Miss Xiao the Ninth showed no fear, no panic—not even the slightest curiosity.
It was hard not to notice something was off about her. Faced with Situ Jing’er’s support, Miss Xiao the Ninth didn’t refuse it either, letting herself be helped up to lean against the tree trunk.
A complicated look flickered across Meng Duo’er’s eyes. She exchanged a glance with Situ Jing’er and pulled her aside.
A Miss Xiao the Ninth like this was dangerous—no one knew what she was really up to.
The battle-tested four great poisonous beasts gathered close, ready at any moment to protect Meng Duo’er and Situ Jing’er.
“Miss Xiao the Ninth, are you all right now?” Meng Duo’er asked.
Only then did Miss Xiao the Ninth look at her properly, shaking her head, murmuring, “I don’t know you. Who are you?”
She asked this with remarkable calm, as though she had simply been born without emotions.
Meng Duo’er muttered to herself, puzzled. According to what Baili Weisheng and the others had said, aside from being a bit sickly, this girl had seemed perfectly normal—before Jun Buli kidnapped her, she’d even been chatting casually with the Xiao patriarch!
No one had said this woman was a simpleton!
So why did she seem more and more like one the longer she watched?
Meng Duo’er wondered whether Jun Buli had knocked this woman senseless, or perhaps given her amnesia. Growing wary, she asked again, “Then who are you?”
But Miss Xiao the Ninth truly seemed not to know who she herself was. She widened her eyes, looking curiously first at Meng Duo’er, then at Situ Jing’er, and asked back, “Who am I?”
Hearing this, Meng Duo’er nearly broke down, while Situ Jing’er clenched her fists and said angrily, “It’s all that bastard Jun Buli’s fault—who hits people like that!”
No sooner had she said this than Jun Buli’s voice came from behind them. “What’s going on?”
The sudden voice startled everyone. Situ Jing’er rose and stormed toward him furiously. “You gave her amnesia!”
“What business is it of yours?” Jun Buli shot back, turning a scrutinizing gaze on Miss Xiao the Ninth.
“She never did anything to offend you—she’s a sickly, frail woman. Isn’t this a bit much?” Situ Jing’er pressed.
Jun Buli continued to ignore her, striding toward Miss Xiao the Ninth. Situ Jing’er hurried after him, only to see Jun Buli grab Miss Xiao the Ninth’s arm, his gaze cold and scrutinizing as he stared at her.
Miss Xiao the Ninth still showed hardly any emotion, her eyes calm as she looked at Jun Buli, only furrowing her brow slightly from the pain in her arm.
Jun Buli found this puzzling—only now did he believe that Miss Xiao the Ninth wasn’t putting on an act.
“Who are all of you, really? And… who am I?” Miss Xiao the Ninth asked.
Situ Jing’er, much like her mother-empress, had never been able to stand men bullying women since she was young. Seeing that Jun Buli’s suspicion had eased, she immediately stepped forward and pulled Miss Xiao the Ninth away from his grasp, comforting her. “Don’t be afraid of him. You just woke up—sit down quickly.”
With that, she helped Miss Xiao the Ninth sit, then reached over to straighten her slightly loosened collar and smooth her disheveled hair.
Watching this, even Jun Buli was somewhat taken aback. Situ Jing’er was the youngest one there, yet the way she took care of others truly resembled that of a big sister.
Her small stature, her mature words, her careful movements—it all gave off an inexplicable sense of warmth and security. Even Meng Duo’er found herself staring, not having known Situ Jing’er had this side to her.
A girl who seemed carefree and impulsive on the surface, who loved and hated boldly, who took responsibility for her actions, yet was also kind, thoughtful, and considerate—in a few more years, once she’d grown up a bit more, she’d probably have no shortage of men in the world pining after her.
A woman like this suited being a lover, and suited being a wife too.
Situ Jing’er’s kindness carried no ulterior motive at all—it was entirely sincere. She simply couldn’t stand a grown man bullying a woman, and felt the hostage was innocent, with no need to make things hard for her.
Perhaps it was Situ Jing’er’s sincerity that made Miss Xiao the Ninth feel safe and warm. She actually tilted her head and smiled at Situ Jing’er. “You’re a good person.”
Unexpectedly, the usually clever Situ Jing’er blurted out foolishly, “Hehe, I’m not good—I’m in on this with them. We’re the ones who kidnapped you.”
At this, Jun Buli’s face went dark.
Fortunately, Miss Xiao the Ninth’s reaction was mild. “Kidnapped? Why?”
Situ Jing’er was about to answer, but Jun Buli cut her off decisively, tossing a sealed letter at her, saying coldly, “Read it yourself.”
Suspicious, Situ Jing’er took it, opened it, and her expression instantly changed.
“Are you going back on your own, or shall I have someone escort you back,” Jun Buli said coldly, his tone carrying a trace of gloating even he himself hadn’t noticed.
The letter had been personally delivered by Guxi just as he’d been taking Consort Li back to the tents.
The Princess Jing of Xijing had left the palace without permission days ago and hadn’t been heard from since. Yelu Qianqian and Situ Haonan were both frantic with worry, and having found nothing through private searches, could only ask his mother-empress to send someone to Nanzhao to look for her. So, his mother had sent Guxi.
Situ Jing’er’s usually cheerful little face now looked like a persimmon that had been squashed flat. She stared at the letter for a long while before saying, word by word, “No need to worry about me. I’ll go back on my own.”
“Guxi, escort her to the border,” Jun Buli said, and no sooner had he spoken than Guxi appeared out of nowhere.
He wasn’t dressed in palace guard attire, but rather a set of dark blue night-travel clothes, sharp and capable-looking, giving off an air of dashing vigor. He stood with his feet shoulder-width apart, hands clasped behind his back out of habit, ramrod straight—a posture that only made his tall, slender frame more striking, very much like a soldier’s bearing.
His sharply defined features and solemn, earnest expression made many young girls too intimidated to approach.
Situ Jing’er raised an eyebrow, looking Guxi over, and snorted disdainfully, “No need!”
“Escort her away,” Jun Buli insisted.
“I said, no need. Don’t you understand?” Situ Jing’er was getting testy now—if this guard really escorted her away, she’d truly have to leave, and she refused!
“Your mother-empress entrusted my mother-empress with finding you—I must see you out of Nanzhao.” Jun Buli saw through what Situ Jing’er was scheming in an instant.
“Ridiculous, you have no right to restrict my freedom. I’m not leaving today—let’s see what you can do about it!” Situ Jing’er dug in stubbornly.
Jun Buli simply shot Guxi a look, signaling him to act.
There was no telling what Guxi thought about it, but in any case, he couldn’t disobey an order. He walked over to Situ Jing’er, still very courteous. “Princess Jing, if you please.”
Situ Jing’er glared at him and ignored him. Everyone around them was watching—Miss Xiao the Ninth looked utterly bewildered, and though the poisonous beasts were reluctant to see Situ Jing’er go, none dared speak up. Only Meng Duo’er stood with furrowed brows, trying to think of a way to smooth things over.
Guxi gave Situ Jing’er no more time, immediately cupping his fist in salute. “Princess Jing, forgive my offense!”
With that, he moved to act.
Situ Jing’er’s phoenix eyes narrowed sharply—she wasn’t afraid of him laying hands on her.
But just then, Meng Duo’er finally spoke up. “If Little Jing wants to stay, just send your mother-empress word that you’re safe. Your mother-empress is only worried about your safety—once she knows you’re with us, she’ll be at ease… she won’t force you to go back.”
Meng Duo’er said that last sentence especially slowly—undoubtedly a clever remark, reminding Jun Buli that this matter wasn’t his to interfere with, while also showing Situ Jing’er exactly how to refuse.