Reborn Spoiled Girl Tames the Regent

Chapter 45 Personally Preparing the Medicine

"You want to try touching her?"

Xiao Hengzhi's tone was neither too light nor too heavy, with a slight rise at the end, as if it were a casual question, yet it contained an undeniable sense of pressure.

Guiye raised an eyebrow, revealing a eager smile: "Why not give it a try?"

Then he turned and walked towards the door.

But in just a moment, he felt a sharp gust of wind from a blade.

He quickly turned his head, but a lock of his hair was still cut off. A dagger grazed his cheek and plunged into the doorpost in front of him with a muffled thud, the tip of the blade trembling slightly.

Before he could react, Xiao Hengzhi was already close, snatched the knife from his hand, and pinned him against the door.

The blade was aimed straight at his neck. He dodged to the side and reached out to pull the knife out of the door, but Xiao Hengzhi blocked it with a dagger and slashed his palm, leaving a thin, long bloodstain.

Xiao Hengzhi gave him no chance to breathe, launching a fierce attack like a beast locking onto its prey, striking one after another with precision, ruthlessness, and no mercy.

Guiye could only defend passively, his movements gradually became sluggish, and cold sweat poured down his forehead.

At this moment, he was completely at a disadvantage.

As he dodged, he caught a glimpse of Xiao Hengzhi's gaze, sharp and dangerous, as if to say—I can kill you anytime.

His heart pounded, and he was acutely aware that every move Xiao Hengzhi made was enough to kill him, yet he always held back, as if deliberately teasing him, or perhaps as a warning.

He was relentlessly pursued until he finally collapsed to the ground, utterly exhausted.

The dagger flashed through the air, then pierced the wooden board beside his ear with a sharp crack, embedding itself deeply and firmly.

Xiao Hengzhi looked down at him, his gaze icy: "Want to try again?"

Guiye struggled to lift his head, the provocation in his heart turning into a surge of fear.

He finally realized that this man was not someone he could challenge.

"Who...who exactly are you?" Guiye's throat was dry, and his voice trembled slightly.

Xiao Hengzhi lowered his eyes, hesitated for a moment, and then slowly said, "I know you are a Red Slave. I ask you, do you know how many cages of beasts are in the beast arena?"

He propped himself up and sat up, replying, "Ninety-nine cages, why are you asking that...?"

"Have you ever heard of the saying that by slaughtering all the caged beasts, you can gain freedom?"

Guiye was taken aback. He knew that the rule of the beast arena was that if all the caged beasts were killed and they were still alive, they could be exchanged for freedom.

I heard that there was once a man who slaughtered all the beasts in the field and escaped alive.

But he thought it was just a legend; how could anyone possibly survive to the end...?

Xiao Hengzhi continued, "Actually, this is a scam. Slaughtering all the caged beasts won't grant you freedom; instead, you'll become the hundredth caged beast..."

Guiye scoffed, "How do you know? You didn't...?"

He suddenly realized something halfway through his sentence and looked at Xiao Hengzhi.

"Could it be that you are...?"

Xiao Hengzhi remained silent, bent down and pulled out the dagger from the ground, casually twirling it in his hand.

Guiye stared at the knife, cold sweat mixed with blood sliding down his palms.

It turns out that Xiao Hengzhi was the one who slaughtered everyone in the beast field.

If someone like that wanted to kill him, it would be incredibly easy.

He opened his mouth, then lowered his head and whispered, "I surrender... kill me."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Hengzhi simply smiled faintly: "I won't kill you, nor do I need you to admit defeat."

Guiye tilted his head, looking puzzled.

He spoke calmly, "Since I saved you, naturally I expect you to work for me. But if you dare disobey me..."

Xiao Hengzhi approached slowly, his voice as cold as the dagger in his hand: "I will make you understand that living is more painful than dying."

These words were like a brand, pressing heavily on Guiye's heart.

He forced himself to endure the exhaustion, covered his cut hand, and replied, "Understood."

Xiao Hengzhi said no more, and took out a slip of paper from his sleeve: "Go find me someone else, someone who has something to do with Zuiyin Tower."

"The Drunken Sound Pavilion was engulfed in flames, and now everything is under control. How am I supposed to investigate?"

"You'll have to figure that out yourself. Report back to Changchun Pavilion in three days."

Guiye closed his eyes helplessly, took the paper, and lightly leaped out of the window, disappearing from the rooftop.

......

It's getting light.

Faint voices could be heard outside the window, and the sound of sweeping fallen leaves could be heard from the courtyard.

Xiao Hengzhi had just finished washing up when there was a light but urgent knock on the door.

"Xiao Hengzhi? Are you up? I've prepared your medicine."

Jiang Wan's voice came through the wooden door, slightly hoarse and damp with the morning air. He paused, a smile unconsciously playing on his lips.

Pushing open the door, I was greeted by her—carrying a steaming bowl of herbal soup, wearing a fluffy jacket, her loose hair hanging down her fair neck, revealing a languid and soft appearance.

Xiao Hengzhi felt a warmth in his heart and led her into the house to sit down.

"Why did you personally prepare my medicine, Second Miss?"

His voice was low, with a hint of barely perceptible joy at the end.

Jiang Wan rubbed her slightly cool fingers: "You are like this because of me, so naturally I have to do my best."

After she finished speaking, Ruiju suddenly went into the house.

"Second Miss, His Highness the Crown Prince has suddenly arrived. Master says he wants you to come over."

Upon hearing the words "Crown Prince," Jiang Mian's expression instantly became somewhat complicated.

After yesterday's fire, she completely forgot about Ning Zhi.

She didn't know how she had become such a hesitant person. She had clearly promised to go to Ning Zhi's side, but now she was entangled with Xiao Hengzhi all day long.

This feeling made her feel guilty and inexplicably irritable. She shook her head slightly and thought, "No, I need to get back on track."

He then turned and replied, "Go and tell my father that I will be there in a moment."

"Yes," Ruiju replied and withdrew.

Xiao Hengzhi's eyes grew colder and colder, and he asked nervously, "Second Miss, have you thought about how to respond to His Highness's words yesterday?"

Jiang Wan frowned: "Even if I agree, I'll need some time to think it over. You should rest well, and I'll bring you the medicine later."

The word "agree" was extremely jarring.

Xiao Hengzhi's fingers curled slightly, his nails digging into his palm.

A strong thought surged in his mind: he couldn't let her leave.

Absolutely not!

Seeing that he remained silent, Jiang Wan pushed the medicine bowl in front of him: "Drink it quickly, I put rock sugar in it, it won't be too bitter."

"Ah."

Xiao Hengzhi gave a soft reply, looking at the medicine bowl on the table.

He wanted to take a gamble.

He picked up the bowl, but before he could reach his lips, his hand suddenly trembled, and the bowl fell to the ground and shattered into pieces, spilling the medicine all over the floor.

Jiang Mian was startled and reflexively took a step back.

Xiao Hengzhi hurriedly got up to pick up the broken pieces, but slipped on the medicine and fell hard on his back onto the broken porcelain bowl.

"Xiao Hengzhi!" Jiang Mian exclaimed and rushed forward to help him.

"How are you? Are you okay?"

Xiao Hengzhi suppressed the smile on his lips and pretended to wince in pain as he replied in a low voice, "It's nothing. I just felt a sharp pain in my shoulder and lost my grip."

Looking at the mess, he said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Miss, the medicine you gave me has all spilled."

Jiang Wan didn't have time to scold him. She quickly turned him around and checked his back: "Are you injured? Did this shard of porcelain tear your clothes?"

"It seems like the back of my neck hurts a little," he said in a low voice, feigning a pitiful expression.

Jiang Wan was so anxious that she barely noticed his expression: "Where does it hurt? Are you scratched? Squat down a bit so I can take a look."