Rong Zhi's heart skipped a beat. The other party's demeanor was serious, not feigned. Had he... forgotten her?
"Are you suffering from amnesia, or are you doing this on purpose? Have you forgotten our agreement?"
"You are an assassin." Xia Yun Ting grabbed Rong Zhi's wrist, squeezing it until it ached.
"Chen Xing."
He called out softly to the side, and a tall figure descended from the sky like a black bear. Rong Zhi felt the ground tremble.
As soon as Chen Xing landed, he grabbed Rong Zhi, took out a rope from his waist, and bound her. He even gagged her, rendering her unable to speak.
Rong Zhi was utterly astonished. Was Xia Yun Ting planning to turn his back on her and deny everything?
"Take her down and interrogate her thoroughly."
"Yes."
Rong Zhi felt her body lighten as she was lifted off the ground, carried further and further away by Chen Xing. As she left, she saw Xia Yun Ting looking in her direction with his hands behind his back, his face filled with murderous intent.
Xia Yun Ting, what exactly are you up to?
Creak. The door opened, and Xing Jia Hui, in her pajamas, appeared before Xia Yun Ting. Her hair was slightly disheveled, lending her a lazy beauty.
She seemed to have just woken up, looking a little dazed at Xia Yun Ting at the door. "Yun Ting, why aren't you asleep yet? What happened just now?"
She had heard voices outside earlier, but both had deliberately lowered their voices, so she hadn't heard anything clearly.
Her father, in order to help her enter the General's Mansion as quickly as possible, had impeached Xia Yun Ting before the Emperor. Although Xia Yun Ting had personally brought her in later, she could feel his indifference. Despite her strong reluctance, she could only proceed cautiously, treading on thin ice.
"Just handling some official business. It's nothing. Go to sleep early."
Xing Jia Hui's eyes darted around. She leaned over and affectionately pulled on Xia Yun Ting's arm.
"Sleep with me, please. I'm scared by myself."
Xia Yun Ting's temples throbbed twice. "Alright."
On the bed, Xing Jia Hui deliberately pulled her clothes open slightly and leaned closer to Xia Yun Ting.
"Yun Ting, you've been going out early and coming back late these past two days, leaving me alone at home. Are you taking your anger at my father out on me?"
Xia Yun Ting looked at the woman in front of him, feeling a wave of irritation. Fortunately, he was always cold and distant, so his tone wasn't particularly pronounced.
"Your father is your father, and you are you. Since I married you, I naturally won't mistreat you."
As he spoke, he raised his hand, intending to place it on Xing Jia Hui's waist, but then he lowered it.
"Yun Ting..." Xing Jia Hui's voice softened further, and her hands began to roam over Xia Yun Ting's body. Xia Yun Ting's gaze deepened. He raised his hand to caress Xing Jia Hui's face. Just as the atmosphere began to heat up, Xing Jia Hui suddenly collapsed to the side, motionless.
Xia Yun Ting's gaze gradually turned cold.
"Zui Tian Xian."
Xiao Mo's medicine. He could now use it with ease.
He recalled the scene at the door earlier. He hadn't expected Xiao Mo to show up so soon. However, at this time and place, he couldn't reveal their connection.
In a dark and damp room, a wet whip lashed down on Rong Zhi's body. Rong Zhi protected her body with her internal energy, not feeling much pain, only confusion.
It was one thing that Xia Yun Ting didn't recognize her, but how could Chen Xing also turn his back on her? It was impossible for both of them to have amnesia, so there was only one possibility: they were doing it on purpose.
As things stood, she couldn't force recognition. She had to leave first and then make plans.
"Speak, who sent you? What were you doing here? Were you here to assassinate the General?"
Chen Xing held the whip, his heart trembling slightly. The General was in a difficult situation, and he had no choice but to play along. However, given the relationship between the General and this lady, the whip that struck the lady tonight would likely be turned back on him later...
"I... I'm not an assassin. I just admire the General and wanted to see him secretly..." Rong Zhi feigned weakness, her voice laced with sobs, acting the part of a devoted lover whose affection was unrequited.
Thank heavens, she hadn't mentioned anything about Changping County.
"How dare you! The General is someone you can covet. The General's Mansion has been repeatedly targeted by assassins recently. If you're not an assassin, why would you come here in the middle of the night? I think you're lying! You'll be held here until you tell the truth."
Bang! The door was slammed shut. Rong Zhi let out a long sigh of relief, clenched her fists, and gathered all her internal energy, attempting to break free from the ropes.
However, the rope was made of some unknown material. Despite her efforts, the rope showed no signs of even a scratch.
After confirming that she truly couldn't break free, Rong Zhi's lips twitched. As expected of a great general who wreaked havoc on the battlefield, even an ordinary rope in the General's Mansion rendered her helpless. Was she doomed to be trapped here?
Xia Yun Ting! I'm truly out of luck to have encountered you!
No, I can't just wait to die!
As dawn broke, Xia Yun Ting heard a mournful howl from outside, seemingly from a great distance. Xia Yun Ting's eyesight was good, and after careful discernment, he could tell it was a woman's voice.
"General... please let me go. I truly love you. I love you to death. How can you treat me like this?"
This was not a simple cry; it sounded like a folk tune, winding and twisting, giving Xia Yun Ting goosebumps.
"Chen Xing." Xia Yun Ting called out to the side.
"General." Chen Xing appeared immediately.
"What's that noise?"
Chen Xing's mouth twitched twice. He didn't dare to utter the word "Madam," only saying, "It's the maidservant we caught last night."
Chen Xing looked up and noticed Xia Yun Ting's expression tighten. He asked, "Did you find anything out?"
"She said... she came to the door to peek because she admired the General. We didn't find anything else. I've already had someone draw a portrait and search the entire city for this person, but there's no result yet."
Of course, there would be no result. He had only sent people out for a symbolic search, a mere facade for those monitoring them from the shadows.
"Make her shut up." Xia Yun Ting didn't want trouble.
Xing Jie had submitted a memorial to the Emperor, accusing him of practicing witchcraft and presented a large amount of evidence. Some of this evidence was true, and some was fabricated. If the Emperor were to investigate thoroughly, his entire plan would be ruined.
Although the Emperor had not punished him and had allowed him to return to the General's Mansion, he could sense that several outsiders had appeared in the mansion, likely imperial guards sent to find evidence.
If these people were to discover Xiao Mo's whereabouts and trace it back to the explosion at the General's Mansion, which he orchestrated, Xing Jie would certainly seize upon this opportunity.
Under normal circumstances, it would be fine, but during this sensitive period, he couldn't take any risks.
Not long after, Chen Xing returned.
"General, that maidservant says she wants to see you. Otherwise, she will bite her tongue and commit suicide."
Xia Yun Ting was amused and exasperated. He knew she wouldn't give up so easily.
When the door was opened, Xia Yun Ting was startled by the scene before him—Rong Zhi's hair was disheveled, her lips were bloodless, and her eyes were hollow. If not for the slight rise and fall of her chest, she would have looked like a dead person.
How could she have become so disheveled after just one night?
Xia Yun Ting couldn't help but glance back at Chen Xing.
Chen Xing shrank back. He hadn't done anything. The lady had just been shouting herself hoarse all night, and she wouldn't listen to anyone trying to persuade her.
"You go out." Xia Yun Ting gave Chen Xing a warning look, thinking he'd deal with him later.
Chen Xing retreated nervously, silently lighting a candle for himself in his heart.
The moment the door closed, Xia Yun Ting's cold gaze softened, revealing a hint of concern. Seeing this look, Rong Zhi suddenly understood that Xia Yun Ting had not lost his memory.
"General, I just liked you too much and acted impulsively, going to your room in the middle of the night. You shouldn't have hung me up and beaten me!"
Rong Zhi deliberately used an exaggerated tone to test Xia Yun Ting's reaction.
Xia Yun Ting approached. "Why did you disguise yourself?"
Rong Zhi told the truth. "I've secretly admired you for a long time, but I couldn't enter the General's Mansion. Coincidentally, some of the maids being sent by the human trafficker were destined for the General's Mansion. One of them was beaten to death by the trafficker, so I impersonated her to try and get close to you."
"We've never met. Why do you secretly admire me?"
Xia Yun Ting could tell that Rong Zhi was acting, but hearing these words from her was quite pleasant.
Rong Zhi's eyes darted around. "The day you returned to the city, I was in the crowd. I watched you throw an assassin out of the second floor of the Zui Xian Ju. Your heroic demeanor immediately captivated me. I decided then and there that I would only marry you in this lifetime! So, no matter what, I had to come and see you."
"I am already married and have no intention of taking concubines."
"It's okay. We can be discreet. I don't mind not having a formal title." Rong Zhi's joy was barely concealed in her voice.
Xia Yun Ting said, "I have investigated. You have no ill intentions. I will let you go. Take care of yourself."
This was not the place to talk. Xia Yun Ting knew she was a smart person. During their brief exchange of glances, although nothing was explained, she had already understood. When the opportunity arose, he would explain properly.
Chen Xing came in from outside and untied Rong Zhi.
"General, I don't want to leave. I want to stay here forever and take care of you, even if I have to do manual labor. Please let me stay," Rong Zhi shouted, pleading with Xia Yun Ting like a young girl in love.
Xia Yun Ting left without any hesitation, leaving behind only a cold silhouette.
"Our General is well taken care of by his wife; you don't need to worry about him. Hurry up and leave."
Chen Xing threw Rong Zhi out without another word.
"Ouch!" She still had some minor injuries, and it hurt her to wince when she was thrown onto the ground and scraped.
Xia Yun Ting was too ruthless. She hadn't said anything detrimental to him. What harm would it do if he kept her by his side?
Many people around had stopped and were looking at Rong Zhi with curious glances. Rong Zhi stood up, brushed off her clothes, and pretended nothing had happened as she walked towards Bai Cao Ge.
She would tend to her injuries first and then make further plans.
At Bai Cao Ge, Zhang Ya Jing, seeing that Rong Zhi hadn't appeared for several days, thought something had happened to her and went to inquire. Rong Zhi casually gave a vague excuse.
"Ya Jing, your medicine application technique is quite good now. It seems you haven't been slacking off in your studies lately."
Zhang Ya Jing's movements were swift, and her expression was proud. "Of course."
Cui Xi brought over tea and let out a cry of surprise upon seeing Rong Zhi's injuries. "Doctor Lin, what kind of torture did you suffer to get these wounds?"
Reminded by Cui Xi, Zhang Ya Jing also reacted. "These don't look like wounds from a fight. They look more like someone was tied up and beaten."
"It's nothing. Don't ask anymore," Rong Zhi said. She put on her clothes, picked out a few medicinal herbs from the shop, and left. "Study hard with Master. Don't worry about me."
She felt that Xia Yun Ting might come to find her to explain, but she didn't want to be so passive. She wanted to continue looking for an opportunity to enter the General's Mansion.
As if by coincidence, that night, a carriage stopped in front of the General's Mansion. Chen Xing carried a man inside. Rong Zhi looked at the man from afar. His face was purplish, and his eyes were dark, indicating symptoms of poisoning.
This was it...