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

"Your Highness!" Just as Xie Mingzhu was struggling with her decision, a voice suddenly came to her ear.

Xie Mingzhu was startled and turned around to look, only to see Lai Xiao wearing a straw hat waving at her from the shadows.

Xie Mingzhu was overjoyed.

Lai Xiao's appearance was a pleasant surprise during her most helpless time.

Xie Mingzhu immediately dismounted, went to Lai Xiao's side, and asked, "What are you doing here?"

Lai Xiao covered his hat with his hand, looked around to make sure no one was looking this way, and then pulled Xie Mingzhu into a corner and whispered, "Princess, the court is investigating very strictly. We traveled all the way south and finally managed to hide here."

"I just didn't expect that we would occupy this city with our army so soon after we arrived."

"Princess, what brings you here?"

Xie Mingzhu bit her lip. "It's a long story."

"Do you have any way to cure Han Feng of the poison?"

"He was poisoned while trying to save me."

When Lai Xiao heard Xie Mingzhu mention Luo Hanfeng's name, her expression became indescribable.

How come so much time has passed, yet the princess is still so entangled with this prince?

Lai Xiao hesitated for a moment, but finally couldn't help but speak up: "Your Highness, you are a princess of the previous dynasty, and he is a prince of the Chu dynasty. Your positions are not aligned, and there is no way you can be together."

Xie Mingzhu was unhappy to hear him say that.

She said anxiously, "Han Feng is different. He doesn't care about the throne. He has never felt love since he was a child and hates the previous emperor. He won't have a different stance than me."

As she spoke, Xie Mingzhu's voice grew weaker and weaker.

Because she remembered the conversation between Luo Hanfen and Chao Le earlier.

Xie Mingzhu couldn't understand what Xie Xing had to do with this.

Luo Hanfeng clearly wanted to kill Xie Xing, so why would he compete with Chao Le for Xie Xing?

Xie Mingzhu even doubted her own ears, wondering if she had heard her own name as Xie Xing's.

Thinking about it this way, Xie Mingzhu felt relieved.

That's right, that should be it.

After all, Chao Le originally intended to take her into his household as a concubine when he captured her. If Luo Hanfeng mistook Xie Xing for her, then Xie Mingzhu could understand his outburst of anger.

That must be true.

Xie Mingzhu's eyes hardened even more. "Save him, otherwise our restoration of the kingdom will be impossible for you to accomplish alone."

Lai Xiao: "..."

Just as he was about to speak, a deep voice sounded behind him: "My good-for-nothing disciple has truly caused the princess so much worry. But it's alright, princess, return my disciple to me, and I will be able to cure him."

Xie Mingzhu was startled and looked up toward the source of the sound.

Behind Lai Xiao stood a man wearing a cloak that concealed his face. The man's face was shrouded in shadow. He reached out to Xie Mingzhu and said, "Come, Princess, give him to me."

"Who are you?" Xie Mingzhu looked at the man warily.

The man chuckled: "Me? Of course, I'm the master of my good-for-nothing disciple."

Lai Xiao spoke up: "This Mr. Situ was a good friend of the late Emperor. He can be trusted. Princess, you can entrust Luo Hanfeng to him."

"Han Feng is my disciple whom I personally taught and raised, so the princess can rest assured."

Upon hearing this, Xie Mingzhu hesitated for a moment. She glanced at Luo Hanfeng, who was half-dead and lying on the horse, hesitated for a moment, and finally handed Luo Hanfeng over to the man.

"Princess, come with me and meet our people."

Seeing this, Lai Xiao led Xie Mingzhu to their hiding place.

……

The next day.

Xie Tongchen's injuries had healed a bit. With his body covered in bandages, he stood up, changed into his own clothes, and said, "I'm leaving."

"I can't disappear for too long."

Otherwise, Song Ci'an and the others would think that something had happened to him, and that would cause trouble.

I wonder if Luo Hanfeng has gone back yet. If he goes back before Xie Tongchen, it will be detrimental to the Xie family.

Xie Xing rested his chin on his hand, and upon hearing this, glanced up at Xie Tongchen and casually said, "You can leave now."

Xie Tongchen frowned and walked to Xie Xing's side.

His tall figure blocked Xie Xing's view.

Xie Xing looked up: "I just saved you, you don't have to repay kindness with enmity right away, do you?"

These words made Xie Tongchen's expression grow even colder. He said, "In your heart, is that the kind of person I am?"

"No matter what, I'm still your older brother."

Hearing this, Xie Xing couldn't help but chuckle: "Kill my own brother?"

Xie Tongchen: "..."

He choked up.

There's a feeling of helplessness, like wanting to speak but having your mouth blocked by a wad of cotton.

He really had nothing to say about that.

He took a deep breath. "It was my fault before, but I can't leave you out there alone."

Xie Xing also had a tiger tally hidden on him.

Xie Xing said, "Given my current status, following you would be the greatest danger."

Xie Xing escaped from prison. If the emperor finds out, the Xie family is truly doomed.

Xie Tongchen said calmly, "It's alright. With just a little concealment, no one will notice you."

“Your third brother is here with me too.”

"I won't go with you," Xie Xing refused.

She didn't speak very kindly to Xie Tongchen.

Xie Tongchen: "..."

He glanced inside and roughly understood why Xie Xing was there. Staying by Jun Lanjin's side was safe, but could Jun Lanjin be completely trusted?

Of course not.

A profound silence fell over the surroundings.

After a few seconds of silence, Xie Tongchen slowly spoke, "Once I've settled in, I'll ask His Majesty for permission to return to court. You'll come back with me then."

"If we win this battle, the Xie family will be released."

After saying this, Xie Tongchen paused, then continued, "At that time, the Xie family will have no other daughters besides you."

After saying this, Xie Tongchen turned and walked towards the door.

Upon hearing this, Xie Xing looked up and stared in disbelief at Xie Tongchen's retreating figure.

Did you hear what he said?

System: [I heard you, how shameless.]

[It's ridiculous. I am the Xie family's biological daughter, but in his mouth, it's as if I only became the Xie family's true daughter after he saved my life in a life-threatening situation.]

System: [Host, this is all predicated on Xie Mingzhu abandoning him and making him personally experience the taste of betrayal and abandonment. Otherwise, you're not yet his acknowledged sister.]

The desire for unification by one person reached Xie Tongchen's mind.

Xie Tongchen stumbled.

His face showed confusion, as if he couldn't understand why Xie Xing could throw such a tantrum.

That's not what he meant.

Do not……

Xie Tongchen fell silent again.

If he hadn't truly been abandoned, he would never have believed that Xie Mingzhu was such a person.

She's right...