Meeting Again

"Miss." After dinner, Qingfeng hurriedly entered the study and said to Zhao Ruxi, "Please go over there, Miss. I have something to report." When Zhao Ruxi saw Qingfeng point to the room where messages were usually sent, she knew that either Xiao Lingyan had come in person, or he had sent someone to deliver a message and ask her to meet.

She put down her pen and went to that room.

The house was empty.

Zhao Ruxi glanced around the room, about to turn to ask Qingfeng, who was standing outside, when she saw someone float down from the roof beam. Who else could it be but Xiao Lingyan?

After his trip to the border, he grew taller and more mature. His features became more defined and deep, and he was like a sword drawn from its sheath, sharp and dazzling.

He stood tall and elegant, smiling at Zhao Ruxi as he opened his arms.

Zhao Ruxi didn't hesitate and ran over to him, throwing herself into his arms, hugging his waist, and burying her face in his chest.

"I'm back." Xiao Lingyan's voice was slightly hoarse.

Zhao Ruxi looked up at the sound, about to ask him a few questions, when Xiao Lingyan pressed his lips down, silencing her before she could speak.

This kiss was unlike the brief one when they parted; it was deep and relentless, conquering and ravaging Zhao Ruxi until her eyes were glazed over and she was almost suffocating before he finally let her go.

"I miss you so much," he said.

Zhao Ruxi remained silent, only tightening her grip on his waist.

Although she was worried about him, she was alright. After all, she could get news about him from the system every day.

She knew that he later used Agility Pill to evade an attack and Taste Discerning Pill to detect a poisoned soup. When he led his confidants in a pretense to steal grain, everyone was quite cold because they had to ambush in the snow. Several soldiers stronger than him fell ill, while he recovered from a stuffy nose after only a short time without any medicine.

At the time, the Cen Family's physician repeatedly remarked that although the Fifth Highness did not appear very strong, his resistance was better than that of ordinary people.

"I'm back thanks to you." Xiao Lingyan released her, looked at her intently, and then placed her hand on his chest. "This life is yours now, take it."

Zhao Ruxi burst out laughing.

She punched him lightly. "A dog's life, who cares?"

Xiao Lingyan as if he had been shot, clutching his chest and feigning death. "Heartbroken."

"Alright, you drama queen, sit down." Zhao Ruxi pulled him to a chair next to her and they sat down.

The room was originally empty, and Zhao Ruxi had never decorated it. Inside were two armchairs, a tea table, and a long table.

Zhao Ruxi pressed Xiao Lingyan down to sit on a chair, and was about to sit on another chair herself when Xiao Lingyan pulled her down into his lap.

"Don't move, just talk to me like this." Xiao Lingyan hugged her tightly.

The two nestled together, and Xiao Lingyan gave Zhao Ruxi a general account of his experiences at the border during this time.

Even though Zhao Ruxi knew, she didn't stop him and listened quietly to Xiao Lingyan speak.

Some things that Xiao Lingyan experienced were clearly quite dangerous, but in Xiao Lingyan description, they became interesting stories with ups and downs and no real danger.

"After all that has happened, what are your emperor father's plans?" Zhao Ruxi asked.

Xiao Lingyan shook his head. "The status quo will probably remain the same."

He explained, "He is naturally dissatisfied with the Crown Prince and the Third Brother and fourth princes, but deposing the Crown Prince is not an easy task, nor is it possible to simply kill the Third Brother and fourth princes. In that case, it is better to maintain the status quo. This is also beneficial to us. If he were to make the second prince the Crown Prince, the second prince would become a target, not only suffering the Crown Prince's furious retaliation but also enduring even fiercer attacks from the Third Brother and fourth princes."

Zhao Ruxi nodded. "Indeed. The Emperor's health is still good; maintaining the status quo and preserving the balance is better."

"I don't know if the coup next winter will happen. But I have a feeling it definitely will. We didn't die this time, and we have many advantages, making us stronger than them all. With the Crown Prince becoming increasingly extreme and the Third Brother's arrogant nature, they definitely won't be able to endure it for long. They won't live to see the Emperor die peacefully."

Zhao Ruxi nodded.

They can now openly drug Xiao Lingpu in front of Xiao Ge, which shows that "to destroy someone, you must first drive them mad." As the plot unfolds, their personalities become increasingly incomprehensible.

"This time it was a life-or-death struggle; the next coup will only be more intense," Xiao Lingyan said. "Your father has been in the Court of Judicial Review for half a year now, and his performance has been quite good. I'll find a way to get him transferred to a post soon. That way, when you leave after the imperial examinations, it won't seem too deliberate."

Zhao Ruxi nodded. "Okay. But I won't go; I'll stay in the capital with you."

This time, separated by thousands of miles, even though she knew someone was targeting Xiao Lingyan, she couldn't notify him. She felt incredibly distressed.

The coup d'état next year will only be more intense. If she stays in the capital, she can lend Xiao Lingyan a hand. At the very least, she can remind him to avoid risks.

"No." Xiao Lingyan shook his head. "If you stay here, I'll be distracted. If others find out about our relationship, they'll use you as a hostage. You know, in my heart, you're more important than my life. If someone really wants to threaten me with you, they'll succeed without fail."

"No one else will know," Zhao Ruxi said.

"They'll find out. If I were really in danger, could you just sit at home? You'd be running around trying to figure something out for me. Wouldn't that expose us?"

"You're in danger, why would I care about being exposed? In your eyes, am I that selfish?" Zhao Ruxi retorted.

"That's not how it works." Xiao Lingyan looked at her, his eyes very serious. "Compared to us princes, you have almost no ability to protect yourself. You have to admit that. I suppose you wouldn't want me to give you half of my Imperial Guards and secret guards, would you?"

Zhao Ruxi shook her head and sighed inwardly.

This is the difference in social status.

She wasn't short of money, but it was almost impossible for her to train assassins like Xiao Lingyan. Although the Earl of Suiping's Residence was inconspicuous, it was still under the watchful eyes of all the powerful figures in the capital. If she made any unusual moves, the emperor and several princes would notice.

"Isn't that settled?" Xiao Lingyan continued to persuade her, "You have no ability to protect yourself. Once you're exposed, we'll both be finished before the danger here even manifests."

Zhao Ruxi knew he was telling the truth.

"After the imperial examinations, arrange for me to be located closer to the capital. You know one of my abilities: if I get any information, I can get it to you in time."

"Okay." Xiao Lingyan agreed.

He knew that his second brother, Xiao Lingpu, had been saved by Zhao Ruxi; otherwise, he would have drunk the soup at the palace banquet and become cannon fodder as the original plot had unfolded. The current situation was entirely due to the information provided by Zhao Ruxi.