"Changping Wang, won't you speak?" Wen Nuan lost her patience.
"I... I will, at..."
Wen Yuxi and Wen Nuan came out of the room where Changping Wang was being held and went straight to the study. Wen Yuxi walked in to see Xue Jingyun standing there. Seeing him enter, she asked calmly, "Did you get anything?"
Wen Yuxi couldn't help but smile, "You truly are composed. I wonder if your heart is as calm as your outward appearance?"
"Where is it, exactly?" Xue Jingyun looked at her and asked coldly, his expression glacial.
Wen Yuxi knew that Xue Jingyun in this state was genuinely furious. She didn't waste any more words, "On Ming Island."
Xue Jingyun paused slightly. That was an island located outside Ancheng, a no-man's-land.
The empire he had conquered in the past, the only place he had failed to subdue, was the very reason he missed the opportune moment to rescue A Ning earlier.
"Xue Song, prepare. We head to Ming Island at dusk," Xue Jingyun commanded.
"Yes, Your Highness." Xue Song hurried to make preparations.
Seeing this, Wen Yuxi couldn't help but ask, "You're going yourself?"
Xue Jingyun responded with an obvious tone, "I must go personally." He wanted to bring his A Ning back himself.
Wen Yuxi knew that no amount of persuasion could change Xue Jingyun's mind. It was better to accept it. She stepped forward, patted Xue Jingyun's shoulder, and said lightly, "Bring her back safe and sound."
"Definitely," Xue Jingyun replied.
Xue Zi Ning opened her eyes. Another day had dawned. This was her second month of pregnancy, and she endured torment every single day.
Through her conversations with Qi Xiu, she finally learned that this was an island surrounded by sea. If she were alone, she might have tried to break out. However, she was pregnant. Although only two months along, she could clearly feel the baby inside drawing strength from her body.
Now, even running would leave her breathless, let alone escaping.
Yan Zhao, where are you now? I miss you so much...
A head suddenly poked in through the doorway. She turned and saw Qi Xiu, smiling as she asked, "Qi Xiu, you're awake?"
"Sister, I haven't seen my grandfather for days. I want to go look for him," Qi Xiu said.
Xue Zi Ning paused, then stood up and said, "I'll go with you."
Qi Xiu looked at her and said, "Sister, you look very haggard. Perhaps you shouldn't overexert yourself."
"I'm not at ease leaving you alone," Xue Zi Ning insisted.
Indeed, she was uneasy about letting Qi Xiu leave her side. She had written more than half of the Miao疆 secret techniques. Han Xi Chen would test each technique once. She no longer dared to deceive him as she had before. If she toyed with him again, he had threatened to take Qi Xiu's life.
Qi Xiu led her to the fields. Han Xi Chen was working in the fields with Qi Xiu's grandfather. Xue Zi Ning breathed a sigh of relief.
Han Xi Chen saw her and walked over. Qi Xiu quickly said, "I'll go help Grandpa with his work."
"I haven't seen you in a few days. Do you miss me?" Han Xi Chen smiled, his expression somewhat sinister.
Xue Zi Ning turned her head away and said, "Winter is coming soon."
Han Xi Chen said, "Yesterday I hunted a fox. Once I prepare the fox fur for you, it will be very warm."
Xue Zi Ning remained silent, instead walking towards Qi Xiu and his grandfather.
"Qi Xiu, let's go back!"
Qi Xiu nodded, said goodbye to his grandfather, and then came to her side.
On the way, Xue Zi Ning asked, "Are you relieved now?"
Qi Xiu nodded, "Yes, I am relieved. But Sister, why is what Grandpa said the same as what he said before?"
Xue Zi Ning was startled and looked at Qi Xiu, asking, "What do you mean?"
"What Grandpa told me that day, he told me again today. I asked him where he went these past few days, but he refused to say."
Xue Zi Ning trembled all over. She looked at Qi Xiu and asked, "Are you saying your grandfather said things he'd said before and did things he'd done before?"
Qi Xiu looked at her and nodded after a moment's pause.
Xue Zi Ning patted Qi Xiu's hand and said, "You go back first. I have something to ask your brother Chen."
"Sister A Ning, I'll go with you!" Qi Xiu said.
"No need. Be good and go back quickly. I'll be back soon."
Seeing her insistence, Qi Xiu could only say, "Okay, Sister, please come back quickly."
Xue Zi Ning nodded and returned to the fields. She saw only Qi Xiu's grandfather working there. Han Xi Chen was nowhere to be found.
She walked forward and came up to Qi Xiu's grandfather, saying, "Why don't you take a rest?"
Qi Xiu's grandfather looked up and saw her, smiling, "Ah, it's Miss A Ning."
"Qi Xiu misses you. Why don't you come home with me?" Xue Zi Ning asked.
Qi Xiu's grandfather pointed ahead and said, "There's still so much to harvest. Winter is coming soon. If we don't harvest now, we'll have nothing to eat in winter."
"You didn't come home last night. Where did you go?" Xue Zi Ning asked.
Qi Xiu's grandfather was startled, "I... How could I not have come home? I..."
He was utterly at a loss for words.
Xue Zi Ning pursed her lips. She actually had the most direct method, but she couldn't bear to do it.
She turned and left. The truth would be revealed tomorrow.
Upon returning home, Qi Xiu had made porridge and was waiting for her. His eyes were slightly red. He looked at her, sniffling, "Sister, is Grandpa sick?"
Xue Zi Ning stroked Qi Xiu's head and said, "He is a little sick."
"Then what should we do?" Qi Xiu burst into tears.
"Qi Xiu, everyone must learn to grow up. Grandpa cannot accompany you forever. You have to walk your own path from now on."
Qi Xiu was stunned and looked up at her, "Sister A Ning..."
"I'm sorry, Qi Xiu. If you hadn't suddenly come here, your grandfather probably wouldn't have fallen ill. I am truly sorry to you both."
Qi Xiu shook his head, "Sister A Ning, why do you say that? It's not your fault at all. I'm very happy you came to my home. Grandpa is sick, what does that have to do with you?"
Xue Zi Ning didn't continue speaking. She was certain that Qi Xiu's grandfather had been turned into one of those people in Miao疆 by Han Xi Chen.
"Qi Xiu, if I have a chance to leave in the future, you should come with me!" All she could do was take Qi Xiu out.
Qi Xiu seemed to understand but not fully. Although he didn't understand why Sister A Ning said that, he still nodded. Ever since he was little, he had hoped to one day leave this place and see the outside world.
He had stayed here since birth, living for twelve years. For these twelve years, he had only this much space, and he had long been tired of it. However, beyond the island was the sea, and there were no boats. He could only stand at the highest point of the island, looking outwards.
Year after year, day after day, he longed for the day he could leave.
"Sister A Ning, can we take Grandpa with us? Grandpa used to tell me about the outside world, and I want Grandpa to see it again."
Xue Zi Ning trembled all over and lowered her gaze, "If there's a chance, we can."
The next day.
Xue Zi Ning went to the fields and saw the same spot as yesterday. Qi Xiu's grandfather was still working there.
She knew that Qi Xiu's grandfather had completely become a living dead man.
She walked forward and asked softly, "If I take Qi Xiu away, will you agree? Even though I know you don't understand what I'm saying, I still want to say this to you."
"Miss Ning, take Qi Xiu away!" Qi Xiu's grandfather suddenly spoke.
Xue Zi Ning was stunned. Qi Xiu's grandfather looked at her with vacant eyes, as if what he had just said had not come from his own mouth.
Was this the last memory of a living dead man?
"A Ning, why are you out again?" Han Xi Chen's voice suddenly appeared behind her.
She turned around and said, "Qi Xiu said his grandfather didn't return last night. I came to ask for Qi Xiu."