Chapter 1235 - 911: Make It Clear
Pei Xingyuan blinked, then suddenly lifted his head and took a look.
Then he nodded. "All right!"
Liang Youying was both shocked and overjoyed. Although she had never really thought Pei Xingyuan would leave with her—in fact, before what had just happened, even if such a thought had crossed her mind, she wouldn’t have dared act on it. After all, she understood better than anyone that Pei Xingyuan was innocent, that he had a bright future ahead of him. Until she resolved her own affairs, as a high official of the Dasheng Dynasty, a trusted confidant of King Qin, a Gatekeeper’s Son, it was impossible for him to wander the martial world with her.
She had never expected that her desperate strike and reckless plea would actually win his response.
Liang Youying almost couldn’t believe her own ears. In contrast, Pei Xingyuan, as if having steeled his resolve, reversed his grip to seize her hand. "You—you have to protect me!"
With that, he ducked his head to avoid a blade slashing in from the side. Liang Youying snapped back to her senses at once, hurriedly kicked that man away, yanked Pei Xingyuan, and turned to run.
As she ran, she shouted, "Fourth Brother!"
At the same time, the "Fourth Brother" on her lips—Jiang Xian, the fourth leader of Wanggang Village—still had one hand clamped tightly around Su Qinglan’s slender wrist. She had always been thin; these days of hardship and upheaval had worn her down till she was gaunt, the once delicate, lovely cheeks slightly sunken, bearing a desolate, heart-wrenching bleakness.
Yet what was even more withered was the look in her eyes at this moment.
Those eyes, full of fear and panic, shock and fleeting joy as they watched him, gradually grew calm and indifferent.
Jiang Xian’s heart ached unbearably, yet an unease even deeper than pain began to surge within him. He tightened his grip on her hand once more, giving a hard yank that nearly pulled her entirely into his arms. Again he said in a low, heavy voice, "Come with me!"
By now, Liang Youying had already brought Pei Xingyuan running up beside them, but the two did not pause. There was no time left to linger—the guards had already sensed something was wrong and were about to charge after them.
If they didn’t run now, it would be too late!
Yet no matter how chaotic things were around them, Su Qinglan remained motionless. That unnatural composure of hers only made Jiang Xian more frantic. He felt that no matter how hard he tried, he was about to lose his grip on that slender wrist in his palm. Just as he was about to exert more force, almost on instinct wanting to drag her away, Su Qinglan suddenly wrenched herself free of his grasp.
"...!"
Jiang Xian’s eyes flew wide; he stared at her in stunned disbelief.
Su Qinglan took a step back. In her pale face, those clear, finely shaped eyes, black and white distinct and once bright with grace, now held only calm and resolve—just like her voice and words, spoken without the slightest hesitation—
"Go on your own."
Jiang Xian fixed his gaze on her, the expression on his face no longer one of shock, but a kind of inexpressible sorrow.
But in that moment of his hesitation, Liang Youying and Pei Xingyuan had already run far ahead, while the guards on the other side were about to rush in. Su Qinglan bit down on her teeth, then reached out and gave him a fierce shove. "Go!"
Jiang Xian stumbled, his expression trembling as if suddenly shattering. He staggered back several steps; as he retreated, he turned on instinct and broke into a run. Yet at the very last instant as he turned away, he still looked back at Su Qinglan, his gaze thick with reluctance, as though he still wanted to reach out and take her hand.
But Su Qinglan had already quietly turned her head aside.
All the guards charged past, the gust they stirred up chilling Su Qinglan to the bone. In just a moment, Jiang Xian and Liang Youying, with Pei Xingyuan in tow, had vanished into the surging crowd and the twisting streets of the market. The assassins scattered and fled; only several corpses lay sprawled haphazardly on the ground, the snow swept to the roadside stained crimson with blood, the scarlet color stabbing the eyes of all who saw it.
And this scene fell completely within the sight of Yu Wenye and Shang Ruyi on the second floor.
Only then did the two of them finally let out a long breath.
Shang Ruyi immediately said, "They—"
The words had just left her lips when she cut herself off—not because she didn’t know what to say, but because she knew there was no need to say it now. Instead, it was Yu Wenye who watched those flustered figures below with a deep gaze. The escorting guards had first tried to pursue the assassins, then turned to go after Pei Xingyuan. In the end they failed at both. When they turned back and saw the few guards who had just thrown themselves into the fray to help them slay the assassins, the two sides exchanged some words, and then one of the escort guards followed them up into this tavern.
Yu Wenye led Shang Ruyi back to their seats.
The dishes and wine had long since been served; besides incense, the air was filled with tantalizing aromas of food and drink. Though neither of them had much appetite at this moment, they nonetheless picked up their chopsticks in unison and took some food. Heavy footsteps approached; the leader of the guards escorting the suspect came to stand outside this private room, bowed toward the interior, and said, "Greetings, Prince Qin. Greetings, Princess."
Yu Wenye placed more food into Shang Ruyi’s bowl before slowly setting down his chopsticks. He turned his head to look toward the man beyond the beaded curtain. "What is it?"
"Just now, many thanks to Your Highness’s men for coming to our aid."
"This prince brought the Princess here for some diversion and happened to encounter assassins trying to kill a prisoner, so we lent a hand in passing, that is all."
"May I ask why Prince Qin would come to this place at this particular time?"
Yu Wenye’s brows drew together slightly, and displeasure immediately radiated from him. That unseen pressure forced the man outside to involuntarily retreat half a step. Yet duty bound him, and with today’s mishap he feared he would not keep his head; he could only, at this final moment, gamble for a chance at life.
Thus he remained at the doorway, waiting for Yu Wenye’s answer.
On the other side, Shang Ruyi glanced at Yu Wenye, then at the man outside, before saying, "Yesterday was the Lantern Festival. I wished to leave the palace for some amusement, but because the crowds were too large and an accident might occur, King Qin did not permit it. Today, with some leisure, His Highness brought me out to enjoy the scenery and make up for last night’s regret."
Having spoken, she, too, set down her chopsticks. "Is that not allowed?"
The guard hastily said, "I—I wouldn’t dare."
Shang Ruyi said, "King Qin and I merely happened to come here. We had only planned to stroll a bit and then return. Who would have thought we’d run into someone robbing a prison cart? Seeing that you guards were failing in your duty, His Highness had our men act, only to help you slay the assassins, nothing more. If you have the time to question His Highness and me, you’d do better to think carefully about what mistakes you just made, what you let slip through your fingers, and then go back and report properly to the Emperor!"
The guard’s face had already gone deathly pale.
After a brief silence, he said, "I will of course make a report. However, today’s incident involves a grievous criminal and the rebels of Wanggang Village. Since Prince Qin and the Princess took action, I must ask you to be prepared to give a clear account before Your Majesty in the days to come."
Yu Wenye said coolly, "I will naturally be able to explain myself clearly."
"Then, I will take my leave."