Chapter 179: Assassin

The two faced each other in silence, and Chi Nan Yi's gaze never left the hairpin.

The hairpin was not unusual, but it bore her name engraved on it.

"What is this…" Chi Nan Yi looked up at Mo Junyan, a hint of surprise in her eyes.

"Ahem." Mo Junyan continued to mask his feelings with a low cough: "This Prince thought you had never received a real birthday gift, so he had someone engrave your name on the hairpin."

"Thank you, Prince, I, a humble woman, will surely cherish this gift." Chi Nan Yi placed the hairpin on her head, her eyes shimmering with radiance.

Mo Junyan looked at her, his brows and eyes tinged with a broad smile.

"Prince, did you come today specifically to deliver a birthday gift?"

"Yes."

At that moment, Chi Nan Yi noticed tiny fresh scratches on his fingertips, clearly recent wounds.

Thinking of the hairpin just now, Chi Nan Yi's heart stirred—could it be that he had crafted it himself?

Sensing her gaze, Mo Junyan curled his fingertips slightly, covering the wound: "It was just an accidental cut while handling trivial matters."

Such a tactic was no different from the old saying about hiding three hundred taels of silver.

The haste to explain stemmed from a guilty conscience.

He refused to admit it, and Chi Nan Yi did not expose him, removing the hairpin from her head. Mo Junyan, seeing this, flickered a hint of doubt in his eyes: "Why didn't you put it back on? Do you dislike it?"

"Prince, look at the time now. If you don't rest, I still need to rest." She placed the hairpin back into its box, smiling: "Tomorrow morning, I will wear it again."

"Then rest well tonight; this Prince will take his leave."

Mo Junyan walked to the window, about to leave, when Chi Nan Yi whispered: "Prince, this is the best birthday gift I've ever received." She handed him a jar of medicinal ointment: "Apply it to your fingertips, and it will heal by tomorrow."

"Very well."

Early the next morning, after grooming, Chi Nan Yi placed the jade hairpin on her head; though she still pretended to be a man, the hairpin did not look effeminate. Looking at herself in the mirror, a smile lifted the corner of her lips.

"Happy birthday."

In this life and the next, it was her first time receiving a birthday gift.

Just as she stepped out of the room, Ji Bai came carrying a tray: "Miss, this is the family head's birthday gift for you."

Chi Nan Yi opened the box; inside was a strikingly heroic teal brocade robe.

On the robe lay a cloth bag; opening it revealed a neatly stacked pile of silver notes.

The enormous sum made her gape in astonishment.

"Grandfather, did you just give me the entire family fortune?"

"The family head said the Chi Family was once one of the top lineages in Jingcheng, never short of silver; if you like it, no matter the amount, the Chi Family can provide it." After speaking, Ji Bai added: "The family head also said that before a miss gets married, these are the things she loves most."

Chi Nan Yi tucked the silver notes away, smiling: "Grandfather's affection is truly generous."

Chi Nan Yi looked at the clothes on the tray, which surprisingly matched the hairpin Mo Junyan had given, and she immediately changed into them.

"Cui Niang, has she arrived?"

"She's here, and she also brought the freshly made buttery pastry."

"Alright, you don't need to follow today; I'll go somewhere with Cui Niang and be back soon."

"Understood."

Just as Chi Nan Yi was about to leave, Qing Shan walked over.

"Whoa, why are you dressed so beautifully today? Young master, I can barely recognize you."

"It's my birthday today; do you have anything impressive to offer?"

"A gift? Young master, all I have is the twenty taels of silver you gave me a few days ago—nothing more." He produced a silver ingot bearing a bite mark: "Do you want it?"

"Never mind." Chi Nan Yi waved dismissively: "It's already been licked, who would want it? Since you didn't prepare anything, come with me to a place!"

Qing Shan drove a carriage to an abandoned courtyard outside Jingcheng.

"What are we doing here?" Qing Shan looked around: "It's gloomy and clearly not a place where anyone lives."

"There is." Cui Niang opened a bamboo basket, laying out plenty of food on the ground.

Finally, she took out a few incense sticks.

Seeing this, Qing Shan exclaimed in surprise: "This... you are... you came... isn't today your birthday?"

"Yes! It's my birthday, and also my mother's death anniversary."

"I didn't know..."

"After I was born, my mother died, and my father also passed away; I was left alone, their remains aren't in Jingcheng, but Cui Niang says this is where my parents first met."

Chi Nan Yi knelt, took the incense lit by Cui Niang, and bowed three times to the empty space: "Father, Mother, your daughter has come to see you. After all these years, I didn't even know where you were. Rest assured, I will slay the enemies and avenge you."

Qing Shan watched her back, feeling a shared sense of sorrow.

After the tribute, Chi Nan Yi turned and met Qing Shan's gaze.

"I didn't expect... I didn't expect you also have no family." He patted his chest, lifted his head: "Rest assured, from today on, young master will protect you. If anyone bullies you, tell me, and I will beat them so badly they'll be looking for teeth on the ground."

On the way back, Chi Nan Yi, who had been closing her eyes to rest in the carriage, suddenly opened them, her gaze icy with murderous intent.

"Young miss, what's wrong?" Cui Niang asked, puzzled.

Chi Nan Yi frowned, a burst of medicinal powder sprang from her hand, and Cui Niang soon fainted; with a swing of her arm, she pulled Cui Niang into a void.

Hearing the footsteps outside, there seemed to be many arrivals; Cui Niang knows no martial arts and would only hinder things here.

Qing Shan, driving outside, also sensed something was wrong.

"Hold on tight." He raised his whip and struck hard; the horse winced, lifted its front hooves, and galloped down the official road.

"You just said if anyone bullies me, you'll beat them until they're looking for teeth on the ground—can we settle the score?"

"Consider it settled."

"Fine, then show me what you can do!"

At that moment, several arrows whistled through the air; Qing Shan drew a long sword from his waist, leapt, and swung the blade, cutting all the arrows down.

With just this bit of skill, you dare to act arrogant in front of the young master!

No sooner had the words left his mouth than dozens of arrows fell like rain.

"Damn!" Qing Shan swore, his body spinning rapidly; the arrows were so dense he had nowhere to dodge.

Some arrows shot toward the carriage; Qing Shan's heart sank, he wanted to rush to the carriage's side, but the arrows blocked him.

"Damn it." His long sword flashed faster, some arrows grazed his body, leaving wounds across him, as he watched the carriage riddled with countless arrows like a hedgehog.

"No!" Qing Shan's heart plummeted; he swung his sword recklessly, charging toward the carriage.

With great difficulty he reached the carriage door, he flung it open, and before he could react, he fainted outright.