Xue Xingyue's gaze flickered, and she said, "Alright, Wuchen and I will leave tonight. Thank you, Master Li, for these days." With that, she turned and left.
"Your Majes... cousin." Wuchen chased after her.
Feng Qing watched the fading figure, his heart twisting like a knife. He wanted to leave, he wanted to follow His Highness, but he was a living dead man now. Following His Highness would only bring her endless trouble. In this case, it was better to stay; at least he wouldn't be a burden to her.
Yet, he longed to leave with her, he truly did.
But he couldn't be so selfish.
"Your Highness, don't be sad. Feng Jiu and Feng Qing..." Wuchen came to Xue Xingyue's side, but his words trailed off.
"I know everything. I haven't appeared for so many years, and now that I've reappeared, I've disturbed them. It's just..." She had an indescribable feeling, a deep, profound discomfort.
"Your Majesty, please don't be sad. Wuchen will always follow you," Wuchen said, kneeling on one knee, speaking each word clearly.
Xue Xingyue stepped forward to help Wuchen up. "I didn't mean that. I just feel that perhaps my appearance was a mistake." For the first time, she harbored such doubt. If she hadn't shown up, would all this have happened?
"Your Majesty, what are you saying? You absolutely mustn't say that," Wuchen pleaded.
Xue Xingyue smiled wryly. "Don't worry, I know what I'm saying. Accompany me to buy some medicinal herbs! Even if I'm leaving, I don't want Feng Qing to be a burden to Master Li."
She knew very well that Feng Qing had wanted to follow her then, but he was worried about becoming a burden, which was why he chose to stay. Although she desperately wanted to tell him to come with her, she knew Feng Qing had immense pride. She couldn't let his dignity be compromised; she could only do her best to ensure he wasn't wronged.
Wuchen nodded, and they went to the pharmacy. After buying some herbs and preparing to leave, they heard a familiar voice.
"Search everyone. If anyone has bought medicinal herbs, question them strictly," a voice boomed from outside.
The shop assistant, seeing this, quickly said, "Please hurry through the back door, both of you!"
"Thank you," Xue Xingyue said gratefully to the assistant, and she and Wuchen slipped out the back door.
"Your Highness, what do you think..."
"Let's hurry back!" Xue Xingyue urged.
Wuchen nodded. As they were about to leave, a voice from behind them called out, "Are you leaving already?"
Xue Xingyue turned around to see Zhao Han standing there, his gaze fixed on her.
"Zhao Han." She felt a pang of guilt towards Zhao Han. If it weren't for him yesterday, she wouldn't have been able to escape unscathed.
It was Zhao Han who told her to use him as a hostage, which allowed her to leave.
"Are you leaving?" Zhao Han asked.
Xue Xingyue nodded. "Yes, I am leaving. After all, I abducted your prisoner. If you don't pursue it, your brother will."
Zhao Han didn't answer. He asked, "Then will we have a chance to meet again?"
"Yes, the world is vast, but it's also small. We'll have a chance to meet," she replied.
"Good. Then I'll wait for that day. I only hope that when we meet again, it won't be under circumstances like yesterday," Zhao Han said.
Xue Xingyue smiled, as radiant as a blooming flower, enchanting and graceful. "It won't be. When we meet again, we'll be friends."
"Alright, hurry and leave! Leave Xifeng Pass tonight," Zhao Han said, then turned and departed.
Wuchen looked at Xue Xingyue with a hint of confusion. Just as she was about to speak, Xue Xingyue stopped her.
From beyond the wall, they could hear Zhao Han's voice, "Search over there! I've already searched this area, and there's no one suspicious."
"Whatever cousin says, I believe," came another voice.
The only one who could call Zhao Han "cousin" was Zhao Taian.
"Don't try to force a relationship. You're older than me," Zhao Han said, giving Zhao Taian an displeased glance.
"Yes, yes, younger cousin is right," Zhao Taian said obsequiously.
"I've already told you, we have no relation!" Zhao Han said, clearly exasperated.
Zhao Taian fell silent, merely nodding.
Xue Xingyue and Wuchen quietly slipped away from the other side.
Back at the residence, Xue Xingyue asked Wuchen to sort the herbs. She then went to Feng Qing's room. Before she reached the doorway, she heard Hongcha's voice from inside. She leaped up and landed on the rooftop.
"Hongcha, I'm sorry. It's Senior Brother who has burdened you all," Feng Qing said apologetically from his bed.
Hongcha glanced at Feng Qing and said with cold sarcasm, "Since you know that, why did you stay?"
Feng Qing flinched, clearly surprised that the once simple and kind junior sister would say such a thing. "Hongcha, you..."
"Isn't it true? Why did you come back? Master and Second Senior Brother were living perfectly fine without you. Why did you have to return?" Hongcha's gaze was filled with anger as she looked at Feng Qing on the bed.
Feng Qing faltered, his eyes filled with sorrow. "I'm sorry, I..."
"Forget it..." Hongcha waved her hand, cutting off Feng Qing's words. She then pointed to the bowl of medicine on the table. "Drink this medicine yourself. I can't feed it to you."
With that, Hongcha turned and left.
Xue Xingyue, hidden on the rooftop, looked on with a trace of indignant anger, her hands clenched tightly. She saw Feng Qing try to sit up, but after several attempts, he fell back onto the bed each time.
Suddenly, he closed his eyes, as if steeling himself, and then fell from the bed to the floor. At that moment, Xue Xingyue could no longer hold back. She landed on the ground, about to push open the door, but was stopped by someone. She looked up and saw Master Li.