Chapter 44 The Ashes of the Bright Moon "Xie Qinghe is a man known for his retreat..."
Xie Qinghe was suddenly speechless and lowered his hands again.
This is exactly the feeling of being at one's wit's end.
He had no other choice but to deal with her.
Everyone around him has their own agenda. He is adept at manipulating others' desires to make them comply.
Ning Lu was different; she was terrifyingly pure from beginning to end. At first, she simply wanted money, and later she simply wanted to survive.
She openly expresses what she wants and then goes to get it.
What made him most uneasy was that she never even wanted anything from him.
The sincerity and care that Xie Qinghe considered the most extravagant things in the world were all natural and readily available to her.
Besides giving it to him, he also shares it with others.
The prostitutes of Yanchun Tower, the madwoman of Yongning Temple, even the shadow guards whose names I can't recall...
Unable to bear using her life as a bargaining chip, he had no choice but to make himself look as miserable as possible.
So unbearable.
So cowardly.
So despicable.
In the eerie silence, Ning Lu leaned back against the door, her head tilted back, and closed her eyes in frustration, silently cursing herself for being too impulsive.
What happened to enduring humiliation and making concessions?
What's the point of living so clearly and understandingly? He's a freak, just appease him.
Regardless of the reason, you are an assassin tasked with killing a high-ranking official; it's already quite kind of them not to kill you.
Right now, the priority is to eat well, stay warm, practice your skills, rescue Yu Lanzhou from prison, and run away together, eldest sister.
Having prepared herself mentally, Ning Lu tried to force a fawning smile, and was about to speak to make amends when she heard Xie Qinghe's low, hoarse voice.
"Your identity is sensitive, and Prince Jing's faction will not let you off easily. Stay put, and I will let you leave after this matter is over."
Um?
What?
The dejection and frustration in that voice spread, making Ning Lu feel a tightness in her chest.
She was about to go forward to confirm when she saw Xie Qinghe wave his hand slightly, indicating that she didn't need to follow.
Sensitive identity.
This means that he really did know she was Liu Yunying all along.
Let them leave.
Does this mean he not only doesn't intend to kill her, but will also release Liu Yunying?
As the boulder on her chest fell to the ground, Ning Lu let out a long breath and slid down to sit on the floor along the doorway.
To my surprise, a miniature version of the snowman 'Xie Qinghe' that I had built appeared next to it at some point.
As I approached, I saw the small snowman, round and silly, with bright, grape-like eyes, two rosy cheeks, and slightly parted lips as if it were speaking.
So cute!
Compared to this cute version of the snowman, the one she made could be described as sinister.
"Qingzhi, did you make this?"
She looked up and asked.
The little girl waved her hand frantically, pointing to the receding figure.
The scent of medicine from the morning still lingered on her nose. Ning Lu opened her mouth, as if she sensed something, yet found it hard to believe and couldn't understand it.
Xie Qinghe gave her absolute freedom, just as he had promised.
Although the shadow guard who was implicated by her that day was punished, he returned to her side a few days later, saying that he was ordered to teach her martial arts and brought her back a very handy whip for her to practice with.
She could enter and leave the guesthouse without any hindrance, and even the imperial guards at the dungeon entrance no longer stopped her.
Looking at the mountain of pastries on the table, Yu Lanzhou finally poured herself a cup of hot tea and sipped it slowly.
Seeing her elegant and reserved demeanor, Ning Lu also slowed down the speed at which she swallowed the pastries.
As expected of a female idol, she pays attention to her image even while in prison. Two thousand taels of silver is rightfully hers.
"You mean Xie Qinghe is willing to let you go?"
"It's us."
Can we trust what he says?
"That's why I asked you, I didn't know." Ning Lu looked up at her and asked, "Do you know why I wanted to assassinate Xie Qinghe? Was it simply because I was paid to do it, or did I have a grudge against him?"
These past two days, she's been thinking about it a lot, and this is still what she's most worried about.
If it's just a difference in political stance, it doesn't really matter, since she has no stance and doesn't understand politics.
Prince Jing was disloyal first, so there's nothing wrong with her switching sides to save her own life.
However, if Xie Qinghe and the original owner of this body have some kind of deep-seated hatred, then things will really get complicated...
Upon hearing this, Yu Lanzhou put the pastry she had picked up back down, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping herself.
"What do you know, don't you?" Ning Lu shoved the pastry back into her hand, her eyes widening as she sat down next to Yu Lanzhou and stared intently at her.
“Ah Ying…you weren’t like this before.”
Yu Lanzhou was not Xie Qinghe, and could not quickly accept Ning Lu's intimate gestures that were different from those of this era, so she instinctively leaned back.
"Get used to it," Ning Lu said dismissively, pressing for more details: "Let's get down to business first."
"You and Xie Qinghe should not have any grudges."
Yu Lanzhou lowered her head and slowly savored a bite of the pastry.
"This whole thing started because of me." She sighed, wiped her hands, and began to explain: "After Hongyu left, Pan Xingxue kept harassing me at Yanchun Tower, wanting to take me into his household. I couldn't get rid of him, and you kept trying to help me find a way. Later, General Zhao, who was by Prince Jing's side, came to our door and said that he... could make Pan Xingxue stop harassing me."
"The condition is that I do things for him?"
Yes. They said there were two items.
"Is one of them the assassination attempt on Xie Qinghe?"
Yu Lanzhou nodded slowly, his expression solemn.
“You’ve never failed before. But Xie Qinghe is not easy to deal with either.”
Ning Lu slowed down her chewing and blinked slowly.
After all, the result of assassinating that person is already clear, and the myth of the original owner's undefeated record has been shattered.
She then inquired, "Is there one more?"
"It's probably to retrieve something from the capital and send it back to Changzhou. What exactly is it...?"
Yu Lanzhou choked up slightly.
Ning Lu pretended that she didn't know, but she herself had a rough idea.
It should be that jade pendant.
The jade pendant was pawned by her without her knowledge when it was in Zhujia'ao, and later ended up in Zhao Yue's hands.
However... when Zhao Yue saw her last time, she seemed to still be investigating the whereabouts of the jade pendant.
Ning Lu turned slightly to the side, suspecting that there was still more to the story regarding the jade pendant.
Regardless of the circumstances, upon closer examination, both of the things Prince Jing asked the original owner to do were of paramount importance; the slightest mistake could have led to a violent death.
Liu Yunying was willing to go to such lengths for Yu Lanzhou, which probably means... Yu Lanzhou is especially important to her.
Moreover, Xie Qinghe wasn't killed; she pawned the jade pendant...
This matter was handled very poorly.
Although villains don't deserve sympathy, she still felt that if she were a leader and encountered such a subordinate, she would also want to tear him to pieces.
Ning Lu silently drank the sweet water in her cup, finally understanding why Zhao Yue was so persistent in pursuing her.
"On the other hand, no matter what Xie Qinghe says, you'd better not believe everything he says."
Why do you say that?
Ning Lu's eyes widened, her interest piqued.
"Before my family was convicted, we were considered prominent figures in the capital. I've heard about Xie Qinghe. He's very ruthless when it comes to survival."
"People will do anything to survive."
“He is different.” Yu Lanzhou turned to Ning Lu and said seriously, “The world only knows that the entire Xie family was exiled, and he was the only one who survived. Few people know how he survived.”
There's some gossip going on. Ning Lu immediately sat cross-legged, all ears.
Yu Lanzhou glared at her reproachfully, then continued her story.
"Chief Minister Xie is an upright and honest official who never participates in party politics and enjoys extremely high prestige in the court. His imprisonment is strange, and the ministers in the court know the truth. Moreover, the Xie family has been loyal ministers for generations, with unyielding integrity, so they would naturally not admit to these fabricated charges."
"Later, the late emperor personally went to the imperial prison, dragged out the male members of the Xie family, and asked them if they knew they were guilty. Everyone said that the Xie family was loyal and that everyone was united in protecting the chief minister. Only thirteen-year-old Xie Qinghe knelt down and confessed his guilt, saying that the chief minister was stupid and did not understand the changing times."
"Of course, the original words weren't so euphemistic. They were more like saying that he was in a position but his virtue was not worthy of it. Grand Secretary Xie had never suffered such humiliation before, and he fainted on the spot from anger."
Ning Lu was speechless.
"Upon hearing this, the late emperor exiled the entire Xie family, leaving only Xie Qinghe to continue studying with the Crown Prince."
Did the late emperor approve of him?
“How could that be?” Yu Lanzhou smiled bitterly. “I just think he’s pragmatic. I heard my father say that afterwards, the late emperor often used this incident to reprimand the crown prince in front of Xie Qinghe, reminding him that even close relatives cannot be of one mind in the face of power, and that he should be wary of such people.”
Ning Lu frowned in thought.
"If Xie Qinghe doesn't admit his mistake, will he die?"
“After you lost your memory, why did you become less cunning? I’m not trying to make you feel sorry for him.” Yu Lanzhou sensed her attitude and sighed, “Xie Qinghe is notorious for using retreat as a means of advancement and for being ruthless. Don’t trust him easily.”
Did you hear that?
"I heard you."
Ning Lu nodded obediently, but was restless.
That's strange.
She knew, of course, that what Yu Lanzhou said was true, but something just felt off.
Over the past few months, all sorts of things have been said about Xie Qinghe, but nothing good has been said about him...
This is exactly the same person who pinched her face in the east wing that day and threatened her with her life.
It was as if everything around her was leading her to believe that Xie Qinghe was such a bad person.
But she had met Ji Ming, and when she heard Xie Qinghe's description of his horror and wickedness, she couldn't help but want to ask...
Where did Ji Ming go?
Did her mean-spirited but kind-hearted Ji Amin just vanish into thin air like that?
Ning Lu's thoughts were racing, and she could no longer sit still. After eating a little something, she got up and left.
“This food was all bought with Xie Qinghe’s money. He’s keeping you locked up, so it’s only right that you eat his food. I’ve already spoken to the cell boss and told him not to interfere with you.”
She thought for a moment, then said somewhat embarrassedly, "I don't know what's wrong with me lately, I've been having trouble sleeping. I might need to catch up on sleep tomorrow, so I probably won't be able to come see you until the afternoon."
Yu Lanzhou looked at the prominent dark circles under her eyes, both amused and exasperated, and nodded gently.
Seeing her light steps as she ascended the stone steps, his gentle gaze turned into helplessness. He looked down at the pile of sweets and snacks on the table, and his smile gradually faded.
Can amnesia really turn a person into a completely different person?
Why is it that even though they have the exact same face and all the marks match, there's not a trace of their old friend anymore?
It is rare to find a kindred spirit in life.
Even so, looking at that bright and lively face, she felt that it didn't matter if it was different.
"It's so nice to have sunshine."
Ning Lu stepped out of the dungeon, tilted her head back, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath, shaking off the dampness that belonged to the dungeon.
Qinghuai immediately changed her into a more windproof fox fur coat and went around to the front of her to fasten the collar.
The afternoon sun made people lazy, and Ninglu obediently stopped, burying her face in the fur collar and watching Qinghuai's movements.
I wonder what Xie Qinghe's feelings were when he walked out of the imperial prison at the age of thirteen?
Is it that the light boat has already passed ten thousand mountains, or that from now on, one will have to face all kinds of hardships alone?
Startled by the sudden thought that popped into her head, Ning Lu shook her head, interrupting her free-flowing people-pleasing personality.
Ning Lulu, don't forget Yu Lanzhou's advice, don't forget that this person has plenty of ways to manipulate you...
Quickly banishing everything related to Xie Qinghe from her mind, she squeezed into the crowd with Qinghuai and Qingzhi in tow.
It was market day, and more and more people were buying things. She wandered around, carefully selecting items, curious about everything.
I don't know when I'll be able to travel back to the modern era; in other words, it's not going to happen anytime soon.
Being prepared is the key.
Ning Lu looked around, trying to find a way to make a living in advance so she could escape in the future.
The market was extremely crowded, and she was distracted, so she got separated from Qinghuai and Qingzhi after only a few steps.
The three of them often went out to play, so getting separated was no big deal. They naturally developed a tacit understanding and would always meet up in front of the most conspicuous shop.
Seeing a crowd gathered in front of a fortune-telling stall, Ning Lu had a sudden inspiration.
What the Taoist priests can't do, perhaps other sects have some ingenious methods?
Besides, no one has ever said that metaphysics is something that can only be listened to by one school of thought.
"Girl?"
"Little Liu."
"Miss Liu, please wait!"
Someone called her from behind and grabbed her shoulder forcefully.
Ning Lu didn't realize at first that they were calling her, but after she stopped in her tracks, she realized that the other person hadn't mistaken her for someone else.
She stopped and turned to look at the hunched old man.
"Sir? You were looking for me?"
"Little Liu, I hadn't seen you for so many days, I thought something had happened to you."
Ning Lu was stunned, then pulled her clothes tighter and followed the old man out of the crowd, finding a quiet corner to stand in.
"What's wrong, sir?"
"You left your things with me before you left for the capital, and you haven't retrieved them yet. Don't forget them."
"Things? What things?"
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