Chapter 122 Xiao Yan Has Returned

Chapter 122: Xiao Yan Returns

Liu Qingci stumbled as he was dragged along, and when they reached the palace steps, he saw a carriage waiting below.

It looked as if it had been prepared in haste, the early morning light glinting on the horse's mane, ready to go.

"Why such a hurry? What are you afraid of?" Liu Qingci asked coldly.

Xiao Jing was in a terrible mood and had no desire to argue with Liu Qingci.

He remembered how Liu Qingci had insisted that Xiao Yan would return, and of the vengeful spirit he had seen at Prince Yu's mansion.

He also recalled Liu Qingci's unusual behavior today.

He felt that something had completely slipped out of his control, something he couldn't even begin to understand.

Xiao Jing was seized by a fear he'd never felt before.

"Get in." He grabbed Liu Qingci's arm and dragged him toward the carriage.

Xiao Jing's grip was so tight that his nails nearly dug into Liu Qingci's flesh.

He pulled open the carriage door and shoved Liu Qingci inside.

Liu Qingci's wrist ached from the tight hold, and a dull pain spread through his shoulder blade as it hit the carriage frame.

He let out a muffled groan.

Xiao Jing didn't look at him, only shoved him in roughly.

"Go."

The driver cracked his whip, and the carriage set off.

Liu Qingci leaned against the carriage wall, rubbing his reddened wrist.

He lifted the curtain and watched the palace recede into the distance.

As he looked away, he caught sight of Xiao Jing's tense expression.

Liu Qingci sneered. "What's got you acting so crazy this early? Seen a ghost?"

Xiao Jing's face was ugly with anger.

He didn't speak, but his expression was more telling than words.

Liu Qingci stared at him for a few seconds, then something dawned on him.

His face hardened, and his tone became urgent. "Did you really see a ghost? You saw Xiao Yan?!"

Xiao Jing's face twisted in rage, and he didn't even deny it.

Liu Qingci's heart began to race wildly, a surge of excitement, too long suppressed, threatening to burst from his chest.

He grabbed Xiao Jing by the collar, his eyes red-rimmed, his voice sharp enough to split the air. "Where did you see him?!"

Xiao Jing frowned deeply, anger rising on his face. "Liu Qingci! Since when did you learn such dark arts?! A decent man like you, associating with those dirty things!"

In Xiao Jing's mind, the only way Xiao Yan could come back as a ghost was because of Liu Qingci.

After all, he had handled Xiao Yan's funeral and had seen him die and be buried with his own eyes.

Liu Qingci acted as if he hadn't heard Xiao Jing. His whole body trembled, and his voice was choked with sobs, his voice full of accusation. "I asked you where you saw him?!"

"Where else? At Prince Yu's mansion!" Xiao Jing replied impatiently.

He shook off Liu Qingci's hand gripping his collar and said calmly, analyzing, "He died in Lan Yue Pavilion. As I see it, even if he turned into a vengeful spirit, he can't leave that pavilion."

Otherwise, why hadn't that ghost followed him back to take his life?

Liu Qingci said, "I want to go to Prince Yu's mansion!"

Xiao Jing's face turned ashen. "Dream on! I'm sending you to the Huguo Temple. No spirit can get near that place. Once the Taoist master performs the ritual and subdues that ghost, we'll come back."

Liu Qingci grew frantic. He lifted the curtain again to look outside the carriage.

The sky was already turning fish-belly white.

Ahead, they were approaching the very palace path where Xiao Yan had been struck by the arrow that day.

Seeing this place again sent another dull ache through Liu Qingci's heart.

The long palace path, paved with bluestone bricks, stretched all the way to the horizon.

The snow, the arrows, the person who fell into his arms that day.

Every detail was seared into his bones.

Xiao Yan had returned.

But was it really him?

The events of the past two days defied everything Liu Qingci had ever known since childhood.

He didn't know what was happening to the world.

Now, he was just afraid.

Was the one who had returned Prince Yu, who ordered him flogged, or Xiao Yan, who had shared his bed for months?

Liu Qingci loosened his grip on the carriage curtain, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.

The carriage continued along the palace path.

Xiao Jing, on edge, was the first to hear another set of hoofbeats in the distance.

Rapid and intense, each beat hammered against his heart.

Just then, the driver suddenly reined in the horses.

His voice trembled. "Your... Your Highness..."

Xiao Jing's gaze fixed on the carriage curtain, a sense of dread rising in him.

He threw open the curtain, and the morning light flooded in.

He squinted and saw the scene on the other side of the carriage.

Someone on horseback blocked their way on the palace road.

The rider sat upright, back straight, black robes fluttering in the wind, ink-black hair tousled over his shoulders in the morning breeze.

That face—

Sunlight fell on him, illuminating every feature clearly.

Xiao Jing’s eyes flew open. Instinctively, he almost yelled, “A ghost!”—

But his throat felt like something was gripping it.

He froze inside the carriage, watching helplessly as the figure drew closer.

Xiao Jing’s mind was a blank.

This man before him… had a shadow.

The early morning sun cast his shadow long on the blue brick road.

Just like a living person.

Xiao Yan rode up to the carriage, then reined in his horse.

The moment Liu Qingci saw that face, the world went silent.

Xiao Yan was right there before him, alive.

Sunlight spilled over him, rimming him in a faint gold.

Liu Qingci’s eyes instantly stung with heat.

“Xiao Yan!”

He lunged forward, pushing aside Xiao Jing who was blocking the door, about to rush out.

Caught off guard by the sudden force, Xiao Jing was knocked off balance, but quickly regained his footing and grabbed hold of Liu Qingci.

His hand clamped down like a vise, locking Liu Qingci’s wrist.

Xiao Jing’s face was pale and twisted. “You’re not going anywhere!”

Liu Qingci fought wildly, and Xiao Jing nearly lost his grip.

The two struggled at the carriage door.

Xiao Jing barked, “Liu Qingci! Wake up!”

The moment his voice left his mouth, a cold gleam flew in from the side.

Whoosh—

Xiao Jing felt a sharp pain in his arm.

He looked down and saw a dagger sunk to the hilt in his forearm.

Blood spattered. Xiao Jing let go, his hand numb with pain.

Liu Qingci stumbled out of the carriage.

Clutching his wounded arm, Xiao Jing looked up.

He saw Xiao Yan had already dismounted, striding toward Liu Qingci.

For a moment, they saw only each other.

The moment Liu Qingci threw himself into Xiao Yan’s arms, Xiao Yan’s arms were already open.

He caught him, held him tight.

With all his strength, he crushed him into his arms.

Xiao Yan’s arms tightened further, pressing his face into Liu Qingci’s hair.

His voice was low and soft, like a sigh: “I’m sorry. I’m late.”