Pei Xie’s feelings toward Pei Yan were actually ordinary. He was simply eager to find a challenging task to prove his own value.
It seemed only by doing so could he justify his existence. He disliked the Crown Prince’s arrogant, overbearing attitude.
Pei Xie himself had no desire to become a target of everyone’s ire. After weighing the options, he chose Pei Yan.
Pei Yan was gentle, easygoing, and truly magnanimous.
He didn’t care when Zhu Xingxu spoke about Pei Yan in such a way.
What Pei Xie did care about was something else. He calmly looked at Zhu Xingxu.
“Do you have some opinion of my Third Brother?”
Zhu Xingxu wanted to say yes; she did have opinions.
“No,” she replied.
Pei Xie said, “Then why are you so concerned about my Third Brother and his relations with other women?”
Zhu Xingxu widened her eyes. Was she?
In Pei Xie’s gaze, a single word was clearly written:
Yes! He quietly waited for her reply.
“I feel the Third Prince is indecisive, not a good man,” she admitted.
Reluctantly, she spoke ill of the Third Prince again.
She wasn’t wrong; in the original story, it was true.
He was always manipulated by Ji Qingqing or others, ignoring the female lead’s advice and insisting on harming her.
Pei Xie did not deny it. This was also Pei Yan’s greatest flaw.
If this flaw disappeared, the Crown Prince would have no chance to rise again.
But for now, he needed Pei Xie’s assistance.
“You understand him well.”
Zhu Xingxu thought Pei Xie was praising her, waving her hand, “No, I just have sharp insight.”
Pei Xie did not smile or speak, simply leading her back to Sanqing Hall.
The Third Prince was speaking to Ji Chiying.
Ji Chiying’s face was flushed, her eyes bright.
The Third Prince smiled gently, emotions nearly overflowing from his gaze.
Zhu Xingxu frowned. What was so good about the Third Prince…
She thought Pei Xie was better. At least in the original story, he had no scandal.
Until his death, no women appeared by his side.
“Ah Ying, let’s go.”
Zhu Xingxu picked up Ji Chiying’s shoes and socks and handed them to her.
Then she closed the doors of Sanqing Hall.
“No men are to look.” Pei Yan chuckled softly.
He said to Pei Xie, “Miss Zhu is truly an interesting person.”
Pei Xie’s expression remained indifferent, his gaze fixed on the figure in aqua blue.
Ji Chiying put on her shoes. Zhu Xingxu led her out of Sanqing Hall.
Pei Yan did not want to part so soon, asking, “Where are you going?”
Zhu Xingxu, holding Ji Chiying’s hand, did not turn her head. “Following the others.”
Pei Yan hurried to keep up, while Pei Xie followed slowly behind.
His eyes never left that figure in water-blue.
“I’ll accompany you.”
Ji Chiying gently tugged Zhu Xingxu’s hand.
Zhu Xingxu glanced at her, considering the possibility of encountering the masked man again.
“All right.”
After all, with her and Pei Xie there, even the Third Prince wouldn’t dare act.
Zhu Xingxu walked quickly, soon catching up with the others.
Madam Xu and Ning, Ji Chiying’s mother, were anxiously searching around.
Seeing the two of them, they breathed a sigh of relief.
Both Madam Xu and Ning bowed to Pei Yan and Pei Xie.
“Thank you, Your Highnesses, for bringing our daughters back safely.”
Fortunately, it wasn’t just a man and a woman alone.
Pei Yan smiled, “No trouble, as long as the young ladies are safe. My younger brother and I have matters to attend to, so we will take our leave.”
Madam Xu and Ning hurriedly escorted them courteously.
Madam Xu quickly pulled Zhu Xingxu aside.
“Where did you run off to?”
Zhu Xingxu blinked and lied, “The fire was too fierce. I kept my head down, and when I looked up, you were gone.”
Madam Xu, who had been leading the way, could not verify whether it was true.
Seeing her unharmed, she quietly relaxed.
She recalled the Third and Fifth Princes she had just seen. “Did the Third Prince bring you back?”
Zhu Xingxu knew she would start nagging again.
Her attention to detail was remarkable.
Even though the Fifth Prince and Ji Chiying were present, it seemed as if the Third Prince had escorted her alone.
“No, it was a coincidence.”
Madam Xu did not believe her this time.
Having been deceived once, she would not be fooled again.
“No matter, next time you meet the Third Prince, take your sister with you.”
Zhu Xingxu wanted to refuse but, seeing Madam Xu’s determined expression, could only say, “Understood, we’ll see next time.”
Madam Xu intended to say more, but Zhu Xingxu dashed off to find Ji Chiying.
Sometimes, the female lead could take initiative.
Ning seemed very angry, scolding Ji Chiying constantly.
Ji Chiying, eyes red, lowered her head, not daring to speak.
When Zhu Xingxu approached, she heard Ning say, “You’re no longer the carefree girl from the countryside. Now you are a proper lady; can you think of the family’s reputation?”
Tears teetered in Ji Chiying’s eyes.
Old novels often gave female leads a difficult past.
Zhu Xingxu stepped forward, bowing to Ning. “Madam, I need to speak with Ah Ying.”
Ignoring Ning’s expression, she led Ji Chiying aside.
Away from the crowd, Ji Chiying’s tears finally fell.
Zhu Xingxu took the handkerchief Ji Chiying had clenched and wiped her tears.
Her crying only intensified. “It’s not like I wanted this…”
Zhu Xingxu gently patted her shoulder.
“I know, you were framed.”
Ji Chiying continued to cry, “No one believes me…”
Zhu Xingxu comforted her, “They have poor judgment and cannot tell right from wrong, their brains are faulty.”
Hearing this, Ji Chiying laughed through her tears.
Seeing her smile, Zhu Xingxu’s mood lifted as well.
“If you don’t want to stay at home in the future, you can come find me. My family isn’t strict.”
Ji Chiying nodded. Not long after, a female attendant came, bowing respectfully.
“Esteemed ladies, since the side hall was burned, you cannot stay there. I will take you to your respective rooms.”
No one objected. They were all accustomed to comfort; for safety, they could manage with a shared space.
But this didn’t mean they wished to stay there indefinitely.
Walking along, Zhu Xingxu overheard some ladies speaking.
“Why hasn’t the assassin been caught yet?”
“I heard they are quite skilled… otherwise, they wouldn’t dare attempt murder openly…”
Many large halls had been burned; each had to occupy a small side room.
Entering her own room, Zhu Xingxu was met with a musty smell.
Ji Chiying wanted to stay with her.
Considering the masked man’s words and fearing for Ji Chiying’s safety, she firmly refused.
“It’s fine. We’ll stay next door. Call me if anything happens.”
She refused; Ji Chiying didn’t press further.
As long as she didn’t stay with Ning or Ji Qingqing, it was acceptable.
Once inside, she began tidying the room.
She didn’t know how long she would stay, but it was better to make the place comfortable.
While organizing, she thought about the masked man.
She was certain he had started the fire.
Otherwise, the fire wouldn’t have behaved so strangely—destroying the dormitory while leaving the small side rooms intact.
Zhu Xingxu wondered, why would he come to the small room alone to recover?
Perhaps it was because she was there, able to provide cover.
She hoped the Third Prince and Pei Xie would catch him quickly.
Otherwise, she would remain on edge.
As darkness fully descended, Zhu Xingxu grew very fearful.
Before the masked man returned, she decided to walk around.
Within the temple, she occasionally encountered Imperial Guards, which comforted her greatly.
Outside, the area near the small rooms was noticeably more heavily guarded than before.
Perhaps more troops had been deployed.
Zhu Xingxu walked back and forth in the courtyard before Sanqing Hall.
Her mind was restless. She could not sit still.
When she saw Pei Xie leading his men patrolling nearby, her anxiety eased.
Pei Xie seemed not to notice her, walking past without looking.
Zhu Xingxu hurried forward, grabbing his arm.
“Your Highness!”
Pei Xie glanced at her. “Miss Zhu, what is it?”
She looked at the Imperial Guards behind him and whispered, “Could you come here for a moment?”
Pei Xie turned to the lead guard, saying something, and they scattered.
“Now it’s safe to speak?”
His expression was unreadable, as if Zhu Xingxu were a stranger.
She felt a pang of frustration.
“How… How can I reach you?”
She wanted Pei Xie to respond quickly if the masked man appeared.
Even if he intended to kill her, she hoped Pei Xie would be the one to handle it.
Pei Xie replied coldly, “Go to my residence and notify the servants.”
Zhu Xingxu was stunned, then hurriedly said, “No! I mean… how can I make you come to me quickly?”
The calm depths of Pei Xie’s eyes rippled faintly.
“Reason.” Zhu Xingxu lowered her gaze, her eyes flickering.
“I’m afraid the assassin will come again…”
Pei Xie studied her for a long time.
Long enough for Zhu Xingxu to feel uneasy, wondering if she had said something to anger him.
He took out a bone whistle and handed it to her.
She quickly took it. “Blow it when needed.”
Zhu Xingxu nodded solemnly. Pei Xie suddenly softened slightly.
“Anything else?”
Zhu Xingxu shook her head. “No…”
No matter how long she stayed outside, she would have to return.
But with the bone whistle, she felt much safer.
Before returning, she buried the sedatives and illusion drugs Pei Xie had given her in the nearby soil.
If the masked man discovered them, it could very well cost her life.
Zhu Xingxu returned slowly to the small side room.
As she entered, a sword swished across, acting as a door barricade.
Startled, she nearly screamed.
The masked man sat leisurely on her bed, watching her.
“Not bad, you kept your promise and didn’t tell anyone about me.”
Zhu Xingxu silently walked to the table and sat down.
“Why? Not happy?”
She replied irritably, “Who would be happy after being threatened?”
The masked man seemed amused, laughing softly.
Suddenly, he reached into her clothing.
Zhu Xingxu jumped back. “What are you doing?”
He smiled. “Don’t misunderstand, I just want to see if you have any other medicine on you.”
Her heart raced. Fortunately, she had buried the drugs beforehand.
After scanning her with his eyes and seeing nothing, he tossed a piece of paper to her.
“These are the medicinal herbs I need; you must obtain them.”
Zhu Xingxu glanced briefly, then tossed it onto the table.
“Zhenguo Temple is sealed now. Who will get them for you?”
He was unbothered. “Aren’t you close to the Fifth Prince? Have him get them for you.”
She silently rolled her eyes.
“He’s not a fool. I have no ailments, why would I need these herbs?”
After speaking, she immediately regretted it.
The masked man drew a dagger, stepped down from the bed, and slowly approached her, his tone icy:
“I don’t mind leaving the same kind of scars on you as I have on myself.”