Chapter 333: Flame (Fifth Update)

“What if it wasn't Chu Liuyue who did it? What will you do then?” Si Yezhi asked in a heavy voice.

The Empress choked on her words, unable to think of a rebuttal, and could only continue to mutter in a low voice.

“It must be her! It must be! It couldn't be anyone else but her!”

Si Yezhi felt a splitting headache.

“Jing'er, listen to me. Rong Zhen has gone missing, and I know you are anxious; I am too! But we absolutely cannot act this way! At a time like this, everything must be handled with caution, otherwise, one single slip-up could result in losing everything!”

The Empress gradually calmed down.

“Then... then what should we do? Are we just supposed to sit here and wait for death?”

Si Yezhi fell silent for a moment.

“I will send someone to look into Chu Liuyue's side to see if there is anything unusual.”

The Empress's eyes lit up.

“Yes, yes, yes! Isn't Si Ting also at Tianlu Academy? And I heard they are classmates, so they must have some contact. It would be most appropriate to let him go!”

However, Si Yezhi felt a sense of aversion in his heart.

He placed great importance on Si Ting and had always been training him as his successor.

This kind of matter was not exactly honorable, and given Si Ting's temperament, he would certainly be unwilling.

Furthermore, Si Yezhi himself was not entirely willing to let Si Ting do such things.

“After the Qingjiao Assembly, Si Ting accumulated a lot of experience and has been focusing on his cultivation recently. There is no need to send him for this. Besides, it is merely gathering information; it would be more appropriate to send Si Yang. His relationship with Chu Liuyue is closer.”

The Empress disagreed.

“Si Yang? Can he manage with that flighty personality of his? Big Brother, this matter may seem small, but it is of utmost importance! Big Brother, you might not understand Chu Liuyue; she is an extremely shrewd person! If Si Yang goes, there is an eighty percent chance she will notice something is wrong! Si Ting is steady and cautious; it is more appropriate to let him go!”

Si Yezhi's face darkened, and he said nothing.

The Empress glanced at him cautiously, leaned in closer, and pleaded in a softened voice

“Big Brother, I know you have always doted on Si Ting the most, and I do not wish to trouble him with these matters. But... we have no other way, do we? If you are truly unwilling, then... I will find someone myself. Over all these years, I have troubled you quite a bit... I only hope that if something happens in the future, you will not involve yourself or the Si family.”

As she spoke, two lines of tears fell down her face.

She was his sister after all; it was not that Si Yezhi did not feel for her.

Seeing her in such a difficult position, his heart also felt heavy.

“Then, Big Brother, your sister shall take her leave.”

The Empress wiped the tears from her face and made a motion to stand up and leave.

Si Yezhi shook his head helplessly.

“Just let Si Ting go!”

The Empress looked at him with a face full of pleasant surprise and gratitude, tears welling up in her eyes once more.

“...Thank you, Big Brother!”

Si Yezhi sighed and patted her shoulder.

“It hasn't been easy for you in the palace all these years, and you have helped the Si family a lot. We rise and fall together. This small matter is nothing. You have been out for long enough today; return to the palace as soon as possible. Once there is news, I will inform you immediately.”

The Empress thanked him a few more times before finally leaving.

***

At the Prince of Li's Mansion.

Rong Xiu lay reclining on the bed, resting with his eyes closed.

He extended an arm, which was covered in scars; some were so deep they revealed bone, the flesh mangled and bloody, looking quite terrifying.

Yu Mo knelt half-way by the bedside, carefully helping him change his bandages.

Even for someone like him, who was accustomed to slaughter, seeing his master's wounds still made his heart skip a beat.

He lifted the gauze, but due to the bleeding and suppuration, a large portion of the gauze had adhered to the flesh.

Yu Mo took a sharp knife and carefully cut through the adhered parts.

However, certain parts of the wound inevitably tore open.

Yu Mo quickly glanced up at his master, letting out a long sigh in his heart.

Given his master's strength, the collapse of the Nine Nether Tower absolutely could not have posed any threat to him.

The reason he had sustained such heavy injuries was clearly intentional.

As for whom, it went without saying.

“Master, how long do you plan to convalesce from these wounds?”

Yu Mo removed the gauze and hesitated before several bottles nearby.

Rong Xiu said indifferently

“Just use the gray one.”

Yu Mo paused.

“Master, the medicine in this one is quite mediocre for your wounds. How about switching to the white one instead?”

He did not dare ask his master to use the best one, the gold one, so he could only settle for the next best thing, but even that was much better than the gray one!

Rong Xiu ignored his words and instead asked

“What is the situation with Yan Qing?”

Yu Mo immediately replied

“Ever since you entered the Nine Nether Tower, Yan Qing went there immediately. According to him, it seems he has made some discoveries. He is currently on his way back and should return today.”

Rong Xiu gave a faint "Mm," his emotions unreadable.

Silence fell upon the room once more.

Yu Mo hesitated for a moment, then spoke up boldly

“Master, I know you do not wish to recover too quickly to avoid suspicion, but you must also consider Miss Liuyue, must you not? She knows you sustained these injuries for her sake and will surely feel guilty. If your wounds do not improve day by day, won't she feel heartbroken every time she sees them?”

Rong Xiu's eyelashes, which were like a feather fan, trembled slightly. He then slowly opened his eyes and looked at Yu Mo thoughtfully.

Those phoenix eyes were pure and deep, like the most brilliant and mysterious starry night, as if they could see through everything.

Suddenly, a flicker of golden flame flashed through the depths of his eyes!

Yu Mo's heart jumped.

“Master—”