Return to Beijing
Staring intently at Xie Xiangsi, Zhou Yanzhi's eyes were dark and unfathomable, and he felt as if the air had become stagnant, making it difficult for him to breathe.
Xiao Yan wasn't the real Jie Xiangsi, so why does she have the memories of Jie Xiangsi? Could it be... that this body has discovered she's not the original owner and is rejecting her?
As soon as this thought crossed Zhou Yanzhi's mind, a sense of panic suddenly arose in his heart.
When he first learned that she was Xiao Yan, he wondered where the real Jie Xiangsi had gone. So he sent a letter to Yu He to ask her, and learned that she had forgotten everything because she had been sick.
Therefore, he guessed that the real Jie Xiangsi had already passed away due to illness, and that Xiao Yan had also died at that time, so he entered her body by chance.
If she is rejected and leaves this body, how will he find her?
In an instant, a thousand sorrows flooded my mind.
Suddenly, Xie Xiangsi's voice came: "That's all."
Facing Zhou Yanzhi's intense gaze, Xie Xiangsi explained, "I'm sorry, I only remembered a little bit, and I can't remember the rest."
Zhou Yanzhi breathed a barely perceptible sigh of relief, a faint smile playing on his lips. "It's alright. If you can't remember, then don't think about it anymore."
Jie Xiangsi nodded, then went to lie down and look at the spring scenery outside the window.
Watching her retreating figure, Zhou Yanzhi's long eyelashes trembled slightly. After a long while, he closed his eyes and silently murmured in his heart, "Miss Jie, I am willing to offer you a lamp for your eternal life and pray for your perfect next life. I hope you will forgive her."
"If there is any karmic retribution, let it all fall on me alone."
...
Spring has arrived, and the mountains and fields near Beijing are bursting with life. But inside a secluded room in the suburbs, the atmosphere is solemn and dignified in stark contrast.
The sealed chamber, forged from refined iron, was exceptionally cold, seemingly even colder than a winter day covered in snow.
A man with an effeminate appearance sat imposingly in a grand chair. He had fair skin, but a lingering shadow always seemed to hang between his brows, and his eyes were filled with a chilling coldness.
"Snap—"
Suddenly, a white glazed teacup was thrown from the top of the table, crashing heavily to the ground and shattering into pieces.
"Useless thing!"
Sharp shards of porcelain flew in all directions, quickly grazing the faces of the people kneeling below.
In an instant, fine beads of blood gushed from the wound, appearing from a distance like a thin red line. In the blink of an eye, the red line solidified, and droplets of blood dripped down his chin to the ground.
Feeling the stinging pain on his face, Song Baiyu blinked lightly and said calmly, "Fourth Prince, even if you kill me now, it won't change the fact that Zhou Ce'an is about to return to the capital. You might as well think about how to arrange things later."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yu'an, who was sitting on the armchair, leaned forward slightly, his eyes already filled with murderous intent: "Song Baiyu, you are a bit too arrogant."
"Tell me, I sent you to Yangqu on business, and what did you do? You were locked up in the outskirts of the capital by Su Yunyun, without even setting foot on a single piece of land in Yangqu. You even had Zhou Ce'an shut down my private army!"
The thought of Yang Qu's private army being shut down fueled Zhou Yu'an's rage. If it weren't for his mother's protection and his father's recent neglect of official duties due to illness, what could he possibly fight back with?
Pointing at Song Baiyu to his left, his tone grew increasingly cold.
"You think I won't dare to touch you just because you're favored by Father? I have plenty of ways to make someone disappear from this world without a trace."
"How dare you speak to me like that?!"
In an instant, the atmosphere inside the sealed room plummeted to freezing point.
The iron bricks beneath him emanated a chilling aura that made his bones ache. Yet Song Baiyu remained kneeling upright, his head, which had been hanging low, slowly rising.
Raising his eyes to meet Zhou Yu'an's gloomy gaze, he remained neither humble nor arrogant: "Is Your Highness certain that you want to kill me and deprive me of the person who can accuse Zhou Ce'an of 'imprisoning an official of the court'?"
Zhou Yu'an's brow twitched slightly, and the gloom in his eyes dissipated a little.
Seeing this, a dark glint flashed in Song Baiyu's eyes. He stared intently at him and said, word by word, "Besides, Fourth Prince, you need me."
Upon hearing this, a murderous intent flashed in Zhou Yu'an's eyes for a moment, then slowly receded like the tide. Staring at the person kneeling on the ground, he said calmly, "Get up."
Song Baiyu lowered his eyes and said, "Thank you, Your Highness."
He straightened his sleeves, which were free of dust, when he suddenly heard Zhou Yu'an's cold voice from the head of the table: "Since we couldn't get rid of him in Danzhou, then let's get rid of him in the outskirts of the capital. Song Baiyu, you won't mess this up again, will you?"
Song Baiyu paused in adjusting her sleeves, raised her eyes to meet Zhou Yu'an's gaze, her eyes calm: "If I were you, I would not assassinate him again."
"You dare disobey orders?!"
No.
Looking at Zhou Yu'an, who had suddenly stood up, Song Baiyu lowered his long eyelashes and a hint of disdain flashed in his eyes, which then quickly disappeared when he looked up: "Fourth Prince, do you think Zhou Ce'an is stupid?"
Zhou Yu frowned. Although he did want to kill him, he had to admit that Zhou Yanzhi was naturally intelligent to become the youngest Minister of the Court of Judicial Review in the history of the dynasty.
Whether in academics or ability, he was no match for him. Just like when they were young in the academy, he always received praise from the teacher, while he could only receive a word of encouragement.
Seeing his silence, Song Baiyu said calmly, "Then he's not stupid." She countered, "So, do you think someone like him, after surviving two assassination attempts, would return to the capital without taking any precautions?"
Zhou Yu'an said impatiently, "Stop beating around the bush and just tell me your plans."
Song Baiyu raised his eyes: "Since he has already 'imprisoned an official of the imperial court,' why not also accuse him of treason?"
Zhou Yu'an frowned: "He acts with integrity, how could you frame him?"
Suddenly, Song Baiyu let out a soft laugh. Thinking of the word "brother" he had heard at the governor's mansion, a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes. He slowly said, "What does Your Highness think of the charge of 'secretly colluding with traitorous officials and engaging in witchcraft'?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yu'an paused in her movement of tapping the armrest, her long eyelashes trembled, and an incredulous light suddenly flashed in her eyes: "What do you mean?!"
Everything that followed became clear. As Song Baiyu recounted the events, Zhou Yu'an's excitement almost materialized, and he couldn't help but pat Song Baiyu's shoulder forcefully.
"As expected of Lord Song, it is truly my good fortune to have Lord Song's assistance!"
Then, he walked step by step to the wall in the secret room that was engraved with dragon patterns, placed his palm on the majestic dragon head, felt the cool touch under his palm, and his eyes showed undisguised desire.
"February 15th, Flower Goddess Banquet, execute the plan!"
...
While Zhou Yu'an's plot to assassinate Zhou Ce'an was proceeding in full swing, Zhou Yanzhi and his group arrived in the capital at the end of January.
Between day and night, February arrived.
As early as when Zhou Yanzhi sent Wu Goulang back to the capital, Aunt Xie had been looking forward to their return day and night. In the past few days, she had even ordered the servants to clean the entire mansion, and hung lucky bags and red silk to symbolize peace on every tree. At first glance, it was as if they were still celebrating New Year's Eve.
After they got off the carriage, the women who were already prepared patted mugwort leaves onto them, chanting as they did so: "Dust to dust, ashes to ashes, all bad luck is gone, good fortune is coming..."
Patting water-soaked mugwort leaves onto your body doesn't actually smell very pleasant, but it inexplicably makes you feel comfortable.
When Xiao Yan was a child, before Madam Xiao passed away, she and her brother would always stand aside when their father came home, watching Madam Xiao pat General Xiao with mugwort leaves. Before, Xiao Yan didn't understand why her mother would "hit" her father with mugwort leaves, but now, the fragrance of mugwort at the tip of her nose tells her why.
Because this is the best blessing for relatives returning from afar.
May you be well and return, and may you exorcise evil spirits.
After patting the mugwort leaves, the two stepped over the brazier amidst the approving gazes of the old women. One of the women shouted with a laugh, "The fire burns away bad luck, bad luck goes away!"
Another old woman chimed in, "May the gods protect you, and may you remain safe and sound!"
As the last sound faded, the laughter of the crowd slowly dissipated into the air. The ritual to ward off bad luck was over, and from now on, peace and tranquility would surely prevail!
Looking up at the plaque of the Prince An's Mansion hanging on the eaves, Jie Xiangsi was filled with a myriad of thoughts and emotions.
Although they were only gone for a month, so much happened in that month.
Not only did they survive several assassination attempts and life-or-death struggles, but also...
She turned her head to look at the young man standing beside her, and the corners of her lips unconsciously curled up slightly.
She even confirmed her feelings for this former nemesis.
Returning to Beijing now feels somewhat like stepping into another world.
"Why don't you go in? Are you feeling timid as you approach your hometown?"
A voice suddenly came from beside my ear.
Jie Xiangsi raised her eyes and met Zhou Yanzhi's smiling gaze. Suddenly, she smiled too, a playful glint in her eyes: "Cousin is the master, how can Xiangsi enter the manor before him?"
Zhou Yanzhi raised an eyebrow, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, but simply chuckled and said, "In that case, how about I, as the host, personally guide my cousin?"
Jie Xiangsi lowered her eyes and chuckled softly, then raised her head and said, "Alright!"
"That……"
Zhou Yanzhi took two steps forward, and amidst the shocked gazes of the old women, he turned and extended a hand to Xie Xiangsi, then raised an eyebrow and smiled: "I heard that my cousin comes from Danzhou. Would you be willing to come with me to the mansion?"
His action was quite bold, almost exposing their relationship directly to everyone.
Behind them came the soft, barely suppressed gasps of surprise from the old women.
Zhou Yanzhi raised an eyebrow at her slightly, lowering his posture even further: "Ce'an is willing to be your guide."
Upon seeing this, the exclamations became increasingly louder and more uncontrollable.
Xie Xiangsi was only slightly taken aback, and then, to the even more astonishment of the old women, she gently placed one hand on Zhou Yanzhi's hand, looked up at him and smiled gently, "Cousin, I am of course willing to lead the way."
Then, the two smiled at each other and, ignoring the surprised looks of the crowd, walked confidently into the Prince An's residence.
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