Hou Ye's palm heart is a black lotus

Chapter 725 Going Home (Third Update)
After bidding farewell to the Princess, Ye Chutang left Qiyuan Palace.

After walking a short distance, a familiar figure came into view again.

Xie Anbai.

It was past noon, the sun was warm, and the sunlight fell on him, but it felt chilly.

He stood there, his body ramrod straight, casting a faint shadow behind him.

He was looking straight ahead, as if he were looking at something.

Ye Chutang followed his gaze and saw that there was no one in front of her, except for a faint trace of red blood on the white jade-paved open ground.

Palace servants were diligently washing the area with buckets of water.

wow-

Soon, the mark faded even further and almost disappeared.

Ye Chutang took a light breath, and could still faintly smell a sweet, fishy scent.

— Xie Anjun must have died here.

As if sensing something, Xie Anbai turned around and looked back.

His handsome face seemed somewhat different from usual.

Those peach blossom eyes, which always held a carefree smile, were clear and cold, as if washed by blue water.

It seems like he's become a completely different person, even though it was only recently that we last met.

Ye Chutang sighed inwardly. It seemed that Xie Anbai had experienced a lot during this period.

Xie Anbai was the first to speak up and greet them.

"Miss Ye the Second".

His expression was sincere.
"Thank you."

Ye Chutang's lips curved into a smile, "What's the meaning of 'thank you', Second Young Master Xie?"

Xie Anbai's gaze passed over her shoulder and landed on the majestic palace standing behind her, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"What happened before, and...what happened today."

A hint of surprise crossed Ye Chutang's face, as if she were somewhat taken aback. "What happened today? I don't think I helped Young Master Xie in any way, did I?"

She merely entered the palace upon summons and took Fan Chengzhuo's pulse.

Xie Anbai paused for a moment, then smiled with relief.

"Anyway, thank you."

He didn't explain, and Ye Chutang didn't press him for an answer.

Xiao Jiayi and Xie Anjun suddenly become enemies, Fan Chengzhuo suddenly falls seriously ill, and Zhao Zhe is coincidentally arrested just as he makes his move...

When many coincidences pile up, they are no longer coincidences, but inevitability.

Some things are enough if we both know them.

"By the way, Xiao Jiayi is dead," Ye Chutang said. "Right after you and Xie Anjun left Qiyuan Hall, she committed suicide by running into a pillar."

Xie Anbai showed no surprise, simply nodding, "Is that so? Then she is relieved."

Although he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, it was clear that Xie Anbai wasn't shocked by it; rather, it seemed to be something he had expected.

"He is indeed a smart person," Ye Chutang thought to herself.

Whether Xiao Jiayi is alive or dead is actually not important to Xie Anbai.

His reaction at this moment only proves one thing—his voluntary request to be supervised and to come out with Xie Anjun just now, on the surface, was to settle things once and for all, but in reality, it was just to avoid trouble.

After all, the things that happened in the palace after he left were more and more horrifying than the last.

Xie Anbai's voluntary withdrawal was a clear indication of his stance: he no longer wanted to get involved.

He had no interest in how Fan Chengzhuo and Zheng Baosu ended up; from beginning to end, all he wanted was to get justice from Xie Anjun.

Not just for him, but also for... Xie Pei.

"Miss Ye!" Suddenly, a palace servant rushed over. Ye Chutang turned around and saw a little dumpling running towards her.

Ye Chutang's eyebrows relaxed, and a smile appeared on her face.

"What's wrong? Have you been waiting too long for your older sister?"

Xiao Wu rushed into her arms, his little face flushed, looking lively and enthusiastic.

—My sister has been gone for a long time! She's already finished three plates of snacks inside!

Ye Chutang pinched her soft little face, gesturing for her to greet Xie Anbai.

"Look who this is?"

Xiao Wu hadn't noticed Xie Anbai before, but now that he looked closely, he recognized the man in the night clothes as the long-lost Second Young Master Xie!

She rubbed her eyes, and after confirming that she wasn't seeing things, she immediately smiled with delight.

—It really is Young Master Xie!
My sister said before that she would see him soon, and it really happened!
Xiao Wu immediately stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Xie Anbai.

When Xie Anbai saw her, he smiled. The previous aloofness disappeared, replaced by an intimacy that was no different from before.

He bent down, smiling as he teased Xiao Wu, and patted her little head.

"Has Xiao Wu grown so tall since I last saw him?"

After the New Year, Xiao Wu did grow taller, and with the warmer spring weather, she took off her fluffy cotton coat and put on a lighter dress, which made her look even slimmer.

After being praised by Xie Anbai, she covered her mouth and smiled with her eyes crinkling.

Ye Chutang reminded him, "Don't you still have a gift to give to Young Master Xie?"

Xiao Wu slapped his forehead.

Yes!

I almost forgot this most important point!
Xie Anbai asked, puzzled, "What gift?"

As he spoke, he felt a warmth in his hand; it was Xiao Wu who had stepped forward and taken his hand, wanting to pull him along.

Xie Anbai looked at Ye Chutang with a questioning expression.

Ye Chutang explained with a smile, "During the Lantern Festival, Xiao Wu specially bought a gift at Xijiang Bridge to give to you. However, since you haven't been in the capital recently, the gift hasn't been delivered yet. Today, by chance, the gift is in the carriage. If Second Young Master Xie doesn't mind, you can come over together and accept the gift."

Xie Anbai was genuinely surprised. He looked at Ye Chutang, then at Xiao Wu, and rarely showed such astonishment.

"A gift? Just for me?"

Xiao Wu nodded vigorously.

—Yes, yes! I spent a long time choosing!
Seeing Xie Anbai's apparent hesitation, Ye Chutang smiled and said, "Second Young Master Xie has always treated Xiao Wu very well. This is merely a token of Xiao Wu's goodwill, so Second Young Master Xie should accept it."

Xie Anbai subconsciously looked at Xiao Wu, and when he met those clear, clean eyes like black grapes, his heart stirred, and he seemed to relax completely.

A smile crept onto his lips.

"In that case, I won't be polite."

……

After an incense stick had burned, Xie Anbai finally received the gift.

—An ivory folding fan carved with intertwined floral patterns.

He held the fan in his hand and examined it repeatedly for a long time.

Xiao Wu's gift was exactly what he wanted, and with such thoughtfulness, he cherished it even more.

Little Wu stared at it expectantly, his eyes asking, "Do you like it? I chose it on purpose!"
Xie Anbai was amused by her expectant expression. He snapped his fan shut and gently tapped her full, smooth forehead.

"I love it! Xiao Wu has impeccable taste; the gift he chooses is naturally top-notch. I'm definitely taking this fan home to treasure!"

He paused abruptly at this point.

Come back home?

He no longer has a home. Xie Anjun was beheaded, and Xiao Jiayi committed suicide. It's easy to imagine what will happen to the entire Xie family next.

Emperor Muwu did not hold a grudge against him, but from then on, he had lost everything.