The Phoenix Split

The Phoenix Split-Chapter 14

Zhao Lian expected a bigger, perhaps more grand residence for one of the empire's soon-to-be Great Pillars, but it was a very simple mansion. The wood creaked as he led her by the hand pointing at the small courtyard, pond with faint ripples, and bridges. She tensed at his actions and glanced around seeing if anyone was noticing their intimacy and hissed, "Qin Xun!"

He smirked, "Is there anything wrong?"

She swallowed and looked at their intermingled hands, "Oh! Sorry..."and he let go.

Zhao Lian held onto her Ashfang for support inside the unfamiliar manor. She knew from long ago to always be cautious wherever she went, but this place almost reminded her of her old home...She shook her head, "This place feels a bit-"

"Strange?" he chuckled and slightly winced, "Y-you will...get used to it eventually."

She narrowed her eyes to examine him and was about to open her mouth but he shook his head no. She was confused and tried to take a step closer but he stepped an equal step back and looked past her. She caught on and looked behind her and sure enough were some people spying through one of the back walls. She furrowed her eyebrows, they didn't look like any ordinary people...they had to be spies sent from the palace. Were they already being watched?

Without hesitation, she threw a punch straight in the middle of his chest causing him a spit blood just as she expected. He'd been acting weird for the past weeks and she suspected that she was still sick with the poison. It hurt, but it was the only way to sell the act. He stumbled backwards and luckily, Jiang Wei caught him. She mouthed, "Spies are watching." and Jiang Wei nodded.

As he knew spies were watching, Jiang Wei theatrically widened his eyes so much that Qin Xun thought he was having a stroke. Jiang Wei fell to the ground and gasped so loudly that Zhao Lian was cringing and almost covered up her ears. He pretended to sob and then pointed straight and Zhao Lian causing Qin Xun to widen his eyes, "You! Why are you so ungrateful to General Zhenyuan! He rescued you and provided you with status yet you are still a wretch!"

Zhao Lian scoffed, Jiang Wei was really a good actor, even a couple servants peeked in to see what the commotion was about. She knelt down and slapped him back, trying to put on the best performance she could, "So what if I am a wretch?" she patted Qin Xun's face almost laughing, "Your General's life is still in my hands."

She laughed like a maniac, more like a hyena in Qin Xun's eyes, and spun around to catch a glimpse of the spies leaving. Qin Xun also saw the spies leave and gave a signal to Jiang Wei to drop the act. Jiang Wei immediately wiped his fake tears and left, leaving Zhao Lian alone looking like a fool still laughing. Qin Xun sat up with blood trickling from his lips, "Having fun?"

"Huh?" Zhao Lian paused in the middle and turned around to face Qin Xun, "What do you mean?"

He scoffed and blew a piece of hair out of his face while standing up, "Your acting seemed to be very genuine."

She smiled, "Why, thank you General. It was indeed...a highlight of my day."

He smirked and looked away as a sharp pain stabbed him in the head. He instinctively pressed a hand to that spot as his vision blurred and knees buckled.

"Qin Xun!" her eyes widened as he fell to the ground, way more sick than she predicted. And this was far from the first or last time she'd see somebody close to her collapse like that.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Empress Xiaoxin yawned as a maid massaged her temples, being an Empress was no easy feat. Her brother knelt before her with his head hung low. Even the faint rustle of the silk curtain sent a shiver down his spine. She finally opened her mouth, breaking the tense silence, "You visited that vixen before visiting your sister?"