Lin Ruochu paused, feeling a dense, prickling pain in her heart.
Longing and bitterness surged within her, her entire body screaming to turn around and look at the person behind her.
But she didn't move, only bit her lip tightly and silently shook her head.
Why was she crying?
The question stumped her.
She was the one who had wronged Li Xuan – sending him a cold, harsh letter breaking off their engagement while he was stationed at the distant frontier. How could she still have the face to shed tears in front of him?
Lin Ruochu sniffled, raised her head, and forced back the tears welling in her eyes.
Li Xuan watched her stubborn back and let out a nearly inaudible sigh.
"He doesn't treat you well."
It sounded like both a question and a sigh spoken to himself.
Lin Ruochu's heart felt like it might shatter at any moment. The grievances she had just suppressed came flooding back overwhelmingly.
She cursed herself inwardly – she couldn't be so weak, couldn't feel the urge to depend on Li Xuan the moment she saw him. She no longer had that right.
She wanted to say something. The words "I'm sorry" had just begun to form on her lips when she suddenly felt a weight settle on her shoulders – a heavy cloak damp with dew had been draped over her.
Li Xuan clearly didn't want to discuss the matter, cutting her off with his stiff movements.
Lin Ruochu simply clutched the cloak and fell silent.
Li Xuan asked again: "Are you injured?"
She carried a strong scent of blood, the air thick with the metallic tang of iron.
Lin Ruochu shook her head again: "It's not my blood."
Though half the blood was indeed hers, her wounds had already healed. Even the hole she had stabbed in her own palm had closed under the effect of the Female Ghost's pill. Saying she wasn't injured wasn't an exaggeration.
Only after hearing this did Li Xuan squeeze the horse's sides with his legs again, carrying her along the winding forest path.
Lin Ruochu said urgently: "Let me take the reins. I need to return before dawn to…"
Li Xuan didn't hand over the reins, only stating coolly: "White Cloud Temple, I know."
After a pause, he explained to her: "It's not safe to take the main road back. The Military Patrol Office officers will soon be conducting checks along the main road. The path is slower but shorter. It won't delay us too long, so don't worry."
Lin Ruochu's retort slipped out: "How do you know about my situation?"
Li Xuan's expression briefly showed discomfort, but his tone remained calm:
"Matters among prominent families always spread quickly. Even someone rough like me has heard about it. It's nothing unusual."
Lin Ruochu's face immediately flushed upon hearing this.
If he knew about this matter, then he must certainly know about all her disgraceful behavior in the residence over the past two years.
While burning with shame, her murderous intent toward the Female Ghost grew even stronger.
The Female Ghost seemed to sense this and curiously exclaimed, [The native woman's former fiancé? Why is he here?]
Then she remembered something and suddenly grew excited:
[This is a great opportunity! Reuniting with an old flame, perhaps the native woman will accidentally utter the forbidden words. Then I can take over her body!]
Hearing this, Lin Ruochu's alarm bells rang loudly.
Remembering how Jiang Ningxin's single sentence two years ago had allowed the Female Ghost to reclaim her body, Lin Ruochu became increasingly certain that the "forbidden words" the Female Ghost mentioned were either telling someone about the Body Snatching, or the phrase "being liberated by the eminent monk" that Jiang Ningxin had spoken.
Whichever it was, she would never say it.
Even if… even if she couldn't explain to Li Xuan that the heartless family letter from before hadn't been written by her own hand, she wouldn't take such desperate risks.
Therefore, Lin Ruochu didn't attempt to explain the past matters, merely smiling self-deprecatingly.
"Must be quite a spectacle for you."
Li Xuan raised an eyebrow, watching her stubborn back, his heart suddenly aching.
Questions piled up like mountains in his mind.
But he knew now wasn't the time to ask.
She definitely wouldn't tell him.
He slightly bent his waist, calmly suppressing the emotions in his heart, and replied indifferently:
"I wouldn't laugh at you."
Lin Ruochu lowered her gaze, staring at the scattered tree shadows on the ground, and asked him:
"When were you transferred back to the capital?"
Since he appeared here, he must have been reassigned from the border back to the capital, right?
Li Xuan answered ambiguously: "No transfer order. This time, it's just… some personal matters."
"Oh, personal matters."
Considering Li Xuan was two years older than her, now at the prime age for marriage, so-called personal matters likely meant matrimonial affairs.
Li Xuan glanced at her and added: "Official personal matters."
Lin Ruochu muttered quietly: "Never saw you so unclear about separating public and private matters before."
Li Xuan made a questioning "Hmm?" sound, and she quickly fell silent, pretending to be calm as she said: "Related to the bandits who were burning, killing, and looting earlier?"
With bandits robbing and killing, and the Military Patrol Office mobilized, Lin Ruochu didn't believe Li Xuan's appearance here was coincidental.
Due to his special background, he couldn't hold important positions. Back when he was in the Lin Family Army, he often carried out special missions.
Could this matter be related to the border situation?
Li Xuan pondered slightly, still ambiguous: "You could say so."
Lin Ruochu recalled the scene when she killed earlier and couldn't help voicing her doubts:
"Li Xuan, those bandits, though dressed like Western Regions people, don't seem to be genuine Western Regions people."
Li Xuan raised an eyebrow: "How so?"
"Their thumbs have archer's ring marks. Western Regions people excel in witchcraft, while Northern Territory people practice archery year-round. Only Northern Territory tribes would wear archer's rings constantly, leaving such marks. So I think they might be Northern Territory people disguised as Western Regions people."
Lin Ruochu recalled while speaking, then added:
"However, I only caught a brief glimpse and didn't see clearly. To confirm properly, it'd be best to check their fingertips for calluses from drawing bows."
Hearing this, the corner of Li Xuan's mouth hidden beneath black cloth curled into a slight smile.
But he said nothing, only stating: "The Military Patrol Office will investigate."
Lin Ruochu nodded, hesitating whether to tell Li Xuan about Tao Yuan. If he had no transfer order, he must have returned to the capital secretly, undoubtedly carrying a mission that couldn't afford any mistakes.
He shouldn't be distracted by other matters.
But thinking of the suffering Tao Yuan might be enduring, she still spoke up:
"Li Xuan, I know I have no right to trouble you again, but there's something I'd like to ask for your help…"
Blushing, she said with difficulty:
"Tao Yuan – two years ago, because of me, was sold to the butcher in Ge Village. I can't travel easily now. Could you help me check on her situation?"
Li Xuan fell silent upon hearing this, as if utterly astonished, and spoke incredulously:
"Tao Yuan? I heard from Jing Xing that Tao Yuan ran away from the General Residence with you in anger. How could she have been sold to Ge Village?"
Lin Ruochu painfully lowered her eyes, never expecting that Jiang Ningxin not only sold Tao Yuan off but also made her bear such disgrace.
Countless thoughts flickered in Li Xuan's eyes as he gazed deeply at the girl in his embrace, mere inches away from him. Finally unable to restrain himself, he asked in a hoarse voice:
"What exactly happened two years ago?"
Lin Ruochu closed her eyes. "You wouldn't believe me even if I told you."
The Female Ghost grew agitated again: [Just say it! Tell him! Who cares if he believes you or not! Tell him now!]
Lin Ruochu bit her lip indignantly.
Suddenly, a cold touch covered her tightly clenched fist.
Li Xuan released the reins with one hand, using his large palm to envelop her fist clenched at her side. He gently pried open her fingers one by one, sighing softly as he saw the bloody marks left by her nails on her palm.
"I believe you."
He said.
"No matter what you say, I'll believe you."