At the same time, the more Zhao Xiang looked at Lin Zong, the more familiar she seemed, but he couldn't recall where he'd seen her. He intentionally asked, "Where are you from?"
Hearing this, Lin Zong slowly shifted her gaze to Zhao Xiang's face. "Why do you ask?" she replied, becoming wary of Zhao Xiang.
Zhao Xiang said, "I just find you a bit familiar." He decided it was best to be direct, as being misunderstood would do him no good. "So I wanted to ask."
Unexpectedly, after Zhao Xiang said this, Lin Zong's attitude changed. "I advise you not to find me familiar, because for you," she looked straight into Zhao Xiang's eyes, "there's no benefit."
Zhao Xiang was stunned, and then, after Lin Zong's words, his eyes widened. "I know who you are now." As he spoke, he stared intently at Lin Zong's face.
Lin Zong frowned.
Mu Anxiao, hearing Lin Zong's words, immediately looked up and shifted her gaze to Lin Zong's face as well.
Lin Zong continued to stare at Zhao Xiang and said, "Once I reveal my identity, it won't do you any good."
"You are Empress Lin, aren't you?" Zhao Xiang stated directly.
Lin Zong froze. She hadn't expected Zhao Xiang to reveal her identity so bluntly.
However, Mu Anxiao had always believed that Lin Zong was the fated woman Ouyang Ye had found for Feng Qishi, and furthermore, that Lin Zong had already become Feng Qishi's fiancée under Ouyang Ye's arrangement. To her surprise, just as she was feeling saddened by this, Zhao Xiang delivered such useful information. She was taken aback. Yu Xiaosheng.
Seeing Lin Zong's reaction, Zhao Xiang said indifferently, "I suppose he doesn't know your identity."
"If you want to die, keep asking," Lin Zong said coldly.
Zhao Xiang lowered his eyes and smiled. "Because of you, I've already died once. Now," his attitude also underwent a 180-degree transformation, "do you think I'm still afraid of you?"
"You died?" Lin Zong was surprised.
Zhao Xiang lowered his eyes and smiled. "You truly have a forgetful nature. I was the one who sent you into the forest." As he spoke, his face turned cold.
Lin Zong was stunned.
Zhao Xiang looked at Lin Zong's dazed expression and inexplicably laughed.
Mu Anxiao, not understanding their past, was bewildered.
Lin Zong listened to Zhao Xiang's grating laughter, her eyes darkening, and asked, "Do you resent me?"
"I caused your death, do you resent me?" Zhao Xiang retorted.
Hearing Zhao Xiang's words, Lin Zong's eyes dimmed, and she lowered her head.
A moment later, Zhao Xiang said, "Back then, you insisted on following King Jin to the battlefield. In the end, because of you, King Jin was injured, and you were sent away by me. Now," his face turned cold, "why have you returned?"
"I..."
"Do you know that all those maids were killed because of you? Even the maids who followed you are dead. You coming back like this," Zhao Xiang interrupted, his expression becoming unusually serious, "will only lead to more people dying. Don't you know that?"
"I was wronged," Lin Zong said softly.
"Wronged? By whom? Don't tell me you were framed by that Miao Niangniang," Zhao Xiang said, sneering. "If you ask me, that Empress is much better than you. If it weren't for her, King Jin wouldn't be here. You, you detestable woman, still have the nerve to enter Jincheng."
"I truly was wronged," Lin Zong said agitatedly.
Zhao Xiang's face hardened. "Say nothing more. I give you two choices: First, leave, and stop harming us. Second, come with me, and I'll take you to King Jin myself, and let him kill you." After speaking, only hatred remained on his face.
Mu Anxiao looked at Zhao Xiang's hateful expression, her eyes sinking.
After Zhao Xiang finished speaking, Lin Zong began to cry.
Seeing this, Zhao Xiang stood up and was about to approach when Ouyang Ye's voice came from behind, "You know her."
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao consciously stood up and turned in Ouyang Ye's direction.
Zhao Xiang slowly turned to face Ouyang Ye and said, "We know each other, but not well. In short," he glanced at Ouyang Ye, "she's no good. Anyone connected to her will have a bad end. Therefore, please hand her over to me."
"You want to kill her," Ouyang Ye said calmly.
Zhao Xiang shook his head. "I won't kill her. If I kill her, it will implicate you. Now, I want to take her to the authorities, and let them judge her."
"You're just an ordinary person. Do you think they'll listen to you?" Ouyang Ye said dismissively.
Zhao Xiang's eyes darkened.
Ouyang Ye continued, "She was brought back by me. If you do this, it means you're exposing me too." He said sternly, "Zhao Xiang, Zhao Xiang, are you truly foolish, or are you pretending to be?"
"He harmed me," Zhao Xiang said excitedly.
Ouyang Ye walked slowly towards Zhao Xiang. "Following me, you've endured hardship." He met Zhao Xiang's eyes.
Zhao Xiang was stunned and averted his gaze. "I don't think so."
"If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have such a useful subordinate as you. If that's the case," Ouyang Ye, having heard all their conversation, glanced at Lin Zong, "she has, in a way, helped me."
Hearing Ouyang Ye's words, Zhao Xiang clenched his fist slightly.
Lin Zong stopped crying.
Then, Ouyang Ye withdrew his gaze and looked at Zhao Xiang. "Why have you come to see me?"
"I had nothing to do, so I just wanted to come and see you," Zhao Xiang dared not offend Ouyang Ye, and glanced at Mu Anxiao. "I met her on the way."
"What are you doing here?" Ouyang Ye asked Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao smiled sheepishly. "Nothing much. Like him, I had nothing to do, so I came to see you, and also to tell you some news." After speaking, she withdrew her sheepish smile and her expression became serious.
Zhao Xiang glanced at Mu Anxiao and remained silent.
Ouyang Ye's lips curved into a smile. "You, just a servant, what news could you have for me?" He looked down on Mu Anxiao somewhat.
Mu Anxiao smiled. "Shen Moyun wants me to follow you." Now that things were out in the open, Mu Anxiao felt there was no need to pretend.
Ouyang Ye said, "So you're friends then."
Mu Anxiao smiled. "I'm still serving you, aren't I?" she said. Her brow furrowed, and she turned to glance at the stunned Lin Zong, then back at Ouyang Ye, feigning an expression of surprise.
Ouyang Ye saw this and asked, "What's wrong with you?"
"Boss, there are outsiders," Mu Anxiao tilted her head.
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Ye waved his free arm towards Lin Zong, and Lin Zong fell unconscious.
Zhao Xiang watched Ouyang Ye's action and asked, "Did you erase her memories?" He stared at Ouyang Ye.
Ouyang Ye said, "From now on, do not speak to her. I helped you this time, but I may not help you next time." He then looked at Mu Anxiao. "You should have fewer improper thoughts."
"I wouldn't dare," Mu Anxiao said with a smile.
"That's good. I have other matters to attend to. I'll be going now." Ouyang Ye finished speaking and disappeared.