CHAPTER 143: CHAPTER 141 DON’T WORRY

Xie Liangchen was sitting on the wooden bench in the courtyard, contemplating the recent events, trying to piece together the whole story. As she became engrossed in her thoughts, she heard the sound of hooves at the door.

Xie Liangchen looked up and saw a fleeting figure moving swiftly, like a sudden gust of wind, stopping right in front of her and studying her up and down.

Song Xian’s brows slightly furrowed, his expression more solemn than usual, which genuinely startled Xie Liangchen. It took a moment for her to gather herself before she quickly stood up and said, "Master."

Song Xian asked, "Is your foot injured?"

Xie Liangchen looked down and remembered that her right foot was indeed hurting, but it was only because she had bumped it hastily against the wheelbarrow; it didn’t really count as an injury, and she hadn’t paid it much mind, though it felt strange when she stood up suddenly.

Song Xian asked, "Did you let the doctor take a look?"

Xie Liangchen shook her head, "I checked myself; there’s no muscle or bone injury. Mr. Xu prepared pig fat at Familiar Medicine Institute; I’ll apply some when I get back."

As she spoke, Xie Liangchen pulled out the prepared pig fat from her small shoulder bag, "Mr. Xu asked me to bring this for Master to treat his shoulder injury."

Perhaps it was just a fleeting thought, but Song Xian’s face seemed better than when he had rushed in, though his gaze still lingered on her.

Song Xian asked again, "Are you really alright?"

Xie Liangchen shook her head, "I’m fine, thanks to your teaching me boxing and kicking."

"Let’s go inside!" Song Xian said as he walked towards the study.

The study was warm with a brazier. Xie Liangchen handed the pig fat to Chang An and sat on the Jinwu stool.

The warmth filled the room, letting her involuntarily relax.

Chang Yue stepped forward and carefully recounted the situation while confronting Xiao Chi.

Song Xian frowned upon hearing that the thrown weapon was poisoned.

Seeing Master like this, Chang Yue said, "I was careless."

Song Xian said indifferently, "Go and receive ten lashes."

Upon hearing this, Xie Liangchen looked up at Chang Yue, wanting to say something but remained silent. Under Song Xian’s rules, speaking up wouldn’t help Chang Yue avoid punishment; it would only undermine Song Xian’s authority and embarrass Chang Yue further.

For some reason, Song Xian felt a surge of anger as he looked at the poisoned hidden weapon on the table.

The room fell silent for a while.

Song Xian asked again, "Are you afraid?"

Xie Liangchen knew Song Xian was referring to those Liao spies.

Xie Liangchen said, "Chang Yue and the others are nearby, and I know it’s impossible to capture him, just not letting him escape easily."

After saying this, she felt Song Xian’s expression grew even colder.

Song Xian said indifferently, "The person you fought is called Xiao Chi, a trusted aide under Xiao Xingzong. His right hand tendon is severed, and the thrown weapon came from his left hand."

Xie Liangchen understood Song Xian’s meaning; he must have already checked—Xiao Chi was accustomed to using his right hand. If his right hand hadn’t been injured, she likely wouldn’t have evaded.

"Are you afraid?" Song Xian asked again.

Song Xian’s expression was even more somber than before. Xie Liangchen nodded, her attitude more sincere than earlier, "I’ll be more cautious next time." She planned to buy a sleeve arrow and crossbow; next time, she wouldn’t follow Chang Yue in investigations without any preparation.

The girl’s bright eyes subtly glimmered. Song Xian saw her consideration, knowing she was thinking differently.

Sure enough, Xie Liangchen said, "Master, could you help me buy some sleeve arrows from the workshop?" Bamboo tube sleeve arrows aren’t as useful as iron tube ones; the workshop, where the court made weapons, produced the best sleeve arrows.

Song Xian felt an unnamed fire burst higher in his heart and emphasized, "In the future, when encountering such situations, don’t act rashly. Catching someone can wait for another time; don’t risk yourself."

Xie Liangchen hadn’t spoken when Song Xian pressed, "Do you understand?"

Xie Liangchen always felt that something was strange with Song Xian today, as if he couldn’t let go of his anger unless she nodded.

Wanting not to touch his reverse scale, Xie Liangchen nodded, "I understand." She wasn’t sure why, but seeing Xiao Chi made her think she couldn’t let him escape.

On hearing Miss Xie’s promise, Chang An sighed deeply with relief and finally dared to step forward to serve tea.

Xie Liangchen sipped her tea, drinking half a bowl, and continued, "I wasn’t clueless about catching Xiao Chi; I just felt familiar with the peddler and Xiao Chi."

"In the 14th year of Yuanping, November, Xiao Chi was injured south of Jiangning, and when Xiao Chi was injured, several Liao spies were captured" Song Xian’s mood eased, returning to his usual self, "Capturing one Xiao Chi is easy to interrogate, but to capture more spies needs to go through government offices. I’ve asked someone to check the records, looking for cases in the 14th year of Yuanping where counties might have caught Liao spies."

Xie Liangchen’s heart raced; what Song Xian spoke of was what she needed to know: "My foster parents must be very familiar with Liao spies; otherwise, I wouldn’t know about wooden teeth, notice the peddler’s drum was suspicious, or be familiar with Xiao Chi."

Song Xian asked, "Do you remember when the epidemic started?"

Xie Liangchen shook her head, "I can’t remember, but Su Huaiqing mentioned it started slowly with patients in the winter of the 15th year of Yuanping. He found me in April of the 16th year of Yuanping and brought me back to Zhenzhou at the end of July."

Song Xian said, "Xiao Chi returned to Liao in March of the 15th year of Yuanping. With Xiao Xingzong’s usual methods, if Xiao Chi was captured, he would surely retaliate."

Xie Liangchen said, "Could my foster parents’ death and the epidemic be related to Xiao Chi? Otherwise, I can’t explain why I’m so knowledgeable, although it might be..."

Familiarity might also mean wanting to capture Liao spies or originally being associated with them."

Though Xie Liangchen didn’t want to think about Mr. and Mrs. Li this way.

"When you found the wooden teeth, you instinctively wanted to take them out to prevent spies from swallowing them quietly," Song Xian said, "Thus, your familiarity likely serves to deal with Liao spies."

Xie Liangchen nodded.

Song Xian glanced at Chang An, who took his cue to withdraw.

Song Xian lowered his voice, "Did you have dealings with Liao in your past life?"

This seemed like Song Xian’s first time actively asking about her past life.

Xie Liangchen replied, "No."

Song Xian stated, "Even if the Li family fostering you had dealings with Liao, your involvement wasn’t deep; otherwise, Liao would have sought you out.

Even in the worst-case scenario where the Li family were Liao spies, you only need not go astray again; from now on, past matters won’t affect you."

On hearing this, Xie Liangchen showed surprise, not expecting Song Xian to be so lenient.

Maybe others didn’t fully understand, but Song Xian was clear, "You only need not to go astray again" was more than just a sentence. If her past was wrong, as long as she didn’t repeat it, he would help resolve any ensuing troubles.

Because in his understanding, she wasn’t someone who would go to do evil by any means.

Perhaps feeling overwhelmed, Song Xian’s eyes avoided hers, fearing she’d see his thoughts.

He stood and called Chang An back inside, "Prepare the carriage."

Xie Liangchen was about to say her foot injury didn’t require a carriage when she heard Song Xian continue, "Aren’t you going to see the Fierce Fire Oil Cabinet?"