C7 In the Capital the Wind and Rain Were about to Come

"You!" Lo Qiuli was so angry that words got stuck in her throat, causing her discomfort. Her sudden movement aggravated her wound.

The unexpected pain made Lo Qiuli frown, her eyes bright yet watery, glaring fiercely at Xiao Yuhan. There was an undeniable allure in her gaze.

Seeing a flicker of emotion in the depths of her usually calm eyes, Xiao Yuhan couldn't help but smile slightly. The chill around him seemed to dissipate, and he appeared more gentle, almost like a refined young man. "Say whatever you want. As my savior, I won't hold it against you."

"You, the esteemed Ninth Prince, shouldn't need me to remind you that today's assassination attempt was merely a test from certain royal family members. It's laughable to think you can stay uninvolved in the royal family's chaos!" Lo Qiuli's lips curled with sarcasm.

"Who exactly are you?" Xiao Yuhan was unexpectedly annoyed that his carefully crafted image was so easily seen through by a woman. If her gaze weren't so pure, he might have considered silencing her.

Feeling the sudden drop in temperature in the room, Wuhen broke into a cold sweat. No one had ever dared speak to his master like that. This woman was truly bold!

However, Wuhen couldn't understand how she could see through his master's years of disguise so effortlessly.

"You don't need to worry. Since I'm saying this to your face, I have no intention of harming you. Instead of plotting against me, you should consider who in the palace fears you so much!" Lo Qiuli sensed the murderous intent emanating from the person before her. She shivered slightly but quickly regained her composure.

"Why are you telling me this?" Upon hearing these words, Xiao Yuhan's initial hostility began to fade. While the woman's words weren't entirely accurate, they did hold some truth. For years, he had hoped to remain uninvolved in the royal family's disputes, but he understood that living in the palace meant it was impossible to stay completely untouched. He could sense a storm brewing in the capital.

"If I said it was simply fate, would you believe me?" Lo Qiuli felt a wave of relief as the tension in the room eased. Just moments ago, she truly thought she might not make it out alive. She could understand his suspicion; after all, they had only met once before, and the topics she brought up were deeply personal. If she were in his shoes, she wouldn't let it go easily either. At the very least, it would be a fate worse than death.

"Hmph!" Xiao Yuhan let out a soft grunt, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Her answer surprised him, yet it also seemed reasonable. He relaxed, his eyes never leaving Lo Qiuli as he studied her intently.

Lo Qiuli felt uncomfortable under his gaze and turned her head to glance at the night outside the window, realizing it was getting late. It was time for her to leave. She got out of bed, gently waking Limo, who had dozed off, and headed for the door. Just as she reached it, she turned back to Xiao Yuhan. "Thank you, Ninth Prince, for your hospitality. I don't have a gift to offer, but if you're willing, send someone to the hills south of the city in three days. I have a grand gift for you."

Without waiting to see his reaction, she and Limo disappeared into the vast night. Xiao Yuhan watched the darkness, feeling a faint sense of loss creeping into his heart. Wuhen, standing nearby with a furrowed brow, whispered, "Should we follow them?"

"Yes," Xiao Yuhan nodded, saying nothing more. Wuhen, seeing his master's nod, went off to carry out his task.

Xiao Yuhan stared at the empty cup by the bedside for a long time, finally realizing that if she truly wanted to hide her identity, it would be nearly impossible to find out who she was or where she lived. But since she knew martial arts, how could she have allowed herself to get hurt so easily? Was there a purpose behind her getting close to him?

Thinking about those clear, bright eyes, Xiao Yuhan felt it was unlikely she approached him with any ulterior motives. Yet, he couldn't quite figure out the reason. He chuckled softly, amused that someone could be so enigmatic to him for the first time.

"Master, I've been following her to the Prime Minister's residence. I saw her enter through the back door and not come out again. But there was no information about her in the records we have for the residence," Wuhen reported back, bringing even more confusion.

They had detailed records and personnel lists of the influential families in the capital, especially for someone as powerful as the Prime Minister. Yet, there was no trace of this person in their files.

"I see. You can go back to your duties," Xiao Yuhan nodded, seemingly intrigued by this unexpected mystery, and chuckled softly. Wuhen found it puzzling. Shouldn't the presence of an unknown person be cause for concern? How could he find it amusing?

"Master, do you think we should investigate her identity?" Wuhen asked quietly, still worried, as he approached Xiao Yuhan.

"You already know what to do, don't you? Why ask me? Oh, and about the gift she mentioned for three days from now, make sure you personally receive it," Xiao Yuhan replied, leisurely turning the pages of a book. Unlike Wuhen's anxiety, Xiao Yuhan appeared relaxed. He sensed no malice from the woman, but her intentions intrigued him greatly.

"Understood," Wuhen replied, a bit frustrated. Conversations with someone as inscrutable as Xiao Yuhan were always challenging. Xiao Yuhan seemed to know what Wuhen was thinking, but Wuhen could never guess what was on Xiao Yuhan's mind. Still, he had no authority to speak further. Holding his sword, Wuhen bowed and then withdrew.

Lo Qiuli entered the manor, sensing that the presence trailing her had vanished. A slight smile curved her lips. She had no intention of hiding her identity, so when she realized she was being followed, she didn't try to avoid it. Instead, she had Limo discreetly reward the doorman with a small tip from her limited funds and quietly led Limo back to her own quarters.

That night passed without incident. Everyone praised the Ninth Prince for his achievements in quelling the unrest. Within the manor, except for the night watchman at the back gate, no one knew that the young lady, who had been brought back from the old residence, returned in the dead of night, carrying a faint scent of blood.