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墨書 Inktalez
"Xiao Jingyan." The familiar yet strange name slipped from my lips.
Xiao Jingyan removed his female disguise, tearing away the makeup from his face, a cold smile curling at the corners of his mouth. His fingers wiped away the last traces of powder with an elegance that sent chills down my spine.
"Su Wan, I never expected you to find your way here." He approached me slowly, his gaze as deep as a well. "Feigning death, escaping, mastering disguise... you learn quickly."
I tightened my grip on the short sword, my palms slick with cold sweat. Behind me was the window, filled with guards standing ominously outside; in front of me were Xiao Jingyan and Liu Ru Yan, their eyes regarding me like a prey about to be caught.
"So... where is the real Princess Mingyi?" I forced myself to remain calm, my eyes darting between the two while I subtly assessed my surroundings for an escape route.
Liu Ru Yan let out a delicate laugh, gently waving her fan. "The real princess? She's in another cold palace, but..." Her gaze turned icy and piercing. "You won't be able to see her."
"You impersonated the princess for the secrets of the Thousand Faces Pavilion." I gritted my teeth, secretly calculating my escape plan. "What is hidden in Chang Xiang Si?"
"Smart." Xiao Jingyan seemed pleased with my response. "However, what I'm more concerned about is—where is Xie Cheng'an?"
So they set this trap to lure Xie Cheng'an out! My heart sank, relieved that he hadn't come with me.
Liu Ru Yan's gaze fell on the sachet hanging from my neck. "This is from Xie Cheng'an, isn't it?" She giggled. "He’s always like that, so attentive to every woman."
I watched her warily. "What is your relationship with Xie Cheng'an?"
"He used to be mine..." Liu Ru Yan's smile suddenly froze, a flicker of hatred crossing her eyes. "Never mind, that's not important."
Xiao Jingyan sneered. "Ms. Liu, don't waste time." He gestured towards the window, and immediately someone brought in a wooden box.
When the box opened, it revealed a black bird, stiff and lifeless, its claws clutching a small rolled-up note.
"This is Xie Cheng'an's messenger," Xiao Jingyan said as he took out the note and unfolded it before me. "His whereabouts have been exposed; he is currently surrounded by my men at West City Gate."
The note indeed bore Xie Cheng'an's handwriting, hastily written with the words "West City besieged, come quickly," the ink still wet.
I was taken aback but maintained my composure. "So what? I barely know him."
Xiao Jingyan reached out to caress my cheek; I suppressed my disgust and did not pull away.
His voice was low and dangerous. "Su Wan, do you think I'm a three-year-old child?"
"What else should I think?" I retorted with a mocking smile. "I hate you to the bone; why would I care about Xie Cheng'an's life or death for revenge?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Xiao Jingyan's eyes before he returned to his indifferent demeanor. "Take her to West City; draw Xie Cheng'an out."
But Liu Ru Yan suddenly spoke up. "Wait, Lord Xiao." Her voice was sweet enough to send shivers down my spine.
"There is a slow-acting poison inside this woman, which I administered. If Xie Cheng'an truly cares for her, he will definitely provide her with the antidote."
A thought struck me, and I couldn't help but reach for the small porcelain vial at my waist—the highly toxic powder we had secretly developed.
Feigning panic, I struggled deliberately, causing the vial to fall and shatter on the ground, releasing a cloud of white powder into the air.
"Ah! You idiot!" Liu Ru Yan screamed as she stumbled back, but she had already inhaled some of the powder.
Xiao Jingyan immediately covered his mouth and nose, his voice sharp as he demanded, "What is this?"
I held my breath, seizing the opportunity to leap towards the window.
Xiao Jingyan's sword grazed my sleeve, the sharp tip leaving a trail of blood on my shoulder.
Ignoring the pain, I jumped out and landed on the flower cart that had been prepared in advance.
"Catch her!" Xiao Jingyan's furious shout echoed behind me, but Liu Ru Yan suddenly let out a pained groan.
"I... I can't see..." Her voice was filled with terror. "My eyes..."
Then came Xiao Jingyan's scream from inside the room.
The two of them dying together was a fitting end for such a pair.
As the flower cart rolled over the bluestone slabs, I heard the sound of glazed tiles shattering behind me.
I turned back to look, and through the carved window of the cold palace, two twisted figures were writhing in the poisonous mist.
Liu Ru Yan's sharp nails tore at Xiao Jingyan's face while his sword pierced her abdomen.
"Antidote... give me the antidote!" Xiao Jingyan's voice sounded as if it had been scraped by sandpaper.
Liu Ru Yan laughed maniacally, her bloodied fan stabbing into his throat. "If I die... you won't get it either..."
The moonlight cast their silhouettes onto the paper window, resembling two dying beasts gnawing at each other.
The broken plaque of the temple swayed in the night, and I leaned against the door frame, gasping heavily.
The blood seeping from my shoulder stained half of my clothing red, yet it could not compare to the burning heat in my heart—turns out that taking revenge on one's enemies felt even more searing than I had imagined.
"Who allowed you to get hurt?"
A voice tinged with mild anger descended from above; Xie Cheng'an swooped down before me like a black eagle.
His fingertips were smeared with hemostatic ointment, yet his movements were gentler than spring mist. As his dark sleeve brushed against my neck, I caught a whiff of fresh snow mixed with rust from his body.
"Are you so concerned about me?" I pushed his hand away, but he quickly grabbed my wrist and pinned it against the wall.
The candlelight flickered in his eyes, swirling into a dark golden vortex. "If I were to encounter danger in West City, would Miss Su come to my rescue?"
His warm breath brushed against my earlobe, and I coldly laughed at the scar faintly visible at his collar. "With skills like Young Master Xie’s, why would you need anyone else’s help?"
Suddenly, he leaned closer, our noses nearly touching. "What if I said I do need help?"
I pressed the short sword hidden in my sleeve against his chest, but he pinched the blade's tip with two fingers. "Such caution—are you afraid of me..." The blade slid along his fingertips, finally resting against the jade clasp of his waist sash. "Or are you more afraid of yourself?"
The call of an owl outside the temple broke the tension, and Qing Zhu's murmurs timely interrupted us. Xie Cheng'an stepped back slightly and removed my blood-stained cloak. "Xiao Jingyan has three more hidden stakes in the south of the city."
"We'll burn them down tomorrow." I snatched the wound medicine from his hand.
"And then what?" He suddenly grasped my half-bandaged hand. "The vengeful Heroine Su —who will you harm next?"
As I pulled my hand away, I deliberately brushed against his palm. "Naturally, I'll find a compliant lover to serve me daily..." I turned and walked away.
No matter what awaited me ahead, at least in this moment, I was the master of my own fate. The original story has changed; my destiny is now mine to write. I, Su Wan, am no longer that foolish supporting character who was poisoned to death.
I finally understood that the most important thing is not revenge but simply living—living well. This time, I will write my own story.
(End of text)
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