Though it was a coquettish tone, it didn’t feel like he was joking. Shen Yao Xing, who had just felt hot, couldn’t help but shiver, her body stiff for a good while before she quietly mumbled, “I never said I wouldn’t marry you……”

The person playing with her fingers paused. Jiang Ming Yue slightly widened his eyes and looked up at her, his eyes brimming with a glistening light, as if he couldn’t believe it, “Really?”

“Yeah.”

Shen Yao Xing avoided his burning gaze, responding casually. The next moment, she felt something cool and soft against her cheek. She was stunned and turned to look.

The corners of the man’s mouth were lifted high, his jade-white face slightly red, his gaze at her was lingering and focused, his emotions surging as if about to drown her.

……

Jiang Ming Yue seemed to have guessed long ago, knowing what she wanted before she even opened her mouth.

Shen Yao Xing took the deerskin map handed to her by the man, remained silent for a moment, then looked up at him, “Did you know all along?” Know that Meng Xin Yi had other intentions, and even know that the backer behind her was that Second Imperial Princess.

“At first I only suspected, later I secretly sent people to investigate and found out that she often had dealings with people from the imperial court.”

“Then……” Shen Yao Xing was about to ask why he didn’t tell her, but thinking about it, even if he had said it, she wouldn’t have believed him. The words that had come to her mouth were swallowed back.

So Meng Xin Yi’s previous trip to the capital wasn’t to find her at all, she had been presumptuous.

Seeming to know what she wanted to say, Jiang Ming Yue’s gaze was resentful, “You’d rather believe that woman than believe me.”

Shen Yao Xing was at a loss for words, scratching her head not knowing what to say, so she simply changed the subject, “I have to go back, otherwise they’ll become suspicious.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“No.” Shen Yao Xing shook her head and refused, “Now they’re using the Shen family as leverage. Although you have the ability to control those two, we don’t know how many more they have hidden. I don’t want to take this risk.” If anything happened to Mother Shen and the others, Shen Yao Xing dared not think about it.

She smiled reassuringly at the man and continued, “Don’t worry, I won’t give them the map until I’m sure the Shen mansion is safe.” Saying this, Shen Yao Xing paused, pursed her lips, “Although that person deceived me, we did have some friendship before. They probably won’t go all out to kill me before getting the map.”

Jiang Ming Yue looked at her quietly, not saying anything.

Remembering what she had just agreed to in a daze, Shen Yao Xing secretly observed his expression, lightly coughed, “When the matter in the capital is settled, I, I will keep my promise……”

Her voice got smaller towards the end, but it had a magical effect. The man’s face finally showed a smile. Shen Yao Xing inexplicably felt relieved, didn’t say anything more, and rode away from Changshenglou.

Until the young woman’s figure disappeared, the smile on Jiang Ming Yue’s lips faded. Then a black shadow appeared not far behind him.

“Follow her, don’t let her discover you.” He said softly, and the black shadow immediately disappeared.

……

Returning to the inn, Shen Yao Xing only saw a letter. The general content was that she should take the map without bringing anyone, and go to a place some distance from Jiaohuan City to trade.

Probably because they thought she would return with Jiang Ming Yue, so they were so cautious. Suddenly, Shen Yao Xing felt like laughing.

She deliberately delayed for a while before slowly heading to the designated place, a scenic creek in the woods. However, she didn’t expect to see only Meng Xin Yi there.

“You’re here.” Meng Xin Yi’s demeanor was as gentle as ever.

Now Shen Yao Xing had no desire to say a single unnecessary word to her, “I didn’t bring the map. I can only give it to you when I’m sure the Shen family is safe and sound.”

As if expected, there was no anger on Meng Xin Yi’s face. She lowered her eyes and remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, “Yao Xing, although I used you before, I’m not a heartless person. When the Second Imperial Princess unifies the world, you and I can both enter the court as officials. This way, not only can we protect your Shen family, but we can also continue to be friends. Isn’t that good?”

“Not good.” Shen Yao Xing looked at her with utter disbelief, “Which part of me made you misunderstand that I’m suitable to be an official?”

“Although you’re not good with literature, you’re skilled in martial arts.”

“Forget it.” Shen Yao Xing dug her ear uninterestedly.

Meng Xin Yi frowned, “Yao Xing, this is your best way out.”

Seeing the young woman remained unmoved, she could only sigh, “We’ll set out tomorrow. You think about it again.”

Not expecting things to go so smoothly, Shen Yao Xing turned to leave first. However, just as she turned around, she heard the woman’s startled cry. Even with her quick reflexes, she couldn’t dodge in time, not to mention her internal injuries hadn’t healed.

An arrow carrying terrifying killing intent broke through the air, fiercely piercing the young woman’s chest.

Shen Yao Xing fell to the ground, the pain almost making her faint on the spot. The next moment, she was held by someone. In her daze, she seemed to see the woman’s incredulous face, and her turning back to shout angrily.

Diran, hidden in the shadows, slowly walked out holding a longbow. Ignoring the woman’s stern rebuke, she looked at the dying young woman and coldly curled her lips, “I did give her a chance.”

Meng Xin Yi stared at her fiercely, “She doesn’t have the map on her, do you want all our efforts to be in vain!”

“This is the Second Imperial Princess’s intention. The matter of the map can wait, but not a single person from the Shen family can be left alive.”

Shen Yao Xing, whose consciousness was hazy, immediately became two points clearer when she heard “not a single person left alive”. She opened her mouth to ask, but found she couldn’t make a sound. She vaguely felt herself being picked up, then leaned against a tree trunk. By her ear was the woman’s low murmur with a hint of choked sound.

“I’m sorry, if there’s an afterlife, come back and seek revenge on me.”

I will, Shen Yao Xing thought.

The footsteps of the two gradually faded away. Shen Yao Xing’s head hung powerlessly, feeling her body getting colder and colder, as if covered with a layer of frost. No, colder than that, so cold she couldn’t even feel the pain of the wound.

She didn’t know how long it had been, she should have completely lost consciousness, because she couldn’t hear anything anymore. But strangely, she could still feel the sensations on her body. She felt she was being held by someone again, that person’s hand carefully caressing her face.

As if afraid of crushing her, not daring to use any strength, the suppressed breath on the verge of collapse.

Then drops of warm liquid fell on her face, it should be tears. Shen Yao Xing felt a bit sad, but she couldn’t do anything, nor could she speak words of comfort.

The sensations on her body gradually disappeared, probably she was about to die. But she felt a bit unwilling, she hadn’t seen the Shen mansion safe with her own eyes, and she wanted to apologize to Jiang Ming Yue.

Then let him live a good life, and not kill people recklessly, otherwise she was afraid he would incur heaven’s wrath.

The last sensation on her body was being picked up around the waist, and then she completely “died”.

Author’s note: I’ve really overused this old plot device (embarrassed), the plot line ends with this chapter, the next chapter the two will start being sweet, resuming daily or every other day updates.