Chapter 57: Hasn't It Been Long Ago?

When the tension had finally dissipated, Si Nuosang found herself looking at Xuan Yuan Juesi with a trace of embarrassment.

“Let him go,” she said.

“Alright,” he replied immediately, his prompt agreement widening Si Nuosang’s eyes in surprise. If she had known a kiss would suffice, she would have done it sooner! Why hadn’t anyone said so?

Of course, she dared not voice these thoughts, afraid he might renege on his promise. All in all, she had succeeded.

“Thank you,” she said, because she had to say it, no matter what. After all, he had agreed to let him go. Xuan Yuan Juesi simply stared at her, as if savoring some rare sight. His gaze made her wish she could escape, but there was nowhere to run.

“Of course, there are conditions,” he added.

“Conditions?” She nearly lost her temper again but restrained herself, holding her tongue. She knew her temper was often the spark behind many disasters. Now was not the time.

“Naturally there are conditions, but rest assured, they’re not complicated.”

“So, what are they?” she asked, eyeing him warily, unsure what scheme he was plotting.

“Stay with me for one month.”

“What?” Si Nuosang quickly retreated several steps. This condition struck her as rather absurd.

“Why? I don’t understand.” Either one spent a lifetime together or not at all—what was the point of a single month? Did this mean he didn’t truly care for her, yet couldn’t bear to let her go?

“Will you agree?” he asked, ignoring her question and pressing for an answer.

“I agree,” she replied, just as straightforwardly. There was, after all, no other choice.

Besides, she found herself longing for that kiss—it had left her with a pleasant feeling. As a modern woman, she naturally had her own desires. She wasn’t the type to change lovers as easily as changing clothes, but she was a modern woman nonetheless, and she liked being with someone she was drawn to. One month, then—so be it. Xuan Yuan Juesi was even more open-minded than she was.

“Very well! Someone come!”

At his shout toward the door, Yuan Qianlü entered immediately.

“Your Highness.”

“Release Ye Xuan—throw him outside the city,” he commanded curtly, not bothering with courtesy.

Si Nuosang could only offer silent apologies to Ye Xuan in her heart. At this moment, she absolutely could not plead on his behalf; with Xuan Yuan Juesi’s temperament, Ye Xuan would only suffer worse.

Now she finally understood how frightening a man’s jealousy could be.

Xuan Yuan Juesi’s uncharacteristic behavior was all due to jealousy. How could she have been so slow to realize it?

How had Si Nuosang become so dense? It must be Xuan Yuan Juesi’s influence. She looked up at him, feigning a fearful expression—afraid she was becoming as antiquated as he was.

Calm down, she told herself. She was a modern woman, after all!

“What are you thinking? Your expression is far too animated,” he remarked, pointing at her face, as though each shift was a battlefield of emotion.

“I’m thinking about how to thank you.”

“Your gratitude is quite amusing,” he replied, studying her.

“I really am grateful to you. Can’t you feel it?” She pressed her hand to her heart.

“I don’t feel it, but I can sense it now.”

With that, he reached out and placed his hand on her chest.

“What are you doing!” She leapt back a full meter, startled.

“I’m just feeling it,” he said.

“You—you—don’t take liberties!”

“Well, liberties have already been taken,” he replied.

Xuan Yuan Juesi seemed somehow changed. Both of them had shifted, no longer confronting each other with the aggressive posture of before.

Perhaps both understood now that their old ways of interacting would only lead to trouble.

They adjusted quickly. Perhaps it was only for the sake of this one month—but if they could part after a month, that would be odd indeed.

But neither of them was in the habit of worrying about the future.

Meanwhile, Ye Xuan had been thrown out of the city, and contacting Si Nuosang had become extremely difficult.

“Si Nuosang, you really made a deal with him?” Ye Xuan gazed at the cool city walls—astonished that she would compromise for his sake.

Ye Xuan was deeply moved—truly moved. He found himself falling for this woman. Yet every time he tried to get closer, Qin Li would appear at his side.

“Poor soul, cast out from their world again,” Qin Li commented, materializing behind him like a ghost.

“Must you always appear behind me like that? You look like a ghost, dressed all in white. Are you in mourning for someone? Year after year, always in white.”

Ye Xuan vaguely recalled hearing once that she wore white to mourn someone.

“That’s my own affair. You’ve no right to ask,” she replied.

“Fine, forget I asked.”

Ye Xuan had no interest in her private life—his attention was all for Si Nuosang, the only woman who intrigued him.

He brushed the dirt from his clothes—he was in a sorry state indeed.

Qin Li handed him a bowl of water.

“Thank you,” he said—he sorely needed it after those days locked away.

“It’s poisoned,” Qin Li said, deliberately trying to frighten him.

“Is that so? Well, I’ll drink it anyway.” He downed it all in one gulp.

“So, what will you do next?” she ventured.

“I don’t know. I can’t get close to them now,” Ye Xuan admitted. Xuan Yuan Juesi was watching him like a hawk.

He couldn’t get near, and the place was crawling with guards. Especially that Yuan Qianlü—he was probably keeping an eye on him even now.

“Useless man,” Qin Li sneered.

“If I’m useless, why don’t you go yourself? It’s your business to begin with. Hmph, calling me useless—you’re no better.”

She had no right to criticize him.

“Yes, it is my affair. Looks like I’ll have to act on my own,” Qin Li replied, meeting his gaze, as if steeling herself for something.

“What are you planning, Qin Li? You don’t have the ability anymore. He’s already suspicious of you. You have no chance of success,” Ye Xuan warned her seriously.

“That’s no concern of yours. I won’t rely on anyone again. I don’t want to die, but I don’t have your connections. To survive, I have to try everything,” she said.

“Fine, I can’t stop you.”

“No, you can’t stop the master,” she replied, and at the mention of that word, fear flickered in her eyes.

If she could escape, she’d rather die than remain under his thumb.

But she wasn’t just living for herself—she had her brother to think of.

So she could only press on.

Watching her, Ye Xuan felt Qin Li seemed more fragile than ever—so fragile she might break at a touch.

“I know about your brother.”

“There’s no need for you to say more. I remember,” she replied.

Qin Li pulled her veil back over her face and turned toward the crowd, intent on slipping in among them.

Ye Xuan could do nothing more. He was certain Qin Li would not succeed, but she had listened to his words, so he let it be.