While Xue Ying was still staring blankly at her hands, the physician had already withdrawn his fingers from her wrist and stood up. He bowed respectfully and said, “The General’s wife’s pulse is steady, and she should be fine. This humble servant will prepare a few doses of pregnancy-protecting decoction, just in case.”
Hearing this, Yi Xiao finally exhaled and, drained of strength, knelt clutching her abdomen.
“The first kill is always like this. You’ll get used to it,” Yi Xiao consoled after a while. The crowd around them gradually dispersed, leaving Xue Ying still frozen in place. “I didn’t even notice he had something in his hand. How did you spot it?”
“I saw the look in that man’s eyes,” Xue Ying replied, still trembling. “But I didn’t mean to kill him— Are you alright?”
“I guess I’m lucky. He hit this.” Yi Xiao frowned, reaching into her waist and pulling out a brocade pouch. She waved it at Xue Ying— the pouch containing the arrowhead.
“Then why were you rolling on the ground earlier?” Xue Ying scolded. “You scared me half to death.”
“That’s unfair.” Yi Xiao grimaced, scooping up a clod of dirt and tossing it at her. “You try getting stabbed and see how it feels.”
Xue Ying, unwilling to lose, picked up the same dirt clod and threw it back. “Fine, let’s switch. Go wake him up, and we’ll do it again.”
They glared at each other for a moment before both burst into laughter.
Back at camp, an enraged Feng Suige nearly executed the remaining three Yulin soldiers on the spot. It took Yi Xiao nearly half an hour to finally persuade him to spare them, sending the three back to Shusha to await judgment.
After he calmed somewhat, Feng Suige shared the information he had gathered. “Everything is too quiet. Unnaturally calm. I can’t shake the feeling something’s wrong…”
Before he could finish, a commotion erupted at the perimeter. A Shusha guard came running, shouting, “Princess, someone has arrived outside!”
Yi Xiao rushed forward. “What’s happening?”
“Two men from the Holy City have come,” the guard said breathlessly. “They say they have urgent matters to report to the Princess.”
Yi Xiao hesitated, looking at Feng Suige. He nodded. “Bring them in.”
As the guard left, Yi Xiao whispered anxiously, “Could they have been sent by the Holy Emperor?”
“It’s possible,” Feng Suige replied with a deep frown. “We’re close to the Holy City. He may have learned where we are…”
As they speculated, two men dressed as commoners entered behind the guard. Yi Xiao let out a startled cry and rushed toward them. “How is it you?”
Before the pair could bow, Yi Xiao had already pulled them up— one in each hand. “Stand up and speak—”
Before she could finish, one of them winced in pain. She immediately released both, alarmed. “What’s wrong? How are you injured? What happened?”
The first soldier rubbed his arm angrily. “The Holy Emperor fabricated charges and detained His Highness. We escaped through a secret passage, protecting Advisor Xiao…”
Yi Xiao trembled. Before she could ask more, the second soldier pulled a sealed envelope from his bosom and held it out. “This is a letter in Advisor Xiao’s hand. Please read it, Princess!”
Yi Xiao had barely read a few lines when Feng Suige snatched the letter from her. After scanning the contents, he said coolly, “The handwriting may be Xiao Weiran’s, but the person who wrote this is not him.”
Everyone froze.
Feng Suige looked at Yi Xiao. “Have you forgotten how you and I were forced to jump into the river?”
Yi Xiao’s mouth opened, but she couldn’t answer. Feng Suige drew her to his side with a mocking smile, his finger brushing her lips. “Besides, what does Xia Jingshi’s life or death have to do with us, hm?”
Yi Xiao inhaled sharply, ready to protest, but Feng Suige pinched her waist lightly, cutting off her words.
The soldier glared. “When did Jinxiu’s affairs become Shusha’s? You’re just waiting for His Highness to die so Shusha will have one less obstacle when you attack Jinxiu!”
Feng Suige stayed calm, lips curved faintly. “She is my consort. Her affairs are mine. As for Xia Jingshi, you may be right. I’ll accept that.”
“Princess!” the other soldier pleaded hoarsely. “His Highness has always treated you well… For the sake of your past, please help rescue him…”
Feng Suige laughed coldly. “Haven’t I treated her well? Enough. You should leave. I won’t allow her to do such a thing.”
The soldiers waited for Yi Xiao to speak— but she said nothing.
Finally, the letter-bearer stomped his foot in frustration and pulled his companion. “Stop begging. Her status has changed. How could she remember any past relationship?” He shot Yi Xiao a resentful look. “Let’s go. I refuse to believe Advisor Xiao can’t devise a plan!”
They left like a sudden wind.
Yi Xiao didn’t wait for them to go far before snatching the letter back from Feng Suige. “What do you mean by this?”
Feng Suige gestured for her to be silent. Then he called two guards and gave instructions in a low voice, “Take a few men and follow them at a distance. Leave markers. Once you see where they’re heading, report back immediately.”
Far from camp, several men dressed as household guards escorted an inconspicuous horse-drawn carriage. The curtain lifted slightly, revealing a pale face within.
“Vice Commander Xue, please… hurry. I’ll be fine…”
“No,” Xue said firmly. “The brothers have already split into three groups to search as you ordered. No matter how fast we go, we can’t outrun them. Rest assured. We’ll have news soon.”
Xiao Weiran sighed. “With the situation unclear, how can I rest? I only hope they don’t miss Yi Xiao…”
Before he could finish, the sound of galloping hooves echoed down the forest path. Xue stepped forward, then grinned broadly. “Our men— they’re back!”
With a swish, Xiao Weiran flung open the curtain and tried to jump down, clinging to the carriage for support. Xue hurried to steady him.
“They must have met Yi Xiao,” Xiao Weiran said eagerly. “Otherwise they wouldn’t return so quickly.”
Xue beamed. “Exactly! When has Advisor Xiao ever been wrong?”
The two soldiers slid off their horses and prostrated themselves. “Advisor Xiao.”
Seeing their downcast expressions, Xiao Weiran felt a stab of dread. “Did you see Yi Xiao?”
The soldiers exchanged a glance, then knelt. One choked out, “We saw her, but… she refuses to help.”
Both Xiao Weiran and Xue stared in disbelief. “How can that be?”
The other soldier, face flushed with outrage, said, “She came with Feng Suige of Shusha. That man— he can’t wait for His Highness to suffer…”
“What? Feng Suige?” Xiao Weiran exclaimed. “Tell me everything.”
The two soldiers took turns recounting the incident, their anger barely restrained. Listening quietly, Xiao Weiran’s expression slowly eased, and by the end, a faint smile had formed.
Finally, he turned to Xue Vice Commander and ordered calmly, “Change our route. Follow their trail. With Feng Suige involved, our chances of success have increased greatly.”
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