Chapter Twelve: The Web of Fate

  She had been staying in the Rong Wang Fu for four consecutive days, but Ze Ran still hadn't come to look for her. Xi Yan felt a slight sense of disappointment in her heart. Was he delayed by something and stayed in the divine realm without returning, or did he truly not care about her at all? As she thought about it, Xi Yan became somewhat agitated, her blue-purple eyes gleaming with an eerie light as they flickered on and off. The red tattoo at her collarbone also pulsed with a crimson glow. She mentally exclaimed that something was amiss, hastily retreating into her room and locking herself inside.

  Due to her agitated mood, those strange occurrences were about to start again. This place was not like a small hut; if others discovered it, they would think she was a monster and might even burn her at the stake. The scar on her collarbone began to throb with a dull pain, and she hastily sat down in front of the mirror, only to find that her eyes had indeed turned blue-purple again.

  What's going on? Won't be able to go out from now on...

  Zhe Yan Zheng was worried, and just then, a "knock knock knock" sound came from the door.

  It's really "what you fear comes true", Xi Yan shrinks into bed and wants to cry but has no tears.

  "Yan'er, Yan'er, are you there?" It was Shen Yuqing's voice!!! Good heavens, if he found out, she would definitely be beaten to death.

  "It's you, Your Highness... I... I fell asleep."

  "Didn't you just get up?" said the maid.

  "Waaaah, that little scamp Le'er, usually he's here the moment it gets light, but today when I need him, he's nowhere to be found! Next time I see him, I'm definitely going to toss him into a pile of bugs!!!"

  "Hehehe, I... am sleepy again." As soon as she said this, Yan Rou regretted it. Such a terrible excuse was actually spoken out loud, even a three-year-old wouldn't believe it.

  "Knock knock knock", the knocking sound became more urgent, "Yan'er quickly open the door, is something wrong with you? Yan'er!"

  Shen Yuqing anxiously knocked on the door outside and pushed it hard, only to find that it was locked from the inside.

  This won't be something that's happened, will it...... He furrowed his brow, gathered his inner strength and pushed the door open with a loud crash. He charged into the room, only to find that there was not a single person inside.

  Liu Kuo and the others heard the commotion and rushed over, only to be shocked by what they saw inside.

  "What about the person?" Shen Yuqing coldly swept her gaze over the kneeling servants, her expression icy. "I told you to serve Miss Yan well, and this is the result of your good service?"

  Everyone in Rong Wang Fu knew that Shen Yuqing was not easily angered, and if he really got angry, the price would be more than they could afford.

  "What's wrong with you, hurry up and go find!"

  The people below shivered with fear, their legs turned soft and they ran out in a hurry, searching for Zhiyan everywhere. But until nightfall, no one found any trace of Zhiyan.

  It was already late at night, and Zhiyan hid behind a large haystack in front of a farmhouse, sobbing quietly. She didn't know what to do or where to go. She wanted to return to her small cottage on the outskirts of Ning City, but she couldn't find her way back. She had never felt so helpless before. In the past, there was Zewan and Le'er by her side, but now she was alone.

  "……Yan'er, what are you doing here?" a warm and familiar voice sounded.

  She lifted her head, looking at his gentle smile under the moonlight, and a multitude of complex emotions surged up in her heart. She grasped his outstretched hand, flung herself into his arms, and burst into tears.

  "Zeran... you've finally come looking for me. I thought you didn't want me anymore."

  "How could I, I won't leave you." Ze Ran gently hugged him, his emotions were also complicated. He had been searching for Ning City for a long time and found that Zhi Yan and Le Er lived in the Rong Wang Fu. He observed her secretly and found that Shen Yu Qing was very good to Zhi Yan, maybe entrusting Zhi Yan to him would be a good thing too. But he didn't expect that after leaving for just one day, such a thing happened. For these few days, his heart had been in turmoil, only when he held her in his arms did his heart finally calm down completely.

  "Your eyes aren't alright, are they? How did it become like that again."

  "I've been thinking about why you never show up, why you don't come to find me. The more I think, the more confused and annoyed I get. Then suddenly... Ah, I realize I can't leave you..."

  Is this fate? The more he didn't want to hurt her, the more he wanted to push her away, but heaven had tied them together with invisible chains. The more they struggled, the more painful it was. One was tormented in his heart, while the other suffered physically and mentally.

  At the same time, on the other side, a group of people were hastily searching on the empty streets at night.

  "Where's my sister? Where's my sister! Return my sister to me, return my sister!" Le Er angrily glared at Shen Yuqing as she walked and quarreled.

  "Le Er Gongzi, don't be in a hurry, I've already sent someone to find him." Shen Yuke furrowed her brow, it's really annoying to have someone making noise beside her at such an urgent moment!

  Le Er wanted to say something else, but suddenly her eyes lit up and she jumped and ran over.

  "Brother! Brother, you were here all along! I've missed you so much! And sister... how did you end up with brother? When I couldn't find you, I was so worried!"

  Upon hearing the sound of music, Shen Yuqing hastily led the crowd over. Ze Ran turned his head, gazing at the flames that illuminated half the night sky with a furrowed brow, and in an instant, all the torches went out.

  Shen Yuqing saw that under the clear and serene moonlight, she was leaning against a man in blue clothes, who was gently holding her and blocking more than half of her body, making it impossible to see what was going on with her. The man in blue clothes tenderly gazed at Zhiyan in his arms, his eyes filled with nothing else. Seeing this scene, Shen Yuqing suddenly felt a pang of jealousy.

  "Is this young master acquainted with Yan'er?" Shen Yujing stepped forward a few steps, bowed to the man in blue and smiled slightly.

  "Yes, thank you, Your Highness, for taking care of Yan'er recently." Ze Ran smiled and nodded at Shen Yuqing. Yan'er still buried her head in Ze Ran's arms, not saying a word. "I'll take Yan'er and Xiao Le'er back now."

  "It's getting late, let's wait till dawn to make plans. Also, let the doctor take a look at Yan'er, so we can both be at ease."

  Ze Ran thought for a moment and nodded lightly, "Alright."

  "Do you plan on staying in my arms forever?" Zeran shook his head helplessly, but a doting smile spread across his face. He lowered his head and whispered, "I just cast a spell, your eyes have already turned back to black."

  "But won't they suspect when they see your hair?"

  "You little fool, I've also cast a spell."

  "But I'm really too tired to walk after a whole day," she looked up at him, innocently batting her eyelashes, leaning into his chest and acting spoiled, "Ziran, hold me."

  Zai Ran helplessly sighed, and under the gaze of everyone, he picked up Xing Yan and carried her in his arms, walking past the crowd with an unchanged expression and a steady heartbeat. Le Er covered her mouth and giggled behind them, while Shen Yuqing followed behind the two with an unnatural expression.

  Back at the Rong Wang Fu, Zhi Yan had already fallen asleep from exhaustion. Le Er insisted on keeping watch over Zhi Yan and sat obediently beside her with big eyes wide open, but soon she couldn't help yawning and dozed off as well. Ze Ran smiled and closed the door, sitting down outside to rest his eyes, while Shen Yu Qing stood in front of him, unsure whether to speak or not, struggling to find the right words.

  "The king stood here for a long time, is there something you want to say to me?" Ze Ran opened his eyes and looked at Shen Yuqing with a faint smile.

  "Is today when you're taking Yan'er away?"

  "Not really, I just happened to run into her."

  "Yan'er said she had no relatives, but then I heard Le'er call you 'gege' (older brother), what exactly are you to her?"

  "Who I am is unimportant, what's important is whether Master Wang is concerned about me or Yan'er right now?"

  Looking at the calm and gentle smile, Shen Yuqing suddenly felt a little annoyed. The person in front of her spoke politely, but always carried an air of pride and a hint of arrogance, definitely not a simple person.

  "What happened today must have its reasons."

  "I know."

  "Tell me."

  "Your Highness is a wise man, and I advise you that some things are better left unknown. Even with your great power and ability, there are still some things that cannot be done."

  Shen Yuqing frowned in dissatisfaction, "She's already told me, I'll definitely help her find home."

  Zeran smiled lightly and said, "I'd like to advise you, Your Highness, that humans can never fight against the heavens. All of this is fate."

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