"Actually, I asked you to come here because I have something to ask of you."

"What will happen in the future?"

Xia Xiao raised his eyes and met Si Yi's gaze. The latter nodded sincerely.

Si Yi's thoughts were not difficult to guess. He invited Xia Xiao over just for this matter. Although Xia Xiao didn't think of it at first, he figured it out when Si Yi mentioned Nan Shang.

Before we know it, in half a year, the duration of Zou Shou Church's stay in Da Xia will be reduced by one third. When that time comes, Nan Shang will definitely attack. Facing the powerful Nan Shang, even if Si Yi tries his best, it will be difficult to resist. Although there are two allied countries, it is not optimistic. Therefore, Xia Xiao, who has a special identity, is very important!

"During the border war, Shelie and Nanguo wanted to cancel the alliance and surrender to Nanshang to protect themselves, but we argued and asked for a delay in the decision. Now that you are here, I guess they won't cancel the alliance easily. But after four years at the academy, we hope you will come back."

"Your Majesty, what are you worried about?"

Xia Xiao asked directly. Now that there was no one around, he believed Si Yi would not hate this.

"The academy has spent four years and countless resources to educate people, so many people eventually choose to stay in the academy and become a part of it. Just like Teacher Chuan Lian, from the moment he made the decision, he had no connection with Daxia. Although I don't know what kind of magic Ningshen Academy has that can make them give up their hometown, this is a fact. But you can't leave, otherwise the two countries will withdraw the treaty and Daxia will be in even greater danger."

Xia Xiao, who is a student of Ningshen Academy, a disciple of the Pope, and a person who came from afar, is, in a sense, as important as an entire army. Therefore, Si Yi must keep Xia Xiao before he enters the academy. Otherwise, when Xia Xiao makes a decision four years later, it will be difficult to change this matter.

It is common for the emperor to prepare for a rainy day. If Xia Xiao does not return four years later, even if they hold on until then, they will be abandoned by the two countries and their military strength will decline. It will be a matter of time before they are defeated by Nan Shang!

"how?"

Si Yi needed an accurate answer, but Xia Xiao shrugged, as if he had no choice.

"My family is still in the dynasty, so I will certainly not abandon them."

Although it was not said explicitly, it was considered an agreement.

"Your Majesty, I would like to see Teacher Chuanlian. Please summon me."

"I know what you want to ask. He told me that Shu Shuang will be admitted to the hospital with you and there will be no hindrance."

"What else?"

"That's all."

Chuan Lian had come all the way to Rongcheng to ask about Shu Shuang's identity. He hadn't been able to answer, but now Fang Hai and the others seemed to have known the secret, and only he was still kept in the dark. Because of some reasons, Chuan Lian and the others would not tell Si Yi, but Xia Xiao would definitely ask for clarification!

After a moment's silence, Xia Xiao took a sip of tea and tasted it bitter.

I glanced at the tea in the cup. Was it because I drank too much last night that the taste changed? Or was it because the tea was too low quality?

"There's nothing else to do. You can go to the library and look for the book you want. If you can't find the answer there, go to Ningshen Academy. There will always be someone who knows what you want to know."

Xia Xiao didn't hesitate, and wrote a clean and neat sentence. He stood up, saluted, and said goodbye.

Xia Xiao went out and was taken to the library. Eunuch Mu came in and walked to Si Yi's side.

"Your Majesty, how is it?"

"He agreed."

Eunuch Mu thought this was a good thing, but Si Yi's brows were still frowned.

"Gao Mu, how far do you think Xia Xiao can go?"

"It's hard for me to judge, but now it seems that I may be able to reach the sky."

Eunuch Mu gave a very high evaluation, and Si Yi showed some curiosity on his face. Xia Xiao's training speed, in four years, might be able to change the current situation.

Outside the imperial study, Xia Xiao had already gone far away. He followed the young eunuch to the library, and after conveying the emperor's oral instructions, he followed the guard to get the key.

The library contains tens of thousands of books and historical records from past dynasties, so it is extremely important. The guard opened the heavy iron doors for Xia Xiao and handed him a lantern.

Leaning against the last door, Xia Xiao saw the library was a little dark, but not so dark that he couldn't see the way, but it was hard to read the words. It was dry and not ventilated, and there was an unpleasant smell, like ink that had been sealed for a long time. As for the intoxicating fragrance of books, Xia Xiao didn't smell any of it.

After the gate was opened for a while, the old man guarding the place came forward with a lantern.

"What book is Third Young Master looking for?"

“Are there any records of prophecies?”

"I remember there is one."

"Only one?"

"I have been in charge of the library for a long time, so I can't be wrong. There is only one copy."

Books are written by people, and it is probably difficult to compare one book with another, and it is impossible to determine the authenticity of the book, but it is better to have it than not. Xia Xiao looked forward to it.

"Then let's take a look."

"Third Master, please follow me."

The library has two floors. Once you get to the second floor, the surroundings become much brighter. A light breeze blew through the air, catching Xia Xiao's attention. When the old caretaker felt it, an unconcealable nervousness appeared on his face. He carefully put the lantern aside and walked in the wind.

This small breeze was not a big deal, but the caretaker was afraid. If the window was broken and rain came in on a cloudy day, damaging the books, he would not be able to bear the responsibility. But he clearly remembered that these windows had been checked, so how could they be damaged for no reason?

When the old man left, Xia Xiao strolled among the extremely wide bookshelves. This place was as spacious as the first floor, making people feel like they were immersed in a sea of ​​books, but since no one had been here for so long, the dust on the bookshelves looked a little strange.

Although the old man would ask people to clean the house regularly, it was strange that some books had no dust on them, but everything else had.

As his fingers moved across the bookshelf, Xia Xiao paused as he passed through countless books. He sensed a faint breath behind the bookshelf beside him. The breath was extremely light, and incredibly weak.

He clasped the thick book with his fingers and took it down. When Xia Xiao looked at the other side, it was still a book!

Xia Xiao felt strange and walked to the other end of the long bookshelf and looked around. He saw a girl sitting among the books, extremely intoxicated.

The girl was wearing a precious light fur coat, with a phoenix hairpin pinning her black hair. Her face was a little thin, with a morbid beauty. But her bright eyes were immersed in the book on her knees, reading it with relish, as if she was immersed in the book, with great concentration.

Xia Xiao couldn't help but be curious about what kind of distant world the book described that fascinated her so much that she even had a smile on her face.

"Third Master, feel free to walk around. I'll get the book for you."

The old man's voice came from a distance, although it was weak, but Xia Xiao was still afraid to break the girl's tranquility. But she seemed not to hear it, still looking at the book in her hand.

Seeing her pale face, Xia Xiao couldn't help but smile bitterly. Although he had never met her, the person in front of him was the princess of Daxia! I heard that she was seriously ill, and I didn't expect her to climb through the window into the library. If the emperor knew about this, he would probably be furious.

Xia Xiao stepped back and wanted to leave. He could see her covering her slightly pale mouth. After hearing her cough a few times, he reluctantly stepped forward. Just like Fei Lian said that day, two years might be short in the life of an ordinary person, but for her, two years was the end of her life. Xia Xiao still couldn't bear to leave a stranger who could wait for him like this. He didn't provoke her, but he had to let her go back.

It was too quiet around, so Xia Xiao squatted aside and made some strange noises to let her turn her head so as not to scare her.

Soon, the princess, who had dark circles under her eyes and looked unwell, noticed something was wrong. She frowned slightly, turned her head and looked for the source of the sound.

In the gap between two rows of bookshelves, Xia Xiao turned his back to the light, so the girl couldn't see his face clearly. But the more mysterious and distant he was, the more beautiful he felt.

In Xia Xiao's eyes, the princess named Si Yunying smiled, with a dazed look, as if she would faint at any time, or as if she had seen through life and death.

"Are you here to take me away?"

Her voice was full of weakness, which made Xia Xiao feel pity. She thought of herself as the god of death who wanted to take her life? What a pitiful child.

"Your Highness, I am..."

"Are you Xia Xiao?"

There was a hint of joy in her frank tone, which sounded fairy, illusory, and gentle. Xia Xiao couldn't be sure whether she was asking him or stating the fact.

For Xia Xiao, this was his first time meeting the princess, the first time seeing her sitting quietly with a book in her hands, surrounded only by the sound of coughing. But Si Yunying was not the first time to meet him, and in countless midnights, he had imagined Xia Xiao's appearance in his mind based on the stories he had heard.

What kind of person must Xia Xiao be to be able to overcome so many difficulties and appear in the mouth of his royal brother?

Si Yunying thought about it for a long time, until she saw him, the always vague figure finally became clear. Xia Xiao was very much like what she imagined, not very handsome, but extremely resolute, as if nothing could defeat him. He seemed ordinary, but actually he was not.

After the rain yesterday, the sun was shining brightly at this moment, shining across Xia Xiao who was kneeling on one knee, and shining on her face, making her look even more delicate.

"yes!"

Xia Xiao found that he didn't hate the princess that much, so he was lucky to talk to her so as to avoid being called into the palace by the emperor again. Xia Xiao began to make excuses for himself, but he couldn't avoid her all the time.

Sitting under the bookshelf in front of her, Xia Xiao looked at her, his eyes did not evade, but he did not dare to think too much. His eyebrows were curved, smiling like a flower.

"What a coincidence, we meet here."

"It's quite a coincidence."

"I thought I wouldn't see you."

"Why?"

"My brother said that you have a girl you love very much, but we met here, so you can explain it when you go back."

"You don't blame me?"