Shen Xiaoyan's words acted as an invisible shield, making Xi He make up her mind in an instant.
She suddenly stood up from the wooden chair, "I have something to attend to, so I'll be leaving now."
Without waiting for Wang Dahong's calls behind her, she quickly strode towards the exit.
Wang Dahong watched in the direction Xi He disappeared, feeling utterly bewildered.
What was going on?
How had things turned out like this?
What about the agreement they had made earlier?
How could she just leave like that?
If she left, what would he do alone?
Moreover, seeing the half-smile on Shen Xiaoyan's face, Wang Dahong felt a great sense of unease.
He had heard all the words Shen Xiaoyan had used to threaten Xi He earlier. Xi He was now cornered, so how could he dare to be arrogant?
Forget it, let these few people be arrogant for a few more days. Once Xi He got the answer, it wouldn't be too late to deal with them then.
Thinking this, Wang Dahong also stood up and strode outside.
It wasn't until Wang Dahong had left for quite some time that Shen Xiaoyan and the others truly relaxed.
Song Yan could no longer hold up her straight back, her body suddenly going limp.
After taking a few deep breaths, Song Yan looked at Shen Xiaoyan, her face full of worry.
"Mistress Shen, if it weren't to help us, you wouldn't have thought of this plan. You've dragged yourself into this, and I truly feel... alas, nothing I say can undo it now. Why don't you just leave?"
Yi Zhixie heard this and felt a sense of wry amusement. "Grandmother, what are you saying!"
Song Yan became even more resolute in her idea. "Grandmother is serious. Leave quickly now, all of you. Go somewhere they can't find you. As for the matters of Medicine Emperor Valley, your Grandfather and Grand-uncle will handle them. Hide for a few years, or ten-plus years, and maybe Chang Qiu Hall will forget about this matter."
Listening to Song Yan's earnestly nonsensical talk, Yi Zhixie felt even more speechless.
Although he knew Song Yan meant well, not only could they definitely not leave now, but even if they did, where could they hide?
Setting aside whether they were willing to live in anonymity, if they left, Chang Qiu Hall would surely vent its anger on Song Yan and her mother. He couldn't leave.
As for Shen Xiaoyan and the others, Yi Zhixie was even more certain that they would absolutely not leave.
Indeed, Shen Xiaoyan laughed and said, "Valley Mistress, you needn't worry so much. We're not children. Before doing these things, we naturally thought of the consequences. Besides, I wasn't lying when I said I was the daughter of the Hall Master of Chang Qiu Hall when I arrived."
Song Yan was slightly taken aback, and after a while, she reacted and asked strangely, "Then who else did you tell?"
Hearing this, Yi Zhixie also looked at Yan Rulei. He then explained everything to Song Yan.
After hearing this, Song Yan felt a bit wistful, and still sighed, "I never thought Yan Rulei would become like this. But even if he had some doubts, you didn't admit it. Even if it was ultimately proven that you weren't, he couldn't do anything to you. You being here..."
"It's too late to say anything now. Besides, looking at Xi He's attitude, it's clear that the Hall Master of Chang Qiu Hall really might have a daughter, and it might even be me. If that's the case, there's nothing to worry about. Don't you think so?"
Seeing that Shen Xiaoyan still maintained an optimistic outlook, Song Yan couldn't bear to say more.
After all, Shen Xiaoyan's actions had helped her. No matter what she said now, even if it was for Shen Xiaoyan's own good, it would make people feel that she wasn't sincere.
Fortunately, Shen Xiaoyan and the others were all upright individuals and didn't show any dissatisfaction because of her words. Instead, they kept trying to comfort her.
Yuan Hao then emerged from the inner room. He had also shed his previous look of颓废 (tuífèi - decadent/depressed/worn-out) and aged appearance. His back was perfectly straight, and he walked with a vigorous stride.
Just looking at him made one feel that he was an extraordinary person.
He walked directly to Song Yan's side, bent down, and helped Song Yan up from the wooden chair. He said, "Mother, you don't need to worry about anything. Don't we have Father, me, and Ah Xie? You should go and spend some proper time with Father now. You two old folks haven't had a good chat in decades. You must have a mountain of things to say. Why are you wasting time here with us youngsters!"
Hearing Yuan Hao's words, Shen Xiaoyan couldn't help but find it amusing.
Perhaps it was resignation, or perhaps they had lost the will to live. From Song Yan down to Yuan Wan, everyone had a dejected look.
But after Yuan Heng woke up, their demeanor had completely changed, becoming...
Well, it was truly indescribable.
Just like Yuan Hao, who had spoken just now, he spared no effort in teasing his own mother.
However, looking at Song Yan's expression, she was clearly accustomed to it and showed no anger or dissatisfaction.
She actually turned and walked towards the inner room.
Only when Song Yan's figure disappeared around the corner did Shen Xiaoyan withdraw her gaze.
Yuan Hao also retracted his gaze. When he looked back at Shen Xiaoyan and the others, his expression had become extremely respectful.
"Although you are all Ah Xie's friends and always say that Ah Xie's matters are your matters, I have lived for most of my life and have seen all kinds of people and experienced all kinds of things. I have never met friends like you."
"I won't say too much about thanks. The more I say, the more it feels strained."
"No matter where you are, or what kind of help you need from us, we will go all out, even risking our own lives."
"Not just myself, but my wife, my children, and even my parents, all of them feel the same way."
Listening to Yuan Hao's impassioned words, it would be a lie to say Shen Xiaoyan was not moved.
She was also gratified that she had indeed saved the right person.
It's just...
"If you truly appreciate me, then cherish your lives and live well. Otherwise, wouldn't all my efforts be in vain?" Shen Xiaoyan said helplessly.
Yuan Hao smiled at this and said no more, but his heart had already made a firm resolve.
Seeing this, Shen Xiaoyan also stopped speaking.
As long as she herself was well, she didn't need them to sacrifice their lives for her.
Words were not as good as actions.
Time flew by, and another two days passed. During these two days, Wang Dahong would visit every day, but he would only say irrelevant things.
He had naturally also seen Yuan Hao, who had fully recovered and was full of vitality.
Shen Xiaoyan didn't know what he was thinking, but judging by his twitching lips and the resentful gaze he cast at Yuan Hao, this person was extremely unhappy.
If it weren't for waiting for Xi He's answer, he would have probably lost control and made a move.
Even if he couldn't make a move, he didn't give Shen Xiaoyan an easy time.
He now deeply regretted how he had been so foolish at the time, to have actually believed Shen Xiaoyan was the daughter of the Hall Master of Chang Qiu Hall?
If Shen Xiaoyan hadn't shown Yuan Hao and Song Yan, Yuan Hao and Song Yan wouldn't have been like this at all.
If, because of Shen Xiaoyan, they were to rise from the ashes again...
The thought of this possibility made Wang Dahong even more agitated.
On the third day, he finally couldn't wait any longer.
Xi He still hadn't returned. Perhaps she wouldn't return at all?
Besides, he only cared about Song Yan and the others. Otherwise, he would have captured Shen Xiaoyan and the others and waited for Xi He's arrival, and then quickly dealt with the Yin family.
It was just that in this world, plans often couldn't keep up with changes.
Just as he was making preparations, Xi He returned.
Wang Dahong walked with Xi He towards the Valley Master's courtyard, his heart filled with an indescribable emotion.
How could it be such a coincidence?
Why hadn't he thought of making a move yesterday?
Looking at the cheerful expression on Xi He's face, he already knew that the subsequent development was probably beyond his control.
Upon reaching the Valley Master's small courtyard, Xi He didn't stop and directly entered the main room.
Shen Xiaoyan and the others were already seated there, waiting.
They had originally been waiting for Wang Dahong to make a move, but after waiting for so long, they ended up waiting for Xi He.
Shen Xiaoyan and the others exchanged glances, and at the same time, cast a pitiable look at Wang Dahong.
This poor fellow had thought things through beautifully beforehand, but unfortunately, his timing was off.
Shen Xiaoyan found it even more amusing.
In her past life, she had read many novels and had seen online summaries that villains always failed because they talked too much.
If they captured the protagonist, they should just kill them directly, and they wouldn't always end up with a tragic fate.
Although Wang Dahong didn't talk much, he was foolish!
Others might talk for at most three minutes.
He, on the other hand, under the guise of wanting to usurp the throne, had nurtured the Yin family for a hundred years.
It was only because the Yin family didn't dare to resist before, otherwise, a villain like Wang Dahong would have died countless times already.
And today, Wang Dahong finally made the decision a villain should make, but Xi He returned.
This way, all of Wang Dahong's plans turned to naught.
Shen Xiaoyan couldn't help but glance at Wang Dahong again. The pity in her eyes was even more evident.
Wang Dahong wasn't a fool, so how could he not understand what Shen Xiaoyan's glance meant?
But what could he do now?
Everyone in the room was lost in their own thoughts when Xi He finally spoke.
She was looking directly at Shen Xiaoyan.
"Xi He greets the Young Miss."
These six simple words, however, were like thunderclaps, directly exploding in everyone's ears.
Even Yi Zhixie was wide-eyed, staring at Xi He, wondering if he had misheard, otherwise how could he have heard Xi He say, "Greetings, Young Miss"?
Seeing his eyes about to pop out, Shen Xiaoyan felt a wave of speechlessness.
"What are you staring at? Keep staring and your eyeballs will fall out," Shen Xiaoyan said.
Hearing this, Yi Zhixie instinctively touched his eyes, found them in place, and looked at Shen Xiaoyan again.
Lu Taobao, however, was not so calm. He almost jumped three feet high and came in front of Shen Xiaoyan, examining her from head to toe. Then, with disbelief, he exclaimed, "Sister-in-law, I never imagined! You're actually the daughter of the Hall Master of Chang Qiu Hall! What do they call this? The ugly duckling transforming into a swan?"