Chapter 89: How Dare He Try to Snatch It

He looked back at them. Even when he reached Si Nuosang’s side, he could not force himself to take another step.

“Your Highness.” Yuan Qianlu had followed closely at his side and could see that the prince’s expression was murderous. He had also seen the consort embracing Ye Xuan. Wasn’t she making the prince lose face?

Alas, Yuan Qianlu did not understand.

“Keep watch over them here. If they make any move, break Ye Xuan’s legs.”

In other words, if anything like that happened, use force.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Yuan Qianlu answered, sincerely hoping that nothing bad would happen.

Xuan Yuan Juesi left. He needed to calm down, or he feared he would lose control of himself. Sooner or later, he would storm over and make the matter between him and Si Nuosang even more complicated. Si Nuosang always blamed him for not trusting her. But were the things she had done enough to make him trust her?

Just then, Ye Xuan’s gaze met Xuan Yuan Juesi’s. Seeing that Xuan Yuan Juesi was looking this way, he deliberately pulled Si Nuosang into a tighter embrace. Poor Xuan Yuan Juesi. Even if he had her, so what? It only made his heart feel as though a blade were carving it open.

Forgive me, Xuan Yuan Juesi. Who told you not to trust Si Nuosang at all, and to trust only your own eyes? Sometimes, it is the eyes that deceive us in the end.

“Let go of me. I’m fine.”

Si Nuosang spoke softly. Ye Xuan released her.

“Are you all right? I was worried.”

Ye Xuan said. Xuan Yuan Juesi had already left, while Yuan Qianlu remained by their side. Was this a precaution left behind by Xuan Yuan Juesi?

One must never underestimate Yuan Qianlu. His martial skill was absolutely formidable. As Xuan Yuan Juesi’s most trusted and most capable battle commander, he could have had a boundless future, yet he had willingly endured hardship to follow Xuan Yuan Juesi to Liang City. Such talent was truly being wasted.

“I’m really fine. I’m thick-skinned, heartless, and brainless. I’ll be over it in no time!”

At times, she preferred to act a little mad.

“That’s good. Let’s go find something to eat up ahead. You must be tired after walking so much.”

After resting for a while in the dusty sand, they had walked all the way here.

“I’m all right. I’m not tired. I’m just really hungry.”

She touched her stomach and smiled.

“What do you want to eat? My treat. You paid with such a large silver note the day before yesterday. I should show some appreciation.”

Seeing how determined he was to treat her, she did not refuse. She pointed to the tavern nearby. It was quite crowded, so the food there ought to be good.

“All right, then. You treat.”

Si Nuosang was not the least bit polite, and the two of them ordered a table full of dishes. But Si Nuosang also packed up several portions to take away. After eating, she gave the food to the little beggars by the roadside, along with some money.

Earlier, upstairs, she had seen a little boy in ragged clothes who looked terribly pitiful. So she gave him some food and some money, hoping life might become a little easier for him.

But there was nothing more she could do.

“Did you order so much just for that child?”

The two of them walked on ahead, then turned back to watch the child eating.

“Not really. I wanted to eat too.”

Si Nuosang denied it. But Ye Xuan knew better. Si Nuosang was a good person, truly good. Kind-hearted, though at times her tongue could be rather sharp. Still, she was genuinely a very kind person.

“All right.”

Ye Xuan did not argue. It was enough that he understood.

His feelings for her grew stronger and stronger. Yet this love, burdened with purpose, was destined never to compare with Xuan Yuan Juesi’s.

Though he truly hated Xuan Yuan Juesi, Xuan Yuan Juesi was far better than he was. At times, he really was no match at all. After what he had just done to Si Nuosang, Xuan Yuan Juesi would surely punish her severely once she returned, and Si Nuosang would only become more convinced that Xuan Yuan Juesi had misunderstood her. He, Ye Xuan, truly was a despicable man. So despicable. He loathed himself deeply, hated his own behavior.

He also wanted to confess everything to Si Nuosang in complete frankness. But that was impossible.

Between them, there was deceit even in friendship.

“I’m going back,” Si Nuosang suddenly announced, looking at Ye Xuan. It was still only afternoon. But Ye Xuan merely smiled and nodded.

“Mm. Then go back.”

She must have seen Yuan Qianlu.

After saying farewell to Si Nuosang, he walked on alone. He wanted to appear carefree, but inside he was in terrible pain.

No matter how happily they spent the time, no matter what happened, she would ultimately return to that man’s side. Just as Xuan Yuan Juesi had said, Si Nuosang belonged to him. Ye Xuan had no right to fight for her. Not the slightest right.

Loving someone is painful. At times, I truly wish I did not love at all. That way, I would at least be happier.

Love is torment. Unrequited love is even more painful.

But sometimes, precisely because of the torment and pain, one can prove that happiness exists.

Perhaps that is what it means to suffer and yet be happy.

People are contradictions, always.

Si Nuosang had indeed seen Yuan Qianlu, and so she walked over to him.

“What is it? Did Xuan Yuan Juesi send you to keep watch over me?” she asked.

Yuan Qianlu did not answer. His face was dark with indignation on his lord’s behalf.

But he would not say why. This was a matter between the two of them.

“Yuan Qianlu, what’s wrong with you? You look as though you hate me to the core. Have I offended you somehow?”

“The consort is overthinking it. I am only a servant.”

Yuan Qianlu gave a self-mocking reply. In truth, he did not want to get involved in this matter at all. It was complicated, baffling, and full of mutual distrust.

“Overthinking it? Then what is going on?”

“Nothing.”

Yuan Qianlu would rather die than say a word. Could he possibly speak about such a matter? Even the prince himself did not say it. He was not that foolish, not foolish enough to stir up even greater chaos between them.

“Yuan Qianlu, what exactly do you want to say?”

“Consort, this subordinate will take his leave. I still need to check the safety of the outer area.”

Without caring for anything else, Yuan Qianlu ignored Si Nuosang and departed from the side, looking very arrogant indeed. In Si Nuosang’s words, this man had grown bolder and bolder.

She sighed helplessly. There was nothing she could do. After all, she was not his master. No matter how respectful Yuan Qianlu was toward her, he still belonged to Xuan Yuan Juesi.

Yuan Qianlu had originally been sent to keep watch over her, but now he could only avoid her for the time being. So he returned first to report to the prince.

“Please punish me, Your Highness. I failed to control my temper.”

Yuan Qianlu knelt before Xuan Yuan Juesi.

“You should control your temper. This is my affair.”

“But the consort and Ye Xuan—”

“Even so, it is none of your concern. This is between her and me. I will handle it myself.”

Xuan Yuan Juesi was even angrier than Yuan Qianlu, but he had to endure it. A moment’s impatience could ruin a greater plan. What could he do now? He already had too many enemies. He had no mind to deal with the matter between him and Si Nuosang at the moment.

As for Ye Xuan, he was doomed. To dare covet the woman of Xuan Yuan Juesi—that was enough to sentence him to death.