I put my arm around the strong man's slender waist

Chapter 28

Having met with a rebuff, she felt awkward and gave me an embarrassed smile. After a long pause, she finally spoke, "Sister Su Xie, do you know that the priest is currently being held captive in Licheng Palace?"

Thirty-two

My fingers paused slightly as I poured myself a cup of hot tea.

Seeing that I didn't answer, she asked me again, "Sister Su Xie, don't you know that the High Priest has been captured and taken to Licheng Palace? They say he was carried out of Jin Bihui's mansion, and he was covered in blood after being shot with an arrow."

"I know." What I didn't know was what Ye Baizhi meant by this. Why did she specifically come to tell me this news? What was she planning? Wasn't it her and Ruan Bicheng who teamed up to release me and set up this plan? Now, pretending to know nothing about what's going on is just too low-class.

And if I remember correctly, she was a candidate for protector personally promoted by Yan Shu. Now that she's used him, has she abandoned him? Does she no longer need Yan Shu's protection? Or has she found another backer?

I waited patiently for her to continue, and sure enough, she paused and explained, "I originally agreed when Alliance Leader Ruan said he wanted to save my sister, without thinking about what it was, but I never expected it would harm the High Priest..."

Her eyes reddened, and small tears welled up in them. "If anything were to happen to you, High Priest, I would feel guilty for the rest of my life..."

So what? The main point hasn't been clearly stated yet. Could it really be a heartfelt confession?

I took a sip of tea and watched her cry with great patience.

Leng Baichun said impatiently, "Su Xie, can't you get straight to the point? Are you trying to kill yourself? This is so annoying!"

How ungrateful! Let the actor finish the play.

I wasn't in a hurry, but Ye Baizhi wiped away her tears and suddenly looked up at me, "Sister Su Xie, do you know why the Queen wanted to arrest the High Priest?"

Because that was the son she abandoned, and her conscience suddenly kicked in? Seeing Ye Baizhi's eager eyes, I knew she would continue even if I didn't speak, so I politely shook my head.

She continued, "Sister Su Xie has probably heard that the Queen was a concubine of a merchant from the Central Plains. She and that merchant had a son, who is..." She deliberately lowered her voice, "...who is the High Priest."

I said "Oh," and seeing her surprised and disbelieving look, I added, circling back, "Oh? Is that so!"

She nodded and said, "The Queen brought him into the palace. During the Licheng War, the Queen handed him over to protect the eldest prince. She thought he would die in the chaos of war, but unexpectedly, he was rescued by the old cult leader. The Queen only found out about this in recent years."

Leng Baichun once said that the old cult leader brought Yan Shu back from a mass grave full of corpses in the city. I had heard this about it on and off before.

"So what?" I couldn't help but ask, "Why is the Queen going to such lengths and resorting to any means to capture him and bring him back? Has she had a change of heart? Is she feeling uneasy?"

At the crucial moment, Ye Baizhi suddenly lowered her eyes and said hesitantly, "I heard..." Her hesitant expression piqued the curiosity before she continued, "It's because Prince Baoze was born with a weak heart and lungs, and it's said he won't live past sixteen unless... he gets a heart transplant."

Heart transplant? I've never heard of a human heart and lungs being transplanted. Wouldn't having your heart and lungs removed be certain death?

"A heart transplant?" Leng Baichun suddenly interjected, "I've heard Shen Qing talk about heart transplants to save lives, but it's an extremely dangerous thing. If it's not done right, one person might lose their life, and the other might not be safe either."

Ye Baizhi nodded, her eyes reddening again. "The Queen wants to use the High Priest's heart to save Prince Baoze... They say they are twin brothers, but only the High Priest's heart is usable."

I looked at the deep, green teacup in my hand and smiled inexplicably. I looked up and asked Ye Baizhi, "Do you think it's good or bad that the Queen sacrificed another son to save her own? Anyway, the sons were all born to her."

She paused for a moment, looking at me with a puzzled expression.

I took a sip of tea and said, "I'm hungry. Why isn't the young master back yet? I told him to send Changhuan to buy some food, in case he gets lost before he gets back."

I got up and looked out the window; there wasn't a soul in the city of Li, which was shrouded in heavy rain.

Ye Baizhi looked at me with some surprise, then stood up and followed me, saying, "Sister Su Xie, are you just going to watch the High Priest be murdered like this?"

Oh dear, here comes today's topic. After all that buildup, we've finally gotten to the main point.

I turned to look at her, equally surprised, and said, "You don't mean you want me to go to the palace to save him, do you?" Seeing her matter-of-fact expression, I couldn't help but laugh. "I, Su Xie, have no power or influence, just a worthless life. How do you think I can save him?"

She pursed her lips and said righteously, "I would gladly die for the High Priest. How will Sister Su Xie know if she doesn't try? Why don't we..."

"Why should I?" I interrupted her. She stared at me in surprise. I looked down and smiled, "It's your business if you're willing to die for it, why should I be the one to do it?"

She was stunned for a moment, then her face turned pale. She bit her lip, lowered her head, and said very softly, "I understand. Since you don't want to, sister... I'm sorry to have bothered you." She turned around, bowed to Leng Baichun, and stepped out of the room.

I watched as she went out and said to Changhuan, "Go and find the young master, just in case he really is lost."

Chang Huan nodded and left.

I stood under the window, looking at the city shrouded in rain and mist, with raindrops forming lines on the eaves. "This rain is really heavy."

"Su Xie," Leng Baichun called to me.

"Hmm?" I idly scribbled on the window frame, not turning around, and asked, "What is it?"

She rarely asked me so seriously from behind, "Do you really think that way? You don't plan to save Yan Shu?"

I leaned against the window frame and looked back at her. "Ye Baizhi came here so eagerly to give me information so I could save someone. Although I can't figure out what tricks she's up to, she hates me so much. If she comes to my door, it can't be anything good. Do you think I'm stupid?"

Leng Baichun nodded, then hesitated for a long time before asking me again, "So, are you going to save Yan Shu?"

I lowered my head and thought for a moment, then turned and peered through the window. In the misty rain, Chang Huan stood on the cobblestone street, holding an umbrella, looking up at me with a faint smile. I couldn't help but squint and exhale, saying, "Xiao Jiu seems to like you a lot..."

I heard a violent cough behind me, and Leng Baichun threw a pillow at me and yelled, "What nonsense are you spouting, you little brat! How long have I known Xiao Jiu!"

“You two have been spending every day together these past few days, what’s impossible?” I turned back and looked at her with a smile. “How long does it take to like someone? As long as you click, that’s enough.”

"Su Xie! If you keep talking nonsense, I'll tear your mouth apart!" She glared at me fiercely. "I don't want Gu Shaoting to misunderstand."

I suddenly stopped talking. She glared at me and said in a calm tone, "Although he may not care, I do. I want him to know that I like him completely and without any pretense."

The sound of rain outside the window drowned out her voice, but her pale face remained calm and expressionless. I couldn't help but ask, "How long have you liked Gu Shaoting?"

She lowered her head and laughed. "You said it's enough to like someone if you're attracted to them. Back then... I liked him even before I knew his name." She raised her head, her face weary, and mocked me. "Someone like you who only understands physical pleasure wouldn't understand."

I grinned at her and said, "I can interpret your words as envy, or jealousy from not being able to have it, and a little bit of resentment."

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In the dead of night, just as the heavy rain had stopped, I received nine messages from the Left Protector via carrier pigeon. The messages went from a few lines to a single line, and then to just two words—"Return immediately!!!"

I reluctantly got up and wrote a letter back to the worried Left Protector, stating that I would take the young master back to the sect once the rain stopped, and that he could also find a house on a mountain not far from the Demonic Sect to settle Leng Baichun. Everything would be discussed in detail upon returning to the sect.

I chose a shrewd-looking carrier pigeon, hid the letter, and then released it into the starless, moonless night—the hope of the Demonic Sect, the hope of the Left Protector…

Just as I was about to go back to sleep, I turned around and bumped into someone's chest. He said softly, "Still not asleep so late?"

I took two steps back in an instant, my back pressed against the railing, and looked up at Ruan Bicheng, who was dressed neatly, and said, "I'm about to go back to sleep, thank you for your concern, Alliance Leader."

Just as I was about to walk past him, he suddenly called out to me from behind: "Lu Ning!"

My heart skipped a beat, and for a split second it almost burst out. I instinctively wanted to respond, but the sound stuck in my throat, and I took another step.

He stepped forward and blocked my way. "Miss Su, have you ever heard of reincarnation?"

Under the deep darkness of the night, he stared intently at me, waiting for my answer. I smiled calmly and said, "Does the Alliance Leader even believe in these superstitious beliefs?"

He looked at me carefully and said, "You didn't believe it before, but you had to believe it after hearing people say that you saw it with your own eyes."

"Who?" I looked up at him and asked, "Ye Baizhi? When did the Alliance Leader become so trusting of people?"

"Besides her, there was another person who told me the same thing." He lowered his eyes, scrutinizing me. "If it were Young Master Ruan Lianhua of the Demonic Sect who told me this personally, do you think I should believe him or not?"

Ruan Lianhua...

That close proximity made me uncomfortable, so I took a step back and said, "Alliance Leader, believe whatever you want. I, Su Xie, have never believed in ghosts and gods. Excuse me, may I pass?"

He seemed not to hear, continuing on his own, "He said I would regret it if I didn't save you... I missed one chance to save you, and whether it's true or not, I don't want to miss a second one, Lu..."

"Alliance Leader," I interrupted him, looking up at him, "do you want me to repay you with my body?"

He was slightly taken aback.

I stepped forward with a smile, hooked my arm around his neck, and said softly, "Actually, the Alliance Leader doesn't need to go to so much trouble and make up so many reasons. Su Xie has never refused anything as a form of repayment..." I looked at him, stood on tiptoe, and slowly kissed his lips.

His breathing was slightly heavy, just touching his chin, when he was suddenly pushed away.

I leaned against the railing, tilted my head, and smiled at him. "What? Does the Alliance Leader feel something's off? Or should I act a little more reserved and introverted?"

He looked at me, his eyes unfathomable in the deep night, and said in a slightly harsh tone, "You know what I'm saying..."

"I don't know," I said impatiently. "Since the Alliance Leader doesn't want to repay with his body, I'll go back to sleep." I walked past him and went straight back to my room.

He said from behind, "Are you going back to the Demonic Sect?"

“Yes.” Without turning around, I stepped into the room and said, “The longer I spend with you righteous people, the more I miss those beasts in our demonic sect.”

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I closed the door and went to sleep. When I woke up, the rain was pouring down again. The gray, damp city of Licheng was almost covered in moss. I got up and had a sip of tea. I heard Changhuan whisper outside the door, "Is the young lady awake?"

I hurriedly answered and went to open the door. As I opened it, I saw a young palace maid standing behind him. "And this is..."

The young palace maid bowed to me and said, "This servant is from Princess Jinglian's side. The princess invites Miss Su to enter the palace."

"Entering the palace?" I glanced at the cold tea in my hand and asked, "Princess, what is the purpose?"

The palace maid smiled sweetly and said, "The princess has already set an auspicious date for her wedding, and I guess she wants to invite Miss Su to catch up with her."

Chapter Thirty-Three

Princess Jinglian sent a carriage to pick me up. I smiled at the little palace maid and said, "Please wait for me a moment, I'm going to change my clothes."

The maid nodded in agreement, and I told Changhuan to come inside with me.

I closed the door, pulled him to the bedside, and whispered, "Did you send the message by carrier pigeon that I asked you to send last night?"

He nodded. "It has been sent as instructed by the young lady. I reckon the Left Protector has already received it."

"What about the young master?" I asked him as I dressed. "Did he notice anything?"

Changhuan pulled my hair out, bent down to tie my belt, and said calmly, "I don't think so. He was drunk by a girl last night and hasn't woken up yet."

I responded and quickly put on my clothes and shoes, instructing, "Remember, you absolutely mustn't let the Left Protector find the Young Master, and don't let him run around." I then turned around and took a small cloth bag from the cabinet, stuffing it into my sleeve. "I'm leaving now. Remember to hide Leng Baichun and the Young Master well after I leave, and don't let Ruan Bicheng find out." After thinking for a moment, I added, "If I don't return, you will go back to the sect with the Left Protector, understand?"

Chang Huan nodded, then suddenly knelt down, lowering his eyes and saying, "Chang Huan will wait for you to return, Miss."

I opened my mouth to say something, but then swallowed it back down. I stepped forward to help him up and smiled at him, saying, "Okay, let's go back to the Saluo Sect together when I get back."

I went out the door and followed the palace maid downstairs. I happened to run into the leader of the alliance. I smiled at him from afar, cupped my fists in greeting, and got into the carriage without delay.

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I had never seen a small town on the border so heavily that it was almost flooded. I leaned against the carriage and rummaged through the small cloth bag I had brought with me, stuffing the bottles of celadon medicine into my bosom and the small box into my sleeve.

I never expected that the miscellaneous medicine bag I swiped from Pharmacist Shen would be so useful. I hope I'll have another chance to swipe the antidote for the Gu poison in Su Xie's body from him in the future.

The carriage drove all the way to Licheng Palace and stopped in front of the palace gate, where a young palace maid came to greet me with an umbrella.

I followed behind with my sleeves folded, passing through the corridor and stopping in front of the side hall. After the little palace maid went in to announce my arrival, I heard Jinglian say clearly from inside the hall, "Su Xie, come in quickly!"

Just as I was about to step into the main hall to pay my respects, Jinglian stepped forward and grabbed my hand, saying anxiously, "You've finally arrived! I've been waiting for you for so long!"

I looked up and saw her smile. She had lost some weight and become fairer, looking much prettier.

She waved for all the palace maids and servants to leave, then pulled me towards the inner room, nagging me incessantly, "You have no idea how annoyed I am! Every day I have to learn this and that, and I even have to pay my respects! Where do all these rules come from for a mere Prince of Licheng! And that fatso..."

I listened with a smile, nodding repeatedly in agreement. Suddenly, I noticed a brocade wedding dress with a phoenix spreading its wings spread out on the brocade couch in the inner room, and couldn't help but ask, "Is that your wedding dress?"