Chapter 76 We Have No Way Out

Chapter 76 We Have No Way Out

Xue Yubai nodded, as if in agreement, knowing that they wouldn't get any information.

"His Majesty is in good health, so it will not matter if we postpone it for a few more years."

After that, they chatted about everyday things.

Shen Nanzi found it uninteresting and wiped her hands. "It's getting late outside, Cheng'er and I should go first."

Xie Yan glanced out the window; it was already pitch black. "It's getting late, let's go!"

Just as everyone stood up, a strong gust of wind swept in, and Shen Nanzi immediately sensed something was wrong, turning around to protect Cheng'er.

As she turned around, Xie Yu stretched out his arm, then spun half a circle around, his back facing backward, shielding Shen Nanzi and her child from the sharp force in front of him.

This happened in an instant, before the others could react.

Only then did they realize that Xie Yu had been shot in the back with an arrow.

Everyone gasped in shock, and only after seeing the whole picture did they feel relieved.

"Hong'er!" Xue Yubai shouted towards the corner, "Do you know what you're doing?"

Xie Hongrui, who had been in high spirits, immediately fell silent upon hearing the reprimand, and explained in a tearful, aggrieved voice:

"There's no arrow, it's just for fun."

Xue Qingning walked up to him and questioned him sternly, "What's wrong with you? What if you shoot someone?"

Hearing Xue Qingning's rebuke, Xie Hongrui felt even more aggrieved, pointed at Xie Chengze, and burst into tears.

"He glared at me, that's why I shot him."

Xue Qingning pulled Xie Chengze, "No matter what, you were the one who started it. Go apologize."

"I'm not going!"

Shen Nanzi then noticed Xie Yu protecting her from behind and gave him a grateful look.

Still shaken, he thought to himself, if there had really been an arrow, wouldn't he have risked his life to save them?

The shock and emotion I felt were immense.

At this moment, she had no time to think further and whispered to Xie Chengze in her arms, "Why were you glaring at him?"

"He kept shooting at me with an empty bowstring, and I couldn't take it anymore." Xie Chengze frowned, clearly in a bad mood.

I see.

Xue Yubai also heard Xie Chengze's words and sighed to Shen Nanzi, "It was just children playing around. Everyone was scared, thankfully nothing happened."

Shen Nanzi sneered, "The first lesson in drawing the bow is that the arrow can only be aimed at the enemy."

Shen Nanzi's words were very clear: Xie Hongrui regarded Xie Chengze as an enemy and had the intention to kill him; it was not just children playing around.

“Nanzi, it was Hong’er’s fault. I apologize to him to Cheng’er.” Xue Qingning’s posture was very humble, and she glanced at Xie Yan.

Shen Nanzi is so aggressive and unreasonable, and she is so humble; he will definitely come to her aid.

However, thinking about what he said that day, I still felt a little uneasy.

Xie Yan stood opposite her, his face grim, and it seemed he had no intention of helping her.

This made Xue Qingning feel a little upset, but she still smiled and said to Xie Chengze, "Cheng'er, Hong'er meant no harm, please forgive him, okay?"

Shen Nanzi was furious. This was no small matter between children; it was clearly premeditated murder.

"It wasn't your son who got shot, so you don't feel any heartache?" Shen Nanzi retorted coldly, showing no concern whatsoever.

He declared vehemently, "He's my son. If anything happens to him, none of us will survive!"

Shen Nanzi's tone was extremely harsh, showing no mercy whatsoever.

At this moment, Xie Yan finally spoke up: "Xie Hongrui, apologize!"

The voice is beyond question.

Xie Hongrui shuddered in fright.

Xue Qingning looked at Xie Yan in disbelief; he would never help Shen Nanzi.

He had already seen the pleading look in her eyes, so why did he help Shen Nanzi and her son instead?

Even if Xie Hongrui was wrong, it was just childish play. It was clearly Shen Nanzi who was unreasonable and made everyone lose face.

Her actions were clearly aimed at her!

Can't he see it?

Xue Qingning angrily withdrew her gaze, her face grim as she remained frozen in place.

She didn't want Xie Hongrui to suffer any injustice.

Shen Nanzi looked at Xue Qingning's expression and Xie Hongrui's unconvinced gaze.

An apology? She won't accept an apology!

“An apology is useless. Let Cheng’er shoot him with an arrow, give him a taste of his own medicine, and let him experience what it’s like to have someone point a bow at him.”

After he finished speaking, the entire room fell silent.

Xue Qingning squatted down beside Xie Hongrui, her fingers trembling.

She has never been forced to this extent before; this is truly outrageous!

What upset her the most was Xie Yan's attitude.

In the past, he was very protective of his own people, and he never cared about right or wrong; he only stood by the side of the people he cared about.

And today...

The air completely froze.

Xie Yu was about to speak when Xie Yan preemptively picked up the child bow that Xie Chengze was carrying on his back.

He handed it to Xie Chengze, saying, "Don't shoot it in the eyes, any other spot is fine."

Xie Yu had no choice but to shut his mouth.

Xie Yan's words shocked Xue Qingning once again, and he sided with Shen Nanzi once more.

That's not right!

This couldn't possibly be Xie Yan's attitude towards her and Hong'er.

She doesn't believe it!

"Mother! I don't want to be shot!" Xie Hongrui immediately burst into tears.

She tried to speak up to stop him, but met Xue Yubai's gaze. He shook his head, signaling her to be patient.

Xue Qingning swallowed hard, her face pale, and stood up.

Xie Chengze glanced at Shen Nanzi, and after receiving her approval, he drew his bow and aimed it at Xie Hongrui, who was standing in the corner.

Xie Hongrui tried to run away, but Xie Yan shouted at him, "Stop!"

Xie Hongrui had never seen his Third Imperial Uncle so stern, and was so frightened that he dared not move.

Only their eyes stared at him in disbelief.

Xie Yan's expression was stern: "As a man, you should be able to take responsibility for your actions. Besides, you were in the wrong first, so shooting you with an arrow is not unjust."

Then, he said to Xie Chengze, who was already prepared, "Shoot!"

A wooden arrow, without a head, shot out and flew straight toward Xie Hongrui's face with great speed and force.

Xie Hongrui watched helplessly as the wooden arrow shot towards him, his pupils dilating instantly.

When the arrow struck him squarely between the eyebrows, his head snapped back, and the fear in his eyes reached its peak.

The small wooden arrow without an arrowhead then fell to the ground, making a crisp, wooden sound.

Xie Hongrui turned pale, and after realizing what had happened, he burst into loud sobs.

Xue Qingning hugged him, her back to everyone, tears instantly streaming down her face.

…

She turned around only after everyone had left, by which time her tears had already dried.

Only Xue Yubai remained in the private room.

“Brother, Xie Yan has changed!” Her voice was somewhat hoarse and somber.

Xue Yubai plopped down in a chair, rubbing his temples with one hand, looking somewhat troubled.

"He just feels guilty, knowing that he has wronged Shen Nanzi all these years, and he can't get over that guilt in his heart!"

"Then what should we do?" Xue Qingning still couldn't believe that one day he would help another woman.

It felt like her chest was stuffed with cotton, making it hard for her to breathe.

"Don't worry, he feels guilty towards you too," Xue Yubai said.

"He always regretted that he was too weak back then and couldn't protect you!"

Xue Qingning shook her head: "But I'm really worried about him now!"

"I'll stop him!" Xue Yubai assured him.

He and Xie Yan had long since become inseparable, like two vines growing together!

They had no way out but to join hands and move forward together.

＊

Inside the carriage of Prince Jing's residence, Shen Nanzi held Xie Chengze in her arms, leaning against the middle seat.

Xie Yan leaned lazily against the left side.

It was already dark outside, and a small lamp hung inside the carriage, barely enough to make out what was happening inside.

"Where is your horse?" Shen Nanzi really didn't want to be in the same room with this person.

Although he helped her today, she knew it was only to keep the matter quiet and prevent it from getting out of control.

"Shadowless rode away!" he said lazily, his hands behind his head as he leaned against the side of the bicycle.

The carriage began to sway and stagger as it moved forward.

Shen Nanzi pulled the already sleeping Cheng'er into her arms, too lazy to pay him any attention.

"It's windy outside!" he said again.

"I'll freeze you to death!" Shen Nanzi said irritably. She couldn't speak properly when she saw him.

Xie Yan's lips curled up slightly, "Cheng'er is like me, taciturn yet fierce, ruthless yet with hidden sharpness."

"Like you?" Shen Nanzi chuckled. "I gave birth to him, so of course he looks like me!"

Shen Nanzi looked at the child in her arms. She hadn't let him suffer any humiliation today, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curve up.

"Give me a hug!" Xie Yan suddenly sat up straight and opened his arms towards Shen Nanzi.

Shen Nanzi pulled the child into her arms protectively, wary, "What are you going to do!"

"I'll just hug him!" His voice was gentle, as if he were possessed.

"Go away! If you want to hug someone, hug Xie Hongrui. This is my child, and he's mine alone!"

Shen Nanzi thought to herself, "After the child is born, he will leave."

His child was sick, so he took care of the kitten.

He never interfered in his child's early education.

When his child was learning to ride, he taught Xie Hongrui.

Why should he, after raising her all these years, just say "he wants a hug!"

She was about to let him go; he didn't deserve it!

"He is my son!" Xie Yan stared at her, his eyes shining with determination.

Shen Nanzi remained silent; she had waited six years to hear those words.

Now that she is heartbroken, he says these infuriating things!

"Xie Yan, shut up! If you say another word, you'll get off the bus."

Xie Yan awkwardly withdrew his outstretched hands, looked at her, and said softly:

"I just saw you were getting tired of carrying me!"

"We don't need your fake kindness! Put away your worthless pity, Cheng'er and I don't need it!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Xie Yan immediately thought of Xie Yu.

He tried his best not to think about what had just happened.

The moment Xie Yu protected her, it seemed to be an instinctive reaction.

What kind of relationship would make a prince like him risk everything?

Shen Nanzi is his sister-in-law, so it's not his place to sacrifice himself for righteousness.

It looks like a man's overwhelming love for a woman, leading him to sacrifice himself for her.

impossible!

Xie Yu once told him personally that she was his third sister-in-law, and always would be, and there was no one else.

He knew Xie Yu's character well and knew he would never cross the line.

But why did he feel an indescribable feeling in his chest that had not dissipated?

After Lie Feng left, there was still the Twelfth Imperial Uncle.

Now Xie Yu seems to be acting strangely too!

There were so many eyes watching her.

Xie Yan felt increasingly distressed, a burning pain and tightness in her chest. "Why can Xie Yu hug me, but I can't?"