Chapter 421: Xianyi Chishaou’s Choice (Part One)

Chapter 421: Xianyi Chishaou's Choice (Part One)

Five days had quietly slipped by.

After five straight days of clear skies, a layer of mist formed this morning, veiling the horizon and blotting out the sun.

Today, there was no sunlight, no blue skies or white clouds—just an endless sea of misty white.

The sky had grown overcast.

Outside the county gates, on the main road, gray dust swirled as the sound of hoofbeats grew louder in the distance. As the sound became clearer, several fast horses came into Su Han’s view.

The man at the front wore grayish-black clothing, his bamboo-colored hat shielding him from the morning breeze. Though he was well into his years, it didn’t diminish the aura he once carried as a member of the Yunlang army.

Half a step behind him was a man in dark robes, his hat shielding him from the breeze. He rode a spirited horse, his straight and sturdy frame radiating an icy, aloof aura that kept others at bay within three feet.

Cold and detached.

He was like a sharp sword unsheathed, instantly cutting and precise.

The group included Uncle Su, Xianyi Chishaou, and others. On the twentieth day of the first lunar month, they arrived at Yun County.

As they reached the gates of Yun County, they spotted Su Han, who had been waiting there for a while. Uncle Su reined in his horse.

"Prince Yi, my lady awaits you at the villa. She’s asked me to escort you."

Su Han nodded at Uncle Su, signaling him to return to the residence and report, while he would escort Prince Yi to the lady.

"Your Highness, but..."

Moying immediately furrowed his brows slightly, looking at Xianyi Chishaou.

Why weren’t they heading to the Su family’s residence in Yun County to meet the princess, but to some villa instead?

He glanced again at Su Han, Su Er’s personal attendant, and Moying’s brows furrowed even deeper.

A thought crossed his mind...

Perhaps it wasn’t the princess waiting for the prince, but Su Er who sought to meet him.

Unlike Moying’s brief reaction, Xianyi Chishaou simply raised his hand, signaling Su Han to lead.

As for why they were heading to the villa, they’d find out soon enough.

Su Han said no more, mounted his horse, and gestured for Xianyi Chishaou to follow, leading him to the Su family villa.

At first assuming it was Su Er’s doing, his cold, aloof eyes flickered when he saw the red-clad woman standing at the villa gate, greeting the morning breeze.

The usually steady light in his phoenix eyes flickered again, and his strong hand tightened unconsciously on the reins. Xianyi Chishaou inexplicably slowed his horse’s gallop.

The woman in red stood quietly at the villa gate, her clothes and hair fluttering in the cool morning breeze. A strand of hair brushed her face, and Xianyi Chishaou suddenly saw Su Rao as more vivid, no longer the cold, hate-filled woman he’d known during their brief time together.

He realized that Su Rao’s change must be because the Su family was safe.

Before the horses could get closer, and before Xianyi Chishaou could dismount, Su Rao spoke.

Just one sentence, and Prince Yi, who’d felt a ripple in his heart upon seeing Su Rao, was momentarily stunned.

Su Rao said: The hidden schemes within Tianguguan County, the true mastermind behind it all—this matter, she could let it go, because Xianyi Chishaou had also assisted her. She was not a good person, and she held grudges, but she was also clear about gratitude and grudges. If someone showed her kindness, she would repay it.

"Xianyi Chishaou, since this matter has been settled for a long time and you have helped me in my revenge, then this grudge and favor now cancel each other out. Today, I asked Su Han to invite you here because there is another matter on which I need a clear answer from you. Your response will determine the promise Su Rao made when she left the Capital Region of Zhu Xian."

Her promise was that if there were difficulties, she would surely help without hesitation.

This promise is still concealed within the inner folds of his garment, which was his last keepsake of the princess. But at this moment, after seeing Ronggu being brought out of the manor following Su Rao's words, and the two paintings that Xianyi Chishaou could immediately recognize as to who painted them, the promise felt like a sharp sword, piercing through his heart.

"Xianyi Chishaou, I already know your character, but seeing Ronggu and these two paintings that implicate my Su family in harboring the remnants of the former dynasty, resulting in our family's extermination, I am unsure whether to trust you. So today, I need your straightforward answer: is the Su family's situation related to you?"

Even after seeing Ronggu and hearing her words, and with another painting by Emperor Wei serving as solid evidence, Su Rao informed Yun Ji and Su Er that she believed Xianyi Chishaou was unaware of this matter. Yet, what does she intend with her current actions?

Su Er and Yun Ji, who remained inside, Su Er glanced at Yun Ji and after a brief pause, he said:

"Although Zhu Xian and Dan Liang are in-laws and have always been on good terms, the matters between Empress Rong and Emperor Wei, now that Empress Rong has long passed away, and Emperor Wei of Zhu Xian is also at the end of his strength, with the affection between Prince Yi and his brother, it will be challenging for Zhu Xian and Dan Liang to maintain a facade of harmony. If we have the help of Prince Yi, dealing with the Dan Liang Royal Family will be twice as effective. Now, what our younger sister is doing, her candidness..."

"Yu Mo, Rao Rao has her reasons for acting this way."

Yun Ji once again covered his stunningly long phoenix eyes with a white silk band, also obscuring his misty vision, making it difficult to see. Yet, his heart was once again clear and lucid.

Rao Rao is actually testing, testing whether Xianyi Chishaou can be honest with them, honest about their intentions towards Dan Liang, honest about the fact that Yun Ji is still alive, and honest about Yun Ji's true identity.

This matter is of great importance and must be handled carefully.

After all, if they act against Dan Liang, they must first ensure that there is absolutely no turmoil between Yun Lang and Zhu Xian during this period. Otherwise, once they go to Dan Liang, and if Emperor Wei moves again, Yun Lang will be caught between two fires...

And with Xianyi Chishaou's concern for his brother, if he learns that it was all Emperor Wei's doing in secret, aligning with the Crown Prince's faction, leading to the Su family's disaster, how will he choose? Will he choose to maintain...

"With all the evidence and witnesses presented before me, and the princess already knowing everything, it seems I cannot deny it anymore."

Just as Yun Ji's heart uttered the word 'maintain', this cold voice came from Xianyi Chishaou's thin lips, and the deep affection in his unique phoenix eyes vanished in an instant.

Su Rao looked at him, understanding in her eyes. She had somewhat anticipated such an answer from Xianyi Chishaou.

Even if he was initially shocked, it would only take a moment for him to understand everything. Why his brother targeted her Su family, there are only two possibilities.

Either for the immense power, to move against Yun Lang, he must first break Yun Lang's wings, eliminate the Su family, to break through.

Or it was just for his beloved younger brother, to prevent him from sinking too deep, to let him not experience the difficulty of love, to kill this disaster to protect his younger brother from harm.

Because Xianyi Chishaou fell in love with her, a woman who could never feel affection for him, a cold-hearted princess of the former dynasty, her heart must only harbor hatred. If Xianyi Chishaou truly fell for her, their final outcome would inevitably be like that of his brother and Empress Rong, becoming a pair of resentful spouses.

"Very well..."

In Su Rao's heart, there was no disappointment at Xianyi Chishaou's answer, nor anger at his choice to protect his brother. She was not in love with him, and she would respect his choice.

But from now on...