Chapter 27: Entwined Fingers

A strand of hair hung down from her shoulder as Yu Lingxi maintained a bowed posture, her figure outlined by the bright lamp shadows.

This gesture was the gratitude she owed.

In her previous life, she lived in constant fear, thinking that Ning Yin's existence was more terrifying than any evil spirit. Ironically, after being reborn, conspiracies and schemes unfolded one after another, making the two years in the Regent's Palace surprisingly "peaceful" compared to the past.

What is more terrifying than evil spirits is always the human heart. Perhaps in her previous life, a true madman like Ning Yin was more straightforward than a false gentleman. 

Looking through the gap in her sleeve, she could vaguely see the pair of deer-skin boots stopping in front of her, and there was silence for a long time. But Yu Lingxi could feel his slightly cool gaze landing on her shoulder, probing and scrutinizing.

She waited silently.

Until the fair and powerful fingertips rested on her bandaged palm, lightly and irresistibly pressing down her hand that was neatly placed at her eyebrows.

"Miss is the master, and I am the servant. No need to thank me," Ning Yin bent slightly, and his eyes, which had lost the previous cold and killing intent, now held a trace of indiscernible interest.

For Yu Lingxi, this was enough. In her opinion, the crucial point was that Ning Yin had never harmed the Yu family.

"Today, when trapped in the warehouse, Zhao Xu had planned to send people to catch us in the act. You could have done nothing, and when my ugly appearance was exposed in front of everyone, my reputation would be ruined..."

Speaking of this matter, Yu Lingxi found it difficult to speak, and her voice lowered.

But she looked into Ning Yin's eyes and insisted on finishing her words, "If I did not publicly end my life, I would have to marry one of the men in the warehouse or Zhao Xu. But you did not let that happen. You opened the warehouse and saved me."

With Ning Yin's intelligence, he could not be unaware of the implications of letting her escape. As an exiled prince seeking revenge, he undoubtedly coveted the power of the General's Mansion.

Yet, he still made this choice for some reasons unknown.

Yu Lingxi spoke lightly but firmly, "I must thank you for not letting me die in humiliation."

When she mentioned "death," her words were light, but they inadvertently caused ripples in Ning Yin's silent heart.

Thinking he was impassive, she did not expect him to have such insight. 

Ning Yin suddenly laughed, and his beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, "Miss knows all this, is a simple thank you enough?"

He expressed a half-real, half-fake desire, like a wild beast tired of lurking and grinding its teeth, now showing itself.

Yu Lingxi showed no sign of fear. Even her lips curved into a clean and gentle arc, asking, "So, Wei Qi, what do you want?"

The laughter paused, and Ning Yin stopped the conversation.

He realized that Yu Lingxi was trying to draw him out with her words. Without answering, he slowly straightened his body and casually said, "Actually, I've always been curious. Why does Miss never inquire about my past?"

Ning Yin was a ruthless and vigilant person, and Yu Lingxi naturally couldn't recklessly expose his identity. After a moment of thought, she counter-questioned, "If I ask, will you answer?"

Ning Yin looked at her with a smirk, asking, "After saying it, you might die. Would Miss still want to hear?"

"Then forget it," Yu Lingxi gave up, not insisting. "When you're ready to say it, I'll hear it."

It couldn't be said.

Ning Yin chewed on the words between his teeth. Unless there was someone who would die between him and the Yu family.

The heavy clouds dispersed, revealing a faint moonlight on the horizon.

With their own concerns, Yu Lingxi broke the silence again, "But I'm curious. Today, I saw that you are skilled. Why couldn't you beat those assassins back in the Immortal City?"

Considering his normal abilities, it was unlikely for him to have both legs broken.

Ning Yin's lips twitched, asking, "Miss suspects that I deliberately played the victim?"

After thinking for a moment, Yu Lingxi shook her head, "No."

Ning Yin did not know in advance that she would appear there, making the possibility of acting victim. Moreover, the Ning Yin of her previous life truly had his left leg severed.

Just when Yu Lingxi thought Ning Yin wouldn't answer, a voice devoid of emotion came, "Betrayed, injured in the arena, the knife carried a potent poison."

The long-buried darkness seemed to crack open a thin slit. As the light spilled in, she caught a glimpse of the striking truth.

What kind of life did Ning Yin lead before?

"What expression is this, Miss?" Ning Yin interrupted her thoughts leisurely.

"An uncomfortable expression," Yu Lingxi raised her clear eyes, not hiding her emotions.

The mockery in Ning Yin's eyes softened slightly, and he gazed at her without speaking for a while.

"I accept Miss's thanks."

After a long time, Ning Yin calmly said, "Now, Miss should go back and rest."

The lights in the corridor gradually dimmed, and it was indeed late in the night.

Yu Lingxi nodded and said, "Okay."

She took two steps, then stopped as if remembering something.

"Wei Qi," Yu Lingxi called out.

Ning Yin responded with a nonchalant "Hmm."

"Your story is not finished yet."

She stood under the dim lights and turned back, asking, "What happened to the little wolf and his mother? How did their story end?"

Surprisingly, she still remembered the wolf kingdom story he fabricated in the warehouse today.

Ning Yin stood still, the bamboo curtain blocking the wind falling into shadows over his eyebrows and eyes. Only a faint light seeped through the gap in the bamboo curtain, reflecting narrowly in his dark eyes.

He rubbed his fingertips, as if seriously pondering the question.

"The little wolf's mother probably stabbed herself in the heart with a dagger. Then, the little wolf lived a life of loneliness and pain, eventually ending it."

Ning Yin stifled a laugh in his throat and retorted, "In the story, all mothers would do that, wouldn't they?"

For some reason, in his eyes, Yu Lingxi could not see any trace of amusement, only a cold and mocking tone.

In his previous life, Ning Yin destroyed everything about his past with his own hands, leaving no words or traces, including his mother, Concubine Li.

So, did Concubine Li suffer for her son and leave the hope of life to Ning Yin? Yu Lingxi couldn't figure it out, always feeling that something was missing.

"No, it shouldn't end like that."

Yu Lingxi lifted her calm eyes and said lightly but seriously, "The little wolf will experience many things, meet many kind people. He will gradually become strong, wise, and invincible."

This was the ending she chose for the little wolf.

Tonight was the best opportunity, suitable for frankness.

There was no haze in Yu Lingxi's eyes as she looked at Ning Yin in silence for a long time. Then, she smiled and said, "As I said before, the Yu Mansion is not an arena, and we are not enemies. This statement will always hold true."

The fallen red leaves shook off the branches, gently descending.

Ning Yin found it ridiculous. Who could Yu Lingxi represent with such a statement? But he couldn't laugh, and reason told him to timely suppress anything that could shake his existence. However, at this moment, he seemed to be a bit enamored with the word "invincible."

Yu Lingxi returned to her room, not worried about Ning Yin's response.

Even if he was cautious and ruthless, as long as the stakes she threw were sincere enough, he had no reason to refuse. Thinking of this, a light and relaxed smile appeared in Yu Lingxi's eyes.

In tonight's conversation in the corridor, she had tested the bottom line of Ning Yin's past. As long as he didn't act impulsively with murderous intent as he did in her previous life, it was a great victory.

Things sought will not be achieved if one is too hasty.

April's fragrant flowers have fallen, and the greenery is gradually thickening.

In a few days, it will be the Bathing Buddha Festival. Yu Lingxi spread paper and ground ink on the desk, preparing to transcribe scriptures for blessings. For some unknown reason, she felt the weather was sultry, and her mind was somewhat uneasy.

As she just started writing, Yu Xinyi burst into the room with a sword in hand, saying, "Zhao Xu is dead."

His death was extremely tragic and horrifying.

Yu Lingxi's eyelashes twitched slightly, and she calmly asked, "What happened?"

"I don't know. His body was found in the mountain ravine behind Fuyun Temple, only discovered this morning. Could it be that he chose suicide to avoid punishment?"

After drinking a cup of tea, Yu Xinyi muttered to herself, "But if it's suicide, how could his bones be broken, and his face be unrecognizable?"

Yu Lingxi paused with the pen, and a blot of ink spread across the paper.

Without showing any emotion, she replaced the paper and said, "If he hadn't done so many evil things and had a guilty conscience, it wouldn't have ended like this."

"True, his death is a cheap way out for him."

Yu Xinyi slammed the sword onto the desk. "If it were in my hands, I would make him wish he were dead."

As they spoke, the wind outside blew in, causing the papers on the desk to rustle.

Glancing at her younger sister in light attire, Yu Xinyi lowered her voice, "Today is gloomy, and the wind is strong. Why are you dressed so lightly?"

She instructed Hutao to fetch an outer garment to prevent catching a cold.

"Sister, don't you feel that the weather has been unusually hot these days?" Yu Lingxi looked at her sister, who was neatly dressed in three layers of clothing, with a puzzled expression.

"Hot?" Yu Xinyi looked outside at the weather and didn't feel that way.

When did her delicate sister, who had always been frail, become so fond of the cool breeze?

Being forced by her sister, Yu Lingxi put on a large-sleeved garment, feeling the heat on her cheeks. She decided to move her writing materials to the cool waterside pavilion to continue transcribing scriptures. As the transcription would take a considerable amount of time, and she preferred quietness, she dismissed all the maids standing by and let them rest.

After writing for two pages, she heard light and steady footsteps behind her, and then a shadow cast over her head.

Thinking it was a maid returning, Yu Lingxi put down her pen and said, "No need to serve here; you can go down."

The person behind her remained silent.

After a while, a familiar and indifferent voice came, "Miss's pen is quite unique."

Turning around, Yu Lingxi saw Ning Yin standing behind her with hands behind his back, looking at the beautiful handwriting she was transcribing.

He had probably just taken a bath, with some of his hair left down instead of being completely tied up, reminiscent of his appearance in the previous life.

Full of noble aura. Yu Lingxi looked at him for a while before shifting her gaze back to the white jade and purple bristle brush on the pen rack.

"It was a gift from Xue Erlang," she casually mentioned.

Without much thought, Yu Lingxi added, "If you like it, I can give you one too sometime."

Ning Yin neither agreed nor disagreed, just smiled a bit deeper, revealing a touch of coolness.

He bent down, his arm with wristguards brushing past Yu Lingxi's ear, picking up the paperweight from the side to smooth out the rice paper for her inch by inch. While bending down, a strand of hair fell from behind his ear to his shoulder, cool and soft, sweeping across Yu Lingxi's delicate neck.

Ning Yin's hair was beautiful.

Different from his own pale and cold demeanor, his hair was black and soft, a rare feature among men.

"I wouldn't dare to snatch Miss's belongings," he said.

As the wind picked up, whether intentionally or not, the exquisitely carved white jade and purple bristle brush rolled off the table, making a clattering sound as it broke into two pieces upon hitting the floor.

Ning Yin raised an eyebrow, glanced at the broken brush, and said softly, "My mistake, I'll compensate Miss with a new one later."

While he said, "My mistake," his mouth curved up, showing no sign of remorse.

Yu Lingxi didn't lament the loss of the precious jade brush. Instead, she stared at the strand of hair that hung down from Ning Yin's lowered head. As the hair tips brushed against her neck, it first felt cool and then warmed up.

Ning Yin didn't like incense, but Yu Lingxi seemed to catch a whiff of an enticing scent...

Not a fragrance she could describe.

Yu Lingxi was momentarily stunned, forgetting all about the scriptures she was transcribing. Almost absentmindedly, she reached out and did something she had wanted to do in her past life but never dared to. She grasped the strand of black hair hanging down from Ning Yin, twirling it around her white and slightly pink fingertips.

Looking up, she smiled and said, "Wei Qi's hair is very beautiful."

The large hand that was helping her with the paperweight slightly paused.

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