Chapter 49: Conversation

"Xiao Yunci, are you out of your mind?" Song Xirui's voice was laced with irritation.

Having fallen out with Su Yun just yesterday and suffered from one nightmare after another through the night, she was in no mood for pleasantries now.

Xiao Yunci's gaze shifted slightly.

To think that this delicate young woman dared to speak to him in such a manner—she was truly devoid of manners.

Yet, for some reason, he felt no anger. Instead, a trace of amusement tugged at his lips. "This general is indeed suffering from a grave illness, Madame. You would do well not to speak to me like this; should I drop dead in a fit of rage, wouldn't that ruin your grand plans?"

Too lazy to humor him, Song Xirui retorted, "Speak if you have something to say, and leave if you have nothing."

Inwardly, she could only sigh.

The Su family was one thing.

The fact that Xiao Yunci could also come and go as he pleased within the Song residence showed that the security here was utterly useless. Tomorrow, she must tell her father to heighten vigilance and put stricter security measures in place.

"I came to ask you how we should execute our subsequent plans," Xiao Yunci said calmly.

Now that Song Xirui had returned to the Song residence, she naturally had no way of probing the movements of Su Yun and the Third Prince. Besides, in his heart, he was intensely curious about the secrets she held, eager to discover what other means this woman kept hidden.

Judging by today's performance, she was fully a match for a top-tier assassin.

Lowering her gaze in thought for a moment, Song Xirui ignored his question and instead asked, "Was the Princess invited here by you?"

The timing of the Princess's appearance today had been far too suspicious, and she had arrived without the slightest reason.

As a member of the imperial lineage, the Princess had no need to show special favor to a top imperial scholar.

Even if she wished to form connections, would she rush into someone's private residence in such a hurried manner?

It was entirely abnormal.

Unless someone had invited her.

Could it be Xiao Yunci?

Xiao Yunci raised a brow slightly, the corners of his lips curving upward as a half-smirk touched his eyes.

He shrugged. "It was me."

Unprepared for him to admit it so readily, Song Xirui was momentarily left speechless.

Then she heard Xiao Yunci say, "I've had people secretly monitoring the situation at the Su family estate. Knowing you were in trouble, I sent the Princess to rescue you."

At this, he added, "Though you had already sent someone to fetch your father, so perhaps this general's intervention was superfluous."

Song Xirui gently shook her head. "How could it be? If only my father had come, would they have let me return so easily? They likely would have seized the opportunity to make a huge scene."

Xiao Yunci's move had not only resolved her immediate crisis but had also preserved her reputation.

In the event of a future annulment, with the Princess acting as the primary witness, no one would be able to utter a single word against her.

Riding the momentum, Xiao Yunci remarked, "Knowing that, you should be grateful. This general went to great pains to help you."

In response, Song Xirui rolled her eyes dramatically.

She observed him sideways, a hint of confusion lingering in her gaze.

In her past life, Xiao Yunci and the Princess had no intersecting paths. Why, in this lifetime, was he able to prompt the Princess to come to her rescue?

Testing the waters, Song Xirui asked, "The General and the Princess seem to share an old acquaintance?"

She wanted to know what other information she was missing in this life.

Xiao Yunci's expression remained calm, though a sudden smile danced in his eyes as he teased playfully, "Why does Madame ask this? Could it be that you've taken a fancy to this humble self and are feeling jealous?"

It wasn't that he didn't understand what Song Xirui was driving at; he simply didn't want to answer, choosing instead to deflect with banter so she would drop the subject.

Realizing he had no intention of elaborating, Song Xirui let the matter go.

She stepped down from the bed and lit an oil lamp.

By its gentle, flickering glow, she said, "Regardless of all else, I thank the General for saving my life and coming to my rescue."

Had it not been for him, she would have already perished as a ghost beneath a blade tonight, and even Red Bean would have lost her life to the enemy.

"As long as Madame knows," Xiao Yunci replied without false modesty. "I only hope Madame will wholeheartedly serve this general's purposes henceforth."

Song Xirui nodded. "I will naturally do my utmost."

She raised her eyes to study his features.

Beneath sword-like brows lay a pair of striking eyes. Such a face called to mind the verses found in romance tales:

Eyebrows like painted strokes, a visage of noble grace.

Yet Xiao Yunci carried about him an aura of stern lethality.

He could only be described as flawless.

Noticing her careful scrutiny, a strange ripple stirred in Xiao Yunci's heart.

This woman was examining him—could she be comparing him to Su Yun?

He was, naturally, thousands of times better than that Su Yun!

That wretch was unworthy of her!

At this thought, his heart tightened abruptly.

Since when did he need to compare himself to others?

He had always been proud, disdaining comparisons with any man in this world.

Song Xirui was merely a shrewd woman.

Yet at this moment, he found himself secretly competing with that empty-headed fool, just to secure a tiny space in this woman's heart?

With that, Xiao Yunci gave two deliberate coughs, shattering Song Xirui's contemplation. "Why is Madame staring at me so intently? Could it be that you truly wish to stray from virtue and take a lover?"

Taken aback by the remark, a faint flush crept onto Song Xirui's cheeks.

Fortunately, the dim light hid it well. With a soft, cold snort, she scoffed, "General Xiao certainly has thick skin. Why don't you mention how you sneak through windows day after day to engage in clandestine trysts with another man's wife?"

Even as she said this, the tips of her ears trembled slightly, though her expression remained composed.

Left momentarily speechless by her retort, Xiao Yunci merely smiled. "And what of it? This general scales windows like a common thief solely for the sake of the realm's welfare. No matter how one looks at it, it is entirely justified."

"Enough, General Xiao," Song Xirui said, looking at him. "I have no time to stand here trading jests with you. What on earth is the purpose of your visit this time?"

If they continued down this conversational path, the two of them would truly lose all sense of shame.

Pressing his thin lips together and twitching a brow, Xiao Yunci said, "Didn't Madame repeatedly accuse this general of lacking sincerity? Well then, the time has come to help you deal with the Su family."

Her gaze sharpening, Song Xirui asked, "What do you plan to do?"

After brief consideration, Xiao Yunci replied, "We strike at the Su family's collateral branches. Currently, the main Su household is tied to the Third Prince's faction; we must use them as bait to hook the big fish that is the Third Prince. The main branch cannot be touched yet, but the collateral branches are fair game. Relying on Su Yun and the Marquis's estate for backing, they have committed no shortage of wicked deeds. Madame surely knows a thing or two about this."

If he didn't make a move soon, he feared this woman would take matters into her own hands.

After a flicker of calculation in her eyes, Song Xirui raised her head. "That works as well. The Su collateral branches do indeed bully others at every turn. Toppling them will strip Su Yun of yet another pillar of support."

She added, "I possess evidence of the Su collateral branches usurping farmland. Once I have it ready, you can send someone to collect it. There is no need for you to recklessly come here yourself."

Displeasure crossed Xiao Yunci's face upon hearing this. "Why?"

Lifting a brow, Song Xirui retorted, "Naturally because every time the General comes, he claims the situation is urgent, only to end up talking for the better part of the day. If you don't believe me, look—is that not the dawn light beginning to show?"

Between waking from nightmares in the middle of the night, his theatrical ambush to test her, and their subsequent official discussions, of course morning had arrived.

Looking out the window, Xiao Yunci saw that it was indeed as she described.

Stubbornly, he defended himself, "That's only tonight. On ordinary days, this general leaves extremely quickly."