Xu Chuniang had been trying hard to maintain her composure, but upon hearing this, she couldn’t help but falter, shaking her head anxiously. “No, no, it’s not possible!”
“Why not?”
“There’s no space left in the carriage! It’s already packed with four people!”
Of course, she couldn’t say that outright. If His Highness discovered the people in the carriage, they would be doomed, likely sent back to the prison!
“Um… it’s just not appropriate,” Xu Chuniang stammered nervously. “Your carriage is still at the stables. It wouldn’t be a problem to have Cheng Xu bring it over…”
Inside the carriage, Li Huaiyu and the others were so scared they dared not even breathe. Their pale faces pressed together, frozen in place, afraid that Lord Ziyang might notice something and suddenly appear to lift the curtain.
It was incredibly nerve-wracking!
Outside, all was silent. Huaiyu tensed, her eyes fixed firmly on the taut curtain, already imagining what might happen if Lord Ziyang were to lift it.
However, after a moment, Jiang Xuanjin spoke up. “If it’s inconvenient, then so be it. Cheng Xu, go fetch the carriage.”
“Yes!” Cheng Xu promptly headed for the stables.
Inside the carriage, everyone let out a collective sigh of relief, feeling safer now.
But what they couldn’t see was Jiang Xuanjin’s gaze lingering on the tightly drawn carriage curtains, his eyes flickering with deep contemplation.
Xu Chuniang was drenched in cold sweat, clutching her handkerchief, unsure of what to do next.
He’s found out… judging by that look, he must know there are people in the carriage!
Yet, he stood there with his hands behind his back, showing no sign of going to inspect the carriage.
“Sister-in-law, are you heading to meet Second Brother?” he asked softly.
Xu Chuniang’s voice trembled as she nodded. “Y-yes.”
“Perfect,” Jiang Xuanjin said leisurely. “I’m also heading there. Cheng Xu isn’t familiar with the way, so I’ll trouble Sister-in-law’s carriage to lead the way.”
Xu Chuniang was at a loss. She and Jiang Bai had agreed to drop them off as soon as they left the city outskirts. If His Highness followed the same route, how would they get off the carriage?!
Inside the carriage, Li Huaiyu frowned, anxiously fidgeting with her fingers.
What now? Qing Xian asked silently with his eyes.
Huaiyu shook her head. What else could they do? They would have to play it by ear. Perhaps they’d have a chance to escape once they were out of the city?
Expressionless, Xu Chuniang climbed into the carriage, instructing her accompanying servant to act as the driver. As the wheels began to roll with a clatter, she whispered, “His Highness also intends to go to Linjiang Mountain.”
Linjiang Mountain was located fifty miles west of the capital, a place where the Jiang Mansion residents often went to admire the view.
Huaiyu wiped her face. “Lu Jingxing’s people are waiting for us at the relay station. Find an excuse to stop midway, and we’ll figure out how to slip away.”
“Alright…” Xu Chuniang replied hesitantly, murmuring under her breath, “But I have a feeling His Highness has already sensed something.”
“That’s impossible,” Bai Ai shook his head. “If he had, he would have immediately surrounded the carriage and taken us back. Since he hasn’t made a move, Madam doesn’t need to worry unnecessarily.”
It wasn’t unnecessary worry—Lord Ziyang’s gaze had seen right through the curtain! But she didn’t understand. If he sensed something was wrong, why hadn’t he reacted?
Huaiyu patted her hand, urging her to calm down, then began to earnestly think about how they could escape safely once they reached their destination.
Meanwhile, a massive fire broke out in the Fulu Palace, spreading rapidly. Many palace servants screamed and rushed about, carrying buckets of water to extinguish the flames.
Li Huailin received the news and immediately ordered the capital to be sealed. Anyone entering or leaving would undergo inspection.
“What’s going on? Wasn’t the spirit exorcised?” Liu Yunlie frowned, questioning the senior monk.
The monks at the altar were still chanting the death recitation, their necks adorned with prayer beads. The senior monk with the beads approached the Emperor, reciting a Buddhist prayer before saying, “The spirit indeed left the body, but it seems she possesses a powerful artifact. The soul we just subdued has fled again.”
Pointing to the shriveled sackcloth on the altar, his earnest lie was convincing. Both the Emperor and Liu Yunlie knew about Li Huaiyu’s “jade pendant” which allowed her to come back to life.
“It must be a fake,” Li Huailin muttered.
Despite all precautions, why couldn’t he prevent the Eldest Princess from using her methods?
“What happened?” Bai Dezhong stood pale, his expression a mix of confusion and worry, perfectly portraying a loving father who had lost his daughter.
No one present would suspect Bai Dezhong of lying, and seeing this, Li Huailin reassured him, “Sir Bai, don’t worry. I’ve already sent someone to capture her.”
Thus, neither the monks nor the Bai family were implicated this time.
The city lockdown order came swiftly and harshly. By the time Jiang Mansion’s carriage reached the West Gate, a long queue awaited them for inspection. Li Huaiyu lifted the curtain and frowned.
With such a scene, would they easily let Jiang Mansion’s carriage pass?
As the guards approached, she nervously dropped the curtain, intending to have Xu Chuniang offer a few excuses. Unexpectedly, Jiang Xuanjin’s voice rang out from outside.
“What’s going on?” He stepped down from his carriage, blocking the approaching guards, his voice cold.
Jiang Qu, on duty at the West Gate, hurried over and bowed respectfully. “Reporting to Your Highness, the Emperor has ordered strict inspections for all entering and leaving the capital, specifically to capture escaped prisoners.”
“Escaped prisoners?” Jiang Xuanjin sounded slightly impatient. “There are none in my carriage.”
“Yes, yes!” Jiang Qu hastily continued, “My subordinates lack insight. How could they possibly inspect someone like you? Please, this way. The queue is long; you may proceed ahead from here.”
With a nod, Jiang Xuanjin gestured towards the carriage beside him. “This belongs to Madam Second from the mansion. Let her go first.”
“No problem, no problem!” Jiang Qu bowed low to clear the way himself, scolding the guard who had attempted to inspect the Emperor’s carriage moments ago. “You dare to check His Highness’s carriage? Have you lost your mind?”
The young guard looked crestfallen. “I didn’t mean to check His Highness’s carriage, but the one ahead…”
“That one belongs to Jiang Mansion too! Next time, think twice before you act!” Jiang Qu snapped.
With the half-opened city gates now fully ajar, the two carriages leisurely passed through, ignoring the raised spears of the guards, heading out towards the outskirts.
Li Huaiyu pressed against her fluttering heart, slumping against Qingxian’s shoulder. He caught her gently, whispering, “Your Highness, take it easy.”
Xu Chuniang was startled by their condition but quickly reasoned to herself. Even if the “Divorce Decree” had been written, she couldn’t be with His Highness. It was good that someone was taking care of him, though she couldn’t help but feel a bit regretful.
“Here, take a couple of these,” she offered a bottle of medicine. “Your body is weak, and the carriage ride is rough.”
“What is this?” Qingxian took it, opening the bottle to reveal two dark brown pills.
“Medicine to protect the fetus?” Li Huaiyu raised an eyebrow.
Xu Chuniang nodded.
“Protect… protect what?” Both Bai Ai and Chijin were shocked, and Qingxian’s eyes widened.
Li Huaiyu looked at them in confusion, and then realization dawned. “I haven’t had a chance to tell you yet.” She pointed to her belly. “There might be a little one in there.”
“…!”
The creaking of the carriage wheels filled the quiet compartment. After a long silence, someone hesitantly spoke up. “Is it… Lord Ziyang’s?”
Li Huaiyu nodded, swallowing the pills cheerfully. “This sure is worth it. I’ve accomplished many things I wanted to do and even gained a child.”
She was laughing! Bai Ai’s lips turned pale with anger. “You’re carrying his child, and he locked you in a dungeon, saying hurtful things during interrogation?!”
Xu Chuniang listened, stunned. “What did His Highness say?”
“Nothing,” Li Huaiyu scratched her head. “I didn’t take it to heart.”
Not take it to heart? How could she cry so much then? Bai Ai clenched his teeth, his face darkening. “Once the child is born, tell him I’m his father, his real father!”
Across from them, Qing Xian shot a disdainful glance at him, sneering, “You think you’re prettier than you are? With me around, you don’t stand a chance.”
Bai Ai rolled his eyes at Qing Xian, retorting, “You could be his godmother.”
“Surname Bai! Are you looking for a fight?!”
“I don’t fight women.”
“You!”
The argument was giving Huai Yu a headache. She pushed Qing Xian away with distaste and turned to the quiet and obedient Chi Jin across from her. “Come sit over here with me. Let those two sit together and fight.”
“Your Highness?” Qing Xian looked at her plaintively.
Huai Yu waved her hand dismissively. “Useless!”
Xu Chu Niang stared in astonishment. She watched as the elegant Qing Xian was tossed next to Bai Ai. Both men had fire in their eyes, and if not for the cramped space in the carriage, they might have come to blows.
What sort of people were they? They were undeniably good-looking, but why were they so attached to Jiang Bai Shi?
Seeing Xu Chu Niang’s confusion, Huai Yu explained apologetically, “These children were all raised by me, so…”
Who would casually raise a bunch of men? Xu Chu Niang clutched her handkerchief in confusion, a thought forming clearly in her mind.
Her father suddenly showed great concern for Jiang Bai Shi, asking her to take good care of him. Jiang Bai Shi managed to get him out of prison even though she was supposedly deadlocked herself, and there were rumors of her being associated with the remnants of Dan Yang…
“You,” she paused, frowning. “Are you from Dan Yang Princess?”
“No,” Huai Yu shook her head, honestly admitting, “I am Dan Yang.”
Upon hearing this, both Bai Ai and Qing Xian looked somewhat fearful towards Madam Jiang Er.
“Your Highness…” Chi Jin tugged on her sleeve disapprovingly.
How could she casually say such things? Even if Madam Jiang Er intended to save them, if they knew she was the Dan Yang Princess… Dan Yang’s reputation in those years wasn’t exactly stellar.
However, Xu Chu Niang seemed unfazed by this revelation. After pondering for a moment, she suddenly realized, “So all three of you were court attendants of the former princess?”
Qing Xian and Bai Ai exchanged glances, nodding. “Yes.”
“That makes sense,” Xu Chu Niang muttered to herself, “His Highness came later. They were originally serving by the princess’s side.”
Huai Yu stared at her in astonishment, blinking. “Aren’t you curious why I went from Miss Bai Four to Dan Yang Princess?”
“With my intellect, even if you told me, I wouldn’t understand,” Xu Chu Niang replied with clear eyes. “Just like how you deduced my thoughts from two plates back then, your explanation would just make me think how amazing you are, and I wouldn’t be able to grasp it myself.”
“But…,” she pursed her lips, “I feel like you wouldn’t lie to me.”
“You are a naive girl!” Huai Yu looked at her and after a long silence suddenly smiled, “Yes, I won’t lie to you.”
The carriage continued to jolt forward. Xu Chu Niang not only had no reservations about Huai Yu’s identity as the eldest princess of Dan Yang but was also quite curious.
“With so many court attendants in the princess’s palace, do they compete like the concubines of the Second Young Master?” she asked.
Huai Yu replied, “Not quite. My relationship with the Second Young Master is somewhat different.”
She didn’t spend the night in others’ rooms.
“Then, does the Eldest Princess have a favorite court attendant?” Xu Chu Niang’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Qing Xian and Bai Ai both twitched at the corners of their mouths. They felt that Second Madam didn’t quite know how to speak. Who would directly ask such a question in front of so many people?
However, Huai Yu pondered seriously for a moment, stroking her chin. “There’s Wu Cheng, mature and stable; he taught me martial arts. Bai Ai is eloquent and skilled in calligraphy. Qing Xian is beautiful and perhaps even more so than me. Chi Jin, reserved and gentle, a rare temperament… It’s really hard to choose!”
Chi Jin, who had been silent all this time, spoke up, “It’s hard to choose. Just pick Mr. Lu.”
What? Huai Yu stared at him. “Mr. Lu isn’t part of Fei Yun Palace.”
“Isn’t it the same?” Chi Jin tilted his head.
… Indeed, it was the same. She didn’t favor anyone in Fei Yun Palace, nor did she favor Lu Jing Xing; they were all just getting by together.
After thinking for a moment, she earnestly said to Xu Chu Niang, “Then I choose Lu Jing Xing.”
As soon as the words fell, the carriage abruptly stopped.
The wheels grated on the gravel ground with a “crackle,” causing everyone in the carriage to lurch forward involuntarily—
Huai Yu quickly grabbed onto the soft wood beneath her and steadied herself just in time.
“What’s going on?” Xu Chu Niang asked nervously, leaning out of the carriage.
The coachman hurriedly replied, “Madam, His Highness seems to have something urgent.”
Wasn’t His Highness in the carriage behind them? What could be urgent? Xu Chu Niang was puzzled as she lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and peered out, only to be startled.
At some point, Jiang Xuan Jin had appeared beside the carriage shaft, his face as cold as if it had been soaked in icy water.
Xu Chu Niang immediately got up and stepped out of the carriage, firmly holding the curtain closed. “Your Highness?”
“Change to another carriage.”
Perplexed, Xu Chu Niang looked at her carriage behind her. “But… it’s perfectly fine. Why change carriages?”
Clearly in a bad mood, Jiang Xuan Jin didn’t say more, turning and walking towards the nearby grove of trees.
Cheng Xu followed him out and approached Xu Chu Niang, bowing respectfully. “His Highness promised the Second Young Master to take good care of Second Madam. The road ahead is rough with gravel. It’s a good two miles at least. Second Madam would find it more comfortable to switch to His Highness’s carriage.”
Jiang Xuan Jin’s carriage was crafted by skilled artisans and was naturally more comfortable than an ordinary carriage.
Feeling a bit guilty, Xu Chu Niang had originally intended to refuse. However, thinking of Huai Yu’s condition, she nodded after a moment’s consideration.
Cheng Xu breathed a sigh of relief. For some reason, he followed Jiang Xuan Jin into the grove.
Xu Chu Niang pulled back the curtain, signaling to the people inside, “They’re not paying attention. Hurry!”
Everyone was nervous. Almost dragging Huai Yu out of the carriage, they rushed to Jiang Xuan Jin’s carriage at the rear.
“Wait.” Only when the curtain had fallen did she realize, “Lord Ziyang hasn’t noticed this side. Why don’t we just run?”
We’re not far from the post station, right?
At her reminder, Bai Ai and the others slapped their thighs in regret and quickly lifted the curtain to look again.
Lord Ziyang, with Cheng Xu beside him, had already turned his head and was walking towards the carriage.
Still standing outside the carriage, Xu Chu Niang quickly pushed the curtain down and then bent her knees to bow respectfully to Jiang Xuan Jin from a distance. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
Jiang Xuan Jin nodded expressionlessly and boarded the carriage in front. Cheng Xu approached Xu Chu Niang and still bowed to her respectfully, “Please, Second Madam, go ahead.”
“Alright.”
Lord Ziyang’s carriage was considerably more spacious than the one they had previously occupied. The cushions were soft, and the wheels rolled silently. As Huai Yu sat down, her tense body finally relaxed somewhat.
However, she couldn’t shake off the feeling of being in a difficult situation.
“We missed it,” Qing Xian muttered. “It’s a pity; we could have left.”
Xu Chu Niang comforted him, “It’s alright. We haven’t reached the post station yet. I’ll think of something when we get there.”
Everyone nodded, thinking that as long as Lord Ziyang didn’t become suspicious, finding an opportunity to leave shouldn’t be difficult.
However, when they arrived at the post station, Jiang Xuan Jin stepped down and stood by the carriage, ignoring all invitations to enter.
“Second Sister-in-law, do you wish to rest?” he asked.
Xu Chu Niang swallowed and nodded, “Feeling a bit tired. It would be nice to go inside and have some tea.”
Jiang Xuan Jin grunted in acknowledgment, “I’ll wait here.”
“… What?” Xu Chu Niang and everyone in the carriage behind her were dumbfounded.
The autumn wind was chilly, carrying a distinct chill. Why would he stand outside, refusing to enter the tea house or drink hot tea?
Under normal circumstances, if he wanted to wait without anyone disturbing him, it was fine as long as His Highness was content. But now… with him standing here, how could the people on the carriage continue?
“Second Sister-in-law?” Seeing her hesitation, Jiang Xuan Jin reminded her.
Coming back to her senses, Xu Chu Niang said, “Your Highness, why don’t you come in and rest for a while? You staying outside…”
“It’s fine,” he said calmly.
Xu Chu Niang had nothing more to say. If he didn’t go in, what was the point of her going in? If he decided to lift the curtain later, it would be all over.
She bowed her head awkwardly and said, “Then… shall we continue on our way?”
Huai Yu listened anxiously from inside the carriage. If they continued westward, she wouldn’t know the way anymore. Even if they had a chance to escape, where would they go?
But there was simply no other choice now. Xu Chu Niang wouldn’t argue and speak harshly; she had no chance against Jiang Xuan Jin’s indifferent face.
How did it come to this?
Xu Chu Niang sat silently in the carriage, clearly still perplexed. “His Highness wasn’t supposed to go up the hill today.”
He had said the case was unresolved and couldn’t leave the capital. Yet now, how was it possible? They had left the capital far behind without any intention of turning back.
“Where is Linjiang Mountain?” Li Huai Yu asked softly.
“Fifty miles west of the capital,” Xu Chu Niang replied.
Huai Yu thought for a moment, then raised an eyebrow, “Isn’t Lord Ziyang’s fief also about fifty miles away?”
Xu Chu Niang nodded. Linjiang Mountain was further west and was one of the well-known fiefs of Northern Wei. Lord Ziyang’s fief was nearby, although they had never been there, she had heard it was a bustling place.
Huai Yu sighed softly, “Then there’s nothing to worry about.”
She had wanted to meet up at the post station because she wasn’t familiar with leaving the capital and didn’t know how to get to where she wanted to go. But knowing where Lord Ziyang was, it would be easier to find that direction.
Lord Ziyang’s territory was vast, boasting seven major cities and numerous counties, making it the wealthiest fiefdom in Northern Wei. South of Ziyang, one would find Danyang.
Danyang, the title of the Eldest Princess, wasn’t a casual designation but rather the name of a fiefdom similar to Lord Ziyang’s. Emperor Xiao, born in Danyang, had designated the area south of Ziyang, encompassing thousands of square miles of counties, under the name of the Eldest Princess.
The reason Li Huai Yu dared to let Xu Xian and the others escape was because once they set foot in Danyang, no matter how many pursuit orders the Emperor issued, they couldn’t be captured. It was her father’s safeguard left to her.
Seeing her relax, Qing Xian and the others understood that there was a way out, and their expressions softened. Xu Chu Niang was still puzzled, “You’re not going to escape?”
“We can’t escape, so we might as well enjoy the ride,” Huai Yu smiled and patted the soft cushion beneath her, “It’s quite comfortable anyway.”
She had been worried that rushing on the road might strain her unborn child, but now, in this stable carriage with no one daring to investigate along the way, she could temporarily let go of her worries.
Yet, there was still a strange feeling lingering in her mind.
This feeling reached its peak when the carriage arrived at Linjiang Mountain.
“Your Highness, please go up the mountain first,” Xu Chu Niang got off the carriage and said, “The household’s people should be lodging at the temple halfway up the mountain.”
Jiang Xuan Jin replied indifferently, “Second Sister-in-law, you go first. This prince has other matters.”
In this wilderness, what kind of matters could there be? Li Huai Yu couldn’t help herself and kicked the carriage wall.
A loud “thud” startled Xu Chu Niang outside, who looked at Jiang Xuan Jin in alarm.
There was only her in the carriage. She was outside, so how could there be any noise inside?
Anyone would sense that something was wrong. Qing Xian and the others on the carriage were even more panicked, looking at their Highness in confusion.
However, Jiang Xuan Jin glanced at the carriage as if nothing had happened, calmly saying, “If Second Sister-in-law finds the mountain road difficult, let Cheng Xu and the coachman go ahead and clear the way.”
Li Huai Yu narrowed her eyes and reached out to lift the carriage curtain directly.
“Your Highness!” Qing Xian whispered, “What are you doing?”
After having disguised themselves so well, how could he jump out and let Lord Ziyang discover it?
With a sneer, Li Huai Yu looked at the figure standing not far ahead and said coldly, “Do you think he doesn’t know anything?”
Changing carriages and refusing to enter the post station, now he didn’t react even when she kicked the carriage. He had long known something was amiss with Xu Chu Niang’s carriage but chose not to ask or look, acting like he was playing dumb, letting them pretend all along!
The pale green sleeves embroidered with fresh lotus patterns were slightly pulled up by Jiang Xuan Jin, who looked back.
Li Huai Yu’s face remained pale, a faint blackness at her brow. Her almond-shaped eyes stared at him unfriendly.
Beside her, Xu Chu Niang was too frightened to speak, afraid that His Highness might impulsively order Cheng Xu to seize someone.
However… secretly assessing him, Xu Chu Niang was astonished to find that His Highness didn’t seem surprised at all. There was no anger on his face, only a chilly gaze as if he had been steeped in autumn winds.
“His Highness is very brave,” he remarked.
Leaping down from the carriage shaft, Li Huaiyu approached step by step until she stood before him. She seized the Buddhist beads on his wrist and held them up before him, saying, “His Highness is also quite daring, colluding with monks to deceive the Emperor and releasing current court convicts. Do you understand the severity of these charges?”
Looking down at her, Jiang Xuanjin asked, “Does His Highness intend to complain to me?”
Narrowing her eyes, Huaiyu’s expression grew complex. “His Highness seems quite fearless,” she said.
How could she risk her life returning to accuse him?
Qing Xian and the others also got off the carriage and followed behind her. They watched Jiang Xuanjin vigilantly, their eyes filled with suspicion.
“What’s going on?” Bai Ai asked quietly.
Twisting the Buddhist beads in her hand, Huaiyu ran her fingers over the engraved characters. “We’ll have to ask His Highness, who seems capable of deceiving everyone and arranging for his people to enter the palace to perform rituals for me.”
Every one of Jiang Xuanjin’s ten Buddhist beads was inscribed with characters enclosed in a circle. She didn’t understand their special meaning, but she knew that beads with similar inscriptions must have come from the same source.
The senior monk at the altar had helped him and couldn’t avoid involvement with Jiang Xuanjin.
Everyone was momentarily stunned. Xu Chuniang’s eyes lit up with joy as she asked, “Is His Highness reluctant to part with his younger siblings?”
Jiang Xuanjin’s eyes turned cold. “No.”
The two chilly words made everyone’s hearts skip a beat. Bai Ai and Qing Xian frowned at him, stepping forward to stand in front of Li Huaiyu.
However, Huaiyu seemed completely oblivious to his words, standing with her hands on her hips and smiling. “If His Highness doesn’t care, why go to such lengths?”
“Does His Highness need to explain every decision to His Highness?”
“I don’t need to explain anything else,” Huaiyu said, raising her eyes to look at him. “But when it comes to matters concerning me, shouldn’t His Highness explain a few things?”
Jiang Xuanjin looked away without looking at her. “No need.”
There was no need to explain so much to a woman who had deceived herself and didn’t know how many people she had in her heart.
The more you explain, the more ridiculous it gets.
This time, even Chong Xu didn’t understand what his master was thinking. To say that he was heartless, he stubbornly saved people and sent them out of the capital. But to say that he was sentimental? There was no warmth in this face.
Huaiyu looked at him quietly for a while before suddenly nodding.
“Then I’ll owe you a favor,” she said. “His Highness has always been clear about grievances and kindness. If I give it to you, I will take it back. This favor, when he remembers, come to me.”
When he heard this, he was shocked.
“Madam, where are you going?” He frowned. “His Highness and the Princess of the House should be able to handle it, right?”
She wasn’t a white pearl, but Huaiyu, the eldest princess, and the purple sun, Jiang Xuanjin, how could she be a husband and wife again?
The people on the side were all silent, and Xu Chunyang was so gloomy that she looked at Huaiyu’s belly, and she wanted to say, “There are children!”
However, Huaiyu seems to know what she wants to say, and she opens her mouth and says, “There’s something to forget to give His Highness.”
She reached into her sleeve and pulled out something, holding it out to him with both hands. “Here, for you.”
It was the “Letter of Divorce”.
The wind was not to be given. She brought it herself.
He stared at the three words on the envelope for a long time, but Jiang Xuanjin didn’t say a word, his eyes filled with hostility.
She didn’t cajole him anymore.
Previously, even if he frowned, she would cuddle up to him and act spoiled. Now, seeing him so upset, with his displeasure evident in his eyes and on his face, she didn’t utter a word to comfort him.
To think she had written such a thing.
It felt like a stone that had been under her heart had suddenly been pulled out, causing her heart to plummet. The empty feeling rushed to her throat, and Jiang Xuanjin’s throat tightened slightly as his hands slowly clenched.
“There’s no such thing,” he said coldly. “Writing this won’t help. His Highness should be the one writing it.”
“Why should I care!” She thrust the envelope into his hand. Huaiyu said stubbornly, “That’s that.”
She was the one who had pursued him relentlessly, and now she was the one throwing a tantrum and wanting to let go.
How could there be such a person?
He didn’t reach out to take it. The thin letter fluttered to the ground. Glancing at it, Huaiyu said to the trailing Chong Xu, “Pick it up. Otherwise, the Emperor might take advantage of the situation to cause trouble for the Jiang Mansion. You might get implicated too!”
She spoke eloquently, but deep down, she just didn’t want to see him again, right?
Jiang Xuanjin’s pupils darkened, and he reached out and grabbed her wrist.
“Hmm?” Startled, Huaiyu turned to look at him. Her fair neck turned slightly, revealing a scar that had scabbed over.
It was a sword wound. Superficial, just grazing the skin, but it looked menacing.
He was the one who had inflicted it.
Back then, she had anxiously brought people to rescue him, only to be met at the door by his sword. His almond-shaped eyes were full of shock and confusion, followed by boundless darkness.
He thought she was acting, but no, she had truly been hurt at that moment.
Reaching out, he lightly touched the scar. Jiang Xuanjin frowned, his expression complex as if he wanted to say something.
However, before he could speak, the person in front of him gently withdrew her hand from his.
Yes, she took it away gently, unlike him, who always roughly waved people away.
“Do you feel guilty, Your Highness?” Huaiyu looked at him with that expression and chuckled softly. “What’s there to feel guilty about? Didn’t you almost die on the way to the Bai Dragon Temple? I haven’t treated you well, and you haven’t treated me well. It’s fair between us.”
“You gave me poisoned wine, and I used you for revenge. I wanted you dead, and you threw me and my people into prison.”
With each sentence she uttered, Li Huaiyu released one of his fingers she held, until only his thumb remained clasped. She smirked, saying, “You saved me today, so if anyone should feel guilty, it should be me.”
Every detail was accounted for as if settling a score. Once the accounts were settled and the debts acknowledged, it seemed as if the two of them had no further connection.
Her palm was cold, but her fingertips were warm. As the warmth started to fade, he instinctively turned his hand around and caught her thumb.
“You…” He wanted to say, “Besides guilt, what else is there? Is there nothing else left?”
But Qing Xian and the others were still nearby. Second Sister-in-law and Chong Xu looked at him in shock. He must have looked pitiful, clinging to the deceiver and unwilling to let go.
It was both ridiculous and pitiful.
Turning stiffly away, Jiang Xuanjin changed his tone, asking coldly, “Aren’t you going to ask about the Qingsi?”