Chu Yunxi's heart was beating absurdly fast.His breathing was rapid, his blood boiling through his whole body. Involuntarily, he reached out and gripped that pale, jade-white ankle, then yanked hard.The other person's body instantly lost balance and fell.Chu Yunxi met him almost simultaneously, one arm wrapping around to catch him firmly against his chest, rolling sideways with the momentum.In a whirl of dizziness, he pinned that body beneath his own.The two locked eyes, their breaths tangling together, heavy panting and heartbeats interweaving, painfully distinct in the dead silence of the narrow space.Chu Yunxi's gaze grew hazy. The face of the person in his dream was blurred, but that slender, fair neck was vividly clear.The person tilted their head back, exposing an elegant line of neck that traced along the delicate curve of the Adam's apple.Chu Yunxi watched, entranced, his body completely beyond his control. As if bewitched, he lowered his head and kissed that jade-like skin.Yet the sensation was far too real—a hundred times clearer than any dream.The skin was as delicate as milk pudding, like a newly bloomed petal. He barely dared to press, afraid of bruising it, but instinct drove him deeper, to linger and grind against it.At some point, those blush-inducing sounds became unmistakably clear—no longer muffled behind a layer of dreamlike haze, but ringing truly at his ear, sticky and scalding hot.Little by little, they dragged his sinking consciousness back.Chu Yunxi's lashes trembled violently a few times, then slowly lifted—Shi Wuxie's serene sleeping face crashed into his view, utterly unguarded, close enough to count each distinct lash.And his own lips were licking and nibbling at that thin neck.His whole body went rigid.The next second—"Hah—!"Chu Yunxi sucked in a sharp breath and bolted upright, his expression one of complete stupor and shock.Before his eyes, on Shi Wuxie's neck just below the Adam's apple, was a glaring red mark—like an incriminating piece of evidence.Probably hurt by him, Shi Wuxie's brow unconsciously furrowed, his lashes fluttering slightly, on the verge of waking.Chu Yunxi's whole body tensed, and he instinctively retreated, trying to put distance between them.But with his movement, the bedding was pulled mostly off, leaving a gap, and at the same time Shi Wuxie's already loose collar was tugged aside, exposing delicate collarbones.A few strands of ink-black hair wound across those collarbones, black and white in stark contrast, like an ink-wash painting.And upon that painting, a dot of vivid red—like a red plum blossom blooming on a dark branch in snow, breathtakingly beautiful.Chu Yunxi's Adam's apple bobbed heavily. He hastily looked away, but his gaze dropped and landed somewhere else.Chu Yunxi: !!His brain went off with a "boom." He scrambled to yank the covers over himself.But the motion was too big—he dragged most of Shi Wuxie's blanket away too."Yunxi?" Shi Wuxie's voice was thick with sleep as he rubbed his eyes, asking in confusion, "What are you doing? Stop pulling the blanket… it's cold.""I…" Chu Yunxi's eyes darted around. Suddenly he lay down, then immediately sat back up, doing sit-ups up and down."Exercising," he said as he went.As he moved, the blanket over him rose and fell, and the cold air of the early spring morning was fanned in little gusts into the quilt."Ah—choo!"Caught by the sudden cold air, Shi Wuxie sneezed heartily.He sat up helplessly, rubbing his nose, and gazed bleary-eyed at the figure bobbing up and down beside him. "Exercising first thing in the morning?" he asked hoarsely.Chu Yunxi didn't stop, his expression unchanged. "The whole day's work depends on a good start in the morning."Shi Wuxie was now fully frozen awake. He looked at Chu Yunxi in bewilderment, the ghost's voice echoing in his mind: [Yu Nu, maybe we should just stop studying this? I'd rather be a ghost than turn out as dumb as this kid.]He sighed. "Could you go do it downstairs?"It was just too cold.Chu Yunxi's movements stopped.Then he flopped back into the pillows, pretending to be exhausted. "No, I'm done."Shi Wuxie blinked and went along with it. "Oh."With Chu Yunxi finally settled down, the human furnace soon warmed the quilt up again. Drowsiness washed over Shi Wuxie once more; he yawned a small yawn behind his hand and burrowed back under the covers.Just as he was trying to fall asleep again, he noticed Chu Yunxi lying stiffly, his usually lively eyes staring blankly at the bed canopy, his gaze full of the bewilderment and helplessness of a worldview collapsing.Noticing something odd about Chu Yunxi, he asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"As he spoke, he reached out and pressed the back of his hand to Chu Yunxi's forehead—it was burning hot.He grew alert. "You're burning up like this—are you sick?""I… I think I've been…" Chu Yunxi opened his mouth and said weakly, "…mentally polluted."Shi Wuxie blinked, a question mark popping up over his head.Chu Yunxi had no energy to explain, and could only think dejectedly: This damn world is absolutely poisonous!At those words, Shi Wuxie's drowsiness vanished completely. He sat up again and asked curiously, "What mental pollution? Is it serious?"Chu Yunxi waved a hand feebly, his voice utterly resigned. "Incurable."Shi Wuxie was startled. "A terminal illness?"Chu Yunxi's gaze was vacant. After a long while, he slowly nodded.Shi Wuxie was taken aback for a moment, then fished out that booklet from the foot of the bed and began taking notes, asking as he wrote, "So this so-called mental pollution—does it mean pollution of the brain?"He pondered for a moment, then his eyes lit up. "Is that why you've been zoning out lately? Is this condition fatal?"Chu Yunxi's eyes shifted, and he glanced sideways at Shi Wuxie.Sure enough, he saw the excitement in Shi Wuxie's eyes as he asked that last question.The corner of his mouth twitched, and he said flatly, "Not fatal."Shi Wuxie felt a touch of disappointment. "Not fatal… it just makes people dumb? Is it a side effect of the rebirth?"It took Chu Yunxi a moment to react, then he frowned. "What do you mean, dumb?"He suddenly sat up and demanded, "Who are you calling dumb?"Shi Wuxie looked at him, hesitating to speak.Seeing that expression, Chu Yunxi's eyes went wide and he pointed at him in protest. "Last night you said I was smart!"Shi Wuxie chose his words carefully and said earnestly, "Well, you're not exactly dumb. You just zone out a lot." He made a show of pondering. "So far I haven't been able to find any pattern to it."Chu Yunxi: …He rolled over dejectedly, turning his back to Shi Wuxie, and sank into a sulky silence, refusing to talk.The room fell silent for a moment.After a long silence, Chu Yunxi began to untangle his nearly knotted thoughts.Calm down…Thinking carefully, this man was absolutely not the same person from that dream.Never mind that the man in the dream had no discernible face—their personalities were worlds apart.Could that little madman really be so…Recalling the lingering scenes from the dream, then picturing Shi Wuxie's ice-block face, he suddenly shuddered.Absolutely impossible!It must have been his brain running wild in his sleep, randomly splicing together scattered impressions.With that thought, the awkward knot in Chu Yunxi's chest finally loosened a little.An accident. It was all an accident!Seeing his expression change again, Shi Wuxie reached out to touch his forehead. "Shall I call for a physician?"Testing his temperature once more, Shi Wuxie was surprised. "The fever's gone already?"So quickly…He was just about to record this abnormal change when a low knock came at the door. "My lord."Shi Wuxie's eyes sharpened, and he said in a deep voice, "Enter."The door was pushed open, letting in the early morning light as a figure in black garb slipped inside.Upon entering, the man quickly scanned the room, his gaze pausing briefly on Chu Yunxi, a flicker of hesitation crossing his face."Pei San, speak freely," Shi Wuxie said, sitting up. "There is no need to avoid speaking before the young master."Hearing this, Pei San hesitated no longer. He stepped forward, dropped to one knee, and reported in a low voice: "Since the Jing’an Marquis returned to his residence last night, the main gates have been kept shut, and no suspicious vehicles have come or gone.""So far, only two carts have passed through the side gate. One was a vegetable cart—it entered at the first quarter of the mao hour and left empty two quarter-hours later, heading straight back to the rear courtyard of the vegetable shop, with no further movement since. The other was a water cart—it left empty at the second quarter of the mao hour, went to the Sweetwater Well, filled up, and returned. Nothing unusual was found."Shi Wuxie listened quietly, pondered for a moment, then murmured to himself, "Vegetable carts usually use wide flatbeds—no way to hide a person. But the water cart…"He raised his eyes and asked, "Did you take note of the water cart's wheel tracks?"Pei San was about to answer, but when he looked up at Shi Wuxie, he caught sight of the vividly red mark on Shi Wuxie's neck and froze.He thought for a moment, then suddenly realized what it was, his eyes filling with the shock of a shattered worldview.The… the lord had been…His gaze drifted and landed on Chu Yunxi's face, and the shock in his heart was beyond words: The young master could actually… tame the Living King of Hell in bed?!Chu Yunxi caught that gaze full of shock and admiration completely off guard.He reacted almost instantly, clearing his throat and suddenly slapping the back of his own neck, muttering, "Hm? Is there a mosquito in here?"Pointing at Shi Wuxie's neck, he said, "Husband, it seems you've been bitten by a mosquito."Shi Wuxie touched his neck in confusion. "Have I?"Pei San caught the implication behind those words and realized his staring had been far too obvious.He quickly lowered his head, silently cursing himself: How presumptuous of me!Shi Wuxie had no time to bother with "mosquitoes" just then, and continued questioning Pei San. "I asked you a question."Pei San came back to his senses and nodded quickly. "When this humble one was following it, I paid close attention. The water cart is an old one the Earl's residence has used for years—nothing remarkable about its wheel tracks."Shi Wuxie asked again, "The water cart made two trips. Were the depth and width of its tracks identical?"Pei San was taken aback, thought back for a moment, then nodded. "There was no noticeable difference."Shi Wuxie immediately rose and grabbed his robe, draping it over himself. "Let's go—right now, to Lin Xiaoyao's hiding place in the southern outskirts. If I'm not mistaken, you lost track of the target. By now, the Jing’an Marquis has probably already cleaned up all traces."Pei San's pupils contracted. Though he didn't understand, he still knelt in alarm. "This subordinate failed in his duty! Please punish me, my lord."Shi Wuxie quickly stood and dressed. "There's no time to punish you. Take your men and redeem yourselves."Chu Yunxi, without a word, went to grab a robe and swiftly draped it over himself.Shi Wuxie looked at him in surprise. "What are you doing?"Chu Yunxi had barely gotten his clothes on before hurrying to put on his boots, not even lifting his head. "Coming with you."Shi Wuxie paused. "There may be danger on this trip."Chu Yunxi looked up. "Then why are you going yourself?"Shi Wuxie's gaze was resolute. "The opportunity is fleeting. We must ensure the culprits are caught red-handed with the evidence—no mishaps can be allowed. So I must be there in person."Chu Yunxi finished putting on his boots and rose. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go." With that, he was already out the door ahead of everyone, tying his sash as he walked.Time was pressing, so Shi Wuxie didn't insist further and let him have his way.Chu Yunxi called a servant to bring the horses. While they waited, he saw Pei San still scratching his head in confusion.He mocked him: "When a water cart goes out empty, it's light; when it comes back full of water, it's heavy. How could the wheel ruts be the same depth?"Pei San instantly caught on, struck by realization. "Oh! That water cart didn't go out empty—there were people hiding inside!"He struck his fist into his palm in frustration. "They must have slipped out at the sweetwater well—there are several narrow alleys there. That's exactly where our men lost them!"Just then, the horses were brought over. Shi Wuxie was about to mount when Chu Yunxi's figure flashed past, stepping into the stirrup a beat ahead of him and settling firmly into the saddle.Then he extended a hand toward him. "Get on."Shi Wuxie froze and tried to refuse. "I can ride myself.""Your knee is injured—how are you going to ride?" Without giving him a chance to argue, Chu Yunxi leaned down, gripped his upper arm, and hauled him up with force.Shi Wuxie felt a strength yank his body off the ground, and the next moment, he was seated on the horse.He was sitting sideways in front, his waist held by Chu Yunxi's arm, as a low voice came from beside his ear. "Sit like this—it won't press on your injury."Shi Wuxie was practically enveloped in that warm embrace. He felt somewhat awkward. "Can we really go fast like this?""Don't worry." Chu Yunxi flicked the reins, and the horse let out a long neigh, rearing its front hooves. "Your young master here is a professional."With that, the horse shot off like an arrow released from the bowstring.The momentum sent Shi Wuxie tumbling sideways before he could react, his lower back landing in the crook of Chu Yunxi's right arm.That arm was taut with the force of gripping the reins, hard as iron. Through the layer of his official robe, he could clearly feel those surging muscles and scorching body heat—a presence impossible to ignore.The wild wind of their gallop made his official robe snap and flutter. Clearer than the sound of the wind was the steady, powerful heartbeat of the man behind him, along with his somewhat heavy breathing from the hard ride.And yet the man still had to open his mouth to speak, his hot breath spilling over Shi Wuxie's left ear and neck."How can you be sure the Jing’an Marquis will go out in person? What if it's not actually him who leaves?"Shi Wuxie instinctively shrank back, avoiding the scorching breath: "Lin Xiaoyao must be holding evidence against him. Otherwise, the Jing’an Marquis wouldn't have moved her—he would have simply killed her to silence her.""Besides, for something that could cost him his life, he'd have to go in person before Lin Xiaoyao would hand it over."Chu Yunxi was astonished: "And here I thought the two of them were truly in love. He even swapped out his own son, and yet he'd still kill that woman to keep her quiet?"Shi Wuxie said, "It's a long story. I'll explain it to you some other time.""Besides, what he committed is a crime punishable by the extermination of his entire clan. To someone like that, even true love can't compete with family and power."As he spoke, his fingertips unconsciously found his own burning ear, gently rubbing it, trying to rub away that ticklish sensation.Chu Yunxi's lashes lowered slightly, his gaze landing precisely on that jade-white hand—the whiteness of the fingertips set against the red of the ear, exceptionally endearing.The corners of his lips curved upward despite himself. He squeezed the horse's flanks and rode even faster.The jolting suddenly intensified. Shi Wuxie was already sitting unsteadily at an angle, and this jolt nearly threw him off.In his urgency, he had no choice but to lean against Chu Yunxi's shoulder, wrapping his arms around Chu Yunxi's waist to steady himself.He panted, "Slow down."A soft snort escaped from Chu Yunxi's nose: "Aren't you the one in a hurry? We've finally waited until the Jing’an Marquis lost his patience and showed his hand—shouldn't we catch him in the act as soon as possible? If I go any slower, what if we miss the perfect opportunity?"The logic was too persuasive; Shi Wuxie couldn't argue with it.He could only swallow his words, gripping tightly onto Chu Yunxi's waist guard, using that leverage to try to put a little distance between their bodies, and sighed, "Fine, then at least ride steady."He lifted his eyes, and what came into view was Chu Yunxi's profile, mere inches away.The night wind swept the stray hairs at the man's temples backward, revealing a smooth forehead and a sharply defined jaw. His lips were curved upward, his brows relaxed, and in the rushing wind he radiated an almost soaring joy.Perhaps the distance was too close; Shi Wuxie instinctively lowered his eyes to look away.Chu Yunxi didn't respond, only urged his horse to run even more merrily, changing the subject: "The whole affair began when Yan Mingqing returned to the estate and accused Yan Mingyu—that's what gave you legitimate grounds to intervene in the Jing’an Marquis's household. If this true young master had never been found, how would you have lured the snake out of its hole?"But before Shi Wuxie could speak, he suddenly realized: "Don't tell me the whole drama of finding the true young master was also your doing? Was it you who secretly leaked the true young master's whereabouts to the Countess?"Shi Wuxie said nothing, which was as good as an admission.Chu Yunxi raised an eyebrow: "Then how could you be certain that once the true young master returned to the estate, there would be trouble?"Shi Wuxie shook his head slightly. "I couldn't be. I merely cast a net. I don't know when the fish will touch it, or in what manner it will touch it—I'm simply biding my time."Chu Yunxi's eyes shifted slightly: "The nets you've cast must involve more than just this one move, right?"Shi Wuxie glanced at him sideways and gave a small nod.Chu Yunxi's arm, wrapped around Shi Wuxie's waist, unconsciously tightened a little. He suddenly remembered that the last time he had held this person's waist, it had been just like this—so slender and soft, yet resilient.His gaze fell once more on Shi Wuxie's slender, fragile neck, where a red plum blossom bloomed—looking so delicate that a single hand could snap it.Beneath such a fragile exterior was hidden a meticulous, deep, and calculating patience.Like a pure white azalea—beneath its cloud-and-snow appearance lurked a deadly poison.His mind wandered, and the person in his arms, jolted by the horse's rocking, kept bumping uncontrollably against him again and again.A sudden heat flared through him, and instinct told him something was very wrong.Alert, he tried to lean back, but every bit of distance he pulled away only increased the force with which the other, carried by momentum, crashed back into him.Chu Yunxi: …There was nowhere left to retreat. He was in agony, yet so aroused he trembled all over.After what felt like an eternity, Pei San, who was leading the way ahead, suddenly stopped and turned his horse around. "My lord! That courtyard with the old locust tree ahead is the one!""Our men have been watching it the whole time and have quietly surrounded it. Three people entered the courtyard at the end of the mao hour, and no one has come out since."Chu Yunxi felt as if pardoned from a great sin. He yanked hard on the reins, and the horse reared up.The abrupt, unexpected halt left the hand Shi Wuxie had braced on Chu Yunxi's waist guard suddenly without support, and his whole body toppled sideways, falling squarely into Chu Yunxi's arms. His forehead pressed against the crook of the other's neck, his head resting on Chu Yunxi's shoulder.That sudden start and sudden stop had nothing to do with "keeping it steady."Shi Wuxie frowned slightly, somewhat suspecting the man had done it on purpose.But he had no proof.Warm breath from the person in his arms washed over the crook of his neck, carrying the cool fragrance of medicinal herbs.Chu Yunxi suddenly felt a faint tingling itch race up from the base of his spine. His fingers curled unconsciously around the reins, and half his body went stiff.He looked down at the person in his arms, his breathing a little ragged. "My lord, shall we storm the place?"Shi Wuxie extricated himself from his arms, sat up straight, adjusted his official hat, and only after steadying his breath did he lift his eyes to gaze at the silent courtyard nestled in the tree shadows of the mountain hollow not far away.His gaze was calm and sharp. "There are guards inside. A direct assault would inevitably cost lives. Most importantly, we can't yet confirm that the person inside is the Jing’an Marquis. Moving rashly might startle the snake.""Then what do we do?" Chu Yunxi's eyes were dark and deep, his mind wandering as he stared at that patch of red on Shi Wuxie's neck.A moment later, sensing the glances from those around them, his eyes darted, and he reached out to pull up the collar of the inner robe beneath Shi Wuxie's official garb, firmly covering that red plum blossom.Shi Wuxie didn't understand. "What is it?"Chu Yunxi cleared his throat and made something up on the spot. "It's still chilly out. Pulling it up a bit so you don't catch a cold.""Oh."Shi Wuxie didn't press further and went back to pondering how to confirm the identity of the person inside the courtyard.Just then, the sound of a hurried horse-drawn carriage came from the distance. He instantly went on alert and gave a low order: "Take cover!"His subordinates moved at the word, quickly melting into the shadows of the dense woods beside the road.They saw a carriage, surrounded by a retinue of guards, heading straight for that small courtyard.Pei San recognized the carriage's make and whispered, "My lord, it's the Earl's household carriage!"Chu Yunxi frowned doubtfully. "The Jing’an Marquis wouldn't be that brazen, would he? Daring to come here so ostentatiously in his own carriage?"Shi Wuxie slowly shook his head. After a moment's thought, a flash of understanding crossed his eyes. "No. The one coming isn't the Jing’an Marquis.""We've got help."The Jing’an Marquis, dressed in rough cloth like an ordinary farmer, sat on a soft couch inside the room, speaking in a low voice to a beautiful woman of mature charm beside him: "Yaoniang. It took me great effort to shake off the spies and get here. That private seal must be returned today."Lin Xiaoyao lifted her eyes, her gaze flowing like water: "Why must you be in such a hurry, my lord?""In the past, whenever I used that seal to deliver secret letters for you, when did anything ever go wrong? Didn't you just say that His Majesty trusts you—even Shi Wuxie has been demoted three ranks to a registrar." She gave a cold laugh: "What waves could a mere fallen one possibly stir up?"The Jing’an Marquis raised his hand and gently patted her shoulder and back. "It's not that I don't trust you—it's just that times have changed." He paused. "Besides, your identity has been exposed now. You can only hide out here in the wilderness. What use is keeping that seal?""This item carries great importance. It must not fall into outside hands, nor pass through anyone else's. If someone were to make a copy of it, we'd be in real trouble." He coaxed her again: "Good Yaoniang, hand it over quickly."Lin Xiaoyao leaned softly into the Jing’an Marquis's embrace and said in a gentle voice, "What kind of talk is that, my lord? The seal is in my hands—whose hands could it possibly pass through? Could it be that you don't trust me, my lord?"The Jing’an Marquis's brows suddenly knitted tight, and his voice dropped three degrees colder. "Don't tell me… you're unwilling to return it?"Lin Xiaoyao's expression shifted slightly, but then the corners of her lips curved up. "What are you saying, my lord? I merely think you've grown a bit jumpy, seeing threats where there are none…"Before she could finish, the Jing’an Marquis suddenly seized her jaw, his gaze sharp. "Speak! Where is it hidden?"Lin Xiaoyao's cheeks flushed red where he pinched them, tears welling in her eyes. "My lord… twenty years of shared feelings… and you suspect me like this?""All these years, how many secret letters have I passed for you? How many connections have I navigated? How much of the gold and silver in the estate's treasury did I earn? I even bore you Yu'er… and yet you can bring yourself to be so cruel?"Looking at her tear-stained face, the Jing’an Marquis let out a long sigh. He released his grip and softened his voice to the utmost. "How could I bear to hurt you? It's just that circumstances force my hand… Good Yaoniang, you must understand—that seal is the root of calamity. It cannot be kept."Lin Xiaoyao rested against his shoulder, sobbing a few times, then her eyes darted about as she said softly, "You can have the seal. But only if you promise me something: when you return to the estate, you will divorce that woman."She lifted her head and stared into the Jing’an Marquis's eyes. "Once this storm blows over, you'll secure me a clean identity and welcome me into the estate openly and honorably. Then, the seal will be yours."The Jing’an Marquis's gaze froze.After a long silence, he suddenly curled his lips into a gentle smile. "Is that all? As long as you hand over the seal, I'll write the divorce papers the moment I return."Before the words had even faded, there came a loud "bang"—the wooden gate of the small courtyard was kicked open."Wonderful! So you dare to divorce me?!"A woman's furious voice rang out from the doorway.The Jing’an Marquis turned his head in horror, only to see the Countess standing at the entrance, her chest heaving violently, her eyes glaring at him with vicious intensity.Shocked and enraged, the Jing’an Marquis demanded, "How did you find this place?!"The Countess gave a cold laugh. "You've played me for a fool for twenty years—did you truly think I'd still let you manipulate me at will?"She looked at the Jing’an Marquis with disdain. "You fancy yourself clever, but when have you ever taken a woman of the inner chambers like me seriously? I'd wager you still believe your little courtyard is sealed tight as iron. Well, someone told me the moment you disguised yourself as a farmer and hid here by the waterwheel."The Jing’an Marquis ground his teeth. "Those wretched servants—how dare they betray their lord!"He raised his head and shouted sharply outside, "What are you all good for?! Stop the Countess, now!"Only then did he take in the scene beyond the gate: the estate's guards were locked in fierce combat with a dozen or so government soldiers, blades flashing, the sounds of battle ringing out without cease.The Countess gave a cold snort. "Stop me? They can barely look after themselves right now!" With that, she lifted her foot over the threshold and strode boldly inside.The Jing’an Marquis's eyes went wide with disbelief. "You… you actually brought troops from your natal family? You've gone mad!"The Countess ignored him and walked closer on her own. The moment she got a clear look at Lin Xiaoyao's face, her expression froze.Her pupils contracted, and tears of rage finally burst forth as she pointed a trembling finger at Lin Xiaoyao."You… it was for her… that you're divorcing me?!"Her voice was hoarse and broken, almost weeping blood, her tear-filled eyes glaring viciously at the Jing’an Marquis. "When I first brought Qing'er back to the estate, you said the midwife had acted out of selfish motives, swapping our own flesh and blood for her own child! You even said that midwife had died ten years ago—dead men tell no tales!""Now I finally understand—the son I raised with such hardship for nearly twenty years is the bastard child born of you and this impostor! How dare you steal my son! And then help that little beast torment my own flesh and blood! Yan Li, you're lower than a pig or a dog!"Hearing the word "impostor," Lin Xiaoyao couldn't help but start. "What… impostor?"Seeing her like this, the Countess suddenly threw her head back and laughed heartily. "Hahaha! You didn't know?"In her gaze at Lin Xiaoyao, there was a trace of pity mixed into the venom. "You're nothing but a stand-in. The one who held his heart died more than twenty years ago! It's only because your face bears some resemblance to hers that this beast kept you outside, doing his dirty, unspeakable work for him! Hahaha—! You're nothing but a pitiful impostor, to be discarded at any moment!""Shut your mouth!" The Jing’an Marquis's face turned livid. Paying no heed to Lin Xiaoyao, whose face had drained of all color, he glanced anxiously outside, then stepped forward and hissed at the Countess, "Carrying on so recklessly, making this much of a scene—do you think Shi Wuxie won't notice? Are you trying to get us all killed?!""What do I have to fear!" the Countess cried out. "I came here today to catch you!"The words had barely left her mouth when a loud shout rang out, drawing nearer: "The Court of Judicial Review is conducting official business! Everyone, surrender your weapons at once—any who resist will be killed without mercy!"The three people in the room turned toward the sound, only to see dozens of Court of Judicial Review soldiers surging out from the shadows of the dense forest, surrounding the entire small courtyard in the blink of an eye. The Earl's guards inside the courtyard were silently subdued and disarmed.Two figures strode side by side into the courtyard.Chu Yunxi even leisurely raised a hand and clapped, unhurried. "Clap, clap, clap—!""Truly splendid." His gaze swept over the three people in the room as he clicked his tongue and shook his head. "Who would have thought—beyond the true and false young masters, there's even a white-moonlight stand-in plot. One family managed to scrape together two cuckold novels' worth of drama."He arched a brow and glanced at Shi Wuxie beside him. "That 'it's a long story' of yours—this is what you meant, isn't it?"Shi Wuxie gave a slight nod.Chu Yunxi snorted. "Well, the tropes are certainly all accounted for."Shi Wuxie looked coldly at the Jing’an Marquis. "Jing’an Marquis, Yan Li has colluded with foreign enemies. Caught red-handed with the evidence—seize him!"At his words, several soldiers immediately stepped forward to make the arrest.The Jing’an Marquis took half a step back and barked, "Insolence! Shi Wuxie, you're nothing but a registrar—what authority do you have to command Court of Judicial Review soldiers? This is an overstepping of your office!"Shi Wuxie looked at him coldly and unhurriedly drew a Command Token from his sleeve. "Troop deployment Command Tokens are issued by His Majesty himself, authorizing me to preside over this case in full. All personnel are at my disposal. My lord Earl, do you have any objections?"The Jing’an Marquis's pupils contracted sharply, and he stumbled back two steps in disbelief. "That's impossible!""His Majesty… His Majesty just yesterday…""His Majesty just yesterday showered you with rewards and placated you, while demoting Shi Wuxie three ranks to a registrar," Chu Yunxi said softly. "If he hadn't coaxed you like that, making you believe the imperial favor still rested on you, how would you have let your guard down and rushed here to destroy evidence and silence witnesses?"As he emphasized the words "silence witnesses," his gaze swept toward Lin Xiaoyao, who stood dazed and on the verge of collapse.The Jing’an Marquis stared fixedly at the Command Token in Shi Wuxie's hand, muttering under his breath, "So this… you and His Majesty planned this together?""No… impossible."Shi Wuxie's gaze was as sharp as a blade. "Does my lord Earl truly believe I would dare move against you—a super-rank Earl of the court with power and influence—without any authorization?"The implication was crystal clear.At those words, the Jing’an Marquis's pupils trembled, and a sudden chill spread through his whole body. "His Majesty wants me dead? Why?!""Seize him!" Shi Wuxie called out loudly.Two guards moved to arrest him, but the Jing’an Marquis's eyes suddenly turned fierce, and with lightning speed he grabbed Lin Xiaoyao, the person nearest to him, holding her in front of him as a shield. "Don't move!"Cold light flashed from his sleeve—a sharp dagger had appeared at some point, pressed against Lin Xiaoyao's neck. "Come any closer, and I'll kill her!"The sudden turn of events left everyone frozen.Lin Xiaoyao went rigid, her eyes wide with shock, tears instantly welling up. Her voice broke. "M-my lord Earl…"The Jing’an Marquis leaned close to her ear and whispered, in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Don't be afraid! You're the key witness in this case—Shi Wuxie won't let you die. If you die, he'll have neither physical evidence nor witnesses in hand. How could he pin anything on me then? How could he answer to His Majesty? We're just bluffing—force him to back off and let us go!"Hearing this, Lin Xiaoyao's lips trembled violently, her heart as if plunged into an icy abyss. "So, my lord Earl… as long as I die… you'll be safe and sound, is that it?"The Jing’an Marquis's eyes darted about as he soothed her in a low voice. "What nonsense are you saying? How could I bear to let you die? Once we get through this ordeal, I'll take you far away."Shi Wuxie's expression didn't change. "I don't necessarily need Lin Xiaoyao alive. Her identity as a spy can be confirmed even in death. Besides, it seems the Earl has forgotten—Zhou Wang is also a witness."The Jing’an Marquis snorted coldly. "Zhou Wang? He's been under my men's watch ever since he left the Court of Judicial Review! You think he'll live long enough to testify?"Shi Wuxie said quietly, "Are you certain?"At this rhetorical question, the Jing’an Marquis's eyes flickered, and he suddenly lost his confidence.Shi Wuxie's voice suddenly became distant and frigid. "Whether she lives or dies means nothing to me. As for you, my lord Earl… killing a witness is, of course, a capital crime.""You may be executed on the spot."Stared down by Shi Wuxie's murderous gaze, the Jing’an Marquis felt a chill in his heart and roared back all the more frantically, "Don't try to bluff me! You really think I wouldn't dare kill this woman?"As the words fell, the blade had already cut into the woman's neck, blood welling up instantly. It was about to pierce the artery, and Lin Xiaoyao's eyes filled with deathly despair as she cried out, "My lord, save me!"Chu Yunxi keenly sensed the genuine, barely contained killing intent in Shi Wuxie's eyes.This little madman—was he really going to kill a sitting earl right here?!Even if everything could be pinned on the Jing’an Marquis's desperate resistance or silencing a witness, if His Majesty took this as proof that Shi Wuxie acted with excessive cruelty and overstepped his authority, wouldn't it be all too easy to find an excuse to prosecute him later?At this thought, Chu Yunxi leaned down to Shi Wuxie's ear and said in a low voice, "Wait, I have an idea."With that, his figure flickered, and he blocked Shi Wuxie's path.He even took two more steps toward the Jing’an Marquis, saying in a leisurely tone, "My lord, Lin Xiaoyao has shared more than twenty years of history with you. Are you really going to kill her just like that? What a pity."As if stung by these words, Lin Xiaoyao's tears burst forth, and she begged in a broken voice, "My lord… think of our Yu'er… he can't be without his mother…"The Jing’an Marquis's gaze wavered, a flicker of hesitation appearing—yet watching Chu Yunxi approach step by step, he suddenly snapped back to alertness and snapped, "What do you think you're doing? Back off!"Chu Yunxi obligingly stopped. By now, only a single step separated him from the Jing’an Marquis. His lips curved slightly. "Let her go. I'll be your hostage instead. How about it?"Shi Wuxie's brow furrowed, his voice a warning: "Chu Yunxi, this is your plan?"The Jing’an Marquis grew wary: "Don't try to fool me. Why would you do that?"Chu Yunxi bowed slightly, leaned in, and murmured to the Jing’an Marquis, "Because I… am a fool in love. I just want to see whether he truly loves me, whether he'd begrudge my life."Shi Wuxie's voice came from behind, carrying obvious anger: "Chu Yunxi, stop fooling around! Get back here now."At these words, a glimmer flashed in Chu Yunxi's eyes. He deliberately straightened up slowly, turned to look at Shi Wuxie, and smiled with satisfaction: "See? He really can't bear to lose me after all."In the very instant he turned his head, the Jing’an Marquis shoved Lin Xiaoyao forward, and at the same time, his blade-wielding wrist flipped while his other hand seized Chu Yunxi's arm and yanked hard.In the blink of an eye, Chu Yunxi was in the Jing’an Marquis's grasp, the sharp edge pressed against his neck."Chu Yunxi!" Shi Wuxie lunged forward, but it was too late to stop it."Don't move!" the Jing’an Marquis warned, then let out a sneer. "Who would've thought a fool would deliver himself right to my door."This time, he finally caught a fleeting flash of shock, fury, and tension in Shi Wuxie's eyes.He laughed heartily in triumph: "Holding Yaoniang hostage just now was merely a last resort. Now that I have Chu Yunxi in my hands—if he dies, let's see how you explain it to the marquis's household! Shi Wuxie, if you want your wife to live, let me out!"Shi Wuxie stood where he was, his gaze locked on Chu Yunxi.The man was being held at knifepoint, his life hanging by a thread. Even his neck had been cut, blood trickling down in thin streams.And yet on his face, he was still smiling, utterly carefree.The Ghostly Shadow was furious. [That rotten brat—is he tired of living?!]"If you ask me, just leave him to his fate! Better yet if he dies—then we can finally crack open his skull and study it!"The Jing’an Marquis wore a smug smile as he gripped the back of Chu Yunxi's collar, pushing the man forward like a shield toward the door.When they reached the courtyard, facing the forest of blades and halberds held by the Court of Judicial Review's guards, he said in a low voice, "Make them drop their weapons, or I'll kill him."But the guards paid him no heed, their eyes fixed only on Shi Wuxie, who stood at the doorway.The Earl turned his head and saw that Shi Wuxie remained standing beneath the eaves, unmoved."Shi Wuxie!" the Jing’an Marquis cried in shock and fury. "Do you truly not care whether he lives or dies?!" As he spoke, the blade pressed in another fraction, deepening the wound on that neck, blood welling forth.Yet Shi Wuxie only said coldly, "If anything happens to Chu Yunxi, I will answer to his household and accept punishment. But you are a wanted criminal of the court—I will never release the tiger back to the mountain."The Earl could not believe it, the hand gripping his hilt trembling slightly with agitation: "You really think I wouldn't dare?!"Just as shock and rage warred within him, Chu Yunxi suddenly broke into a grin, even tilting his face slightly despite the blade at his neck.The edge followed his turning motion, widening the cut into a horrifying line of blood."That just now was a lie.""The truth is, this little madman… is practically praying for me to die sooner."The Jing’an Marquis froze. "What did you—"In that instant of distraction, the smile vanished from Chu Yunxi's eyes, his movements so fast they were nearly a blur.His left hand shot up, five fingers locking precisely around the Earl's knife-wielding wrist, and with a sudden twist—"Argh!" The Jing’an Marquis felt excruciating pain shoot through his entire arm, his fingers loosening involuntarily as the dagger clattered to the ground.At the same time, Chu Yunxi's right hand reached back and seized the Earl's collar at the nape, and using the momentum of his whole body's rotation, executed a clean, crisp over-the-shoulder throw."CRASH—!"A heavy, muffled thud. Before the Jing’an Marquis could even process what had happened, the world spun around him as an irresistible force slammed him into the ground.He hit so hard he saw stars, his organs feeling as if they'd shifted out of place.Without a moment's pause, the instant the Earl hit the ground, Chu Yunxi spun and dropped to one knee on his back, one hand wrenching his right arm behind him while the other pressed the Earl's face firmly into the dirt.In the blink of an eye, the dust had settled.Chu Yunxi lifted his head and shot a triumphant wink toward Shi Wuxie, who stood beneath the eaves.That smile, radiant with youthful spirit, made the taut nerves in Shi Wuxie finally ease.His back relaxed imperceptibly, and he raised a hand in a sweep: "Seize him!"However, the Jing’an Marquis, pinned firmly to the ground, showed no intention of surrendering. Struggling to lift half his face, the corner of his mouth twisted into an eerie smile.Shi Wuxie felt a sense of foreboding.The Earl's unrestrained left hand suddenly shot toward the sky, firing a Signal Arrow."Whoosh—BANG—!"The Signal Arrow burst in the air like a firework."What did you just do?" Chu Yunxi said warily.Shi Wuxie understood in an instant. Looking at the Earl's wild, grinning face, his voice was bone-chilling: "You've planted hidden assassins?""HAHAHA—!" The Jing’an Marquis laughed through his coughs. "Shi Wuxie, did you think I'd come here without preparation?! Today… no one leaves here alive!""I am a sitting Earl of the court, with a hereditary title passed down unbroken. As long as all of you die here today, who's to say what the truth is but me? I'll tell His Majesty that it was you, Shi Wuxie, who lured me here to frame me! And I was forced to fight back—who will be able to convict me then!"The words had barely fallen when—Swish swish swish—!Dense sounds of arrows tearing through the air suddenly rang out through the forest, dozens of arrows raining down like a violent storm.Chu Yunxi's pupils contracted sharply. Like lightning, he rolled sideways behind a doorpost—but the very next moment—Thunk—!A muffled sound of a blade piercing flesh struck Chu Yunxi's ears with unusual clarity.Agonizing pain hit him, and he dropped to one knee, instinctively lowering his head.A bloodstained arrowhead had pierced through from beneath his left shoulder blade all the way to his chest.Chu Yunxi let out a suppressed groan, cold sweat instantly beading on his forehead.He cursed inwardly.He was already hiding behind the doorpost—did the arrows know how to turn corners? Was this cursed body's bad luck really this outrageous?!When he looked up again, the courtyard had descended into chaos—The estate guards were locked in fierce combat with dozens of black-clad death warriors.The guards' commander shouted sharply, "Protect the Lord!"The men raised their shields and advanced, the heavy shields forming a wall that shielded the small cabin where Shi Wuxie was, impenetrable. The rain of arrows clattered uselessly against the shields, unable to advance a single inch.Seeing that Shi Wuxie was safe, he breathed a sigh of relief.Then, turning his head, he saw the Jing’an Marquis retreating toward the forest, escorted by several black-clad men.He wanted to stop them but was powerless—even now, several black-clad men were charging at him with blades drawn.But at that moment—"Young Master!!" A dozen dark figures burst out from the forest on the other side, instantly cutting down the enemies closing in on Chu Yunxi, then using their blades as shields to block the stray arrows.Chu Yunxi's vision was going black. With all his remaining strength, he pointed in the direction the Jing’an Marquis had fled and gave the order: "Chase!""Yes!" Ying Qi immediately led the men in pursuit, swift as arrows loosed from the bowstring.The two Shadow Guards who remained—one stood guard in front with blade raised, while the other quickly dragged Chu Yunxi toward the cabin."Ugh—cough cough!" The movement aggravated his wound, and Chu Yunxi couldn't help coughing up a mouthful of blood.Then his vision darkened as the Shadow Guard dragged him over the threshold and into the cabin. The door closed, temporarily shutting out the sounds of slaughter outside.Leaning against the Shadow Guard's shoulder, he forced his eyelids up. As his blurred vision focused, he saw Shi Wuxie standing at his side, looking down at him from above, displeasure written all over those eyes.Chu Yunxi weakly tugged at the corner of his mouth, trying to force a smile. "Little madman… this time… I really might die…"His voice was faint, almost inaudible: "…Just as you wished."
Chapter 16
My Cold-Faced Wife Wants to Kill Me Again