Having detoxified, Xie Xihuai couldn’t stay still. He watched Sheng Lin walking around all day, and on the first night, he grabbed him and said, “Let’s go.”
Sheng Lin still shared the bed with him, pressing Xie Xihuai down as if he couldn’t feel his urgency, not allowing him to move much, and even forcing him to eat.
Xie Xihuai was very dissatisfied with this: “It’s because you were too thorough when you detoxified me.”
Xie Xihuai sent two letters to his mother, but he received no replies.
He was on the road with only Sheng Lin by his side, no officials from his family, unable to receive any news from Hancheng. Even the current situation was unknown to him. It had been more than half a month since the agreed time to reach the capital, and the large group of people should have arrived in the capital already.
Xie Xihuai felt that even in the dangerous situation in the capital, at least there would be better information. Sheng Lin asked Man Qu, but he knew no more about why Xie Xihuai’s mother wanted him escorted to the capital.
Man Qu only heard a mention from Sheng Lin’s master Ji Xiu during a recent gathering at the sect, saying that the precious son of the Shang family fell into Sheng Lin’s hands. He didn’t know how this unfeeling young man would torment the Shang family’s cherished son along the way.
Man Qu secretly approved of this. After all, Xie Shizi was still lying in bed unable to get up.
Without understanding the details, Sheng Lin did not mention it to Xie Xihuai. Xie Xihuai, looking carefree and causing him worry about trivial matters all day long, shouldn’t be burdened with these uncertain matters.
On the third day, Xie Xihuai made a fuss about not leaving in the evening. Sheng Lin went down the mountain alone, and only then did Sheng Lin bring him down with the cable car.
The carriage was placed next to a room used by the disciples of the Man Pavilion to guard the mountain at the foot of the mountain. Sheng Lin took him over, and Xie Xihuai looked at the carriage, hesitating, “How about riding a horse? Isn’t it faster to ride a horse?”
“Can you ride?” Sheng Lin looked down at him and asked, “Didn’t you say that riding a horse makes your back ache?”
Xie Xihuai was only thinking about his family, ignoring any discomfort. He bit his lip and shook his head, “Let me ride a horse first. The faster, the better.”
Sheng Lin couldn’t argue with him and let him sit on the horse. However, he didn’t let Xie Xihuai ride by himself. After circling the autumn wind in the Man Pavilion’s mountain-guarding room, he found a soft cushion for Xie Xihuai and headed north.
The hardships and illnesses had worn away Xie Xihuai’s delicate temperament. He just wanted to reach the capital quickly, even if there was no news. Meeting the emperor would still be good news for Prince Ning.
Every day, Xie Xihuai would grab Sheng Lin and ask how many more days it would take. Sheng Lin, tired of his constant questioning, would evade and tell him to ask the innkeeper himself.
Perhaps staying in the Man Pavilion for a few days made the assassins lose track. On the way from the Man Pavilion to the capital, they encountered almost no one disturbing their journey.
On the night when they were only a hundred miles away from the capital, they stayed overnight at a farmer’s house, which had a narrow space surrounded by mud walls.
Xie Xihuai sat on the bed, contemplating whether to take out the things he had temporarily placed in Sheng Lin’s package. They were about to part ways, and it would be indecent to divide their belongings on the busy streets.
However, Xie Xihuai always felt that bringing it up might anger Sheng Lin. After much hesitation, he finally spoke to Sheng Lin.
Upon hearing it, Sheng Lin indeed had a dark expression, but he still opened his package as per Xie Xihuai’s request, allowing him to pick. Xie Xihuai dug through it, took out his two sets of clothes, and threw them into his own package. Sheng Lin’s luggage revealed the two chess pieces Xie Xihuai had given him.
“You still have them,” Xie Xihuai looked at the mysterious crane and Tai Bai chess piece, reminiscing. “I thought you threw them into the wilderness.”
Sheng Lin glanced at him, and Xie Xihuai picked up the chess piece stained with Sheng Lin’s blood, looked at it, and threw it back. Suddenly, he said with a snort, “I think I was deceived by that old man. There’s no such thing as recognizing a master and being invincible in a hundred battles with a chess piece.”
It took Xie Xihuai two months to figure out this matter, and now he finally understood.
“Oh?” Sheng Lin put away his chess pieces, took out Xie Xihuai’s two handkerchiefs, and put them in his package, then encouraged Xie Xihuai with a word.
“He even took half a tael of silver from me,” Xie Xihuai recalled indignantly, getting angrier as he thought about it. “I should have negotiated the price again.”
“Isn’t it made of white jade and black agate?” Sheng Lin casually consoled.
“What white jade and black agate? This is white mother-of-pearl and intelligent blackstone!” Xie Xihuai said, sighing suddenly. “Well, fortunately, the material for the chess pieces is so expensive. Although that old man deceived me by claiming the chess pieces had spiritual properties, he didn’t swindle me too badly.”
Sheng Lin remained silent, turning his head aside. Xie Xihuai looked at him suspiciously. “Did I say something wrong?”
“No,” Sheng Lin replied quickly.
Xie Xihuai reached out and turned Sheng Lin’s face towards him, bringing their faces close together. He stared into Sheng Lin’s eyes and interrogated him, “You’re not secretly mocking this prince in your heart, are you?”
However, Sheng Lin held onto his hand and whispered, “No.”
Xie Xihuai’s hand cupped Sheng Lin’s face, and his heart suddenly skipped a beat. He wanted to pull his hand back, but Sheng Lin held onto it.
“Oh, it’s fine, it’s fine.” Xie Xihuai felt a bit flustered and incoherent. Nodding, he pushed Sheng Lin’s shoulder, attempting to create some distance between them. However, with Xie Xihuai’s limited strength, he couldn’t match Sheng Lin’s physical prowess.
Sheng Lin got closer to Xie Xihuai again, their lips almost touching. Yet, Sheng Lin purposely didn’t kiss him, lowering his eyes and looking at Xie Xihuai with a particular gaze. He then pressed, “Xihuai, is it okay?”
Xie Xihuai felt that even if he didn’t agree, Sheng Lin would still kiss him. So, he just nodded in agreement.
The next day was Minor Heat, and the sun rose early, scorching the land. Xie Xihuai put on his black veil hat, marking the final stretch of their journey to the capital.
They had traversed the waterways of Jiangnan in late spring, ascended lush mountain ranges in early summer, and finally arrived at the capital.
On this day, neither of them dared to speak while on horseback. Xie Xihuai, under the black veil, felt hot and stuffy, sweat forming on his forehead. Just as he was about to turn around and complain to Sheng Lin about the unusually hot summer this year, he saw the towering gates of the capital in the distance.
This was the main gate of the capital, wide open with a line of soldiers stationed outside. People queued up for inspection by the gate.
The towering gate seemed impregnable.
If Xie Xihuai entered, he would be like a bird in a cage, with clipped wings and unable to fly away.
Approaching the city, Sheng Lin pulled the reins, bringing the horse to a stop.
Xie Xihuai turned to him and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Xie Xihuai, do you want to go in?” Sheng Lin asked him again.
Sheng Lin’s voice was steady, unlike Xie Xihuai’s, which always had lingering tones, trying to gain favor with everyone.
Xie Xihuai lifted the black veil for some fresh air before responding to Sheng Lin, “Whether I want to or not, what difference does it make?”
“If you don’t want to, I’ll take you away,” Sheng Lin said, his hand holding the reins resting on Xie Xihuai’s leg. When it came to etiquette, he never touched Xie Xihuai. Yet, the nearness made Xie Xihuai uncomfortable.
Sheng Lin was like a sharp sword, cold and proud. He never spoke sweet words to Xie Xihuai, but Xie Xihuai could always infer what he wanted to hear.
When Sheng Lin didn’t speak, Xie Xihuai could think more.
Xie Xihuai lowered his head, not letting Sheng Lin see his expression. After a moment, he said, “I don’t want to go with you. I want to enter the capital.”
Xie Xihuai spoke, and there was nothing more to be said.
Entering the capital, Sheng Lin followed the instructions given by his master. At the West City Gate, he found a flower-selling girl in red clothes and conveyed the agreed-upon message.
Xie Xihuai, wearing his veil, was still peeking around, wanting to approach the girl and ask about her age. However, before he could speak, Sheng Lin pulled him back.
The girl closed her flower stand, leading the two through streets and alleys. Sheng Lin held the reins with one hand and held onto Xie Xihuai with the other. When they reached a secluded spot, Xie Xihuai took off his headscarf. His face was flushed, using his hand to fan himself, saying, “It’s really hot.”
Sheng Lin took his veil and hung it on the horse.
“So hot?” The flower-selling girl teased Xie Xihuai while holding flowers.
Before Xie Xihuai could respond, Sheng Lin gave him a seemingly amused look, as if mocking Xie Xihuai for his various tricks to avoid wearing the veil throughout the journey.
In the mountains, Xie Xihuai didn’t wear the veil, claiming insects would get stuck in it. By the riverside, he didn’t wear it, fearing it would fall into the water while walking. On horseback, he argued that the veil blowing up obstructed Sheng Lin’s view and wasn’t beneficial to anyone.
In the past few days, due to the intense sun, he had voluntarily started wearing the veil again.
Thinking of all this, Xie Xihuai was afraid that Sheng Lin would ridicule him. He abandoned the praises he had prepared for himself and dryly said to the flower-selling girl, “Not yet.”
After hesitating for a while, he asked the flower-selling girl, “Have you been waiting for a long time? Has the escort team from the Wang’s residence arrived in the capital?”
The flower-selling girl shook her head and said, “I’m not sure. I’m just taking you two to the Li’s residence.”
The three arrived at a small alley, and the girl stopped in front of a side gate of a mansion. She knocked on the door rhythmically, and it quickly opened. Several guards walked out, surrounding them. The leader among them said, “Master Li is on his way. Please come in.”
The guards led them to a hall-like place in the mansion. Within the time it took to drink a cup of tea, a person who seemed to be the commander of the guards hurriedly arrived. He appeared to be around forty years old, followed by a few others. Seeing Xie Xihuai, he immediately saluted and said, “Your Highness, you’ve finally arrived!”
He introduced himself as Li Yu, the commander of the Imperial Guards, tasked with receiving Xie Xihuai incognito in the capital.
“Has the escort team been here for a long time?” Xie Xihuai asked Li Yu the same question he had asked the flower-selling girl.
“It has been half a month. If Your Highness didn’t come soon…” Li Yu wiped the sweat from his forehead. He looked at Sheng Lin, hesitated for a moment, and asked, “Is this Shao Xian Sheng?”
Seeing Sheng Lin nod, Li Yu automatically glanced at the crossing sword on his back and respectfully saluted him, saying, “Thank you, Shao Xian Sheng. From now on, leave everything to me.”
He had someone bring out the already prepared silver notes from the back of the hall and said, “This is a gift from the Emperor.”
Sheng Lin looked at the thick stack of silver notes on the sandalwood tray, picked them up, casually stuffed them into Xie Xihuai’s arms, and said, “Hold onto these for me.”
Li Yu and the few guards were all stunned.
Xie Xihuai also accepted them, holding them in his hands and looking at Sheng Lin.
Sheng Lin glanced at him deeply, pausing for a very short time, and then said to Li Yu, “I still have urgent matters. I’ll take my leave.”
“So soon?” Xie Xihuai blurted out.
“Shao Xian Sheng has urgent matters?” Li Yu was also surprised. He had intended to have Sheng Lin stay for a meal, but if Sheng Lin left now, he would save himself some trouble, given that the Emperor urgently wanted to see Xie Xihuai.
Xie Xihuai stared at Sheng Lin, asking him, “What’s so urgent?”
Sheng Lin didn’t answer Xie Xihuai’s question. He turned and looked at Xie Xihuai, raised his hand as if wanting to touch Xie Xihuai’s depressed and nervous face. However, just before he could touch Xie Xihuai’s cheek, he withdrew his hand.
Without any sentimentality, Sheng Lin walked out. Xie Xihuai listened for a while, and it seemed like the sound of horse hooves in the distance gradually faded away.
He looked at the door, somewhat dazed, and asked Li Yu, “When do I go to the palace for an audience?”
“Tonight,” Li Yu said. “I’ve arranged for someone to prepare your bath and change of clothes, Your Highness.”
Xie Xihai was still not accustomed to the absence of Sheng Lin in this unfamiliar place. He didn’t know where to go; his steps were uncertain, and he seemed fidgety, trailing behind the maidservants. When they reached the bathhouse, a maidservant with double buns stood in front of Xie Xihai, untying his belt. She was half a head shorter than him, and her double buns swayed in front of Xie Xihai’s eyes.
Xie Xihai allowed her to remove his outer robe, but when her hand reached his chest, he held onto his shirt and said, “That’s enough; I’ll wash myself.”
The maidservants exchanged glances, and Xie Xihai patiently repeated himself, saying, “Please leave.”
Once they were gone, he undressed and entered the bath. The steam rose from the water, reaching Xie Xihai’s chest. He felt enveloped by the warm water, playing in it for a while. Suddenly, he remembered the time in the hot spring when Sheng Lin pushed him down. It seemed like he was tired from playing and wanted Sheng Lin to hold him.
At that time, he didn’t think much about why Sheng Lin pushed him. Now, the thought crossed his mind, and Xie Xihai felt warmth in his chest.
He was truly alone now.
Sheng Lin left slowly, decisively, and it all ended the same way. Xie Xihai thought he had prepared for a long time, closing his eyes for three or five days as if Sheng Lin was not around. However, when Sheng Lin was truly absent, he didn’t know how to continue.
He climbed out of the bath, dried himself, put on an inner robe, and walked out. Several maidservants were waiting to dress him, and on a wooden frame hung an intricate and delicate set of clothes. This resembled Xie Xihai’s appearance in the palace.
But things were supposed to be like this. Those wrong moments, whether in feelings or entanglements, were just unexpected accidents.
Xie Xihai was neatly dressed. After having a meal at Li Mansion, he went to the palace to meet the emperor, Xie Xingyan.
In the palace, for some unknown reason, there were no lamps lit. The cold light emitted by night pearls embedded in the walls and pillars barely illuminated the surroundings. There was a strange fragrance in the air.
Xie Xihai respectfully followed Mr. Li into the inner palace and met Emperor Xie Xingyan.
In the hall, without any lamps, only the faint light from the night pearls on the walls and pillars barely illuminated the surroundings. A strange fragrance permeated the air.
Xie Xihai, guided by Li Yu, entered. Inside, two maids were waiting with lowered eyes. As soon as Xie Xihai entered, the door was closed from the outside.
Li Yu asked Xie Xihai to relax and left. Xie Xihai, leaning against the bed, had the maids extinguish the candlelight and lay down.
On this night, Xie Xihai slept unusually lightly, waking up at the slightest sound. He could even hear the breathing of the maids guarding outside his door. The night was long with the chirping of cicadas accompanying his intermittent sleep. The thin blanket was too hot when covered and too cold when uncovered, realizing the lengthiness of the summer night.
Although Xie Xingyan had asked him to stay and accompany him, Xie Xihai was never summoned again. He idled away the days in the side palace, feeling incredibly bored.
Unable to leave the palace, the two maids remained silent. Xie Xihai could only stare at the back of a guard outside his door, lost in thought.
The guard’s figure resembled Sheng Lin’s, but the back was not as broad, and the person was slightly shorter than Sheng Lin. As Xie Xihai lay on the bed, watching him, the resemblance was almost deceivingly real.
Two days later, Li Yu came to see Xie Xihai, but they didn’t exchange many words. Li Yu only asked if there was anything he needed.
Xie Xihai’s belongings were still with Li Yu. He asked for them, and Li Yu promised to bring them the next time he visited.
In reality, there was nothing valuable in the package. It contained things that Xie Xihai used to despise in the past—just sentimental items he wanted to keep as memories.
Xie Xihai was tied to an unlit firewood, and although the surface was calm, there were unseen undercurrents surging. He could do nothing but drift through each day. However, every morning when he woke up, Xie Xihai took a long time to realize that he was already in the capital.
With Sheng Lin gone, it seemed like Xie Xihai’s soul had left with him.
Parting with family, scattering wealth, losing a loved one—Xie Xihai had experienced the major regrets of life. The one who had not known the hardships of life finally tasted the various emotions of humanity.
The burden and sudden changes were almost suffocating Xie Xihai. It seemed like he hadn’t spoken in a very long time, yet the discomfort was no longer unbearable.
![How to Escape from the Hands of Yandere [QT]](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/images-94.jpeg "How to Escape from the Hands of Yandere [QT]")
