Chapter 148: Kunlun

"Of course, we are going to save Sinuosang. I believe Xiuyan is capable enough to handle all of this properly. Besides, how can we simply listen to Yuan Qianlv's side of the story? Naturally, he doesn't want us to reach the capital. You aren't going to give up on going to the capital just because of a few words from him, are you?"

Alex could not afford to let her slip up at this critical juncture—absolutely not.

Therefore, he tried to persuade Si Xueyi, as he did not wish to force her to go to the capital against her will. That would be detrimental to both sides. Wen Su'an had given instructions that if Si Xueyi refused to listen, they were authorized to take independent measures. Wen Su'an was firmly resolved to have Sinuosang brought back.

"I know. Fine, let's keep moving."

Perhaps Si Xueyi felt that Xiuyan could take care of himself, and indeed, she could not rely solely on Yuan Qianlv's biased words.

Upon returning to the room, Yuan Qianlv was about to speak when Si Xueyi directly shoved a piece of cloth into his mouth.

She had no desire to hear anything more from him. Then, she pulled him onto the bed and forced him to rest. As for herself, she made a simple pallet on the floor using a few extra quilts.

She extinguished the lamp early, though it was evident from the outside that the sky had not yet fully darkened.

Sinuosang curled herself into a ball and fell asleep wrapped in the quilt. She dared not sink into a deep sleep for fear that Yuan Qianlv might escape, even though she knew he had nowhere to run. Aside from the core key in her possession, no one could unlock his handcuffs, and since this was ancient times, that was his only chance. He wouldn't be foolish enough to flee. Yet, her heart remained unsettled.

Because of the incident involving Xiuyan, she knew Yuan Qianlv had no reason to deceive her. Even under these circumstances, she had no choice. She had to save Sinuosang, because no matter what choice she made, this group of people would never agree with her.

Wen Su'an was a man who would not stop until he achieved his goal. During her few confrontations with him in court and in private, although Wen Su'an remained silent, his overwhelming presence was enough to prove everything.

Si Xueyi truly admired Sinuosang for being able to stay with him for several years; she herself couldn't bear to spend even a single second in his embrace.

Dark, overbearing, a control freak, and ruthless—this was Si Xueyi's assessment of him.

The entire night, she remained in a state between sleeping and waking. Effectively, she did not sleep at all.

When she woke up in the morning, she felt utterly exhausted, yet she forced herself to endure.

Meanwhile, Xuanyuan Juesi had already received the news, as Yuan Qianlv had left behind a clue—merely an expedited mark, the secret contact method of the Prince's Mansion.

Thus, Si Xueyi had still failed to completely guard against this possibility.

Xuanyuan Juesi hurried straight to Sinuosang's room and instructed his subordinates to pack her clothes.

He intended to take Sinuosang away from this place immediately.

"Where are we going?"

Sinuosang watched Xuanyuan Juesi in his rush. Xuanyuan Juesi said nothing, merely escorting her onto the carriage and tossing their belongings inside. Then, he ordered the driver to quietly leave the Prince's Mansion without attracting anyone's attention.

"I won't leave this place. Xuanyuan Juesi, what on earth is happening? Is the Emperor causing trouble for us?"

"No."

"Then what is it? I don't want to leave the capital. I cannot abandon Yiyi again."

"When is it, and you're still thinking of Yiyi? Put the matter of Yiyi completely out of your mind; I will not allow the two of you to get close."

Xuanyuan Juesi was somewhat flustered and irritated. It seemed she was desperate to get away from him.

"What is wrong with you? Why are you acting like a madman?"

"Yes, I am mad! I've gone completely mad!" How could he not be mad at the thought of her leaving him?

Faced with Xuanyuan Juesi's sudden outburst of madness, Sinuosang found herself utterly bewildered.

"What on earth happened?"

"Nothing." Xuanyuan Juesi shook his head, though of course something had happened. Even Yuan Qianlv had fallen into danger; how could nothing be wrong?

He had severely underestimated Si Xueyi, and furthermore, Si Xueyi was currently accompanied by a group of people. He had already sent men to keep watch on them, but they dared not get too close because they had been shaken off numerous times, and getting closer might startle the enemy. Fortunately, the other party had nothing to suspect, keeping a distant watch instead.

He merely monitored their movements, noting that they were divided into several groups. Yet their strange actions clearly showed they were not from this country.

Panicking slightly, Xuanyuan Juesi subconsciously resolved to take Sinuosang away from the capital. They were approaching from the direction of the capital; although the Prince's Mansion was heavily guarded and breaking in wouldn't be an easy task, he was terrified. Out of fear of losing Sinuosang, he became all the more cautious.

Watching Xuanyuan Juesi's anxious demeanor, Sinuosang assumed that some grave crisis had occurred and thus asked no further questions.

She remained unaware that the pressure behind this matter stemmed from her own elder sister, Si Xueyi. She would never have suspected such a thing.

Remaining silent by his side, she found herself infected by Xuanyuan Juesi's nervous tension.

She wanted to try and comfort him, but feared he might suddenly erupt again, completely failing to understand the reason behind all this. For now, she simply sat quietly as the carriage carried her away. Along the way, Xuanyuan Juesi brought her to a valley where a miraculous physician named Wuxiang resided.

"Your Highness, the items have been prepared."

Wuxiang was roughly seventy years old, with completely white hair. He looked like a recluse living apart from the mortal world, yet he was intimately familiar with Xuanyuan Juesi.

"Put it on her."

Pulling Sinuosang forward, Wuxiang retrieved a human-skin mask from a chilling box.

"Xuanyuan Juesi, what are you trying to do?"

"Don't move. This is for your own good. If you don't want to die, put on the human-skin mask."

Xuanyuan Juesi commanded, leaving Sinuosang with no choice. She had no alternative but to put on the terrifying human-skin mask.

Once the mask was on, she was completely transformed into an ordinary person. To think that in ancient times, such a lifelike mask existed! Perhaps it was precisely because it was made of actual human skin that it looked so vivid—no, it was essentially a living thing.

Xuanyuan Juesi also donned a human-skin mask, and in an instant, the two of them turned into an utterly ordinary couple.

"This is the medicinal liquid. Within three days, the mask must be soaked in it for an entire night."

"Understood. Thank you."

Xuanyuan Juesi nodded and accepted the items.

"Your Highness, has something happened?"

"Nothing major. But just in case—after all, there are far too many people who want our lives."

Xuanyuan Juesi fabricated another plausible reason, leaving Sinuosang's heart palpitating with anxiety.

"Then where do you plan to go?"

"To an unfamiliar place, and stay there for a year or two."

Xuanyuan Juesi was not lying, for Wuxiang and he shared a deep bond. Despite their vast difference in age, they shared a friendship forged through life and death.

"Be careful along the way."

Wuxiang looked at Xuanyuan Juesi, who nodded in acknowledgment.

Thus, they rested in the valley for the night. At the break of dawn the next day, they departed.

"Where are we going?"

"Kunlun."