Doctor Yue came out of the room and wrote a prescription. After receiving it, Ao Zhi ordered someone to fetch the medicine. She asked worriedly, “Doctor Yue, is my young lady internally injured?”
Through the door curtain, Doctor Yue raised his voice and shouted inside, “She just accidentally inhaled some knockout powder. She’ll wake up by herself in two hours. What’s the hurry? You have your own ailments to worry about!”
Ao Zhi moved her lips, coughed lightly, and then sent the doctor away.
Shen Qingli leaned crookedly against the bedpost, eating a peach. “Did you hear that? Doctor Yue said she just inhaled a small amount of knockout powder, it’s no big deal—tsk, she owes me another life.”
Xie Subai didn’t say anything. He lifted Ji Yuluo’s sleeve, revealing two cuts made by a blade. He instructed Yinzhuang beside him, “Go get the medicine.”
Then he lifted his eyelids slightly and said, “Go outside to eat.”
Shen Qingli rolled his eyes and left, cursing silently in his heart.
Who was Ji Yuluo? She could take a lot. These minor injuries were just like scratches to her. Was there really a need to make such a big fuss? If he really cared, he should show more concern when she was awake.
From the beginning, Shen Qingli had disliked Xie Subai’s hidden, deep affection. He prided himself on doing it for her good, only to suffer himself, while she never knew. Who was really moved by this?
As he cursed in his heart, he pushed the door open and went to the corridor. This inn was spacious, with both floors booked entirely by them. The upper floor was the living quarters, and the lower floor was used as a meeting room. Just as Shen Qingli was about to call someone, he saw Ao Zhi hurriedly coming up the spiral staircase. Seeing him, she said, “Lord Huo has arrived. Should we stop him or not?”
Hearing this, Shen Qingli immediately stepped back to hide behind a pillar. So fast… there’s no stopping him. Rather than letting Lord Huo lead the Jinyiwei to turn the entire capital upside down, it’s better to let Chaolu go back and explain honestly. Since he explained, he definitely wouldn’t stay at home quietly.
He said, “Let him in, but don’t mention me.”
So Ao Zhi ordered to let him through. She gracefully bowed to Huo Xianqian and then looked at Chaolu, saying, “The young lady is in the main room. Please lead Lord Huo there.”
Chaolu nodded reluctantly and led Huo Xian the way.
In the outer corridor stood a maid every few steps. This was the extravagance of the nobles. Xie Subai, being a meticulous person, had developed this habit since infancy.
The man, tall and imposing, stood under the eaves with a commanding presence. Although he was handsome, his eyebrows and eyes looked fierce when he didn’t smile. The maids didn’t dare to look around and kept their heads lowered.
At the main bedroom, shadows could be seen through the door curtain. Just as Chaolu was about to barge in, Huo Xian grabbed her shoulder, immobilizing her.
She glared at Huo Xian, but saw him looking expressionlessly at the person inside. Curious, she followed his gaze.
There, Xie Subai was sitting by the bed, holding Ji Yuluo’s injured arm. After applying the medicine, he carefully bandaged it. Then he looked down at her for a long time, and his fingers gently touched her face.
**A Hairpin of Snow** by **Litchi is Very Sweet**
Soft and gentle, as if water could drip from it.
Chaolu was engrossed in the sight when she was suddenly pushed inside.
She stumbled forward a few steps, the bead curtain hitting her face with a clattering sound.
Over there, Xie Subai’s fingertips paused, and he turned his head, looking past Chaolu, directly meeting Huo Xian’s calm gaze.
For a moment, his gaze lingered thoughtfully on Xie Subai’s hand.
–
Ji Yuluo did not completely lose consciousness when she fainted. As she was being carried by Shen Qingli, she was still in a daze, vaguely hearing the voices of Xie Subai and Ao Zhi and others, before gradually falling asleep.
She had a dream. In the dream, she was in the elegant study of the Qiao family, where the air was filled with the calming scent of sandalwood. So, when she suddenly opened her eyes, her senses awakened, and she almost thought she was still dreaming.
After carefully distinguishing, she realized it was the pine fragrance that Xie Subai often used.
The sharp pain in her arm brought her to full alertness. She roughly understood that it must have been some anesthetic on his palm when he leaped down. She abruptly sat up, “Chaolu, what time is it?”
Before Chaolu could respond, Ao Zhi lifted the curtain and came in, holding a bowl of medicinal soup. She said, “It’s almost midnight. Miss, you’ve slept for a long time.”
Ji Yuluo was about to slip on her shoes and get out of bed, “What about those bodies? Has Shen Qingli verified their identities?”
Ao Zhi shook her head and said, “Young Master Shen didn’t find any useful clues. Then the soldiers arrived, so we had to leave first. Miss, have you offended someone?”
Ji Yuluo furrowed her brow, a vague figure surfacing in her mind.
She glanced around the room, almost identical to her place in Jiangnan, and an inexplicable sense of familiarity and security arose within her, her body instinctively relaxing. As for why she was placed in Xie Subai’s room, this question only flashed briefly in her mind before Ao Zhi interrupted.
Ao Zhi said, “Miss just woke up. The effect of the anesthetic hasn’t worn off yet. Don’t think about it for now. Doctor Yue prescribed some tonic. Drink it first. The Master is still discussing matters with Lord Huo; it might take a while.”
Ji Yuluo paused, looking at Chaolu.
Chaolu nodded, “Yes… it’s been about two hours.”
Ji Yuluo, deep in thought, said nothing. She took the medicine bowl, drank a few sips, then suddenly put the bowl down and pushed the door open, heading towards the study across the way.
Before she even got close, she could hear faint voices.
The tone was calm, with no sign of an argument.
She listened for a moment, her action of knocking on the door suddenly paused—
Xie Subai’s voice was calm, “Huo Xian, do you still harbor resentment in your heart?”
“We’ve met several times, but you’ve never asked about the General, nor have you mentioned wanting to see him. Do you resent him for aiding the wicked, or for the years he’s been out of touch?”
“Or, do you blame him for misunderstanding you?”
Ji Yuluo paused slightly, wanting to know the answer as well, and she instinctively listened closely. However, she was met with prolonged silence; Huo Xian didn’t respond to Xie Subai’s question. Instead, he stood up and left. She instinctively wanted to hide behind a pillar but then reconsidered why she should hide. In the moment of hesitation, the door was already being pulled open from inside.
The two of them stood face to face, both freezing for a moment.
Huo Xian said, “Awake?”
Ji Yuluo glanced at him twice, then responded with a “Hmm,” and greeted Xie Subai, “Master.”
Xie Subai nodded, “Who was behind today’s incident?”
Ji Yuluo said, “I have some thoughts.”
She hesitated for a moment and then said, “I have something to say.”
Huo Xian glanced at her and said, “I’ll wait for you downstairs.”
With that, he quickly walked past, the wind he stirred up carrying an air of displeasure.
Xie Subai looked at her and said, “I thought you could tell him anything.”
Ji Yuluo closed the door, “I can’t guarantee this matter will go without a hitch, so I’m keeping a backup plan. There’s no need for him to know.”
She said calmly, “It’s about Xiao Yuanjing.”
–
In the first-floor hall, the young servant came to add tea for the third time.
Huo Xian occasionally glanced at the wooden staircase leading upstairs and then turned his head to the sparsely populated long street.
The sound of the midnight watch clapper suddenly rang out, and the curfew became even stricter. Especially since the emperor fell ill, the defense in the capital had become more meticulous, with an extra patrol of soldiers.
After waiting for a while longer, Ji Yuluo finally came down slowly. The two got into the carriage and set off back to the Huo residence.
She didn’t mention what she had talked about with Xie Subai, and Huo Xian didn’t ask either.
As soon as the horse began to move, and they hadn’t gone far, he said, “How did you offend Xiao Yuanjing?”
Ji Yuluo was only guessing that today’s incident was Xiao Yuanjing’s doing, but Huo Xian’s tone was so certain.
However, on second thought, it wasn’t surprising.
In the end, it was the Jinyiwei who were better at investigating. Ji Yuluo said, “That night at Jiuzhen Temple, I shot him with an arrow. Xiao Yuanjing is meticulous; he probably saw through some flaw. Today, he didn’t try to kill me, so he likely just wants to investigate me.”
These words were half-truths, but they had no flaws.
One could say he was cornered and desperate. Now that Xiao Cheng was outside the capital and Zhao Yong was imprisoned, the burden on Xiao Yuanjing was too heavy. It was hard to predict what ruthless measures he might take.
Huo Xian said, “Stay indoors for the next few days. I’ll assign two more covert guards to you.”
Ji Yuluo responded absentmindedly, “No need, I have my own people.”
“True,” Huo Xian said, removing his bone ring. “After all, one’s own people are more reliable.”
Ji Yuluo finally snapped out of her thoughts, catching the sarcastic tone in his voice. She said, “That’s not what I meant.”
Huo Xian glanced at her, his eyes dark and deep, as if he wanted to hang Ji Yuluo upside down and beat her to vent his frustration. But seeing her innocent expression, he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Instead, he turned his head, closed his eyes, and said, “Hmm, I didn’t mean it that way either.”
“……”
The carriage arrived at the Huo residence. Huo Xian walked ahead without a word, while Ji Yuluo followed half a step behind. The man had long legs and a tall stature, and by the time they reached the stone bridge, she could barely keep up. She called out, “Where are you going?”
Huo Xian stopped and looked at her, “The study. Aren’t we still pretending? I can’t stay in the main residence.”
His tone was polite, but it seemed he was holding back some frustration.
Ji Yuluo watched him walk away, crossed her arms, and leaned against the stone bridge, asking, “Who upset him this time?”
She turned to Chaolu, “Did you annoy him?”
Chaolu replied indignantly, “I didn’t. He grabbed my collar.”
Ji Yuluo thought for a moment, but the aftereffects of the anesthetic were still strong. Although she was awake, she felt weak all over and couldn’t muster the energy to figure out Huo Xian. She returned to the main house.
She found Nanny Liu standing like a fierce deity outside the small gate. As soon as Nanny Liu saw her, her face fell, “Oh my lady, it’s already midnight! Where have you been? My heart almost gave out!”
Ji Yuluo quickly pushed Chaolu into Nanny Liu’s arms, entered the house, and closed the door in one swift motion. Outside, Nanny Liu scolded Chaolu, her voice rising and falling like a stage performance.
Ji Yuluo smiled but then felt a sharp pain in her forearm. She realized she had accidentally used her injured hand. She couldn’t help but gasp in pain.
She opened the window, letting the night breeze in, which somewhat alleviated the pain.
However, not long after, the door creaked open, and Huo Xian appeared outside, holding ointment and bandages.
