“Ah?”
A Yuan was surprised for a moment, then hesitantly said, “But she is, after all, the Young Lady. She looks simple, and it was just an act of feeding the fish.”
Xiao Bian didn’t raise his head and scoffed, “You’re more simple-minded than her.”
At the same time, Zishu Sui, who was feeding the fish on the corridor, suddenly felt a surge of danger.
She didn’t stop feeding the fish, but she didn’t take the opportunity to move any further.
When the short arrow was fired from above, it made a very light “whoosh” sound. The surrounding air seemed to be affected, and Zishu Sui sensed a slight change near her ear. Everything seemed to slow down.
If she wanted to dodge, she could have.
However, while Zishu Sui could dodge, Qi Sui wouldn’t be able to dodge this sudden arrow.
Since the other party didn’t seem to have any intention to kill, she didn’t move. When the arrow was about to pass in front of her, she deliberately pretended to look at the fish and leaned forward slightly.
“Not good!”
A Yuan watched the girl’s movements with horror, his heart in his throat. If the arrow killed the Young Lady, it would be a huge problem!
The short arrow, which was originally just flying past her, grazed her nose sharply due to Zishu Sui’s movement.
At first, she didn’t feel anything, but slowly, she began to feel a slight pain.
Hearing A Yuan’s exclamation, Xiao Bian looked up again and only heard the girl on the bridge corridor scream, then fall to the ground, like a frightened rabbit.
The girl first patted her chest, then turned her head to look for the culprit.
Only now did Zishu Sui have a legitimate reason to scan the study. Her gaze went towards the place where the arrow was fired—
At the window on the second floor of the study, a figure quickly dodged away.
And the figure sitting upright and motionless became the focus of Zishu Sui’s gaze.
At the same time, Xiao Bian was also observing her.
His gaze was cold and mocking, without any pity.
But the girl’s expression was different from his. The girl’s expression was filled with lingering fear and sadness, as if she had just suffered some persecution. She looked wronged and sad, staring at him for a long time without looking away.
Looking at the girl’s appearance, Xiao Bian frowned and turned to order his subordinate, “Send her away. She’s an eyesore.”
A Yuan felt a little guilty at this moment and nodded, about to go down, but a glance at the window suddenly left him speechless, “Young Master, the, the Young Lady is running over here!”
So, Xiao Bian looked in that direction again. However, in just a short while, the place where the girl had been sitting was now empty.
He moved his gaze and saw the girl jogging on the corridor, her pure white skirt fluttering in the wind.
Although she wasn’t running fast, it was still too late to stop her.
What else could she be doing coming over here at this point, other than demanding an explanation?
Xiao Bian thought, this person really doesn’t learn from experience and still dares to come.
For Zishu Sui at this moment, demanding an explanation was just a reason to approach Xiao Bian that had been handed to her on a silver platter.
Although her face was filled with extreme grievance, her heart was filled with the joy of a successful scheme.
As soon as she pushed open the door of the study, two large swords were suddenly placed in front of her, stopping her from moving forward.
So, Zishu Sui saw two iron-faced guards standing on either side inside the door.
Other people’s guards are guarding the door, but the Marquis of Wuning’s residence is guarding the inside.
Although she couldn’t go forward, at least the door of the study was open, and Zishu Sui’s gaze swept around inside without restraint.
Because she was “frightened” by that arrow, she seemed to be carrying a sense of relief after surviving a disaster at this moment, and her usual weakness was reduced a bit.
Then, she shouted towards the head of the room—
“Cousin!”
Her voice was filled with anger, and anyone who heard it could tell her strong dissatisfaction, mostly because of that arrow.
At the top of the stairs, Xiao Bian was wearing a black brocade robe, and gold threads were inlaid on the collar and cuffs of the delicate cloud brocade.
Unlike the murderous aura of the flying fish robe in the morning, Xiao Bian at this moment appeared more calm, mysterious, and noble.
He was calm and composed, not saying a word.
As soon as Zishu Sui saw him, she looked like she “couldn’t hold back her anger” and accused, “I regard Cousin as my brother, but Cousin actually wants to put me to death? What have I done wrong?”
Taking advantage of the courage brought by being shot, Zishu Sui ignored the gazes of the guards present, suppressed her tears, and looked like she was determined to defend her dignity, saying each word clearly—
“Isn’t Cousin just suspicious of my intentions for coming to the Marquis’s residence?”
“Just now, Aunt also testified for me. I came to the Marquis’s residence to find a good marriage in the capital.”
“My father was just a small seventh-rank magistrate. Now that my parents are gone, I’m an outsider in any uncle’s house, and I’ll have to live under someone else’s roof. I just want to come to the Marquis’s residence, hoping to marry into a high-ranking family with the support of the Marquis’s residence, so that no one can bully me in the future.”
“It’s difficult for me to talk about a woman’s marriage, but now I’ve said it all. Is Cousin satisfied with this answer?”
“If, in Cousin’s eyes, this is also malicious, then when my mother hid me in the secret room, I should have run out and committed suicide in front of the Xie bandits, so that I could have a reputation for loyalty! It’s better than dying inexplicably under the arrow of my own people!”
As if she had finished humiliating herself, Zishu Sui’s eyes were filled with stubbornness and shame, but she looked straight at Xiao Bian, who was approaching.
Her shoulders rose and fell slightly, with a slight panting after running.
She thought to herself, this look should be even more pitiful, right?
Doesn’t Xiao Bian like this kind of weak woman who pretends to be strong?
Xiao Bian looked at her, not knowing what she was thinking inside.
He looked at this restless girl with a calm expression, “Did no one tell you that you can’t come to the study?”
Zishu Sui shook her head, as if the fire from just now had disappeared all at once, and she had become honest again, “Sister Yunxiu can’t take care of me, and I don’t dare to trouble her with anything, so how would I know where I can go and where I can’t go?”
After saying that, Xiao Bian frowned slightly.
Then, the guard A Yuan standing next to him immediately said, “Yunxiu is a maid by Madam’s side, and she is the daughter of Mama Liu.”
So, he frowned because he didn’t know Yunxiu.
Hearing this, Zishu Sui nodded and affirmed, “That’s right.”
Xiao Bian understood, and his frown relaxed, “You’re deliberately complaining to me, thinking I can help you?”
He seemed to be talking about something very funny, and after saying that, he even sneered.
Zishu Sui realized that this man could discern tea (a metaphor for seeing through someone’s intentions).
Since that’s the case, why does he still like it?
Zishu Sui widened her eyes, looking very innocent, “Cousin asked me!”
Seeing Xiao Bian smile without saying a word again, she had to lower her head, and her tone also weakened a bit, “Aunt is very good to me, but Sister Yunxiu is Mama Liu’s daughter, and I’m living under someone else’s roof, so I don’t dare to offend Mama Liu.”
More feigning weakness.
However, Xiao Bian was not a person who cherished women. His voice was deep and mocking, “If you can’t even discipline a maid, you still want to marry into a high-ranking family. That’s really a pipe dream.”
Zishu Sui choked and took a breath, “Yes! Now that my face is disfigured, it will be even more difficult.”
Saying that, she reached out and touched the blood on her nose, “But I will try my best, whether it’s with the weak body that Cousin mentioned, or with precious tears!”
As if deliberately provoking him, Xiao Bian felt that she was being sarcastic, but seeing the girl’s innocent face, it seemed like he was mistaken.
When his gaze touched the faint red mark on the girl’s nose, Xiao Bian was even more speechless.
The wound was extremely shallow, and it probably wouldn’t be visible in two days.
And this is called disfigurement?
With just this, she was so sad just now? Looking like she was about to die and be humiliated.
He didn’t know how she managed to live and come to the capital with such a delicate constitution.
“Go back. Don’t come here again in the future.”
After Xiao Bian finished speaking, he was about to turn around and go upstairs again.
Then he heard the girl’s voice trembling, seeming afraid and expectant—
“Cousin, can I come here to read? Actually, I quite like reading.”
The man who had turned around had an instant look of gloom on his face.
He had clearly just said not to come here, and she asked such a presumptuous question, making it difficult not to think about her intentions.