PMM - 35

The two of them froze for a moment at her words.

Lian Qi’s eyes darkened, a trace of coldness flickering in his gaze. He had initially thought Yi Qiancheng married Ah Sheng only to take control of Yingdong, and that Ah Sheng would never love Yi Qiancheng knowing this. But now, it seemed that there were many things between them that he couldn’t control.

Because of this, he couldn’t let Ah Sheng return to Yi Qiancheng’s side.

Lian Sheng felt quite frustrated and didn’t want to argue further. She raised her eyes to look at Lian Qi and said, “Brother, please take me back.”

Lian Qi clenched his fist, holding back the coldness in his heart. He tried to speak calmly to Lian Sheng: “Ah Sheng, if I’m not mistaken, you’ve been placed under a form of house arrest in Shaji, right? Yi Qiancheng’s people don’t trust you and have restricted your freedom. Are you really willing to go back?”

Naturally, she was unwilling, but if she returned with Lian Qi today, Yi Qiancheng would never trust her again.

Lian Sheng was raised by Lian Qi, and the small gesture of her lowering her head made his heart sink. He whispered, “Ah Sheng, do you want to go back and investigate how Fang Mu really died? Until the truth comes out, the people of Shaji will always hold a grudge against you. Staying here is dangerous.”

Lian Sheng, who was aware of Song Yuan’s animosity, knew all too well that she was trapped in the City Lord’s mansion and couldn’t even send a letter. She had always wanted to return to Yingdong to investigate what had happened, and why her father had suddenly turned against Yi Qiancheng. But first, she couldn’t risk spreading their forces to protect Yi Huan, and second, Song Yuan would never allow her to go back.

After thinking for a while, Lian Sheng asked Lian Qi: “Brother, can you deliver a letter to Yi Qiancheng for me?” She couldn’t let Yi Qiancheng misunderstand, and having Lian Qi take her back was the safest option. She had to get to the bottom of Fang Mu’s death—she always felt there was more to it.

“I’ll go back to Yingdong with you to investigate the truth,” Lian Sheng added, her face filled with a hint of sadness, “but I won’t return to the City Lord’s mansion.”

The actions of the City Lord meant he had completely abandoned her, and she would be cold-hearted toward him in return. She no longer owed him anything. He had never treated her as a daughter, and she no longer needed to acknowledge him as a father.

The time it would take for a round trip was at most a month. She had to find out the truth behind Fang Mu’s death before Yi Qiancheng returned. If this time Yingdong had been wrong, then both she and all of Yingdong would owe it to Fang Mu and Yi Qiancheng. Yi Qiancheng would be justified in doing anything he wished, and she would return to Shaji to face it all.

“Don’t worry, Brother won’t let you return to the City Lord’s mansion. Once you’ve written the letter, just give it to me.”

Lian Sheng nodded, took up the pen, and carefully wrote about the death of Fang Mu and her desire to go back and investigate the truth. Her hand paused mid-air, and in the end, she wrote “Husband, take care” at the end.

For some reason, she believed that he would understand and not misunderstand when he saw the letter. Just in case, she also wrote a letter to Song Yuan at the City Lord’s mansion, reassuring them that she was safe and to continue protecting Yi Huan.

Lian Qi took both letters and spoke softly, “Don’t worry, go get some rest, we’ll leave tomorrow morning.”

He went out, signaling Yin Zhou to follow him. He handed both letters to Yin Zhou and said, “Take these and burn them.”

Yin Zhou was shocked by the coldness in his voice and couldn’t help but ask, “What is this?” Lian Qi glanced back at him, his eyes devoid of warmth, and Yin Zhou quickly lowered his head, saying, “Yes, Master, I’ll take care of it.”

Fang Mu was gone. Lian Qi sighed, unable to tell whether his heart was colder or more sorrowful. He could never send Yi Qiancheng’s letter for Lian Sheng. Since they were severing ties, it should be done completely. Since Lian Sheng had left Shaji, she would never have to return again.

Yi Qiancheng would never forgive Yingdong’s betrayal, and even if Ah Sheng stayed by his side, he would still take action against Yingdong.

As for the letter to Song Yuan, it seemed unnecessary to send it.

In the City Lord’s mansion in Shaji, someone knew who had taken Lian Sheng away.

...

Xiyu had that dream again. In the dream, she went back a year ago, on a sunny afternoon. Her heart raced as she hurried away from Lady Sang’s courtyard and went to the courtyard outside the eldest young master’s quarters.

She stared blankly but didn’t have the courage to step in. Just a step forward was both her obsession and the abyss.

“Why are you here? Has Lian Xiue bullied you again?”

Xiyu turned around to find Lian Qi standing behind her, his eyes cold, and she almost instinctively lowered her head, afraid her feelings might be known. In a fluster, she nodded.

“If that’s the case, stay here and avoid him,” Lian Qi said, turning and leaving. Only then did Xiyu dare to raise her head to look at his retreating figure, a shallow joy bubbling up in her heart. It turned out that the eldest young master’s words were true. He allowed her, a servant, to come here and was willing to help her preserve her innocence.

Since then, that pair of cold eyes would often appear in her dreams, becoming deeper and more unforgettable, like a finely woven net, drawing her deeper and deeper into it.

The dream shifted, and it was tonight. Hearing the commotion outside, she opened the door, just as she bumped into a person dressed in black. Xiyu met the gaze of those soulful eyes and involuntarily widened her own.

“Xiyu, you’re awake…”

Xiyu suddenly opened her eyes. “Lv... Lv’er?”

“Xiyu, you’re finally awake. Are you alright? Does it hurt?”

Seeing Xiyu shake her head, Lv’er’s worry didn’t disappear. She whispered, “Xiyu, the young lady was kidnapped by the thief who broke into the house last night. The nurse is panicking, did… did you see what the thief looked like?”

“The young lady was kidnapped?” Xiyu froze, feeling a hesitation in her heart, then shook her head, “No, I didn’t see. It was dark at that time, and the man had his face covered. I couldn’t see what he looked like.”

“Xiyu…” Lv’er started crying, “Do you think the young lady will be okay?”

“She will be fine. She is blessed, nothing will happen to her.” The person who kidnapped her young lady must care for her too much to harm her.

Also worried were Yihuan and Nanny Liu. As soon as Liansheng got into trouble, Yihuan had already sent someone to deliver a message to Yi Qiancheng. Concerned about Liansheng’s safety, Yihuan ordered the city gates closed and soldiers sent out for an investigation.

Song Yuan, with a cold expression, said, “Miss, it’s not that I’m disobeying orders, but the thief may have already escaped the city last night. Sandthorn is short on manpower and we cannot conduct a full search. It would be best to inform the General and wait for his instructions.”

Yihuan nodded helplessly, praying that her brother would receive news soon. Despite the matter with Master Fang, he would never abandon his sister-in-law.

Song Yuan lowered his eyes, harboring resentment as he concealed something from Yihuan. Perhaps last night he still felt some guilt toward his wife, but this morning’s letter had turned his heart to ice. Someone had sent him the letter revealing that Lord Lian, having broken his trust, was discussing the murder of Master Fang.

Angered, Song Yuan recalled all the men he had sent to search for his wife and instructed his subordinates, “Take this, along with the news of the young lady’s kidnapping, to the General.”

What decision would the General make once he learned both of these things?

...

Xiang Han toyed with the ring in his hand, a smile forming on his face. “How is it? Everything ready?”

“Rest assured, Lord Lian. I will not fail the mission.”

Xiang Han’s gaze darkened as he said, “Be alert. Yi Qiancheng will soon seize Fengmu. He’s quite skilled, but I wonder, when his backyard catches fire, will he be able to save it in time?”

“Lord, I’ve heard that Yi Qiancheng’s wife and sister are in the Lord’s residence. Should we…”

“Let’s bring them all along as guests,” Xiang Han laughed. “Otherwise, one person would be too lonely. Be discreet and don’t frighten the young ladies.”

Xiang Han’s fingers tapped his chin, a conflicted expression appearing on his face. “Sigh, isn’t Fu Chengyu in Yuanhuai? He’s a tricky one. I’ll meet him myself.”

“Divide the forces in Yuanhuai, one part will go with me to deal with Fu Chengyu. He’s tough; we’ll attack directly and swiftly. No time for him to react. As for Sandthorn, let’s be straightforward with him. Send people there, and if so many of you can’t deal with Yi Qiancheng’s guards, then bring their heads back to me.”

Even if Yi Qiancheng takes Fengmu, it doesn’t matter. A person who isn’t ruthless enough and has weaknesses—no matter what he possesses, he won’t be able to hold on to it.

Xiang Han didn’t care about the methods, as long as he could achieve the greatest benefit. Once Liansheng and Yihuan fell into his hands, he didn’t believe Yi Qiancheng would not compromise.

Fu Chengyu frowned, feeling uneasy. He had a nagging sense that something big was about to happen. Yuanhuai was too calm, not like Xiang Han’s usual behavior.

Having been in Yuanhuai for over a month, Fu Chengyu found it as still as stagnant water. He wrote today’s report about Yuanhuai, once again noting it was “peaceful.” He released the carrier pigeon, his gaze falling on a hairpin on the table.

It was Yi Huan’s hairpin, the one he had secretly placed in his chest when she had fallen into the water and lost consciousness at sixteen.