Another guard waved dismissively, unconcerned. "What's there to fear? She initiated it, so what if we did something? If anything happens, it won't be our fault."
The two guards lunged at Xiaoya in unison.
The bright moon hung high in the night sky.
In the spacious woods of the backyard, ambiguous sounds echoed.
Bai Niannian arrived at the scene at that moment.
Her eyes widened at the sight before her, and she instinctively took a step back.
The gasps of the woman and the men were loud.
The two guards, their faces flushed with pleasure, got up and dressed.
"This little brat was so forward, our patrol tonight is a huge success!"
"Indeed, her skin was so tender, it felt amazing!"
The guards chuckled lewdly.
Xiaoya seemed to sense something, let out a scream, and frantically reached for her clothes. "Help! Someone, help!"
The two guards had achieved their objective. Seeing the girl screaming incessantly, they grunted, spat on the ground with disdain, and said, "You were the one who came on to us and wouldn't let go, and now you're calling for help?"
"If you hadn't been so forward, we brothers would have left long ago! You're done with us and now you're turning your back?"
Xiaoya, in a daze, picked up stones from the ground and threw them at the guards, screaming madly, "Get out! Get out! Help me!"
In the shadows.
Seeing this, Bai Niannian felt disgusted and was about to leave. But hearing the cries for help, she stopped, hesitating as she looked in Xiaoya's direction.
Sensing the situation turning sour, the two guards left without a word. If someone were to arrive, the situation would not be in their favor.
Xiaoya fumbled to put on her clothes, curling herself up tightly.
Bai Niannian's beautiful face was contorted in thought, pondering whether to go and help.
Xiaoya curled up helplessly, tears streaming down her face, muttering, "How could this happen... how could this happen..."
She had originally wanted to get close to the Underworld King and become his woman.
But now that her body was tainted, how could she become the Underworld King's woman?
Xiaoya, utterly dejected, got up and walked blankly forward. As if struck by an idea, her eyes hardened, and she suddenly lunged towards a large tree.
Her plan had failed, and her body had been defiled. She might as well die and end it all.
"Xiaoya!"
Bai Niannian could no longer bear it. She rushed out from the shadows and grabbed Xiaoya.
Although she disdained Xiaoya's actions, it was still a life in front of her.
She chose to intervene.
Failing to take her own life, Xiaoya looked up at Bai Niannian with a dazed expression, her eyes vacant.
"Who are you?"
Xiaoya seemed to have lost her mind, standing there blankly.
Bai Niannian bit her lip lightly and explained softly, "Xiaoya, I'm Niannian."
Xiaoya seemed to recall something, her expression clearing slightly as she swayed forward. "Niannian, it's you..."
Despite her reservations about Xiaoya, Bai Niannian couldn't utter a word when she saw her in such a state of despair.
Xiaoya walked on her own, her body swaying as if she might fall at any moment.
"Xiaoya, where are you going?" Bai Niannian quickly reached out and pulled her back, her beautiful brows furrowed.
Xiaoya stared blankly ahead, muttering, "Where am I going... where can I go..."
Seeing Xiaoya like this, Bai Niannian involuntarily raised her brow and struck her sharply on the back of the neck.
With a single blow, Xiaoya's body went limp and collapsed to the ground.
Bai Niannian supported her, grunting softly, "Fine, I'll take you back out of kindness today."
Late at night, the spacious courtyard was exceptionally quiet.
Bai Niannian helped Xiaoya back to the courtyard and happened to see Feng Xing, who had just returned.
Feng Xing stood tall, the moonlight casting shadows on his chiseled face, giving him an extraordinary aura.
"Niannian, what happened?"
Feng Xing stepped forward to help, taking Xiaoya from Bai Niannian and carrying her into the house.
Xiaoya had already fainted, her clothes disheveled and her hair messy, looking utterly pathetic.
Bai Niannian sighed softly, cast a helpless glance at Xiaoya, and pulled Feng Xing out of the room.
After they had moved a short distance away, she recounted the events.
Xiaoya had been thrown out of the room by Si Jianye. Something must have happened between them in the room, which led the Underworld King to throw her out.
And then Xiaoya had met with misfortune.
Feng Xing frowned slightly and glanced at the room Xiaoya was in. "It's late. We'll report these matters to the Master tomorrow."
Bai Niannian nodded approvingly. Her gaze fell on Feng Xing, and her eyes involuntarily showed a hint of curiosity. "Axing, where have you been these past few days? I heard Master had something for you to do."
Feng Xing didn't answer immediately. After surveying their surroundings, he took her hand and said, "This isn't something that can be explained in a few words. Let's talk somewhere else."
They both entered the house.
To prevent eavesdropping, Feng Xing specifically set up a formation.
The formations he knew were all learned from Feng Ninghe.
After doing so, Feng Xing finally spoke, "These days, the Master had me follow someone..."
The next day.
Dawn was breaking.
Feng Ninghe was sleeping soundly when suddenly, loud shouts from outside disturbed her.
She instinctively raised her brow slightly and looked towards the door.
Si Jianye was also woken up. He didn't want to disturb Si Xin Xin, who was sleeping soundly, so he set up a formation to block out the outside noise.
"I'll go check the situation."
With that, Feng Ninghe got up without hesitation and walked outside.
In the courtyard, Xiaoya, with her hair disheveled, was running around the courtyard, grabbing anyone she saw and asking them questions.
A maid was clearly startled and instinctively took a step back.
Xiaoya, however, held onto the maid's hand tightly, her eyes fixed on her, asking, "Do you think I'm beautiful?"
The maid, terrified, nodded repeatedly. "You're beautiful... you're beautiful!"
Having received the desired answer, Xiaoya rushed to others, repeating the same question.
The commotion in the courtyard successfully attracted everyone's attention.
"Empress, Xiaoya seems to have gone mad."
Zhen Zhu hurried to Feng Ninghe's side, looking at her with trepidation.
Feng Ninghe's beautiful brows furrowed, and her gaze calmly fell upon Xiaoya.
Xiaoya, seemingly tireless, kept pacing back and forth, stopping anyone she encountered to ask them questions.
Bai Niannian rubbed her sleepy eyes and walked out of the room. The scene before her stunned her. "What's going on?"