The moment the swords clashed, a crisp sound rang out, and sparks flew everywhere.
Song Yuan and Li Xi moved swiftly through the courtyard, their swords clashing and unleashing countless bursts of sword energy.
Song Yuan's attacks were sometimes like a tidal wave, and his defenses were like an iron wall. He constantly probed Li Xi's moves and rhythm, trying to find her weakness.
Li Xi, on the other hand, was like a nimble fox, constantly dodging Song Yuan's attacks while looking for an opportunity to counterattack.
In an instant, the entire courtyard was enveloped by the sword energy of the two. Their figures darted swiftly through it, and every clash of their swords made hearts race.
Finally, after a fierce exchange, Song Yuan and Li Xi sheathed their swords and stood there, both with satisfied smiles on their faces.
"Not bad, Xiaoxi, your martial arts have indeed improved a lot," Song Yuan praised.
Li Xi nodded, "Thank you for your guidance, Brother Song. I still have a lot to learn."
The two looked at each other and smiled. Prince An had taken full control of the matter, so they no longer needed to go to He Xi Courtyard.
Looking at Li Xi, Song Yuan felt somewhat indignant. "Xiao Xi, by doing this, aren't you handing over all the credit to Prince An?"
He thought of all the effort Li Xi had put in, even risking her own life to test the medicine, but he never expected that the royal family would be so heartless.
At the brink of success, he shockingly excluded Li Xi. If his close friend were still alive, he probably wouldn't have let his daughter risk her life like that.
Li Xi shook her head slightly, looking indifferent. "Actually, it's nothing much. I don't care about those rewards. Serving the royal family only brings useless things. On the contrary, establishing a good relationship with Prince An is more beneficial to us. If we need his help in the future, we'll have some room to maneuver."
After listening, Song Yuan nodded in agreement, "You're right, a long-term perspective is indeed more important than immediate gains. So, how should we deal with that person at the rice shop in the west of the city?"
For the past six months, although he appeared to be traveling and enjoying himself, he was actually inquiring about information everywhere, and now he has finally found such a breakthrough.
Upon hearing this, a sly glint flashed in Li Xi's eyes. She said softly, "Actually, I already have a plan. However, this matter needs careful consideration, and we cannot act rashly."
Looking at her mysterious and unpredictable appearance, Song Yuan couldn't help but ask curiously, "Oh? It seems you already have a plan in mind. Why don't you tell me about it, and let me give you some advice?"
She smiled slightly, but didn't answer immediately. Instead, she stood up and walked to the window, gazing at the starry night sky. She took a deep breath, seemingly organizing her thoughts.
“Actually, the person at the rice shop in the west of the city is not our real target.” She spoke slowly, her voice revealing a sense of confidence and composure. “His appearance only provided us with an opportunity. The real key lies in the power behind him.”
Upon hearing this, Song Yuan frowned slightly, seemingly puzzled. "The power behind the scenes? You mean, someone is secretly manipulating all of this?"
Li Xi nodded, confirming his guess. "That's right. It's said that the West City Rice Shop is a very large operation with branches in various places. It's not something that can be taken over casually. The fact that this person can control the West City Rice Shop means that he has a certain status and influence in the imperial court. What we need to do is follow the clues and find out who is behind him."
The intelligence that Chen Quan just sent mentioned this rice shop.
After hearing this, Song Yuan fell into deep thought. He understood Li Xi's intention; this was not just a simple operation, but a thorough investigation and reconnaissance of the internal forces within the court.
"So, what's your plan?" Song Yuan asked, filled with curiosity and anticipation for Li Xi's scheme.
Li Xi turned around, her eyes flashing with determination, "We need to calm this person down first..."
The two chatted until late into the night, when Song Yuan couldn't stay awake any longer and went back to rest.
Li Xi was about to lie down and rest when she keenly sensed an unusual aura nearby.
She immediately sat up alertly, gripping the dagger. She looked around, trying to pinpoint the source of the aura.
The night was deep, and only the moonlight shone through the window, illuminating Li Xi's face and adding a touch of mystery to her expression.
Her gaze was sharp as an eagle's, as if it could see through every corner of the darkness. Every inch of air in the room seemed to be scrutinized by her eyes.
Li Xi frowned slightly. Although the aura was faint, it carried an indescribable sense of familiarity.
In the blink of an eye, the man launched an attack on her, his movements swift and agile. However, Li Xi was no ordinary person; she was equally agile. The instant the attack came, she anticipated the man's movements, shifting her body to the side and skillfully dodging the fatal blow.
"Who are you?" Li Xi asked coldly, her eyes flashing with a sharp light. She didn't recognize this person, but his attack method felt strangely familiar.
The man didn't answer, but launched another attack. Each of his attacks was full of power, but each one was skillfully deflected by Li Xi. Li Xi didn't rush to retaliate; she was waiting for an opportunity, an opportunity to strike decisively.
Just as the two were locked in a fierce battle, the lights in the room suddenly went out, plunging the entire room into darkness. Li Xi's heart raced instantly, but she didn't panic. Instead, relying on her keen intuition and hearing, she tried to find her partner in the darkness.
The man seemed unafraid of the darkness, and his attacks became even more unpredictable. Before she knew it, he had trapped her in his arms.
Her heart pounded even faster in the darkness, but she felt a strange sense of peace.
"Who, who are you?" Li Xi tried to make her voice sound calm, attempting to discern the other person's identity in the darkness.
In the darkness, the man chuckled softly, his voice deep and magnetic, "It hasn't been that long since we last met, and you don't recognize me?"
"Oh my god, Brother Feng, it's you! You scared me to death! Your sudden appearance is truly terrifying." Li Xi exhaled a deep breath, looking quite frightened.
Feng Monian looked at her, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes, "Xixi, you're a bit too timid. I just got back and wanted to come see you, but I didn't expect you to still be awake, so I wanted to..." hug you.
I barely managed to suppress the urge to hold her tightly, but I can't do it now.
"Hey, let go of me first." Li Xi only then noticed that he was hugging her from behind. Li Xi was being hugged from behind by Feng Monian, and only then did she realize how ambiguous their current posture was.
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