Chapter 103: Unexpectedly, she’s the one in most danger (2/2)
“Which innocents?” Long Feiye pressed.
“Your Highness, there are only three wives left in the Han Family now. But added together, they amount to dozens of lives. Chenqie firmly believes that if the spy is really within the Han Family, not everyone would know. There’s still plenty of people who are blameless,” Han Yunxi replied seriously.
But Long Feiye only gave a cold laugh. “Han Yunxi, don’t you know? If the spy really is from the Han Family, even you…would be hard-pressed to escape the consequences! Rather than thinking of how to help others, you should find your own way out first.”
This…
Han Yunxi’s heart lurched as her mind turned blank. Without Long Feiye’s reminder, she really would have forgotten that she was a Han Family member too. Even though she’d married into the Duke of Qin’s residence, she couldn’t change the fact of her birth. Her relationship with her own family was one that’d never break. Moreover, she was the one with the most chances to get close to the imperial family and endanger them within the Han estate. Once the Han Family was certified guilty, the brash Emperor Tianhui would rather kill wrongly than miss a chance to kill. When that happened, she’d be the one in most danger!
Observing Han Yunxi’s ashen face, Long Feiye revealed a satisfied smile. But it vanished quickly enough. His tone was still high and lofty as he spoke. “If esteemed wangfei assists your lordship in finding all the enemy spies, your lordship could consider vouching for you yourself.”
Seeing Long Feiye’s damned indifference, Han Yunxi almost wanted to hit him. But what else could she do? The imperial family was the most merciless of all. Even brothers could have a falling out, and those of same flesh and blood could turn on each other to kill. What did innocent outsiders count for in their eyes?
It wasn’t Long Feiye that was cruel and ruthless, but the dynasty itself. He was just giving her a reminder out of goodwill. At the same time, he was also reminding her that only those with power could survive in such a cruel place. For power and influence, she could attach herself to Long Feiye. But the Han Family had long lost their own might and influence!
If they really harbored a spy, then the spy was to blame for implicating an innocent family!
Han Yunxi knew she couldn’t change reality, so she could only take advantage of opportunities as they came. She raised her head and peered at Long Feiye, before asking nervously, “If Your Highness is taking things into consideration, then…then could you consider shielding one more person?”
“Who?” Long Feiye asked immediately.
“My little brother, Han Yunyi. He’s not more than six years old and doesn’t understand anything,” Han Yunxi hastened to reply. Long Feiye seemed surprised by her answer and fell into a long silence.
“Your Highness, you denounced that spy for murdering children just then. Chenqie knows that Your Highness cherishes the young and weak, so you must have a loving heart,” Han Yunxi couldn’t help but feel these words were rather poor as she flattered him by patting the horse’s behind[1]. She wasn’t the type to say such words, but she went ahead anyways for Yi’er’s sake.
Long Feiye couldn’t imagine it either. He had a loving heart? Instead of patting the horse’s behind, this woman was patting its head instead, wasn’t she[2]?
“Is that so?” Long Feiye replied with a cold laugh.
“Yes…” Even Han Yunxi herself wasn’t confident about the answer.
Unexpectedly, Long Feiye agreed with pleasure. “Fine, your lordship agrees!”
This was beyond Han Yunxi’s expectations. This is his reply? He agreed this easily? She thought he’d make things difficult for her again. What’s wrong with him today? Is he in a good mood because the interrogation went well?
“For real?” Han Yunxi couldn’t help but ascertain.
Long Feiye stood up and retorted, “Are you doubting your lordship’s word?”
Immediately, Han Yunxi shook her head, not daring to waste any more words. “Many thanks to Your Highness Duke of Qin!”
“Can you go now?” Long Feiye asked again.
Right away, Han Yunxi nodded and turned to leave in a hurry, forgetting that her foot was still injured. Abruptly, she stepped on it…
“Ah!” she cried out in agony as her features twisted. How painful!
The pain came in waves from her foot, enough to turn her scalp numb. Long Feiye glanced down. He didn’t see her foot or ask any questions, but as before, bent down slightly in front of her. This fellow’s lean and muscular body was tall and straight. Even a slight bend made him seem proud and aloof, honorable and mysterious. Han Yunxi had a sudden, inexplicable feel of safety. She was about to carefully climb on when Long Feiye spoke up.
“It’s almost daylight, hurry up.”
Beyond a doubt, his cold tone completely destroyed Han Yunxi’s feeling of security. Her lips curved into a cold smile as she carelessly clambered on, tightly gripping his shoulders. Who cares if it hurt him or not?
Sense of security?
What a joke, she’d secretly laugh at him if he didn’t sell her off one of these days.
—
When they left the Solitary Enclosure, the skies were already brightening. Now there was only less than two hours before daylight. Long Feiye’s speed was so fast that Han Yunxi couldn’t even see their surroundings clearly. She only felt that the houses bordering them on both sides were like dark shadows passing by. At this time of day, the wind was still cold. Add that to Long Feiye’s speed, and Han Yunxi felt like the gusts were screaming in her face as they lashed painfully against her skin.
With no other choice, she could only bury her face in Long Feiye’s back so he could shield her from the wind. Her forehead pressed against his nape, causing the speeding Long Feiye to feel as if something had suddenly bumped into him. It was extremely uncomfortable, but he only knitted his eyebrows and kept silent…
-o-
[1] patting the horse’s behind (拍起馬屁) – pai qi ma pi, an euphemism for obsequious flattery to gain favors.
[2] instead of patting the horse’s behind…patting its head instead – a nice way of saying Han Yunxi’s words completely missed the mark.