Yuan Siyin moved swiftly, soon finding a shortcut from memory—the rockery in the imperial garden.
Just through the rockery and another short walk would bring her to Jianzhang Palace.
Seeing no one around, she hunched over and slipped into the darkness. Though the space was somewhat narrow, it was manageable for one person.
But just as she was walking briskly, she suddenly tripped over some unknown object, losing her balance and lurching forward. Fortunately, a pair of large hands reached out in time to catch her, pulling her into an embrace while cushioning her fall, followed by a muffled grunt as they landed on the ground.
“Sorry about that, are you alright?”
Hearing the woman’s voice, Yu Shiyan’s eyes darkened instantly, his jaw clenching tightly.
It was her!
Even if she turned to ashes, he would recognize her voice.
Yuan Siyin scrambled to her feet, pulling a fire starter from her sleeve. She unscrewed the cap and blew on it gently.
A flickering flame leaped to life, illuminating the face of the man before her.
For a moment, she was utterly captivated.
The man’s features were cold and strikingly handsome, like the finest jade, shimmering with a translucent glow in the candlelight. Beneath his slightly furrowed brows, his ink-dark eyes were as deep and impenetrable as the night, captivating anyone who met his gaze.
His sharply defined features seemed meticulously carved, and his slightly worn blue robe flapped loudly in the cross-breeze. His black hair flew in the wind, and his handsome face carried an air of aloofness, exuding an aura that kept others at a distance.
His pale, thin lips were pressed into a tight line, as though he were enduring something.
Realizing she had been staring, Yuan Siyin averted her gaze. Noticing that his left hand remained pressed against the ground, unmoving, she crouched down. “Did you scrape your palm? Let me take a look.”
“What are you trying to do now?”
Yu Shiyan was not having it. Leaning against the rockery, he frowned warily and straightened up, enunciating each word deliberately.
“Now”?
What was that supposed to mean? Had the original owner, aside from tormenting the male lead, also harmed other innocent NPCs?
Remembering Xiao Quanzi’s trembling legs, Yuan Siyin fell silent.
Well… it wasn’t entirely impossible.
“I just want to look, that’s all.”
She spoke with genuine sincerity and earnestness.
Though it sounded a bit odd, she swore that while she might appreciate a handsome face, she wouldn’t take advantage of someone in distress.
Yet the beautiful man before her resisted fiercely, his gaze guarded like a small animal wary of a predator.
“Enough nonsense! I said show me your hand, so show it! If you keep dodging, I’ll whip you—see if I don’t!”
Yuan Siyin pulled out her golden silk whip and slapped it authoritatively on the ground, trying to intimidate him.
As it turned out—heh—it worked quite well.
So the beauty was into this sort of thing.
Little did Yuan Siyin know, in the shadows where she couldn’t see, murderous intent surged in the man’s eyes.
This madwoman! Sooner or later, he would kill her!
Yuan Siyin grabbed his wrist and leaned in for a closer look, confirming that his palm was indeed scraped and now oozing tiny beads of blood.
She released his hand and turned back to scan the ground with her fire starter, warning him, “If you dare run, just see how I deal with you.”
The man ignored her, instead letting out a cold snort.
Yuan Siyin wasn’t angered and continued bending over, searching for something.
After all, he was injured because of her—she could tolerate his attitude.
Finally, she found what she was looking for in a patch of grass not far away.
The leaves were smooth with wavy edges and occasional indistinct blunt teeth. From spring to autumn, a spike-like inflorescence grew from the center of the plant—this was undoubtedly Plantain.
Yuan Siyin crouched down, plucked a handful of tender green leaves, patted her hands clean, and stood up before darting back.
Yu Shiyan didn’t speak, merely watching her bustle about on her own, his eyes filled with disgust.