It was indeed Xie Beihan, whom Ye Luan had not seen for a long time.
He was dressed in cloud-silk brocade, with a dark purple cloak draped over it. Perhaps from his hurried journey, a chilling aura surrounded him, and his devilishly handsome face was a mask of indifference.
However, his beautiful phoenix-like eyes narrowed slightly upon seeing the man seated on the couch, a playful smile curving his lips.
The surrounding air was so still that one could hear a pin drop.
Xiao Chizhan, with his enchanting crimson eyes, glanced over lazily, a flicker of killing intent in their depths vanishing in an instant.
Their gazes met across the space.
Ye Luan felt the atmosphere grow suffocating, making it difficult to breathe.
She discreetly observed the two men, then the shattered window, her mind reeling.
No one spoke; the entire room was deathly silent.
"Meow~"
After an unknown duration of stalemate, a cat's meow suddenly came from outside.
Ye Luan frowned. Xueqiu was in the medical pavilion; where had a cat come from?
She put on her shoes and walked to the windowsill to look. It was dark outside, and there was nothing there.
"Here, this is for you."
His long, clean hand, bathed in moonlight, had porcelain-white knuckles, as cool and detached as bamboo.
Ye Luan glanced sideways at the brocade box in Xie Beihan's hand, feeling it was a hot potato and did not take it.
Xiao Chizhan leaned against the couch, his eyes fixed on the two figures by the moonlit window. Uncontainable killing intent permeated the air.
Xie Beihan naturally sensed it.
He thrust the brocade box into Ye Luan's hand, his devilishly charming phoenix eyes glinting with a smile, and walked calmly towards Xiao Chizhan.
"What a coincidence, Your Highness."
"It's no coincidence. This king resides here daily."
Ye Luan, "----"
Xie Beihan laughed heartily and sat opposite him.
"Were not the envoys from Beiqi still in Dongqi? The Crown Prince has come rather quickly."
Xiao Chizhan leaned back languidly, propping his head with one hand, his posture casual. However, when his deep crimson, enchanting pupils looked over, they were filled with ferocious malice.
Xie Beihan raised an eyebrow, a devilish smile on his face, and deliberately provocatively spoke.
"Rushing to see an old friend."
As he spoke, he flipped a cup on the table upside down and fiddled with it in his hand.
"Little girl, I-- "
Before he could finish, Xiao Chizhan suddenly drew a knife and slammed it heavily onto the table.
Xie Beihan narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at the dagger before him.
"This belongs to the Crown Prince; it's being returned."
Ye Luan listened to the commotion from the other side and took a deep breath.
She placed the brocade box in her hand on a nearby table, squatted down, and lifted the broken window panel from the floor, putting it back in place.
Hmph, it was quite heavy.
After finishing, she looked at the wobbly half-opened window and, with a shove, unfastened it with a snap.
Now it was truly exposed.
A cold wind howled through, filling the room with a chill.
Ye Luan looked at the empty window frame, leaped onto it, and was about to jump out.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Suddenly, a hand shot out from behind her, grabbing her by the back of her collar.
Ye Luan couldn't help but roll her eyes. She tugged at her clothes and said angrily,
"Are you trying to strangle me? Let go."
The moment she spoke, she turned her head and saw Xiao Chizhan's ghost-like figure flash over. He seized Xie Beihan's arm, applying so much force that it made a cracking sound.
Xie Beihan retaliated with a punch, striking out fiercely.
Xiao Chizhan sneered, and a knife instantly appeared in his hand.
If it weren't for his fear of Ye Luan getting angry and running away again, he wouldn't have held back at all.
To dare show up here, he must be tired of living.
Ye Luan looked back and saw the two fighting as if they had gone mad, locked in a fierce struggle.
The flower stands and porcelain vases in the room were shattered, scattered across the floor, with chairs and tables overturned, leaving the place in disarray.
Her eyes reddened with anger. Damn it, they were trashing the place for her.
"Both of you, stop this instant."
She casually picked up a window panel from the floor and hurled it at them, but it was useless. Their movements were too fast, and they swiftly dodged it.
If this continued, they would attract everyone.
Ye Luan, enraged, jumped down. She took a packet of powder from her pouch and threw it towards them.
Before long, the medicine took effect, and a strange scent filled the room.
Xie Beihan suppressed the poison with his internal energy, staggering back a few steps.
"Xiao Chizhan, stop!"
Ye Luan knew he was immune to all poisons and immediately ran over to block him.
A knife instantly appeared in Xiao Chizhan's hand. As he looked down at her, the killing intent in his eyes was bloodthirsty and terrifying.
She swallowed hard and snatched the knife from him.
"If you kill him, the border conflicts of Da Liang will be endless."
He said fiercely, "You're protecting him."
Ye Luan ignored him, looking at the mess on the floor. She was so angry her head was spinning. Dropping the knife, she fetched some ropes from outside and tied up Xie Beihan.
"Come here!"
Xiao Chizhan, not understanding, stepped closer and was immediately knocked down by her, falling to the ground. She used the other end of the rope to tie him up as well.
"Ye Luan, you can tie me up, but what are you doing tying me up with him?"
Xiao Chizhan gritted his teeth and shouted, looking at the situation before him in disbelief.
Ye Luan snorted and tied a tight knot.
"No one is to untie this."
Saying that, she administered the antidote to Xie Beihan. Seeing his complexion return to normal, she finally stood up.
Xiao Chizhan tried to break free, but Ye Luan glared at him fiercely, causing him to stop. He uncomfortably shifted his body.
Ye Luan paid no mind to his discomfort, cast a cold glance at the two figures bound together, and turned to leave.
After exiting the room, she went directly to the side room of the Moon Pavilion.
She had been up all night and was exhausted. The moment she touched the pillow, she fell into a deep sleep from exhaustion.
The next day, the warm sunlight filtered through the gauze window.
Ye Luan woke with a start, jumped off the couch, and hurried towards the main courtyard.
She pushed open the door and saw that neither of the two men were in the room. The mess on the floor had been thoroughly cleaned up, and the windows had been reinstalled, making the previous night's fight seem like a dream.
"Miss, shall I serve the meal?"
Ye Luan's thoughts returned. "Yes."
After eating, she went to see Xueqiu and, at the same time, asked the doctor for many medicinal herbs, which she tinkered with in her room.
With the envoys from Beiqi in Da Liang, Xiao Chizhan was very busy and had no time to bother her.
Ye Luan had been living quite comfortably recently, but Xie Beihan persistently bothered her, saying he was unfamiliar with the place and wanted her to take him sightseeing.
One day, as the two entered a restaurant, they saw Lan Murou standing with someone in a corner on the second floor. Judging by their atmosphere, they seemed to be arguing.
Ye Luan squinted slightly. That back looked like that of Princess Qinghe!
"Tsk, let's watch the show."
Xie Beihan leaned lazily against a red pillar, a playful smile on his face.
Ye Luan had no intention of watching a show and walked forward.
"You are merely a woman he keeps on the outside; how dare you yell at this County Princess."
Lan Murou's expression remained unchanged, but a flicker of sarcasm flashed in her gentle eyes.
"If the County Princess has the ability, then tie him firmly to you. Better yet, have him let me go."
"You—"
"Murou."
A voice suddenly came from behind. The two turned to see Ye Luan approaching with a smile.
Princess Qinghe immediately concealed the venom in her eyes and smiled warmly.
"Miss Ye."