After her mind was read, the spoiled brat became the darling of the whole group.

Xie Xingchong beckoned to Song Yingqiu, "Brother, come here."

After looking around twice, Song Yingqiu finally walked up to Xie Xing. Xie Xing gestured for him to bend down, and Song Yingqiu's forehead creased with annoyance as he did so.

Xie Xing tiptoed close to Song Yingqiu's ear and whispered, "The Xie family was besieged, and my father and brother were imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison. After the Prince rescued me, I secretly followed Xie Tongchen here."

"Unexpectedly, they stumbled upon the scene of the Southern Kingdom's prince sending men to burn the grain and fodder in the army camp."

"I don't know if he's not killing me now because he knows my identity, or because he's really attracted to my looks."

"Brother, I didn't want to involve you, but I didn't expect you to find out about me."

That's why what happened next occurred.

Although Song Yingqiu did discover Xie Xing, his appearance did indeed relieve Xie Xing's immediate crisis.

Song Yingqiu's eyes widened as he listened.

He looked at Xie Xing in disbelief, about to speak, but Xie Xing covered his mouth with his hand.

The two locked eyes.

Song Yingqiu: Are you serious?

Xie Xing nodded heavily.

Song Yingqiu was even happier. He grabbed Xie Xing's wrist and whispered, "That's perfect. You don't have to be that rich young lady anymore. You can do business with your third brother."

"Once we two become wealthy and return home in glory, your third brother will find you a suitable husband to live with you. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Song Yingqiu's reaction was not much different from Song Ci'an's.

Neither of them wanted Xie Xing to have any connection with the Xie family.

Upon hearing this, Xie Xing said somewhat helplessly, "Third Brother, Second Brother is among the troops that went to conquer the Southern Kingdom."

Song Yingqiu didn't react immediately and subconsciously asked, "Which brother of yours?"

Xie Xing's forehead creased with anger. He gritted his teeth and whispered, "Second brother! Your second brother!"

Song Yingqiu frowned.

Now that the supplies have been burned, without supplies, this will inevitably lead to defeat sooner or later.

Song Ci'an might die in this war.

Now Song Yingqiu finally looked anxious.

It doesn't matter if the city is lost, or if the army loses. Compared to the other two members of the Song family, Song Yingqiu doesn't have as much sense of national responsibility.

but--

Song Yingqiu certainly didn't want to see his own brother go to his death.

Xie Xing pressed down on Song Yingqiu's hand to stop him from acting impulsively, and whispered, "Third Brother, now take what the Southern Prince gave you and see if you can raise enough provisions, even if it's just to last three days."

Three days is enough.

"And what about you?" Song Yingqiu asked Xie Xing.

Xie Xing said, "Third Brother, I definitely can't leave now."

Regardless of the Southern Kingdom prince's motives, she won't be able to leave anytime soon.

The two chatted privately for a while, and finally Song Yingqiu left Xie Xing's courtyard with a sullen face and a flick of his sleeve.

at that time.

From a treetop in the City Lord's Mansion, one can have a clear view of Xie Xing and Song Yingqiu's location.

Chao Le stood on the treetop with his hands behind his back, looking coldly at Xie Xing.

"Your Highness, are you just going to let that man leave like this? I think these two are very strange."

The bearded man from before stood behind Chao Le.

Upon hearing this, Chao Le smiled faintly: "What's there to be afraid of?"

"If the woman I've set my sights on were really that simple, then I would be disappointed."

"This woman, the more I look at her, the more interesting she becomes."

The bearded man's face darkened, and he couldn't help but say, "Your Highness, this is the thirteenth time you've said that."

“You find no interest in your principal wife, but you find interest in any woman outside who is even slightly to your liking.”

Chao Le flicked his sleeve, his expression serious: "Nonsense, this is different!"

The bearded man said, "Your Highness, that's for sure. Each of your thirteen beautiful concubines is unique."

Chao Le ignored him and his gaze fell on Xie Xing, a playful glint in his eyes: "This one is different. I have a feeling she will bring me a surprise."

……

"Your Highness, would you consider this a surprise?"

Chao Le watched Xie Xing sitting opposite him with a blank expression, gleefully drawing a turtle or tortoise on his face.

His fist hardened.

Chao Le slammed his fist on the chessboard and said angrily, "I've lost so many games to you, can't you give me a break?"

Xie Xing squinted and looked up at Chao Le, saying helplessly, "Your Highness, I've already set the level as high as the ocean, but you still can't win. There's nothing I can do."

Chao Le remained silent, only repeatedly drawing his sword from his waist.

Xie Xing's eyelids twitched, and he quickly said, "Your Highness, please calm down. How about we try a different game?"

"This time, we're not playing the game of winning or losing."

Chao Le sat down expressionlessly, then turned to Xie Xing: "Let's see what other tricks you have up your sleeve."

Xie Xing chuckled.

In desperation, she could only perform a magic trick for Chao Le.

Just as she was about to ask Chao Le for a copper coin, someone came to deliver a message: "Your Highness, someone is looking for you."

Xie Xing paused.

Chao Le stood up, looked outside, and asked, "Who has come to see me?"

The servant glanced at Xie Xing, then leaned close to Chao Le's ear and whispered a few words.

"Ok?"

Chao Le glanced at him.

"Let's go." He straightened up and was about to walk outside.

Seeing that he was about to leave, Xie Xing quickly began to tidy up the chess pieces on the table.

Unexpectedly, Chao Le turned to Xie Xing halfway there, thought for a moment, and said, "Come here. The trick you were just about to show me, you'll perform it for me and my brothers later."

"Huh?" Xie Xing was taken aback.

She pointed to herself: "Me, me?"

Chao Le squinted at Xie Xing: "Then what about me?"

Xie Xing: "..."

Ok.

She followed behind Chao Le with her head down.

……

inside the hall.

Xie Xing followed Chao Le to the front hall, where two people were already sitting.

As soon as the two entered the hall, Xie Xing felt two intense gazes fixed on her.

Xie Xing looked up in confusion, and when she saw those two gazes, her eyes widened in shock.

【Holy crap! Xie Yuze?!】

[It's a ghost! It's a ghost!]

Xie Yuze's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. When the sudden voice entered his mind, he was so startled that he spun around on the spot and even patted his head, wondering where the voice had come from.

"It's like the sun has risen in the west! How could the Venerable One have thought of coming here?"

Chao Le spoke first.

Xie Xing then shifted his gaze from Xie Yuze to Jun Lanjin.

That familiar ghost mask... isn't that the Lord of the Ghost Palace?

Ghost King?

Why is he here?

Xie Xing glanced at Xie Yuze, then at Jun Lanjin.

She fell silent for a moment.

[Didn't you say Xie Yuze was dead? What happened to him? How did he end up here?]

The system was equally bewildered: [I don't know, the novel says Xie Yuze died!]