Baguio bit her lower lip, a hint of sadness flashing in her eyes.

She ...... has passed away. ”

Zhao Rang's heart was shocked, although he had already had a premonition, but hearing the news with his own ears still made him feel a trace of inexplicable amazement.

"When?"

He asked in a deep voice.

"Just the day before yesterday."

Baguio replied softly.

"We are all very sad that she passed away due to illness."

Zhao Rang frowned and pondered, and the doubts in his heart grew thicker.

Is Fluttershy's death really as simple as Baguio says?

Zhao let his eyes wander in the embroidery building.

Every piece of embroidery here may hide an untold secret.

"Baguio girl, can you show me where Fluttershy lived?"

Zhao Rang asked suddenly.

Baguio was slightly stunned, and a trace of hesitation flashed in his eyes.

But looking at Zhao Rang's firm eyes, she finally nodded.

"Please come with me."

She led Zhao Rang through the winding corridor to a remote courtyard.

This is where Fluttershy lived, and it was simple but full of life.

Zhao Rang carefully observed everything in the house, trying to find clues from it.

Suddenly, his gaze fell on a corner.

There was a withered rose with curved branches and yellow leaves.

But among the withered branches and leaves, there is a budding flower bone that is waiting to be released, which is particularly abrupt.

Zhao Rang's heart moved, and he stepped forward to take a closer look.

He noticed that there was an imperceptible trace of blood on the flower bone.

This bloodstain is the same as the one found on the butterfly embroidery before.

Zhao Rang's suspicion became even thicker, he turned his head to look at Baguio and asked:

"Baguio girl, what's the matter with this rose?" He asked, pointing to the rose in the corner.

Baguio glanced at the rose, and a hint of surprise flashed across her face.

"This ...... I don't know. The rose was planted by Fluttershy herself, and she cherishes it on a daily basis. But since she fell ill, the rose has gradually withered. ”

Zhao Rang nodded, already had a little guess in his heart, and asked again:

"When Fluttershy was sick, did anyone ever come here?"

Baguio remembers for a moment and replied:

"It's only been here once."

"Tsing Yi?"

Zhao Rang raised his eyebrows.

"It's him."

Baguio nodded in confirmation.

Tsing Yi has a close relationship with Fluttershy, and he comes to visit Fluttershy when he learns that she is sick.

Zhao Rang sneered and thought:

"Visiting? I'm afraid it's not that simple. ”

Zhao Rang did not reveal the doubts in his heart, but continued to silently observe the surroundings.

In addition to daily necessities, there are also some embroidery tools and materials scattered in this hut.

"Baguio girl, do you have any other special hobbies or habits besides embroidery?"

Zhao Rang asked casually, as if he was just chatting.

Baguio thought for a moment and replied:

Fluttershy loves to study all kinds of flowers, birds, fish, and insects, especially those with strange shapes, which is also reflected in her embroidery.

"Weird?"

Zhao Rang asked curiously.

"Yes, she seems to have a special interest in these kinds of flowers and plants, and often picks them back to study."

Baguio explained.

Zhao Rang's heart moved, walked up to the rose, and gently touched the withered leaf.

In the corner behind the flower pot, Zhao Rang saw a dilapidated book titled "Examination of Strange Flowers and Plants".

Zhao Rang opens the pages and finds that there are many notes from Fluttershy in the corners of the pages.

He was shocked in his heart, and suddenly understood something.

Turning around and walking to the rose, Zhao Rang gently plucked the budding flower bone and carefully put it in his arms.

Seeing this, Baguio couldn't help but ask softly: "

Zhao Gongzi, you picked this flower bone, but what clues did you find? ”

Zhao Rang didn't answer directly, but just said:

"Baguio girl, the secrets of this world are often hidden in these seemingly ordinary things."

With that, he turned and walked out of the house, leaving Baguio where he was, his eyes flashing with doubt and curiosity.

Quietly came to the mansion of the Seventh Prince Yuan Mingkong, he looked at the rose flower bone in Zhao Rang's hand, and frowned slightly.

"Brother Zhao, what's so special about this rose bone?"

Yuan Mingkong asked curiously.

Zhao tells Fluttershy about her death and her own discoveries. He recounts his discoveries at Fluttershy's home and the annotations in the book Strange Flowers and Plants.

Yuan Mingkong was silent for a long time after hearing this, and finally slowly spoke:

"Brother Zhao, your speculation is not unreasonable. Liu Qiansi is insidious and cunning, unscrupulous in order to achieve his goals, and will definitely try to cover up the truth. ”

He paused, his eyes sharpened:

"Moreover, the situation in the Imperial City is now complicated, and the forces of all sides are surging. Liu Qiansi, as the master of the Tiansi Jade Silk Pavilion, naturally has his ambitions and calculations. If this is really his doing, we must not tolerate it. ”

Zhao Rang nodded and said with a solemn expression:

"What Your Highness said is very true."

"Wait for tomorrow, and hand over all this evidence to Captain Jiang. Now it's time for their Imperial City Terracotta Division to step in! ”

Yuan Mingkong said.

Leaving the mansion of the Seven Princes, Zhao Rang wanted to return to his own courtyard.

He should have gone to the right, but he made a figure to the left.

The sun in the spring evening hangs lazily in the sky, and the sunbathing person is slightly hot, and he wants to be drowsy.

There was almost no one on the long street.

In the middle of the road, a person dressed in white, with a long sword hanging on his waist, and a grim expression.

Suddenly, a cold wind blew, and Bai Yi was already standing in front of him.

"Zhao Rang!"

Bai Yi's voice was cold and firm, like his sword, pointing directly at people's hearts.

"You're Bai Yi?"

Zhao Rang asked.

He had already determined the identity of this person in his heart, but he still had to hear the other party's admission with his own ears to feel complete.

Bai Yi did not answer.

He had already stood in front of Zhao Rang and heard Zhao Rang's question clearly.

In such cases, not answering is the most powerful and clear answer.

Bai Yi's eyes, like a lake in late autumn, were cold and deep, staring at Zhao Rang quietly

"I'm waiting for you."

Bai Yi finally spoke.

His voice seemed to come from time immemorial, deep and powerful.

Zhao Rang smiled slightly and met Bai Yi's gaze:

"I know."

"You know, it seems like a lot of things."

Bai Yi's tone was a little approving, but also a little vigilant.

"I'll always know what I need to know."

Zhao Rang replied indifferently, his eyes revealing a kind of confidence and calmness.

The two of them stood on the long street like this.

The air around them seemed to freeze, leaving only the figures of the two of them swaying in the wind.

"Brother Bai, since you're here, you might as well speak up."

Zhao Rang broke the silence.

Bai Yi shook his head:

"There are some things that can't be explained in a few words. I'm here just to confirm a few things. ”

"What does Brother Bai want to confirm?"

Zhao Rang asked curiously.

"You and Liu Qiansi ......"

"I don't have any grudges against Liu Qiansi, I haven't even met him. But I know that he asked you to kill me. ”

Zhao Rang interrupted Bai Yi's words and said.

Bai Yi's pupils shrunk.

Zhao Rang did not lie.

He really knows a lot!

"There was no grudge between us, even the first time we met. But I know that the reason why you agreed to Liu Qiansi was to save the life of an innocent person. ”

Zhao Rang continued.

Bai Yi's expression returned to normal.

Since Zhao Rang can know that he promised Liu Qiansi to come with a sword, he can know the specific reason, but it is also common sense.

Bai Yi sighed softly, with a hint of helplessness in his eyes.

"If you already know it, I don't need to hide it. Indeed, Liu Qiansi used an extremely innocent life to blackmail me into doing something for him. ”

"Kill me?"

Zhao Rang asked.

"Yes."

Bai Yi admitted it frankly.

"But although I have no name or surname, I also have my own principles. I don't kill people for no reason, especially someone like you. ”

Zhao Rang smiled:

"Someone like me? What kind of person does Brother Bai think I am? ”

"A wise man, a righteous man."

Bai Yi looked at Zhao Rang's eyes and said slowly:

"You don't give a damn!"

A hint of appreciation flashed in Zhao Rang's eyes:

"Brother Bai praised it falsely. Since Brother Bai is unwilling to kill people for no reason, how should today's matter be over? ”

Bai Yi was silent for a moment, and then spoke again:

"I don't want to kill you, but I can't be untrustworthy."

His voice was full of contradictions and struggles.

After Zhao Rang heard this, he laughed softly, and the laughter was full of understanding and relief.

"Brother Bai, you and I are destined to meet each other, why let the sword and hatred blind you? I believe that the life of that innocent man does not want you to stain his innocent blood for him. ”

Bai Yi's eyes moved, and he looked at Zhao Rang, as if he was reevaluating this man. The calmness and wisdom on his body made the contradictions in Bai Yi's heart more and more intense.

"You...... What do you really want? ”

Bai Yi's voice trembled a little, it was the struggle and entanglement in his heart.

Zhao Rang took a deep breath and looked at Bai Yi with a determined look in his eyes.

"Brother Bai, the things in this world are black and white, too absolute. You and I may be friends rather than enemies. ”

Bai Yi was stunned.

He looked at Zhao Rang, and the vigilance and hostility in his eyes gradually dissipated, replaced by a complex emotion.

"Friends?"

He muttered to himself, thinking seriously about the strange and seductive word.

Zhao Rang nodded and stretched out his hand, palm up, to show sincerity.

"Brother Bai, you and I have never been ignorant in our lives, and we have no grievances or hatreds. If you take my life because of a promise, is it not against your heart? What's more, that innocent life, do you really want to see him sacrifice for your promise? ”

Bai Yi's eyes lit up, and Zhao Rang's words touched his heartstrings.

His gaze flashed with mixed emotions.

It was the light of struggle, pain, helplessness and determination.

He was silent for a long time before he slowly spoke:

"Zhao Rang, you're right. I can't take your life easily because of a promise. But I can't be treacherous and ignore the innocent. ”

"What if that innocent life has already dissipated?"

Zhao Rang thought about it and decided to go straight.

Bai Yi was stunned, he looked at Zhao Rang, and a trace of consternation flashed in his eyes.

"You...... What did you say? ”

"I say, what if that innocent man is no longer there?"

Zhao Rang's tone was calm, but with an unquestionable firmness.

Bai Yi's heart sank suddenly.

That innocent man was a knot in his heart.

The reason why he promised Liu Qiansi was to protect that person.

If that person is no longer there, what is the point of his promise?

"It can't be!"

Bai Yi denied it very decisively.

"Nothing is impossible."

Zhao Rang looked at Bai Yi and said with some sympathy:

"Brother Bai, there are some things that we can't control."

Bai Yi was silent.

He looked up at the sky, the sun had already set, and there was a faint red left in the sky, like the chaos and confusion in his heart at this moment.

If that innocent person is really no longer there.

What else is the point of his persistence?

His sword,

Where should it be pointed?

Bai Yi's sword was still hanging on his waist, but the blade no longer seemed to be sharp and cold.

There was a hint of unprecedented confusion in his eyes.

"Brother Bai, life is like a dream, why should you bind your life for a momentary promise?"

Zhao Rang said softly, his voice seemed to have a kind of magic that could penetrate people's hearts.

Bai Yi turned his head to look at Zhao Rang, his eyes flashing with a complicated light.

"Zhao Rang, how much do you know?"

He asked, with a hint of doubt and wariness in his voice.

Zhao Rang smiled slightly and shook his head.

"I know more or less than you think. But one thing I am sure of is that you and I are not Liu Qiansi's pawns, we all have our own choices. ”

Bai Yi was silent for a moment, then suddenly drew his sword out of its sheath and pointed at Zhao Rang.

But Zhao Rang did not flinch, just looked at him quietly, his eyes full of firmness and confidence.

"Brother Bai, if you still have doubts in your heart, you might as well give it a try. But I believe that your sword will not really fall. ”

Bai Yi looked at Zhao Rang's eyes, as if he wanted to read something from those deep eyes.

But Zhao Rang's eyes were like an abyss, making it impossible for people to peek at the bottom.

A moment later, Bai Yi suddenly put his sword back into its sheath and turned to leave.

"Zhao Rang, you remember, if I don't kill you today, it's not that I can't, but I don't want to."

His voice drifted in the wind, fading away.

Zhao Rang looked at Bai Yi's departing back and smiled slightly.

"There will be a date later."

He said softly, as if saying goodbye to an old friend.

As the night grew darker, Zhao Rang also turned around and left, disappearing at the end of the long street.

The situation in the imperial city is still complicated.

But Zhao Rang knew that his encounter with Bai Yi might bring some new variables to this chess game.

Back in the courtyard where he lived, the rose bones shimmered faintly in the moonlight in the night.

Zhao Rang gently plucked the petals, put them on the tip of his nose and sniffed, and a meaningful smile appeared on his face.

"How can this rose flower be ordinary?"

He whispered to himself, talking to the departed Flower Spirit.

Zhao Rang knew that the secret hidden in this rose flower was far more complicated than he imagined.

But he also understands that there are some things that cannot be rushed and need to be taken slowly.

Putting the petals into a delicate locket, Zhao Rang turned around and walked into the house.