The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 695: Chapter 696: Xie Anbai

THUMP!

The palace servant’s legs gave out, and he collapsed straight to his knees. His face, deathly pale in the flickering firelight, looked like that of a ghoul.

He trembled all over, his heart sinking to the pit of his stomach. His mind went blank, save for a single question that echoed relentlessly within—

’Why!?’

’The poison I gave Zheng Baosu was supposed to take a full hour to activate! How did these people get here so fast!?’

’What could have possibly gone wrong!?’

He couldn’t figure it out, and there was no more time to think.

A languid, teasing voice came from behind. ”He’s all yours. I’m going back to report. Make sure you watch him closely this time. If you let him get away again... he won’t be taken alive next time.”

The man leading the Imperial Army cupped his fist. ”Thank you for your help, Second Young Master Xie. We are deeply grateful and will not dare make such a mistake again!”

The palace servant froze when he heard this.

He looked back in disbelief!

’Second Young Master Xie?’

’Xie Anbai!?’

’Weren’t the rumors that he’d washed out and left the Capital City long ago!?’

’So why has he suddenly shown up in the palace!?’

’And... and he came specifically for *me*!?’

A sudden thought made the palace servant recoil in horror, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Xie Anbai lightly tapped his palm with his bone fan. Seeing the man look back, he suddenly smiled.

”What? Surprised I didn’t die at your master’s hands?”

With a single, fluid motion, he vaulted down from the palace wall. He ambled over to the servant, tilted his head to size him up, and then clicked his tongue.

”You’ve been in the palace for a long time, haven’t you? It seems he’s spent no small effort on his arrangements over the years...”

His voice was soft and unhurried, as if discussing some trivial matter, yet it made the servant tremble ever more violently, shaking like a leaf.

He didn’t need to think to know what awaited him upon capture.

A flicker of despair crossed his eyes. Then, gritting his teeth, he tried to lunge toward the palace wall!

But he had barely begun to rise, not having moved an inch, when an immense force pressed down on his shoulder!

He was forced back onto his knees.

Xie Anbai, fan in hand, pressed down on the man’s shoulder. He looked like he was exerting no effort at all, yet the servant felt as if a mountain were crushing him! He couldn’t get up, no matter how he struggled.

”Save your strength.” The corners of Xie Anbai’s lips curved up, but there was no trace of a smile in his eyes, only a chilling iciness.

”You and your master will be reunited very soon.”

With that, he stepped back.

The Imperial Army soldiers behind him immediately closed in!

...

After the Imperial Army led the palace servant away, Xie Anbai was the only one left.

He watched them depart, then stood quietly for a moment before turning and heading toward Qiyuan Hall.

It was the dead of night, and the sky was pitch-black. Now that the torches were gone, only the faint, blurry light of distant palace lanterns remained, deepening the profound silence.

Xie Anbai walked forward, his steps slow and deliberate.

His expression was serene, betraying nothing.

Countless images flashed through his mind.

Scene after scene washed over him, a silent tide threatening to drown him.

At last, he arrived before Qiyuan Hall and stood still.

Even in the dead of night, the hall remained imposing and solemn, a sight that inspired awe.

Xie Anbai came back to himself with a deep breath, like a drowning man finally breaking the surface for air.

A gust of cool wind washed over him, bringing with it a sharp clarity.

His gaze gradually grew resolute.

Then, sweeping the hem of his robes aside, he knelt facing Qiyuan Hall!