After a brief moment, the old soldier laughed awkwardly, “Yes, yes, yes, we brothers should share the good fortune, drink together, and, well, share women too, haha!” The young soldier smiled slightly, turned to close the door, and carefully picked up the fallen bolt to secure it. Then he walked slowly towards them, “Elder brother, you go first. Just leave some time for your brother.”
The old soldier was overjoyed. While firmly holding down Yi Xiao’s struggling body, he moved aside to make room for him. “Good brother, you’re truly righteous—don’t worry, I’ll make sure you enjoy…”
His rambling was abruptly cut off by a heavy blow to the back of his head. He turned his face in disbelief, looking at the broken brick in the young soldier’s hand. His mouth opened and closed, his eyes rolled back, and he slowly fell backward with Yi Xiao’s forceful kick.
Tossing aside the brick, the young soldier quickly drew a dagger from his boot and cut the ropes, helping Yi Xiao up. “Can you move?” Yi Xiao nodded, biting her lip as she tried to stretch her numb limbs, but still couldn’t stand on her own. The soldier gritted his teeth, turned around, and crouched in front of Yi Xiao, urgently saying, “Get on, I’ll carry you!”
Faced with Feng Suige’s cold demeanor, the Holy Emperor remained unfazed. “I came personally to ask Xia Jingshi one thing: will he write it or not? It’s entirely up to him! As for you, Prince Feng, what’s so good about Fu Yi Xiao? Clinging to a woman who doesn’t even love you, don’t you find yourself pathetic?!” Feng Suige’s eyes immediately reddened with anger. “You’re talking nonsense!”
“Nonsense?” The Holy Emperor laughed loudly. “You don’t know, do you? In my dungeon, she and Xia Jingshi put on quite a show of love!”
“Don’t listen to his provocation,” Xia Jingshi spoke in a deep voice, addressing Feng Suige. “Others might not understand Yi Xiao, but don’t you?” Before Feng Suige could respond, the Holy Emperor interjected with a sinister smile, “Indeed, others might not understand, but don’t you? If Xia Jingshi gains the throne, do you think Fu Yi Xiao would still be content as a mere concubine in Su Sha?” “You…”
“Stop arguing!” Feng Suige suddenly roared. “I don’t care about the future. I just want to know where Yi Xiao is right now!!”
Carrying Yi Xiao on his back as he rushed out of the abandoned temple, the soldier quickly oriented himself and ran towards the town. Yi Xiao, still shaken, hung weakly on his back and asked in a low voice, “Are you one of His Highness’s men?”
“Me?” He paused briefly, then smiled bitterly. “I’m from the Yu Lin Army. How could I be one of the Southern King’s men? If I hadn’t accidentally overheard them discussing that Old Brother Qi deliberately sent us away, I wouldn’t have come back. In a moment, I’ll take you to the outskirts of the residence. As long as the Emperor comes out safely, you can go in.”
“Aren’t you coming in with me?” Yi Xiao asked hesitantly. “You’re not going back, are you?” He nodded firmly. “Of course, I have to go back. After all, the Emperor promised to release you. When I return, at most I’ll face a few months of hard labor, and I’ll buy some things to make amends to Old Brother Qi.”
“You don’t understand. The Holy Emperor won’t let you off,” Yi Xiao tried to persuade him. “Why not stay? Wouldn’t it be better to follow His Highness? Or, if you’re willing, you could come back to Su Sha with me…”
The soldier chuckled softly. “It’s you who doesn’t understand—the Yu Lin Camp exists for the Emperor. If I betray the Emperor, how can I still call myself a Yu Lin soldier?” “But…” Yi Xiao wanted to say more, but he interrupted her. “Don’t say anymore. I brought you out only because I didn’t want to see you bullied by those men—you’re a hostage, and during this time before the Emperor returns, I must ensure your safety, nothing more!”
Seeing his determination, Yi Xiao could say no more. She sighed softly and closed her eyes, focusing on fighting the intense discomfort from the jolting ride. However, the more she concentrated, the more suffocated she felt in her chest. After enduring for a while longer, she saw a burst of sparks before her eyes, let out a soft gasp, and lost consciousness.
When she woke up, she opened her eyes to see the soldier’s concerned face. Seeing her awake, he carefully helped her up and hesitantly asked, “How long has it been?” Yi Xiao, feeling dizzy and heavy-headed, clung to him and answered offhandedly, “It’s been like this since I woke up…” The soldier was stunned, then suddenly smiled. “You don’t know?” “Know what?” Yi Xiao, feeling a bit clearer after standing, looked at him suspiciously. “What are you smiling about?”
“Nothing,” he took a deep breath, and looked up at the sky, and when he lowered his head, his eyes were bright. “You need to rest well for a while—come on, I’ll take you back.” Yi Xiao was puzzled as he supported her, and it wasn’t until they had walked quite a distance that she realized and struggled to ask, “Wait, didn’t you say you had to wait for the Holy Emperor to come out before you could let me go back?”
“I changed my mind,” he continued walking. “If you don’t want to owe me, could you ask a favor from the Southern King on my behalf—not to harm the Emperor before the authenticity of the imperial edict is verified?” “Why?” Yi Xiao pressed. “He’s done so many bad things. Why do you still want to help him?”
“You know,” he suddenly stopped, his gaze falling on Yi Xiao’s face, gentle as water, but what he said was completely unrelated to her question, “If I hadn’t been so rash in my youth, my child would be almost a year old now.”
Receiving no response, the Holy Emperor didn’t rush. He stood casually in the courtyard, wearing a confident smile, looking at Feng Suige, and then at Xia Jingshi. As time ticked by, even Xia Jingshi’s composure began to waver, while Feng Suige was burning with anxiety.
A withered leaf cut through the stifling air, landing on a Biao Qi soldier’s armor. The faint sound of it rolling off broke the silence. At that moment, the creaking sound of the door opening drew everyone’s attention, including the Holy Emperor, who looked towards the entrance in disbelief.
“Consort!” someone exclaimed.
Yi Xiao, looking haggard and disheveled, leaned against the door. Meeting everyone’s gaze, she gave Feng Suige an extremely weak smile. “I’m back!”
“Yi Xiao!” As Feng Suige sprinted towards Yi Xiao, Xia Jingshi decisively pointed at the Holy Emperor and shouted, “Seize him!”
“Who dares to act rashly!” Another voice thundered like lightning nearby. A purple figure appeared at the small cottage door, holding Feng Xiyang, who should have been in bed. Feng Xiyang had aggravated her injury in the struggle, her face pale with pain, but she still gritted her teeth and endured. Her gaze swept over the crowd and landed on the Holy Emperor. Her pale lips trembled as she used all her strength to utter a few words, “Don’t mind me, kill him!”
“She’s injured,” Feng Suige, unable to reach Yi Xiao in time, froze in the center of the courtyard, his face pale as he shouted urgently, “Quick, release her!”
The Holy Emperor, both shocked and furious, pointed at the purple figure in the doorway and said through gritted teeth, “You released Fu Yi Xiao?!”