhaoyuan has killed so many of us, why are you still hesitating!"

"Baihe, go back. I demand that you return as the Xuanji Envoy. I want to see Qingyang!" She inserted a needle into the back of his neck, and Baihe slowly slid to the ground. Gu Youan felt her arm lighten, and she breathed a sigh of relief. She slowly squatted down. "I want to see Qingyang. I only want to see him."

Throughout the entire Emperor's Regalia, she had a close relationship with Qingyang and Jiannan. With Lord Mei and Lord Yuan'an dead and Jiannan in a deep sleep, Qingyang was now the only person she could trust.

Bai He smiled faintly, "Do you think the outcome will change after Qingyang arrives? Gu Youan, you overestimate yourself."

Bai He looked at her confidently, but Gu Youan suddenly realized something. "What have you done, Bai He? Have you poisoned her?"

Gu Youan hurriedly walked towards the door, but Bai He grabbed her arm, saying, "It's too late, Gu Youan."

With a "slap," Gu Youan struck him across the face. "You're insane, Bai He. I think you really are insane. You went back to the Emperor's Ship and forgot your identity. If you act on your own, I can kill you."

Bai He laughed eerily, "Gu Youan, have you forgotten your identity? You've lost all your martial arts skills. Do you still think you're the one who can command the wind and rain?"

She didn't want to argue with him any further. "Even without martial arts skills or internal energy, I can still kill you, Bai He. You will kill both of us."

She turned and left, hurrying towards the study. The cold air entered her nose and reached her throat, causing a slight pain.

She turned to look at the white crane, "You actually drugged me too."

She pressed her hand to her neck to force out the poison. "After I've dealt with this, you can go back to the Emperor's Ship and be put in solitary confinement."

Before she could wipe the blood from the corner of her mouth, she stopped at the door. She gently pushed open the door, and a sliver of light entered the dim room. Xie Daoqing was all alone in a corner.

"Who's there?" A dart suddenly flew towards the door.

Gu Youan tilted her head. "It's me, Gu Youan."

Why are you here?

“I want to see you, Xie Daoqing.” She walked slowly up to him.

Xie Daoqing placed his hand on the desk. "Is your hand better?"

Gu Youan didn't answer him. "Can't you see?"

Xie Daoqing nodded. "You'an, I'm sorry to have dragged you into the Xie family's affairs."

She knelt down and touched her eyes. Xie Daoqing turned her head away, her hand hovering in mid-air. "I can heal you."

“My father and brothers are dead, my sister is gone, and I can’t see anymore. You’an, go back, go back to the Emperor’s Ship, and leave this place.”

"And what about you, Xie Daoqing? What will you do if I leave?"

“I can’t drag you down, You’an. You have your own path. I am a member of the Xie family, and it is my destiny to die for the royal family.”

She lowered her head and pressed down on his leg. "Are you really willing to do this? You pretended to be disabled just to avoid His Majesty's harm. Are you going to give up now?"

Dust filled the room as she coughed. "Are you really willing?"

Xie Daoqing stared at her with lifeless eyes. "When the emperor is angry, corpses will be piled up for miles. You should leave. I will break off the engagement with you. This is a matter between the Xie family and the royal family. You should not be involved."

Gu Youan sneered and looked down at him. "Ever since we fell into the pond together at the Zhao family's house, you and I have been inseparable. Xie Daoqing, I will not break off the engagement."

He grabbed her sleeve. "I will give you half of the Xie family's land, You'an. Go back. The Xie family is not suitable for you."