Chapter 35: A Hidden Arrow—Calculated or Coincidence?

"That white rabbit is not a good person. He lied; he knew exactly who the murderer was but wouldn't say. Xiao Yu, let's not play with him anymore." Inside the carriage, A-Li rubbed his stomach, pouting with a displeased expression.

Yan Ziyu poured him a cup of tea, looking at him helplessly. "How do you know he lied..." Before she could finish, her body suddenly stiffened, her complexion shifted, and the tea from the cup in her hand spilled, soaking her palm.

"Xiao Yu..." *Danger.*

A-Li reached out to grab her sleeve in fear. Yan Ziyu patted the back of his hand comfortingly, then pulled her sleeve away. A cold glint flashed in her eyes as she reached out to lift the carriage curtain.

*Whoosh—*

A sound pierced the air, and a sharp arrow shot aggressively toward where she stood!

Feeling the murderous intent emanating from the arrowhead, Yan Ziyu's heart sank to the bottom. Was this truly the end?

Rui'er, I am sorry. I am leaving you all alone again! If there is a next life, I would still choose to be your mother! A-Li... I am sorry! I have dragged you into this...

The moment she closed her eyes, her mind was filled with Rui'er's adorable smiling face and A-Li's pure, innocent gaze. The thought of never seeing them again filled her with agonizing heartache.

A long time passed—

The expected pain did not come. Yan Ziyu frowned slightly and suddenly opened her eyes!

"Thank you for saving my life, young master. May I ask your name?" Looking at the figure that had appeared, Yan Ziyu fell silent. A strange glint flashed in her eyes as she asked.

Standing on the back of the horse was a young man with a somewhat bewitching charm. He was handsome, elegant, and refined, yet she sensed something indescribably eerie about him. Especially seeing him stand as steady as a mountain on the back of the galloping horse in his purple robes, his burning gaze fixed on her made her feel as if she were being pricked by needles.

"I am Leng Ye. Is the young lady looking for this?" To Yan Ziyu's surprise, a sharp arrow carved with special patterns appeared in Leng Ye's hand. Yan Ziyu recognized it at once.

Because the tip of the arrow was stained with a scarlet hue—it was identical to the one that had been fired at her!

"So, you were the one who saved me?" A strange light flickered in her eyes. Her watery gaze fixed on the man who called himself Leng Ye, filled with deep vigilance. "Thank you for saving me. Might you have seen my coachman?" She asked, remembering the missing driver.

Leng Ye shook his head. "When I heard the sound of galloping hooves and rushed over, I only saw the horse running wildly. I did not see anyone else. Perhaps the young lady's coachman was thrown from the carriage by the crazed horse. Otherwise, I shall return to help the young lady search for him."

Yan Ziyu shook her head. "Thank you for your kindness, but how can one search in these desolate mountains? I shall send more people to search once I return to the manor." She changed the subject. "May I ask what you are doing in these wild mountains, young master? If you have any needs, please do not hesitate to say. You saved my life; if I can be of any help, I will do my utmost to repay your kindness."

"You are too kind, Miss. This desolate place is no place to linger. Why don't I drive you back to the manor?" Leng Ye nodded slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"In that case, I thank you, young master."

As soon as Yan Ziyu finished speaking, Leng Ye leaped into the air, landing steadily on the horse's back to take hold of the reins. With a long shout, the galloping horse slowed down and gradually returned to normal.

"You are my savior. Please leave an address, and I will surely prepare a generous gift to thank you another day." As the carriage resumed a normal pace, the tension in Yan Ziyu's heart began to ebb. She looked at Leng Ye with a serious expression.

"To tell you the truth, I am the third manager of the Qihuo Pavilion. If you do not believe me, you may send someone to the Qihuo Pavilion to ask Bai Yufeng for confirmation. If I have any malicious intent toward you today, may I be struck by lightning, meet a wretched end, and be forsaken by heaven and earth!"

After a moment of silence, Leng Ye decided to reveal his identity. Partly to earn her trust, and partly for other reasons—though what those were, no one else could know!

Watching Leng Ye take such an oath, a fleeting glimmer of surprise crossed Yan Ziyu's eyes. After a long pause, she spoke slowly, "In that case, I shall trouble you, Master Leng."

Yan Ziyu's brow smoothed, and the heavy stone in her heart finally lifted. So he was from the Qihuo Pavilion; that explained his presence here. Hearing that he was from the pavilion, her first thought was that Bai Yufeng had sent him. So far, she still trusted Bai Yufeng, and this man had indeed saved her life.

However, Yan Ziyu did not see the flash of cunning in Leng Ye's eyes!

He had only said he had no malicious intent *today*, but he had said nothing about the future. This woman was truly interesting; it was worth his while to stay in Dayun just for her. Life would surely become much more exciting!

Thinking of this, he curled his lips, a fox-like, cunning smile appearing on his handsome face. Standing motionless on the horse, he sped off into the wind.

"Xiao Yu, who is he?"

A-Li had remained silent, observing the suddenly appeared Leng Ye. His eyes were filled with rejection and hostility! Seeing Xiao Yu go from initial wariness to losing her guard, and finally expressing trust, he frowned. Who exactly was this person?

The smile on his face made A-Li feel very uncomfortable; this man wanted to snatch Xiao Yu away! Almost at first glance, A-Li labeled Leng Ye an enemy. If he hadn't appeared so suddenly, A-Li could have saved Xiao Yu himself. He would never have let her get hurt.

"His name is Leng Ye. He just saved our lives. Have you forgotten?" Yan Ziyu raised her eyebrows, answering A-Li's question evasively.

"A-Li doesn't like him. Xiao Yu, let's not let him ride in the carriage. Can we drive him away?" A-Li insisted. He just didn't like him; the man's gaze was wicked, and it made him uncomfortable.

Yan Ziyu gave A-Li a faint smile. "Can A-Li drive a carriage?"

"No," A-Li shook his head.

"Then there you have it. Sit still and don't move, or you might fall off."

Leng Ye drove the carriage much more smoothly than the original coachman, and at a great speed. Once they reached the bustling streets, he dropped Yan Ziyu and A-Li off and turned to leave.

"Should have left long ago, hateful thing..." Watching Leng Ye's departing silhouette, A-Li frowned and muttered to himself.

Yan Ziyu caught the look on A-Li's face, offered a faint smile, and said nothing.

Yan Ziyu left the carriage at an inn, giving some silver to have it sold, and took A-Li to find another carriage to take them to the back gate of the Prince's Manor.

"Princess, Princess, it's terrible, something terrible has happened..." No sooner had Yan Ziyu returned to the manor and poured a cup of hot tea than she heard Ziyi's anxious cries.

*Bang—*

The door was pushed open violently from the outside.

"Princess, it's terrible! The General's Manor... something has happened at the General's Manor..." Upon seeing Yan Ziyu, Ziyi's eyes lit up, and without a word, she grabbed her and began running!

Yan Ziyu was stunned by the shouting, the door-kicking, and the dragging!

Something happened at the General's Manor? Why come to her? She was merely an unfavored Princess; looking for her would be useless, and Ziyi could not possibly be unaware of that.

"Ziyi, calm down. What exactly happened? Tell me clearly." Breaking free from Ziyi's grip, Yan Ziyu frowned, feeling deeply puzzled about what could make Ziyi lose her composure so completely.

"Princess, the young master... it's the young master!"

Rui'er was in trouble?

*Boom—*

Yan Ziyu's mind went blank. Her ability to think vanished, her brain fell into a brief, chaotic void, and she stood there, completely frozen!