Chapter 5 A Sudden Question
A Li wet a handkerchief and wiped my face, her eyes red.
"Imperial Princess, the people of Ling Yun Valley are truly wicked. They said they only robbed wealth."
"Don't worry. If he tries to force you, he'll have to kill me first!"
I patted her hand to calm her.
"Don't worry. It hasn't reached that point yet."
Even so, I felt uneasy.
I had only come to Cang Wu Mountain's temporary palace to recover.
My old illness had not healed, and A Li and I were no match for them.
The door creaked open.
Several maids and a white-haired youth stepped inside.
"Don't worry, miss."
The youth smiled. "Our Young Valley Lord means no harm."
"The hour is late. Spending the night in the forest would be dangerous."
"So he asked you both to stay in the valley for one night."
A Li eyed him suspiciously. "Really?"
He raised two fingers. "Of course. I swear on the lives of the entire Wolf Clan."
A Li relaxed and whispered to me.
"Imperial Princess, he didn't lie. He swore on their whole clan's lives."
"Those gold pieces can count as payment for the inn."
I asked, "What is your name?"
He bowed at once. "Xuan Ming."
Xuan Ming sat on a chair and probed, "From the direction you were heading, are you going to Lan Shan?"
I nodded and lowered my eyes. "I am going to find my husband."
Xuan Ming understood. "I see. If you need help from the Fox Clan, just say the word."
I paused. "You're from the Fox Clan?"
Xuan Ming nodded with a smile.
A Li looked ready to fight him. "Then why did you swear on the Wolf Clan's lives?"
I stopped her and asked quickly, "Do you know the Fox Clan branch in Lan Shan City?"
Xuan Ming found it odd but answered honestly. "Of course. Who do you want me to find?"
"Xie Ning," I said seriously.
The room fell silent.
The maids tidying the room froze.
Even Xuan Ming stared.
His expression turned strange. "You... who did you say?"
I thought he hadn't heard clearly and repeated, "Xie Ning of the Fox Clan."
Xuan Ming pulled out a booklet and flipped through it, muttering while wiping sweat. "Same name? Is there such a person in the Fox Clan?"
"Of course there is!"
My voice grew urgent.
"Gentle and refined like jade, noble in character, bright as clear skies."
Xuan Ming flipped faster.
The pages nearly caught fire.
"No way. Does our Fox Clan really have someone like that?"
I thought for a moment and added, "He's the third young master of a side branch. He's been weak since childhood."
Xuan Ming stopped turning pages and exhaled.
"Oh, him."
I pressed on. "How is he now?"
"He doesn't go by Xie Ning either."
Xuan Ming waved a hand. "His name is Xuan Lin. He won't live much longer. He'll die soon."
My heart sank.
Everything around me turned into a black-and-white blur.
I couldn't hear any sound.
I only saw Xuan Ming's mouth opening and closing.
How... how could this be...
He was supposed to live another three years and marry me...
My head spun. I stood up and headed for the door.
"I must go to Lan Shan City right now!"
Xuan Ming and A Li rushed to stop me.
They saw my face streaked with tears and froze.
"Why are you crying?"
"Miss, you must have the wrong person. That third young master looks nothing like what you described."
I didn't hear them.
Tears blurred my vision. Even breathing hurt.
"Let me go! He's my husband!"
A casual laugh came from outside.
"That weakling also has a wife?"
Xuan Ming hurried to the door.
The crowd parted.
A tall figure approached.
He wore the same fur-stitched crimson outfit that emphasized his broad shoulders and narrow waist.
He had removed the bamboo hat. His dark hair fell loosely over his shoulders.
Only a dark gold forehead band rested on his brow.
When he smiled, his eyes and brows looked exactly as before.
I stared, stunned.
He didn't notice and drawled with mockery.
"He won't live much longer. You might as well change—"
I cut him off.
"What is your name!"
I stared at his face.
I walked closer without thinking.
My voice trembled as I asked again.
"You... what is your name..."
The man raised an eyebrow.
"Me?"
He looked me over, leaned down, and smirked.
"I am also called Xie Ning."
"Same name as your fiancé."
"What do you think?"