Un sueño de transmigración

Capítulo 105

I hesitated for a moment, but continued writing without stopping: Do not trust my father, the Yun family is unreliable.

He turned to look at me, his expression inscrutable. I met his gaze calmly, smiled, and continued writing with my head down: "Xiaobai, you know I won't lie to you about this."

He lowered his head in silence, then turned away silently. I watched him leave the room before putting down my pen and tearing the paper to shreds. A will—did it really exist? Even if it did, would it remain in the fox's hands? Would the fox really exchange a will for me?

Over the next few days, my body gradually began to recover. Xiao Bai used me to exchange for the imperial edict, but at the same time, she seemed to genuinely care for my health, not even flinching when preparing medicine and treating my injuries. I could get out of bed and walk around, and my activity range was limited to this courtyard. However, if I wanted to run away, firstly, my body couldn't support it, and secondly, I had tried it out the other day. Actually, the courtyard wasn't empty; everyone was hidden in the shadows. As soon as I reached the door, I was stopped by a man in black who suddenly appeared.

Longzhou isn't big, but finding someone isn't easy, especially now that I've lost the Phoenix Orchid Jade Pendant. I don't know when the fox will find me. As for the seven-colored glass bracelet on my wrist, I secretly blew on it several times, but no one appeared. That day, I asked Mu Mo and the others to protect Cui'er as she left, while I followed Xiao Bai here. I suppose we lost contact then. Since Xiao Bai is wary of the fox, it will be even harder for others to find me. I only hope that Ye Feng and Cui'er escaped safely that day.

I stood at the window, gazing blankly at the cliff outside. These past few days, I had been trying to probe Xiaobai, intentionally or unintentionally, but I hadn't gotten any useful information. After he left in silence that day, I thought he might have been moved, and with all the persuasion I had done these past few days, I thought things might take a turn for the better. But Xiaobai just remained silent, neither agreeing nor showing impatience with my earnest advice, nor arguing back.

"He accepted the jade pendant and arranged to come over tomorrow." A voice sounded from behind, and without looking, one knew it was Xiaobai.

I leaned out the window at the cliff again. Did the fox really offer the will in exchange for me? I turned around, walked to the table, picked up the pen, and wrote on the paper: Even if the will passes the throne to you, it won't be easy for you to return to Longyao and ascend the throne.

I still couldn't speak. He watched me write, without saying a word.

"Xiao Bai, do you really want that throne?" I wrote, then looked up at him. A flicker of panic crossed his eyes. I looked down and wrote again, "Or are you just resentful, just wanting recognition?"

He didn't say anything, turned around and walked out. I hurriedly got up and grabbed him. He looked back at me with a slight surprise. I held him tightly and dragged him back to the table. I shook my head at him and used my free hand to continue writing: You and he are each other's only family.

He suddenly jerked his hand away, breaking free quickly and abruptly. Caught off guard, I fell to the ground. He didn't even notice and left the room without looking back. I sat down on the floor to sort out my thoughts. Fox is coming tomorrow. Why do I keep feeling there's something wrong with the will? Even if that will truly existed back then, and Fox obtained it, wouldn't he have destroyed it on the spot? Would he have deliberately left this hidden danger, waiting for it to be discovered and used to threaten him someday?

But how could Xiaobai not understand? Since he insisted on using me as a bargaining chip, he must be confident that the will is indeed still in the fox's hands, right? Recalling the look in the fox's eyes when he asked about Xiaobai's situation at the imperial mausoleum that day, I suddenly became a little worried. Although Xiaobai had made preparations in advance, given the fox's personality, how could he fight a battle he was not sure of winning and keep an appointment he was not sure of winning?

Will my attempts to lower Xiaobai's guard back backfire and harm him? I hurriedly got up to look for Xiaobai, searching every room in the courtyard but finding no trace of him. I returned to my own room in vain. Even if I found him, what could I say? It was impossible to persuade him to give up halfway. So what could I tell him? Tell him to be careful of foxes? He'd be careful even without my advice. But what else could I say?

I didn't see Xiaobai until evening. A stranger in black brought out the food, but I didn't have much of an appetite and only ate a little before asking him to take it away. After waiting some more time, still no Xiaobai, I closed the door and lay down on the bed, my unease growing stronger.

The next day, I was woken up at the crack of dawn. Xiao Bai stood by the bed with a bowl of medicine in his hand, looking tired. When he saw that I was awake, he put the bowl of medicine on the bedside table, turned around and walked out. As he closed the door behind him, he said coldly, "He will be here soon. Get ready."

So soon, the fox is arriving so early. Doesn't he have morning court today? Is this the place Xiaobai arranged to meet? I hurriedly got up, wanting to call out to Xiaobai, but he didn't look at me, and simply closed the door for me and left.

After I got up, took my medicine, and opened the door, I saw Xiaobai standing in the center of the courtyard, his back to me. The sky was just beginning to lighten, and in early winter, his silhouette seemed even more desolate. There was no moment more certain that Xiaobai didn't want the throne. From the first time I saw him at the Qingyun Inn, I could sense his despair, his pain, his resentment, and even the yearning for warmth beneath his cold exterior. But when had I ever sensed any desire for power? If he still harbored any lingering ambition for power, his journey wouldn't have been so tumultuous.

I walked up to him, reached out, and took his hand. I believed that as long as I tried, Xiaobai and the fox would find a good solution, at least not a life-or-death struggle. He turned his head to look at me, his expression slightly taken aback.

Almost at the same moment Xiaobai suddenly pulled me behind him, I saw the fox's figure appear at the entrance of the courtyard. It took me a long time to get back to Xiaobai's side, but I couldn't get any closer to the person in front of me. I wanted to speak, but no sound came out. I just stared at the fox slowly strolling in through the doorway. He was dressed in black, and there was a clear hint of fatigue between his brows, but it couldn't hide the innate elegance and languid air about him. He looked at me, approaching step by step, never glancing at Xiaobai. His smile was gentle and comforting, but his peach blossom eyes were full of confident control.

My vision suddenly became blurry, and I desperately told myself that I had to hold back my tears.

"You've come." Xiaobai's voice was cold, but he tightened his grip on my hand even more. I couldn't help but pull my hand away in pain and turned to look at him. Only then did he loosen his grip slightly, as if he had noticed.

"As you wish, just me alone." The fox stopped five meters away from us. Its peach blossom eyes narrowed slightly when it looked at my hands clasped with Xiaobai's. It looked up at Xiaobai casually, a lazy smile on its lips, but its eyes turned sharp and cold in an instant.

Alone? Little White asked the fox to go alone? Did the fox really come alone?

I looked up at the fox. To be honest, I didn't really believe he had come all this way alone. He had his responsibilities, his imperial ambitions. The fact that he came was enough for me. I also believed he would arrange everything, not only for himself but also for me.

But I couldn't help feeling a little worried. It seemed like there were only the three of us in this courtyard, but I knew there were many hidden experts lurking in the shadows. And Fox had come in so openly; where were his guards? Judging from the situation, they probably couldn't have followed! Although I had guessed he knew martial arts, I had never actually seen him fight anyone. Sigh, I'm so worried. If they really started fighting, who would be the first to fall—Little White or Fox?

"Where is the will?" a cold voice asked.

"Royal brother," the fox suddenly called out affectionately, and Xiaobai tightened her grip on my hand almost simultaneously. Sigh, I can't blame Xiaobai; even I couldn't help but shudder inwardly. The fox's address was so fake. I glared at him, but he still smiled at Xiaobai and continued slowly and gently, "Hasn't the imperial edict always been with you, Royal Brother?"

What? There really is a will, and it's with Xiaobai? How is that possible! Fox, that's not fair; you can't lie like that. I turned to look at Xiaobai beside me. Although he seemed calm, I knew he was definitely not at peace inside.

"You switched the will back then, so why are you saying such nonsense now?"

Ah, Xiaobai's voice still sounds calm and composed, but a switch? Could it be that Xiaobai really did find the will, but the fox switched it? Wow, the fox really is a fox.

Xiao Bai spoke directly, but the fox didn't show a hint of displeasure. He stood there leisurely, his smile growing even deeper, and said lazily, "In truth, why are you so fixated on this imperial edict, brother? Sometimes the truth can be more hurtful."

Why does this will seem different from what Xiaobai thought, based on what the fox is saying? But heavens above, we can't be fooled by this kid!

"I'm afraid you're the one who's hurt by the truth, otherwise why would you switch the bodies?" I'm certain that there was a cold smile on Xiaobai's lips, and what he said made a lot of sense.

"How did you figure out the will was fake, brother? Just because it didn't name you as the heir to the throne?" Compared to Xiaobai's sneer, the fox's smile seemed even more sarcastic. Sigh, these two brothers are truly heartless, but I couldn't speak. Now wasn't the time to recklessly prevent the tragedy, so I remained silent.

Strangely, Xiaobai fell silent at this moment. Given the fox's cunning, even if they were to switch the items, they should have used a convincing fake. Did Xiaobai really believe it was a fake will simply because of the identity of the heir to the throne? Was this certainty because Xiaobai already knew the contents of the real will?

As I was still pondering this, I saw the fox narrow its peach blossom eyes, looking at Little White with an inscrutable expression, and lazily speak again: "By the way, the imperial brother must have discovered that the secret hidden in the will has suddenly disappeared!"

I not only felt Xiaobai's hand tremble slightly as it held mine, but I also sensed a strange emotion flash across the fox's eyes as he stared intently at Xiaobai. It was so fleeting that I couldn't quite make out what it was before he suddenly laughed, seemingly quite pleased with himself, his eyes returning to their deep, unfathomable depths.

The mystery within the will? That cunning fox! I'm sure his words just now were a test, and now he's satisfied with the answer he wanted. Damn, what mystery could the will hold? "I never imagined there was such a great secret hidden in the palace." The fox's words from that day suddenly flashed through my mind. Could the will contain a shocking secret? If so, then Xiaobai already knew this secret, which is why he was certain the will he had was switched. And the fox must have discovered part of the secret, which is why he never destroyed the will!

Sigh, it seems so simple, yet so incredibly complicated. My heart is pounding! Right, my panic isn't because of the two brothers or the complexity of the palace secrets, but because Xiaobai suddenly tightened his grip, pulling me close so tightly it felt like even breathing was a little difficult.

"Let go!" I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. Fox, however, uttered only two words, his voice soft yet icy cold. I desperately turned to look at him. His smile vanished, his brows furrowed, his eyes chilling. This was the second time I'd seen Fox so openly display his anger. The last time, Fox sat in the Hall of State Affairs, asking me and the other ministers how to resolve the predicament of Wangyue joining forces with Tianqing Hanxing to attack Longyao, and he had the same expression then. And all of this felt like a very, very long time ago.

"The imperial edict," Xiaobai said crisply.

My heart skipped a beat. If the imperial edict was related to a major secret within the palace, and this secret was quietly changing the course of the world, would the fox really exchange it for me without hesitation? Ugh, my girlish mentality is acting up. I suddenly wanted to secretly weigh what was more important to the fox. I feel a little ashamed of myself.

"Take the imperial edict and release Qianqian."

Uh, the fox answered so readily. 555, but why did it instinctively feel that the will was fake? Well, I always felt the fox was being a little cunning!

Without Xiaobai lifting a finger, a man in black appeared. The fox reached into her robes and handed a yellow scroll to the man in black, her attitude resolute, without the slightest hesitation. The man in black glanced at it briefly, deemed it passed the first test, and then handed the scroll to Xiaobai.

Xiao Bai glanced at it briefly before taking the imperial edict, but instead of opening it immediately, he concealed it in his robes. I looked at Xiao Bai in surprise. Why was he going to such lengths to retrieve the edict? Wasn't it to find out who the heir to the throne was? If he had no interest in the throne, was he only doing this for the secret hidden within the edict? If the edict truly contained a great secret, would it be like the Heavenly Sacred Pool and the Soul Guardian of Tianqing—a secret known only to each heir to the throne in each country? Could it be part of the secrets of the six kingdoms' palaces?

"The item has been delivered to you. Release Qianqian." The fox said as it approached us.

Little White put his arm around my waist and moved slightly to the back. At the same time, five or six men in black suddenly appeared in the courtyard and blocked the fox and us.

Ah, Xiaobai is cheating!