Chapter 133: After All This Time

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Xiuyan shouted loudly, then embraced the person lying on him. Yuan Qianlü looked at the clothes scattered all over the floor, then at the person on the bed. The woman’s back was exposed. Seeing Yuan Qianlü staring, Xiuyan hurriedly pulled the blanket up.

“Military Lord, what exactly is going on? Charging into my room this early? If you don’t leave now, I’ll report this to the authorities.”

“Who is she?”

“She’s my wife. Is there a problem?” Xiuyan said angrily, holding Si Xueyi tighter. Si Xueyi clearly heard his heartbeat—strong but steady, indicating he wasn’t overly anxious about the current situation, even somewhat relaxed.

Yuan Qianlü seemed about to approach.

Xiuyan shouted urgently, “What are you doing? If you come closer, how am I supposed to defend my wife’s honor? Get out of here quickly. Don’t make me take this to the officials. I’m not someone to be trifled with.”

Xiuyan didn’t expect him to be so serious, but now there was no other choice; the best solution was to make him leave.

“What’s your name? Where are you from?”

Xiuyan deliberately asked, hoping to drive Yuan Qianlü away by any means necessary.

“All right, I won’t disturb you any longer,” Yuan Qianlü said, signaling his men to leave. They exited and closed the door behind them.

Si Xueyi quickly came out, nearly breathless.

“Don’t speak just yet,” Xiuyan said, getting off the bed and quietly walking to the door. Peering through the crack, he saw them go downstairs before allowing Si Xueyi to get up. She walked over.

“What happened? Why the sudden investigation here?”

Si Xueyi couldn’t understand. Could it be that after the two of them stared at him earlier, he grew suspicious and charged in like this?

Yuan Qianlü now seemed unwilling to miss even the slightest clue. How could they leave this place?

“I don’t know either,” Xiuyan shook his head.

“How do we get out? He must have people stationed everywhere.”

“Then we wait for now. To leave here, we must pass through the checkpoints. But if we can hold out a few more days, maybe he’ll give up on this place, and we can leave.”

“Really? That won’t work. Is there a back route?”

If they kept taking the main roads, they’d likely keep running into him. Could luck carry them safely through every checkpoint? Impossible.

“There is a back route, but he might block that too. And there’s nowhere to escape if things go wrong on a small path.”

“Then let’s just kill him!”

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Nothing was possible; everything was forbidden.

Si Xueyi said angrily, “Do you really think you can kill him?”

“No, I can’t.”

Si Xueyi answered honestly.

“So?”

“So it’s pointless to even talk about it. It’s infuriating.”

Si Xueyi put her clothes back on, acting as if nothing had happened. But regarding this, Xiuyan was troubled—how could a woman be so indifferent while he cared deeply?

Was she Bai Xue? Why did she feel so different when their faces were exactly the same? Xiuyan had come to a conclusion in his heart.

This woman was not the person he was searching for, yet he couldn’t take his eyes off her because she resembled his departed wife so strikingly.

“What are you staring at? Get dressed properly.”

Si Xueyi saw him standing there, bare-chested. Even though she was well-educated, a handsome man with flesh and blood was hard to ignore. Moreover, this was no modern age where one could simply arrange a meeting.

Under her scolding, Xiuyan hurriedly put on his clothes—clothes she had taken off, yet he acted as if he had removed them himself.

When did the world turn upside down?

Or was it only Si Xueyi who was like this, constantly baffling him?

“Hmm.”

Xiuyan tidied himself up, and Si Xueyi told him to go buy some food since she wouldn’t step outside for now. Xiuyan didn’t mind; wandering around was fine.

Staying indoors all day was strange anyway, so Si Xueyi ordered him to buy food, check on the situation, and instruct the stable master.

It seemed they couldn’t reach the capital city for the time being.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the capital was strangely tense.

After Si Nuosang woke up, she searched everywhere for Mo Qianli. That Mo Qianli actually had Yiyi bring her back. She must have despised her that much—or perhaps herself. Unable to drink but trying anyway.

Alcohol only deepened sorrow. When Si Nuosang learned of Xuanyuan Juesi’s return, she felt both joy and sadness.

Because Xuanyuan Juesi had completely forgotten her, utterly ignoring her. For the first time, she felt her own existence was so faint—

Like air, needed by no one.

Anyone could betray her. Si Nuosang’s expression remained gloomy every day.

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Yet a peaceful life might only be a brief interlude for her.

Soon, the emperor summoned her and took her directly to the palace.

“How shall I address you?”

“I am the commoner Si Nuosang.”

“Si Nuosang—isn’t that the Fifty Leaves family name?”

“Your Majesty, forgive me,” Si Nuosang quickly apologized. The emperor was unpredictable and seemed strange, exuding an air of amusement.

“Rise, Si Nuosang. Tell me, what is your relationship with Xuanyuan Juesi?”

“The prince must have informed Your Majesty. I have nothing more to add.”

Si Nuosang didn’t even raise her head, not out of fear but because she didn’t want to cause any trouble. In these times, living peacefully was a blessing.

Now Si Nuosang understood that her earlier complaints about her weak sense of existence were actually a form of happiness.

“How dare you speak to me this way!”

“Your Majesty, please calm your anger. I truly have nothing more to say.”

At worst, she could let the emperor kill her. Death held no fear now, for she had nothing left to lose.

Si Nuosang thought this in her heart. But when the emperor took her away, Yiyi immediately went to Xuanyuan Juesi’s residence.

“Your Highness, please save the princess.”

“What? Yiyi, Si Nuosang was taken by the emperor?”

“Yes, Your Highness. They came fiercely. I’m afraid.”

Yiyi had no other option and came to seek Xuanyuan Juesi’s help; otherwise, she wouldn’t dare enter here.

“I understand. You return first. I will handle this matter.”

Xuanyuan Juesi signaled Yiyi to leave. Though she wanted to follow, she could only nod and return to the residence, her mind absent from the shop, focused solely on news about Si Nuosang.

Meanwhile, Si Nuosang being targeted by the emperor was beyond her expectations.

She thought so much time had passed that he would have long since let go.