Chapter 77: Rescued

  Ma hastily said: "I'll go tell Third Uncle that something has happened in the mansion, I'll stay in the palace to wait for news of Zhao Yan, let Third Uncle return first!"

  "Uh-huh." Old Lady Lin agreed with a smile, and then said coldly: "Just tell him that I'm almost done for, I'd like to see whether his daughter is more important or me, her mother, is more important!"

  Ma's heart was filled with unspeakable complexity.

  What's become of her granddaughter in Old Lady Lin's eyes?

  I just hope everything goes smoothly and nothing goes wrong.

  The bright moon hangs in the sky, and the night is cool as water.

  A desolate valley, cold and bleak.

  It's very quiet all around, and you can even hear the low hum of insects singing softly and the "rustling" sound of the wind blowing through the leaves.

  The silvery moonlight quietly spills into the valley, with dense stars twinkling, giving off a poetic and picturesque beauty.

  Lin Zhaoyan leaned his head on his knees and gazed at the twinkling stars outside the valley, letting out a soft sigh.

  Indeed, she was spoken of by Xiao Qi and no one came to save her.

  This is her first time leaving the Hou Manor overnight in thirteen years of rebirth, and it's still in such a sorry state.

  I don't know what's going on at the Marquis' residence now?

  Has Lin Ruo Yan's matter been resolved?

  Although she is really weird, why can't anyone find her.

  She didn't know that outside had already been turned upside down because of her.

  "Achoo!" A cold wind blew past, and she couldn't help but let out a sneeze.

  Lin Zhaoyan tightened his clothes and curled himself up into a ball.

  Xiao Xi looked at her from a distance and found it very interesting.

  He had never seen a woman with more backbone than her, or rather, stubbornness.

  After saying "I never said that", she really didn't say another word, for two whole hours, without even looking at him once, treating him as if he were air.

  Even now, shivering with cold, not a single hum is made.

  He smiled slightly, interesting!

  But he wanted to see how long she could hold on.

  Xiao Qi stood up and searched around for dry wood branches, then drilled into a piece of wood and lit a fire.

  A warm torch suddenly ignited in the cave, dispelling a hint of chill in the air.

  Lin Zhaoyan turned her head to look over, and saw Xiao Qi smiling at her across the bright flames, with sparks dancing in his dark eyes.

  That smile, it actually looks quite beautiful.

  "If you're cold, why don't you come over and sit down." Xiao Qi "kindly" invited her, he was almost certain she would immediately refuse.

  "Good." Who knew that Lin Zhao would not act according to reason, and quickly agreed. He immediately stood up, knocked his numb legs, and walked towards him.

  "How warm!" She sat down opposite him and also gave him a big smile, "Thank you, Xiao Gongzi."

  "You." Xiao Qi couldn't react for a moment, "What are you doing here?"

  "You asked me to come over, and besides, I'm really cold. Why would you refuse my kindness?" Lin Zhaoyan rubbed his hands together, answering matter-of-factly.

  Xiao Qi was choked with anger and only spoke after a while: "I thought Lin Si's daughter had more backbone, but it turns out she's just like this."

  Lin Zhaoyan pretended not to hear it.

  Fortunately, Xiao Xi didn't drive her away and they huddled together for warmth. Later, he picked up some branches as well.

  Bathed in the warm glow of the fire, the chill on his body gradually dissipated, and Lin Zhaoyan actually felt a little drowsy.

  Watching her nodding off to sleep little by little, Xiao Qi furrowed his brow deeply.

  Doesn't this woman have any guard at all?

  Really treating this place as your own home?

  But seeing her calm and quiet demeanor, he felt relieved in his heart.

  He dislikes troublesome and noisy women, except those with utilitarian value. If the one who fell down today was a crying and sighing woman, he really feared that he would not be able to help himself but strangle her.

  Fortunately, Lin Si was very obedient.

  As long as he wants to, he can completely ignore her existence.

  Xiao Xi thought of this and smiled slightly, for some reason his mood became cheerful.

  He leaned against the mountain wall and gently closed his eyes.

  Whatever it is, let's talk about it after tonight!

  But at this moment, a shout came from outside the cave, getting closer and closer.

  "Miss Lin Si! Miss Lin Si, are you there? Where are you, we've come to rescue you!"

  Xiao Yi's eyes sank, Mu Qing had always been reliable in handling matters, how could he be found here?

  He immediately thought of Lin Zhaoyan falling down, and Mu Qing must have known it too.

  "Lin Siu Nian." Xiao Qi spoke up, his voice devoid of any inflection. "Someone has come looking for you."

  Lin Zhaoyan suddenly became clear-headed, "Really?" The smile on his face couldn't be stopped.

  "Really." Xiao Qi raised an eyebrow, "Don't believe me? Listen then."

  Lin Zhaoyan carefully identified for a while, and found that it was indeed looking for her, delightedly said: "It's really like this." Seeing Xiao Qi's expression was not right, with a sly and playful smile in his eyes, his heart skipped a beat.

  "She hastily said: 'I'll let you go out first, Master Xiao, but you must promise to send someone back to rescue me.'"

  If Xiao Qi is trying to trap her, they've already searched this place and won't search it again, so she's really doomed.

  Xiao Xi continued to gaze at her quietly.

  Lin Zhaoyan's voice was urgent, and the sound was getting closer and closer. He quickly extinguished the torch and lowered his tone: "Xiao Gongzi? How is it? We can't go out together, otherwise it will damage both our reputations."

  "This is natural." Xiao Qi finally spoke up, his words laced with sarcasm. "Lin Si, you can rest assured that I don't want a third person to know about this matter more than you do. After you leave, it's best if you keep your mouth shut and don't tell anyone, including your sister Lin Ruoyan."

  His voice was too cold, Lin Zhaoyan couldn't help but shiver, but he nodded and solemnly said: "This matter you know I know, I, Lin Zhaoyan, swear not to tell anyone."

  Xiao Xi nodded in satisfaction and stepped back a step, "You can call for someone now."

  "What?" Lin Zhaoyan was momentarily stunned.

  Xiao Xi smiled lightly and said, "Does Lin Si think that I set up this trap for her sister, intending to die together?"

  Lin Zhaoyan finally understood what he meant.

  He had been prepared all along. No matter what, his people would find them by the next morning at the latest. After all, no one could guarantee that the people in the palace would be able to find them.

  Was she being played by him all along?

  Feeling Lin Zhaoyan's sharp gaze even in the dark, Xiao Qi raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but smile. He found a hidden spot to sit down and teased: "If you keep staring at me like that, they'll be gone."

  Lin Zhaoyan then withdrew her gaze, and in her heart, she silently asked for Xiao Xi's well-being before finally shouting for help outside.

  Before long, there was a light gradually approaching.

  Lin Zhaoyan was finally rescued safely after being trapped for three hours.

  When those people took Lin Zhao away and their voices gradually faded into the distance, Xiao Qi patted his robe and slowly said: "Come out!"

  A figure suddenly appeared at the entrance of the cave.

  With the torch in his hand, he could see his face clearly, and it was Xu Xiuren.

  "Have you had enough of the show?" Xiao Qi raised her eyes and looked at him coldly.

  Xu Xiujin didn't respond, nor did he rush to help him out. Instead, he squatted above and sneered: "Zi Shu, I told you that Lin Si wasn't simple. Look, you've been calculated by her."

  Xiao Jun's eyebrows furrowed, "You've known all along?" His voice was cold enough to freeze.

  Xu Xiujin chuckled and said, "I didn't know at first, but later found out that Lin Wu had already returned to the mansion. By then it was too late, so I just went to have some tea instead."

  Xiao Qi's face instantly turned black.

  Xu Xiujin still said fearlessly, "I was drinking tea halfway when I heard that the Jian'an Marquis's residence came to look for someone, so I hurried over. However, looking at you two getting along so well, roasting together by the fire, and gazing at the stars and moon together, I think it's immoral to disturb you at this time, so..."

  What's scary is not an opponent like a wolf, but a teammate like a pig?

  That's exactly what Xu Xiuren said!

  Xiao Qi's face turned as black as a pot bottom.

  Xu Xiujin also understood that too much of a good thing can be a bad thing, and finally said: "Alright, I'll help you up. As for Lin Wu's matter, we'll plan separately."

  Xiao Qi didn't bother to argue with him again and wasn't planning on settling the score in the cave either, as his proud demeanor had been greatly diminished.

  He decided to take revenge after he got out.

  After coming out, Xu Xiujian consciously retreated a few steps from Xiao Qi and decided to drop a big bombshell to prevent Xiao Qi from being unfavorable to him.

  He said: "Shen Zhongling was saved by those old men from Tai Hospital."

  Xiao Xi was taken aback for a moment, then recovered as usual, patted the mud on his body, and coldly looked at him, "Did you go soft?"

  With Xu Xiu's accurate archery, if he wanted to kill Shen Zhongling, he would have died on the spot. How could he possibly leave him alive for the people from the Tai Hospital to treat?

  Xu Xiujing smiled faintly, neither affirming nor denying, "It's not that I'm soft-hearted, I just think she's quite innocent, so I held back a bit when I struck. As for whether she lives or dies, it's up to fate." He shrugged, "As it turns out, she shouldn't have died yet."

  Xiao Xi coldly laughed and said, "You're still too soft-hearted."

  Xu Xiuren let out a sigh, rarely being serious for once, "She's severely injured and won't fully recover if she doesn't rest for a year or so. The Emperor is also worried, your goal has already been achieved, why must you make things difficult for a young girl and want her dead? Just because the Emperor wants her to marry you?"

  "I dislike women who are infatuated with fantasies," Xiao Qi said coldly and mercilessly.

  If it was indeed the intention of the Emperor and Empress Dowager, then so be it. But Shen Zhongling clearly had his own thoughts, and he didn't like the taste of being coveted by others.

  Xu Xiujin said, "What about Lin Si? She ruined your plan. You didn't kill her, but instead helped her start a fire to warm up? Zi Shu, actually you may not be as heartless as you imagine."

  Xiao Xi sneered, "I won't kill her, not because I'm soft-hearted, but because there's no benefit in it."

  "But you will never let her go back unscathed."

  "Have you had enough?" Xiao Qi didn't want to discuss it anymore, and coldly swept a glance at him. "She's just an insignificant little pawn; even if she was harmed, it wouldn't be worth my effort."

  He also said: "You have this leisurely and carefree attitude, it's better to think about how to prevent the Emperor from finding out about you."

  Thanks for the rewards from Tian Zhutu, Hot Love ^^, Winter Night Rain Stroll and mcj221 ~ RS