"You won't succeed! I want to rest. Please leave immediately!" Bing Zhi issued her dismissal.
Ning Fei snorted and left with a sweep of his sleeve, unaware of the figure outside the door.
"Do you have something else?" Bing Zhi called out sharply, only to be surprised, "Ai Xue! How is it you?"
"I happened to pass by and overheard something I shouldn't have... Bing Zhi, let me help you escape." A painful look was clearly visible in Ai Xue's eyes.
Bing Zhi had always wanted to expose Ning Fei's true nature to Ai Xue, but at this moment, she hesitated. Knowing everything might bring calm, but would also cause deep hurt. Bing Zhi could not imagine how much struggle Ai Xue had gone through. "After sending me away, what about you?"
"I will come back to persuade him to stop. No matter the final outcome, I will not regret my choice." Ai Xue's face showed heartbreaking determination.
Pausing for a moment, Ai Xue continued: “In these past few days, you have not left this room, and given your special status when you were brought here, few people in the manor have seen you. After dinner, you can put on my clothes and disguise yourself as me. I don’t usually talk much, so remember not to speak unless absolutely necessary. Go directly behind the wing room, and walk a bit slower – the time difference should work out. I will leave the room and meet you after you’ve been gone for a while, which will be during the shift change of Ning Hui’s subordinates, so they naturally won’t notice two ‘me’s appearing consecutively.”
Bing Zhi listened intently, not missing a single detail. It was only at this moment that Bing Zhi truly understood that Ai Xue was older and not useless, but rather had a much more meticulous mind. Although Bing Zhi might have thought of these things, she could not have been as agile as Ai Xue.
“Do you have any thoughts?” Ai Xue asked, seemingly relieved, seeking Bing Zhi’s opinion.
“There are basically no major problems now. The rest is up to fate,” Bing Zhi thought for a moment and added, “However, we still need to plan the entire process in detail, especially where we should go after leaving the secret passage to quickly get out of the manor’s sphere of influence. Are you familiar with the terrain outside?
“Ai Xue helplessly shook her head, “I didn’t pay attention since it wasn’t intentional. In any case, I will only leave after confirming your safety.”
“Ai Xue, are you sure about what you’re doing? You know that no matter how carefully we plan, nothing is foolproof. What if even that secret passage…” She herself had no concerns, willing to take the risk, but Ai Xue had no need to be involved.
Ai Xue waved her hand, “This is what I owe you. Don’t overthink it. If I hadn’t drugged your tea, you wouldn’t have been kidnapped here and wouldn’t have to risk your life escaping. So, let’s act tonight. Rest well in the morning and gather your strength.” She then pulled out a dagger from her sleeve, “This is the dagger you used that day. I’ve been keeping it, and now I’m returning it to you.”
Bing Zhi took the dagger, laughing, “You’ve been keeping it because you were afraid I might commit suicide, right? If I wanted to, I wouldn’t necessarily need such a weapon. Besides, I’m not that fragile.” Ai Xue was still protecting her.
“Don’t flatter yourself… I just didn’t want any unexpected complications,” Ai Xue said vaguely. “I’ll go check outside again.”
Bing Zhi watched Ai Xue leave, gently caressing the recovered dagger, silently praying that everything would pass without incident.
…
Ao Long Mountain Villa was as quiet as usual, but Bing Zhi and Ai Xue’s faces were solemn.
“Are you nervous?
” Ai Xue looked at Bing Zhi’s hand hanging by her side, tightly clenched.
Bing Zhi tried to steady herself: “Don’t worry, it’s a matter of life and death, I won’t be reckless.”
At this moment, Bing Zhi had changed into the goose-yellow long dress that Ai Xue usually loved to wear, her hair no longer in a bun but slightly lifted like Ai Xue’s, falling naturally.
“You will escape safely,” Ai Xue said firmly, then packed the remaining food into a container and steadily placed it in Bing Zhi’s arms, her eyes shining with a different light, “No matter what happens, stay calm and strong!”
Bing Zhi had never seen Ai Xue like this. She had always unconsciously treated Ai Xue as a little maid by her side, obedient and clever, with words that always carried a sweet undertone. But when faced with challenges, Ai Xue would usually panic.
“I’m going now, take care of yourself,” Bing Zhi could not say more, only this simple sentence.
“You too,” Ai Xue suddenly gripped Bing Zhi’s hand tightly, then released it. This small action did not escape Bing Zhi’s eyes and heart. Bing Zhi nodded solemnly to her, then stepped forward without hesitation, her pace as usual but showing exceptional determination and calmness.
Bing Zhi could face whatever lay ahead – whether an abyss or a clear path – she had already felt her resolute determination at this moment. Escape!
As long as she escaped, everything would be over. She only wished her life would no longer be turbulent!
“Ai Xue, I will compensate you, even if it means sacrificing my life,” she looked at herself in the mirror, taking a final, lingering glance.
A moment later, her eyes regained clarity, deep as a still lake. She hid the short sword she had carried for years, then entered the inner room, gently lowering the bed curtains to create the illusion of Bing Zhi sleeping.
A smile curved her lips, she took a deep breath and turned gracefully.
The flickering candlelight swayed by the bedside, but the person in the room had vanished.
Bing Zhi grabbed something in a panic. Last time, she clearly heard Ning Fei calling Ai Xue “junior sister,” so why does he call her so intimately today? Could he have already discovered something?
Chapter 14: Snow Passing (Part 2)
Bing Zhi did not hurry to turn around, only bending down to place the food box aside, understanding in her heart, “Ning Fei, how did you see through me?”
“Impressive! Knowing that I’ve seen through you! That girl Ai Xue is too naive, truly believing I had no guard against her and trusted her completely!” Ning Fei said with interest, “Unfortunately, I had people monitoring her every move from the beginning, including overhearing our conversation early this morning.”
It turns out everything was in his control!
A wave passed through Bing Zhi’s eyes, and she laughed, “I underestimated you! What will you do now that you’ve seen through me?” Now Bing Zhi could only hope Ai Xue would arrive in time to help her. Being so close to Ning Fei, even without martial arts, she could still harm him!
Ning Fei clapped his hands, and suddenly the lights blazed brightly. At a glance, Ning Hui had already surrounded the area completely with his people.
“You wanted to escape through that tunnel? I can tell you that even if you escape, you’re still in my control!” Ning Fei pointed with his chin to the nearby flowers and grass, where a hole could vaguely be seen.
“What of it? You cannot kill me! You despicable person!” Bing Zhi seemed to want to provoke Ning Fei. So she needed to buy time for Ai Xue by engaging with Ning Fei.
Ning Hui wanted to step forward at Bing Zhi’s provocative words, but was stopped by Ning Fei, “Ning Hui, don’t let her lead you by the nose. She’s just trying to delay time!”
“Wanting to compete with me, your thoughts are still too shallow,” Ning Fei said, approaching Bing Zhi with a strange smile, “Tonight, I’ll make this place the burial ground for all who oppose me.”
Bing Zhi was frightened by the madness in Ning Fei’s eyes and kept backing away.
Just as Ning Fei was about to grab Bing Zhi, he suddenly stopped, coldly laughing, “Hmph, the person you’re waiting for has arrived!”
