“My lady, please sit,” he said, his overly beautiful face showing a hint of nostalgia. “It’s been a while, and you’re still so…”
I smiled and sat across from him. “Your Highness, finding me at this time is surely not just for reminiscing?”
“Of course,” Xia Zhiyuan suddenly lost his smile, his expression turning serious.
“How much does my lady know about the An family?”
I was slightly surprised. From this statement, he still can’t determine if I know the truth about the An family. What is his purpose? I feigned confusion: “The An family is my family. Of course I know everything.”
He studied me for a moment, then sighed softly, “My lady may have misunderstood me. In fact, I have never intended to harm you, only to pity you, I assure you.”
I said sadly, “I appreciate Your Highness’s kindness. If you truly mean well, please spare my family. I’m willing to bear my husband’s mistakes, but my family is innocent…”
Xia Zhiyuan raised his wine cup to his lips, looking melancholic. “It seems my lady truly knows nothing.”
“In fact, the An family has been secretly working for the royal family,” Xia Zhiyuan said solemnly. “An Jin is a capable assistant to the royal family. This time, An Jin’s escape with the Su family’s Western Liang spy was to secretly investigate some matters for my father.”
I opened my eyes wide, truly surprised. I never expected Xia Zhiyuan would explain the real situation to me so directly.
Xia Zhiyuan glanced at me, hesitating slightly, seeming somewhat troubled. “I know my lady will find this hard to accept. But what I’m about to say may cause you even more grief. Please remain calm.”
“During the escape, the Su family discovered his true identity,” his peach blossom-like face full of pain, yet looking ironically to me. “He was killed by the Su family.”
He pushed a small black sandalwood box in front of me. “Please accept my condolences.”
My eyes were fixed on the box. What could be inside? Surely not…
He suddenly opened the box. I gasped and instinctively moved back, but found the box contained not a hand or foot, not any part of An Jin’s body, but a silk handkerchief.
The handkerchief was embroidered with a half-blooming distant flower, almost entirely stained with blood.
