novelraw Chapter 698 - 678: Intrigues and Schemes
Chapter 698 - 678: Intrigues and Schemes
Feeling slightly annoyed by Xie Jue’s frivolous behavior, Lan Ningzhen instead smiled and said, "If you obey my every word, I’ll help keep your secret. How about that? I won’t tell anyone about your disguise. Besides, with such a handsome face, I wouldn’t want others to see it either."
Xie Jue thought to himself, It’d be simpler to just kill you!
Having made up his mind, he didn’t act hastily. Lan Ningzhen led him to the backyard to rest. The town was small, and usually, the locals came to see the doctor for treatment and then went home, or the doctor would visit them at their houses. As a result, there was only one vacant room, meaning Xie Jue and Lan Ningzhen would have to share it.
"A single man and a single woman sharing one room... truly... Mr. Helian, you might have no choice but to marry me now," Lan Ningzhen continued her teasing. Xie Jue remained silent. By now, he was familiar with how to deal with Lan Ningzhen’s antics: simply ignore her.
However, when Xie Jue looked into a mirror to check his injuries, he discovered that Lan Ningzhen had wiped away all the makeup disguising his true appearance, revealing his real face.
Xie Jue furrowed his brow deeply but took some solace in the fact that Lan Ningzhen had never been to the battlefield.
Still, returning to the Second Prince Manor in this state was out of the question; there’d be no adequate explanation. Tonight, going back was entirely impossible.
For a moment, he couldn’t decide whether it was more urgent to kill Lan Ningzhen or to find a way to stay in town. Lan Ningzhen was already sitting by the windowsill, writing a letter. She was using her left hand, and Xie Jue observed closely. Ordinarily, she didn’t eat with her left hand—she wasn’t left-handed—but he didn’t ponder the matter too deeply.
"What are you doing?" Xie Jue asked warily, fearful that Lan Ningzhen was writing to the Second Prince to expose his disguised identity.
Xie Jue hooked his fingers around the wire hidden on the inside of his wrist. Quietly, he stepped behind Lan Ningzhen, intending to use the same method to kill her that he had before.
It was, after all, how he had killed General Meng.
Swift and clean, like a breeze passing by!
Without even turning her head, Lan Ningzhen said, "I’m writing to my brother-in-law. Your face has frostbite and can’t handle the wind anymore. You’ll need to stay indoors for the next few days to avoid it getting worse. So, we’ll stay in town for a bit. I’ve told him that I brought you out for leisure, and we won’t be returning for now. Anyway, the manor is busy with preparations for the New Year. You’re all alone; no one’s spending the holiday with you. My brother-in-law is in the Imperial Court every day and doesn’t have time for you, and staying in the manor would be pointless for you."
Xie Jue froze mid-step, behind her. The wire was ready to cut into her neck, leaving her no chance of survival. He hadn’t expected to hear such words.
Xie Jue had been racking his brain for an excuse to recuperate outside the city, but Lan Ningzhen had already provided a perfect solution. The Second Prince and his men had all seen Marquis Zhenbei and Xie Zhang before. His true face was too recognizable; he had to stay hidden until his injuries healed.
Even though he was surprised by this turn of events, it didn’t dampen his intent to kill Lan Ningzhen. Yet, in that moment of hesitation, Lan Ningzhen turned her head and smiled at Xie Jue, pointing to the letter. "Take a look—did I write it properly? Do you have anything else you’d like to add?"
Xie Jue hastily hid the murder weapon up his wide sleeve. In that instant, he looked nothing like the Second Young Master Xie, who could slaughter without batting an eye. Maintaining a calm facade, he looked at the letter while struggling to conceal his inner turmoil. Lan Ningzhen’s handwriting was truly terrible. Perhaps it was due to her experience in wielding swords and practicing combat; her lack of formal study showed. Even the characters Xie Jue had written at five or six years old were better. Xie Jue was fluent in Beiman language.
He could understand it, speak it, and even write it.
In the letter, Lan Ningzhen straightforwardly wrote that she had taken Mr. Helian out to explore, found it too enjoyable, and wanted to stay outside the city for a few more days to bond further. She even playfully requested her brother-in-law to let the man remain with her, promising to return to the manor in a few days. She did not mention his disguise or his injuries at all. The entire letter was steeped in her fiery affection.
She waved the letter proudly. "What do you think?"
"It’ll do," Xie Jue replied icily.
Lan Ningzhen turned around, took out her personal seal, and stamped it onto the letter. As she did so, Xie Jue once again unraveled the wire in his hand, his determination to kill her surging anew.
This girl was too clever, too perceptive. She wasn’t one of his kind—she must be an enemy. She could not be allowed to live!
Just as he was about to wrap the wire around Lan Ningzhen’s slender, fair neck, she stretched her arms suddenly, as though tired from writing, and let out a long, lazy yawn. Her right hand accidentally struck Xie Jue squarely in the chest.
Xie Jue, caught off guard, staggered backward several steps.
Lan Ningzhen looked surprised, quickly getting up in alarm. Before she could turn around, Xie Jue had swiftly concealed the wire once again. If she saw it, his killing of General Meng would be revealed. She had to die, but it had to be a single, flawless strike!
"Mr. Helian, are you alright? I’m so sorry; I didn’t realize my strength was that strong. Does your chest hurt?" Lan Ningzhen reached out her small hand and began rubbing his chest with a few traces of genuine concern and sincerity breaking through her apologetic tone.
In that moment, Xie Jue’s thoughts, whether she had struck him deliberately or not, wavered and were thrown off track.
"I’m fine," Xie Jue ground out through clenched teeth, stepping away from her touch. Seeing his discomfort, Lan Ningzhen asked with concern, "Why don’t you rest on the heated bed? I’ll send someone to deliver the letter!"
As she left, she carefully opened the door just a crack to prevent the wind from blowing inside. Xie Jue took in a deep breath. There was no rush. Since they’d be spending the next few days together, he would find the perfect moment to kill Lan Ningzhen!