54 Chapter 54

◎If the master doesn't like me, he/she can push me away at any time.

Prince Su has returned.

Xie Qi's eyes lit up as he tasted the flavor.

"He's back" means that Prince Su was sent away and only returned after finishing his business.

So it wasn't that the lady was deliberately leaving him hanging.

The door opened.

The first thing that catches the eye is a pair of soft boots trimmed with silk. He steps over the three-foot-high ebony threshold, his wide white sleeves brushing aside the candlelight in the corridor, like a thin blade slicing through silk.

Xie Qi's breath hitched when he saw this.

It seems that Prince Su has become even more handsome after just a few days.

Even his curtsy bow and the way he uttered "Master" sounded more pleasing than those of ordinary people.

Xie Qi, considering his age and having been the manager of Zuixianlou for several years, had seen countless beauties, but he had to admit that this Prince Su was exceptionally handsome, both in appearance and physique.

Without even realizing it, his gaze had already scrutinized the person from head to toe with considerable skepticism.

After all, he was serving his young mistress, so no matter how harsh he was, it wasn't excessive.

"Seventh Uncle".

It wasn't until Xie Yutang's voice rang out that Xie Qi's thoughts were suddenly brought back to reality.

Xie Qi immediately straightened his back and tapped his heel: "Miss."

...

Xie Yutang could only ask, "Is there anything else?"

Xie Qi blinked and finally realized that the young lady was trying to get rid of him.

He quickly cupped his hands in greeting and said, "This subordinate takes his leave."

He quickly retreated, closing the door behind him before leaving.

Xie Yutang looked at the person kneeling in front of him, who seemed quite obedient.

"She bullies people because of her beauty, and she doesn't even spare Uncle Qi."

The boy's lips moved, but in the end he just lowered his eyes.

"What, you've been wronged?"

The boy stared at the floor tiles in front of him: "...Seventh Uncle is just an afterthought."

Incidental.

This word is very good.

Xie Yutang ordered him to go out and investigate people. It was hundreds of miles away, and it took him several days to get back. He returned just in time for the banquet. In such a short time, he didn't even sit down to rest, and he still had time to tidy up and dress up.

It couldn't be clearer who they wanted to hook up with and who they were after.

Xie Yutang didn't respond: "Did you find out about Chiwen Cheng?"

"I found it." Su Lu's expression paled slightly, but he still nodded and said, "It's just... he's already dead."

Xie Yutang's teacup suddenly wobbled.

Dead?

Three days ago, after Xie Yutang captured Xuelang Pass, she inquired about the matter from Xie Qi, who came to greet her. She had only asked casually and did not expect to find the person so easily. However, Xie Qi said, "I know him. Chiwen Cheng is the owner of Jubao Money House, the number one richest man in the emperor's family. He can even speak for the King of Beirong. North of Xuelang Pass, who doesn't know him?"

Jubao Money Shop is the largest money shop in Beirong, with branches all over Beirong, and its presence can even be seen at the border with Dayan. There is a branch of Jubao Money Shop in Xuelang Pass, and the manager, Zhou Baizhi, just gave Xie Yutang a wheat ear with an inscrutable meaning.

This is because Jubao Money Shop has a wide range of businesses, including loan collection, exchange, and even pawnshop business. It can be said that it controls the private economy of Beirong. The business of money shops is complicated and highly dependent on personal connections. Without real skills, one cannot hold a position. Even if the person in power does not like it, they cannot easily replace him. This is why Zhou Baizhi dared to be so presumptuous.

No one knows the real name of the Chiwen Cheng, but his whereabouts are not difficult to trace. He lives in Nasebo for many years. This city is located further north than the three cities of Shuofeng, Hanya, and Xuelangguan, and belongs to the territory of the Northern Rong. "Nase" means jade in the Northern Rong language. It is the most prosperous place in the southern part of the Northern Rong and the headquarters of Jubao Money Shop.

Su Lu had just returned from Nasebo and brought Xie Yutang more detailed information about the current political situation in Beirong.

Helou Batu, the eldest son of the Helou clan of the Northern Rong and the elder brother of Helou Wulan, took advantage of the old age and serious illness of the Northern Rong king Tuoba Cangjue to openly launch a coup, imprisoning Prince Tuoba Xiu and others, and actually taking control of the Northern Rong regime.

Ministers in the court who refused to submit to him were either killed or imprisoned. Even his own sister, Helou Wulan, was imprisoned. Helou Batu was a ruthless and warlike man who had always strongly opposed the trade negotiations with Dayan. Now that he was in power, he launched a military campaign without hesitation. Dayan was caught off guard, Su Chengyu was killed in battle, and the three border cities were swept away in a crushing defeat.

Na Chiwen Cheng sided with Prince Tuoba Xiu and fled in panic during the coup, only to be killed by the rebel army amidst a hail of swords.

Xie Yutang listened quietly, tapping his knuckles on the table: "Do you believe this way of dying?"

Su Lu shook his head: "Chiwen Cheng was able to become the richest man in Beirong. He must have plenty of sources of information and ways to protect himself. He would never be killed by the rebels so easily."

"And the timing of his death was too suspicious, neither early nor late, but just before you and I got the clues and came to our door."

Xie Yutang said, "It seems that someone was also looking for Chiwen Cheng, but found him before us and killed him to silence him."

"Does the master suspect that the person who killed Chiwen Cheng is the same group that plotted to kill General Xie back then?"

"good."

A cold glint flashed in Xie Yutang's eyes. "Moreover, I deduce that the person behind this has been searching for Chiwen Cheng all these years, but without any leads, until—"

Su Lu continued, "Until Wen Zhong sent you the message."

A thunderbolt struck Xie Yutang's mind, and he abruptly stood up: "Wen Zhong is in danger."

At the same time, a hawk cried out outside the window. Xie Yutang opened the window, and the snow hawk flapped its wings and landed on her raised wrist.

Xie Yutang took the note from its foot, unfolded it, and his face instantly turned as cold as frost.

"It seems that the person behind the scenes already knows that I am investigating what happened back then. It is indeed not simple that they can reach under my nose."

Su Lu took the note from her hand. It contained only a few lines of small characters, yet they were filled with turbulent emotions:

"Wen Zhong died suddenly in the dungeon this morning. His Majesty was furious and ordered a thorough investigation."

Two lifetimes of obsession, the Xie family's 107 lives, and the souls of 30,000 Divine Wind Cavalry soldiers—just when they thought they had finally reached the edge, they were all wiped out overnight.

Xie Yutang's knuckles turned white on the window frame.

"My father promised that when I return, he will allow me to thoroughly investigate the matter at Daoma Pass."

The sound was normal, but something was subtly starting to loosen.

With a soft whistle, a firework swayed and rose into the sky, exploding into a cluster of brilliant golden flowers.

Tomorrow is Lunar New Year's Eve, and the people of Xuelang Pass are all eagerly anticipating the Spring Festival. As dusk falls, a few crisp laughs burst from the depths of the alley, as impatient children pester their parents to light fireworks.

At the end of the street, a little boy in a maroon jacket clutched half a stick of incense. He lit the spark on the tail of a sulfur-coated paper tube, which immediately hissed and began to spin wildly on the bluestone slab like a top. The flying golden specks startled a yellow dog, which shrank into a woodpile, prompting a group of teenagers to clap their hands, stomp their feet, and shout, "Let's go for a spin! Let's go for a spin!"

A festive atmosphere filled the streets and alleys.

Xie Yutang, wrapped in a fox fur-collared cloak, leaned against the window, her expression unusually blank. At the end of the long street during the Lantern Festival, she and Su Lu had also watched a fireworks display like this.

At that time, she did not fully trust him, and her words and actions were often probing. When she watched fireworks with him, she was thinking of the feelings that had not been cherished in her previous life.

The fireworks of today are set off by the people of Dayan. The Snow Wolf Pass has been recovered, and our homeland is still safe and sound. That's good.

The dazzling, multicolored light reflected on Xie Yutang's face, and the light that shone into his eyes gradually warmed the icy coldness.

Su Lu lowered his eyes: "Master, the clues are not completely exhausted. There is still one person we can investigate."

Xie Yutang turned to look at him, only to hear the young man say steadily, "Zhou Baizhi."

Xie Yutang raised an eyebrow slightly.

“I found out in Nasebo that Chiwen Cheng is only responsible for major decisions and money allocation, but the daily operations such as shop management and book inspection are mostly handled by two trusted subordinates.”

Xie Yutang seemed to be deep in thought: "These two confidants, one is Wen Zhong, and the other is Zhou Baizhi?"

“That’s right. Since Wen Zhong was able to obtain the letter that Cui Hu wrote to the Northern Rong, perhaps Zhou Baizhi also knows something.” Having learned from the precedent of Chiwen Cheng being assassinated before him, Su Lu did not delay at all. “I will go and find out where Zhou Baizhi is right away.”

"No need."

Xie Yutang called the person back, looked at the brocade box containing ears of wheat on the table, and said with a slightly brooding look in his eyes, "This Manager Zhou has already come to me today."

Xie Yutang briefly explained the matter of the gathering. Su Lu pondered for a moment and said, "Master, you have captured the city. Everyone in the city has already submitted to you as your master. Even if someone has ulterior motives, they will not embarrass you in public. However, Zhou Baizhi's behavior is so outrageous that there must be another hidden story behind it."

Xie Yutang looked at him: "What do you think is the reason?"

"If a subordinate wishes to see you but cannot do so directly for some reason, and can only hint to the master to come and see you in this way, then it is most likely that the subordinate is constrained by others and cannot act conveniently."

This aligns with Xie Yutang's speculation.

Snow Eagle, unaware of what the two were talking about, tilted its head and chirped a few times.

Xie Yutang placed it on the bird stand that had been prepared to the side, then picked up a plum blossom pastry from the dish, broke off a piece and threw it into the food box. The snow eagle had long been spoiled by its beak, eating ordinary rice rather than anything else, but it had a particular fondness for these delicate desserts. Upon seeing the food, it jumped up, rolled around in the shallow dish of water, preened its feathers, and then began to feast on the food.

Xie Yutang held the plum blossom pastry in his hand and scratched the fur on the back of its neck with the tip of his other finger: "This Snow Wolf Pass is not as simple as it seems on the surface. It is likely that various factions have planted many spies here."

"Zhou Baizhi, you should send someone to keep an eye on things first. After the Spring Festival banquet tomorrow, I will personally pay you a visit."

Su Lu accepted the order and was about to carry it out when he heard someone behind him say, "Wait."

She remained standing by the window. After a brief respite in the city, a new round of fireworks rose into the sky. She was already strikingly beautiful, and the outline of her eyebrows and eyes appeared somewhat softer under the colorful light and shadow.

She said softly, "You've come today, don't you have anything else to say?"

...

Su Lu's eyelashes trembled slightly, and he looked away, his ears turning a little red: "...It's just my personal matter, it's not important. Let's focus on the bigger picture first."

Xie Yutang almost laughed out of anger.

unimportant.

She walked over, getting closer to him step by step: "Is your private matter any of my business?"

The boy's breath stopped for a moment.

She actually said it outright.

Is it that obvious already?

That kiss made him lose himself, almost to the point of addiction, wanting to throw everything away, disregard everything, and indulge himself in touching.

...But was that really a kiss?

Or perhaps, the white light, tinnitus, heartbeat, dizziness, and cold sweat were all just him alone.

His trembling breath and lips were a silent expression of his own feelings.

It's something that should be asked.

When he returned and learned that his master was busy, his first instinct was to take a bath and change his clothes.

He used to hate it when people said he was good-looking, but if his face could win her even a little bit of favor, he would sincerely thank God for giving him such a face.

He knew it was too early, too fast, and the timing wasn't right, but since she had asked, how could he deny it?

"Yes." He took a breath, his eyelashes trembling. "I want to ask, that day, did you really intend to do that, or... was it just to give me the antidote?"

As the last few words were uttered, I thought I could finally feel some relief, but my heart was quickly gripped again.

Would any other master give their subordinates medicine like that?

But if she truly had feelings for him, why did she ignore him after that, and then send him out of the city to search for someone right after kissing him?

We haven't seen each other for several days, and we haven't exchanged a single word outside of official business.

He was apprehensive, and Xie Yutang was also surprised.

She's already gone to such lengths to be proactive, why is he still thinking about these things?

Her hand wasn't broken. With so many secret guards in the Xie family, which eye of his saw her give anyone the antidote like this?

How could someone who is usually so perceptive be so clueless about this kind of thing?

Do you really expect her to take the initiative to speak?

She chuckled, but there was no real joy in it: "What do you think?"

Fireworks burst into the sky outside the window, magnificent and brilliant. Seeing the boy's silence, Xie Yutang chuckled and was about to speak when suddenly everything went dark.

He put his arm around her waist, and the two were instantly very close.

That excessively handsome face was right in front of her, and she could even see his individual eyelashes.

"you……"

Xie Yutang was startled and subconsciously took half a step back, his lower back pressed against the window frame. The lotus carvings hurt Su Lu's hand, but he didn't utter a sound.

Half a plum blossom pastry was clutched tightly by someone, almost melting, and a sweet fragrance wafted from the sleeve.

It turns out that getting close can be such a thrilling thing.

His nose stopped just inches away from her.

“My master says I’m always obedient, but I can also do things that are disobedient and rebellious.”

His almost breathy enunciation sent a shiver down her spine, and the hand that had been holding her waist loosened without her noticing.

"If the master is not pleased, he may push me away at any time."

Suddenly, dozens of silver snakes rose up from the direction of the city gate, and amidst the shrill whistling sound, fiery trees spun and bloomed all over the sky, gilding his brow bone and nose bridge with flowing gold.

Thousands of firecrackers went off in the streets and alleys, making the unmelted snow on the bluestone slabs bounce.

In that earth-shaking moment, his lips touched hers.

Xie Yutang did not back down an inch. The moment he approached, her eyelashes fluttered and she closed her eyes.

His touch was very light, with the same cool touch he remembered, and with a careful and reverent care. First, he touched her cupid's bow, then the corners of her lips, tracing her shape little by little.

Their moist breaths mingled, and their heartbeats grew louder with each touch.

His nose was so high that even when it was close to his lips, the tip of his nose would poke into her cheek at certain angles, creating a shallow indentation that was slightly itchy and had an indescribable sensation.

His lips parted, but the tip of his nose remained pressed against hers. He closed his eyes for a moment, then gave her one last, lingering peck at the corner of her lips before pulling away slightly.

Both of them consciously adjusted their breathing. With a soft "crack," the plum blossom pastry in their palms completely shattered, the pastry mixed with the filling smeared all over their palms. Xie Yutang's cheeks flushed red, and before she could feel embarrassed, her wrist was grabbed.

Su Lu pulled her to sit down at the table, took out a handkerchief, and gently wiped her palms clean. His eyelashes were so long, and the way he looked down was so gentle.

"Many women must admire you."

The boy paused slightly while wiping, and looked up.

Xie Yutang looked at him, her eyes bright, making no attempt to hide her possessiveness: "Not to mention Princess Helou, every time I take you out, which noble lady doesn't stare at you? Luckily, I made my move early."

Remembering something, she suddenly became interested and leaned over, resting her chin on her hand. "Actually, I've always wanted to ask, in my past life I always saw you all alone, and you were never close to any young lady. After I died, did you get married?"

"……No."

"Really not?"

"Really, no."

Xie Yutang didn't understand: "In your previous life, you never had feelings for a woman?"

How did he fall in love with her in this life?

In her past life, she was an unattainable beauty, but in this life, she suddenly became a woman who is easily moved and has become a seductive woman who blushes easily.

Seeing Xie Yutang's gossipy nature rising, Su Lu felt both helpless and amused. He wiped the last crumbs from her hand and placed his fingers in her palm.

"I don't know what others are thinking, nor do I care, but in my past and present lives, you are truly the only one I have ever known."