Chapter 41

“I was wondering if you might be deceiving me…”

Si Jin felt she might have teased him too far.

Or perhaps he was simply too ravenous.

This wasn’t their first intimate encounter, but it had never been like this before.

Her entire body felt drained of strength, her throat dry and scratchy. Even after Xiao Rong held her and fed her sips of water, soothing her throat with his touch, she still felt as if she might lose her voice.

Though her body had been cleaned, she couldn’t shake the sensation of stickiness deep within her abdomen – an illusion she couldn’t ignore.

Xiao Rong’s other hand moved from her waist to her lower abdomen, pressing gently. “I helped clean everything out earlier. I checked – there’s nothing left inside.”

Si Jin’s mind buzzed, and she immediately covered Xiao Rong’s mouth.

After catching her breath for a moment, she whispered hoarsely, “Don’t say another word. I don’t want to hear you speak right now.”

Her throat was soothingly stroked again as Xiao Rong obediently fell silent.

Deep into the night, the candles in the room had been extinguished, and the freshly changed bedding had already warmed from their body heat.

Though physically exhausted, her mind remained alert.

Unable to sleep, Si Jin rested against Xiao Rong’s gently rising and falling chest, staring blankly into the darkness.

Suddenly, a hand reached in front of her.

A finger twirled around a strand of her hair, winding it tight then loosening, repeating the motion.

This wasn’t the first time Si Jin had noticed Xiao Rong’s fondness for playing with her hair.

Though he seemed to wind it tightly, his movements were gentle, never causing her pain. Often she didn’t even notice when her hair had fallen into his grasp.

Si Jin lifted her head from Xiao Rong’s chest. “Can’t you sleep either?”

“I was wondering if you might be deceiving me.”

At these words, Si Jin immediately frowned.

She had shared her bed with him, given herself to him, and their earlier passion had been so intense it felt as if their very souls had intertwined.

How could he still be thinking this?

Before Si Jin could tense up and pull away,

Xiao Rong suddenly tightened his arms, holding her close. “Don’t be angry, Xiao Jin.”

How could she not be angry!

She had been the one to speak first, the one to take the initiative to approach him.

Now, with her hands resting on his shoulders, he still doubted whether the embrace she offered was genuine.

Growing angrier by the moment, Si Jin withdrew her hand and instinctively raised it, as if about to slap him in fury.

Her palm hovered mid-air before she forcibly stopped herself.

She had the distinct feeling that if she swung, he would simply turn his face toward her hand.

Sure enough, the next moment, Xiao Rong caught her wrist, tilted his head, and pressed his cheek against her palm, nuzzling gently.

“I need to be away for a few days. Will you still be here when I return home?”

Si Jin paused. “Where are you going?”

“Nowhere far, just within the capital.”

The darkness enveloped Xiao Rong’s deep, magnetic voice in ambiguity, making his tone unreadable and his emotions inscrutable.

His calm, measured delivery gave Si Jin a faint sense of foreboding.

“What are you planning to do?”

Silence fell over the bed for a moment.

Si Jin lifted her head, trying to make out Xiao Rong’s face in the darkness.

He suddenly lowered his head and kissed her. “I want to go to Xiqiu with you soon, but I’m afraid you’ll abandon me.”

What kind of talk was this?

She had been the one fleeing in fear and panic before – how had he become the pitiful one being abandoned?

Si Jin reached out and poked his forehead, pushing away his attempt to lean in and kiss her again.

“So what exactly are you going to do?”

Xiao Rong grabbed her hand, abandoning his pursuit of her lips, and instead brought her fingers to his mouth, kissing them meticulously.

He closed his eyes, concealing the fierce ruthlessness in his gaze, leaving only the tender warmth of his kisses.

“To resolve that matter once and for all.”

Three days later, at night.

Si Manor had been bustling for days in preparation for Master Si’s birthday celebration. With the banquet approaching, the entire mansion was tense and focused, with even the night guards at the entrance doubled in number, determined to ensure the event proceeded flawlessly without a single mishap.

Amid the tranquil peace of the evening, the abrupt sound of hoofbeats suddenly pierced the silence.

The rapid, reckless pounding grew louder as it approached, giving the distant impression of someone arriving with a vendetta.

The guard captain passing by the entrance frowned slightly and muttered under his breath, “What’s going on over there? You two, go check…”

Before he could finish, a swift dark figure emerged from the shadows, galloping closer.

“Is that… Lord Xiao?”

“But why would Lord Xiao…”

For a moment, the guards at Si Manor’s entrance were both startled and confused.

Not only was it already late at night, past bedtime, but Xiao Rong’s arrival was also unusually aggressive.

His reckless, charging demeanor hardly seemed like a social visit.

Yet, this was Xiao Rong after all.

A high-ranking official in the court and the son-in-law of the Si family.

Although everyone present sensed something amiss, no one dared to step forward and stop him.

In mere moments, Xiao Rong had ridden up to the entrance.

He sharply pulled back on the reins, bending his arm with force, and dismounted in one fluid motion.

The servants at Si Manor’s entrance strained to offer ingratiating smiles, bowing their heads and lining up on both sides to welcome him.

“Greetings, Lord Xiao.”

Xiao Rong swept a cold gaze over them, offering no additional words, and strode directly into Si Manor.

The atmosphere was undeniably strange, and some had already sensed that something was wrong, hesitating as if to speak.

But before anyone could utter a word, Xiao Rong had entered the manor, moving without pause, heading straight in one determined direction.

Along the nighttime paths of Si Manor, a few servants occasionally passed by.

Everyone recognized Xiao Rong’s status and bowed in deference upon seeing him.

Some tried to inquire about his purpose for visiting at such an hour, but one look into his dark, intense eyes silenced them instantly, leaving them too afraid to approach any closer.

In the western residence of Si Manor.

Si Yue stood with his hands behind his back before the window, his brow furrowed and expression grave.

“What are you all good for? You can’t even handle such a simple task.”

“Please forgive us, my lord. We were nearly successful, but Lord Xiao suddenly showed up. We didn’t dare linger, fearing our identities would be exposed, so we had to retreat immediately.”

“Useless fools!”

Si Yue turned around. “You can’t even manage one woman. Don’t blame Xiao Rong’s interference—you failed to keep her secured from the start. Otherwise, how could she have escaped from the carriage?”

The man kneeling on the floor trembled, not daring to make a sound.

After a moment, Si Yue rubbed his temples in frustration. “Forget it. There’s no use discussing this now. Grandfather’s birthday is approaching—that might present a good opportunity.”

The man on the floor trembled again. In truth, what he feared most was not Si Yue’s anger.

It was Xiao Rong.

“Sir… should we still proceed? Lord Xiao must already be on alert. If we act again during Master Si’s birthday banquet, what if Lord Xiao traces it back to you…”

Before the man could finish, Si Yue cut him off with a cold laugh. “Look at your pathetic cowardice. Once we capture Si Jin, what can Xiao Rong possibly do even with all his capabilities? He’s the one who should be afraid. He won’t, and he dares not. He brought this upon himself.”

“But… but I’ve heard Lord Xiao is notoriously ruthless and decisive. What if he abandons Madam Xiao and still comes for us…”

Another derisive snort from Si Yue. “He would never abandon Si Jin. To keep her by his side, he’s committed countless mad acts – how laughably foolish. Though Si Jin is technically my sister, when she falls into my hands, I ought to fulfill my fraternal duty by revealing all the truths to her.”

The man kneeling on the ground felt his temples throbbing violently.

He didn’t dare speak his mind, but couldn’t suppress the thought: perhaps the truly mad one wasn’t Xiao Rong, but Si Yue who was being driven to desperation.

Recently, Xiao Rong had gathered overwhelming evidence of Si Yue’s activities over the years.

Si Ming’s departure to Xiqiu, Si Chengyuan taking his wife far from the capital – whether these were Si Ming’s doing or Xiao Rong’s, they clearly indicated preparations had long been underway.

While Xiao Rong remained quiet for now, Si Yue was already losing his composure.

Would capturing Si Jin truly restrain Xiao Rong?

Si Yue glanced down contemptuously. “I know your concerns. Just follow my orders. Second Master Xiao remains alive and well – he’ll be the first target when Xiao Rong seeks vengeance. Did you think I wasted all that time and effort on that fool for nothing? By the time Xiao Rong deals with him, I’ll have achieved my goals. He’ll have no opportunities left.”

“Now get out. Don’t trouble me further with this.”

A soft click echoed as the door closed behind Si Yue, the man having withdrawn.

Silence filled the room. Si Yue lifted his gaze to the night sky outside his window.

Suddenly, as if struck by inspiration, a sinister smile crept across his lips.

The smile widened, pleasure glinting even at the corners of his eyes.

Abruptly, sounds erupted at his door again after the brief tranquility.

The disturbance wiped the smile from Si Yue’s face, his brows furrowing instantly.

“Didn’t I say not to disturb me!”

No response came, only the sound of the door being pushed open from outside.

Si Yue turned angrily. In the flickering candlelight, a tall black shadow swept past his vision. An icy wind poured through the doorway, carrying with it a sharp, murderous aura that engulfed him completely.

Si Yue’s eyes widened in shock. In mere moments, the shadow closed in before him.

He opened his mouth to cry out, but a pungent cloth clamped over his nose and mouth.

“Mmph! Xiao… Xiao…!”

How was he here? What did he want? What was he doing?

Torrential thoughts flooded through every fiber of Si Yue’s being.

The inhaled substance rendered him powerless within moments.

Every hair on his body stood erect as he stared in disbelief at Xiao Rong.

Who could have predicted this? Who would have imagined?

How dare he! This is Si Manor!

Xiao Rong’s expression turned cold and severe as he grabbed Si Yue by the hair. The pain seemed to jolt Si Yue back to his senses slightly.

In the next instant, Xiao Rong exerted force with his arm and flung him, sending him crashing against the bed.

A dull thud echoed from the impact on his head. As his vision blurred, Xiao Rong’s ferocious face swiftly reappeared before him.

The cotton cloth pressed down with immense force, as if trying to suffocate him alive.

His body, unable to struggle, convulsed uncontrollably.

Xiao Rong suddenly laughed.

His figure blocked the candlelight from the table in the room, casting most of his face in shadow.

Sinister and obscure.

Like a vengeful ghost coming to claim a life.

Si Yue’s eyes rolled back, his chest heaving violently.

The more he struggled, the more of the drugged air he inhaled.

His consciousness grew increasingly hazy, his body now completely limp.

A flash of white light suddenly crossed Si Yue’s vision. Instinctively, he tried to raise his hand to shield his neck.

But before he could muster any strength to lift his arm, Xiao Rong, with a cold smile, stabbed toward his abdomen.

Xiao Rong released the cotton cloth, gripped Si Yue’s neck, and plunged the blade repeatedly into his flesh.

Boldly, without a single word, without any hesitation.

Blood splattered everywhere, staining Xiao Rong’s face. It dripped from his sharp jawline, smearing across his brows and eyes, making his gaze appear blood-red.

It took another three days for Si Jin to learn of Xiao Rong’s whereabouts.

On the main road leading to the Ministry of Justice, a carriage sped toward the end of the street.

After alighting from the carriage, Si Jin pressed her lips together and followed the guiding guard in silence.

Xiao Rong had been imprisoned.

When she first heard the news, Si Jin thought she had misheard.

How was this possible…

Just moments ago, he had been nuzzling against her neck, murmuring sweetly about going with her to Xiqiu. How could he have ended up in prison so suddenly?

Xiao Rong’s charge was the assassination of a high-ranking court official.

Throughout the journey, whenever Si Jin recalled how Xiao Rong had kissed her that night while promising to resolve the matter completely—how safe he had made her feel—her entire body went numb.

Was this what he called “resolving it completely”?!

Furious and anxious, Si Jin’s heart tightened, her vision blurring at the edges.

It was only when the guiding guard stopped and said, “Madam Xiao, Lord Xiao is inside,” that she noticed this was not the Ministry of Justice’s prison but a row of rooms tucked deep within the ministry compound.

The place was secluded, heavily guarded even before entering the courtyard.

From the outside, it looked like ordinary residences, but in reality, it was where court officials awaiting trial were held.

Si Jin’s chest tightened. Suppressing her breath, she nodded slightly to the guard. “Alright, I understand.”

The guard said nothing more, bowed, and strode out of the courtyard.

Si Jin stared at the aged wooden door of the room, took a deep breath, and stepped forward to push it open.

A musty, damp smell assaulted her senses.

There was a rustling sound inside.

Lifting her gaze, Si Jin met Xiao Rong’s stunned eyes.

He did not look as disheveled as a typical prisoner, but the room was enclosed and dim. Dressed in simple gray robes, his hair tied neatly, his face was pale and haggard.

Xiao Rong frowned and strode forward. “Why are you here?”

Before he could take her hand, Si Jin took a sharp step back—not out of defense, but a clear avoidance. “Shouldn’t you be the one telling me why you are here!”

Xiao Rong froze, standing momentarily dazed, before quickly realizing something.

He was always like this—perfectly capable of discerning what actions were acceptable and what crossed the line, yet he would still act solely on his own whims, charging ahead without regard for consequences.

Then came the concealment, the deception, and finally brushing the matter aside as if it were nothing.

Si Jin glared at him furiously. The relationship between them, which had only just begun to thaw over the past few days, seemed on the verge of freezing over once again.

Xiao Rong explained, “Xiao Jin, I haven’t been imprisoned. I’m merely here awaiting trial. In just a few days, I’ll be able to return.”

“Do you truly believe that makes this course of action justified?”

“The Si family’s affairs involve many complexities. Investigating this matter has already taken considerable time. Although His Highness has gathered substantial evidence, we must still proceed with caution, step by step. The slightest misstep could allow Si Yue to evade responsibility. The more Si Yue is investigated, the more defensive maneuvers he employs. His Highness is waiting for the moment when Si Yue slips up. But I… I cannot gamble with your safety.”

It was rare for Xiao Rong to speak at such length in one breath.

It was as if he had laid out every reason he could possibly explain.

Yet, after hearing him out, Si Jin’s expression only darkened further. Her lips pressed into a tight line, she remained silent.

Beneath his sleeves, Xiao Rong’s fingers curled slightly.

He instinctively wanted to step closer—she felt too far away.

But the moment he made a move to advance, Si Jin took another step back.

Xiao Rong’s Adam’s apple bobbed with difficulty.

“Si Yue isn’t dead.”

At these words, Si Jin finally showed a flicker of reaction. Her gaze lowered slightly, but she still did not respond.

She already knew Si Yue wasn’t dead. She had heard the full story of what had happened.

Taking advantage of his familiarity with the household staff, Xiao Rong had entered Si Manor under cover of night.

He had subdued Si Yue and, as if venting his rage, stabbed him multiple times. Each strike deliberately avoided vital areas, yet Si Yue had lost so much blood that he fell unconscious and had yet to wake up.

When the Si family discovered Si Yue, the entire manor descended into chaos.

No one could have imagined that, in a manor that seemed perfectly peaceful, as if nothing had happened, the eldest young master would be found in his own room, bleeding profusely.

At first, no one dared to suspect Xiao Rong.

It seemed almost impossible.

Who would dare to brazenly break into a manor and inflict such harm on a high-ranking court official?

Yet, aside from Xiao Rong, there was no one else who could have accomplished such a feat.

The next day, Xiao Rong was taken away by officers from the Ministry of Justice and had been held here for three days now.

“I used myself as a pawn to draw him into the Ministry of Justice’s investigation. All the crimes he has committed will be thoroughly uncovered while he lies unconscious, unable to mount any defense. Once this is over, whether he recovers or remains crippled, the evidence against him will be irrefutable, and he will be sentenced to prison.”

Xiao Rong spoke with logic and clarity, as if he had rehearsed the explanation in his mind.

But the moment he finished speaking, Si Jin could no longer restrain herself. Frowning, she raised her voice sharply, “Using yourself as a pawn? Don’t pretend! You did this to retaliate against him for kidnapping me before!”

Xiao Rong froze for a moment, his gaze deepening as he watched Si Jin.

Her eyes began to redden, tears shimmering within them, reflecting in his own gaze and making his heart tremble.

“Do you think this would make me happy? Soiling your hands for the sake of someone like him, making such a monumental decision without telling me a single word—do you know how I felt when I heard from others that you had been imprisoned? How was I to know whether you would return in a few days or spend the rest of your life in a prison cell, or even…”

Si Jin’s words trailed off, not like a sob but more like she was too enraged to speak.

She didn’t understand court affairs, nor did she have any inkling of what Xiao Rong was about to do.

In her confusion, she even thought he might be executed.

Now, seeing him appear before her in this state, she found herself ridiculous and grew even more furious.

Xiao Rong’s lips parted slightly, but for a moment, no words came out.

He was still staring intently at her, but the intensity in his eyes had noticeably diminished.

His pale face at this moment made him look like a scolded dog at a loss—wanting to wag its tail but feeling such attempts at appeasement were too clumsy, yet staying still made him restless, unsure how to make amends.

After a long while, he finally spoke: “You wanted to go to Xiqiu last time, but were ambushed by his men along the way. If we stick to the original plan, who knows how long it will take to truly deal with him. What if you grow impatient and try to leave again, drawing his attention—”

“Nonsense!” Si Jin cut him off angrily. “You still believe I would run away! Did I not ask you to accompany me? Did I not say I would wait for you? You refuse to share your true thoughts with me, and you don’t trust me!”

“It’s not that I don’t want to—I don’t dare.” Xiao Rong had lowered his gaze at some point, no longer looking at her.

As if this admission of fear also meant he didn’t dare meet her eyes, now blazing with anger.

But suddenly, he looked up again, his gaze darker than before, so deep it seemed to devour her sight, swallowing her whole as if made tangible.

If he truly advanced, no matter how far Si Jin retreated, it would be useless—she couldn’t escape an inch.

He would always follow her, always cling to her. It was never Si Jin who couldn’t leave him, but him who couldn’t leave Si Jin.

Yet how could he not know that his actions were shady deeds unfit for the light?

He knew others couldn’t accept it, and neither could Si Jin.

But no matter the method, he wouldn’t let Si Jin part from him.

Xiao Rong had already stepped close to her, not reaching out to touch her, his nails digging into his palms beneath his sleeves, sharp and painful.

“It’s not unwillingness—it’s fear.”

“Fear of wondering what’s real or false, what’s lasting or fleeting. I’m drowning in it, losing the ability to think.”

“I love you deeply, but I am just this kind of flawed person.”

His perpetually dark and insecure heart had never considered that he could truly obtain what he wanted without seizing or forcing it.

Si Jin’s brow twitched heavily.

Her expression was complex, as if stunned by Xiao Rong’s words, or perhaps too enraged to speak.

Or maybe it was disappointment.

She had been so forgiving, ready to pardon all his past actions, and brave enough to take a big step forward between them.

She had come to someone like him, yet he couldn’t do anything to make her feel secure and happy.

Xiao Rong felt he was like his mother, yet not.

He loved her and didn’t want to torment her.

But unable to let her go, he entangled her.

Seeing her look so disappointed, he suddenly thought he might as well be locked in prison—then he couldn’t cling to her, couldn’t follow her, confined to a dark, narrow cell where he couldn’t even share the same sliver of moon with her, and she could truly go anywhere she wanted, far from him.

But the moment this thought surfaced, his blood boiled in rejection of such a possibility.

He wouldn’t let her drift away from him; they would not part.

Until death, he would always be with her.

Si Jin suddenly took a deep breath and raised her hand to slap him.

A crisp slap rang out, exceptionally loud, instantly shattering the stagnant atmosphere in the shabby room.

Unlike their usual flirtatious exchanges on the bed, nor was it an accidental brush of her hand against him.

It was a genuine, heavy slap across his face.

Xiao Rong’s ears buzzed, and he seemed completely stunned by the blow.

He stared blankly at Si Jin, the darkness in his eyes gradually clearing as the twisted vines that had been wildly growing in his heart seemed to have their lifelines choked, scurrying away to vanish without a trace in the shadowy corners.

“Put away those wild thoughts of yours! You are truly the most detestable, foolish, and stubborn person in the world!”

Si Jin’s anger only intensified, burning fiercer and fiercer, yet her mind still managed to recall how she had initially imagined her disputes with Xiao Rong—never picturing herself pointing an accusing finger at him and berating him until he couldn’t lift his head.

Unexpectedly, not only had she scolded him, but even slapping him hadn’t quelled her rage.

Her palm tingled, gradually warming with a fiery heat.

She slowly lowered her hand, catching sight of the distinct red marks on Xiao Rong’s handsome yet pale face. A fleeting sense of guilt washed over her, and she averted her eyes uncomfortably.

Before her hand had fully descended,

Xiao Rong suddenly caught it.

The back of her hand fell into his grasp; his fingers were cool, pressing against her heated palm and stirring an unusual sensation.

“Does it hurt?”

Si Jin: “…”

Si Jin felt that no matter whether she answered yes or no, Xiao Rong would bring her palm to his lips in the next moment—whether to kiss or lick, she couldn’t tell.

She immediately withdrew her hand and glared at him again.

Xiao Rong’s empty fingers curled helplessly.

But clearly, the slap had sobered him up; he didn’t dare make any further moves to upset her.

He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

“You haven’t done anything yet—don’t say I won’t forgive you. Apologizing isn’t done like that.”

Xiao Rong froze, then opened his mouth again.

“Just stay here quietly and don’t do anything strange. I don’t even know my way around—where could I possibly go?”

Xiao Rong paused briefly before opening his mouth once more.

“I’m angry and disappointed. You should be thinking of ways to comfort me, not dwelling on those dark, boundless thoughts of yours. Didn’t we agree to be a real married couple?”

As soon as the words fell, the man who had been unable to speak finally moved.

In a blur before Si Jin’s eyes, Xiao Rong reached out and pulled her into an embrace.

“Xiao Jin, I love you so…”

When he was normal, he spoke sweet words; when he wasn’t, he spoke madness.

Right now, Si Jin didn’t want to hear a single word.

She pushed him away forcefully, cutting off his unfinished words with a muffled grunt.

Si Jin glanced at the wrinkled fabric on Xiao Rong’s chest where she had pushed him.

She quickly averted her gaze and turned to leave.

Xiao Rong’s pupils constricted: “Where are you going?”

“Where else? I haven’t done anything wrong—I’m going home!”