Zhu Xingxu slammed the door shut with a loud bang, leaving Pei Xie standing outside.
“Then I’ll wait for you out here.”
The masked man snorted and muttered, “You get along with so many people? Everyone has to wait for you.”
Pei Xie’s eyebrows twitched outside the door.
Zhu Xingxu forced a bitter smile.
What could she do… would she have to stay crouched in here the whole time?
Although the boudoir had been meticulously cleaned by the temple’s women, a faint odor still lingered.
Zhu Xingxu kept her body stiff, avoiding the dagger pressing against her waist, and bent slightly.
“Don’t move!”
The man thought she was trying to trick him.
Zhu Xingxu made a strained face. “I’m not moving… I’m just a little tired.”
He seemed even more dissatisfied.
“Your young ladies are always such trouble.”
Yes, yes, she was trouble—so if he found her troublesome, why not just let her go?
Perhaps after too long, Pei Xie knocked on the door.
“Are you done?”
Zhu Xingxu replied, “Not yet… my stomach still hurts.”
She used the same excuse she had given Ji Chiying.
But Pei Xie wasn’t as easily fooled.
“Come out first, I’ll take you to see a doctor.”
Even without seeing him, Zhu Xingxu could feel the man’s ferocious gaze.
Zhu Xingxu said, “It’s fine, you go first. Once I’m done, it won’t hurt anymore.”
She didn’t want Pei Xie to leave.
His presence made her feel safe. Yet at the same time, she wanted him to go.
Then she wouldn’t have to stay here.
Pei Xie thought for a moment. “Alright, I’ll take the others to another place first. If anything feels wrong, come find me.”
With that, he left with his men.
The shadowy figure outside gradually disappeared, but the man still allowed Zhu Xingxu to go first.
Once she stepped out, there was indeed no one outside.
Only faint silver glimmers flickered in the bushes.
She noticed them quickly.
The man asked, “How is it?”
Zhu Xingxu said, “No one’s there.”
He hadn’t expected her to deceive him, and, reassured, stepped fully out of the boudoir.
After they had walked a short distance, a cold arrow shot from the bushes, aimed straight at the man threatening Zhu Xingxu.
To dodge it, he had no choice but to release her.
The remaining Imperial Guards surged forward, attempting to capture him in one move.
However, his light-footed skills were exceptional, and with a single leap, he escaped across the roof of the boudoir.
Some guards pursued him while others stayed behind.
Zhu Xingxu quickly rolled and scrambled aside, nearly twisting her ankle.
Pei Xie’s quick reflexes allowed him to catch her.
In an instant, the crisp scent of white sandalwood surrounded Zhu Xingxu.
Recognizing Pei Xie’s presence, tears pricked the corners of her eyes.
“Mm… Pei Xie.”
Seeing her pitiful expression, he asked, “Are you hurt?”
Placing her carefully on the ground, he examined her for injuries.
Zhu Xingxu shook her head. “He only tore my clothes with his dagger.”
She turned to show him. Sure enough, he saw a small rip in her sky-blue garment.
When she shifted slightly, he glimpsed the white inner lining and immediately looked away. “I’ll have someone get a new outfit for you to change into.”
Zhu Xingxu nodded.
Soon, the guards who had pursued the man returned.
“Your Highness, he… escaped.”
Pei Xie’s face instantly turned cold.
“Escaped?”
The lead guard knelt and reported, “His light-footed skills are incredible… he ran across the roof and leapt through the trees.”
Pei Xie closed his eyes tightly. “Increase the patrols. I don’t want this happening again.”
The guards shouted in unison, “Yes!” and formed ranks, resuming their planned patrols.
Pei Xie accompanied Zhu Xingxu back.
His mood seemed sour; the already cold night felt even chillier.
Zhu Xingxu didn’t dare speak.
With Pei Xie, when he was in a good mood, he appeared approachable, but in a bad mood, there was an intimidating aura.
They walked silently toward the side hall.
Suddenly, Pei Xie asked, “Did you tell Madam Xu that you broke my thing and said I told you not to appear in front of me?”
Zhu Xingxu was embarrassed to hear him bring it up.
That morning, in the Three Purities Hall, he hadn’t mentioned it, so she had thought he had forgotten.
Feigning innocence, she said, “Did I? I don’t think so.”
He didn’t call her out, simply said, “Next time something like this happens, let me know. Otherwise, I’m afraid it might get noticed.”
Zhu Xingxu paused, blinking.
“…Alright.”
Remembering the sedative the man had destroyed, she asked Pei Xie for more.
“The one he crushed, can you give me another bottle?”
Pei Xie neither confirmed nor denied and produced a small new bottle for her.
Zhu Xingxu accepted it happily.
They reached a tree not far from the side hall.
Pei Xie stopped. “Go ahead.”
Zhu Xingxu asked, “Why not all the way to the door?”
She was now on edge, scared out of her mind.
Pei Xie clasped his hands behind his back. “Weren’t you trying to avoid being seen with me?”
Zhu Xingxu froze. “Huh? Since when did I think that?”
She swore she never had such a thought.
Pei Xie said nothing, a faint smile playing on his lips.
She instantly understood.
“My mother… she was only curious because last time she saw me get off your carriage and asked so many questions.”
Zhu Xingxu complained, hoping Pei Xie would understand.
But he didn’t. He stared at her and slowly said, “So you painted me as narrow-minded.”
Zhu Xingxu panicked. “No, no! She also asked about the Third Prince, trying to marry my sister to your third brother! Can you see how scary that is?”
Pei Xie: “Why not? Your third brother is unmarried. If he likes your sister, wouldn’t you be interfering?”
Zhu Xingxu: “…”
How could she explain that Ji Chiying was the Third Prince’s destined partner?
If she told him, Pei Xie would surely question how she knew.
Although she didn’t have a system like other transmigrators, revealing knowledge of a character in a novel might incur divine punishment.
She scrambled for an excuse, finally saying, “I don’t want to use you to achieve someone else’s goals.”
Pei Xie remained indifferent. Zhu Xingxu met his gaze, refusing to back down.
She was convincing herself to believe her own words.
Only if she believed them would others.
After a while, Pei Xie finally looked away.
Zhu Xingxu exhaled silently.
“Got it.” Still uncertain, she watched him walk toward the side hall’s entrance.
Seeing this, she hurried to follow.
Reaching the doorway, noting that the women inside had gone to bed, Pei Xie didn’t speak, only gesturing with his eyes for her to enter.
Zhu Xingxu pushed open the door, whispered, “Thank you,” and quickly went inside, closing it behind her.
Pei Xie walked a short distance away, lingering to glance at the side hall before finally turning and leaving.
Zhu Xingxu returned to her previous spot to lie down.
Ji Chiying, still unable to sleep, worried about her.
Only when Zhu Xingxu arrived did Ji Chiying softly ask, “Why did it take so long? Do you want me to get a doctor?”
Zhu Xingxu replied, “I’m fine now.”
She wouldn’t tell Ji Chiying about being threatened.
So awkward. Even going to the restroom, someone tried to grab her.
Ji Chiying finally relaxed and fell asleep.
Zhu Xingxu closed her eyes as well.
Today had been thrilling; fear alone had drained all her energy.
Half-asleep, Zhu Xingxu vaguely recalled that this part resembled a lead couple’s plot.
Ji Chiying might have been captured, and the Third Prince would appear to save her.
Zhu Xingxu broke out in a cold sweat.
No way…
But in reality, Ji Chiying had called her out, and the Third Prince had appeared in the boudoir too.
If nothing happened, and it was just conversation, the relationship development wouldn’t have progressed so quickly.
After panicking a bit, Zhu Xingxu slowly calmed down.
After all, in the original story, with so many plot points, even texting the names of the lead couple would result in a 100% compatibility score. It wasn’t that easy to ruin.
Alright, she would sleep first.
The next morning, for reasons unknown, the side hall was abuzz with talk that assassins had appeared again last night.
Luckily, no one was harmed.
Zhu Xingxu inwardly exclaimed: her clothes were damaged!
Madam Xu frowned. “If the assassin isn’t caught, when can we descend the mountain?”
Other madams nodded in agreement.
The atmosphere grew heavy again.
After a while, someone suggested, since waiting was boring, they play leaf cards.
The others agreed. Thus, they played leaf cards in the side hall.
Ji Qingqing and several noblewomen played pitching pots.
Zhu Xingxu wasn’t interested, sitting in place, lost in thought.
Ji Chiying, however, seemed eager, glancing around frequently.
She nudged Zhu Xingxu. “Do you want to play?”
Zhu Xingxu shook her head. “No!”
She had more important matters to consider.
Ji Chiying bit her lip, deciding not to play either, and borrowed a Daoist scripture to read.
The hall was noisy, and nearly the entire day passed.
At sunset, Zhu Xingxu stared at the fiery clouds outside.
The sunset glowed so red it seemed to dye the distant rooftops and leaves.
Gradually, the clouds drew closer.
Zhu Xingxu felt warm. Everything around her had a reddish hue.
A Daoist shouted outside: “Time to move the water!”
The side hall instantly became chaotic. Everyone hurriedly evacuated.
Zhu Xingxu and Ji Chiying also stood and followed the crowd.
The fire at Zhenguo Temple was intense, engulfing several buildings.
Sparks landed on the side hall’s roof, threatening to grow.
Guided by Daoists, the crowd evacuated.
“Hurry!”
But no matter how fast, they were unaccustomed to exercise, rarely leaving their homes, so speed was limited.
During the rush out of the side hall, Zhu Xingxu was naturally left behind at the rear.
At this point, she was at the end of the line.
Passing Sanqing Hall, Zhu Xingxu keenly noticed its doors were wide open.
Inside, chairs and tables were scattered everywhere.
They formed a makeshift staircase of furniture.
Her suppressed excitement surged again.
She glanced around; the Daoists were busy evacuating the madams and noblewomen, paying no attention to her at the end of the line.
They wouldn’t have thought anyone would linger amidst the fire.
Moreover, the distant flames hadn’t yet reached Sanqing Hall.
She could dash in, climb up, take the Vermilion Bird jade plaque, then exit Zhenguo Temple.
Perfect! She slowed her steps, creating distance from the crowd.
Taking advantage of the Daoists’ distraction, she ran like a madwoman toward Sanqing Hall.
Once inside, she barely had time to catch her breath before closing the wide-open door, leaving a slight crack to avoid suspicion.
Zhu Xingxu turned to the jade plaque in the Primordial Celestial Venerable’s hand, her heart pounding.
Jade plaque, oh jade plaque, sister, I’m coming to save you!