Chapter 20 Evidence of the Alliance "Or is Madam Xue concerned about me?"...
Ten feet away, Xue Rongyue stood on the west side, her robes fluttering, facing Qin Jin in the noisy, cold wind.
Qin Jin was tall and imposing, his bowstring taut like a crescent moon, the moonlight shining on his sharp brows and eyes, his robes fluttering in the cold wind.
Two arrows were released simultaneously, like white rainbows piercing the sun, tearing through the inky night. The sharp arrowheads pierced through the falling bamboo leaves, and in an instant, they reached the man in black.
The man in black's pupils constricted sharply, his face paling with shock. In a flash, his subordinate leaped forward and tackled him to the ground!
"Zheng—!"
The two long arrows struck each other precisely in the floating night, sparks flying as the sharp clang of metal against metal echoed through the bamboo forest, startling the sparrows on the branches.
Xue Rongyue raised an eyebrow, her undisguised provocation meeting Qin Jin's deep, icy eyes.
The moonlight stretched their shadows long, intertwining and entwining with the swaying bamboo shadows, ultimately leading them to the same destination despite their different paths.
Jingnu defeated the last person who was fighting her, and the man in black had already escaped under the cover of his other subordinates, his figure darting away and quickly disappearing into the bamboo forest.
Jingnu took a step to give chase, but was stopped by Xue Rongyue who rushed over: "Don't pursue a desperate enemy. We don't know how many more men are lying in ambush nearby. Your own safety is the most important thing."
Jingnu looked at the corpse lying beside her and said, "What a pity. I almost uncovered this person's true colors."
The man in black was rescued by his subordinates, using human lives as a shield to escape. It's unclear how he will be able to lure the man out and capture him alive next time.
Xue Rongyue remained calm and smiled as she beckoned to Jingnu. When Jingnu came close, she whispered a few words in her ear. Jingnu's eyes lit up immediately, and she exclaimed happily, "My lady is truly cunning!"
"Tsk." Xue Rongyue glared at her. "I told you to read more books. This is called being resourceful."
Jingnu chuckled, then looked at the corpses on the ground and couldn't help but feel troubled: "What should we do with these?"
Crouching down, Xue Rongyue shifted her gaze from the corpses to the arrows broken in two beside her and suddenly asked, "Where is Qin Jin?"
Now that he has appeared here and taken action, there is no room for him to remain uninvolved.
Jingnu looked around and spotted Qin Jin's figure in a grove of green bamboo.
He lay on the bamboo tip, his left arm as a pillow. His pomegranate-red brocade robe stood out against the lush greenery. His tall and handsome body swayed with the bamboo tip as he looked up to admire the moon.
The moonlight favors him, embracing him alone.
The lonely, cold moonlight cast a cool glow on him, and the swaying bamboo shadows flowed quietly across his handsome features. A few bamboo leaves drifted down, which he casually flicked away.
With a pursed lip, Xue Rongyue walked to the green bamboo and raised the arrow she was holding in her palm: "Prince Qin, you can deal with the fletching of your arrow yourself."
Staying here is evidence of murder.
Her actions were already a gesture of goodwill; otherwise, she would have secretly hidden Qin Jin's arrows long ago, and the next time they appeared, it was uncertain what kind of situation they would be in.
Qin Jin continued gazing at the bright moon above the bamboo forest, not even glancing at him upon hearing this, and lazily said, "It's yours."
Who would want an arrow broken in two? Xue Rongyue suspected Qin Jin was subtly mocking her, and said in an unfriendly tone, "What would I do with it? I don't want to fight you right now..."
Qin Jin said lightly, "I'm giving this to you as proof of our temporary alliance."
Xue Rongyue paused abruptly: "You agreed?"
Before Qin Jin could speak, Xue Rongyue chuckled smugly, "I told you, why not do something that benefits both parties?"
She was still holding a grudge against Qin Jin for calling her brainless: "It seems that Prince Qin is not as stupid as he used to be."
Standing up, Qin Jin's tall and slender figure was even more imposing than a bamboo shoot, like a drawn blade, casting a shadow that firmly enveloped Xue Rongyue below: "However, there is something I must tell you in advance."
He toyed with the longbow in his hand, his disdainful gaze as sharp as a hawk's, a dangerous smile playing on his lips: "Don't pry into my privacy again, or else..."
In the blink of an eye, Qin Jin nocked an arrow and drew his bow. The arrow shot out suddenly with a sharp whistle, giving no one any chance to react!
Jingnu, who had been watching the commotion from the side, couldn't help but let out a terrified scream: "My lady!"
Her heart pounded like a drum, making her ears ring and her throat tremble. Before Xue Rongyue could even feel fear, the arrow grazed her temple and struck the venomous snake, which was hanging on a bamboo branch an inch away from her and hissing at her.
With a "thud," the arrow pierced the snake's body, falling to the ground along with the snake's poised-to-strike form, splattering blood onto Xue Rongyue's snow-white earlobes.
Her heart pounded to the ground, her breath quickening with each pound. A belated surge of fear and anger welled up in her eyes. Xue Rongyue took a deep breath, but her reason remained. She raised her hand to stop Jingnu, who was about to fight Qin Jin to the death.
Suppressing her last breath, Xue Rongyue closed her eyes, suppressing her surging anger, and asked, "Does knowing your preferences make you so uneasy?"
Qin Jin's reaction was within her expectations, but the looming crisis of death enraged her, almost causing her to lose her composure and proceed according to the original plan.
She had been staying indoors for the past few days, studying strategies and tips day and night. She soon discovered that the most difficult step in winning over Qin Jin was to improve Qin Jin's opinion of her and reverse his prejudice and hostility towards her.
The two had been at odds for over a decade. Prejudice and hostility could not be easily broken down overnight. However, she didn't have much time left. After much thought, Xue Rongyue realized that only the method before her was feasible.
First, deliberately arouse Qin Jin's unease and vigilance, then imply through behavior and words that his judgment is wrong, thereby gradually dismantling his defenses.
A small act of impatience can ruin a great plan.
Xue Rongyue repeatedly warned herself in her heart until her anger was temporarily suppressed. She gritted her teeth, raised her eyes to meet Qin Jin's gaze: "Do you think I'm trying to harm you by spying on your privacy?"
Qin Jin raised an eyebrow, his sarcasm undisguised: "Otherwise, is Madam Xue concerned about me?"
After spending two days doodling in her room, Xue Rongyue finally decided on two lines that she had to say to Qin Jin face to face.
No matter how many times she practiced, Xue Rongyue always felt that she hadn't prepared herself mentally enough when she met Qin Jin's peach blossom eyes, which held a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
But now the die is cast, and there's no turning back.
Her breath trembled at that moment, and Xue Rongyue nearly bit her teeth to pieces. Her lips moved several times before she managed to squeeze out a broken voice: "You..."
Why do you keep thinking this way about me?
In that short sentence, Xue Rongyue spoke like a toddler learning to speak, each word uttered one by one. After she finished speaking, her face twisted with a moment of deep shame.
Jingnu, listening from the side, strained so hard that she almost couldn't catch her breath.
Qin Jin was taken aback.
Xue Rongyue pressed on, saying, "Why have you always treated me only as an enemy? I hate you, I hate that you completely disregard the past..."
They completely disregarded the sibling bond they had when their brother was alive.
Xue Rongyue simply couldn't utter the last few words.
Is there a more humiliating moment than tonight?
A "click" sound came from beside my ear.
Xue Rongyue was in a daze for a long time before she realized that it was the sound of her bottom line shattering.
Qin Jin stared at Xue Rongyue in shock.
He certainly didn't believe Xue Rongyue's ridiculous and flawed nonsense. He just couldn't understand what kind of scheme could make Xue Rongyue abandon her most cherished reputation.
Is the sacrifice really that great?
Qin Jin was filled with awe.
Xue Rongyue didn't expect Qin Jin to believe her just because she spoke. Subtle influence requires repeated exposure. Once, Qin Jin might find it absurd; five times, he might find it laughable; but ten times, twenty times, a hundred times...
As long as words and actions are consistent, and the number of times is accumulated, by repeatedly playing the "brother-sister card" of shaking hands and making peace in childhood, there will eventually be a time when Qin Jin wavers and doubts his judgment.
Knowing when to stop, she turned around and looked at the corpses in front of her: "What should we do with these?"
These corpses have already been searched, but their faces are unrecognizable, and they have no items on their bodies that can prove their identities. It seems a pity to burn them all.
Qin Jin understood her unspoken message: "Report to the authorities and summon Cao Mingyu."
These words were exactly what Xue Rongyue wanted to hear: "What will you say after reporting to the authorities?"
The moonlight elongated Qin Jin's shadow, blending him into the swirling bamboo shadows. He said, "The assassin tried to kill me, but my servant noticed and killed him instead?"
Upon hearing this, Xue Rongyue raised an eyebrow: "Does the young master intend to face the Imperial Guard's investigation himself?"
Qin Jin said calmly, "I don't want to either, but if you're involved, Cao Mingyu will definitely become suspicious. Don't forget, we already have a murder case that hasn't been cleared up. If we get involved in another murder case together, we probably won't be able to get away easily."
This is absolutely true.
It seems highly suspicious that two people who are sworn enemies and both suspects in the Wang Jinhu murder case would be chased and killed in a bamboo forest.
With a lazy smile, Qin Jin asked, "Or is it that Madam Xue, who took the initiative to form an alliance, doesn't actually trust me?"
Xue Rongyue scoffed lightly.
Isn't that obvious?
She looked at Jingnu, who had cleaned up all the traces left at the scene without any mistakes. Jingnu nodded slightly when she met Xue Rongyue's gaze.
She looked down again to examine the arrow in her hand, confirming that it was specially made by the Marquis of Ding'an's mansion, which was also the handle that Qin Jin had personally handed over.
Based on her understanding of Qin Jin, he had never broken his word. Since he had agreed to a temporary alliance, he should not be outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant. Moreover, it would not be easy for him to tamper with this matter, so her concerns were reasonable.
After analyzing the pros and cons, Xue Rongyue nodded: "Then I'll leave this matter to the Crown Prince."
After settling Zhong Yuan in, Luo Zhen and Jing Nu thoroughly investigated the scene once again, confirming that not even a single hair had been left behind.
As she left, Xue Rongyue was still worried and gave Luo Zhen a look that hinted she would secretly return later to keep an eye on things.
After Xue Rongyue and her entourage disappeared into the bamboo forest, Guang Sheng trotted over and said, "Your Highness, I have already sent someone to report the case to the Imperial Guard."
Qin Jin was still standing on the treetop. Guang Sheng looked up and saw the young master looking down at the snake blood on the ground. His usually indifferent face was distorted, his lips were pale, and his body seemed to be filled with intense discomfort.
Guang Sheng instantly recalled the rumors about the young master's fear of blood, and remembered his confrontation with Madam Xue just now, which moved him deeply.
In order to deter the scheming Lady Xue, the young master overcame his hemophobia and endured until now before showing any discomfort. He truly endured what ordinary people could not!
His admiration was palpable, and Guang Sheng was about to applaud to express his praise when his young master's brows finally furrowed in uncontrollable pain.
Qin Jin grimaced and said, "Quick, quick, help me up, my leg is numb..."
To project an imposing image, he held that pose for a long time without moving, until his legs went numb and he couldn't get down!
A note from the author:
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Even a real man can't overcome numb feet. [crying emoji]
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