Chapter 23 Rescued "Cousin, can we really be together?"...

It was past noon and the sun was shining brightly overhead.

The Xiao Mansion gradually entered the quiet of the afternoon, but Xue Zhiying had just left Yingfeng Courtyard and had not even had a meal.

Mu Yan walked behind her to see her off. The two of them had different paces and different thoughts.

Xue Zhiying pursed her lips; the feeling of the kiss just now no longer existed on her lips.

Xiao Yunqi's erratic attitude made her feel a little confused.

Just like the last touch of warmth on the lips, you can’t hold on to it, you can’t keep it.

That's not enough.

It’s far from enough.

Xue Zhiying paused and suddenly turned his head.

Mu Yan reacted quickly and was a little surprised, but he still stopped immediately.

"Mu Yan." She called softly.

Mu Yan's heart trembled when he heard this. He felt that he might encounter difficulties, but it was difficult for him to refuse his cousin's gentle request.

"Cousin, I'm here."

"My cousin has been in close contact with a woman recently."

Xue Zhiying lowered her eyes and, without waiting for Mu Yan to speak, she whispered, "My second uncle just gave my cousin a gift. It's a perfume for women's bodies. My cousin..."

It stopped at the right time, and the atmosphere fell into a brief stagnation.

Mu Yan was stunned. He didn't know about this yet, but when he thought about how Mr. Xiao suddenly came to him today with a determined look on his face, it was not difficult to connect the matter.

This Mr. Xiao is very scheming, but he is ignorant and stupid.

Xue Zhiying lowered her head slightly and said no more.

She knew that Mu Yan had seen what happened just now. Whether it was a guess or a misunderstanding, she should be able to ask more from Mu Yan than from Xiao Yunqi.

Then, Mu Yan spoke up: "Young lady, don't overthink it. The Second Master acted on his own without knowing the situation. It was not the master's order."

"That woman?"

"This matter involves government secrets, so I cannot say more. But please rest assured, my lady, the master and that woman are innocent."

"I see."

Xue Zhiying didn't ask any more questions and continued walking forward.

Mu Yan followed behind him and secretly broke into a cold sweat for himself.

Without his master's order, he didn't dare to say much, but it was obvious that he had seen with his own eyes that his cousin and his master had a special relationship, and maybe she was jealous of it.

He just hoped that if his master failed to appease his cousin, he would not vent his anger on him and punish him again.

When Xue Zhiying returned to Jingshuiyuan, Chuntao was very excited.

Before going to bed last night, she told Chuntao that she might have to get up early the next day to go out for some work and come back as soon as she was done.

This was her advance preparation for the possibility of success.

Unexpectedly, the preparation came in handy, but she came back much late, and the original plan did not succeed. Instead, she brought back a lot of sorrow.

"Miss, what have you been doing today? I woke up early and saw that your room was empty."

"Well, I went to do something important."

"Is it done?"

Xue Zhiying thought for a moment and replied, "It's not done yet, so we need to keep working on it."

However, before Xue Zhiying could make further efforts, she learned the news that Xiao Yunqi had left Beijing.

At that moment, Xue Zhiying was extremely panicked.

She was almost fifteen, and she still hadn't had the chance to ask Xiao Yunqi for help. If he was gone for many days, she wouldn't even have the chance to try.

Later, she heard that he might return in three to five days, which calmed her down for a while.

For the next three days, Xue Zhiying stayed in the yard and did not go out.

A lot of fabrics were brought back from the embroidery workshop, and they were all of high quality.

This batch of embroidery can be sold at a higher price than the fabrics she prepared herself before.

Xue Zhiying worked hard and embroidered very seriously.

However, on the fourth day, she was forced to stop working.

When she heard that the Xiao family was holding a family dinner, she was surprised for a moment and thought that Xiao Yunqi had returned, but after asking further, she found out that it was Xiao Yichu who passed the college entrance examination.

There are many talented people in Beijing, and the Xiao family is a prominent family. The results of the college entrance examination are not worth celebrating, but it is a good omen after all, so a simple family dinner was held at home.

Xue Zhiying didn't need to attend the simple family dinner, but there were not many people in the Xiao Mansion at that time.

Xiao Yunqi was away on business, and the old lady was not feeling well.

Some people were praying for the old lady at Huining Temple. Xue Zhiying only found out later that the round trip would take six or seven days, and they would also have to stay in the mountains for a few days to calm their minds, which would take more than half a month.

But this has nothing to do with her anymore. She couldn't go to Huining Temple and she won't go there.

Xue Zhiying spent some time cleaning up the mess left by the continuous cutting and embroidery over the past few days.

She then dressed up amid Chuntao's enthusiastic praises.

After everything was ready, it was almost time for the family dinner, so she set off for Cuihua Courtyard.

Just as I reached the gate of the courtyard, two maids with familiar faces came towards me.

Xue Zhiying recognized them as the people who served closely around Xu.

"Miss, please follow me."

Xue Zhiying was puzzled: "Aren't you attending a family dinner?"

The two exchanged equally puzzled looks.

Then, one of them said, "The girl will not be attending the family dinner today."

"Then why are you letting me put on my makeup..."

Xue Zhiying murmured softly, and then gradually stopped talking.

Her eyes trembled in shock and she subconsciously took a half step back.

Another maid said, "Madam has other arrangements for you, young lady. Please come with me."

Xue Zhiying walked behind the two maids with a stiff face and almost numbness.

She didn't know what the situation was, but all sorts of guesses were already forming in her mind.

Until they went all the way from the back of Cuihua Courtyard to the east gate of the Xiao Mansion.

The carriage parked in front of the door is low-key and luxurious. The body of the carriage does not have too many decorations, but the wood is made of high-quality rosewood. The emblem of the Lin'an Palace is faintly visible on one side of the carriage.

Xue Zhiying felt a chill in her heart.

The attendant in front of the carriage bowed and said, "Miss Xue, please come in."

Xue Zhiying was alone at this time, and the two maids who brought her here had returned at some point.

The side gate of the Xiao Mansion gradually disappeared from her sight, and the carriage from the Prince of Lin'an's Mansion carried her all the way until she could no longer see it.

Xue Zhiying sat in the carriage, lowered her head and clenched her fingers.

Perhaps it was because the peaceful days had lasted too long. In the first few days, she was still worried every day about when Meng Chen would suddenly send someone to take her away, but recently she no longer thought about what bad things would happen before the agreed time.

Then it happened, and she was completely unprepared.

Fear, disgust, panic, terror.

All kinds of negative emotions were swirling in her heart.

After an unknown amount of time, the carriage slowly stopped.

It was almost evening, and the carriage was dark.

Xue Zhiying lifted the curtain of the carriage but was not greeted by the sudden bright light. She suddenly felt a sense of sadness as if her life was coming to an end.

This feeling is so pessimistic that even she herself doesn't like it.

After getting off the carriage, Xue Zhiying realized that this was not the Prince of Lin'an's Palace.

Later, I learned that this place was Meng Chen's villa in the suburbs of Beijing.

A secluded and private place in the suburbs far away from the city.

It's very disturbing from every perspective.

Xue Zhiying was led all the way into the house, around the front hall, and then led by another group of servants. She didn't know how far she had to go.

But Xue Zhiying kept her head down and walked without saying a word.

She wasn't even in the mood to think about the possibility of her escape or rescue.

Subconsciously, she felt that no one knew. Perhaps, apart from Xu, no one else knew that she was suddenly brought here today, and Meng Chen would never let her go.

"Girl, we're here."

The leading attendant was respectful.

Xue Zhiying was brought to the door of another wing room, but it was different from the one in Rong Enhou Mansion. This one looked much more spacious and luxurious from the outside.

Xue Zhiying nodded, not wanting to answer.

The servant opened the door for her without saying anything.

"Young lady, please come in."

"Please wait a moment, the prince will be here soon."

The words were almost the same as last time. Xue Zhiying didn't even want to look up at the furnishings in the room, for fear that if she did, she would see a large bed facing her.

After the door was closed for a while, she still had to look up.

It was indeed a bedroom for people to sleep in. She also saw the exquisitely carved step-out bed made of sunken wood. After just one glance, she quickly looked away and had no intention of looking at other furnishings in the room.

Unlike the last time when there was no one guarding the door, footsteps could be heard from outside from time to time.

But even if there was no one around, Xue Zhiying had no intention of escaping.

It’s not that I don’t want to, but I can’t escape.

In Meng Chen's territory, which was in the remote suburbs, it was impossible for her to escape on her own.

When she thought about the door opening and her seeing Meng Chen's sanctimonious old face, her stomach churned and she felt nauseous.

Her hands and feet were extremely cold. She sat on the couch in the house and felt her heartbeat and breathing were abnormal, as if she had suddenly fallen ill.

Xue Zhiying couldn't help but think wildly. If she really fell ill at this moment, just like she did not long ago, would Meng Chen let her go?

She quickly denied it in her heart. Meng Chen was an old man, but he was obsessed with lust. There was nothing he couldn't do.

Xue Zhiying began to regret not having done it with Xiao Yunqi until the end that day.

At that time, she was deceived by the illusion of success, and was also dizzy from the lingering and deep kiss.

Now that she thought about it, she should have struck while the iron was hot, untied him and threw him onto the couch. This would have been better than being abused by this old man.

His thoughts drifted further and further away, and Xue Zhiying even thought about the memories of himself when he was young and still with his parents.

But the memory was too vague. She tried hard to think about it for a long time, but couldn't piece together a complete memory.

At this moment, the sound outside the door suddenly became clear, and it was right in front of the door.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

"Is anyone inside?"

"Yes, right here."

The door opened with a slight sound, and Meng Chen walked in wearing a gold-embroidered robe.

Xue Zhiying stood up stiffly from the couch and bowed to him.

There was no response from the person in front of him, and even after he took a few steps, he could no longer see the pair of black boots in his lowered sight.

Meng Chen stopped somewhere.

A strange crisp sound came from the quiet house, like the sound of taking something out of a bottle or jar.

Xue Zhiying was frightened, but didn't dare to turn around to look.

After a while, Meng Chen finally spoke: "Miss Xue, it's really not easy to see you."

"Your Highness, your words are too serious. How could this humble girl..."

Before he could finish his words, Meng Chen's figure suddenly appeared beside him.

Xue Zhiying held her breath, and her chin was lifted by a rough finger, forcing her to slowly raise her head.

"But I finally got to see you, only to see you look so reluctant."

"You don't want to see the king?"

A gloomy face suddenly appeared in sight.

Meng Chen looked down at her condescendingly, his tone calm but his expression frightening.

I don't know if this is his true self, or if he is unhappy about something and wants to take his anger out on her.

Xue Zhiying's eyelashes twitched and even her legs felt a little weak.

"No, I dare not."

Xue Zhiying subconsciously lowered her eyes, not wanting to look at him, and her chin suddenly felt a pain.

Meng Chen squeezed her tightly, punishing her for avoiding him.

"Look at me, King."

The low and deep voice was nearby. Xue Zhiying suppressed her cry of pain and had to look into his eyes again.

Those were a pair of cloudy and dark eyes.

Meng Chen is far from being that old, but his condition at the moment does not look normal.

He was sinister, cruel, and emotionally agitated, no longer maintaining the calm and steady appearance he had shown in public.

"After following Xiao Yunqi back that day, did you climb into his bed?"

"……What?"

Meng Chen suddenly laughed grimly: "Judging from your expression, you've already served him, right?"

Xue Zhiying had no expression at the moment. She was so frightened that she was stunned and unable to react.

But Meng Chen continued to talk to himself, "That's right. He likes to mess with my plans so much. If I see a woman I like, he will definitely grab her and play with her first."

Meng Chen loosened his fingers slightly, and his fingertips slowly stroked from her small chin to her cheek.

Xue Zhiying felt a chill down her spine.

Meng Chen suddenly became furious again: "Who allowed you to let him touch you!"

The force increased again, and Xue Zhiying cried out in pain.

But Meng Chen had lost control of his emotions and grabbed her shoulders.

The man's fingers dug into the flesh so hard that Xue Zhiying almost fainted from the pain.

Meng Chen grabbed her shoulders and arms and threw her onto the bed, his face full of brutality.

His embroidery, his bank, and the money he transported from the capital.

Xiao Yunqi ruined all his recent endeavors.

He has been sent to the border for so many years, and he has endured humiliation for so many years.

Now, success or failure depends on this one move, but he is blocking the way everywhere.

A young man who had just come of age a few years ago, when he was strategizing for the fight for the throne in the royal family, he didn't even exist in the world!

That's ridiculous.

He will not let him succeed. The world, power, and the woman in front of him all belong to him.

Xiao Yunqi had planned everything, but he never expected that he had already seen through his secret operations.

Right now he was following those false clues all the way south, and he wouldn't be able to get out of that dead end for at least ten days or half a month.

Once he returns empty-handed, he will no longer have a say.

Xue Zhiying's back hit the bed, but the pain was far less than the pain that spread to her shoulders.

She opened her eyes with difficulty, only to see Meng Chen pressing towards her eagerly.

"How do you serve him in bed? Can his piece of shit, which has never touched a woman, satisfy you?"

Xue Zhiying looked at Meng Chen's distorted old face and felt that she was about to vomit at the next moment.

His words were unbearable to hear, and made her even more uncomfortable.

When Meng Chen reached out to touch her, she instinctively raised her hand to block him and slapped the back of his hand with a crisp sound.

Meng Chen paused, tightened his jaw, and was furious.

"Bitch, I gave you face?"

This is Meng Chen's true face, moody and not allowing anyone to disobey or resist.

He wants a beautiful vase, and he can also smash it to pieces as he pleases.

Meng Chen stretched out his hand and was about to strangle Xue Zhiying's neck.

At this moment, the door was suddenly opened anxiously from the outside.

Meng Chen paused and turned to look.

Before he could get angry, his expression changed instantly.

Xue Zhiying was so dizzy at this time that her mind was scattered and she couldn't even hear the sounds around her.

Most of them were scared.

At that moment just now, she didn't think that Meng Chen would strangle her to death, but would make her suffer endlessly.

Xue Zhiying was extremely frightened and immediately wanted to get away from the bed that was stained with a disgusting smell, but she couldn't muster any strength.

The surroundings seemed to be in a panic, and even Meng Chen, who was pressing on her, disappeared without a trace.

But the chaos continues.

As her consciousness gradually returned, Xue Zhiying felt footsteps approaching her.

Her consciousness returned, and the pain in her shoulder made her frown in pain.

Until a familiar figure appeared in the blurred vision.

Xue Zhiying was stunned and looked up slowly after a long time.

The man stood tall, blocking the candlelight behind him. His face was dim in the shadows against the backlight, but it inexplicably gave people a sense of security.

I didn't know whether it was a dream or reality, but I couldn't help but call him.

"cousin."

Xiao Yunqi tightened his lips and frowned.

He turned his head briefly, glanced in the direction of the door, and quickly turned back.

His eyes fell directly on her.

Her clothes were even more messy than the bed, her cheeks were covered with red marks, and her black hair was loose and hung down over her shoulders.

The panic in the house gradually faded away. The door was wide open, and I could vaguely feel a few wisps of early summer evening breeze. It was not cold, but it made me shiver.

Xue Zhiying gradually came to her senses, but did not speak again.

After a moment, she saw Xiao Yunqi's arm move slightly, as if he hesitated for a moment, and then he began to untie his outer robe.

The wide robe fell, blocking the view in front of the eyes, as if shrouding people in bottomless darkness, but then warmth with a familiar smell tightly wrapped the body.

Xue Zhiying poked her head out from her robe, and her vision became bright again.

Xiao Yunqi didn't say anything, and no one knew what he was thinking.

The silence lasted too long.

Xue Zhiying finally spoke first, muttering softly, "Cousin, I want to leave here."

Xiao Yunqi turned his head and looked outside the door again. I don’t know if he saw anything. He quickly looked away and hummed.

He took a step to leave.

Xue Zhiying added, "I can't stand up anymore."

Xiao Yunqi looked her up and down for a moment and asked, "Are you hurt?"

Xue Zhiying shook her head: "I was so scared that my legs went limp."

The girl in his sight looked disheveled and pitiful at this moment.

It looked somewhat similar to the day when it came back from wandering and became a dirty little cat.

The kittens at home are either stray or bullied.

Xiao Yunqi looked at the scene in front of him and had a strange illusion that it was because he had not taken good care of it.

Last time, we can just blame it on his poor arrangement, but this time it has nothing to do with him.

"……cousin."

After a low call, Xiao Yunqi reached out his hand towards her.

Xue Zhiying looked at the broad palm in front of her and was rarely disappointed with this beautiful hand.

But her legs were really weak, and she was afraid that without support, she would not be able to keep up with Xiao Yunqi's pace.

She put her hand into his palm, and the dry and warm touch dissipated some of her disappointment.

Before she could grab the hand.

Xiao Yunqi suddenly grabbed her with his backhand and pulled her from the couch to his front.

Xue Zhiying was about to stand up, but she pounced on him in an instant due to the force.

She screamed and her body suddenly flew into the air.

A strong arm was placed across my waist, but my shoulders were pulled and felt a tearing pain during the movement.

"hiss--"

Xue Zhiying was picked up by Xiao Yunqi with one hand, and he reached out to carry her onto his shoulder like a sack.

But Xiao Yunqi paused when he heard the voice, looked up at her and said, "Didn't you say you weren't injured?"

Xue Zhiying's eyes were filled with tears due to the pain. She was speechless for a moment and could only shake her head helplessly.

She didn't know whether she was injured or not, but the pain in her shoulder now proved that she was definitely injured.

Xiao Yunqi was silent for a moment, then stretched out his other hand, put his arm through her legs, and finally picked her up sideways.

Xue Zhiying's petite body easily nestled into his arms.

When she heard a heartbeat that didn't belong to her, she blinked in surprise.

Xiao Yunqi stepped outside.

The evening breeze blew across my face and then rushed into the open collar of my outer robe.

Xue Zhiying gently gathered Xiao Yunqi's outer robe, and in his arms, she wrapped herself further in his clothes.

Along the way, Xue Zhiying noticed that when she came here, there was a servant every few steps, but now she didn't see any of them.

The huge villa seemed to have been emptied in an instant.

Until I was about to reach the gate of the villa along the same path I came from.

Xue Zhiying heard noise coming from the hall at the side.

She subconsciously turned her head to look over there.

Just as her neck twisted, Xiao Yunqi suddenly freed one hand and covered her ear with it. Then he exerted more force, turned her head towards his chest, and buried his head in it.

My sight was filled with darkness, and I could no longer hear the noise.

Xiao Yunqi pressed it once and then withdrew his hand, but then he pulled up his outer robe, covering his entire head.

When he regained his sight, Xue Zhiying had already been placed on the carriage.

It was Xiao Yunqi's carriage.

Looking at the man beside her and the space she was in, she felt as if she had been truly rescued.

She unconsciously relaxed her body, causing her loose robe to slip off her shoulders.

Xue Zhiying looked down, slowly picked up the robe, and handed it back to Xiao Yunqi.

"Put it on."

The man spoke in a deep voice, his tone lacking much soothing intent, remaining as cold and calm as ever.

Xue Zhiying only extended half of her hand and then quickly retracted it, but she did not put on the outer robe again, but just held it tightly in her arms.

The carriage became quiet, and Xiao Yunqi did not give any instructions to set off.

Xue Zhiying looked down at herself.

She couldn't see clearly in the dim light, but she knew she must be in a very sorry state.

When she thought about it, she believed that there was no way she would be rescued today and she would not be able to leave this place, but she did not expect that all of this would happen at this moment.

She should feel lucky, but she also felt a little melancholy.

This terrible life, among things getting worse and worse, suddenly became not so bad.

There is something to be thankful for.

Her shoulder was still aching slightly, and the scenes just now surfaced in her mind, but she tried her best to suppress them, leaving only the overwhelming feeling of fear.

The fingers felt a warm and wet feeling.

Xue Zhiying lowered her head and cried silently. In her blurred vision, she seemed to see that Xiao Yunqi's outer robe was also soaked.

She wanted to reach out and wipe his tears, but more tears came, and even her own fingers were wet.

I don't know how long it took before I heard a rustling sound beside me.

A hand appeared in Xue Zhiying's sight, and her chin was lifted up by the fingers.

The girl's eyes were filled with tears. In the dim light, her tear-stained face was blurry, but the watery light in her eyes was like a star falling into the deep darkness, trying its best to emit the last faint light.

A hot tear slid down her cheek quickly, brushed across her cheekbone, flowed to her jaw, and finally wet Xiao Yunqi's fingers.

This wasn't the first time she had shed tears on his hands.

Xue Zhiying tilted her head slightly and did not move.

Tears blurred her vision and she couldn't see the emotions on Xiao Yunqi's face.

Because of this, the tears fell even more unrestrainedly, wetting his hands and soaking his robes.

"Afterwards, he will be punished according to the law. The lighter punishment may be amputation of hands and feet, and the heavier punishment may be beheading."

Xiao Yunqi's low, magnetic voice cut through the silence, and in a calm tone, he brought her some good news that should have put her at ease.

But the girl's tears continued to fall.

His fingers were completely soaked, and it seemed likely that the robes underneath were not spared either.

Xiao Yunqi did not stop, but Xue Zhiying reached out and held his hand.

A pair of soft, boneless hands covered one of his palms, and the moisture spread between their skin, carrying an inexplicable ambiguity.

Xue Zhiying held him tightly, but with little strength, her voice barely audible: "Cousin saved me again."

Xiao Yunqi lowered his eyes and glanced at him without answering.

Xue Zhiying was indeed saved this time.

But, it was so unexpected, so accidental.

She didn't even dare to think about what would happen to her tonight if Xiao Yunqi hadn't shown up.

Xue Zhiying slowly tilted her head, and gently pressed her wet cheek against his arm: "Cousin, can we really be together?"

There was silence in the carriage for a long time.

It was so long that Xue Zhiying thought she would not get any response from him.

But Xiao Yunqi suddenly asked: "You want me to marry you?"

Xue Zhiying's eyelashes trembled, and she was almost ruined by these words.

Of course she didn't want Xiao Yunqi to marry her.

That would be a more difficult task than the current one, and she would have to focus on more than just Xiao Yunqi, which would go against her purpose.

This relationship only requires the two of them.

Climb up to him and get him.

Let him give her what she wants.

Xue Zhiying rubbed the back of his hand, using his fingers to hide the look in his eyes: "I never dared to have such delusions."

Xiao Yunqi narrowed his eyes slightly: "How can we really be together?"

Xue Zhiying let go of his hand and slowly moved closer to him.

She lifted herself up and sat astride his thighs.

The robe that protected her slipped down as she moved, but no one cared.

Xiao Yunqi leaned back in his chair, his expression still calm at this moment.

He raised his eyes and looked calmly at the girl who was taller than him.

Watch her lips part slightly, watch her lean towards him.

A soft voice with a rich fragrance flowed nearby.

"If I want to stay by my cousin's side, it's enough to make him remember me a little bit."

The lips that opened and closed kissed again after a few days.

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The author has something to say: Tomorrow’s update will also be at midnight.

The deadline for leaving comments on this chapter is tomorrow and red envelopes will be given before the update~