Cheng Yuan suddenly called Yan Zhan's name, just like he had done many times in his childhood, calling him warmly with the care and comfort of a brother and friend.

Yan Zhan, who was dressed in white fur, suddenly stopped, with his back straight. The lake blue robe underneath swayed slightly in the wind. The dark silver unicorn patterns on it shone with a cool luster under the snow light. He did not

Turning around, he slowly tilted his head. The lantern on the house was blown by the wind and slowly swayed, illuminating his handsome and jade-like profile.

Cheng Yuan stood there, his expression stiffened for a moment, but he still opened his lips and said slowly and in a deep voice:

"The heart is like a clear mirror. At this critical moment, don't be fooled by beauty."

Yan Zhan's pupils shrank violently, and then returned to normal little by little. He finally turned around, raised his slightly thin chin slightly, sighed in a very low voice, and said to Cheng Yuan, who was seven meters away:

"It has nothing to do with beauty, I just don't want to use such despicable means to deal with a woman, or any other woman."

Cheng Yuan was startled. In fact, Yan Zhan has always been compassionate and kind, and he was full of righteousness. Unless necessary, he rarely did anything to take human life. Cheng Yuan should have guessed that his Master Yan was not keen on torturing people, but he

Intuitively, there seems to be some weird element in Yan Zhan's non-action towards Xin Yue. Logically speaking, Xin Yue pushed Yan Zhan and his carriage off the cliff last time and almost killed them. After all, his Master Yan should also be ruthless.

Let her know that they are not easy to mess with, instead of looking for a doctor when she is sick, being soft-hearted when she is hungry, and not punishing her in any way even if she has an arrogant attitude and does not bow down.

Even if she can't kill her, just give her two whips to give her a killing spirit.

Cheng Yuan frowned suspiciously: "Really? Do you really just disdain to attack women?"

Yan Zhan did not answer his words, but changed the topic and said, "It's getting late now. I'm going to rest. You should go to bed early."

"Since you don't want to kill her, let her go." Cheng Yuan said tentatively, "Leaving her here is of no use."

Yan Zhan's black boots hesitated for a moment, then he stepped on the snow on the ground and walked straight forward. Only the squeaking sound of his feet on the snow was left in the air, and he did not make any answer.

——

I can’t remember the first snowfall this year.

In the early morning, the snow-white catkins fell like raindrops, rushing across the sky, covering the sky and the earth. By the time the lights were turned on, the sky and the earth were already a thick plain white, like a thick

The white ink is so solid that it won't melt.

There is a red plum tree beside the window of Yan Zhan's bedroom. It is already in full bloom. It is proud and frosty, but also has a charming and enchanting red color. It stands tall on the branches, exuding an elegant and cold fragrance.

The fire in the room was burning brightly, exuding a faint scent of sandalwood, which also fumigated the cold air that came in through the windows into a slightly warmer scent. The temperature in the room was slightly high, and Yan Zhan stretched out his clean and slender fingers.

, half-open the window, letting the clear cold fragrance from the courtyard flow in leisurely.

He put down the secret message in his hand and stretched out his hand to rub his temples as if he was tired.

At this moment, a slightly sharp call sounded outside, breaking the silence in the room.

"Master Yan, something happened."

When Yan Zhan put on his fox fur and rushed to the scene of the incident, he was not angry at all. However, he had always been calm and restrained. After a brief frown, he looked as calm as an ancient pond again, but his eyes

There was a faint chill in the room.

"Who told you to attack her?"

Opposite her, Xin Yue leaned quietly against the pillar like a lifeless doll, her head hanging limply, her black hair slightly messy on the corners of her shoulders, and her body was covered with large, small, deep and shallow whiplashes.

The traces of the past, even the snow-white insteps, were covered with cruel red bloodstains.

"Master Yan, the emperor has an order, and my subordinates dare not disobey it."

Cheng Zhu, dressed in black, walked out from the crowd and spoke in a neither humble nor arrogant tone. He looked calm and showed no fear in the face of Yan Zhan's cold questioning.

Yan Zhan raised his eyebrows and said in a cold voice: "The Emperor is far away in the world. When did you give the order for you to execute her?"

"The emperor once told his subordinates that Mr. Yan is a kind man, and when necessary, he can do things privately and conveniently." Cheng Zhu continued, "For six days, except for cutting off food, Mr. Yan was extremely tolerant of this woman.

, my subordinates thought that it was time to take action against this woman. If time is delayed, extraneous matters will inevitably arise. The emperor attaches great importance to Lord Yan, and all matters big and small are taken care of by Lord Yan. Lord Yan must not let down the emperor's high expectations."

"So, are you teaching me a lesson?" Yan Zhan's tone was not good for the supervisor Zhu Yan had placed beside him. His eyes were filled with anger, and he looked condescendingly at Cheng Zhu, who bowed his head respectfully.

"My subordinates dare not."

Yan Zhan tried his best to restrain the anger rising in his chest. As a minister, there were too many things he couldn't control himself. He worked hard for the Daming Dynasty, but he didn't even have the most basic freedom. He traveled across the ocean to capture Natsukawa Iori who the emperor needed.

Although he still doesn't know what the emperor wants to arrest Natsukawa Iori, and his every word and deed is monitored by the people arranged by the emperor. He wants to let someone go, not to do things he doesn't like, and to use fair and just means.

Capture the target, instead of sacrificing a woman, treating a woman cruelly, and using despicable and disgusting means to capture Natsukawa Iori.

He thought about it for a long time last night, trying to lure Xin Yue to surrender by abusing Xin Yue. How is he essentially different from the invaders he hates to the core?

The same ruthless tactics, the same disregard for humanity.

"I think you are very brave." Yan Zhan said with a cold look in his eyes, almost word by word.

"Ahem."

A sudden cough broke the tense situation, and Yan Zhan turned his gaze to Xin Yue, who was coughing softly.

As if he had made some decision, his eyes sank and he strode forward.

With a swipe sound, Yan Zhan stretched out a sharp knife and quickly picked up the ropes at Xin Yue's hands and feet, releasing the bonds on her body. Xin Yue stiffened and was about to fall to the side. With a clang, Yan Zhan dropped the knife.

Quickly holding Xin Yue's body with quick eyes and hands, he found that her body was cold, as if there was no temperature, and her little face was so white that it was almost transparent. Yan Zhan couldn't help but frown.

Yan Zhan was just about to pat her face and ask her to open her closed eyes. Unexpectedly, before he reached out his hand, Xin Yue's delicate eyebrows wrinkled slightly, and he murmured like a child while half asleep:

"Don't touch me, it hurts..."

——
Chapter completed!