Inquiring into the Truth

For Yun Xueyan, attending the morning court session every single day was the most arduous task. She had to endure two burning gazes simultaneously, leaving her with nowhere to hide.

The moment the court session ended, she would make a swift exit, trying her best to avoid crossing paths with Feng Xilou and Duan Nanyu.

Walking down the bustling street, Yun Xueyan looked somewhat absent-minded. The streets were crowded with people, yet none of them were familiar. How many people in this world truly knew her? And around her, how many companions did she actually have?

Suddenly, someone tapped her on the shoulder from behind. Startled, Yun Xueyan whirled around to find a familiar face, and she offered a faint smile. "Young Master Xiao, it has been a long time."

Before him, she felt no need for pretense or concealment; since he had sought her out, Feng Xilou must have already told him everything!

"It has indeed been quite a while. I just never expected that when we met again, things would be so entirely different." Xiao Siyi looked her in the eye, the corners of his lips curving upward in an ambiguous, fleeting smile. "Xilou has told me everything."

"Mm, I know." Yun Xueyan also smiled faintly. She had never realized before that Xiao Siyi was not as tall and imposing as other men, yet he undeniably possessed supreme medical skills.

Thinking of medical skills, a sudden flash of inspiration struck Yun Xueyan's mind. "Young Master Xiao, I would like to ask you—was it you who treated Yun Xiyin back then? What is her condition, really?"

"Just like that. In my opinion, the end she met now is letting that woman off too lightly. The only pity is that child, but never being able to bear children again is her just retribution. That prince finally did one thing right by casting her aside and divorcing her; word has it that she has lost her mind now." Xiao Siyi spoke casually, though his brows furrowed involuntarily as he glanced at Yun Xueyan. "You aren't planning to pity her again, are you?"

She shook her head. Pity? If she were to pity Yun Xiyin, who would pity her? Back then, at the threshold of life and death, Duan Nanyu had chosen Yun Xiyin and abandoned her; what else was there for her to say?

Even though Duan Nanyu had eventually divorced Yun Xiyin, that was already a matter entirely unrelated to her.

"I don't pity her. I was simply asking. Would Young Master Xiao mind stepping into a tavern for a few cups of tea?"

"Of course not. Since someone is treating, I couldn't possibly refuse." With that, Xiao Siyi stepped into the tavern first, and Yun Xueyan followed closely behind.

Sitting down at a table near the window, Yun Xueyan poured a cup of tea for Xiao Siyi, then raised her eyes to look at him, her voice serene. "Xilou... has he been well?"

"Does he look like someone who is well to you? For a period of time, I couldn't even recognize that he was Feng Xilou. His expression was stiff and numb, and the only thing he had to do day in and day out was to search for you. Tell me, could he possibly be well?" Xiao Siyi's tone was light and nonchalant, devoid of any overt anger, yet every single word pressed heavily against the bottom of her heart, making her ache.

She fell silent, quietly sipping the tea in her hand while her fingers tapped lightly against the rim of the cup. A faint gleam flickered in Yun Xueyan's eyes. "Young Master Xiao, did you... verify whether Yun Xiyin has truly lost her mind?"

Given Yun Xiyin's temperament, she found it hard to believe that the woman would simply go mad like that. Yun Xiyin was not someone who would let matters rest so easily; true madness seemed unlikely for her!

Xiao Siyi paused for a moment, seeming to grasp the implication behind Yun Xueyan's words, before smiling. "I really didn't pay attention to that. Back then, everyone's energy was focused entirely on searching for you; who had the spare mind to notice her? Once she was sent back to the Grand Tutor's Manor, no one bothered with her again. Now that you mention it, it actually makes me curious."

He snapped his fingers casually. "When I have time, I'll go take a look for you. Xiao Siyi doesn't have many other talents—one is my peerless medical skill, and the other is the lightness skill I use for fleeing for my life. As it happens, both will come in quite handy."

Stunned for a second, Yun Xueyan broke into a smile. Understanding each other without the need for further words, they remained silent.

Shortly after, both of them chose to steer the conversation toward trivial matters, before finally parting ways.