Chapter 18
The carriage stopped at the inn, and Pei Yun sat inside, looking at the ebony box he had obtained from Madam Lan. The box was cool to the touch, smooth to the touch, and carried the gloomy aura unique to the Southern Frontier. Just as he was about to open the exquisite copper clasp, He Ying's deliberately lowered voice drifted in from outside the carriage curtain.
"Master, An Yi has retrieved the irrefutable evidence of the Regent's collusion with the Princess of Southern Xinjiang. As you instructed, another meticulously prepared copy of the 'evidence' has been taken away by the Marquis. At this moment, the Regent's men should already be intercepting the Marquis on his way..." He Ying's voice paused, and hesitantly continued, "Once they realize their efforts have been in vain, they will surely follow the trail and find their way to you..."
Pei Yun's actions did not stop because of He Ying's report. With a soft "click," the copper clasp popped open, and in the dim light, he lowered his eyes and stared at the pill lying quietly inside the box.
The pill was an almost eerie crimson color, its surface shimmering with an ominous glow in the dim light. A chilling smile curved his lips as he lightly traced the pill's smooth surface with his fingertips, his tone as calm as if discussing the weather: "That 'evidence' is currently lying securely in the arms of one of Lin Wuyong's 'confidants.' Whether it's true or false, the Regent will discern the truth. Let them fight it out." Every word was imbued with cold calculation, like chess pieces casually moved on a board.
Upon hearing this, He Ying paused slightly, then immediately bowed and said, "Master has considered this carefully." His Adam's apple bobbed, and after a moment's hesitation, he finally couldn't help but speak again: "Mr. Qin is dead, and what about Young Master Xi…"
That Mr. Qin taught the young Master Xi medical skills. It was precisely because of the young boy's ability to enter and leave the palace to comfort Consort Pei that the master was able to obtain secret protection in that cannibalistic place. Now that Mr. Qin is dead, is the master truly as still as water, without any ripples?
"Heying." Pei Yun's gaze remained fixed on the crimson pill, his voice low, "Your audacity has grown considerably lately. Have I been too lenient with you?" This seemingly casual question struck Heying like a hammer blow. His face turned deathly pale, his back drenched in cold sweat, and he bury his head even lower, his voice trembling, "This subordinate wouldn't dare! This subordinate misspoke! Please punish me, Master!"
Pei Yun seemed not to hear his apology. He placed the crimson pill back into the brocade groove, closed the box with a dull thud, and after a moment, ordered, "Keep a close eye on her." His words carried a ruthlessness that he himself was unaware of.
"Yes!" He Ying replied, his back hunched and his voice hoarse. When he straightened up, he felt that this task was heavier and more difficult than ever before. He was filled with mixed feelings and suddenly felt a strong sense of shame.
At one time, he saw that Miss Xi and thought she was audacious, disrespectful, and utterly lacking in reverence for her master. Furthermore, because of the ambiguous and subtle feelings his master had for her, he feared it would lead to disaster. Adding to this the rift between his master and Young Master Xi caused by her, he was even more convinced that this woman was a source of trouble and utterly repulsive.
However, after this trip to the Southern Frontier, witnessing firsthand how she was pushed step by step into the abyss, how she was used until she was completely destroyed... he didn't even dare to think about it. What if that woman ever found out that the death of her birth mother, Wu Lingwei, was orchestrated by her master, that the so-called "impossible evidence of collusion between the Southern Frontier and the Regent" was nothing more than a colossal lie carefully woven by her master to eliminate obstacles, and that... the reason her birth mother was willing to offer her neck for execution, even sacrificing her own flesh and blood to save her master's life, was simply because... her master knew her true identity and used her life as a bargaining chip to force her mother to make this sacrifice.
If she knew all this… He Ying felt a chill creep from the bottom of her heart to every part of her body. What an overwhelming despair that would be…
Just as He Ying was overwhelmed by those heavy and terrifying thoughts, the inn's door was pushed open. Xi Xiao and Yun Wu, having packed their simple belongings, walked out side by side. The sunlight shone brightly on Xi Xiao's pale face, making her look even more bloodless.
Her gaze was icy, sweeping straight over the few shadow guards who stood silently by her side like shadows. Her eyes held only a chilling, almost deathly coldness that pierced through everything.
A slow, upward curve appeared at the corner of her lips, but the smile held no warmth; instead, it carried a chilling, mocking quality. "Thank you all for your trouble." Her voice was soft. "If there's nothing else, there's no need for you to see us off. We are just country folk; we will find our own way home. Just remember to deliver every penny of the 'treatment' fee to Medicine Valley."
He Ying felt as if those smiles and words were like fine ice needles, pricking his scalp and sending shivers down his spine. He dared not meet those cold eyes that seemed to see through all pretense, and subconsciously lowered his head, racking his brains to think of how to phrase things to stabilize the situation that was on the verge of spiraling out of control.
Just as He Ying's mind raced, a corner of the carriage's heavy curtain was slowly lifted from the inside by a hand with distinct knuckles. Pei Yun's handsome face was revealed. He sat upright in the shadows inside the carriage, his gaze calmly fixed on Xi Xiao, his voice devoid of any emotion: "Miss Xi once said that she would only leave after I was fully recovered from my illness. Now... is that no longer true?" His tone was flat, yet every word was sharp, easily stirring up that old promise stained with blood and betrayal.
The icy mockery in Xi Xiao's heart instantly boiled over. She raised her eyes to meet Pei Yun's gaze and said sarcastically, "Count?" Her voice suddenly rose, "When did I get to decide these 'counts'? Aren't they all manipulated by you, young master?" She took a step closer, "Young master, why don't you speak frankly? This time, is it to take my life? Or is it to do something for you again?"
Her words were like poisoned daggers, piercing the person in the carriage. A fleeting, extremely subtle emotion seemed to cross Pei Yun's usually placid face, too quick to detect. The next instant, a sharp "snap" rang out, and the hand that had lifted the carriage curtain abruptly released it, the heavy curtain falling heavily, instantly blocking all view.
From inside the curtain, only one unquestionable command came out: "Bring it to the carriage."
As soon as the words were spoken, the two guards who had been standing beside Yunwu moved swiftly and precisely, grabbing Yunwu's arms from the left and right without giving her a chance to resist.
"Girl—!" Yunwu's terrified scream was barely half a sound before she was roughly dragged and shoved into another carriage that had been prepared nearby.
Xi Xiao's eyes slowly rolled a few times, and after a moment, she mechanically boarded Pei Yun's carriage like a puppet.
*
Inside and outside the Marquis's mansion, a lively and festive atmosphere prevailed. Bright red lanterns hung high along the eaves of the corridors, and colorful silks fluttered in the wind. Servants moved swiftly, carrying delicacies and fine wines through the courtyards, while the kitchen was ablaze with the sounds of cooking fires, the rising steam carrying enticing aromas, and the bustling voices of people could be faintly heard.
In stark contrast to the bustling atmosphere was the deathly silence in a corner of the West Garden. Xi Xiao sat quietly on a sandalwood chair by the window, her gaze fixed on the distant, noisy center of the mansion, yet seemingly piercing through the layers of buildings, landing in a void.
Yunwu stood by, racking her brains to gather anecdotes and jokes from the streets, her voice deliberately light and cheerful as she chattered, trying to dispel the suffocating oppression. Xi Xiao would occasionally give a very soft "hmm" or force a slight twitch of her lips in response. But most of the time, she remained silent.
Jixiang walked along the cobblestone path. His face was full of gratitude, and he bowed deeply to Xi Xiao: "Greetings, sir. Thanks to you, my mother has taken the prescription you gave her and had several acupuncture treatments. Her complexion is much better now. The doctor said that in a few days, she might be able to recognize people. Jixiang thanks you for your great kindness!"
Xi Xiao slowly withdrew her gaze from the distance and landed on Jixiang. A faint smile appeared on her lips as she said softly, "It's good that Granny is getting better." That smile was like the warm sun that briefly swept across the ice in winter, gone in an instant.
Seeing that she responded, Jixiang felt a little relieved. He leaned closer, lowered his voice, and said with a hint of pride and joy, "There's another piece of good news. His Majesty was very pleased with the mission you carried out in the southern border region a few days ago. I heard that the snake venom that plagued the people there was cured by the prescriptions and medicines you brought, saving many lives. That's why we're having a grand banquet at your residence today, because His Majesty specially issued an edict to reward you for your achievements. I heard... His Majesty might also be coming in person later!" His tone was excited and full of awe.
After a pause, the joy on Jixiang's face faded slightly, replaced by a mixture of mystery and worry, as if she had specifically inquired about the matter: "However... I've also heard that things aren't very peaceful in the court lately. They say they've discovered that the Princess Consort of Southern Xinjiang is incredibly audacious, having colluded with... that person!"
He dared not mention the Regent's name, only gesturing with his eyes, "This is just hearsay, anyway, it's all rumors, everyone's in a panic, afraid of being implicated." After Jixiang finished speaking, he cautiously glanced at Xi Xiao's face, only to feel that the girl's aura seemed to have grown even colder.
His heart skipped a beat, a bad feeling washing over him. He paused for a moment, then stammered as he changed the subject, "There's something else, about the pond the important person mentioned, it seems there's been some progress lately..."
He rubbed his hands together, trying hard to recall the details he had heard. "I only heard it from Tangyuan, who serves the young marquis, by chance. He said that the night before Your Excellency came to the manor, he was ordered to catch insects for fun. The place was remote, and it was the dead of night. Tangyuan thought that it would be dark and there wouldn't be a soul in sight. But unexpectedly, as soon as he touched the rock by the pond, he suddenly saw a figure. He was so scared that he almost lost his soul. When he looked closely, it was Lord Heying!"
Jixiang mimicked Tangyuan's fear, her voice trembling slightly: "That kid Tangyuan was so scared his legs were shaking. He thought it was Lord Heying making his usual night patrol around the manor, so he didn't dare say a word. He didn't even dare to breathe loudly, crouching down like a thief, and quickly slipped away silently to find his insects in an even more remote corner..."
After he finished rambling on, he secretly glanced at Xi Xiao and noticed that the corners of her mouth twitched almost imperceptibly upwards. The curve was extremely faint and cold, revealing a chilling light that seemed to know everything beneath.
Crane Shadow's skills were such that even falling flowers and leaves could not escape his notice. This blatant audacity showed that he was not afraid of being investigated at all.
She finally turned her head slowly, her gaze calm and unwavering as it fell on Jixiang's anxious face. She nodded very lightly at him.
Ji Xiang's heart, which had been in his throat, finally settled back into his stomach with a "thump." He felt as if he had accomplished a tremendous task. He let out a long sigh of relief, bowed deeply to Xi Xiao, and said happily, "Please rest, Miss. I'll take my leave!"
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