Chapter 91: Murderous Intent

"What choice?"

"First, pack your things and leave this place immediately, cutting all ties with me. Second, sever all contact with Ye Xuan completely. Those are your only two choices. Choose for yourself."

As Xuanyuan Juesi spoke, the choice he presented was incredibly cruel—especially for Si Nuosang.

"Must it be this way?"

"Yes, it must."

Si Nuosang had not expected that after all she had said, this would be the outcome. Xuanyuan Juesi was forcing her to choose between the two of them. She shook her head.

"What does that mean?"

"I choose him."

Si Nuosang looked at Xuanyuan Juesi, and Xuanyuan Juesi stared back at her. He had not expected her to make this decision without a single moment of hesitation. A wave of panic washed over him, confirming his worst fears—there truly was something between Si Nuosang and Ye Xuan. But since things had already reached this point...

He forced himself to remain calm, even though his heart was in turmoil.

"Of course I knew who you would choose. You made your choice from the very beginning. Pack your things and leave!"

Xuanyuan Juesi turned away with feigned indifference, though tears began to fall. Si Nuosang clenched her hands. Between Xuanyuan Juesi and Ye Xuan, the reason she chose Ye Xuan was simple: Ye Xuan was a good man. She would rather hurt the one she loved most. Sometimes, the people we hurt the most are indeed the ones we love.

Moreover, she could not bring herself to hurt Ye Xuan. The mutual hurt between Si Nuosang and Xuanyuan Juesi had already become an insurmountable issue, and their relationship was fraught with tension.

Between them, trust was the most crucial element, yet they possessed none. Si Nuosang's eyes grew red. Perhaps they were destined to part ways, and ending it sooner was for the best.

Those who love each other are destined to hurt one another. Si Nuosang crouched on the floor, burying her face in her knees.

Her tears flowed uncontrollably.

She could not stop herself from letting things end this way. Yet, she could not bring herself to hurt Ye Xuan either. To her, Ye Xuan was a truly important friend who had always looked after her in every way.

"I'm sorry, Xuanyuan Juesi. 'Nuosang Juesi' was nothing but a beautiful dream."

After she finished crying, Si Nuosang went to pack her belongings. She ordered the servants to burn everything else inside, leaving with only the few things she had brought with her in the beginning.

Seeing this, Yuan Qianlü realized that something had gone terribly wrong between the Prince and the Princess. He quietly slipped away.

The Prince seemed to have decided to let the Princess go; otherwise, given the Princess's temperament, she would not have left so abruptly.

After leaving, Si Nuosang did not go straight to Ye Xuan, yet he found her almost immediately.

"What's wrong?"

"Ye Xuan, how did you show up so quickly?" Si Nuosang blurted out.

"Did something happen? Why are you carrying your things? What did Xuanyuan Juesi do to you? What did he do to you?" Ye Xuan asked in rapid succession.

He asked anxiously. He had not expected things to play out exactly as he had hoped.

But seeing how truly devastated Si Nuosang was made him feel miserable as well.

"It's over between him and me."

Si Nuosang looked at Ye Xuan, her eyes brimming with tears. She was utterly heartbroken. The issue between her and Xuanyuan Juesi did not stem from Ye Xuan, but from their lack of mutual trust. Even if Ye Xuan were to disappear, another would eventually take his place.

Their problems would only multiply. If two people could not trust each other, being together was nothing but mutual torment—a painful, endless agony.

What did love matter when faced with suspicion, jealousy, torment, and pain? Sometimes, letting go was simply the better choice.

"Don't be sad. Come with me," he said, taking her hand and leading her forward.

Seeing her so miserable, he desperately wanted to confess that he was the one behind all of this. But he couldn't. He couldn't risk it, because he wanted to be with her—no matter what, he wanted to be by her side.

Si Nuosang followed him quietly until they reached an inn.

"You should rest. You don't look well right now."

Seeing her look so hollow, as if her soul had been drained, truly broke his heart.

Si Nuosang collapsed onto the bed to rest, while Ye Xuan ordered hot water and gently wiped her face.

Si Nuosang closed her eyes and remained in bed for two days. Ye Xuan stayed by her side the entire time, never leaving. Seeing her in this state filled him with immense guilt. It was all his fault. If not for him, none of this would have happened. It was entirely his doing.

He was the ultimate villain.

Looking at the suffering Si Nuosang, Ye Xuan could not bring himself to speak the truth. He had deliberately let Xuanyuan Juesi see the two of them embracing, knowing it would incense the Prince. But he had never expected the outcome to be this disastrous. He truly hadn't.

He had only wanted to drive a wedge between them.

Yet he had not anticipated that they would sever ties completely. While this outcome was favorable to him, it was so extreme that it made him feel like a criminal.

A heinous sinner. He had no idea what would happen next.

But he would do everything in his power to care for Si Nuosang and help her fully recover.

He wanted to see her smile again; he wanted to bring the joy back to her face.

Perhaps from lying in bed for too long, Si Nuosang stumbled as she tried to get up.

Ye Xuan quickly rushed over to support her.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

Si Nuosang shook her head.

"I'm fine. I'm well. I want to go out for a walk. Did anything happen over the last two days?"

"No, everything has been very quiet. Don't worry."

She was likely asking to find out if Xuanyuan Juesi was safe. Of course, the Prince was perfectly safe, though there was no sign of him anywhere. Ye Xuan had expected Xuanyuan Juesi to come after him, but now it seemed the Prince intended to let go completely. In the past, he would have come to threaten him. Yet, even though the Prince had let go, Ye Xuan knew his own danger was only growing.

Xuanyuan Juesi might have already developed an intent to kill him. He would not simply let them leave; Ye Xuan was acutely aware of this.

Xuanyuan Juesi would surely try to kill him. The Prince hated him to the core.

But given the current situation, it was unlikely Xuanyuan Juesi would strike immediately. Based on their past conversations, the Prince possessed a deep understanding of Minglou. Perhaps he and Bai Ming knew each other.

At least, that was what Ye Xuan thought. However, Bai Ming did not seem to know Xuanyuan Juesi very well. What was going on there? If they were friends, Bai Ming wouldn't have sent them to steal that legendary gemstone—the gem rumored to have the power to change everything.

Was it truly worth risking their lives over a mere legend? That was not for Ye Xuan to worry about. For now, his only hope was for Si Nuosang to recover.