Chapter 44 Xie Guanlan gave her a birthday gift

This audacious idea frightened Wen Xingluo.

She quickly distanced herself from the two of them, speaking rapidly, "How could I not be sincere to you? I have always respected and loved you as an older brother, but it was the prince who disliked and distanced himself from me!"

Respect and love...

This word made Xie Guanlan feel a little angry.

He is only four years older than Wen Xingluo.

Judging from her tone and description, it seemed as if they were from two different generations.

He pulled the handcuffs and dragged Wen Xingluo to his side.

He was so tall and straight that even when he was sitting, he was taller than Wen Xingluo.

He said coldly: "Talk?"

"Talk...about what?"

"Miss Wen is a smart person. She must have guessed who attacked the Zhenbei Palace and is also very clear about the predicament the palace is facing. I don't want anyone with ulterior motives to appear in the palace in the future. Miss Wen, do you understand what I mean?"

Wen Xingluo swallowed.

I understand.

How could she not understand?

Xie Guanlan was afraid that if she stayed in the palace, she would betray him in the future.

He wants her to join him in a rebellion!

But treason is punishable by death and the extermination of all nine generations of the family...

Wen Xingluo was filled with anxiety, but he didn't dare to say that he had no desire to participate in the rebellion. He could only bite the bullet and express his loyalty: "Since I followed my mother into the palace, I am a member of the palace. How can I enjoy wealth and honor but not share hardships? Don't worry, my lord. I will stick with you through thick and thin, and share life and death with you."

Xie Guanlan remained noncommittal about her attitude.

His slender fingertips slowly fiddled with the locks. After a moment, he said, "Old General Li is interested in training Fourth Brother."

General Li was the noble man who devoted all his efforts to cultivating Wen Rulei in his previous life.

When he was young, he was a famous pioneer general in the southwest. He was a master of the Li family spear. Because he had no children, he was anxious to take in a talented apprentice to pass on the family spear skills.

Wen Xingluo said, "The prince doesn't want Fourth Brother to be so prominent and draw attention from the capital. So, does the prince intend to refuse General Li?"

Xie Guanlan did not answer but asked: "If it were you, what would you do?"

"Fourth brother has been a cockfighting errand boy for so many years, and the imperial court still has no intention of letting him go. Whether it's Jinweizhai or the parade ground tower, they are all targeting his life. Since a fight will come sooner or later, what's the point of continuing to pretend?"

The girl's face is as white as snow, tender and pure.

There was a hint of cruelty hidden in her dark and radiant almond eyes.

She used to hope that Xie Shian would snatch Wen Rulei's opportunity.

But now, rather than the so-called opportunity, she hopes that Xie Shian's life will shine.

Xie Guanlan chuckled softly, seeming to be very satisfied with Wen Xingluo's answer.

So the rest of the journey was uneventful.

Finally returning to the palace, Wen Xingluo softened his voice, "I'm going back to Xiejinyuan to sleep. The prince will finally be able to remove the shackles from my hands now, right?"

Xie Guanlan held the other end of the shackles, raised his eyebrows and smiled, "What's the rush? My second brother entrusted you to me and asked me to personally escort you back to your dorm. How could I leave halfway?"

Wen Xingluo: “…”

This guy wants to enter her bedroom.

But there was nothing in her dormitory, what was he going to do?

Wen Xingluo suspected that Xie Guanlan had ulterior motives in paying New Year's greetings to the chicken, but she really couldn't figure out what he was thinking. She could only put on a stern face and walk in front nervously to lead the way.

Xie Guanlan held the other end of the shackles and followed leisurely behind.

Walking through the corridor, he said quietly, "I heard from my second brother that yesterday was your birthday?"

Wen Xingluo didn't turn around and whispered, "It's already past midnight tonight. Strictly speaking, my birthday should be the day before yesterday."

"Why don't you tell the family and let grandma celebrate for you?"

Wen Xingluo: "If I tell the prince, he will be unhappy again and will scold me in private for taking advantage of the palace."

Xie Guanlan: “…”

Finally stepping into Xiejin Courtyard, Wen Xingluo led Xie Guanlan into the house.

She lit a few lanterns and asked, "Would you like to sit down and have some tea, my Lord?"

She was just being polite.

After all, given Xie Guanlan's status, he should look down on her tea.

But Xie Guanlan said, "Okay."

Wen Xingluo was silent.

It was the middle of the night and the maids were all asleep. Where could he get hot water to make tea for him?

She stared at the noble young man who was sitting on an armchair with a big sword and a golden horse, waiting to be served. She paused, then dragged the handcuffs on her hands and went out silently to make tea for him.

When she came back with the hot tea, she saw Xie Guanlan weighing her money box.

Xie Guanlan glanced at her sideways, half smiling, "Didn't you say you would stick together with the palace, through thick and thin, through thick and thin? Why are you already preparing to run away with the banknotes?"

Wen Xingluo's face looked grim.

She put down the hot tea and wanted to take back her cash box, but the young man was very tall and he held the cash box high up, so she couldn't reach it even if she stood on tiptoe.

She could only argue: "I didn't mean to run away. I just had nothing to do at night, so I counted the money."

He said this, but he didn't have the confidence to back it up.

Because there was a map hidden in the money box, and the escape route was even drawn on the map.

Xie Guanlan lifted the veil lampshade and brought the map close to the candlelight.

Scarlet flames instantly wrapped around the map and quickly burned it to ashes.

Xie Guanlan grasped one end of the handcuffs and forcefully pulled Wen Xingluo into his arms.

He leaned forward and lowered his head, whispering in the girl's ear, "Since the second and fourth brothers have accepted you, then I can reluctantly consider you a member of the palace. But Miss Wen, you'd better not try to run away. Otherwise, if you hurt the feelings of the second and fourth brothers, I don't mind breaking your legs."

The dancing shadows of flowers are reflected on the Ruyi diamond-lattice windows.

The young man's voice was gentle, like the warm spring breeze rippling the surface of a pond.

It should have been a beautiful spring night, but the cold temperature coming from the shackles made Wen Xingluo shiver all over and his hair stand on end.

She took a half step back, away from Xie Guanlan: "I understand..."

Xie Guanlan's gaze fell on the space between the two of them, and his narrow eyes were tinged with darkness.

He quickly stood up, picked up the cup of hot tea and took a sip.

He put down the teacup and stared at Wen Xingluo's face. A smile appeared on his gorgeous and elegant features. "It's not a good tea, but it's worth savoring."

After saying that, he threw the key on the flower table and turned away.

Wen Xingluo lowered his head and opened the shackles, his mood plummeting to the bottom.

She was going to be tied to Xie Guanlan's boat.

But who knows if he will capsize in the future?

Wen Xingluo did not sleep well that night.

While she was dressing up in the morning, Cuicui happily brought a brocade box to her. "Miss, the prince just sent someone to deliver something. He said it was a special birthday gift for you! He also said it was your favorite thing to look at!"

Wen Xingluo was puzzled.

The sun rose from the west, and Xie Guanlan was willing to give her a birthday gift.

She opened the brocade box and found a beautifully illustrated book inside.

"Classics, history, and miscellaneous works? Or mountains and rivers and geography?"

She opened it curiously.

The excited and expectant expression on the little face froze instantly when he saw the contents of the book clearly.

The impact of the content was so great that she slammed the book shut, her cheeks flushed.