Spring flowers were beautiful indeed, but as soon as Nanyi turned around and returned to her room—finally reaching a place where Zhang Yuehui could neither see nor hear her—tears came streaming down. The more she thought about it, the more heartbroken she became, gradually turning into loud wailing.
She cried for those years of her own life. Though her mouth spoke of being fine and letting go, the grievances in her heart had long been turned upside down—there had to be a spectacular conclusion.
Nanyi cried earth-shakingly, endlessly, righteously, not even noticing when Xie Queshan entered.
Suddenly catching sight of a person sitting there, with deep pupils staring at her motionlessly, Nanyi was startled and paused. Feeling there was no need to acknowledge him, she wanted to continue crying, but suddenly lost the mood.
Though she had stopped, her body still shuddered intermittently. Nanyi felt somewhat embarrassed, and a bit angry too.
He sat there like watching a play, completely unmoved.
Nanyi went over to pour herself a cup of water and drank it in one gulp. Her crying had truly made her hoarse—she needed to moisten her throat. She asked him ungraciously: “What are you here for?”
Xie Queshan felt very innocent—he hadn’t provoked her, so why was she getting angry at him?
In his heart he thought “to see you,” but what came out was an unkind-toned “I’m here to watch over you.”
Seeing her cry so heartbrokenly over Zhang Yuehui, he didn’t know what he could do. He wanted to comfort her, but a petty voice in his heart said that since she favored Zhang Yuehui anyway, what use would it be even if he talked himself hoarse?
“I can’t run away anyway.” She retorted sharply.
“Zhang Yuehui is quite capable—won’t you run away with him?” The words were full of sourness. Young Master Xie’s speech today was quite undignified.
Nanyi fiercely wiped away her tears and scolded him mercilessly: “Why must I run away with some man? Telling me to go so I go, telling me to come so I come—what’s so great about you stinking men that gives you the right to arrange my life! I have legs, can’t I walk by myself?”
“…”
You people, these, stinking men.
Why did she have to lump him together with Zhang Yuehui when scolding?
But Xie Queshan was hit where it hurt. He felt quite guilty too. However, when he felt guilty, he habitually put on an inscrutable expression. Nanyi thought he was angry.
But she wasn’t afraid either, just glaring at him like that.
He ultimately softened, his voice becoming somewhat gentler: “Zhang Yuehui is no good. I’m afraid you’ll be deceived by him.”
—You’re no different from him, so what gives you the right to say he’s no good?
Just as she was about to retort, she saw Xie Queshan’s expression suddenly turn cold. Before Nanyi could react, he pulled her over and covered her mouth with his large hands.
“Mmph—” She fell onto Xie Queshan’s knee, and to maintain balance could only awkwardly grab his sleeve.
Suddenly, the room became quiet. Nanyi heard the faint sound of roof tiles shifting from above. Normally, she would have thought it might be that hawk passing over the roof, but seeing Xie Queshan’s vigilant reaction, cold sweat broke out on her back.
Nanyi looked sideways at Xie Queshan, then at the candle nearby, silently asking if he wanted to extinguish the light.
Xie Queshan slowly shook his head. Doing so would only make them appear more guilty. He closed his eyes to listen, catching the barely audible sounds of wind.
Outside the house, about five or six black-clothed figures moved across the eaves, silently landing in the small residence’s back courtyard. The black-clothed figures scattered in different directions throughout the compound.
These were assassins sent by Gusha. Ever since Gusha had begun blatantly suspecting Xie Queshan, this covert squad had been tracking him day and night. Even the most cunning fox couldn’t always cover its tracks perfectly—they had finally followed him to this small courtyard, believing this was very likely where he met with Bingzhu Division associates.
They wanted to thoroughly investigate who was hidden in this courtyard and what was being plotted, reporting everything they saw and heard to Gusha.
Two assassins had already crept along the wall base to the only room with lights on.
Without hesitation, Xie Queshan scooped up Nanyi and passed through the curtain into the inner room. The candlelight cast their shadows on the window paper, appearing romantic.
The inner room had no windows, so Nanyi dared to speak, lowering her voice: “Are these people here for me?”
“No, they’re coming for me.” Xie Queshan said with certainty.
He placed her on the bed, his expression calm.
“It’s fine. These people aren’t carrying large weapons—they’re probably just investigating, they won’t attack.”
Nanyi thought of Zhang Yuehui’s words and asked uncertainly: “The Qi people don’t trust you?”
Xie Queshan didn’t answer, only saying quietly: “Sleep peacefully, don’t worry. I’ll handle it.”
This was just to put Nanyi at ease—there was little Xie Queshan could actually do. He couldn’t directly kill these people, which would only increase his suspicion. Doing nothing was actually the safest course.
Nothing would happen tonight, but in a few more days, that was hard to say. He still didn’t know whether it was Wanyan Jun or Gusha who suspected him, but this residence was being watched. The urgent task was to move Nanyi.
Once she fell asleep, he would think carefully about what to do.
But how could she possibly sleep now! Nanyi felt somewhat anxious. She didn’t know why the Qi people didn’t trust Xie Queshan, but since they had investigated this residence, they might very well investigate her.
After all, she was someone connected to the Bingzhu Division… She couldn’t gauge whether Xie Queshan knew this, nor could she fathom what considerations lay behind his current calm. He might be loyally devoted with a clear conscience, unafraid of Qi investigation, but if she fell into Qi hands again… this time she truly wasn’t sure she could endure another round of interrogation.
Regardless of Xie Queshan’s situation, he was still a big tree—she had to use him as cover.
Steeling herself, she climbed down from the bed.
Xie Queshan pressed down on her hand, looking at her in confusion.
Nanyi had already grasped some clues. A man and woman alone together in a room could inspire many fantasies. She had to tell those people outside—Xie Queshan wasn’t doing anything sneaky in this outer residence, just keeping a mistress in a golden house.
Anyway, Xie Queshan had used this trick before; she was just learning from his example.
Nanyi brushed away his hand and resolutely climbed down from the bed, supporting herself on the bed frame and shaking the wooden bed until it creaked. Just this intense sound alone was enough to make those eavesdroppers outside imagine all sorts of things.
Xie Queshan’s mind had already realized what she was doing, but his body froze. Blood inexplicably rushed to his brain, and these creaking sounds disturbed his ability to think clearly.
Her behavior was completely beyond his expectations. He even couldn’t tell whether he was the person standing by the bed or the bed itself being shaken—not that it mattered much, since both were her tools anyway.
Her rapidly developing cunning made him feel out of control.