Hey readers! Here’s your extra chapter~!
Chapter 49: Out of Danger, An Eventful Night in the Capital
Along the side of a quiet cliff, a crescent moon, not far and not near, hung in the sky. On the mountain, a cool breeze pa.s.sed by. The one-eyed man laid on the ground, powerless. His eyes filled with regret as he laughed pitifully. "This method of Ye family's Third Young Miss, isn't it a bit too despicable?"
Ye Li sat leisurely next to him. She took the opportunity to toss the cloth stained with red rouge off the cliff. She indifferently shrugged: "You are not some kind of righteous gentleman. I won't feel guilty." The method was not important; the result was what mattered.
"Don't move." A sharp, thin blade p.r.i.c.ked at the man's pulse on his neck. "I don't suggest that you act rashly. Before you are sure of your results, as long as I add another inch, not even the Great Immortal Luo Jin will be able to save you.
"You really are poisonous. Can I ask what type of strange poison you used to repay your savior?" The man reluctantly gave up the idea of circulating his internal energy to block the poison. In fact, he couldn't utilize any internal energy at all.
Ye Li shook her head. "Secret. But this t.i.tle of savior needs to be questioned. My mood recently hasn't been very good."
"It's an honor to listen to the capital's most talented maiden troubles." The man laughed but mixed with his terrifying experience made the scene a bit funny.
Ye Li frowned: "Since I received the edict to marry Prince Ding, it seems that all kinds of trouble have found its way to my door. Constant probing, spying, criticizing, and of course, kidnapping."
"So much trouble, why don't you run away with me? What do you think?"
Ye Li's long eyelashes trembled. "I am not interested in the love story of some n.o.ble lady and talented person. Moreover, I'm guessing that this play was not thoroughly explained. Parents, siblings, relatives. What should be done? What about reputation? How would one survive? If a talented person eloped with the beautiful maiden, then what?"
The man looked at her in disappointment. After a long while, he said: "You really want a lot. In those plays, doesn't it say that the talented person would get first place in the Imperial Examinations? Fame and fortune. The parents of the n.o.ble lady will forgive her. Relatives will admire her. Sisters would envy her. The most important part is that the talented person and n.o.ble lady would be together until their hair turned white, loving each other for a lifetime. Isn't that right?"
Ye Li shook her head. The ending of those plays were generally pretty broad. The staying together for a lifetime was just in the audience's imagination and wishes.
The man thought it over carefully. He tried to think of a play or story where the talented person and n.o.ble lady stayed together, children filling their home.
"Alright, this grandmother. In the end, what needs to be done so that you let me go?" Understanding that talking in circles with Ye Li was pointless, the man straightforwardly asked.
"Tell me who wants to harm me." Ye Li didn't keep walking in circles and replied.
"What if I don't say?"
The icy blade at his neck gently glided across his neck. Gooseb.u.mps immediately sprouted along his neck. "You can rest a.s.sured. I won't stab you with the knife. I will just push you down there." Ye Li looked down at the bottomless pit. She smiled.
Wouldn't it be better if she just stabbed him with the knife? The man was dumbfounded. "About this matter, I really can't say."
"This can be said."
"I promised someone else. To a man, one word spoken is worth nine sacred tripods. Even if you really stabbed me to death, I will not say." The man firmly said.
Ye Li appraised him; her brows twitched. She said: "Okay, then let me see what kind of face is under this human skin mask."
"Miss Ye, if you let me go, I'll owe you a favor." The man replied.
"This word seems a bit familiar. Do you really think I will trust a person whose ident.i.ty I don't even know? Even if you owed me a hundred favors if I can't find you, who will repay me?" Ye Li held her dagger and moved it towards the man's neck. Her other hand groped around his ugly face.
"Ye family's Third Young Miss, on my body there is a note for twenty thousand taels. You can take it as compensation for the emotional trauma. How about we erase the events of today?"
Ye Li's hand didn't stop. She said carelessly: "Do you think that I am like you? Dying for money? Erase it today, how would I know there won't be a next time?"
The man was silent for a moment. "I don't know if she will continue, but I can guarantee that it won't be a problem for Miss Ye. How's that?" The man felt Ye Li's hand paused. The man hurriedly added: "I promise that it won't cause a problem for Miss Ye. You can tell Mo Xiu Yao. He knows who I am and knows if my words are trustworthy." The cold as ice blade finally moved away.
Ye Li stood up and said, "Then I will temporarily believe you."
"Antidote."
"There isn't any. It was given to me by Qing Yu. Though you can't use your internal energy, even without your Lightness Foot Work, you shouldn't have a problem." Ye Li smiled.
The man gritted his teeth, but then the sound of footsteps reminded him that he didn't have time to argue with Ye Li. He could only stand up and prepare to crawl down the cliff, a method he's never had to use. It was very unfortunate that he was still too late.
A cold voice drifted from the mountain path: "Han Ming Yue—"
A man in white in a wheelchair slowly appeared at the end of the narrow path. Behind him was a youth in coa.r.s.e clothing, calmly pushing the wheelchair. Even if this path was not smooth and on a mountain, the youth did not show any difficulties. In the wheelchair, Mo Xiu Yao's face was like a still lake. His gaze was trained on the one-eyed man, cold and complex. Just one look, the man felt his body stiffen like it was freezing. He could only look at the cliff a few steps away helplessly.
"Ah Li, are you okay?" Mo Xiu Yao looked at Ye Li; his eyes thawed with a bit of warmth. Ye Li calmly withdrew her dagger under his gaze. She walked and stood in front of him.
Apologetic, Ye Li said: "I'm sorry. I've made you worry."
Mo Xiu Yao blinked and frowned. In the end, he just sighed softly and whispered, "You are tired. Let's go back and continue."
Ye Li understood that the environment was not suitable for conversation. She immediately nodded and agreed to Mo Xiu Yao's suggestion. A woman behind Mo Xiu Yao and Ah Jin handed Ye Li a cloak. Ye Li smiled gently. Even though she didn't feel cold, she wore the cloak.
"Han Ming Yue, can you tell this Prince why you are here?" Mo Xiu Yao stared intently at the man next to the cliff.
"So you recognized me?" The man groped around his face and removed the human skin mask.
A handsome face appeared, but it was haggard. Ye Li heard Mo Xiu Yao say the name "Han Ming Yue" and only slightly frowned. Seeing the handsome face revealed, she was slightly surprised. This face was eight-tenths similar to Gentleman Feng Yue. The only thing was that face was seductive and unrestrained; when he smiled, it gave others an uninhibited feeling.
"Haha Xiu Yao, we have not met for many years. Didn't think that when we did meet it would be under these conditions. It is really regrettable." The handsome man, even though he was dressed as a bandit, still gave others the impression of a young master, unrestrained and playful. It was just that this expression in this circ.u.mstance did not match. "I heard that you were preparing to marry. I came from thousands of li away to congratulate you. It seems that you are not very welcoming to this old friend."
"Congratulate me by kidnapping my fiance?" Mo Xiu Yao's voice was low and pleasing to the ears. Standing behind him, Ye Li couldn't help but tighten the cloak around her.
"Misunderstanding. Misunderstanding." Han Ming Yue said with a helpless face. "I didn't know that the person being kidnapped was your fiance. But if this venture failed, where would the face and reputation of Han Ming Yue be? I have already tried to minimize the losses as much as possible. Now, my business is done. Your fiance is still safe and sound." Moreover, he was tricked by her. Wasn't he the one losing?
"Who gave the money?" Mo Xiu Yao stared at him and asked.
"I can't say." Han Min Yue smiled helplessly.
Mo Xiu Yao gave a chilling chuckle. He said: "Han Ming Yue, as long as there is money, except for that brother of yours, what is there that you not dare to sell?"
Han Ming Yue sighed and a bitter look overtook his face. He stared at Mo Xiu Yao and said: "There are still one or two things that can't be sold. Besides, this time you came, Xiu Yao. Give me some face and let's not investigate further? I promise there won't be a next time." Mo Xiu Yao's face darkened. Han Ming Yue lowered himself and said: "Of course, ten percent of this years earning from Tian Yi Pavillion will be given to sister-in-law as a sort of comfort."
"Han Ming Yue, aren't you too anxious?" Mo Xiu Yao raised his hand and slightly touched his mask.
Han Ming Yue stagnated, chagrin flashed across his face. How did he forget that Mo Xiu Yao had a very good understanding of him? If he wasn't so nervous, it wouldn't be so easy for Mo Xiu Yao to determine the goals. "Xiu Yao, consider it as me begging you…"
"Leave." Seeing the begging face of Han Ming Yue, Mo Xiu Yao spat out the word.
In the face of such disrespect, Han Ming Yue's face showed a delight, "In three days, the compensation will be sent to sister-in-law!"
Mo Xiu Yao didn't answer. He signaled towards the back. "Hidden Cloud Soldiers, shoot the arrows!"
The man in black, face covered, who had stood in the back, without causing alarm, had at some point held up a bow. He started to release the arrows—
Han Ming Yue could only jump off the cliff, "Mo Xiu Yao, you're ruthless!"
Han Ming Yue's tragic voice disappeared. Ye Li stared intently at Mo Xiu Yao. It would seem that Han Ming Yue had concealed his strength earlier. Even if she was in her top condition, from this distance, it would not be safe.
Seemingly knowing her doubts, Mo Xiu Yao explained. "Han Ming Yue always have backup measures. He certainly already made arrangements down there. Falling won't kill him."
Ye Li frowned. When she said she'd throw him down earlier, it wouldn't have been a threat. Sure enough, it is easy to make a mistake if one did not clearly understand their opponent. Knowing yourself and knowing others, a hundred battles, and a hundred wins. The War Manuals teachings are not wrong.
"Let's head back," Mo Xiu Yao reached out and whispered.
"Alright."