Chapter 164: Burning Scar

Chapter 164: The Burn Scar

"Lord Shen, long time no see."

While Xie Nai was speaking with Guan Jiu, Xie Ji'an also greeted Shen Fuqing.

"Your servant pays his respects to the Fifth Prince." Shen Fuqing wore a faint, enigmatic smile as he offered a perfunctory bow to Xie Ji'an.

Qin Jiao watched from the side while recalling—the last time he'd heard news of Xie Ji'an was three months ago, when he had been confined to his residence for three months as collateral for Xie Chengyi's affair.

The once-quiet outskirts had become lively with the arrival of Guan Jiu and Xie Ji'an. Xie Nai swept his gaze over the men Guan Jiu had brought, then instructed Luo Yue, "Get them geared up with proper protection and head into the mountains immediately."

"Yes!" Knowing full well how critical finding the Sharp-crested Snake was, Luo Yue acknowledged Xie Nai's order and immediately turned to arrange the men. Guan Jiu, of course, didn't dare just stand by—he stepped right up to help Luo Yue organize everyone.

The officers had brought snake forks and other tools with them, but Luo Yue, thinking of Zhang Fei's extensive experience, made a point of seeking him out to carefully explain the precautions to those heading into the mountains.

By then, Zhang Fei was already terrified by Xie Nai's identity. As a common man, his legs went weak just seeing Guan Jiu—let alone standing in front of the Prince of Lingnan and the Fifth Prince.

So when Zhang Fei explained the precautions, he was completely drained the whole time. After he finally stumbled his way through the explanation, Luo Yue arranged for him to rest off to the side.

As for Wang Ge and Hu Yuyun, there was no need to even mention them—one was so scared he wished he could turn into an earthworm and burrow underground, while the other's face cycled through shock, joy, and fear, her expression as dramatic as any stage actor's.

After Luo Yue led the men into the mountains, Xie Nai finally turned his attention back to Xie Ji'an. "Why has Fifth Brother come to Xiaoxiang Commandery, and with Li Nanli, of all people?"

As Xie Nai's words fell, Qin Jiao also looked toward where Li Nanli stood. She was wearing a long pomegranate-red brocade gown, a kingfisher-feather hairpin inlaid with jade in her hair, and was leaning on a young maidservant as she stood beside Hu Yuyun.

She looked a bit sullen and displeased—especially when she looked at Xie Ji'an, her annoyance was plain to see.

Xie Nai noticed Li Nanli's odd behavior as well and couldn't help but cast Xie Ji'an another glance.

Xie Ji'an's smile was a little strained, and he avoided Li Nanli's gaze. "It's like this—she and her maidservant were out traveling and her carriage broke down nearby. I figured since we knew each other, I'd give her a ride."

Unexpectedly, Li Nanli let out a cold snort at that: "Nonsense! Xie Ji'an, you heartless bastard!"

"..." Xie Ji'an's expression instantly turned really complicated.

After a long moment, Xie Ji'an let out a deep sigh, sounding helpless. "Miss Li, we've only met a few times. Please don't bad-mouth me."

The moment Xie Ji'an finished speaking, Li Nanli—who had just been fuming—suddenly fluttered her long lashes and burst into tears: "Brother Ji'an, what are you talking about? What slander? I'm Nanli—don't you remember me?"

"I..." Xie Ji'an had no desire to keep tangling with Li Nanli. "Miss Li, you're tired. Go rest." He was just about to have her maidservant take her to the carriage in the back when Li Nanli suddenly said something that would scare you to death:

"Brother Ji'an, have you truly forgotten? You held me before, and you even kissed my leg."

Qin Jiao: "..."

Xie Nai: "..."

Not only were Qin Jiao and Xie Nai speechless, Xie Ji'an felt like he'd been struck by lightning. "Miss Li, watch your mouth!!"

His voice was thunderous. Qin Jiao, standing close by, felt like his ears were ringing.

"Wuuu, Fifth Prince..." Li Nanli wept like pear blossoms in the rain, looking utterly pitiful. Guan Jiu, who had no idea about Li Nanli's delusions, now shot Xie Ji'an a look of unusual curiosity.

"Miss Li, stop talking!"

Xie Ji'an's voice was gritted between his teeth.

Seeing this, Qin Jiao suddenly remembered what Xie Nai had said before—that when Li Nanli's delusions acted up, she claimed to be the Second Prince's consort, said she'd carried Xie Ji'an's child, and had even once used a snake to bite herself.

It seemed Li Nanli was in the throes of a delusional episode now, mistaking Xie Ji'an for a heartless, unfaithful man.

Qin Jiao speculated.

"Take your young lady to rest." The scene was getting chaotic, and in the end it was Xie Nai who came out to "restore order."

The young maidservant didn't dare defy Xie Nai's order and moved to escort Li Nanli away, but Li Nanli suddenly pointed at the child in Hu Yuyun's arms and said, "Xiao Li, bring my child back too!"

The maidservant was about to have a breakdown: "Miss, you're not even married—where would you get a child? You're tired; let's go rest!"

This Xiao Li was the same maidservant who had brought the jade Buddha pendant to Hu Yuyun that day. Hu Yuyun had recognized her from the start, and now hearing Li Nanli say she wanted her child, she hesitated only a few seconds before handing the child over without a second thought:

"Miss, if you like Ni'er, take her back! She's very well-behaved—go on, feel her!"

Xiao Li tried to stop her: "We don't want the child, wait..."

Li Nanli was overjoyed, reaching out for the child: "Come, let Mama hold you!"

"Ah, no, miss... this isn't your child! Miss!"

Xiao Li couldn't stop Li Nanli, watching helplessly as she cradled Hu Yuyun's child in her arms and cooed at it.

Qin Jiao noticed a smile spread across Hu Yuyun's face—one of relief and joy.

She was happy—happy that her child had finally found a good home. And she was comforted—comforted that she had once again been a great mother.

Qin Jiao's gaze drifted between Hu Yuyun and Li Nanli, tinged with melancholy and sympathy. Xie Nai sensed his feelings and quietly squeezed his palm. Qin Jiao gently squeezed back. Neither spoke a word, yet in the silence, they understood each other perfectly.

"Brother Ji'an, look—our child."

Li Nanli held the child and began walking toward Xie Ji'an.

"Don't come near me!"

As if Li Nanli were some kind of flood or beast, Xie Ji'an stumbled back several steps. Whether from anger or something else, his face was now flushed crimson, making the burn scar on his left cheek even more conspicuous.

Hmm?

A burn scar!

Something flashed through Qin Jiao's mind, and he suddenly turned to glance at He Zhao.

He Zhao, who had been playing with Xiao Baiyu's tiger-head bell not far away, jolted when Qin Jiao stared at him. "What's wrong?"

He was just about to ask Qin Jiao what had happened when, to his surprise, Qin Jiao whipped his head back around, leaving He Zhao staring at the back of his round head.

He Zhao: "...Did you eat too much salt? Salty (idle)?"

"The other two couldn't be seen clearly, but one man seemed to have a scar on his face—like one left by a burn..."

The words He Zhao had spoken that day when Guan Jiu met the mysterious figure in the secluded alley suddenly echoed through Qin Jiao's mind.

A scar left by a burn... Thinking of this, when Qin Jiao looked at Xie Ji'an again, his eyes unconsciously held more wariness and scrutiny.

Xie Ji'an noticed Qin Jiao's suddenly wary gaze. "Young Master Qin, why are you looking at me so warily all of a sudden?" He didn't beat around the bush.

"Not wariness—curiosity." Qin Jiao lied through his teeth, smoothly changing the subject. "I was just distracted by Miss Li's matter, but it just occurred to me—the Prince just asked Your Highness why you came to Xiaoxiang Commandery."

At this point, Shen Fuqing, who had been watching the show for a while, also spoke up lazily in agreement:

"Yes, why did the Fifth Prince suddenly show up here?"

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