Those servants had already rushed over with ferocious expressions.
The young nobleman was still shouting from upstairs: “Beat him hard! Anyone who dares to stop them, beat them together!”
These servants, usually relying on their master’s power, acted without restraint.
Seeing Xie Yi and the others sitting there, they showed no restraint at all, and even tried to flip over the table in front of them to drag the people inside out.
Xie Yi’s expression turned cold, and he kicked them away.
He did not hold back on that kick; the leading servant was sent flying several meters away and crashed into a pillar, falling unconscious.
The remaining servants were quickly subdued by Song Lü and the others.
These servants only knew some crude martial skills; how could they possibly be a match for them? Even the shouting young nobleman was frightened, and the group fled in disgrace.
Liu Muzhi crawled out from under the table and cupped his hands: “Many thanks to you all, righteous heroes, for saving me!”
Xie Yi had always been too lazy to deal with such matters, but unexpectedly, even Lin Zhiji did not speak.
Lin Zhiji was not intentionally ignoring him; he had suddenly thought of something.
In the original book, had Liu Muzhi met Xie Yi so early?
In the story, Liu Muzhi was constantly being hunted in the early stages, and later accidentally learned his identity, as well as the truth that the one who destroyed his adoptive family and hunted him was the Crown Prince.
After that, he was betrayed and fell into Xie Yi’s hands. At that time, Xie Yi had already become the powerful Jiangnan Provincial Governor. After learning his identity, he kept him as a puppet to oppose the Eastern Palace and Prince Qi’s mansion.
But now, not only had Xie Yi taken the position of Jiangnan Provincial Governor earlier than in the original story, but upon arriving in Jiangnan, he had actually met Liu Muzhi immediately.
Looking at Liu Muzhi’s foolish appearance now, he did not seem to have learned the truth yet.
Seeing that no one responded to him, Liu Muzhi did not feel embarrassed. He scratched his head and said, “Well then, a great kindness need not be thanked. I’ll take my leave first.”
Just as he was about to leave, he heard a gentle voice from behind: “Wait a moment.”
Liu Muzhi turned back and saw that the very good-looking young nobleman said, “I wonder where Brother is headed? If it’s on the way, why not travel together?”
Xie Yi’s expression paused, his gaze suddenly turning toward Lin Zhiji.
—
After settling the inn, Xie Yi pulled Lin Zhiji into the room.
Liu Muzhi subconsciously tried to stop them, but Song Lü quickly held him back from the side: “Young Master Zhang, your room is over here. I will take you there.”
Liu Muzhi had used an alias when introducing himself.
Liu Muzhi said, “But that Young Master Xie has a cold expression. I’m worried about Brother Lin…”
Song Lü felt utterly exhausted inside.
Can’t you tell that the master’s bad mood is entirely because of you?
If you go and disturb them again, Brother Lin might be fine—but the rest of us won’t be.
So Song Lü coaxed and dragged him away.
At this moment inside the room, however, the atmosphere was not as cold as they imagined.
Lin Zhiji smiled as he poured tea for Xie Yi.
Xie Yi raised an eyebrow but did not drink.
Lin Zhiji coughed lightly: “Listen to my explanation. I asked him to stay for a reason. His identity is…”
“Liu Muzhi.” Xie Yi said indifferently, directly stating the answer.
Lin Zhiji was stunned, not expecting him to have already guessed it.
This reaction was not right.
He originally thought that if Xie Yi learned Liu Muzhi’s identity, he would either, like in the original story, imprison him as a puppet, or strike first and kill him.
But now, Xie Yi showed no change in expression at all.
As if he were just an unimportant passerby.
He looked at him for a long time.
Xie Yi’s throat moved slightly as he took a sip of tea: “You think I would kill him?”
Lin Zhiji was already used to his sharp perception.
But every time his thoughts were seen through, his heart still skipped a beat. Only then did he react belatedly: “So you won’t kill him, and you won’t imprison him either!”
Hearing the surprise in his tone, Xie Yi’s gaze turned colder: “You care quite a lot about him?”
Lin Zhiji immediately knew—this vinegar jar was jealous again.
Although he knew he shouldn’t, he still couldn’t help but laugh a little.
Most of the time, Xie Yi was rational and deep, his emotions hidden, holding life and death in his hands, separated from others by an insurmountable distance.
Only at times like this did he seem pulled down from the clouds, like an ordinary man with human joy and anger.
Although Lin Zhiji quickly covered his mouth, he was still noticed by Xie Yi.
Xie Yi stood up and walked toward him step by step.
His tall figure blocked the window light, almost enveloping Lin Zhiji in his shadow.
Lin Zhiji immediately behaved: “I was wrong.”
However, his apology did not move Xie Yi at all. Before he could react, Xie Yi grabbed his waist and lifted him onto the table.
Fingers gently stroked his waist through his clothes, his voice almost gentle: “Wrong where?”
Lin Zhiji trembled, a sensitive tingling rising at his waist.
Without thinking, he hugged Xie Yi’s waist, pressing his face against his chest, aggrieved: “You’re too fierce.”
Xie Yi looked at him acting spoiled and felt both anger and amusement for a moment.
He had spoiled him too much—he was becoming more and more delicate, and more and more skilled at manipulating him.
He narrowed his eyes, but his fingertips slid along Lin Zhiji’s waist belt and into his clothing.
Rough fingertips moved from his waist to his abdomen, then upward, kneading and teasing, feeling the trembling under his palm.
Lin Zhiji’s face flushed red, yet he could not help but shiver from sensitivity.
Xie Yi’s other hand restrained his body, preventing him from escaping.
Having been together for so long, Xie Yi knew exactly where Lin Zhiji was most sensitive.
Usually it was indulgence—but now it felt more like punishment.
Lin Zhiji suppressed a whimper, his eyes unfocused as he softened in Xie Yi’s arms.
Xie Yi kissed his cheek and asked slowly, “Speak. Why did you keep him?”
Lin Zhiji’s mind was already muddled, his voice fragmented: “It’s… it’s the mission…”
Xie Yi had already guessed Liu Muzhi’s identity, and thus also guessed this point.
But what he wanted to know was more than that.
Just as he was about to continue asking, he heard Lin Zhiji continue: “Keeping… keeping Liu Muzhi by our side… is more beneficial… for you…”
Xie Yi froze.
But Lin Zhiji had already hooked his arms around his neck and kissed him in a disordered way.
His rare enthusiasm made Xie Yi’s breathing grow heavy at once.
Lin Zhiji closed his eyes, face flushed, eyelashes trembling.
It was close—he almost said something he shouldn’t have.
He had realized that the plot had changed drastically from the original story, and the mission system not only had not corrected itself, but after Xie Yi and Liu Muzhi unexpectedly met, it had actually issued a mission.
Combining it with previous mission experiences, a shocking plan formed in his mind.
He was not deliberately hiding it from Xie Yi.
It was just that this plan was still vague, and it involved the main quest, so he could not yet tell Xie Yi.
Fortunately, tricks did not need to be new—only effective.
At that moment, there was suddenly a knock on the door.
Lin Zhiji instantly stiffened. Seeing that Xie Yi still wanted to continue, he quickly pressed his hand: “N-no…”
Xie Yi restrained himself, veins faintly showing at his temple.
But in the end, he could not go against Lin Zhiji’s will and slowly stood up.