The cold feelings from fear contrasted starkly with the burning temperature emitted by the man beside her.
This made her acutely aware of their vastly different levels of martial prowess; any move she made would undoubtedly result in her being killed without mercy.
Xie Liangchen had schemed against Ji Yuan, knowing Ji Yuan was a military general and possessed a daunting aura, but compared to this person, Ji Yuan was far inferior. The sheer bloodthirstiness and killing intent from this man made one's hair stand on end, not to mention his decisiveness and briskness.
Xie Liangchen instantly calmed down; since there was no chance of escape, she wouldn't act recklessly anymore.
Someone opened the door and first glanced over at the bed to find Xie Liangchen still not awake; only then did she turn around, take the candle from the table, and walk out.
Voices of conversation came from outside the door.
"What are you doing?"
"The light in the young lady's room hasn't been extinguished."
"How is the young lady?"
"Still just like before, hasn't woken up."
Young lady, was this addressing her? What Xie Liangchen wanted to figure out more was the current situation; only then could she truly escape danger.
Xie Liangchen looked around the room again, her gaze sweeping over the furnishings, progressively feeling more shocked; she recognized this room, it was the Xie Family's house, where she lived before getting married.
The person beside her seemed to have guessed her intention and did not stop her.
Xie Liangchen continued searching for clues, focusing on the flute hanging on the wall—left by her father, which she had taken with her when the elders of the Xie Family arranged for her to marry into the Su Family. But everything now was clearly as it was before she got married.
Recalling the words heard in a semi-conscious state before.
Xie Liangchen almost couldn't believe it; her breathing became rapid.
She first reached out to touch her abdomen, where there was no piercing wound, then placed her hand on her face, feeling smooth skin under her palm. The scars from when she killed Ji Yuan were all gone.
Even if she survived, the scars wouldn't disappear without reason, unless something incomprehensible happened.
While doing this, the sharp blade hadn't moved from her neck, the chilling sensation urged Xie Liangchen to snap back to normal and maintain her usual calm.
She didn't dare to ascertain the situation, but she realized who the man beside her was and why he looked somewhat familiar—because they'd just met.
He was Marquis Xuanwei, Song Xian. She had only seen Song Xian briefly before, but he now appeared somewhat different, so she couldn't recall him immediately.
Xie Liangchen turned to look inward at the bed; the man had already uncovered the quilt and leaned aside, his gaze fixed on her every move.
Song Xian calmly watched Xie Liangchen, allowing her scrutiny; as her gaze shifted from inquisitive to astonished and fearful, Song Xian's eyes showed a trace of derision; she had recognized him but tried to hide it.
Song Xian spoke coldly: "Trying to pretend not to recognize?"
Xie Liangchen's final probe dissipated with this sentence.
It was indeed Marquis Xuanwei, only he looked much younger, appearing no more than twenty years old.
Before killing Ji Yuan, Xie Liangchen had never met Song Xian, nor should Song Xian know her, yet Song Xian had just mentioned Ji Yuan.
When speaking of Ji Yuan, his gaze contained a measure of scrutiny, and now, he exposed her intentions.
Since waking, every move she made had been seen through by Song Xian.
Xie Liangchen remained silent; she wouldn't speak until she could think further and ascertain the situation.
Song Xian's voice was deep: "It's now the 16th year of Daqi Yuanping, August."
Upon hearing this, Xie Liangchen's ears buzzed, and her heart rapidly thumped; disbelief filled her eyes.
She remembered clearly; it was the 28th year of Daqi Yuanping, April, when Ji Yuan was killed. If Song Xian was telling the truth, then she had returned twelve years ago, to when she was just fourteen.
At fourteen, she had just returned to the Xie Family, hence being addressed as "young lady," and hearing those words beside her.
Upon understanding, joy followed; at fourteen, her younger brother was only seven—they both were not dead.
But... what exactly happened? Why was Song Xian here too?
Xie Liangchen spoke: "You are Marquis Xuanwei? What exactly has happened?" She didn't know Song Xian well, but the feeling he gave her was different; lying in front of an intelligent person wouldn't yield the desired result.
If she attempted to conceal further, he might resort to other methods for interrogation; fortunately, she could read the situation well, sparing him some effort.
Song Xian looked at Xie Liangchen: "What means did you use? For a dying person to return twelve years earlier."
Xie Liangchen shook her head in bewilderment: "I only remember the Marquis killed Ji Yuan, rescued me, and then I said one thing to the Marquis. The Marquis's great kindness, I will repay in the next life by becoming a cattle or a horse."
Could it be because of these words? In the next life, living one more life...
Song Xian continued: "And then?"
Xie Liangchen said: "It seemed like my younger brother came to receive me; I wanted to grasp my brother's hand, to take him home with me."
"You did grab someone, but it wasn't your younger brother," Song Xian's voice was indifferent, his gaze deepened, "You grabbed me."
Xie Liangchen stared at Song Xian in shock; so Song Xian's presence here was related to her?
Xie Liangchen finally understood why Song Xian sought her out—returning twelve years was a boon for her; she could protect her younger brother, change their destinies.
But for Song Xian, it was different; in the previous life, Song Xian was about to rebel and nearly achieve the desired kingdom, suddenly retreating twelve years meant all efforts were wasted, everything had to start anew.
If killing her could return to twelve years later, Song Xian would definitely do it without hesitation.
Sadly, such an event occurred too strangely; maybe her death would result in unexpected outcomes.
Linking her with this affair both beneficially and disadvantageously for Song Xian.
While contemplating, Song Xian focused on her neck: "That half of the Jade Pendant on your necklace, where is it?"
Her Jade Pendant? Xie Liangchen instinctively touched her collar; why would Song Xian want that half of the Jade Pendant?
Song Xian was evidently losing patience: "Will you take it out, or should I take action to retrieve it?"