Chapter 15

Su Jinyuan was startled and rushed forward to check his breathing, but her hand was suddenly grabbed as she approached.

The iron chain clanged loudly as it collided, and Su Jinyuan was pulled onto him. Another hand grabbed the chain and wrapped it tightly around her neck!

Xie Yunyan’s eyes suddenly opened, filled with coldness and indifference. His long, phoenix-like eyes were blood-red. The chain tightened around her neck, and Su Jinyuan’s breathing was cut off.

“Xie Yunyan…”

“It’s… me…”

The blood-red color in Xie Yunyan’s eyes gradually faded, and when he saw who was before him, he released his grip.

The chain around her neck loosened, and as fresh air rushed in, Su Jinyuan coughed lightly while lying on him, gasping for breath.

Xie Yunyan, feeling somewhat guilty, reached out to soothe her back. “I thought it was those people. Are you okay?”

“I… I’m fine…” Su Jinyuan’s voice was hoarse as she spoke.

Xie Yunyan helped her catch her breath. “Why are you here?”

Su Jinyuan calmed down, relieved to see that he was still alive. When she had entered earlier, she had thought Xie Yunyan was dead.

“I came to check on you and tell you about the situation outside.” As she spoke, she realized their posture was inappropriate. She hurriedly got off Xie Yunyan, but as she propped herself up, she heard him suddenly groan. His already pale face turned even paler.

Su Jinyuan felt blood on her hand and panicked. “…Did they torture you?”

Xie Yunyan responded indifferently, “It’s nothing serious, just a minor injury.”

He casually pulled his collar to cover the bloodstains and sat up by the bed, though his trembling arms betrayed the pain. Still, he managed a smile and asked, “How is the Xiao family? Are the old madam and others okay?”

Su Jinyuan replied, “The old madam is fine, and the people in the household are also unharmed. Although His Majesty issued an order to capture you, he did not harm the Xiao family women.”

“That’s good.” Xie Yunyan’s expression relaxed slightly.

“The old madam dismissed some servants with ulterior motives. The second young madam followed the Qi family back home, while the third and fourth young madam stayed in the household to accompany the old madam. The eldest and second madam are also doing well.”

When Xie Yunyan heard that Qi Lanzhi had returned to the Qi family, a trace of gloom flashed across his face.

Su Jinyuan said softly, “It was the old madam who gave the second young madam a letter of divorce.”

Xie Yunyan responded with a simple “Hmm.”

Su Jinyuan continued, “The old madam has already arranged for someone to go to Linchuan to escort the spirit, and she will also find a way to investigate the cause of the death of the general and his men.”

“Although chaos is rampant in the capital right now, just by the emperor’s attitude toward the women of the Xiao family, it’s clear that—at least for the time being—the court lacks any conclusive evidence to prove that the general and the eldest young master committed treason.”

“You…” She paused for a moment before continuing, “You once fought alongside the general and the eldest young master, and you have been in and out of the military. I have already discussed with the old madam and the others about destroying all the official documents from the general’s mansion as well as all personal items bearing the handwriting of the general and his men.”

“I was afraid that if those people purposely tried to frame the Xiao family and couldn’t find any other evidence, they would turn their attention to you.”

Xie Yunyan understood her meaning. Seeing that she had methodically settled all the household matters before coming over, his mood lightened somewhat. “Do you think I can’t withstand severe punishment?”

“No.” Su Jinyuan shook her head and said seriously, “I have never doubted your loyalty to the Xiao family, nor do I think you can’t bear a harsh penalty.”

“Although you, Master Sixth Xie, are not of the Xiao family, your grace is by no means inferior in the slightest to that of the eldest young master and his cohorts. I merely feel that burdening you alone with the fate of the Xiao family—forcing you to shoulder the bloody consequences in prison by yourself—is unfair to you.”

If it were up to her, Xie Yunyan wouldn’t have to endure such torment.

Xie Yunyan was momentarily stunned. Looking at the earnest expression on Su Jinyuan’s face with his sharp, phoenix-like eyes, he couldn’t help but break into a smile. “In this world, nothing is ever fair. I was blessed by the Xiao family—they raised me. So it only makes sense that I shoulder the Xiao family’s burdens.”

In the past, when his elder brother and the others were still around, he could live recklessly without interfering in any affairs. But now that his elder brother and his companions are gone, the Xiao family is his family—and every life within it is his responsibility.

Yet she, Su Jinyuan…

“Sis-in-law, you really could leave—just like Qi Lanzhi did.”

It was the first (and only) time Xie Yunyan addressed her as “sis-in-law.”

Su Jinyuan’s heart trembled as she looked at the bloodied young man before her. “If I leave, what would you do? What about the Xiao family? Even if you managed to escape being dragged into the Xiao family’s troubles, I would never be at peace for the rest of my life.”

Frowning and holding back tears, she added, “I may not be a good person, but I know what it means to keep one’s word. Since I promised to protect the people of the Xiao family—and since you call me ‘sis-in-law’—I will certainly get you out. This is what I owe your elder brother and the entire Xiao family.”

Xie Yunyan stared at her intently. There were still bruises on her face from the days spent in the mountains, though now that her face had been cleaned, she no longer looked as disheveled as before.

She was actually very beautiful—her skin fair, her eyes large, and her lightly pursed rosy lips exuding a stubborn determination. She reminded one of the little kitten that her older brother once kept, though without the kitten’s cute, coy charm and with a touch more resoluteness.

Xie Yunyan was just about to speak when he faintly heard voices coming from outside. His expression suddenly darkened as he said in a deep tone, “They’re coming!”

Su Jinyuan’s eyes grew grim, and she turned to leave.

“There’s no time to get out!”

Hearing the approaching footsteps and gradually louder voices, Xie Yunyan quickly grabbed Su Jinyuan and shoved her under the wooden plank bed he had been lying on earlier. Underneath, the space was dark and filled with a heap of weeds—barely large enough for Su Jinyuan to huddle inside.

“Hide!”

After confirming that she had squeezed into the spot, Xie Yunyan lifted his foot and shifted the nearby pile of withered grass a bit further over, then erased the footprints left behind. No sooner had he reclined back onto the wooden plank and closed his eyes for a moment than the prison door was flung open with a loud “bang.”

“It’s over!” Yang Hong, who followed in, had his legs trembling. He felt that his official career was probably over and silently fumed curses at the Xiao family inside his heart. Yet when he entered the cell, he was stunned.

“Where is she?”

Inside, there was only Xie Yunyan; the person who had come in earlier was nowhere to be seen.

Yang Hong quickly glanced around. When his eyes paused on the only possible hiding place, he felt as if life suddenly returned to him. Then, with a grim expression, he thundered: “Deputy Commander Luo, this is the Ministry of Justice’s prison—not your garrison!”

“All prisoners admitted here are under the custody of the Ministry of Justice; it’s none of your garrison’s business to act recklessly inside my Ministry!”

“I’m merely here to interrogate a prisoner, and that alone does not justify you mustering men and forcefully breaking into this cell. Do your garrison folks intend to take over the Ministry’s duties as well?!”

Luo Yu surveyed the cell with his eyes, and just as he was about to speak, Yang Hong, afraid that he might notice something, pretended to be angry and addressed the men behind him: “Duke Yu, His Majesty has entrusted you with reviewing the Xiao family case, and the entire Ministry of Justice has been cooperating. But no matter what, everything must be carried out according to the rules.”

“Although I am merely a Vice Minister—not as high-ranking or powerful as you—I will not tolerate being insulted by a petty Seventh-Rank officer. Otherwise, I’ll go to the palace tomorrow and ask His Majesty whether Duke Yu also intends to meddle in the Ministry’s affairs!”