Chapter 46 Chapter 46 If He Was Just Ji Ran—

Before going to find Ji Ran, Biezhi went somewhere else.

She deliberately avoided the crowded streets, wearing a knee-length veil and entering the library at the end of the street, whispering to the shopkeeper who came to greet her.

The shopkeeper waved for the waiter, instructing him to search the backyard library. "Please wait here for a moment, young lady."

Biezhi nodded, turned around, and found a window where she could observe the surroundings. Soon, the waiter found the picture book and brought it to her. She took it, pulled out some silver, and handed it to the waiter. As the silver fell into his hand, she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure passing through the window.

Through the veil, Zhang Yan didn't see her face clearly, and walked past without glancing.

Biezhi's subconscious frown dropped a little, and she quietly tightened her veil. She stepped out of the library threshold and walked away quickly, in the opposite direction.

She didn't go directly to the main entrance of the Wuwei Shop, but took a side door.

The waiter cleaning the backyard had received word early on that Biezhi was likely coming, and had been waiting in the yard since dawn. Unexpectedly, he waited nearly two hours before she showed up.

The master had been waiting for half an hour.

The waiter feigned surprise. "It's been a long time since I've seen you, young lady. How did you find time to come today?"

"I happened to be passing by, so I came to see you," Biezhi said tersely. Glancing around, she saw no sign of Jiran, and looked away. "Is Jiran not here?"

"Yes," the waiter casually put down his broom. "Is the young lady the same as usual?"

It would have been better not to mention it, but after mentioning it, Biezhi felt a little hungry. She even suspected she'd slept too long these past few days, starving herself.

But it wasn't appropriate for her to be around outsiders too often right now. She hesitated for a moment, "Can we have the soup dumplings in the backyard?"

"You're a regular customer, the shopkeeper won't refuse." The secret guard, disguised as a cleaning attendant, turned to glance at Wang Chuan, still busy in the shop, his eyes flicking to his master, who had disguised himself as Ji Ran. "Wait a moment, young lady. I'll go talk to the shopkeeper." After a pause, he smiled and said, "And ask Ji Ran to come over."

Biezhi thanked him, found a stone bench in a corner of the courtyard, sat down, took out the album she had just bought, and slowly flipped through it.

She was a little nervous.

She seemed to have prepared herself for Ji Ran's rejection, but she couldn't help but feel nervous.

They'd already kissed, so he wouldn't refuse, right?

She'd already taken responsibility for him, so why wouldn't Ji Ran take responsibility for her?

But...

if he left with her, he'd be taking a huge risk. People instinctively seek benefits and avoid risks, and she couldn't force him to face a crisis with her that might arise at any moment.

Two men appeared before Biezhi, punching each other repeatedly.

One calmly tried to dissuade her, counting on his fingers that they might be hunted after leaving the capital. Why put Ji Ran in such a predicament? Besides, he might not even want to leave. The other, furious, clutched his waist, eyes widening, demanding why he wouldn't agree, saying he could definitely protect him with his own skills. Before

they could reach a conclusion, the sudden sound of footsteps interrupted their argument.

Biezhi's lingering thoughts faded as she quickly raised her gaze. The moment she took in the man's handsome features, Biezhi's inner conflict vanished.

She patted the stone bench beside her and waved excitedly, "Come here."

Fu Huaiqing lowered his gaze slightly, scanning the album on the table. In a few strokes, the album depicted a bridal chamber: a couple in wedding attire seated on a couch, gazing at each other with affection.

He tightened his palms holding the wooden table and walked over with a normal expression.

Biezhi stood up and took the soup dumplings from the wooden table, found a place farthest away from the album and put them there, clasped Jiran's wrist with her palm and pulled him over.

She tapped the album with her other knuckles, staring at the man with blinking almond eyes: "Look at this."

Fu Huaiqing stared at her silently for a long time, and when she was about to hold the album in front of him in a hurry, he lowered his gaze.

Biezhi pointed at the girl in the album, then pointed at himself with his backhand, and then pointed at the man beside the girl, pointing his finger at Jiran, tilting his head to look at him: "How about you and I do the same?"

Jiran neither nodded nor shook his head, but just looked at the album.

His fingertips landed on a corner of the page and turned a few pages back.

The whole album depicts the wedding.

If it weren't for the villain in her heart telling Biezhi that impatientness wouldn't get the best deal, she would have wanted to make the decision for him. "You and I have no blood relatives in the world, so the wedding can be simple. I'll go find Master to make the decision for us. You can find some friends you're familiar with, or I can ask Tingzhi and the other senior brothers and sisters to come."

Speaking of senior brothers and sisters, she couldn't help but think of a spoiler and curled her lips.

A glimpse of Biezhi's particularly disdainful look in her eyes, and Fu Huaiqing knew she was thinking of herself, the master of Xianyun Tower. Her thin lips moved slightly, then fell silent.

"I can't show up in front of others right now. That means we'll have to leave on the wedding night. After we've finished our ceremony and sent off our master and the others, we'll leave the same night." As Biezhi spoke, she began to vaguely sense an opportunity and a plan for the future. "Huishui Town is too conspicuous now. We won't go there." "

Then we'll head south to Yaozhou, a place I've longed to visit for years." Biezhi had visited Yaozhou two years ago while on a mission. Located in the south of the Yangtze River, it was a very pleasant place to live. She'd spent two weeks there and didn't want to return after the mission was over. "I still have nearly 2,500 taels on me. We'll start a small business there." She glanced down at the steaming soup dumplings and smiled. "We'll sell them."

Technically, the dumplings were a witness to their journey.

Biezhi's eyes curved at the thought.

She raised her eyes with a smile and looked at the man. "What do you think?"

Fu Huaiqing's expression changed several times. He could hear the eagerness hidden beneath her excited and yearning words. He calmly observed the energetic girl.

If he were just Ji Ran—

then Fu Huaiqing's eyes flickered with helplessness as her thoughts drifted to her.

The man remained silent for a long time.

Suddenly, her heart, swirling with her emotions, sank, and Biezhi felt a sense of uncertainty

. Ji Ran didn't seem to want to leave.

Although she had been mentally prepared, she felt a sense of loss, even bewilderment.

Her mouth moved, unsure what to ask or say. Their relationship was clearly closer than others, wasn't it?

Ji Ran had made his own choice, and that was right. She had some expectations, and that was right too. Biezhi knew all of this, yet she still had questions.

Why?

She bit her lip slightly, feigning indifference as she reached for the steaming dumplings in the soup, scooping them up one by one and stuffing them into her mouth.

After finishing a bowl of soup dumplings, I still didn’t get the answer.

Biezhi lifted her drooping eyelids and looked up at Jiran, who was quietly looking at her. She could see the hesitation in his eyes, as if there was a lot he wanted to say to her, but couldn't because of his physical disability. She felt a little irritated and helpless.

After staring at each other for a moment, she suddenly stood up.

The album Fu Huaiqing was flipping through was snatched away from her hands, closed in front of her eyes, and stuffed into her arms. The joy in the girl's eyes had disappeared, becoming dull and indifferent.

Biezhi didn't want to force it, but she didn't give up so easily.

She made the number seven and said, "I'll come to you in seven days, and then you can tell me your choice." For the first time, Biezhi didn't want to stay there at all, it was really affecting her mood.

"Think about it again." Biezhi waved her hand and left without looking back.

Biezhi was not surprised when her wrist was grabbed; she even expected it, but she didn't want Jiran to think she was forcing him to make a choice.

She turned and pulled her wrist back. "In seven days, when you and I have thought it through, we'll talk again, okay?"

Fu Huaiqing's eyes dimmed, as if he could see her determination to never set foot in this place again after she left. He exhaled deeply and retracted his palm, which had been frozen in mid-air.

Biezhi knew that Ji Ran had definitely not heard her words, so she waved to the waiter who was stationed at the gate connecting the front and back yards. She had seen him sign to Ji Ran a long time ago, and when the waiter came, she repeated what she had said, "Just tell him to listen."

The waiter stared at her blankly, then secretly glanced at his master, who was surrounded by a faint coldness. He didn't know what had happened between them. It was the first time he had seen Biezhi look so indifferent, like a sunflower that grows towards the sun, wilted by the scorching sunlight.

Biezhi watched the waiter finish signing before leaving, and within half a breath, he disappeared.

Jiang Yue, who was hiding in the back kitchen, heard everything. When he was sure that Bie Zhi had left and would not come back, he walked out silently and stood quietly behind the prince.

Fu Huaiqing stood for a moment, then left at a brisk pace.

Jiang Yue hurriedly followed him, not forgetting to turn back and whisper to the guards to take the memorials that had just been reviewed.

"Call the cabinet ministers into the palace." Fu Huaiqing jumped on his horse, left a word and rode away.

Near dusk, the guards guarding the palace gate heard the sound of hurried horse hooves before they saw the visitor. He immediately turned around and ordered others to make way, then turned sideways and bowed to greet the visitor.

Fu Huaiqing stopped his horse in front of the palace gate, jumped off the horse and threw the whip to the guard.

The guard took the whip, and when he caught a glimpse of the visitor's face from the corner of his eye, he froze in place. In an instant, he came to his senses and stepped forward to block the visitor's way. The man looked at him with a sharp gaze, and he couldn't help but tremble.

Fortunately, Jiang Yue came over at this time.

He glanced at the guard, who immediately understood that it was His Highness Prince Su in disguise and took a few steps back, sweat on his forehead.

Fu Huaiqing withdrew his gaze. "Has Su Ci arrived?"

"Lord Su has already arrived." The guard quickly realized that His Highness Prince Su was not going to pursue his misconduct. He added, "He arrived half an hour ago."

Fu Huaiqing hummed a faint "hmm" and hurried away. Before arriving at Chengtian Palace, he removed his disguise and changed his clothes.

As soon as he arrived at the gate of Chengtian Palace, Su Ci, who had been waiting for a long time in the palace courtyard, immediately came to greet him. He took out a memorial from his sleeve and handed it forward: "The guards sent as spies have come at full speed to report that two months before the Suzhou massacre, Xilan State General Helan Daisong disguised himself as a merchant from our dynasty and entered the country."

"However, in the six months before the Hezhou massacre, he was leading troops at the border, right under General Zhu's nose. I don't think he can leave for a while. It's not ruled out that someone did imitate his methods in the Hezhou case."

Fu Huaiqing took the memorial and scanned it quickly.

Seeing the words "Xu Family" on the memorial, he was not surprised. "Order someone to follow Xu Wenche closely and make sure nothing happens to him."

The imperial guards who followed him accepted the order.

"He was able to enter the country disguised as a member of the Xu family. The Xu family head must have known this. Helan Daisong had already returned to the battlefield when the Suzhou Bian family incident occurred. He certainly couldn't have acted personally, so it could only have been the Xu family, with whom he had close ties." Su Ci speculated slowly, his expression growing more serious the deeper he thought. He frowned. "As for the Hezhou case, it's not impossible that the Xu family was acting again under Helan Daisong's name."

Fu Huaiqing closed the memorial and handed it back to him. "The Xu family is an accomplice, not the mastermind."

"Of course." Su Ci understood this. "If Helan Daisong hadn't given the order, the Xu family wouldn't have acted rashly."

After all, the Bian family is also a prominent and wealthy merchant in the Li Dynasty. Even if the Xu family wants to dominate, they have to consider the Bian family's centuries of history. Even the local government has to show some respect. They are not some scumbag who can be bullied.

Fu Huaiqing didn't reply. "Jiang Yue."

"Your subordinate is here." Jiang Yue, who was nearly five steps behind, stepped forward and bowed.

Fu Huaiqing's eyes shot over the cabinet ministers waiting at the palace steps, and his voice, cold and still, spread, "Tell Xiang Lin to come see me in half an hour."

Su Ci's gaze froze

at these words. He had never met Xiang Lin before, but he knew he was an inspector of the Yingyuan Hall. The Yingyuan Hall was established by the founding emperor of the Li Dynasty and reported directly to the emperor, answering only to his orders.

Besides monitoring officials, the Yingyuan Hall's responsibilities gradually expanded over time to include investigating spies planted by foreign powers. If they were discovered, they could be executed immediately, without having to report to the emperor.

Over the centuries, the Yingyuan Hall had apprehended and apprehended no fewer than a hundred spies,

men, women, and children alike.

After leaving Wuweipu, Biezhi didn't rush back to the Wenquan Villa.

It wasn't that she wanted to wander around; she wasn't suited to living in the city anymore. To avoid being noticed, the villa was the best place to stay. However, the villa was far out on the outskirts of the city, and if she walked alone, she wouldn't have reached the villa gates until dawn.

Biezhi headed for her master's residence, intending to see if he'd returned and ask the driver where he'd gone.

She deliberately avoided the busy streets, taking the dim, dark paths.

Hearing footsteps, she didn't hesitate to hide in the woods, avoiding approaching eyes. Just like that, a distance of only a hundred feet took Biezhi half an hour.

She hid for a moment after every few steps, back and forth several times.

When she heard footsteps again, Biezhi sighed helplessly, her eyes quickly searching for a hiding place, and she dove into it swiftly.

Only when the footsteps faded did she peer out to observe. Catching a glimpse of the figure walking in front, Biezhi frowned.

Why was Qin Xiao here?

The direction he'd left didn't seem like the Dali Temple.

Further out, it seemed like they were out of the city...

Following him, Biezhi looked familiar. She vaguely remembered seeing him at the Qin residence—a Qin family guard, not a Dali Temple investigator.

"Whoosh!"

Suddenly, a piercing sound pierced the sky. Biezhi's peripheral vision focused on the incoming arrow, and with a swift movement, she dodged it, the sharp arrow piercing the treetops only ten steps away.

Her eyes swept around, her nerves tense.

However, Biezhi waited for a long time, but no figure appeared, and no arrows were fired. The only thing she could see was the arrow embedded in the treetops.

She walked forward and saw the paper on the arrow.

A gentle breeze blew past, blowing the paper around the arrow. Another branch carefully measured the folded paper, and the traces of folding were a little rough, as if she was anxious.

After a moment of silence, she looked up again and glanced around. She pulled out the arrow thoughtfully, took out the paper from the arrow, and spread it out.

-'Go away, don't come back!'