Only she could give him the motivation.
Her gaze fell upon Si Xitong, her expression growing increasingly tender. Seeing her suddenly fixated on her, Si Xitong waved her delicate hand in front of her: "Marshal?"
Xie Lanzhi's eyelashes fluttered slightly, her eyes shining with a soft, gentle light. She blurted out to her involuntarily, "Because of you, I am willing to stay in this world."
"..." Si Xitong was taken aback. The unexpected reaction made her take a step back. She quickly turned around, stepped out of the threshold, and her steps were somewhat hurried and haphazard.
She seemed to have been frightened by her own words? Xie Lanzhi was extremely annoyed, thinking that people in ancient times were always reserved in their speech and actions, and that her bluntness just now must have frightened her. After all, the Empress was only seventeen years old.
"Little Phoenix! Me, me." Caught off guard, she tried to chase after him, then stepped into a hot water bottle with a "whoosh," soaking her black boots.
Soon, footsteps sounded outside the door, and Si Xitong entered the room carrying a basin of hot water. Her expression was nonchalant, as if nothing had happened. Xie Lanzhi stood frozen in place, her body tensing unconsciously.
Her gaze subtly shifted from Xie Lanzhi's damp spot: "Marshal, change your boots so you don't catch a cold."
Xie Lanzhi nodded nervously. She tiptoed off her boots and bent down to pick them up.
A pair of delicate hands skillfully took her wet boots, placed them outside the door, and then closed the door behind her.
She then took a soft white towel and stuffed it into Xie Lanzhi's hand, and placed the new boots she had brought on the ground.
Her serious gaze remained unchanged: "Marshal, change your boots."
Xie Lanzhi pulled up the woman who was about to kneel down to put her shoes on, and the woman put them on herself. She then changed the subject, saying, "Your brother might still be alive."
The original text mentions that Si Xinian died in the second year of the Jin Dynasty, but does not specify the month. Now that only one year has passed since the end of the Jin Dynasty, it means that the child is very likely still alive.
Her words made Si Xitong tremble. Perhaps she had other considerations, so she didn't rush to respond.
Si Xitong retorted, "The battle is of utmost importance right now. Does the Marshal intend to hold himself back because of me?"
"Actually, it's just something that happened incidentally for me." Xie Lanzhi wanted her to understand that being wary and cautious was fine, but it would also cause her to miss the opportunity to make amends.
The indoor air was no longer cold, the stove was burning brightly, and the people sitting on both sides stood facing each other. One was calm, while the other quickly lowered her head, but the delicate hand behind her back tightened.
Perhaps the silence had lasted too long, creating a tranquil atmosphere.
Xie Lanzhi said, "I believe we will hear from him soon, although this is just my guess."
“I—I am very worried.”
At this moment, Si Xitong's silence was finally broken.
Si Xitong raised her head. At this moment, her beautiful phoenix eyes were misty with tears, her emotions full of concern. She pursed her lips, which were as red as pearls, and said, "But I have no other choice."
"It has always been your wish that he lives well." Xie Lanzhi raised her hand, but ultimately did not wipe away her tears.
She usually takes the initiative, but when it comes to the Empress's true feelings, she becomes at a loss.
It turns out that touching her soft spot was something she herself didn't want to do.
Such a beautiful woman, elegant and graceful, as radiant as the autumn moon, possessing an extraordinary air of refinement and poise. She's only temporarily down on her luck and staying by my side.
She will rise to great heights sooner or later, and I cannot keep her here if I want her to realize her ambitions.
After figuring things out, Xie Lanzhi faced the situation with equanimity.
She wiped the corner of Si Xitong's eye and told her, "Although the chaotic world is cruel and difficult to survive in, there will always be a day when things settle down. If you don't do it, then no one else will be able to."
Si Xitong felt a touch from her fingertips that she cherished. Her heart trembled slightly, and a strange emotion flashed in her eyes. She said, "Why is the Marshal belittling himself again?"
This wasn't the first time she'd said that; she seemed very confident in herself.
“Because even I can’t do it. Don’t be fooled by how powerful I am now. What’s destined will be the same no matter how things turn out!” Xie Lanzhi said, word by word, “It’s okay if you don’t understand now. You will understand what I’m saying in the future.”
"Qi Tong, go and become a real phoenix, okay!"
Each word of encouragement was something she didn't understand at the moment. But the affection conveyed in her words was irresistible.
Xie Lanzhi always added an air of mystery to her heart that was difficult to fathom through common sense.
Unable to answer, she could only reach out and touch Xie Lanzhi, trying to reach her face through those hands to understand her; her face was a little cold because it had just been frozen.
This face, with its fierce and stern features, still carries an air of menace, yet possesses a pair of gentle eyes that seem to beckon like a spring breeze. It is a mismatch, a boundary between good and evil, a contradictory yet pleasing sight.
A slight upturn at the corners of her lips; she was like this even when she wasn't smiling, and when she was happy, her eyes lit up with joy.
Si Xitong held Xie Ying's body in her hands, her eyes piercing as she looked at the person before her. She possessed a passionate soul, who came to this chaotic world and melted away the icy chill.
Of the millions of people, only she came against the light.
At this moment, she could no longer escape everything about herself.
He faced Xie Lanzhi directly and asked her, "Marshal, no, who are you?"
Her eyes brightened: "Can you tell me what your real name is?"
Xie Lanzhi trembled slightly, but replied with a faint smile, "Xie Lanzhi. My name is Xie Lanzhi."
"Xie, Lan, Zhi," Si Xitong repeated her name.
"Xie Lanzhi".
His words were forceful and resounding.
A series of hurried footsteps came from the outer courtyard, and the messenger outside shouted: "Reporting—I request a letter from Marshal Si Lei, the ruler of the Seven Jin Kingdom!"
"A letter from Tianjing!"
"Please send me a letter, Master Sibo!"
Tianjing Xunxin?! It seems there's news about Si Xinian.
Xie Lanzhi, reluctant to look away from Si Xitong Xiuyan, turned around, took a gray cloak from the clothes rack, and put it on. As she opened the door, she reminded the woman behind her, "Little Phoenix, get ready."
Preparations for one's career, preparations for the wedding, preparations for the future.
The light in the room seemed to dim as Xie Lanzhi closed the door and left.
Si Xitong watched her leave again, and a hint of majesty gradually rose between her gentle, moon-like eyes. She said to the direction she had gone, "I will be more prepared and will not be so passive again."
"Xie Lanzhi".
Because this is the secret you gave me.
A note from the author:
Tweet:
"After Turning the Goddess into a Villain" by Teasing the World
After writing the goddess as a villain, Yu Xiaoxiao regretted it, especially since the other party was one of her readers!
But it was too late, since the ultimate villain in every one of her books was the same person.
OP: Question: I've written about my goddess in every book I write about, and none of them have ended well. Then the goddess herself finds out. What should I do?
1L: What else can we do? Wash our necks and send them by express delivery.
2L: I can understand writing it as the object, but writing it as the villain?
3L: What kind of deep-seated hatred is this?!
...
OP: Stop kidding, I'm serious, she's found out!!! I think she's going to kill me!!!
111L: Oh my god! This is going to be interesting! @One of my good friends
Yu Xiaoxiao: ...
[Yan]: Did you write this? [Screenshot]
[Yu Xiaoxiao]: ...
Chapter 18 Everyone Wants the Si Family's Eldest Daughter to Die
The express mail from Fengyufu, which traveled 800 li, contained not only the mail for Lord Yuhan Silei of the Seven Jin Kingdoms, but also mail for Lord Sibo and Xie Guang.
Xie's messengers were always busy at this time, and several fast horses from the southern region died from exhaustion.
Today, another messenger dismounted and tripped and fell hard in front of Xie Lanzhi. The messenger hurriedly handed over a package: "Grand Marshal, battle report!"
Xie Lanzhi went over and helped Xinbing up. Xinbing was startled and quickly bowed, saying, "Great Marshal, I'm dirty..."
"It must be hard for you to be out here in the dead of winter," Xie Lanzhi said with concern. "You don't need to go back to rest tonight, do you?"
Xinbing looked up in disbelief. The fierce-looking Grand Marshal was actually showing concern for someone. Although it was a little frightening, it warmed his heart. The Southern Region had always had a clear rule: if one person made a mistake, others would be punished. The lightest punishment was eighty strokes of the military rod, and the heaviest was execution on the spot.
Could it be that, as rumored, the Grand Marshal became more amiable after starting a family?
Moreover, the Grand Marshal also distributed winter rations to the people of the Southern Region this year, which made Xinbing's eyes well up with tears.
Xinbing wiped his eyes and said, "Thank you for your consideration, Grand Marshal. I am not afraid of being tired. If it weren't for the Grand Marshal, how could we in the Southern Region have such a good life with enough to eat and wear?"
"This is all we can do for you, it's just a small thing!"
"Don't mention it, it's what I should do. And don't belittle yourself, whether it's guarding the gate or delivering messages, it's a crucial position in the army! It's very important to me." Xie Lanzhi left these words, and took the letter, opening it as she walked.
Completely unaware that behind him, not only was a messenger wiping away tears, but also those on guard duty and patrolling nearby had all heard these words.
The letter from Si Bogong detailed his current progress.
Xie Lanzhi placed the letter on the desk and murmured to herself, "It's time to move on to the next step."
The territory of the Five Jin states.
Si Bogong personally led Xie Shangguang to Xie Ji and told him about the next step of the plan.
When Xie Ji learned that they were to negotiate with the Yellow Bandits, he was completely caught off guard by Xie Lanzhi's words. He asked in disbelief, "Is this a delaying tactic by the Grand Marshal? Or is there another purpose?"
Si Bogong said, "As her benefactor, the Grand Marshal has a duty to rescue the two rulers."
“Brother Jin, it is true that the two rulers are vassals of the Southern Region, but it is too much to ask the Xie family to immediately redeem the ruler who has been kidnapped by 150,000 people.” Xie Ji’s tone was somewhat dissatisfied.
The Grand Marshal actually agreed to Si Bogong's request.
Si Bogong was too lazy to waste words. After thinking for a while, he realized the Grand Marshal's intentions. Without explaining, he said, "You can handle the Grand Marshal's orders as you see fit!"
He delegated all of Xie Lanzhi's handwritten letters to Xie Ji.
Instantly silencing Xie Ji, Xie Ji dared not read the Grand Marshal's letter without permission and could only politely return it to Si Bogong: "It was Xie Ji's fault, Brother Jin, please forgive me."
"I will take you to Tianjing immediately. As for whether that traitor Huang agrees to peace talks, that's up to fate!"