Chapter 725 - 726: Going Home
Chapter 725: Chapter 726: Going Home
After bidding farewell to the Eldest Princess, Ye Chutang left Qiyuan Hall.
After walking some distance, a familiar figure once again came into view.
Xie Anbai.
It was now past noon, and the sun was warm. Sunlight spilled down, bathing him in its glow, yet he exuded a chilling air.
He stood there, his figure ramrod straight, casting a faint shadow behind him.
His gaze was fixed forward, as if he were looking at something.
Ye Chutang followed his line of sight. Ahead, the white jade-paved clearing was empty, save for a faint, pale red bloodstain.
A palace attendant was energetically scrubbing it away with a bucket of water.
SPLASH—
In a short while, the stain faded even more, almost disappearing completely.
Ye Chutang took a shallow breath, faintly smelling a sweet, coppery scent.
’Xie Anjun must have taken his last breath right here.’
As if sensing something, Xie Anbai turned to look at her.
His handsome face seemed somewhat different from before.
His peach blossom eyes, which usually held a lazy smile, now seemed as if they had been washed in clear water—bright and cold.
They had clearly met not long ago, yet he seemed like a different person.
’It seems Xie Anbai has been through a lot recently,’ Ye Chutang sighed inwardly.
It was Xie Anbai who spoke first to greet her.
"Second Miss Ye."
His expression was sincere.
"Thank you."
The corners of Ye Chutang’s lips curved. "Second Young Master Xie, what are you thanking me for?"
Xie Anbai’s gaze went past her shoulder, landing on the majestic hall standing tall behind her, and his eyes narrowed slightly.
"For what happened before, and... for today."
A hint of surprise crossed Ye Chutang’s face, as if she were a little taken aback. "Today? I don’t believe I helped you with anything, Second Young Master Xie."
She had only been summoned to the palace to check Fan Chengzhuo’s pulse.
Xie Anbai paused for a moment, then gave a relieved smile.
"In any case, thank you."
He didn’t explain, and Ye Chutang didn’t press him for an answer.
Xiao Jiayi and Xie Anjun suddenly turning on each other, Fan Chengzhuo’s sudden grave illness, Zhao Zhegang getting caught the moment he made his move...
When so many coincidences piled up, they were no longer coincidences, but inevitabilities.
Some things were best left unsaid, understood by both.
"By the way, Xiao Jiayi is dead," Ye Chutang said. "Right after you and Xie Anjun left Qiyuan Hall, she killed herself by ramming her head into a pillar."
Xie Anbai showed no surprise, merely nodding. "Is that so? Then she’s found her release, I suppose."
Although he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, it was clear Xie Anbai was not shocked by this. On the contrary, it seemed he had expected it.
’He really is a clever man,’ Ye Chutang thought to herself.
Whether Xiao Jiayi lived or died wasn’t actually important to Xie Anbai.
His reaction now only proved one thing—when he had volunteered to supervise the execution and followed Xie Anjun out, it looked like he wanted to see things to the end, but he was actually just avoiding trouble.
After all, the events that transpired in the hall after he left were quite the ordeal.
By voluntarily removing himself, Xie Anbai was making his stance clear: he didn’t want to be involved anymore.
He had no interest in the fates of Fan Chengzhuo and Zheng Baosu. From beginning to end, all he had ever wanted was justice from Xie Anjun.
Not just for himself, but also for... Xie Pei.
"Second Miss Ye!"
Suddenly, a palace attendant hurried over from the side. Ye Chutang turned to look and saw a small ball of a child pattering toward them.
Ye Chutang’s expression softened, and a smile appeared on her face.
"What’s wrong? Have you been waiting for Big Sis for too long?"
Xiao Wu threw herself into her arms, her little face flushed, looking lively and enthusiastic.
’Big Sis was gone for so long! I ate three whole plates of snacks inside!’
Ye Chutang pinched her soft, tender little cheek and gestured for her to greet Xie Anbai.
"Look who this is."
Xiao Wu hadn’t noticed Xie Anbai before. Now, looking closely, she recognized the man in the night clothes as Second Young Master Xie, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time!
She rubbed her eyes, and after confirming she wasn’t mistaken, a delighted smile bloomed on her face.
’It really is Second Young Master Xie!’
’Big Sis said we would see him soon, and she was right!’
Xiao Wu immediately went forward and gave Xie Anbai a proper, serious bow.
Seeing her, Xie Anbai smiled as well. His previous aloofness vanished, replaced by the same closeness as before.
He bent down, smiling as he teased Xiao Wu, and patted her little head.
"It’s been a while. Has Xiao Wu gotten this tall already?"
After the new year, Xiao Wu had indeed shot up in height. With the weather warming in spring, she had shed her fluffy, cotton-padded clothes for a light dress, making her seem much slimmer.
At Xie Anbai’s praise, she covered her small mouth, her eyes curving into crescents as she giggled.
Ye Chutang reminded her, "Don’t you have a gift for Second Young Master Xie?"
Xiao Wu slapped her forehead.
’Oh, right!’
’I almost forgot the most important thing!’
Xie Anbai was puzzled. "What gift?"
As he spoke, a warmth spread over his hand. Xiao Wu had already stepped forward, taken his hand, and was trying to pull him along.
Xie Anbai gave Ye Chutang an inquisitive look.
Ye Chutang explained with a smile, "During the Lantern Festival, Xiao Wu specially bought a gift for you at West River Bridge. But you weren’t in the Capital City recently, so the gift was never delivered. As luck would have it, the gift is in the carriage right now. If you don’t mind, Second Young Master Xie, you could come with us to collect it."
Xie Anbai truly hadn’t expected this. He looked from Ye Chutang to Xiao Wu, a rare look of astonishment on his face.
"A gift? Especially for me?"
Xiao Wu nodded emphatically.
’Yes, yes! I spent a long time picking it out!’
Seeing Xie Anbai’s hesitation, Ye Chutang said with a smile, "Second Young Master Xie, you’ve always treated Xiao Wu so well. This is just a small token of her affection. Please accept it."
Xie Anbai subconsciously looked at Xiao Wu, his gaze meeting her clear, pure eyes that were like black grapes. His heart stirred, and his whole body seemed to relax.
A smile lifted the corners of his lips.
"In that case, I’ll gladly accept."
...
An incense stick’s time later, Xie Anbai finally received the gift.
An ivory folding fan with intertwined flowers.
He held the fan in his hand, admiring it over and over for a long time.
Xiao Wu’s gift had truly hit the mark, and considering the sentiment behind it, he cherished it all the more.
Xiao Wu watched him eagerly, her eyes practically asking, ’Do you like it? I picked it out especially for you!’
Amused by her expectant expression, he snapped the fan shut with a SNAP and gently tapped her smooth, full little forehead.
"I love it. Xiao Wu has first-class taste, so of course the gift she picked is of the highest quality. I’ll have to take this fan home and treasure it—"
As he said this, he suddenly paused.
’Home?’
He no longer had a home. Xie Anjun had been executed, Xiao Jiayi had killed herself—he didn’t need to think to know what fate awaited the rest of the Xie Family.
Emperor Muwu hadn’t taken his anger out on him, but from this point on, he truly had nothing left.