Shadow Fall
Seeing her deep in thought, Wu Goulang, who was sitting on the table, took small steps to Xie Xiangsi's side and gently rubbed his head against the back of her hand.
Only by relieving longing can one return to their senses from deep contemplation.
He folded the letter and set it aside, then looked up at Zhou Yanzhi and said, "How could the Sixth Prince have fallen from his horse? Could it be because he's not a good horseman?"
With his arm around Wu Goulang's neck, Zhou Yanzhi gently moved it to the side and replied calmly, "I don't know, but it certainly wasn't an accident."
Upon hearing this, Xie Xiangsi nodded. Indeed, it was nothing more than the Fourth Prince's faction that made the move.
After the two had breakfast, Zhou Yanzhi got busy again, even though Jie Xiangsi didn't understand why he ran to the border between Da Zhao and Bei Yi every day.
Fortunately, she also needed to figure out some things, so she wasn't particularly curious about it.
...
Upon entering the agreed-upon restaurant, Xie Xiangsi immediately spotted Zhao Liuyi sitting in the corner.
The girl was still dressed in a bright pale yellow brocade dress, with a warm satin cloud-patterned cloak over it. Her long black hair was all tied into an exquisite bun, with a matching hair ribbon hanging gently behind her head.
Seeing her approach, Zhao Liuyi put down the pastries in her hand, waved to her, and smiled, "Xiangsi!"
Its bright appearance is like a little sun.
Jie Xiangsi chuckled softly, then nodded in greeting, "Miss Zhao."
Before she could react, Zhao Liuyi hurriedly pulled her down to sit, her eyes sparkling with joy. "Xiangsi, it's been so long since we last got together properly. I thought we'd become distant since you lost your memory, but I never expected you to come and ask me out."
Jie Xiangsi lowered her eyes and smiled, then looked up at the bright girl in front of her and replied, "I'm sorry, I didn't want to lose my memory either."
After saying that, she took out a small sandalwood box from her sleeve, pushed it in front of Zhao Liuyi, and said gently, "I heard that you are getting married soon. I have nothing of value right now, so this is a small token of my appreciation. I hope you will accept it."
"Oh my god, Xiangsi, you're so wonderful!"
Zhao Liuyi happily took the sandalwood box and opened it, revealing an exquisitely crafted hairpin adorned with intertwined flowers.
Zhao Liuyi smiled: "It looks really good!"
Jie Xiangsi: "As long as you like it."
Thinking of something, Zhao Liuyi grabbed Jie Xiangsi's hand, a blush inexplicably rising on her face. "Xiangsi, I'm getting married, will you come?" she asked, her eyes full of anticipation. "You're my best friend, and I want you to see me on my wedding day."
Upon hearing this, Jie Xiangsi paused for a moment, then smiled gently and said, "In that case, as your friend, of course I would come on such an important day." After a pause, she asked in confusion, "Why isn't Young Master Jing here?"
Zhao Liuyi waved her hand, then sighed and said, "Well, recently with the arrival of spring, the ice on the river has melted, and he's been busy with merchant shipping."
Thinking of something, she lowered her voice and said to Xie Xiangsi, "Xiangsi, you've spent some time in the capital, do you know why people in the capital like Wangyue San so much?"
Jie Xiangsi was somewhat puzzled: "Wangyue San?"
What is this?
She had only ever heard of Mafeisan (麻沸散).
Zhao Liuyi nodded and said seriously, "That's right, Moon Gazing Powder, don't you know it?"
Seeing the growing confusion in Xiangsi's eyes, Zhao Liuyi explained, "It's just a kind of medicinal powder, colorless and odorless. When you take it, it will make you feel cool, as if you are in the Moon Palace, hence the name 'Looking at the Moon'."
Jie Xiangsi nodded as if she understood, but couldn't help asking, "I've never heard of this kind of powder in the capital. What's wrong with it?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Liuyi waved her hand casually and said indifferently, "Actually, it's nothing."
She took a sip of tea and continued, "It just feels a bit strange. This kind of powder was originally used by the Northern Barbarians to treat high fever, but I think there are many famous doctors in the capital, and the medicinal materials are certainly not lacking. So why would they buy such a large quantity of this powder?"
After saying that, she smiled slyly, "However... if used in a brothel, it could invent a novel way to play."
Jie Xiangsi: "..."
Why did the topic change so quickly?!
She coughed suddenly and said somewhat awkwardly, "You...you know quite a lot."
Zhao Liuyi showed no shyness whatsoever. She merely raised an eyebrow, curled her lips slightly, and said slyly, "How interesting. Xiangsi is still so easily teased."
Jie Xiangsi: "..."
Don't say such wild things with such a cute face!
Pushing the stack of pastries toward her, Jie Xiangsi said in a serious tone, "Eat something."
Zhao Liuyi laughed: "Alright, I won't say anything then."
She swallowed another piece of pastry, then looked up at Xie Xiangsi with a serious expression. "Xiangsi, even though you have amnesia, if there's anything you need my help with, you can just tell me."
Although she was naive, she wasn't stupid. Xiangsi must have encountered something terrible to return to Danzhou at this moment, and as her friend, how could she stand idly by?
After a moment of silence, Xie Xiangsi slowly spoke, "You know, I have amnesia, so there are some things from the past that I can't remember."
She looked up and met Zhao Liuyi's worried expression, and asked, "I'd like to ask, what kind of person is Zhang Xu, the new prefect of Danzhou?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Liuyi thought for a moment and said seriously, "I don't know either. After all, Governor Zhang has only been here for five months. I don't have any special impression of him. If I had to say something, I would only say that he is really too cold-hearted."
Jie Xiangsi, puzzled, couldn't help but ask, "What do you mean?"
"Well... how should I put it, he always seems to have a serious and unsmiling look." Zhao Liuyi rested her head on her hand and said slowly, "On New Year's Eve, a child accidentally broke into the governor's mansion, and what did he do? He just grabbed the child by the neck and threw him out."
At this point, Zhao Liuyi's face showed a hint of resentment, and she said fiercely, "I have never seen such a ruthless person." Turning her head to look around, she deliberately lowered her voice and said, "The key is, I always feel that he has a powerful background."
Jie Xiangsi was startled. "Why?"
Zhao Liuyi covered her mouth and whispered, "Isn't it said that people who become officials in the court can't have tattoos? But he not only has one, but it's an extremely arrogant tattoo."
Upon hearing this, Xie Xiangsi's pupils dilated, and she couldn't help but gesture, "Isn't that a pattern of a python coiling around a pillar?"
Zhao Liuyi was surprised, "Yes, how did you know?"
After thinking for a moment, Xie Xiangsi said vaguely, "I have seen the same pattern in the capital." She paused and then added, "In that case, you must not tell anyone else about this secret."
Zhao Liuyi nodded, and said proudly, "Of course, I'm not stupid."
Jie Xiangsi chuckled and changed the subject.
...
The inn wasn't far from the restaurant, so Jie Xiangsi decided to walk back to the inn. On the way, she was even thinking about the tattoo on Zhang Xu's body.
Looking down at the small patch of land before her, she walked slowly. Just then, her shoulder bumped into someone, and caught off guard, Jie Xiangsi lost her balance and fell straight to the ground.
Seeing this, the man quickly squatted down, supporting Jie Xiangsi with one hand, and his deep voice sounded in her ear, "I'm sorry, young lady."
Upon hearing that voice, Xie Xiangsi paused, then turned her head slightly, unsurprisingly meeting a pair of dark eyes. After a moment of silence, she whispered, "Xiao Ying?"
The newcomer chuckled softly and replied in a low voice, "It's me."
Then, a small knife was gently pressed against Xie Xiangsi's lower back. Xiao Ying's smile hadn't faded, but the words she spoke sent a chill down Xie Xiangsi's spine: "Now, don't alert anyone, just come with me obediently."
Feeling the knife tip seemingly about to pierce her back, Jie Xiangsi remained expressionless and nodded gently.
"good."
...
As dusk fell, Zhou Yanzhi, who had been out all day, was about to knock on the door when his hand, which was almost touching the door, suddenly stopped.
He gripped the hilt of the knife at his waist with his five fingers, and the next moment, he pushed the door open and entered. The sharp blade met the broken chain directly, producing a crisp metallic clang.
Pulling back the whip, Xiao Ying raised an eyebrow and said, "Lord Zhou, how have you been?"
Zhou Yanzhi frowned, his gaze falling on the plain-colored hairband tied around his waist. He then quickly scanned the room, but finding nothing, he looked at Xiao Ying again with undisguised killing intent in his eyes. "Where is she?"
Xiao Ying raised an eyebrow. "You mean Miss Xie?"
Asking a question you already know the answer to.
Zhou Yanzhi remained silent, only staring intently at him.
After a short while, Xiao Ying spoke first, her tone still carrying a smile, "Lord Zhou, please don't look at me like that, Miss Jie isn't here with me."
Where?
Xiao Ying smiled and said, "I won't tell you."
Under Zhou Yanzhi's murderous gaze, Xiao Ying said jokingly, "Our Shadow Pavilion's rules forbid revealing mission details. These are ironclad rules that cannot be violated. I hope Lord Zhou understands."
Unwilling to listen to his nonsense any longer, Zhou Yanzhi suddenly drew his knife and stepped forward. The blade grazed Xiao Ying's cheek, cutting a gash in his handsome face, and blood splattered everywhere.
"...Dare to scratch my face?"
Feeling the stinging pain on her face, Xiao Ying stopped laughing, her eyes suddenly turning sharp. The next moment, she also lashed out with her whip at Zhou Yanzhi's Embroidered Spring Blade.
The shattering whip, both soft and strong, tightly bound the thin, sharp knife.
The two of them pulled at the same time, pulling each other towards themselves.
"Swish...swish..."
"Snap!"
In an instant, their weapons separated.
Due to inertia, the two hurriedly took a few steps back to steady themselves. Zhou Yanzhi leaned against the beam and looked at Xiao Ying, who was leaning against the table opposite him.
At the same time, Xiao Ying, who had pushed the table back a few inches, also cast a deep gaze at him.
Two sharp gazes met in the air.
The next moment, the two were locked in combat again.
Amidst flashes of swords and shadows, the furniture in the room shattered and scattered on the floor with a clatter as the two struggled, making the already cramped space even more confined.
Wood chips flew everywhere, and the beaded curtain scattered.
Suddenly, amidst the clash of swords, came the cry of a falcon.
The falcon flapped its wings, swift as the wind, soaring over numerous obstacles, its talons fiercely clawing at Xiao Ying's eye.
In an instant, a shrill scream escaped from Xiao Ying's mouth.
The next second, a piercing pain shot through his right arm, and with a "bang," his arm, which was still gripping the whip, fell straight to the ground.
With the sharp blade pressed against his neck and staring at the empty, bloodshot eye sockets of the person before him, Zhou Yanzhi asked in a deep voice, "Where is she?"
"Hehe—"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Ying let out two hoarse laughs. Although he couldn't see, he stared intently ahead, as if he could see Zhou Yanzhi's ugly face.
Thinking this, he twitched the corners of his mouth upward and said in an ambiguous tone, "The ironclad rules cannot be broken. Lord Zhou, if you want to rescue Miss Jie, you'd better hurry."
"If it's too late, I'm afraid we'll have no choice but to accept it for her..."
Before the word "corpse" was even stuck in his throat, Xiao Ying's head was severed.
Blood gushed out, spraying all over Zhou Yanzhi's black cloud boots.
Beneath his calm exterior lay a simmering, volatile rage.
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