Xin Jiuwei was startled, and subconsciously touched the corner of her eye: "I..."
"Three days? Or five days?" Jueming took a few steps closer, his fingers stopping abruptly just before touching her cheek, instead brushing a fallen leaf across her shoulder. "Now that Miss Xin has pledged allegiance to me, she should learn to rely on her allies."
The word "ally" pierced Xin Jiuwei's heart like a thorn. Yes, their relationship was nothing more than mutual exploitation—she offered him the secret of the symbiotic Gu to help him cure his poison, and he promised to protect the Xin family. But the truth about her mother's death complicated this simple relationship.
"Holy Monk, you are overthinking this," she said, forcing herself to remain calm. "I came today to say that my mother's death may be related to you."
The room fell silent. Jueming's eyes darkened, like the sea before a storm.
Explain clearly.
Xin Jiuwei took out the jade hairpin her mother had left her from her sleeve, gently unscrewed the head, and took out a piece of silk paper as thin as a cicada's wing: "This was found in a hidden compartment of my mother's dressing case. It records the details of the day Yao Niang fled to Yingzhou, including... when she revealed the secret of the symbiotic Gu to my mother, she was being followed."
Jueming took the silk paper, his fingertips trembling slightly. Xin Jiuwei noticed the pale pink scar on his wrist—it was left from when the curse was lifted.
"You believe your mother was silenced because she knew this secret?" His voice was unusually calm, yet Xin Jiuwei sensed a dangerous aura.
"The timing is too coincidental. My mother died of postpartum hemorrhage the night she gave birth to me, and Yao Niang also mysteriously disappeared in the same month." Xin Jiuwei looked directly into Ming's eyes. "Don't you find this strange, Holy Monk?"
Jueming suddenly raised his hand, his cool fingertips lightly touching the area beneath her eyes: "So you've been staying up all night these past few days thinking about this? Wondering if I'm related to your mother's death?"
His touch made Xin Jiuwei's heart race, but she didn't pull away: "I want to know the truth."
"Even if the truth might turn us against each other?" Jueming took a step closer, his faint sandalwood scent enveloping her.
Xin Jiuwei took a deep breath: "Even so."
Unexpectedly, Jueming suddenly smiled. That smile carried a hint of helplessness, a touch of indulgence, and a few other emotions that Jueming couldn't decipher.
"Silly girl," he sighed softly, "If I were truly involved in your mother's death, why would I help you cure the poison? Once the symbiotic poison is neutralized, the Crown Prince will immediately notice. What benefit would that bring me?"
Xin Jiuwei was stunned. She had never thought of this before.
"Who could that be..."
"The Empress, or the Second Prince." Jueming turned and walked to his desk, taking out a sealed letter. "I've been investigating this matter these past few days. Back then, besides Father Emperor, Yao Niang, only the Empress and her confidante knew the secret of the symbiotic Gu. And your mother... was an accident."
Xin Jiuwei took the secret letter, which detailed the process of Yao Niang being hunted down back then, as well as the list of assassins sent by the Empress.
"you mean..."
"Your mother saved Yao Niang, and after learning the secret, she was likely targeted by the Empress's people." Jueming's eyes deepened. "But her death... I believe there's more to it than meets the eye."
"What's the hidden story?"
Jueming was silent for a moment, then suddenly changed the subject: "Although the symbiotic Gu has been cured, we are not completely unrelated anymore. Xin Jiuwei, I owe you a life."
These words made Xin Jiuwei's heart tremble slightly. She recalled the resentment she felt when she died tragically in her previous life, the meticulous scheming she had made after her rebirth, and the desperate gamble she took when she surrendered to Jueming... She had never imagined that this seemingly indifferent man would remember this affection.
"Holy Monk, you flatter me." She lowered her eyes. "It's simply a matter of mutual benefit."
"Is that so?" Jueming suddenly raised his hand, tucking a stray strand of her hair behind her ear, his fingertips lightly brushing against her earlobe. "Then why did you leave tear stains on the letter?"
Xin Jiuwei looked up in astonishment, meeting his all-knowing gaze. It turned out he had seen through her disguise long ago, that her sleepless nights weren't just about uncovering the truth, but also about fear—fear that her mother's death was truly related to him, fear that she had once again misplaced her trust in someone else.
"I will find out the truth behind your mother's death," Jueming solemnly promised. "Whoever is behind it all, I will make them pay the price."
This was not a promise from a holy monk to a believer, but a man's vow to a woman. Xin Jiuwei felt her eyes welling up and quickly turned her face away.
"It's getting late, I should head back."
Jueming didn't try to stop her, but simply summoned Liu Ya: "Send Miss Xin back." As Xin Jiuwei stepped out the door, he added, "Tomorrow I'll send someone to deliver calming incense to you, so you can get a good night's sleep."
Xin Jiuwei didn't turn around, but the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up. The night breeze brushed against her cheeks, and she suddenly felt that the long, dark night seemed to have a touch of warmth.
When Xin Jiuwei returned to the Xin residence, it was already late at night. The lanterns under the eaves swayed in the wind, casting dappled shadows on the bluestone slabs. She pulled her cloak tighter, the calming scent of the incense Xiao Xun had given her still lingering on her fingertips.
Qi Huaiyu will not let this go easily.
Her eyes darkened slightly as she recalled his sinister gaze at the hunting grounds. Now that he had pledged allegiance to the Second Prince, and this plan had failed, he would surely seek another opportunity to strike at the Xin family.
She turned and walked straight towards Xin Yunzhou's study.
The study was brightly lit by candlelight. Xin Yunzhou was engrossed in studying "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu, his brow furrowed, his fingers tracing lines on the bamboo slips, and he muttered to himself, "Warfare is based on deception..."
Xin Jiuwei gently knocked on the door. Xin Yunzhou looked up, saw it was her, and immediately smiled: "Awei? Still up so late?"
"Brother hasn't slept either?" She walked into the room, her gaze sweeping over the military books piled on the table, and smiled slightly. "It seems that brother has indeed been diligent these days."
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