Chapter 349 Death outside the palace is an accident

How come Xiyan and Manluo suddenly appeared in the Soul-Locking Forest?

Xiao Nanyue's prediction turned out to be true. When Xie Zhan ordered his men to release the poisonous smoke, Xiyan and Manluo had already been taken away from the Shuyu Underground Palace through a secret door in the bedroom by Xie Lan.

When they learned that Xie Zhen intended to suffocate Xiao Nanyue and the other two to death in the underground palace, Xiyan and Manluo both changed their expressions.

It was true that they hated them, but they didn't want them to die like this.

Xie Zhen stared at his daughter's pale cheeks and said in a deep voice:

"Tian'er, could it be that you still have feelings for him? If that wolf-like man doesn't die, he will only drag you down into the abyss."

Xiyan's lips trembled, but she said nothing.

She lowered her eyes to look at her bulging belly, and her thoughts drifted back to the first time she met Xiao Nanyue eight years ago. He wrapped her in a black robe while she shivered from the cold, and the warmth of his palm seemed to still linger on her skin.

She hated his tyranny and his coldness, but when the word "death" came out of her father's mouth, her heart was still deeply ached.

Although she didn't plan to go back to Tianqi with Xiao Nanyue, if he died, her child would be born without a father?

Xie Lan stood aside and took in his sister's expression.

He knew very well that although his sister hated Xiao Nanyan, hatred often came from love. Could it be that his sister had once truly loved Xiao Nanyan?

When she thinks about it carefully, she and Xiao Nanyue had been together in Tianqi for eight years, and they were as close as brothers. Xiao Nanyue was a dragon among men, so how many girls would not be attracted to him?

What's more, she was pregnant with Xiao Nanyan's child. If she regretted it one day, wouldn't it be difficult to undo it?

After thinking about it, Xie Lan came to Xie Zhen's side and bowed:

"Father, if the Regent of Tianqi and the former Crown Prince Helian Feng died in Nanzhao, I'm afraid the two countries would be at war again. After all, Nanzhao is still a small border nation, no match for the mighty armies of Tianqi. It's best not to antagonize each other unless absolutely necessary. For now, we've already taught them this little lesson, letting them know that we, Nanzhao, are not weak and easily bullied."

Xie Zhen glanced at his daughter's hand hidden in her sleeve, unconsciously stroking her belly. How could he not know what his daughter was thinking? He finally sighed, with a hint of helplessness in his voice:

"Well, they must have fainted from the poison by now, open the underground palace door!"

"Yes!" Xie Lan accepted the order.

Xiyan and Manluo looked at each other and breathed a sigh of relief.

When the stone gate of the underground palace slowly opened and all the mechanisms were sealed, everyone entered the underground palace but found that the huge hall was empty.

Xie Zhen walked to the edge of the dark stream, his fingertips tracing the wet water marks on the stone wall. Suddenly, he chuckled softly, a rare look of admiration on his face.

"This Xiao Nanyan is really quite capable. No wonder he is so young and yet he has the power of life and death over Tianqi."

Xie Lan's expression changed slightly:

"Even if they escape from the underground palace, they may not be able to leave the Soul Locking Forest alive."

"Death outside the palace is an accident. Why would I accept that?"

After he finished speaking, Xie Zhen flicked his sleeves and left.

Xiyan and Manluo looked at each other, neither of them spoke anymore, and they returned to Qionghua Palace silently.

When they entered the hall, Xiyan sat on the edge of the couch, her palms unconsciously rubbing her lower abdomen.

Manluo leaned against the carved window frame, looking at the swaying bamboo shadows outside the window, with an indescribable worry in her eyes.

The bedroom was so quiet that only the crackling of candle wicks could be heard. It was not until Nichang hurried in to report that the Second Prince had come down that the two of them woke up from their dreams.

Xie Zhan stepped into the palace, glanced at the two listless people, sighed softly, and took out a small gilded bottle from his sleeve:

"The soul-bewitching miasma of the Soul-Locking Forest can only be cured by this awakening pill." A faint medicinal fragrance wafted out when the bottle stopper was opened:

"No matter how powerful Xiao Nanyan and the others are, they won't last long trapped in the poisonous miasma."

Manluo suddenly looked up, with stars twinkling in her eyes:

"Xie Zhan, Chu Jin is also in there. Are you... willing to let him go?"

"Of course I know." Xie Zhan raised his hand to smooth away the messy hair on her forehead:

"Look at how distraught you are. If he really died in the Soul-Locking Forest, you would be heartbroken for the rest of your life."

His voice was very soft, but with a hint of firmness:

"What I want is a fair fight with him, and I want you to make a willing choice."

Manluo only felt her throat tighten, and a hint of sourness rose to the tip of her nose.

This fool, knowing that she was concerned about Chu Jin, still extended a helping hand at the critical moment.

"Xie Zhan..." She was about to speak, but the other party pressed his red lips with his finger:

"Go quickly."

Xie Zhan put the porcelain bottle into her palm and took out a roll of cowhide map:

"This is a map of the secret passages in the Soul Locking Forest. Follow the markings and you'll avoid the areas with the thickest miasma."

Xiyan was a little worried:

"Second brother, father..."

Seeing his sister hesitant to speak, Xie Zhan smiled and pinched her cheek:

"Even if he really wants to blame you, your royal brother will cover for you."

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