Chapter 48: Life and Death Together (8) The fire broke out!

Xie Yun had met the princess when she was young. At that time, the princess had just married into the palace, and Xie Yun had accompanied Yan Huinan to the wedding. Yan Huinan, so cunning at the time, had the audacity to bring Xie Yun along to join the others in making trouble in the bridal chamber! Xie Yun was so embarrassed that she covered her ears with her hands and squeezed her eyes shut for the entire night!

At that time, Yan Huinan even teased her deliberately, tickling her, and whispered in her ear, "Are you really not going to look? The princess is very beautiful!"

"It's fun to play pranks in the bridal chamber! Little Yanyan? Good Yanyan? Open your eyes and take a look?"

"You really don't want to watch it? What a pity!"

He even made faces at her, "Do you even know what a wedding night is, you stubborn little thing?!"

Xie Yun felt irritated and disturbed after hearing this. Her face wrinkled up and she shook her head frantically.

His voice came back, "Do you know how a child is born? It's during the wedding night—"

Xie Yun couldn't bear it any longer. She yelled and kicked Yan Huinan to the ground, "You bastard!"

"You! You rude little bitch!" Yan Huinan was stunned and annoyed after being kicked, so he started to curse.

After saying this, he regretted it. Why did he tell her all this? It was all because of that little fat kid from the Shangshu Ling family who showed him pornographic pictures! Thinking of this, Yan Huinan rushed to the front hall angrily and kicked the little fat kid who was eating snacks.

Yan Huinan cursed: "What are you eating! You only know how to eat!"

The fat boy from the Shangshuling family was scolded by the young marquis without any reason. He said aggrievedly, "What did I do, my lord?"

Yan Huinan ignored the man after cursing him, and angrily snatched the cake from him, "Stop eating! You're as fat as a pig, and you're still eating!"

The little fat boy was kicked innocently and his food was snatched away. He felt so wronged, but he didn't dare go back to complain to his father. He could only lean on the eight-immortal chair at the table and cry!

Yan Huinan glared at him for being useless, and went back to find Xie Yun with Si Wen, carrying several large plates of cakes and fruits.

Young Marquis Yan had a stern face, and he hadn't wiped the dusty footprints off his clothes yet. He asked stiffly, "Are you hungry?"

After all, Xie Yun was dragged here by him late at night, and he couldn't let the little girl starve.

The plate contained Xie Yun's favorite rice cake topped with osmanthus sauce. The fat boy had just asked the kitchen to make it, and it was still warm and soft. Xie Yun pouted, but in the end she couldn't help but picked up a piece and slowly bit it in her hand.

The newlywed Princess Yu was even more lively than the dignified and beautiful Princess Yu was now. Her eyes were filled with admiration for Prince Yu, as if they were shining brightly. Perhaps because they had been married for so long, they were more respectful to each other.

Xie Yun used to see the princess frequently at the mansion, but gradually her visits became less frequent. Ever since the princess became pregnant and then miscarried, she hadn't been there again. Xie Yun had assumed it was because there were so many children at the mansion, and seeing them would bring back memories of her own lost children.

When the princess saw Xie Yun this time, she was overwhelmed with affection. She even gave Xie Yun a pair of jeweled gold bracelets from her dowry. She explained that they were meant for her own child, as the imperial physician had already predicted it would be a girl, but she had miscarried. That miscarriage also left the princess unable to bear children.

Xie Yun repeatedly said that she couldn't bear it, and she looked at Yan Huinan beside her in embarrassment.

Yan Huinan smiled and motioned for her to stay.

Only then did Xie Yun accept the princess's kindness.

But she still doubted whether she could really be an ordinary couple with Yan Huinan without any grudges as everyone hoped.

Her biggest wish now is to cure him, but she has not thought about what will happen after the cure.

This bracelet... After thinking about it carefully, she decided to keep it safely for the time being, so that when she needs to return it in the future, she must return it in good condition.

However, Xie Yun did not know that the bracelet the princess wore was the one she wore when she got married. When Xie Yun appeared among the women in the backyard with the princess wearing the bracelet, everyone looked at her sideways.

"Didn't General Yan dislike her? Why would she appear with the princess?"

Prince Yu and Princess Yu were Yan Huinan's only remaining family, and people he held in great esteem. The fact that Xie Yun could be so intimately arm in arm with the princess clearly indicated that her position in Yan Huinan's heart was not as high as Liu Shijun had claimed.

As soon as these words were spoken, Liu Shijun, who was sitting next to them, immediately became upset. She was so angry that she secretly threw the cup in her hand to the ground. The sound of the porcelain breaking immediately made the people around her shut up.

She had originally intended to share her experience of giving Yan Huinan a massage while at Mount Tai with the other noble ladies, and the Empress had been willing to help her. Her father was a veteran of two dynasties and had made contributions during the Daliang siege of the imperial city.

Princess Changheng had previously angered Yan Huinan by releasing a prisoner he had placed in the Dali Temple without permission, and she has been under house arrest ever since.

All of this made Liu Shijun believe that her wish to marry Yan Huinan was no longer just wishful thinking, and perhaps she would have a chance.

But Xie Yun has been haunting her all the time. It was obvious that Yan Huinan had already disliked her and embarrassed Xie Yun in front of her. How could she still be standing beside Princess Yu in such a glorious manner now?

-

Xie Yun chatted with Princess Yu for a while, and the princess also took Xie Yun to visit the other ladies. With the princess' introduction, these ladies who had originally sneered at Xie Yun did not dare to have any disputes with her in person. They all greeted her with smiles and chatted with her.

But Xie Yun didn't like these things, she just felt tired. And Xie Yun couldn't fit in with the young noble ladies.

She prefers to stay with her herbs or various tools, and she can happily study and explore them all day long.

And these noisy parties annoyed her greatly.

During this time, the princess was dragged away by other ladies to watch a performance by a troupe, and Xie Yun was left alone in a secluded pavilion in the garden to rest. The feeling of not being disturbed was really enjoyable.

Xie Yun ordered someone to bring her some food, and she and Han Zhen sat at the stone table and tasted it comfortably.

Xie Yun: "Try this grass cake. It's sweet, soft, and has the scent of roses."

Han Zhen bit into the straw cake that Xie Yun handed her, half of her cheek was stuffed with food, and she nodded repeatedly with satisfaction, her voice soft and sticky, "Yes, it's very delicious! I can imagine that you can make rose nectar and put it in the straw cake."

Xie Yun: "This guy is really amazing, isn't he?"

Han Zhen nodded.

They had only taken a few bites when someone came to report that Lu Lingyu was waiting for Xie Yun in the western library.

Xie Yun was puzzled: "Sister Lu Lingyu? Is she here today?"

She didn't see it at the table.

Han Zhen: "Maybe it was later? It should be because you spoke up for Lu Shangfu in front of the young master of the Lu family last time, and she took this opportunity to come and thank you."

There was no need to thank her, as those were just Xie Yun's heartfelt words. But since Xie Yun had been called, she decided to go along.

The western library is a single, tall, ancient building, said to have existed before the palace was built. Later, when the palace was constructed, the late emperor gifted it to Prince Yu, enclosing it within the palace. Nestled in the palace's largest back garden, it's usually the quietest spot, a haven for reading and enjoying tea.

After passing through the corridor, you can see a corner of the library.

Xie Yun hadn't been here for a while, so she took in the delightful scenery around her. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew, and a shower of yellow leaves fell from the largest ginkgo tree in the yard. However, amidst the rain of yellow leaves, Xie Yun noticed a fleeting figure.

The man was wearing a black shirt, but it was more like a black coarse cloth robe draped over a black inner garment than a piece of clothing. The robe was more like a rag, with tatters on it.

Xie Yun looked at him curiously, but the man just flashed by and disappeared.

There is such a strange person in the palace?

Xie Yun followed the attendant for a few more steps, but her suspicions about this man grew stronger. For some reason, she felt that this man's figure was somewhat familiar, as if she had seen him somewhere before.

Out of curiosity, Xie Yun lifted her skirt and hurriedly chased in the direction where the man had just disappeared.

-

Liu Shijun hurried away, but could not see anyone. She angrily asked the maid beside her, "Where is the person?"

The maid was also very puzzled as to why she hadn't seen Xie Yun. "I just saw her following the servants towards the library."

"What a useless thing!" Liu Shijun cursed angrily, "So many people gathered around the princess, but she sneaked out. I wonder what she was thinking. I want to see what she is going to do."

Liu Shijun had also attended the Qionghua Party organized by Princess Changheng. That day, the princess had clearly received news that someone had seen Xie Yun flirting with a man in a room.

But when they went to catch the adulterer, they saw no one in the house, only a few guards lying in the yard.

That night, people from the Dali Temple rushed to the princess's mansion and surrounded it tightly, saying that the princess had released a court criminal without permission and wanted to search the mansion.

That night, Liu Shiyun and other female relatives were trapped in the princess's mansion and could not sleep. Afterwards, all those who participated in the flower viewing party were confined to their homes for half a month. Princess Changheng was even more severely punished. She has been confined to her home until now, and all her princess rights have been deprived. She was also fined for three years of food and fiefdom.

"Changheng asked for his own death, but this time it was Xie Yun who asked for death. If I catch you, you're finished." Liu Shijun said confidently.

This library is very tall, with three floors. There are fifty steps to the top floor. Liu Shijun, who usually rides in a sedan chair when going out, was exhausted after climbing to the top floor.

Just as I was about to sit down and rest, I suddenly heard a "click" sound. The sound came from the door.

Liu Shijun ordered people to check what happened.

But the maid ran over in panic and said, "Miss, it's bad! The door has been locked from the outside!"

Liu Shijun didn't believe it and went to check again, and sure enough, it was locked!

How could this happen? What on earth was going on? The more she thought about it, the more confused she became. The more she thought about it, the more panicked she became. "Xie Yun, did she do this on purpose? Did she deliberately lure me here? What on earth is she trying to do?"

The two of them were at a loss and were running around the room anxiously. When they were about to go to the window to call for help, Liu Shijun smelled smoke.

After confirming it again, Liu Shijun was already terrified. Her maid cried desperately beside her, "Miss, there's a fire! We can't get out! What should we do?"

Liu Shijun also collapsed and yelled, "How should I know!"

-

Xie Yun here was not too far away from the library, but she also noticed thick smoke rising from the direction of the library, accompanied by a faint cry for help.

She thought it was not good, maybe someone was trapped in the attic. She gave up chasing the strange figure and turned to go to the front hall with Han Zhen to find someone to put out the fire.

But just as he turned around, Xie Yun suddenly felt a chill on his neck.

A sharp blade was placed on her neck, and a familiar low and cold voice came from behind her, "Don't move."