Join forces

Her palms were sweating profusely. Jiang Mian tried her best to calm herself down. When she looked up, she met Xie Zheng's thoughtful face. She silently cheered herself up.

“Your Highness misunderstands. Shen Ji hates me for deceiving him. If I hadn’t transferred the poison into his body, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be alive now.”

“His men are still hunting me down everywhere. If Your Highness doesn’t believe me, send someone out to inquire and you’ll know whether what I’m saying is true or false.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Xie Zheng frowned, having accurately grasped the key point.

"cheat?"

Jiang Mian sensed something was wrong, and sure enough, the next moment, Xie Zheng's voice rang out: "You've reminded me, if you can lie to him, how come you can't lie to me?"

The man's voice was deep and sinister, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, as he approached her step by step. Then, his gaze shifted downwards, and his voice held a hint of nonchalance: "What is this?"

"……Tea."

"Drink it," Xie Zheng coldly ordered.

Jiang Mian clenched her fists and, under his gaze, slowly swallowed the warm tea.

A moment later, Xie Zheng suddenly laughed, the probing look in his eyes gradually fading, replaced by a teasing and playful tone: "Good boy, go and make another cup."

After leaving the study, Jiang Mian seemed to have exhausted all her strength; her entire back and clothes were soaked with sweat.

I wonder if Xie Zheng has become suspicious.

Half an hour later, Jiang Mian came to the study again. This time, the guards at the door did not stop her. After Jiang Mian went in, she saw Xie Zheng writing something on Xuan paper.

She lowered her eyes and addressed him respectfully.

Xie Zheng's gaze fell on the girl in front of him, his dark eyes narrowed slightly, and after a while, he took the tea from her hand and drank it all in one gulp.

After noon.

She secretly explored every possible place in the mansion and found it to be very secluded. There were guards outside the door, so outsiders couldn't get in, and those inside couldn't easily get out either.

Those guards didn't seem to be there to protect Xie Zheng; they seemed more like they were there to monitor him.

Jiang Mian quickly memorized the route.

As night fell, she slipped the sleeping potion she had prepared into Xie Zheng's medicinal meal, and then sneaked into the study while the guards changed shifts.

It was too dark for her to light a lamp.

The only way to find the antidote is to rely on the memories from the daytime.

When she arrived during the day, she noticed that there were many traps and mechanisms here. Xie Zheng had ordered his men to guard the place closely, so there must be many important things hidden here. To her surprise, none of the things here were locked.

Soon, she found several bottles and jars.

I don't know if it's the antidote, but I'll pack it away for now.

Just as she was basking in the joy of finding the antidote, the door was suddenly pushed open.

The bright firelight illuminated the room completely.

In an instant, all her movements were exposed. Jiang Mian narrowed her eyes slightly, and a cold voice slowly rang in her ears: "It seems that I guessed correctly, you do indeed have a purpose."

Jiang Mian was somewhat surprised, but she couldn't help but feel nervous. She had clearly put the drug in Xie Zheng's tea and had watched him drink it with her own eyes. The time hadn't come yet, so he couldn't possibly be sober.

She didn't know which part of the process went wrong, but since he had suspicions, it meant that he hadn't used the tea that had been laced with drugs. Jiang Mian shifted her gaze to the inconspicuous eunuch beside her, and sure enough, the eunuch lowered his eyes slightly, clearly not wanting to meet her gaze.

If the tea passed through the hands of a palace attendant, it must have been switched.

It seems she miscalculated again.

Even so, she still didn't want to give up.

Shen Ji is in critical condition; without an antidote, he will never wake up again.

She must do everything she can to save him.

"Guards, lock him up," Xie Zheng suddenly ordered.

Seeing that the guards were about to step forward, Jiang Mian immediately realized: "Your Highness has probably misunderstood."

She wasn't entirely confident, but with a silver needle hidden in her sleeve, she could take action as soon as Xie Zheng got close, kidnap him, and then find an opportunity to deliver the medicine.

Tonight, Yun Qing and the others will be waiting outside.

Anything is possible once you go out.

"You drugged me and sneaked into my study in the dead of night, wasn't it all to find an antidote for Shen Ji?" Xie Zheng sneered, clearly not taking her words seriously.

"No, I do have a purpose, but it's not for Shen Ji, but... because of Your Highness." Jiang Mian took a deep breath. Taking a risky move, this was the only option for now.

Perhaps it was because her eyes looked so familiar, and her lie was so clumsy and obvious that he had no intention of continuing to entangle with her. However, when his gaze fell upon those beautiful yet pitiful eyes, he hesitated for a moment and played along: "What do you mean by that?"

"Your Highness, come closer." The girl was dressed in plain white robes, her eyes clear and bright.

Xie Zheng suddenly thought of the painting in the silent hall again. For a moment, his heart tightened slightly. She looked a lot like her.

As if drawn by some kind of gravity, he took a few steps forward.

However, the pitiful-looking girl suddenly revealed several silver needles from her sleeve and stuck them into his neck.

"Don't move." The girl's voice was slightly cold.

Xie Zheng's eyes darkened.

"The needle is poisoned. Tell your men to retreat."

“Jiang Mian, this is not a smart thing to do.” Xie Zheng’s expression suddenly darkened.

Jiang Mian gritted her teeth and tried her best to steady the silver needles in her hand. She had no other choice. This was the only option for her at the moment.

"If Your Highness wishes to live, you would have better do as I say."

"You want to save Shen Ji, don't you?" Xie Zheng seemed to have known all along. He lowered his gaze and made no move.

However, with all the soldiers holding torches, Jiang Mian dared not relax for a moment. She knew that her actions were like throwing an egg against a rock, but she had no other choice. Shen Ji's body could not be delayed, and she had to find the antidote as soon as possible.

Thinking of this, she said coldly again, "I mean what I say."

"Pfft—" The silver needle pierced her skin, and bright red blood was visible. Just as she flinched slightly, Xie Zheng suddenly flipped his hand. The difference in strength between men and women was huge, not to mention that he was a martial artist. The favorable situation that originally belonged to Jiang Mian was overturned by force. Before she could react, he grabbed her chin and flipped her to the ground.

The silver needle had somehow fallen into the ground.

“Jiang Mian, as I have said, this move is not wise.”

Xie Zheng remained aloof, his eyes deep and revealing no trace of emotion.

Suddenly, he slowly squatted down, brushed aside her bangs with his fingertips, stared at her desperate expression, and laughed coldly.

"I love seeing you like this, the one I long for but cannot have."

The distorted face came into view, and she suddenly realized why the reinforcements had arrived so quickly tonight when she had taken Xie Zheng hostage. It was all because he had anticipated it!

"Tell me, is it worth it to use your life to fulfill my wish?"

He once said that no one could stop him.

If that portrait could become his secret burial site back then, then Jiang Mian could naturally become his weapon now.

From the first moment he met her, he felt that she would definitely be a help to him in the future.

I just never expected her to be so foolish.

Is it worth it?

Jiang Mian didn't want to investigate. All she knew was that she had failed. She hadn't held out any hope from the beginning. Now, it was like a bucket of cold water being poured over her, extinguishing the last embers of hope in her heart.

Shen Ji risked his life to protect her, but she could do nothing about it.

They watched helplessly as he faced imminent death, and witnessed his hope vanish.

She's so useless.

There's nothing she can do.

She couldn't even find an antidote for him.

Xie Zheng didn't give her much time to react. He snorted coldly and ordered his men to lock her up. Just as he was about to leave, someone came to report.

A fire broke out in Xiyuan.

Xie Zheng's expression changed drastically, and he quickly left.

After an unknown amount of time, Jiang Mian heard someone calling her. When she finally saw who it was, she was shocked.

"Mian'er, it's me." Song Mingyan, disguised as a servant, appeared out of nowhere.

"Brother Wenshi?" Jiang Mian called out softly.

"There's no time to explain too much. I'll take you away first." Song Mingyan seemed to have a lot to say to her, but time was of the essence, so he had to leave first.

“Okay.” Jiang Mian’s gaze hardened once again.

She followed Song Mingyan, avoiding the crowd. Tonight, even the wind seemed to be on their side, and the fire in the West Garden burned brighter and brighter. The people coming and going to put out the fire didn't seem to notice them. Before long, Jiang Mian was able to get out safely.

However, she felt no joy at surviving such a disaster.

The antidote has not yet been obtained.

Seeing Xie Zheng's flustered expression just now, it must be because something extremely important to him is hidden in the West Garden. Perhaps the antidote is there.

"Mian'er?" Song Mingyan couldn't help but call out to her when he saw her lost in thought.

"Brother Wenshi, I still have things to do." Jiang Mian thought it over carefully. Xie Zheng would definitely not be able to take care of everything right now, so she could send a message to Yun Qing and ask them to force their way into the West Garden.

Song Mingyan remained silent, his eyes suddenly darkening as he stopped her: "Mian'er, I don't want you to take risks."

Jiang Mian was taken aback.

A gentle night breeze blew by, and Song Mingyan had never been as clear-headed and calm as he was now. Before he came, he already knew why Jiang Mian was here.

Even though he had expected it, seeing it with his own eyes still stirred up a deep, complex pain and an indescribable sense of unease in his heart.

He gripped her wrist firmly and said without hesitation, "Come with me."

“Brother Wenshi, it’s not what you think,” Jiang Mian explained from behind, but no matter what she said, Song Mingyan seemed determined to take her away.

Just when the two were at an impasse.

From afar, a familiar voice suddenly rang out: "What are you doing?"

Jiang Mian looked up in disbelief, her eyes filled with extreme shock. In the dim, soft light, stood a figure in brocade robes and a jade belt. His emotionless eyes were fixed on the spot where Song Mingyan was holding her wrist.

"Cousin?" Jiang Mian seemed to be having a hallucination.

Wasn't my cousin supposed to be unconscious? How did he end up here?

Could it be that the poison in his body has been neutralized?

Jiang Mian had some questions, but when she saw him appear in front of her unharmed, her first reaction was to breathe a sigh of relief.

However, Song Mingyan took a step forward, silently blocking her view.

Two equally captivating men stood facing each other, the air thick with unspoken tension. Song Mingyan smiled and said, "I had long heard that His Majesty was in poor health, but I never expected it to end like this."

With a calm and deep gaze, he gently raised his hand.

"Take it down."

Many guards rushed out from behind her, carrying torches. The bright flames completely dispelled the darkness. At the same time, Jiang Mian saw Shen Ji.

The other person's eyes were deep and unfathomable, and they were also watching her.

"Xie Chaochen, don't be so presumptuous."

Someone parted the darkness from behind, their tone as casual as ever. Jiang Mian noticed that Song Mingyan's hand was slowly tightening around hers. She slowly turned around and saw a familiar face.

"We meet again, Princess Chaoning."

It was Xie Heng.

It seems everyone has gathered tonight.

Jiang Mian was confused, but Xie Heng's gaze only lingered on her for a moment before turning to Shen Ji: "I told the Crown Prince long ago that he should have killed you as soon as possible. If he had listened to me, things wouldn't have turned out like this."

"Xie Heng, do you think you're so clever? Do you really think Father Emperor doesn't know about Consort Ning's affairs?"

With a cold snort, Xie Zheng appeared outside the door.

The distant firelight had been extinguished. He was completely unharmed, and looked at Xie Heng with a mocking gaze before turning to Shen Ji: "There is one thing I think you should know. My father has been in that position for more than ten years. How could you possibly decide the course of events with just a few words?"

Xie Heng touched his nose, as if he wasn't the one being talked about.

"Today is your death day."

Xie Zheng seemed absolutely confident, but the moment he drew his sword, he suddenly sensed something was wrong, and then abruptly turned his head—

"Xie Heng, you—"

With a "splatter," blood splattered. Even though Song Mingyan quickly stepped in front of her, Jiang Mian still couldn't avoid witnessing this cruel scene.

Xie Heng's attack was ruthless; the dagger was almost aimed at Xie Zheng's heart. Instantly, the arrogant man fell to the ground, lifeless.

"How was my performance? Pretty good, right?"

The instigator, however, acted as if nothing had happened, continuing to chat and laugh as usual.

So many things happened that night, each one more than Jiang Mian had anticipated.

until--

Shen Ji asked her, "Are you hurt?"

Jiang Mian then realized that they had joined forces to kill Xie Zheng.

Her feelings were subtly complex; this was the first time she had ever seen Chen Ji like this.

Without making a sound, one can decide a person's life or death.

She recalled the rumors circulating outside. Perhaps this was the real him. He was not the reclusive young master of the Shen family in Yangzhou, but a powerful figure in the imperial court who held the power of life and death.