Xiao Jinxing had never thought that Ye Qichi would still, unconditionally stand by his side.
Last time, he abandoned her.
He could feel that her heart towards him had turned cold.
Although Ye Qichi was not someone who showed everything, certain feelings were deeply engraved in his heart.
Thus till today, when things had become so perilous.
He did not believe that Ye Qichi would still help him unconditionally.
It was unlikely that she would still help him.
And in the current situation, Ye Qichi really could save her own life.
As long as she helped the Empress kill them.
Not only could she save her life, she could also earn merit.
Given Ye Qichi’s intelligence and wisdom, it wouldn’t be too hard for her to establish herself in the Imperial Palace in the future.
"But now, I have already offended the Empress, will the Empress let me go?" Ye Qichi asked.
Her tone was one of compromise.
"Of course!" Qingyuan was resolute. "The palace needs talents, and you are exactly the talent I have always wanted. You are smarter, slicker, and more attuned to the situation than Bai Mowan. I like people who can adapt like you. Now, if you just let me go, I assure you, I will not hold the past against you."
Yet, Ye Qichi still seemed hesitant.
"Ye Qichi, if you do not let me go, you will surely die. But if you do, you might live, why not take a gamble for yourself?" Qingyuan continued to coax, "The people before you, they are really not worth it!"
Ye Qichi pursed her lips.
In that moment, she turned her gaze towards Xiao Jinxing.
Xiao Jinxing also sensed her gaze the moment it turned towards him.
"Do you truly like Bai Mowan?" Ye Qichi asked.
Xiao Jinxing’s throat moved slightly.
Bai Mowan said, "Ye Qichi, if you only listen to the Empress’s side, you will truly regret it for the rest of your life. She absolutely won’t let go of someone who has been a threat to her..."
"Yes, I like her." Xiao Jinxing suddenly answered.
He interrupted Bai Mowan’s words, answering Ye Qichi earnestly.
Bai Mowan’s eyes tightened.
At this moment, Xiao Jinxing clearly understood that if he truly agitated Ye Qichi, she might really give up on saving them.
And right now, Ye Qichi was their only hope.
Despite Qingyuan repeatedly saying she would rather die together, she did not really want to die.
If she wanted to die, she wouldn’t have been threatened by Ye Qichi, nor would she have had such a conversation with Ye Qichi.
As long as Ye Qichi persists.
Qingyuan would not possibly carry through with killing them decisively.
Thus, they might still have a chance to survive.
Xiao Jinxing’s acknowledgment was clearly forcing Ye Qichi to give up on them.
In that moment, Bai Mowan even felt that Xiao Jinxing wasn’t expressing his feelings for her but instead saving Ye Qichi!
At least walk away whole from this incident.
Bai Mowan gritted her teeth.
She did not want to die.
Someone who has died once knows the taste of death, the fear of death, hence she did not want to die.
Her great vengeance was not yet avenged; she would not rest in peace if she died.
But because of Xiao Jinxing’s words, all she could choose was to remain silent.
"My liking for Bai Mowan is well known throughout the Daxuan Kingdom," Xiao Jinxing said deliberately, accentuating each word.
"Really?" Ye Qichi smiled.
"Yes." Xiao Jinxing affirmed unwaveringly, "So, the Empress is right, saving us isn’t worth it, and I will sooner or later divorce you and marry Bai Mowan."
"But Xiao Jinxing, don’t you think you’re being contradictory?" Ye Qichi asked him sharply, "If you don’t like me, why are you still helping me to live? You’re deliberately saying you don’t like me, just to make me give up on saving you, to allow you to survive!"
"I just don’t want to owe you anything anymore," Xiao Jinxing said bluntly, "The Empress is right, no matter how it goes, I’m as good as dead, the only different outcome is whether it costs your life and the Empress’s life or not. Since to me, I am dead anyway, there’s no need for you to die with me, which can also make up for the hurt when I left you among the wolves last time. From now on, we are even."
"So, you truly have never liked me, not even a bit?" Ye Qichi murmured.
At that moment, it seemed she was asking Xiao Jinxing as much as she was asking herself.
"Never. It’s just your unconditional dedication towards me that made me feel, you shouldn’t have to die with me," Xiao Jinxing looked at Ye Qichi, his eyes intensely focused on her, "That’s all I feel for you."