"Miss Xin! Something's happened! The old lady of the Marquis of Zhongyong... was ambushed and murdered on her way back to the capital from her Buddhist pilgrimage at her villa in the suburbs!"
"What?!" Xin Jiuwei suddenly stood up from the couch, her vision blurring, but fortunately Xin Kui caught her quickly. The old lady of the Marquis of Zhongyong! Her only truly kind aunt who had repeatedly lent a helping hand in times of crisis!
"How is the old lady?!" Xin Jiuwei's voice was hoarse and distorted with extreme fear.
"The old lady... is seriously injured!" You Ye said through gritted teeth. "Her accompanying guards have all been killed or wounded! The old lady was rescued by a passing caravan, and her life has been temporarily saved, but... her injuries are extremely severe, and she is unconscious! The imperial physicians are doing their best to treat her!"
Xin Jiuwei's heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an icy hand, the pain almost unbearable! Who? Who would commit such a heinous act against a reclusive old feudal lord?! In a flash, a name pierced her mind like a poisoned ice spike—Qi Huaiyu!
It's him! It must be him!
He was taking revenge! Revenge for the old lady exposing his scheme to use the illegitimate grandson of the Marquis of Zhongyong! And even more so, revenge against Xin Jiuwei! He knew the old lady was her only warmth and support in this cold capital! This was tearing her heart out!
A surge of overwhelming hatred and chilling killing intent instantly engulfed Xin Jiuwei! Her body trembled slightly, not from weakness, but from extreme rage! Qi Huaiyu! You deserve to die!
"Your Highness...Does Your Highness know?" Xin Jiuwei forced herself to calm down, her nails digging deeply into her palms.
“His Highness learned of it immediately!” You Ye’s eyes flashed with cold light. “His Highness is furious! He has personally led people to seal off the scene and ordered a thorough investigation! His Highness asked me to tell Miss…” He paused, looking at the flames burning in Xin Jiuwei’s eyes, “… ‘Stay put, I will make him pay the price.’”
It's "stay put" again!
Xin Jiuwei felt a surge of anger welling up in her chest, threatening to explode! The old lady was critically injured, her life hanging in the balance, and the murderer was lurking in the shadows, possibly even in the capital! How could she possibly be at ease?! How could she possibly sit still?!
"I want to see His Highness!" Xin Jiuwei's voice was firm and resolute, brooking no argument. "Immediately! Right now!"
You Ye looked troubled: "Miss Xin, His Highness has given a strict order..."
“You Ye!” Xin Jiuwei interrupted him, her eyes sharp as knives as she stared directly at him. “Tell Your Highness that I’m not here to cause trouble! Qi Huaiyu’s target is me! He’s targeting the Old Madam to provoke me out! He understands me, he knows what the Old Madam means to me! I want to catch this viper with my own hands more than anyone else! I have his memories from his past life, I know his habits, his weaknesses! Trapping me here will only make him more smug and let the Old Madam suffer in vain! Please tell Your Highness that Xin Jiuwei… volunteers for battle!”
She emphasized the last two words, with a tragic grandeur and a resolute determination to destroy everything. The air in the warm pavilion seemed to freeze. Xin Kui looked worriedly at her young mistress's pale face and the desperate flame in her eyes.
You Ye was intimidated by the unwavering determination and almost insane hatred in Xin Jiuwei's eyes. He remained silent for a moment before finally clasping his hands tightly and saying, "This humble servant... understands! This humble servant will report to Your Highness immediately!" He turned around and rushed out with even more hurried steps than when he came.
Xin Jiuwei stood rooted to the spot, her body swaying slightly from excitement and weakness, but her back remained ramrod straight. She gazed at the gloomy sky outside the window, her eyes burning with a cold fire. Qi Huaiyu, this time, it's either you or me!
The waiting time felt incredibly long. Every breath felt like being fried in oil. Xin Jiuwei changed into a dark, practical outfit, covered by a thick cloak, and neatly tied her long hair back. She sat there, closing her eyes to calm her turbulent blood and try to sort through her memories of Qi Huaiyu. Xin Kui stood nervously by her side, her palms sweating as she gripped the short dagger.
After an unknown amount of time, heavy footsteps approached from afar. This time, it wasn't You Ye.
Xiao Xun's tall figure reappeared at the entrance of the warm pavilion. He was still dressed in a black, close-fitting outfit, with a dark cloak over it. He was travel-worn, exuding a heavy stench of blood and a chilling aura of killing intent, clearly having just returned from a horrific scene. His expression was even colder than before, his brows furrowed with an unyielding ferocity, and his unfathomable eyes churned with an icy storm capable of freezing everything. His gaze fell on Xin Jiuwei, from her sharp attire to her pale yet exceptionally resolute face, finally settling on her eyes burning with hatred and unwavering determination.
He neither rebuked her for her "restlessness" nor reiterated his order. The two stood a few steps apart, their gazes clashing fiercely in the cold air.
"Have you made up your mind?" Xiao Xun's voice was low and hoarse, like the friction of gravel, carrying an almost tangible sense of pressure.
"Yes." Xin Jiuwei's answer was only one word, but it carried immense weight.
Xiao Xun stared at her for a full ten breaths. His gaze was so sharp it seemed to pierce through her, scrutinizing her resolve and assessing her state. Xin Jiuwei met his gaze without flinching, her eyes revealing only a stagnant calm beneath a surging hatred.
Finally, Xiao Xun's thin lips pressed into a cold, hard line as he slowly uttered a sentence, carrying a resolute determination:
"Good. Stay close to me. If you dare to act without authorization and ruin the plan, I will deal with you personally."
This wasn't consent; it was more like the beginning of a dangerous deal. He needed her "memories" as bait and a weapon, while she needed his power and platform for revenge. They both knew this perfectly well.
Without the slightest hesitation, Xin Jiuwei stepped forward and stood half a step away from him, her voice calm and even: "Jiuwei understands."
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