chapter eight
The air in the hall seemed to be slightly stagnant, with only two light and subtle breathing sounds remaining.
Xie Lingyu's pupils reflected the extremely handsome face in front of her. Even though he hid it well, she still caught a flash of surprise in his eyes, as if he didn't expect her to say such a thing.
In fact, she had already thought that a person like Xiao Yanxing, who was deep-minded and vigilant, was most wary of similar people.
Although she has a distinguished status, she may not be as good as Xiao Yanxing in terms of strategic thinking.
It would be better to simply change the route.
Compared to a brooding Queen, an innocent little Highness raised in a deep palace is easier to win trust.
Fortunately, Xie Lingyu is not all pretending.
In her previous life, she had such an innocent and childish idea, thinking that she could live a stable life as long as she stayed true to her duties.
As everyone knows, when there are big waves, every boat on the river will not be immune.
And she was the broken ship that was overturned in her previous life.
"Your Highness is so noble, how dare I, of such a humble status, stand beside His Highness," Xiao Yanxing said slowly after a long time.
Xie Lingyu raised her eyebrows, but before she could think about it, Xiao Yanxing spoke again.
"But as long as your Highness gives you an order, I am willing to encourage you and repay Your Highness for saving my life." His voice was like a cold spring flowing in a dense forest. It was deep but also cold and sweet. His words were unconvincing.
However, Xie Lingyu has experienced two lifetimes and has seen countless people fall in love with each other.
I have to admit that a person like Xiao Yanxing is born with a delicate heart. If nothing else, even if he has not yet become an official, his words are already flawless.
However, Xie Lingyu was very satisfied with this answer.
If he agrees outright, Xie Lingyu will doubt that he trusts other people's temper, which is probably the case with Xie Lingyu.
Besides, she had experienced that kind of betrayal.
Nowadays, the world is so big, in her eyes, it is only divided into those who can be used and those who cannot be used.
The person in front of her was Xiao Yanxing. She had plenty of time and patience to slowly win over him.
"Okay, it's time for you to rest, so I won't disturb you." Xie Lingyu took two steps back, instantly closing the distance between her and Xiao Yanxing.
The sweet and soft scent on the girl's body also faded a little in the surrounding area.
She was about to leave, but Xiao Yanxing still had something to say: "Your Highness."
He stopped her.
"I came to Chang'an this time for Jinke Chunwei. The carriage I rode on that day was full of books that I had devoted myself to studying over the years. I wonder if your highness saw anything on the carriage when you came back after rescuing me?"
Xie Lingyu smiled: "Don't worry, I'll have the luggage on the carriage brought back as well."
Xiao Yanxing seemed to be completely relieved this time. The most important thing for a scholar is his private collection of books.
In order to go to Chang'an to take the exam, he took all his personal possessions with him.
However, Xie Lingyu soon faded her smile: "But there is one more thing. Although your attendant and the coachman were rescued together, the coachman was too seriously injured and has already passed away."
This was the news that was reported back to Xie Lingyu before he arrived here.
Xiao Yanxing was silent for a long time after hearing this.
"All the gangsters who intercepted you have been locked up. When you are well, you can interrogate them at any time."
Xie Lingyu said a few words of comfort in a warm voice.
Xiao Yanxing raised his eyes: "I want to see you now."
"No."
Xie Lingyu refused without thinking, but she still explained in a soft tone: "Although you can get up now, it is still not suitable to move around. Even if you want to interrogate them, you must be healthy."
"Your Highness, although I am not a doctor, I know that there is a depression in my heart. No medicine or stone can cure it. I hope that Your Highness can help you." When Xiao Yanxing looked up, his face was particularly pale, and he had a pair of beautiful eyes, which seemed to be able to confuse people easily. Softened hearted.
What's more, he said: "It won't be long, just give me a quarter of an hour."
Xie Lingyu was a little surprised. What is enough time for a quarter of an hour to interrogate?
After thinking again and again, she nodded and agreed, "You shouldn't move around. I'll have someone take you there on a chariot."
Before Xiao Yanxing could speak, she pursed her lower lip and said, "If you don't agree, let this matter go."
It's just that this time Xiao Yanxing lowered his eyelashes slightly, completely obedient, as if he was letting her make the decision.
On the contrary, Xie Lingyu felt a little bit like he had taken the bait.
Fortunately, she didn't think too much. She called someone in and asked the attendant who had just been chosen to help Xiao Yanxing change his clothes. She also ordered Tinghe to prepare the chariot.
Tinghe looked shocked: "Your Highness, is this chariot prepared for Mr. Lang?"
Although this is Shangyang Palace and the rules are not as strict as those of Taiji Palace, Xie Lingyu is the only one who can ride the chariot in the entire Shangyang Palace.
No one else has ever had this honor.
Ting He didn't understand why His Highness suddenly rescued such a gentleman before, but thinking about Xiao Yanxing's handsome face, he seemed to understand a little now.
Xie Lingyu glanced at her lightly. Although his eyes were not cold, they were so frightened that Tinghe quickly fell silent.
She quickly turned around and went out, asking someone to prepare the chariot. She didn't dare to ask any more questions.
*
In the Shangyang Palace, there is a dungeon specially designed to punish those who make mistakes. However, since Xie Lingyu moved in, although she has a weak temper, she has never criticized the palace residents harshly. Even if she occasionally did something wrong, she would only receive minor punishments and major warnings.
Therefore, this dungeon was abandoned a long time ago.
Unexpectedly, this time it would come in handy to imprison the gangsters who intercepted and killed Xiao Yanxing.
He Lanfang received the news sent by His Highness and had been waiting at the entrance of the courtyard for a long time. After a while, he saw someone coming on a chariot. When he got closer and saw the people on the chariot clearly, a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes. .
It was actually Xiao Yanxing who was rescued that day.
The prince is the only one who can ride the chariot in Shangyang Palace. Now that he can ride it, it must be because of His Highness's permission.
When Xiao Yan got off the carriage, He Lanfang took the initiative to step forward and said, "I have met you. Your Highness told me to wait for you here."
"You're welcome, sir," Xiao Yanxing's voice was weak.
He Lanfang looked up at him, and the doubts in his heart were even worse. He saw that Xiao Yanxing's face was pale and bleak, with not even a trace of blood visible. His feet were floating as he walked, as if he was holding on to prevent himself from falling.
"The prisoner is here. Lang Jun is not feeling well. Why don't you let me interrogate him on your behalf," He Lanfang said softly.
He was not asking for credit this time, but just out of good intentions.
Xiao Yanxing slowly moved his lips and smiled: "Please lead the way, sir."
This was a polite rejection of He Lanfang's intention.
In this case, He Lanfang didn't say much. Anyway, His Highness gave him the order to wait here.
After Xiao Yanxing and He Lan were put in, they saw a step extending downward from the door. The inside was dark, like an open abyss, just waiting to swallow up the people imprisoned here.
The two of them climbed down the steps and walked a few steps forward, when they saw a faint light of fire.
It was too dark inside, and even in daylight, only torches could be lit.
When they arrived at the place where the prisoners were detained, they saw the few gangsters who were still alive. They were all kneeling on the ground, with dirty linen stuffed in their mouths and ropes tied to their hands.
After seeing clearly who was coming, several gangsters, especially the original leader, were struggling particularly fiercely, with despair in their eyes.
"Since they were imprisoned here, except for eating, their mouths were stuffed with linen, so there is absolutely no possibility of collusion," He Lanfang said.
This will also make it easier to interrogate the real culprit later.
After all, these people are not as skilled as ordinary road thugs, but more like well-trained assassins.
If they were really assassins, it meant they were heading straight for Xiao Yanxing.
This made He Lanfang a little curious. His Highness ordered him to look for the gentleman next to him. However, he met an assassin again on the way to Chang'an. This was not just a candidate for an exam.
After hearing He Lanfang's words, several gangsters made whimpering sounds even though their mouths were gagged.
Seems to beg for mercy.
Xiao Yanxing looked at He Lanfang calmly: "Sir, can you give me a quarter of an hour alone?"
"Alone?" He Lanfang was surprised: "Lang Jun wants to interrogate them alone?"
"Your Highness allows me a quarter of an hour," Xiao Yanxing's voice was soft and gentle, not arrogant, as if he was just trying to discuss things nicely.
But He Lanfang knew that he had made up his mind to move out of His Highness.
In this case, He Lanfang naturally had nothing to say. He raised his hand and waved, signaling the surrounding guards to withdraw from the dungeon immediately.
Xiao Yanxing stood there quietly, the dim light of the oil lamp falling sideways on his cheek. Although there was no wind around, the light was swaying, leaving him in the flickering light and shadow, like a painting with thick and charming colors.
It makes people look askance.
After He Lanfang withdrew his gaze, he led the people away.
He didn't give any instructions. Xiao Langjun seemed to be a smart man and would not untie these kidnappers and put himself in danger.
After leaving the dungeon, He Lanfang led people to guard outside.
As soon as there was the slightest movement inside, he immediately led people to rush in.
But not yet a moment later, he heard very light footsteps coming from inside, maybe it was the echo in the dungeon, until the footsteps got closer and closer, he saw a plain white figure appear, his clothes were fluttering, as if there was no wind. Self-indulgence.
As the figure walked out of the shadows little by little, He Lanfang's eyes widened suddenly.
Just because Xiao Yanxing's robes were splattered with blood when he walked out of the dungeon, the fresh bloody smell that had just been sprayed instantly spread around, seeming to get into the noses of everyone present.
He Lanfang stared at Xiao Yanxing and found that his face was also splattered with sporadic blood.
The bright red blood made his face look paler.
After he politely raised his hands to salute, he said warmly: "I'll have to trouble you to take care of the follow-up matters."
Even for a man like He Lanfang who was serving in the army, a layer of white hair and sweat appeared on his back at this moment.
He couldn't explain why, he just felt that the oppression given to him by the person in front of him was too strong and terrifying.
Before he could speak, there was a sudden noise behind him, and everyone turned around subconsciously.
At the door, a slender figure stood against the light. The moment everyone saw her, including He Lan, they all knelt down.
Just like this, Xie Lingyu watched from a distance, the only person still standing.
The young man was dressed in a plain robe, and he looked clean and elegant in the breeze and bright moonlight. However, the blood on his body and face was dazzling and strong under the golden light. However, there was no trace of violence in his body, and his eyes seemed to be surrounded by a cold mist. , looking clean and pure, with a fragile and helpless feeling of being seriously ill.
"Thank you, Your Highness," he looked at her, his eyes seemed to be soaked in thick ink, and the suppressed emotions seemed to spill out inadvertently at this moment, but his smile was so gentle and tempting.
After saying that, he suddenly fell over and fell heavily to the ground.
It can be seen that until now, he has already reached the end of his strength.
Xie Lingyu stepped forward and looked at the unconscious person lying on the ground with an extremely complicated expression.
Although I had known that he was not a docile person, his good-looking skin was good at disguise.
But at this moment, she clearly saw his bone spur coming out.
This also made it clear to Xie Lingyu how difficult it was for her to conquer the person in front of her.
Even Pei Jingan could betray her in her previous life. If such a person stays by her side, what if she leads a wolf into the house again?
She was silent for a long time and then spoke quietly: "Take him back to the hospital and call the medical officer for treatment."
After the guards carried the person away, Xie Lingyu walked up the steps of the dungeon. He Lanfang on the side quickly persuaded: "Your Highness, the underground is filthy, let the general handle it."
Xie Lingyu did not stop, and He Lanfang could only follow her.
Until the two of them walked to the place where the gangsters were originally detained, they saw corpses strewn on the ground, and the strong smell of blood was pungent and nauseating in the claustrophobic environment.
In this dim environment, everything seemed extremely bloody and terrifying.
Helan stepped forward to check the condition of the corpse. After only a few breaths, he raised his head again: "Your Highness, they were all killed by a knife stabbing into the heart. There was no struggle."
For some reason, Xie Lingyu breathed a sigh of relief when he looked at the corpses on the ground.
Xiao Yanxing did not kill them, but killed them all with one knife.
She remembered that Xiao Yanxing wanted to meet these gangsters because she told them about the death of the coachman.
It can be seen that he did not kill people entirely to vent his anger.
Xie Lingyu chuckled, and she defended him first.
