The boy was both weak and stubborn. The guard watching him was itching to give him a kick—he just had to decide how hard.
Mingxi, on the other hand, looked at him and spoke slowly and firmly. “You need to understand that in this world, murder must be repaid with death, and debts must be repaid. If I hadn’t found out in time, there’d be at least one and a half lives lost in our household because of her. Your sister’s life matters—but so do the lives of others. You think she’s pitiful, but what about the people she hurt? They could’ve lived eighty years, and now their lives have been cut short by decades. What do you make of that?”
“No! My sister is a good person. She would never do something like that!”
“A good person? Maybe she’s only good to you. That doesn’t mean she’s good to others.” Mingxi stared at him. “So, are you coming with me, or do I knock you out and drag you?”
Qiao Yu: …
How can someone be this brutal!?
He chose to go with her. If he was dragged, he probably wouldn’t make it out alive.
The guard followed behind Qiao Yu. Mingxi led the way, retracing their path through the thorny forest. Even with her careful steps, her hands were still scratched in several places.
Before they had gone far, the sound of chaotic footsteps reached them. Mingxi quickly signaled the guard to hide with Qiao Yu, while she slipped behind a tree and tightened her grip on her blade.
When the figure appeared, Mingxi was momentarily stunned.
The night was dark as ink, and Xiao Muchen strode forward in a long robe, his face cold and resolute. Leading the group, he looked sharp and imposing. Mingxi didn’t see Qi He, so she figured he must still be handling the aftermath.
Suddenly, Xiao Muchen paused and turned to look in her direction.
Mingxi stepped out from behind the tree and said flatly, “You came.”
Seeing she didn’t say something sharp like ‘What took you so long?’, Xiao Muchen’s face softened. “I came to take you home.”
Something about those words made Mingxi’s eyes sting unexpectedly. She tried to smile, but found her mouth was even more sour than her eyes.
He didn’t blame her, didn’t scold her, didn’t even look at her with disapproval.
He just said he came to take her home.
Mingxi felt pathetic. Her tears were so shallow, she couldn’t even hold them back.
This was the first time Xiao Muchen had seen Mingxi cry. The coldness on his face melted away. He strode forward and pulled her into his arms.
Everyone around immediately looked away. The guard dragged Qiao Yu ahead, and the others followed.
They couldn’t bear to look. Just moments ago, the Wangfei had been wielding a blade with fierce determination—yet in front of Wangye, she turned into someone completely different.
And Wangye too—coming in all stern and imposing, but completely losing that presence now.
Nope. Can’t look. Won’t look.
Mingxi heard the shuffling of footsteps fading around her, and suddenly felt a little embarrassed. It had to be the night wind… how could someone like her cry?
“I didn’t expect you to actually find Qiao Yu,” Xiao Muchen said, sensing her awkwardness and speaking up to ease it.
Mingxi composed herself. This time, she didn’t push him away. Instead, she sat down and pulled him down with her, then slowly began to speak. “I thought they had just quietly moved Qiao Yu. I didn’t expect they’d plant assassins too. They must’ve anticipated I’d come—or that someone from our side would.”
Xiao Muchen had already heard the full report on the way here. Now, hearing her tell it herself, he turned and looked at her. “Weren’t you afraid?”
Mingxi blinked, then shook her head after a moment. “No. I was just thinking about where Qiao Yu had gone.”
Xiao Muchen paused. “How could you not be scared?”
But to her, finding him had been more important than fear—so she pushed the fear aside.
“Today, the Eastern Palace delayed me.”
At those words, Mingxi’s eyes lit up with realization. “So they really were prepared.”
Xiao Muchen looked at her. “I just wanted you to know—I didn’t mean to come late.”
Without thinking, Mingxi replied, “Good thing I didn’t wait until you got home.”
Huh?
Mingxi: …
She immediately slapped her hand over her face.
Xiao Muchen took a deep breath. “Okay, explain. What exactly does that mean?”
What do you mean good thing you didn’t wait for me to get home?
Mingxi paused. She considered herself quite quick-witted, but whenever she was with Xiao Muchen, she always seemed to fall a beat behind.
So she took a breath and told him everything in detail—especially about her conversation with Fang Momo.
Although she wasn’t sure what her feelings toward Xiao Muchen were at the moment, there was one thing she did know—she didn’t want Xiao Muchen to misunderstand her.
After listening, Xiao Muchen paused for a moment before finally saying, “Your decision wasn’t wrong.” Then he looked at Mingxi. “Qi He had someone deliver a message to me, but it never reached me. I was taken away by people from the Eastern Palace.”
Duan Mingxi’s expression immediately darkened. She looked at Xiao Muchen and asked, “And what are you thinking now?”
“We can’t let His Highness the Crown Prince’s good intentions go to waste, can we? We ought to send him a return gift.”
Mingxi’s eyes lit up—they were perfectly in sync.
She was no longer the powerless Duan Mingxi of before. She was now Duan Wangfei, married to Xiao Muchen.
The couple exchanged a smile. Xiao Muchen stood up first, then extended his hand.
Mingxi placed her hand in his broad, warm palm and rose with his help. The two of them walked down the mountain side by side.
By the time Mingxi followed Xiao Muchen down, Qi He had already cleaned up the area. The bloodstains on the ground were wiped away without a trace, and there was no sign of any of the Eastern Palace’s people—dead or alive.
Mingxi gave Xiao Muchen a glance.
Xiao Muchen said, “No evidence can be left behind. The dead were taken away and buried. The living were imprisoned and will be interrogated to see if any useful information can be extracted.”
Mingxi nodded and didn’t ask further. Xiao Muchen pulled her onto the horse, and the two of them rode together. Behind them, Qi He and the others escorted Qiao Yu toward the place where Qiao Wan was being held.
The location where Qiao Wan was imprisoned wasn’t far. It took only half an hour on horseback.
It was a private residence in the west of the city. Xiao Muchen’s guards had arrived ahead of time, and someone was already waiting outside.
When they saw the group approach, they quickly came forward to greet them. Xiao Muchen and Mingxi entered at a brisk pace. As they walked, the head steward who led the way gave a report: “Everything is ready, Wangye.”
Xiao Muchen nodded and looked at Mingxi. “Shall we let Qiao Wan see Qiao Yu directly, or would you like to see her first?”
“I’ll see her first,” Mingxi answered immediately.
“Alright.” Xiao Muchen had no objections and led Mingxi to a pitch-black room in the rear courtyard.
The doors and windows were sealed shut, and two guards stood outside. Upon seeing the couple, they immediately saluted.
Xiao Muchen stepped forward and pushed open the door. “I’ll wait outside for you.”
This time, Mingxi didn’t hesitate. She looked at him and said, “Come in with me. There’s nothing you can’t hear.”
