Finally leaving that ominous hall filled with sinister shadows, Yi Xiao exhaled softly but couldn’t help glancing back. Look at that heavily fortified, grand palace—a wedding banquet that seemed harmonious and joyful on the surface, yet beneath, dark currents had long been surging. But who could see the killing, bloodshed, sorrow, anger, fear, and hatred hidden within?
Noticing her looking back, Feng Suige paused. “What are you looking at?” Yi Xiao withdrew her gaze and asked, “Does living in such a place not make you feel exhausted?”
His heart felt as if it were being slashed. Feng Suige gave a bitter smile. “I have no choice, but you do.” She laughed. “Wrong. Neither of us does.” “Why?” Feng Suige was puzzled. “You have the chance to leave. As long as you depart from Susa, even if he wants to deal with you, it’ll require much more effort. As long as you…”
“You ask me why,” Yi Xiao interrupted him, her smile framed by raven-black hair, like an epiphyllum blooming in the night. “It’s like you asking why the night doesn’t change its color. You, standing in the daylight, can’t understand the darkness of the night and even think that black and white are choices to be made. The darkness of night is because it can only be so, not because it insists on being so. If it could choose, why would it be the cold, night?” The wind lifted her unbound long hair, strands drifting leisurely.
Feng Suige remained silent. Indeed, if Father decided to do something, he would stop at nothing. Although Yi Xiao had enough ability to protect herself, her weakness was that she would never live solely for herself.
As they approached the plaza filled with carriages and horses, chaotic footsteps sounded behind them. Yi Xiao and Feng Suige turned to look—it was Xia Jingshi and his party.
Yi Xiao watched as Xia Jingshi walked toward her. No, he only glanced at her, passing by like a stranger.
A cold wind brushed her cheek as if ice had been stuffed down her throat. What kind of a glance was that…
For a moment, Yi Xiao wanted to chase after him but couldn’t move her legs. She could only stare intently at his departing figure.
“Yi Xiao,” Xue Ying stopped before her, her voice tinged with tears. “You said we would return together.” The armor of Yi Xiao’s calm façade seemed to shatter instantly. She raised a hand to brush her eyes and forced a smile. “I’m sorry. I’ve broken my promise.”
Everyone nearby looked at her silently. Ning Fei’s voice was somewhat hoarse. “Don’t worry. His Highness is just momentarily angry. He won’t abandon you.”
“That man neither loves deeply nor hates intensely. It’s because I’ve seen through that point that I decided to give up.” Yi Xiao’s eyes shimmered, but more with determination. “Don’t worry about me. Just be good to Xue Ying. Don’t always make her angry.” Xue Ying finally couldn’t hold back and hugged Yi Xiao, burying her face in her shoulder as she sobbed, “Yi Xiao, don’t stay here… Come with us, please…”
“I’ve thought about keeping you here with me,” Yi Xiao teased softly, gently patting her back, but her eyes were filled with deep sorrow. “But I’m afraid Uncle Ling would kill me—when you and Ning Fei get married, remember to write and tell me. Among all the people I’ve met, you two are the most deserving of happiness.”
Shouts came from the distance; Xia Jingshi’s carriage was preparing to depart. Ning Fei hesitated slightly, then said, “Take care of yourself.” Ignoring Xue Ying’s struggles, he pulled her toward the plaza. The others closely followed. Yi Xiao instinctively took a few steps forward but was pulled back by Feng Suige.
Xiao Weiran was at the back. As he passed by Yi Xiao and Feng Suige, he paused and said to Feng Suige, “She seems clever but is stubborn, easily infuriating others yet making them unable to let go. She’s just a lonely fool with low self-esteem. If you’re not careful, she hides away to be sad alone. So, it’s not easy to take care of her. If you can’t protect her, send her back to Jinxiu as soon as possible!”
As if declaring something, Feng Suige tightened his arm around her. “I can. I’ll make sure she smiles happily every day.”
Xiao Weiran smiled slightly, reached out to gently stroke Yi Xiao’s face, and spoke softly, “Girl, the most useless thing in this world is reckless courage. Even if you’re full of passion and martial skills, in the end, two fists can’t defeat four hands. If you want to roam the world, you must rely on strategy and wisdom. This path is not easy, but as long as you understand what I’ve said, there’s nothing you can’t overcome.” Seeing Yi Xiao nod, he waved and left without looking back.
Staring blankly at Xiao Weiran’s departing figure, Yi Xiao remained lost in thought. After a long time, she suddenly smiled. What she said that day was right—the person who understands her best is indeed Xiao Weiran. Why isn’t the one she likes him?
“It’s time to go,” Feng Suige sighed softly. “If you really can’t bear it, tomorrow I’ll take you to see them off.”
Outside Susa City.
A black flag embroidered with the gold character “Xia” fluttered at the front of the procession. Feng Xiyang’s tears had not yet dried; she kept turning back to look at the increasingly distant city as if she could still see her father forcing a smile and waving farewell from the city walls.
Xue Ying sat inside the carriage with lowered eyes, her expression cool and gentle.
Yi Xiao did not come to see them off.
Feng Qishan was not an easy person to deal with, but with Feng Suige there, Yi Xiao shouldn’t suffer too much. As for Feng Xiyang—perhaps she shouldn’t blame her—but earlier when Xiyang had sent someone to invite Xue Ying to ride with her, Xue Ying had still refused…
Suddenly, there was a dull thud on the carriage board. The guards beside the carriage shouted nervously, “Ambush! Protect the carriage!”
Xue Ying’s heart tightened. She instinctively lifted the curtain—an arrow with a long feather was embedded next to the carriage window. Chaos reigned outside, and the carriage wobbled to a halt.
Ning Fei galloped over quickly, vigilantly scanning his surroundings while urgently asking, “What happened? Are you hurt?” Xue Ying looked at him blankly. “Ah… I’m fine…” Her gaze went past his shoulder, fixated on the high slope pointed to by the arrow’s tail.
There, two riders stood side by side—it was Fu Yi Xiao and Feng Suige.
Yi Xiao held the reins in one hand and a bow in the other, reining her horse at the top of the slope. Seeing the confusion below, she seemed to smile faintly, then threw aside the bow and urged her horse down. Feng Suige remained still.
“It’s Yi Xiao!” Xue Ying shouted, quickly climbing out of the carriage and waving. “Yi Xiao! Yi Xiao!”
Yi Xiao didn’t rein in her horse until she reached her. Xue Ying was both happy and angry, scolding, “I knew you wouldn’t come… You haven’t used a bow for so many years. What if you missed and shot me dead?”
Yi Xiao tossed a wooden box to her and laughed heartily, “If I accidentally killed you, I’d follow you in death—here, I heard you praise that incense last time, so I asked Feng Suige for some.”
“Yi Xiao,” holding the wooden box, Xue Ying’s eyes sparkled. “Since you’re already here, come with us. Feng Suige won’t stop you.” Yi Xiao pulled out a smile that was distant and desolate. “I’m here to see you off. How can I turn it into traveling together? Xue Ying, thank you for staying by my side all this time without ever leaving. I will return.”
Seeing her pull the reins as if to turn back, a deep, hoarse call came from ahead. “Yi Xiao… Why won’t you return with me?” Xia Jingshi walked over slowly, his usually profound eyes showing pain.
Yi Xiao was silent for a long time, then turned her head and smiled faintly. “I once thought we belonged to each other, but unfortunately, you made me realize I was wrong—and wrong!” As she uttered the last three words, a crack appeared in her previously indifferent eyes. Complex and intense emotions burst forth in an instant—there was relief mixed with pain, full of contradictions.
Not giving him time to ponder, Yi Xiao had already turned her horse and galloped away.