Chapter 27 It's better to seize it and keep the person for yourself...
Shen Xi was startled by Xie Chengyan's sudden appearance. He looked angry, with his brows furrowed and his eyes slightly lowered.
I don't know who angered him.
Shen Xi scrutinized his expression, not daring to utter a sound, much less ask him how he ended up here.
He half-squatted down, his well-defined knuckles firmly grasping her injured palm: "You're really far from being a master."
His tone was normal, cool and indifferent, yet there was a hint of annoyance in it.
Shen Xi carefully observed his expression, considered her words for a moment, and stammered, "I have never learned how to train horses."
Xie Chengyan slightly lifted his eyelids: "Do you blame me for not teaching you?"
"No."
How could she dare to accuse him? Shen Xi immediately shook her head and denied it.
Xie Chengyan didn't dwell on it. After checking the injury on her palm, he moved downwards and his warm hand grasped Chen Xi's ankle.
When he touched her wound, Shen Xi gasped and involuntarily flinched, but Xie Chengyan forcefully pressed her down.
"Don't move."
He didn't look well, and Shen Xi was still a little afraid of him, so she could only stop awkwardly and let him do as he pleased.
The warmth of his palm seeped through the fabric, and he gently removed her shoes and socks.
A cold winter wind blew, contrasting sharply with the warmth of his palm, sending a tingling, itchy sensation through Shen Xi. She gently bit her lower lip, not daring to make a sound.
The tips of her ears were already faintly tinged with a thin layer of red.
At first glance, Xie Chengyan noticed that her ankle was red and swollen. His brows furrowed even more, and he pressed very lightly on her injured ankle with his fingertip.
"hiss……"
Shen Xi cried out in pain from his touch.
Xie Chengyan raised his eyes, his tone extremely indifferent: "Pain?"
Shen Xi couldn't speak, she could only grit her teeth and nod.
But his eyes remained indifferent as always, without a trace of pity, and he even had the time to make sarcastic remarks: "You were decisive when you threw him to the ground."
"..."
Unexpectedly, he saw through her intentions. The more she said, the more mistakes she would make, so Shen Xi pursed her lips and remained silent.
Xie Chengyan checked her ankle injury and only let go after finding that the bone was not broken. He looked up and asked, "Didn't you bring any maids with you when you entered the palace?"
Shen Xi paused for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
"Now that you're injured like this, how do you plan to get back?"
"I only injured one leg."
Hearing her answer, Xie Chengyan curled his lips and said, "Do you want to hop back on one leg, or wait for the Fifth Prince to have a change of heart and grant you a sedan chair to carry you back?"
Chen Xi remained silent.
I never realized he could speak so harshly before, and I couldn't help but wonder again why he was so fierce today.
So he said awkwardly, "Actually, I could just ask any palace servant to help me get back; it's not too far from here."
If someone says that, they are definitely not referring to returning to the Shen residence.
Xie Chengyan stared at her expressionlessly: "What? Still want to go back to the palace?"
Shen Xi nodded, seemingly puzzled.
What else could she do? The palace didn't belong to the Shen family; it wasn't a place where she could come and go as she pleased.
Moreover, Chu Yi had the Empress Dowager backing her up, so what could she do but endure it?
At the same time, I couldn't help but think that Xie Chengyan was in a really bad mood today, so I should get away from him as soon as possible.
But the moment he finished speaking, Xie Chengyan's eyes darkened, his gaze lingering on her, as if he were lost in thought.
After a long silence, he suddenly chuckled softly, "Alright."
However, the smile didn't reach his eyes, revealing some unknown danger.
It's getting more and more creepy.
Shen Xi couldn't help but shiver.
In the end, they didn't actually let her leave in a huff. Xie Chengyan ordered Liang Tuo to find a palace servant to send her back.
When he turned around, he didn't know where Chu Chengji had suddenly appeared from.
He was injured on the winter solstice and it took him a full month to recover, but it wasn't all for nothing. At least today, during the peace talks, the emperor specially appointed him to accompany him.
The Northern Barbarians had temporarily dispersed, and he strolled over behind Xie Chengyan, only to witness the scene just now. He deliberately pointed his folding fan in the direction where Shen Xi had left.
"That woman looks a bit like your future sister-in-law from the Shen family?"
Xie Chengyan tilted his head slightly and looked at him without saying a word, but his eyes clearly said "talkative".
Chu Chengji pretended not to notice, showing a mixture of surprise and understanding, and tentatively asked, "You approached her, could it be because she's your brother's wife?"
Xie Chengyan remained silent, watching the receding figure, his eyes narrowing slightly as he silently pondered the word "sister-in-law."
Chu Chengji, unaware that his words had touched a raw nerve, continued his slow analysis: "Your method of attacking the heart, while not particularly clever, should be effective given Xie Wenlang's level of concern for her."
After saying that, Xie Chengyan glanced at him indifferently and said, "You've reminded me."
"What?"
Chu Chengji was puzzled when he heard that deep voice give an order.
"Liang Tuo, tell Xie Wenlang that she was injured."
That night.
Chu Yi angrily slammed the gold hairpin in her hand onto the dressing table: "Who was it that couldn't keep a tight mouth and told him about this!"
The bronze mirror reflected her angry face, her cheeks gradually flushed with resentment, her brows furrowed, and her eyes clearly filled with rage.
The palace maids serving behind her knelt tremblingly, awaiting her fate, while only a young eunuch remained calm and composed, standing beside her as he combed her hair.
"I'm asking you a question! Are you all mute?!"
Seeing that no one answered, Chu Yi became even more furious. She wondered who had spread the news that Shen Xi had been summoned to the palace and was injured, and it even reached Xie Wenlang's ears.
In the evening, he hurriedly went to the East Palace and asked His Highness the Crown Prince to take him into the palace to see Shen Xi. Fortunately, his grandmother stopped him and reassured him that Shen Xi was alright.
He was so concerned about Shen Xi, even after she brought her into the palace, he still couldn't bear to leave her side. He even made a fuss over such a small injury. Chu Yi was really annoyed and furious.
The palace was silent until a young maidservant, head bowed, spoke in a trembling voice: "Your...Your Highness, General Xie was also at the hunting grounds during the day. He saw that person after Your Highness left..."
Chu Yi glanced at the palace maid who had answered, her eyebrows furrowed, using the reflection in the bronze mirror as a tool: "Really?"
"This servant dares not speak recklessly."
"I doubt you'd have the guts."
Chu Yi snorted coldly, but her mood became increasingly unpleasant. She never expected that it was Xie Chengyan who had tipped him off.
If it were some ignorant eunuch or maid in the palace, she could vent her anger, but if the other party was Xie Chengyan, this person was no small matter in the eyes of the emperor, and was also an official with great power, she really had no way to deal with him.
He could only swallow his anger and irritably fiddle with the beads on the gold hairpin.
With a forceful pull, she managed to pry off the small, round white jade bead. Angrily, Chu Yi threw the gold hairpin at the bronze mirror, and with a clang, several cracks appeared on the mirror.
The crack distorted Chu Yi's face in the bronze mirror. She said irritably, "What's wrong with these craftsmen? They can't even make a hairpin this badly!"
The palace was eerily silent; no one dared to provoke this young master. But just then, a young eunuch combing his hair spoke up.
"Your Highness, the Xie family is outside the palace, but that man surnamed Shen is inside the palace, on your territory. Why are you so troubled?"
Chu Yi turned her head and asked, "What do you mean?"
Seeing this, the young eunuch lowered his head respectfully and continued, "Your Highness, the source of your troubles, whether it's General Xie or the Second Young Master Xie, is none other than the person currently in the palace."
After pondering his words several times, Chu Yi understood the implied meaning, her beautiful eyes widening: "You..."
"Your Highness is wise. Once this source is eliminated, Your Highness's worries will naturally disappear."
Chu Yi was somewhat persuaded, but still hesitated: "There's no need to completely destroy her; just teach her a lesson."
The young eunuch's eyes sharpened: "Your Highness, rest assured."
At this moment, Shen Xi was still unaware of all this. She was placed in a side hall, where she was not treated too harshly and was quite comfortable. However, she still dared not sleep peacefully.
The injury to her ankle was throbbing, and Shen Xi knew she couldn't stay any longer. She had to find a way to get the Empress Dowager to let her leave the palace. Today was just the beginning; if she stayed any longer, who knew what other underhanded tricks Chu Yi might have up her sleeve.
Just as she was pondering how to leave the palace, she heard a soft voice coming from outside the door.
"Miss Shen, the Empress Dowager summons you."
As if she could just summon whoever she wanted, Shen Xi's heart skipped a beat. Before she could even undress, she pushed open the door and saw the little eunuch standing outside.
Shen Xi asked doubtfully, "It's so late, hasn't the Empress Dowager retired yet?"
The man lowered his head and said, "The Empress Dowager is having trouble sleeping tonight and wants to talk to someone to relieve her boredom. The Fifth Prince has already gone there and is currently waiting for you at Cining Palace."
There was no moon that night, and with only the light from inside the room, Chen Xi could not make out the person's face. He was skeptical of what the person said and refused to move.
After a brief standoff, the man urged again, "Miss, please hurry and come with me, it wouldn't be good if we were delayed."
After thinking it over, she gripped the short, hairpin-shaped blade in her hand, secretly hiding it in her sleeve, and smiled obediently: "Alright, please lead the way."
The night was as dark as ink, and not a single star could be seen in the sky. A young eunuch led the way with a palace lantern, and Shen Xi followed cautiously behind him.
Passing through a section of corridor, they followed the path straight into the garden. A cold wind blew by, and the only sounds were the rustling of the trees and flowers and the footsteps of the two people walking one after the other.
Suddenly, the young eunuch in front stopped, turned around, and said respectfully, "Miss Chen, there is a lake nearby. Please be careful not to fall in."
Upon hearing this, Shen Xi looked in the direction he was pointing and indeed saw a lake. Although it was winter, the lake was not frozen and shimmered faintly in the night.
"Yes, thank you..."
Suddenly, in the brief moment when she looked away and didn't notice, the little eunuch was already close in front of her. Before Shen Xi could react, her right shoulder was struck with great force, and she fell backward.
Shen Xi panicked instantly and subconsciously pulled out a short blade hidden in her sleeve, stabbing it at the arm that was pushing her. A faint smell of blood wafted out, but her body was completely out of control and she fell straight into the lake.
Oh no, she can't swim!
The icy lake water washed over her head, and her entire body was instantly chilled to the bone. In just a few moments, she had choked on several mouthfuls of water. The feeling of suffocation enveloped her completely, giving her no chance to call for help.
Before her vision was fully clear, she could only see the person's indistinct face in the dim light, and the palace lantern emitting a pale yellow glow in the night, swaying in the cold winter wind.
As her meager senses were gradually drained from her body, Shen Xi felt only exhaustion, and her heavy body began to sink downwards.
In the moment of death, there were no flashbacks in my mind, only a blank white expanse, like the heavy snow of a harsh winter.
Suddenly, Shen Xi vaguely heard the sound of water breaking through the surface, and in her hazy state, she saw someone coming towards her.
But she couldn't distinguish between reality and illusion, and before she could see who it was, she had already completely lost consciousness.
*
The Cold Palace, a secluded room with few people around.
The short red candle emitted a dim light, which was half-lit and half-dim on the worn, plain white window paper.
Suddenly, in the next instant, the light and shadow clearly projected a tall and upright figure.
Xie Chengyan's face was ashen, his expressionless face making his features appear even colder and harder. His gaze remained fixed on the person on the bed for a long time.
Her lips were pale, and her damp hair clung to her cheeks. There was no fire in the room. Shen Xi curled up unconsciously, her body trembling uncontrollably, her teeth chattering. She looked pitiful.
Xie Chengyan stepped forward, bent down, and reached out to brush away her hair, every movement filled with tenderness.
But unlike his outward gentleness, his eyes were filled with a chilling coldness.
He gave her a chance.
He had thought that with Chu Yi making things difficult for her, she would definitely back down. He believed that as long as she was willing to beg him during the day, even if it was just a word or a single sentence, he would take her away without hesitation.
But she insisted on suffering here.
Xie Chengyan lowered his eyebrows very low, his fingertips tracing the side of Shen Xi's face inch by inch.
Does she really like Xie Wenlang that much?
But what about Xie Wenlang?
He couldn't protect her; he never could.
Even if Shen Wangchen is gone, there is still Chu Yi. If Chu Yi is gone, there will be another unknown person. Xie Wenlang, that good-for-nothing, can't handle any of them and will only put her in danger again and again, forcing her to face all the dangers alone.
An intense and uncontrollable rage surged from the depths of Xie Chengyan's heart, and his eyes gradually darkened.
He took Shen Xi's cold hand in his, lowered his head, and placed a very light, very precious kiss on her fair and delicate wrist.
The last shred of hesitation was swept away, and the clarity and restraint that he had once been so proud of collapsed in an instant.
Since both paths are dangerous, it would be better for him to do it himself.
What about his future sister-in-law?
Xie Wenlang didn't even ask for a marriage contract, so why should he really treat her as his brother's wife?
It would be better to seize her, keep her by your side, and let her be your shelter from the wind and rain, protecting her peace and blessing her with joy.
The rickety wooden door was pushed open.
The creaking sound was particularly abrupt in the empty and cold night, startling the crows that were perched on the withered tree by the door.
A figure entered the room, turned around, and was about to close the door when he suddenly saw Xie Chengyan appear out of nowhere in the cramped, low-ceilinged room.
The man's eyes narrowed sharply, his gaze passing over Xie Chengyan's broad shoulders and back, noticing his menacing aura, and he even grabbed Shen Xi's wrist.
Therefore, she became even more wary, and her eyebrows furrowed tightly.
Despite being caught in the act, Xie Chengyan showed no panic. He calmly glanced back, released Shen Xi's hand and put it back under the covers, then bent down to tuck the blanket around her.
Shen Xi was in a daze, seemingly extremely cold, and subconsciously moved towards the heat source, grasping Xie Chengyan's hand tightly in her sleep.
She pulled closer, pressed her cheek against hers, and gently rubbed against her, her cherry lips slightly pursed, inexplicably resembling a small animal begging for a favor.
Their skin touched, and her breath fell clearly onto Xie Chengyan's hand with each movement. He paused, then gently patted Chen Xi's back to comfort her.
Before getting up, he whispered in her ear, "Sleep peacefully. When you wake up, everything will be alright."
Having said that, Xie Chengyan stood up, turned around, and cast his gaze at the person standing at the door. After a brief look, he spoke indifferently.
"You saved her."
There was no hint of inquiry in his tone; it was as if he were simply stating a fact.
In the low-ceilinged room, only a single red candle emitted a faint light, casting Xie Chengyan's shadow extremely long.
It wasn't obvious when he was sitting, but now that he's standing up, he realizes that the shadow almost covers the entire gray wall behind him, pressing down on him along with his deep voice, making him extremely intimidating.
After a long while, the man did not answer, but his eyes were fixed on him.
Xie Chengyan didn't care, his tone indifferent: "It's better not to talk about it. If His Highness the Thirteenth Prince needs anything in the future, he can come to me anytime."
After speaking, his gaze fell once again on Chen Xi on the bed.
This time, however, Chu Tingshuang stepped forward without saying a word, blocking the two of them. She looked up at Xie Chengyan, her eyes filled with even greater wariness, as if she would not give an inch.
Xie Chengyan rubbed his fingertips and calmly analyzed: "She is injured and needs a doctor to treat her. How capable can the assistants Your Highness found from the Imperial Hospital be?"
His words were cold, but they were absolutely accurate.
Chu Tingshuang frowned even more deeply. How could he know who she was looking for? Even within these majestic palace walls, there were his spies, and he even knew everything about an insignificant woman.
As far as she knew, Xie Chengyan was not a blood relative of Shen Xi, and the two were not close. Yet, he broke into her small, dilapidated house alone in the middle of the night and had just groped Shen Xi. How could she trust such a dangerous person?
Xie Chengyan seemed to know what she was thinking. His eyes were dark and unfathomable. He said coldly, "Your Highness cannot hide anyone here. I must take her away."
Having said that, Xie Chengyan gave Chu Tingshuang no further room for discussion. His gaze swept past her, and he finally glanced at Shen Xi's pale face. Beneath the ruthlessness in his eyes, a hint of pity was hidden.
"After an incense stick has burned, someone will come to take her away."
These were his last words before he left. After saying them, he turned away without hesitation, pushed open the door, and disappeared into the night in an instant, never to be seen again.
As Xie Chengyan left, the lingering oppressive feeling instantly dissipated, and the small room finally seemed much more spacious. However, Chu Tingshuang stared intently in the direction he disappeared, unable to relax.
Suddenly, the person on the bed behind her let out a few restless moans. Chu Tingshuang forcibly withdrew her gaze and turned to look after Shen Xi.
Turning around, she discovered that the person on the bed had slowly woken up, gradually regaining some clarity, with their eyelashes fluttering gently.
Upon noticing the slight loss of color in her lips, Chu Tingshuang instantly realized that Xie Chengyan must have given her some medicine while she was away.
Although it is unclear what the relationship is between the two, judging from Xie Chengyan's attitude, he should not pose a threat to Shen Xi's life.
As Chu Tingshuang pondered this for a moment, Shen Xi slowly opened her eyes.
The dim light wasn't glaring, but she felt dizzy, as if a headband was tightly binding her head. She gritted her teeth and forced herself to stay awake, only to find that the surroundings were completely unfamiliar, and her body felt heavy and out of control. Chen Xi was instantly startled.
Where...is this?
Suddenly, the light was blocked by a figure, and through a narrow slit in his eyelids, Shen Xi could see Chu Ting Shuang's face clearly.
Her voice, hoarse from catching a chill and just waking from a coma, was barely audible as she managed to speak: "Thirteenth...Your Highness?"
Chu Tingshuang did not respond, but simply stretched out one hand and waved it in front of Shen Xi's eyes to observe the contraction of her pupils.
Only then did we realize that Shen Xi's life had been saved.
Shen Xi certainly didn't expect Chu Tingshuang, who couldn't speak, to answer her, but right now she couldn't find anyone else to ask for help.
She tried to sit up slightly, but the cold air had already weakened her, and she could only hold on for a moment before collapsing back onto the bed.
Chu Tingshuang didn't help, but stood aside quietly watching her struggle.
Shen Xi frowned, enduring the dizziness that intensified as he fell, and did not try to get up again, but turned his head slightly to the side.
"Your Highness..."
Before she could say anything, a voice rang out: "You can't compete with Fifth Sister. Just give her what she wants as soon as possible, so you don't suffer."
Suddenly, Shen Xi's eyes widened, staring intently at Chu Tingshuang's lips as she slowly uttered those words. For a moment, she didn't even notice what she was saying; her mind was filled with only one thought—
She can actually talk?
Chu Tingshuang remained calm and was not surprised by her reaction. She also knew that Shen Xi must not have listened to what she had just said. She slowly repeated, "Don't argue with Chu Yi anymore. You can't win."
Shen Xi's eyes were filled with complex emotions. She looked away and stared blankly at the dilapidated roof beams. Her voice was very soft: "Thank you for your kind words, Your Highness, but I have no other choice."
Upon hearing this, Chu Tingshuang frowned, recalling Xie Chengyan's forceful words and actions just now, and intuitively felt that Shen Xi had not grasped the situation.
She truly had no choice, but that choice was destined to have nothing to do with Xie Wenlang.
If you don't let go now, you'll only cause her unnecessary trouble.
But Chu Tingshuang didn't say these things. She was willing to save Shen Xi tonight only because of the handkerchief Shen Xi had given her on Chengyang Mountain. Saving her life was a way of repaying her kindness back then. Chu Tingshuang wasn't going to be so kind as to help her any further.
Therefore, Chu Tingshuang stopped speaking and silently turned around to extinguish the candle.
Since Xie Chengyan had his own arrangements, she naturally wouldn't cause trouble for herself. She simply waited quietly for the person he mentioned to come and take Shen Xi away. Tonight, everything would be completely unrelated to her.
Seeing that Chu Tingshuang had extinguished the candle, Shen Xi knew that she did not want to talk anymore. It was already a rare privilege to save her life, and she would not ask for more.
One person lay drowsily on the couch, his eyelids drooping in the dark night. The inability to see made his senses even clearer.
Shen Xi frowned, unable to calm down. At first, she was extremely cold and her jaw was chattering. But after an unknown amount of time, she began to feel hot all over. In a daze, she fell into a deep sleep again.
This familiar situation reminded her of the past.
When I first dreamed of Xie Chengyan, it was also during a sudden high fever, just like now.
In her dream, it was a stormy night with thunder and lightning. The damp cold seeped in through the cracks in the window, but she was held in a warm embrace.
Time and time again.
Later, she couldn't bear it any longer and begged him to stop.
Xie Chengyan remained inside, only lowering his head to gently suck on her small earlobe, whispering indistinctly, "When the rain stops, that's when we'll stop."
Because of his words, the two became entangled in a passionate embrace.
At first, Shen Xi still had the strength to fight back, but the more she fought, the more powerless she became. She couldn't help but want to escape, but he easily pulled her back and shoved her hard, letting out a soft moan.
In his dream, he was tireless, each time more intense than the last, never stopping.
He kept repeating the same phrase, "Xi'er, the rain hasn't stopped yet."
This was the first time Shen Xi dreamed of Xie Chengyan, but for some reason, she dreamed of him again tonight, and it was exactly the same as the first time.
Only at the end of the dream did he say one more sentence than at the beginning, but Shen Xi couldn't distinguish between reality and fantasy, and for some reason felt that sentence was exceptionally real.
It was as if he were right beside her, personally tying her hair up and whispering, "It's time to teach you how to swim."
Swimming...
If she could swim, wouldn't she be in such a sorry state tonight?
This was the last thought in Shen Xi's mind before she lost consciousness.
*
Under the cover of darkness and high winds, undercurrents surged beneath the red walls and black tiles.
Xue Ningrong continued to kneel and chant sutras in the Buddhist hall as usual, twirling the beads of the Buddhist prayer beads between her fingers.
This is her nightly habit before going to sleep: in front of her is a golden statue of a Bodhisattva, with kind eyes and a benevolent expression, embracing all things, its eyelids half-open as it surveys the world.
Everyone in the palace knew that Xue Ningrong didn't like being disturbed when she was worshipping Buddha, so she stood respectfully outside the Buddha hall waiting. Only Granny Chang, who had entered the palace with her years ago, was allowed to enter the Buddha hall to serve her personally.
Seeing that the incense offered by Xue Ningrong was about to burn out, Granny Chang carefully handed over a few new incense sticks and stood obediently by her side, waiting for Xue Ningrong to finish reciting the last section of the Buddhist scripture.
Before Xue Ningrong could finish reciting, a sound of something cutting through the air came from behind him. In the blink of an eye, a sharp arrow pierced through the window and shot straight into the Buddhist hall, embedding itself in the center of the Buddha statue's forehead, the arrow tail still trembling slightly.
Granny Chang was instantly terrified and cried out, "Assassin! Help! There's an assassin!"
Upon hearing this, the palace servants waiting outside suddenly swarmed into the Buddhist hall, hurriedly surrounding Xue Ningrong.
Disturbed by the sudden noise, Xue Ningrong, who was focused on chanting Buddhist scriptures, finally opened his eyes slowly, his calm gaze falling on the arrow in the center of the Buddha statue's forehead.
With the help of a palace maid, Xue Ningrong stood up and calmly pointed: "Take that thing down."
The guard standing nearby then realized that a piece of paper had been pinned into the tip of the arrow.
Therefore, we went to retrieve it as instructed.
Xue Ningrong then twirled his prayer beads, murmured a Buddhist mantra, and then rebuked, "What kind of behavior is this, making such a racket in a Buddhist temple, a place of peace and quiet?"
The palace servants immediately fell silent and knelt down with a thud.
Before Xue Ningrong could make a decision, the guard had already taken the paper down and handed it to her.
It was a short letter with only two sentences, which could be read at a glance.
But it was this one glance that made Xue Ningrong, who hadn't panicked even when he thought he was being assassinated, suddenly change his expression. His eyes widened in disbelief as he snatched the letter from the guard's hand, crumpled it into a ball in his palm, and started spinning his prayer beads faster and faster.
"Get out! All of you, get out!"
Unexpectedly, she suddenly became agitated, and the palace servants, not daring to provoke her, obediently withdrew. Only Granny Chang noticed something was wrong and stayed behind: "Your Highness, what's wrong?"
Xue Ningrong didn't answer, but held Chang Mama's hand tightly, her nails almost digging into her flesh. It took her a while to come to her senses, open her palm, and hand her the crumpled letter.
When Granny Chang unfolded it and took a look, she was equally shocked: "How could this be? This is impossible!"
Xue Ningrong closed her eyes, took a deep breath to calm her emotions, and instructed Granny Chang: "Find out where Shen Xi mentioned in the letter is, bring her here, and thoroughly investigate her connection with what happened back then."
Granny Chang's expression was complicated as she replied, "This old servant understands."
"Keep a close eye on things; not a single word of what happens tonight must be leaked."
"yes."
Granny Chang accepted the order and hurriedly left.
Xue Ningrong closed her eyes, and certain memories flooded back. She couldn't help but open her eyes and gaze at the kind-faced Buddha statue before her, whispering sutras and praying for protection.
With a light touch, he tossed the letter into the brazier. The flames instantly swallowed up the words, leaving only a few characters legible.
The first sentence was almost completely burned, leaving only the words "first and last". The second sentence was not yet engulfed by the flames, and the words could still be vaguely discerned as—
Save Chenxi, do not disturb him.
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