After Xiao Tingâs kidnapping, YuChi XinHan didnât worry but more concerned about Cheng YunYiâs situation.
âWho reported the case that he broke into a private house? Which one did he break into?â A close advisor of the Jiangnan King was accused of breaking into a private house and reported to the guards. Wouldnât he become a joke if this was known?
The leading officer said, âItâs Rui Wangfu.â
âWhile this subordinate was waiting for someone, he just jumped over the wall of Rui Wangfu, and there were guards from the wangfu chasing after him.â
Rui Wangfu, hehe, YuChi XinHan showed a playful smile, waved his hand, and said, âOkay, if thereâs nothing else, go. This young master will tell Jiu Wangye about this and also explain it to your lord.â
The leading officer and guards clasped their fists and said, âThen, we thank Young Master YuChi.â After speaking, the armored guards turned and left.
YuChi XinHan looked in the direction where Xiao Ting left. He didnât chase after them. His eyes looked far away uncertainly before he finally turned and left.
At the beginning of the month, the fog was thick.
In the mountains behind the Hanshan Temple outside the Imperial Capital, curls of smoke rose as the fire crackled.
Xiao Ting happily sat by the fire, watching the game grilling on the wooden stand, drool coming out of her mouth. She hadnât eaten barbecue for a long time!
At this moment, she didnât look like a hostage, but rather a tourist who came out to enjoy the mountains and rivers to experience life.
Cheng YunYi felt it was strange. How could Xiao Ting, this girl from a big family, show such an expression?
So he asked, âYouâre not worrying about your life at all, and youâre still thinking about eating?â For the latter half, he couldnât figure it out.
Xiao Ting rolled her eyes at him, then returned to the golden barbecue: âHeaven and earth is so big, isnât it fine to just have a good meal? If I canât get enough food, what else can I do? Moreover, manâs fate is destined, whatâs the use of hurrying it?â
Peopleâs fate is destined. Cheng YunYi repeated her words silently, then said with a smile but not a smile, âBut now your fate is in my hands.â
Xiao Ting glared at him and said, âWe are mutually benefitting each other, okay? I saved your life and you got rid of YuChi XinHan for me. Now you want to avenge your grievances, is this what a gentleman should do?â
Cheng YunYi sneered, âDo I look like a gentleman?â
Xiao Ting held her chin, looked him up and down, then seriously said, âYes, you really look like one!â
If Cheng YunYiâs dressing and temperament were placed in the 23rd century, heâd be a gentleman who combined dignity and elegance.
Cheng YunYi choked on her blunt answer, paused slightly while turning the barbecue, then looked at her with some unclear meaning, before finally asking the million-dollar question.
âWhy did you marry Chu Li?â
Xiao Ting set her gaze on the barbecue again and said indifferently.
âAre you from Mars? This marriage was decreed by the Emperor himself, can I say no? Besides, Jiu Wangye is very nice, doesnât care about me, and let me do whatever I want. Where can I find such a good long-term meal ticket?â
Regardless of whether others can understand or not, Xiao Ting said it all.
âDoes this miss look silly? Why would I leave such a good marriage? For what reason?â
Xiao Tingâs theory was unacceptable to the people of this time, so Cheng YunYi canât accept it, and didnât believe her.
Shaking his head, he no longer dwelled on this topic. However, Xiao Ting didnât intend to let him go: âI say, why were you being chased by YuChi XinHan and those ordinary guards just now? You were chased by them for so long, did you do it deliberately?â
Cheng YunYiâs gaze paused slightly and under the firelight, his eyes were as deep as the sea, but not shocked. For a moment, Xiao Ting felt that heâs a bit similar to Jiu Wangye, not in appearance, but temperament.
He seemed calm and unpredictable, with the emotions on the surface always false.
âForget it, if you donât want to say it, this miss is too lazy to listen. When will the meat be cooked?â Sheâs starving to death.
âHehe, didnât you just come out of Fengxian Restaurant?â
This dumbfounded Xiao Ting. She just went out to have a meal and itâs as if all the big people all over the world knew about it.
Not only the Empress and the others who followed her but also Jiu Wangye which is fine but how could even Cheng YunYi know her whereabouts? Is that even fair?
Are all these people rats?
âAre you surprised that I know?â
âNo, just wondering. Is this miss so eye-catching? Why are you all staring at me?â
Xiao Ting was depressed. If this is the case, wouldnât she have to live like those modern celebrities where everything will be exposed to outsiders?
Seeing her look like sheâs in the dark, Cheng YunYi didnât know whether to believe her, but heâs used to seeing Xiao Ting pretend to be crazy so he didnât answer her question, but focused on what she said just now.
âYouâre right. Those people are not my opponents at all. The reason why I let them chase me was to meet you, and thenâŚâ
âThen kidnap me?â Xiao Ting felt that her brain cells were too developed, but after seeing Cheng YunYi nod, she immediately stood up, somewhat astonished. In fact, Cheng YunYi already had this idea of kidnapping Xiao Ting from the very beginning.
âI say, did you go crazy? Why do so many people want me to die? The Empress found me not pleasing to the eye, the Empress Dowager found me not pleasing to the eye. What the hell, even that third miss from Duke Anâs household looked unpleasantly at me. Hmph, even that Rui Wangâs heir sonâs consort and that SiYue Junzhu. I tell you, these women donât like me and I can still understand that since this miss is more beautiful than them. Theyâre just envious of me, but you, a man, donât see me pleasing to the eye also? Did I rob your loved one?â
Xiao Tingâs lengthy talk made Cheng YunYi a bit uncomfortable for a while. After some time, he realized that this girlâs crazy talk was truly not superficial.
No wonder the Empress Dowager got so angry that she vomited blood, and the Empress wanted nothing to do with her.
Now, it seemed that sheâs really pretending to be crazy and stupid.
He stopped his carefree smile, and became very formal, before asking, âI took you out just to ask you one thing.â
Xiao Ting finished speaking and then stopped, âSay it, but I canât guarantee that Iâll tell you because I also have a secret.â
Cheng YunYi was speechless once again, but he hurriedly got to the topic, âWhere did you get the map that you gave the Emperor?â
âHuh?â Xiao Ting was a little surprised, âHow do you know about that? Only the Imperial family knew this, and you werenât in the Palace that time.â
When Cheng YunYi saw her pretending to be crazy and stupid again, his tone became tough, âIâm afraid that Jiu Wangfei hadnât figured out the current situation. At this moment, you are a fish, I am a swordsman, so to not waste each otherâs time, youâd best answer what I asked you. Otherwise, I donât mind my threat to YuChi XinHan just now become real.â
Xiao Ting listened to him and finally understood what he meant. It turned out that heâs really threatening her.
âAlright, alright. You people always donât speak directly. Itâs a waste of this missâ brain cells.â
Xiao Ting complained first then said: âI know what you mean. Okay, let me tell you since itâs not a secret. I saved a woman wearing black clothes in the Palace. The map looked like some kind of treasure map, so I took it with me. Who knew that, aiya, I really have good luck since it saved my Auntâs life. Well, seems like good people will always be rewarded. I saved her life and she saved my Auntâs life, so the two of us owe nothing to each other.â
Cheng YunYi felt that chatting with Xiao Ting would really drive him crazy, so he ignored her redundant answers and continued asking.
âThen do you know who that woman in black is? Who sent her?â
Xiao Ting curled her lips, âHow would I know anyone whoâs wearing black clothes and have high martial arts? If it werenât for her injury, I wonât be her opponent and would have become a ghost already. How would I dare threaten her and ask who she is? Isnât that looking for death?â
Xiao Ting despised his IQ. Just now, she thought that Cheng YunYi was a smart person, but now she thought heâs also a fool.
âI say, I already answered your question, so can we eat?â
Cheng YunYi looked into her eyes and finally chose to believe Xiao Ting.
âI canât send you back, so you can figure that out by yourself. Letâs part ways here.â
After speaking, he got up and left.
Speechless, Xiao Ting shouted behind him, âHey, where are you going so late?â
Cheng YunYiâs figure gradually melted into the darkness.
âWhere is this place?â
Xiao Ting wondered. In this empty place, she received no answer as her voice echoed.
âJust leaving this miss here, hey, Iâm talking to you, donât leave!â
Unfortunately, no matter how loud she was, Cheng YunYi didnât reply.
Heaven and earth was so big, and sheâs the only one sitting by the fire, enjoying the cool breeze and watching the fragrant bird meat by the fire exuding a hint of fragrance.
Xiao Ting looked left and right. After confirming that Cheng YunYi left she rolled up her sleeves, took the barbecue from the wooden stand without saying anything, tore it apart, and ate it.
She looked very happy and didnât worry about being alone because of her unclear situation.
While still muttering, âAi, since I came to this time and place, I havenât eaten such delicious food for a long time. Itâs better outside, so I shouldnât go back!â
âJiu Wangfu had nothing good and I have to take care of everything all day long. All the women in the Palace are abnormal and always find trouble with me, truly annoying!â
Seeing Xiao Ting sit there alone, not meaning to leave at all and even eating happily, the black-clothed woman in the dark couldnât understand.
If itâs an ordinary woman, wouldnât they be worried at this moment? No matter how bad it is, shouldnât she hurry up and find a way down the mountain to leave this place?