Yu Yun trembled all over, "Master..."
Song Xiuyuan glanced at her coldly, his gaze as if frozen. Even a single look sent shivers of ice through her.
"Master, your subordinate..."
Song Xiuyuan raised his hand, and Yu Yun fell silent.
"Brother Xiuyuan," the Ninth Princess looked at Song Xiuyuan with a wronged expression.
Song Xiuyuan bowed and said, "Ninth Princess, rest assured, your subject will provide you with a reasonable explanation. Can you trust your humble servant?"
"Very well, I naturally trust Brother Xiuyuan." The Ninth Princess said, then glanced triumphantly at Xue Xing Yue, as if to say, see, even Song Xiuyuan sides with this princess.
Song Xiuyuan nodded, then looked at Xue Xing Yue, "Yue'er, can you tell me the truth?"
She glanced at him and recounted the entire sequence of events. Honestly, she held little hope. After all, she had indeed injured the Ninth Princess, and the only witness, Qin Er Niang, had been sent back by Feng Yun at her behest.
Now, with no witnesses and no one to help her, would he believe her words?
Song Xiuyuan pondered for a moment, then asked the Ninth Princess, "Your Highness Ninth Princess, may I question this person?"
The Ninth Princess looked at the man bound hand and foot and nodded. "Of course. However, Brother Xiuyuan, this man forcibly attempted to assault my maid. This person absolutely cannot be pardoned."
"Yes, Ninth Princess," Song Xiuyuan replied.
"Master, your subordinate will bring him over." Yu Yun walked towards the man. For some reason, Xue Xing Yue saw the man's body stiffen, as if he were afraid of something. Could it be?
She quickly spoke, "Song Xiuyuan, he seems unwell."
As soon as she spoke, the man convulsed a few times and then collapsed. Yu Yun quickly checked the man's breathing and reported, "Master, he is dead."
"How could he be dead?" The Ninth Princess asked, feigning surprise.
Song Xiuyuan looked at the man and then asked, "Where is Feng Yun?"
"I had him send Qin Er Niang back," Xue Xing Yue replied.
"Blood Jade, go and summon Feng Yun," Song Xiuyuan suddenly commanded.
After a rustling sound, silence returned. "Master, let your subordinate go..."
"You stay here," Song Xiuyuan said.
Yu Yun's body stiffened, and she said no more.
Xue Xing Yue's heart sank. The man had been fine moments ago, how could he suddenly be dead? Thinking this, she stepped forward to look at the man. She saw that he had died foaming at the mouth. Could he have been poisoned?
She glanced at Yu Yun. Yu Yun's gaze was lowered, and her expression was impossible to discern, so Xue Xing Yue could not determine if Yu Yun was responsible. However, she felt Yu Yun would not dare to act under Song Xiuyuan's nose.
Unless, there was only one possibility: he had been fed poison earlier. If that were the case, it sent a chill through her. This was likely a trap waiting for her to fall into. What about Qin Er Niang?
This was bad. Qin Er Niang might be in danger.
With this thought, she looked at Song Xiuyuan and said, "Qin Er Niang is in danger."
Song Xiuyuan looked at her and said slowly, "Don't worry."
"I need to go and check on Qin Er Niang." As she spoke, she prepared to leave. Song Xiuyuan stopped her, "Do you trust me?"
She froze and looked at Song Xiuyuan. His dark eyes twinkled with a brilliant light. "If you trust me, stay here peacefully."
For some reason, looking into his star-dusted eyes, her heart inexplicably calmed.
Soon, Feng Yun arrived. Upon seeing Song Xiuyuan, he bowed, "Master."
"What exactly happened? Tell me," Song Xiuyuan said.
Feng Yun paused slightly. He raised his head and looked at Xue Xing Yue. For some reason, she felt an indescribable feeling in Feng Yun's gaze, as if he were hiding something.
"Reporting to Master, it is..."
"It is all Qin Er Niang's fault. If it weren't for me, Miss would not have harmed the Ninth Princess. All the mistakes are mine. I can only repay Miss's kindness with my death." Saying this, Qin Er Niang suddenly rushed towards a nearby tree.
"Qin Er Niang..." Xue Xing Yue watched the figure rush towards the tree. She flew forward, but it was too late. She saw blood all over Qin Er Niang's forehead, flowing down her cheek.
"Qin Er Niang, you... why did you..."
"Miss, I am sorry..." Qin Er Niang tilted her head, her hand slipping down.
"Qin Er Niang, Qin Er Niang." She shook Qin Er Niang, but there was no response.
"Ninth Princess, you see, someone has paid with their life. Do you still wish to continue?"
The Ninth Princess was about to speak when she felt her嬷嬷 tugging at her sleeve. She looked at Xue Xing Yue's grief-stricken face and waved her hand, "Since that is the case, let it be! However, the blood on my neck cannot be ignored like this, can it? Brother Xiuyuan, what do you say?"
"Naturally, your subject will give the Ninth Princess an explanation." Song Xiuyuan said, then walked in front of Xue Xing Yue.
Xue Xing Yue looked up and saw his long sword pointed directly at her. At that moment, she suddenly remembered that in that blood-red sky, he had pointed his sword at her like this, his gaze icy and unfamiliar. Then, the sword in his hand pierced her chest, causing such pain that she could not breathe. Must she relive this again?
"Yue'er."
Suddenly, a voice brought her back to reality. She looked into his dark eyes, which were bright, yet she felt a sense of strangeness. She asked, word by word, "Are you going to hurt me too?"
She saw him smile, his eyes instantly radiating brilliance, like the myriad stars twinkling in the night sky. "I will never hurt you."
She saw him suddenly turn his hand, drawing his sword across his own neck. Blood slowly flowed out.
She stood there in shock.
"Brother Xiuyuan..."
"Master."