Chapter 11 Leaving the Capital, Leaving Xiao Rong…

The atmosphere in the Elegant Gathering Hall was heavy and oppressive.

Si Chengyuan sat alone in one corner, his expression extremely grim.

His anger at being provoked by his eldest son had not yet subsided when his daughter happened to overhear the matter.

He couldn’t help but regret his earlier lack of composure, unable to restrain his fury midway and stopping to reprimand Si Ming right then and there.

Yet how could he have anticipated that during the height of the banquet, Si Jin would inexplicably leave her seat and come this way, just in time to overhear everything.

“Ah…” Si Chengyuan couldn’t stop sighing. A cup of tea steaming before him only intensified the restlessness in his heart.

“Elder Brother…” Si Jin parted her lips, “Is Elder Brother going to Xiqiu?”

Her soft voice carried a dazed quality that made even the usually calm and resolute Si Ming momentarily lose his composure.

He quickly responded, “Xiao Jin, I originally intended to find a suitable time to tell you about this. I apologize for you learning of it so unprepared.”

Upon hearing this, Si Chengyuan’s anger flared up again: “So you let your father learn about it unprepared instead?!”

Si Jin couldn’t help but glance at Si Chengyuan a few more times, her dazed state momentarily distracted by this.

Her father was truly furious, as if wanting to vent decades of pent-up frustration all at once.

But facing Si Chengyuan, Si Ming’s attitude returned to its previous stance: “Father, your son’s decision is final.”

“Enough!” Si Chengyuan slammed the table abruptly, as if about to erupt in anger again.

Yet the next moment, he suddenly deflated, his tense posture collapsing, the severity fading from his brows and eyes.

“This stubborn temper of yours, I don’t know who you inherited it from. You say your mother and I never understood what you wanted – I cannot deny it, and it’s true we only realized today that you’ve held such thoughts in your heart all along. But precisely because we didn’t know before, we always wanted to pave what we believed was the best path for you. Though now it seems none of that is of any use.”

When Si Ming explained this matter to his father, he had never intended to change his mind.

Yet hearing Si Chengyuan’s words now, he couldn’t help but be somewhat moved.

It seemed father and son were about to resolve their longstanding conflict through this argument.

Only Si Jin remained, her thoughts entangled in various reasons, the suddenly revealed truth overturning her previous understanding, leaving her unable to regain her composure for a long time.

Si Ming had voluntarily requested to go to Xiqiu, and his determination was firm. That so-called transfer document was not a threat to him, but rather exactly what he desired in his heart.

Si Jin’s heartbeat gradually accelerated, pounding against her chest, constantly making her realize one thing.

Xiao Rong’s threat to her no longer existed either.

“Xiao Jin, do you have anything you want to say to your elder brother?” Si Chengyuan’s voice temporarily interrupted Si Jin’s thoughts.

She blinked, almost instantly wanting to blurt out “Elder Brother, you should go quickly.”

But she stopped the words at her lips just in time.

Si Jin said, “I believe Elder Brother must have carefully considered this decision. If this is what Elder Brother truly wishes to do, then I naturally support him.”

“Ah…” Si Chengyuan sighed again.

Although he hadn’t expected Si Jin to help persuade Si Ming to stay.

With matters having reached this point, he had nothing more to say.

He only shook his head and remarked casually, “How am I supposed to explain this to the officials who wrote recommendation letters for you?”

Si Ming knew his father was merely speaking offhand, but he noticed Si Jin stiffen beside him.

He quickly explained, “My transfer was originally to Xiqiu. The officials wrote recommendation letters hoping I would stay. Since the outcome remains unchanged and the letters proved ineffective, as long as no one learns I requested to leave the capital myself, no blame can fall upon you, Father.”

Si Chengyuan snorted, “You have the nerve to say that. What angers me is precisely your voluntary request for transfer. Fortunately, being assigned to Xiqiu isn’t a promotion. I suppose even if this eventually becomes public knowledge, those officials won’t think much of it. Moreover, by that time, you’ll likely already be halfway there.”

Si Ming lowered his gaze and said earnestly, “It was willful of me.”

Si Jin seemed to have grasped the situation and wondered if this meant Xiao Rong wouldn’t learn about Si Ming’s transfer changes either. She pursed her lips and couldn’t resist asking, “When will you depart, Brother?”

“Early next month.”

Si Chengyuan frowned, “So soon?”

Si Ming replied, “Father, you’re aware of the recent court situation. This matter cannot be delayed. I must set out before the official documents are approved. With a month remaining, I’ll spend more time with you and Mother during this period.”

Si Jin’s heartbeat quickened again.

This meant that only after Si Ming departed the capital would others learn about the changes in his transfer.

As long as she waited until next month, after Si Ming left, Xiao Rong would be unable to alter the situation.

But then Si Jin wondered if Xiao Rong would find other ways to control her afterward.

A bold idea suddenly emerged in Si Jin’s heart.

What if she left with Si Ming?

For someone like Xiao Rong, she could think of no better way to break free than to put as much distance between them as possible.

Xiqiu was remote. No matter how much Xiao Rong schemed, he couldn’t extend his influence that far.

Si Jin’s pupils trembled as she unconsciously looked at Si Ming, meeting his gaze directly.

“What’s wrong? Does Little Jin not want her brother to leave?”

“I…” Si Jin opened her mouth, but catching sight of Si Chengyuan from the corner of her eye, she instantly calmed down. “Of course I’ll miss you.”

Si Chengyuan noticed nothing amiss and said, “You’re married now. It wouldn’t be proper for your brother to visit you at the Xiao residence. If you wish to see him, come home more often during this time. Chongyun is family—you can tell him the truth. He shouldn’t make things difficult for you.”

Who considers him family?

I’d never tell him!

Si Jin kept recalling how she’d been deceived by Xiao Rong for the past year. Even after exposing the truth, she remained trapped.

The more she thought about it, the more she felt she should seize this opportunity to leave with her brother.

To leave the capital, and to leave Xiao Rong.

Meanwhile, Si Ming laughed, “Father, you have ulterior motives. I’m just an excuse—you really want Little Jin to keep you company, don’t you?”

Si Chengyuan said, “You’re going to forge your own path, and Little Jin is married with her own family now. Your mother and I miss you both, but we never intended to hold you back. You’ve both grown up. When your mother and I get older, we’ll find a peaceful place far from the capital’s bustle too.”

Si Ming understood that with these words, Si Chengyuan had fully accepted his decision and actions.

He lowered his gaze solemnly and said, “Thank you, Father.”

The banquet was still ongoing, so the three didn’t linger long in the Elegant Gathering Hall.

After Si Chengyuan instructed them to return to the banquet soon, he took his leave and departed the courtyard first.

“Do you have something you wish to say to your elder brother, Xiao Jin?”

Si Ming had long noticed Si Jin’s hesitant demeanor. Earlier, perhaps due to their father’s presence, there were certain things she didn’t wish to voice before an elder.

Si Jin froze, nearly losing the words she’d been gathering in her throat.

She lifted her gaze to meet Si Ming’s gentle eyes.

If she told her elder brother the truth, would he understand? Would he help her?

Si Jin didn’t know.

Something she herself had struggled to believe at first—now having to confide in another—left her utterly tongue-tied.

She lowered her eyes again, remaining silent for a long moment before murmuring softly, “No, I just… can’t bear the thought of you going somewhere so far away.”

The whistle of wind, the murmur of water, the rustle of leaves—

None could drown out the restless pounding of her heart, still unsettled by emotional turmoil.

She walked briskly along the path back to the banquet, striving to restore her expression to normal.

It seemed she was still like that frightened child who would turn and run at the slightest scare.

She wanted to leave the capital with Si Ming. With her elder brother by her side, even a distant, unfamiliar place like Xiqiu held no fear for her.

But the current situation was far from those childhood days when she could simply flee to safety.

She could think of no other way to extricate herself completely from this marriage arrangement.

Yet if Xiao Rong were to find out, not only would she be unable to leave, but she would also implicate her brother.

For over a decade, Si Jin’s life had been simple and ordinary. Xiao Rong’s coercion had terrified her into near recklessness, almost dragging her family into the abyss with her.

She knew she wasn’t particularly clever, nor did she possess extraordinary courage.

She never imagined that a marriage she’d initially believed to be mere pretense would ultimately force her to flee for a resolution.

Could she truly escape?

Was there any chance for her to slip away from the capital unnoticed by Xiao Rong?

Suddenly, a shadow loomed before her, tall as a stone wall blocking her path.

Si Jin snapped back to reality, but her feet couldn’t halt in time—she collided headlong into it.

“Oof!”

Stars burst before her eyes, followed by a chilling touch on her forehead that made her jolt and look up sharply.

“You—you—you!” She stumbled backward several steps until Xiao Rong’s face came into focus.

The very person she’d been guarding against in her thoughts—the one who must never learn her secret—had suddenly materialized before her. Si Jin’s face paled with fright.

“Did it hurt?”

Si Jin frowned instinctively, maintaining the distance she’d put between them.

The impact had left a throbbing ache on her forehead, but she had no intention of answering him.

Xiao Rong waited quietly for a moment. When no response came, he extended his still-outstretched fingers toward her forehead again, his thumb brushing lightly over the reddened spot.

Si Jin shuddered, reflexively flinching away.

But Xiao Rong had already withdrawn his hand. “Do you truly intend never to speak to me again?”

Her lips trembled slightly before she finally muttered, “I’m fine.”

Seeing her respond, Xiao Rong’s expression eased somewhat. Yet his gaze lingered where he’d just touched her, and his fingers hidden in his sleeves twitched with restless energy.

He still wanted to touch her.

To stroke her flushed skin, to watch her tense yet unable to retreat.

But he didn’t raise his hand again. After letting his eyes trace the spot for a brief moment, he asked instead, “Where were you just now?”

Si Jin’s heart thumped guiltily twice, then she forcibly suppressed it.

She wanted to remain silent, but Xiao Rong pressed further: “Did you go somewhere you couldn’t let me know about?”

Si Jin’s heart jumped again. She moved her lips, and only after a long moment did she manage to steady her voice: “I just… went to the west courtyard for some air. When I grew bored, I returned to the banquet.”

Xiao Rong didn’t seem suspicious. His eyes held no particular emotion as he looked at her, speaking in a low, measured tone: “Don’t let me lose sight of you.”

Si Jin stiffened, a chilling cold creeping up her spine.

Trembling, she glanced up and met his gaze directly.

His stare felt tangible, wrapping around her, making it hard to breathe. She could only reply weakly: “I understand…”

The oppressive intensity around Xiao Rong faded, and he returned to his gentle demeanor, as if his mood had lifted instantly.

“Then let’s go. Do you want to return to the banquet, or would you rather go somewhere else for a while? I’ll accompany you.”