She Rebuilt Her Fallen Country With Storage Space-Chapter 199: People Have a Thousand Facets, Hearts Have Ten Thousand Changes

Chapter 199: Chapter 199: People Have a Thousand Facets, Hearts Have Ten Thousand Changes

Jie Chen returned to see Xiang Ying smiling radiantly at Lu Feiyi.

The two chatted and patted Aren’s head from time to time.

It looked just like a family of three.

Jie Chen looked back at his own children in comparison.

Three little ones were by the side, quietly studying, well-behaved.

Jie Chen frowned and walked over. "Xiang Ying, come with me to the tent."

Xiang Ying was still smiling when she turned her head and saw Jie Chen return, a light flashing in her eyes.

She quickly caught up and followed Jie Chen into the tent.

"How come you’re back so early? Shouldn’t you be out opening shelters and distributing porridge?"

Jie Chen was taking off his armor and glanced sideways at her with a hint of confusion in his eyes.

"How do you know that?"

Xiang Ying gave a small cough. "I orchestrated the events, so of course, I can anticipate how they unfold."

Jie Chen put down his sword and placed the armor on a rack.

He raised his eyebrows and scoffed sarcastically. "I knew it had to be you."

Starting from a few grains of rice as a clue, it drew the attention of the imperial envoy.

And led them to discover the cave where the Sixth Prince hid his weapons.

Jie Chen clearly remembered that he and Xiang Ying had already emptied the place.

How could the weapons have returned overnight?

Thinking it over and over, it could only be Xiang Ying’s doing.

He walked over to the table and handed a letter to Xiang Ying.

"This is for you."

Xiang Ying was puzzled. "What is this?"

She opened it and the smile on her face gradually cooled down, becoming like cold, white jade.

"Jie Chen, what do you mean by this? Are you having me sent away again?"

The letter was from Jie Chen to his staff and confidantes, instructing them to take in Xiang Ying and the children.

Jie Chen’s eyes were dark and stern. "Don’t be in a rush to get angry. I’m not sending you back to Xizhou, but to Shangjing first."

Xiang Ying was startled.

Jie Chen continued, "I have several estates there. I can arrange for you to stay secretly at the outset, which is certainly better than following the exile team into the Capital."

After all, the implications were different. Once Xiang Ying entered the city with the Exile Team, she would be immediately apprehended by the people sent by the Emperor and become a prisoner at the foot of the throne.

She didn’t know yet that her Father had already used her as a bargaining chip, offering her to his Father.

Jie Chen was reluctant to say it, fearing Xiang Ying wouldn’t be able to accept it.

Xiang Ying put down the letter, her beautiful brows and eyes revealing a faint confusion.

"I don’t understand. You arrange for me to leave early but also want me to accompany you to Shangjing. Do you intend to release me or lock me away?"

As she spoke, her palms pressed on the table, her body leaning slightly forward, her Phoenix Eyes stern.

Jie Chen met her gaze calmly and unruffled.

"I want to keep you here, by my side, and protect you."

His voice was low and serious, "It will be inconvenient for you at first, living in my estate for a while. You won’t be able to go out, but give me some time. In no more than three months, I can make it so you can walk openly in the streets of Shangjing City."

Xiang Ying knitted her brows. "What are you planning to do?"

Jie Chen didn’t hide it, but he simply said, "The reason I came back is to settle old scores. Once I resolve my affairs... we’ll talk about us."

Xiang Ying saw the earnestness in his speech.

Yet she fell into a mild trance.

Indeed, she admitted, she had a fondness for Jie Chen, and it wasn’t just a physical attraction.

But she had never considered spending her whole life with a man.

That sentence from Jie Chen... could it mean he intended to marry her?

Xiang Ying, who had lived through the apocalypse, was accustomed to being alone.

Once she thought about being permanently bound to someone for the rest of her life, she hesitated.

Jie Chen seemed to discern her hesitation and frowned, "What are you thinking about?"

Xiang Ying came back to her senses, "I’m not leaving. I want to follow the Exile Team into the city. I don’t want to accept your arrangements."

"Why?"

"Jie Chen, I’m not one to passively let things happen. You want me to stay in the house and wait for you to handle everything, but don’t you understand my character? That’s not who I am."

Jie Chen’s eyes were like an endless, deep pool.

He looked at Xiang Ying, and after a moment, a faint smile slipped through his thin lips.

"You’re not wrong. You’re not one for being cooped up and pampered; naturally, I can’t confine you. What I’ve just said, about our matter..."

Xiang Ying abruptly grasped Jie Chen’s hand.

It was his turn to be stunned.

Xiang Ying narrowed her eyes with a smile, "Let’s not think too far ahead for now. After you’ve dealt with your matters, and I’ve achieved my goals, then we can have a proper discussion about the future."

After speaking, she briskly withdrew her hand and hurriedly turned to leave the tent.

Jie Chen’s eyes were cold, a complex emotion hidden within.

He acutely sensed that Xiang Ying... didn’t want a future with him.

The unspoken proposal Jie Chen had intended to offer was subtly rejected by her.

So, the mutual affection he thought existed between Xiang Ying and him was only his assumption?

That day, Jie Chen silently sat until midnight.

For the next five or six days, Jie Chen wasn’t present in the main camp.

Xiang Ying hadn’t seen him for several days either. It was said that he was either busy setting up shelters and distributing porridge, or busy networking with various forces.

King Yong intended to promote him, and Lu Hong even wanted to arrange a marriage between Jie Chen and his daughter, Pan Chu.

It was rumored that they went on a lake excursion just yesterday.

Upon hearing these pieces of news, Xiang Ying surprisingly felt a sour bitterness in her heart.

Damn, she must have eaten something wrong!

So, these days, Xiang Ying forced herself not to pay attention to any news about Jie Chen.

She spent most of her time secluded in her own space, feverishly feeding her cartoon figures.

Speaking of which, these figures proved to be competitive, organizing troops every now and then to recruit more forces.

The original crowd of fifty thousand had now gradually grown to seventy thousand.

Xiang Ying’s goal to nurture a hundred thousand men was soon to be fulfilled.

She threw food, cattle, sheep, and horses into the screen with even greater determination.

Lu Feiyi seemed to notice that Xiang Ying was distracted these days and invited her to feed horses together.

He took the initiative to bring up the matter between Jie Chen and Pan Chu.

"Actually, even if you hadn’t said anything, I could feel that you dislike the idea of Jie Chen being with Pan Chu. But what’s going on between the two of you? One doesn’t return, and the other stays silent? I’m not quite used to this."

Xiang Ying placed the hay in the manger.

Her Phoenix Eyes were pitch black, her tone cool, "There’s nothing like that. Don’t spread rumors."

Lu Feiyi nodded thoughtfully.

He then smiled and said, "When I was younger, I wandered everywhere. I was envious of seeing others with their families and loved ones. Yet, the teacher who adopted me told me that there’s nothing to envy."

"Once a person has someone they care about, once they have kin, they will have weaknesses. If you want to be an invincible person, it’s best not to have any weaknesses."

Xiang Ying looked up at him suddenly; under the sunlight, Lu Feiyi smiled warmly.

This couldn’t help but remind Xiang Ying of her own teacher.

He had said something similar—

"Yingying, in the apocalypse, don’t trust that anyone will stay with you forever. People have a myriad of facets, and hearts change in numerous ways."

She had followed her teacher since childhood, and these concepts were ingrained in her.

Do not place hope in others, and you will never be disappointed; do not test the human heart, and you will never be hurt by it.

Xiang Ying felt increasingly suffocated.

She tossed all the hay into the manger, "I’m going to see what we have for lunch."

Lu Feiyi turned around, his gaze following her figure, his smile still the same, but the expression in his eyes gradually deepened.

Xiang Ying hadn’t walked two steps before Skinny Monkey hurried over.

"Sister-in-law, that... Miss Lu’s people came. They said they want to take you to the Governor’s Mansion."