Chapter 24

It would have been better if he hadn't mentioned it. Once the woman was brought up, Qi Ziyue frowned, his mood turning somber. He said sadly, "On our wedding night, I told her, and now she's kicked me out." Xi Yimin almost laughed. "Didn't you say before that you were going to be a persistent, obsessive lover and cling to her relentlessly?" Hearing her teasing tone, Qi Ziyue's expression turned serious. He said worriedly, "To cling to someone, you need to actually see them. She doesn't even want to see me, sigh!" Xi Yimin smiled broadly, teasingly saying, "What's the point of your martial arts? Don't you know how to sneak into Miss Gu's room? It's utterly foolish." Hearing this, Qi Ziyue... Qi Ziyue looked troubled and worried, saying, "Won't Xi Yan hate me even more then?" Xi Yimin shook his head, exasperated, "If I don't go, will she stop hating me? If I don't go, I won't even have a chance! Women are all soft-hearted, especially those who have given their hearts. Perhaps she just can't get over that hurdle right now. Why not give it a try?" Qi Ziyue looked dejected and said sadly, "I'm really afraid of losing her. If I don't see her, perhaps I won't hear her even more resolute words. That way, I might still have hope in my heart." Hearing Qi Ziyue say this, Xi Yimin had no choice but to shake his head and say, "Whatever you say, just don't regret it later!"

Rumors of Guan Haoshan's rebellion were rampant throughout Fengcheng. Inside the dining hall, Leng Xue Ran, watching the people happily eating at the table, asked worriedly, "Yi Min, with all these rumors circulating outside, aren't you worried?" Xi Yi Min looked up at the woman before him, who was concerned for him, and said softly, "Xue Ran, don't worry. We can't control this matter, so we can only observe and see. Worrying won't help, so why don't we just continue with our lives as usual?" Hearing her words, Leng Xue Ran felt relieved. Seeing that the weather outside was still fine... He then said, "After dinner, shall we take a stroll in the garden?" Xi Yimin happily replied, "Excellent! A couple of days ago, some pear blossoms were transplanted in the courtyard; let's go see them." Just then, a servant outside called, "Young Master, someone is looking for you outside." Hearing this, Xi Yimin frowned, somewhat displeased. Why now, of all times, just as he was about to stroll with the woman he loved? He asked unhappily, "Who is it?" The servant replied, "The person only said she was an old friend of yours, a woman." Hearing this, Leng Xueran looked displeased and said sarcastically: "Is she Yimin's confidante?" Upon hearing this, Xi Yimin replied earnestly, "What confidante do I have? I only have Xue Ran as my confidante." "But I can't be considered Yimin's confidante. I don't know what Yimin is thinking." "How could you not know? At least Xue Ran knows who the woman I deeply love is." These words made the woman blush and say coquettishly, "I don't know." Xi Yimin was about to kiss the shy woman in front of him when he saw the servants still waiting outside the door. To avoid being laughed at, he said to the servants: "Please go to the guest hall. My wife and I will be there shortly." "Yes." After the servant walked away, Xi Yimin picked up the woman and sat her on his lap, which made her pout and say, "Put me down, lest the servants see us and laugh at us." Xi Yimin said with feigned seriousness, "Who would dare? Don't you want your monthly salary?" Leng Xueran said angrily, "Get up quickly, the guests are waiting." Xi Yimin laughed, "Let her wait. It's her fault for ruining our plans." Leng Xueran ignored him, got up and walked towards the guest hall, and Xi Yimin quickly followed.

As soon as the two entered the reception hall, they saw a familiar face. The person, surprised to see them together, turned cold and said displeasedly, "Yimin, why is my sister here?" Xi Yimin sneered, "It's perfectly normal for my wife to be in my residence. Second Miss, what business do you have with me?" This person was Leng Ying. Hearing Xi Yimin's words, her heart grew even colder. She pleaded, "Yimin, are you really so unwilling to see me?" Xi Yimin replied without hesitation, "Indeed!" Hearing her heartless and resolute answer, Leng Ying smiled desolately, her face pale. "But I'm still worried about you. There are rumors outside that you're going to rebel. I'm really worried about your safety and just want to see if you're alright." Seeing her like this, Xi Yimin softened. "There are only rumors outside. I haven't rebelled; it's someone impersonating me. You don't need to worry, I will..." "Take care of yourself, and I hope you live the life you're meant to live. My heart belongs only to your sister; no one else can enter it." Tears welled in Leng Ying's eyes as she looked at the earnest man. "But I ask for nothing more than to be by Yi Min's side." Hearing this, Xi Yi Min hurriedly retorted, "I cannot tolerate anyone but Xue Ran by my side." Hearing such resolute words, Leng Ying took a step back, glaring hatefully at the silent Leng Xue Ran, and angrily said, "Why did you appear? If you hadn't, Yi Min would be mine." Before Leng Xue Ran could answer, Xi Yi Min grabbed her hand, blocking her path, and looked at Leng Ying, coldly saying, "Xue Ran is not wrong; you are the one who is wrong. You loved someone who doesn't love you. Leng Ying, be a good Crown Princess; that way, we can still be family. After all, I am your brother-in-law." As if hearing... Leng Ying laughed loudly, as if it were a joke, "Brother-in-law? How can you, a woman, become my brother-in-law? Would my father agree?" Xi Yimin said coldly, "So what are you forcing? Since your father doesn't agree to my relationship with your sister, how could he agree to ours? Besides, my relationship with Xue Ran is none of your concern, Miss. Please leave!" Hearing her words, Leng Ying calmed down and looked at the woman behind Xi Yimin, smiling, "I came to see my sister and would like to stay a few more days, is that alright, sister?" Leng Xue Ran hesitated when she heard her question. She glanced at Xi Yimin in front of her, then at Leng Ying, and smiled, "Yes." Hearing her answer, Leng Ying was stunned, somewhat surprised that she had agreed. Xi Yimin, however, turned cold, "I don't agree. You can see my sister during the day, but you should go back at night." "Your own lodgings." Hearing this, Leng Ying looked aggrieved. "But I have nowhere else to stay. I just arrived in Fengcheng today, and I'll be returning to the capital after fulfilling my vow at the temple in a few days. So, sister, please take me in for a few days, okay?" Before Leng Xue Ran could answer, Xi Yi Min interrupted, "There are so many inns outside, can't they accommodate the Second Miss?" Ignoring Xi Yi Min, Leng Ying went directly to Leng Xue Ran's side, took her arm, and said coquettishly, "Sister, it's dangerous outside, please allow me to stay at the Xi residence!" Leng Xue Ran looked at the woman before her, feeling a little reluctant. She turned around and stopped the person who was about to argue, saying softly, "Yi Min, just agree to her request. After all, she is my sister." Helpless, Xi Yi Min could only nod and coldly called out, "Someone!" A servant came and said impatiently, "Take the Second Miss to a side room."

In Fengcheng, many soldiers and officials have arrived recently, as if something big is about to happen. In the study, Qi Ziyue looked at Xi Yimin, who seemed indifferent, and said seriously, "Young Master, do you know that people outside are saying you're rebelling, yet you remain unmoved?" Xi Yimin chuckled, "Ziyue, didn't I tell you? What can I do? Besides, I'm no longer Guan Haoshan; I'm Xi Yimin. Have you found out who's impersonating me and rebelling?" Seeing Xi Yimin's reaction, Qi Ziyue sighed, "You guessed right, it is indeed the Third Prince. However, judging from his appearance, he seems to have been prepared for this. He's been in Fengcheng all this time, secretly recruiting soldiers in various prefectures and counties, gathering them in Fengcheng. The court seems to have noticed, but they don't know it's the Third Prince. Whether the court believes the rumors that Guan Haoshan is rebelling is another matter. That's why they've sent a large number of soldiers this time. Young Master, do you know who the leader of this army is?" Xi Yimin smiled, "Could it be my godfather?" Qi Ziyue also smiled, "It really is..." "It's him!" Xi Yimin suddenly burst into laughter. "This world is truly boring; it seems the story has begun anew." Qi Ziyue, seeing her desolate laughter, was somewhat worried. "Young Master, how should we handle this matter?" "We should continue investigating to see if my godfather was truly acting under An Ye'er's orders, and also to find out if An Ye'er has anyone else behind her." Hearing this, Qi Ziyue hesitated and said, "Young Master, I didn't want to tell you, but given your current state, I have no choice but to." Seeing her say this, Xi Yimin knew she was hiding something and said unhappily, "Everything must be reported; there can be no concealment. Tell me quickly!" Helpless, Qi Ziyue said seriously, "I have found out that An Ye'er has no one else behind her. It was she who instructed Leng Shouqing to bewitch the Emperor, saying you were going to rebel, which led to the previous calamities at the Guan residence and in the martial arts world." Hearing this, Xi Yimin stood up, disbelievingly asking, "Really?" She didn't believe that Leng Xueran's mother really wanted to kill her, but why? They didn't know each other and had no grudges against each other. If that's really the case, wouldn't it be impossible for her and Xue Ran to be together? How can she avenge this? She can't find peace of mind no matter what.