Xie Liangchen naturally wouldn't let Song Xian take action. She raised her hand and touched her collar, slowly taking out the Jade Pendant.
Song Xian didn't wait for her to remove the Jade Pendant from her neck. With a swift motion of his dagger, he cut the cord, and Xie Liangchen felt a tightness in her palm as the Jade Pendant slipped from her grasp and fell into Song Xian's hand.
The Jade Pendant wasn't made from superior jade material, nor was it intricately carved. Originally depicting two white cranes, it was now split in two. Song Xian carefully examined the broken section of the Jade Pendant.
Xie Liangchen looked over, but Song Xian's expression was indifferent, showing no discernible emotion.
Song Xian asked, "Where did this Jade Pendant come from?"
When Song Xian mentioned the Jade Pendant, Xie Liangchen was already pondering how to answer. Song Xian asked for half of it at such a time and now questioned her again about it, clearly indicating that the Jade Pendant was very important to Song Xian.
Xie Liangchen decided not to lie: "I don't know either."
Song Xian said nothing.
Xie Liangchen pointed at her head and continued, "While gathering herbs for my foster parents, I fell down the mountain and hit my head, and I can't remember the past."
Now the dagger was no longer at her neck, and Xie Liangchen could move freely. She struggled to turn her body and moved her long hair aside to show Song Xian her left brain and the back of her ear.
By the moonlight shining from outside, Song Xian's gaze fell on the scar at the back of Xie Liangchen's head—a scar that stretched from the back of her left brain to the back of her left ear.
Xie Liangchen confirmed that Song Xian saw her wound and lay back down. She continued, "In my past life, I asked the Xie Family about the origin of the Jade Pendant. The Xie Family only knew that before I was taken away by traffickers, I didn't have such a Jade Pendant on me. I took it as a gift from my foster parents, so I've always carried it with me."
Upon hearing the words "past life," Song Xian's eyes slightly narrowed. She spoke very fluently.
Song Xian's gaze returned to Xie Liangchen's face. Now she was thirteen or fourteen, still appearing somewhat young, yet her face was clearly delicate, with eyes as bright as the moon. Ji Yuan, being lecherous, was surely enticed by her beauty, leading to his downfall.
The innocent expression on the young girl's face made her seem so gentle and harmless.
However, what flashed through Song Xian's mind was her decisiveness in assassinating Ji Yuan: using gunpowder and needles, she didn't hesitate to use herself as bait, successfully assassinating Ji Yuan—a woman like this was far from being meek and obedient.
Whatever he asked, she answered, clearly understanding that her life was in his hands.
Song Xian continued, "Have you ever been to the sea?"
Xie Liangchen shook her head. "I never traveled far before the age of six. After being kidnapped by traffickers, my father and mother heard I was sold to the sea, so they sailed in pursuit, only for the ship to sink halfway."
Song Xian frowned slightly, recalling the event on the sea seven years ago. At that time, he was trapped in the wooden cell at the bottom of the ship, but was fortunately saved. The family that rescued him never revealed their true identity; he only knew their daughter was six or seven years old, accompanying her parents on a maritime trade trip. Hoping to meet them again, he gave them half of the Jade Pendant as a token.
After escaping, he tried to trace the family's whereabouts, only to find out they gave him a fake name.
The Jade Pendant was undoubtedly correct, yet the woman before him seemed not to be the one he was searching for, though he couldn't confirm if there was no connection at all.
Song Xian couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. He'd seen the Jade Pendant, causing him to be distracted momentarily allowing her to gain the upper hand. Now that he had the pendant, he still hadn't obtained the answer he sought.
Before leading troops to start a rebellion, he had anticipated the possible outcomes, but never imagined he would suddenly return to twelve years ago.
Reflecting on his experiences in the following twelve years, Song Xian's eyes narrowed. Even if given another chance, he would only carry out his plans faster, achieving everything he desired.
Though his mother had long passed, his cherished grandmother was still alive, allowing him to bask in familial affection.
"If the Marquis wishes to learn the origin of the Jade Pendant, I will do everything possible to seek information. It might be related to my foster parents," Xie Liangchen said earnestly. "The Marquis is a benefactor to us siblings, and I will be dedicated to repaying him."
Her repayment...
In Song Xian's mind flashed the lightning on the horizon—her repayment being the instant obliteration of twelve years of his hard work.
Realizing this, Song Xian was tempted to kill her.
His expression turned icier: "You know what's to come in the next twelve years. Only by killing you can I feel more at ease."
Xie Liangchen stiffened, her voice slightly trembling: "I dare not mention my past life to anyone. If I had intended to scheme against the Marquis, he would sense it immediately."
Having said this, Xie Liangchen paused, her gaze exceedingly sincere: "No one in Daqi is more formidable than the Marquis. How could I have any ulterior motives?"
Xie Liangchen paused briefly and continued: "The Marquis has defended the Northern Border for many years, serving the nation and the people. If not for the Emperor's illness, he would not have raised troops to march to the Capital City to rescue him."
The rebellion she adamantly insisted was a rescue mission, which Song Xian found to be the most "sincere" praise he'd heard.
Xie Liangchen explained: "In my past life, I killed Ji Yuan because he caused my brother's death. In this life, I will certainly encounter this villain again, and my brother and I will remain his enemies.
To deal with Ji Yuan, we must rely on the Marquis, so the Marquis can rest assured that I will be on his 'side'."
Song Xian did not speak, though his murderous intent seemed to diminish somewhat.
Xie Liangchen continued pleading: "Please, Marquis, give me a chance. If I make any transgression, the Marquis can kill me immediately."
Xie Liangchen knew Song Xian was not someone to easily be swayed. He hadn't harmed her, likely due to that Jade Pendant. Her words might not convince him, but she hoped the Jade Pendant would give Song Xian enough reason to spare her for now.
After she finished speaking, silence enveloped the room. It was a long while before Song Xian's voice resonated again: "Remember what you've said." He intended to see how she would become "one of his own."
The extreme coldness in his voice sent a chill all the way to one's bones.
The rustling of clothes was heard, and Song Xian got out of bed. The window was pulled open, and the figure vanished completely from the room.
Although Xie Liangchen was aware Song Xian would still have people secretly watching her, she felt relieved. After all, those were matters for the future. Given the opportunity, she would find a way to make Song Xian trust her.
She reached out and skillfully reset the wrist that Song Xian had dislocated. In her previous life, due to buying and selling herbs, she had always studied pharmacology, making bone-setting not difficult for her.
Lying on the bed, she reviewed the entire sequence of events again and felt a surge of joy in her heart.
Her brother, her grandmother, she'd returned.
The most distressing thing wasn't enduring hardship, but being helpless. Now that she'd returned, everything could start anew, and she would protect her loved ones.
No one knew how much time had passed when daylight gradually broke through. A maid pushed the door open and entered the room, intending to assist Miss Xie in washing her face, but froze in surprise when she met Miss Xie's clear eyes as soon as she raised her head.
The washbasin fell to the ground, and the maid shouted excitedly, "Miss has awakened."