Xie Jin Yan's decisive reaction stunned Gao Min Yue.

She originally thought that even if her Shixiong (Senior martial brother) didn't love her, he would still care about their past relationship and protect her life no matter what.

But now, he refused.

She wasn't a smart woman, but having followed Zhou Huai for so long and witnessed so much scheming, she naturally understood why her Shixiong (Senior martial brother) wouldn't let her go to his residence.

She stared blankly at him, taking a step back in panic.

The hope in her eyes gradually dimmed with his resolute gaze.

"Forget it, Shixiong (Senior martial brother) doesn't want to protect this lowly life of mine."

"Anyway, things have already come to this, it's no different from death. It's all the same wherever I die."

Gao Min Yue's eyes were red as she smiled bitterly, despairingly sitting back down on the damp pile of grass.

Xie Jin Yan's reaction also surprised Yu Qing Wu.

She originally thought that Xie Jin Yan's initial silence was because he was afraid of being misunderstood. She believed that he cared about Gao Min Yue to some extent, so when she proposed this decision, he should have been relieved and trusting.

But at this moment, he refused without even thinking about it.

She understood the reason.

She just never expected him to be so decisive.

Was Gao Min Yue not important enough in his heart, or... was power more important to him than anything or anyone else?

For some reason, at this moment, Yu Qing Wu suddenly felt a little frightened and scared.

She feared that one day, when Xie Jin Yan had to choose between her and power, his choice would be power...

That he would, like today, unhesitatingly choose to protect his power.

"Your Highness, with this concubine here, it's no problem even if Gao Shi lives there."

After a brief moment of distraction, Yu Qing Wu spoke again.

She raised her eyes, meeting the man's dark and deep, seemingly always affectionate peach blossom eyes, and said softly, "Outsiders have always known that I and Gao Shi are most incompatible, even to the point of wanting the other's life. Even if you and I are husband and wife, my words will definitely be believable in the eyes of outsiders."

"At least, in proving whether there is an affair between you and Gao Shi, it is absolutely effective."

Yu Qing Wu's tone was gentle, but the address had unconsciously changed back to the original, distant, and polite term.

Xie Jin Yan was always sensitive and naturally noticed it.

He pursed his lips and didn't answer.

He only quietly took Yu Qing Wu's hand.

He then slowly looked at Gao Min Yue in the prison cell, his eyebrows showing a hint of hesitation, and after a moment of contemplation, he said in a somewhat dull tone.

"Alright, since you think there's no problem, then let's do as you say."

"Compared to other places, for Ah Yue now, our residence in Qingzhou is indeed the safest."

His expression was indifferent, but he deliberately emphasized the words 'our', and the hand holding her wrist slightly tightened its grip.

Yu Qing Wu did not refuse, but did not respond.

On the other hand, Gao Min Yue, for the first time, keenly noticed the change in the two of them, and for the first time, truly felt that perhaps, she really wasn't that important.

At least, not important to her Shixiong (Senior martial brother).

She thought that if it were Zhou Huai, he would never disregard her safety for the sake of his reputation.

She smiled bitterly in her heart, staggering to her feet, and for the first time earnestly and sincerely thanked Yu Qing Wu.

"Thank you, Shijie (Senior martial sister)."

Her eyes were scarlet, and after she finished speaking, she no longer looked at Xie Jin Yan again, nor did she ask Xie Jin Yan for help.

Perhaps, asking this Shixiong (Senior martial brother) who once loved her the most for help was now not as good as asking Yu Qing Wu, whom she hated the most.

After speaking, she tremblingly held onto the railing, afraid that Yu Qing Wu would go back on her word, and asked her, "Shijie (Senior martial sister), when can we leave?"

"Your Highness, how about we send Gao Shi to the residence first, then go to Song Shi?"

Yu Qing Wu withdrew her hand from Xie Jin Yan's grip and asked him softly again.

Her action made Xie Jin Yan's chest tremble, and his eyes darkened.

But in the end, Xie Jin Yan didn't say anything.

He only looked at her deeply, and nodded, "If Madam thinks it's okay, then let's do as Madam says."

Xie Jin Yan used the term 'Madam' repeatedly, seemingly intentionally emphasizing their relationship, and also reminding her of something.

These words made Yu Qing Wu feel complicated, while Gao Min Yue felt uncomfortable.

It was truly laughable, this once arrogant Shixiong (Senior martial brother) was now so humble in order to please a woman.

The most ridiculous thing was that the reason he made this woman angry was because he gave up saving her.

In the past, she would have questioned him about it.

But at this moment, she suddenly didn't want to ask any more questions, and understood that asking further would only be humiliating herself.

The atmosphere fell silent again.

All the way from the county office back to Xie Jin Yan's residence in Qingzhou, none of them spoke again, including Song Guan, who inexplicably felt awkward because of the awkwardness of the three.

The carriage moved smoothly on the official road. After an unknown amount of time, as the sun set, it finally stopped in front of the scarlet gate.

"Shijie (Senior martial sister), wait a moment, I want to say a few words to you."

Gao Min Yue stumbled out of the carriage.

She raised her eyes and looked at the elegant mansion in front of her, staring blankly for a moment, and called out to Yu Qing Wu, who was about to leave.

Yu Qing Wu had finished instructing the servants and guards in the courtyard and had just stepped onto the carriage. Seeing Gao Min Yue calling her, she turned her head in surprise.

After a slight pause, she gave Xie Jin Yan a look and stepped back down, walking calmly to Gao Min Yue and asking her indifferently, "Is there anything else?"

"Shijie (Senior martial sister), I want to ask you for a favor."

Gao Min Yue said with red eyes, lowering her voice, "Shijie (Senior martial sister), if you have any news about Zhou Huai, please tell me. If he can live, that would naturally be the best, but if he dies, I must die with him."

"After all, besides my father, no one in this world cares about me more than him."

"Looking back now, I feel like I was really stupid, desperately fighting, desperately snatching, desperately protecting."

"Even at the cost of harming people's lives! Thinking I was the most important person in his life."

"But in the end, I realized that in his eyes, I was nothing..."

"I'm sorry for what happened in the past."

Gao Min Yue lowered her head, and her voice gradually faded as she spoke.

Looking at her expression, Yu Qing Wu's mood suddenly became extremely complicated.

She didn't sympathize with Gao Min Yue's current situation, but... she was afraid that one day she would become the second Gao Min Yue.

"Go in, I will tell you when I have news."

After whispering a reply, Yu Qing Wu turned around and returned to the carriage.

Inside the carriage, Xie Jin Yan and Song Guan sat opposite each other expressionlessly, with an empty seat on either side of them.

Yu Qing Wu naturally couldn't sit next to Song Guan, so she leaned over and sat next to Xie Jin Yan.

As soon as she sat down, Xie Jin Yan took her hand and asked softly, "A Wu, what did A Yue say to you?"