Chapter 59 Has He Gone Dark?

Can someone please tell her why the darkness value had gone up again? She clearly hadn’t done anything at all.

Chen Xingmiao was utterly baffled, recalling their conversation just a moment ago.

Could it be that he remembered the Emperor locking him in a cell and was feeling resentful about it?

While Chen Xingmiao was still racking her brains in thought, Xiao Ziyu suddenly turned around and strode toward the seaside, the sea breeze whipping his robes into a frenzy.

Seeing this, Lin Yu hurried to follow him, her expression full of worry as she occasionally glanced back at Chen Xingmiao’s direction.

Han Yao sidled up to Chen Xingmiao’s ear and whispered, "Goddess, why is Xiao Ziyu acting so weird today? He wouldn't actually be angry, would he?"

Chen Xingmiao shook her head with a bitter smile, "I don't know either. The darkness value just went up again, for no apparent reason."

Chuntao and Chen Shuwan also sensed that the atmosphere here was wrong and walked over quickly.

Chen Shuwan wore a look of concern, "Xiaomiao, what happened? Why does your brother-in-law's face look like..."

"Oh, it's nothing." Chen Xingmiao gave a dry laugh and hurriedly changed the subject, "Elder sister, how is your health? The poison has all been cleared out, hasn't it?"

Chen Shuwan patted her shoulder, "Don't worry, I'm fine now. I just wonder who that man in black who delivered the antidote was."

Mentioning the man in black reminded Chen Xingmiao once again of the swordsman from that night.

If what that man said was true, did that man in black really like Eldest Sister? But she still felt that his behavior in Xiao Zilin's room that day was rather strange.

She tugged at Han Yao, who was still daydreaming beside her, "Yaoyao, do you remember who the person holding the sword in Xiao Zilin's room that day was?"

Han Yao was startled, recalled the moment, and then shook her head apologetically, leaning in to whisper in her ear, "I'm sorry, Goddess, but that person's identity involves the main plot, so I can't say."

No way? She couldn't say either?

Now her points were gone too, which meant the path to going home was even further away.

Seeing her crestfallen face, Han Yao quickly added, "However, Goddess, don't worry. As of right now, he's a good guy."

"What are you two talking about? Why can't I understand a word of it?" Chen Shuwan looked at the two of them in confusion, having no idea what riddles they were speaking in.

Chen Xingmiao wanted to press further, but seeing the troubled look on Han Yao's face, the words died on her lips.

She forced a bitter smile, waved her hand at Chen Shuwan, and said, "It's nothing, Sister, just some trivial matters. You don't need to worry about it."

Though full of suspicion, Chen Shuwan didn't ask any further. She simply offered a few words of caution before turning around to continue eating her cake.

At that moment, Chuntao walked over carrying two cups of water.

"My lady, Princess, have some water. As beautiful as this place is, it's so dry."

Chen Xingmiao took the cup of water and couldn't help laughing out loud.

Having blown in the sea breeze for so long, it would be strange if it weren't dry.

Han Yao also took her cup and drank deeply, letting out an exaggerated, long sigh of relief afterward. "Oh my, I was dying of thirst. This water is an absolute lifesaver."

The three of them looked at each other and smiled, the previously tense atmosphere instantly easing quite a bit. The sea breeze continued to blow gently, carrying the unique salty and damp scent of the ocean around them.

As the sky gradually darkened, Chen Xingmiao and Han Yao split into two groups to send everyone away from the alternative dimension.

When Xiao Ziyu opened his eyes again, he was already back home.

Despite having a belly full of questions about such a magical event, Chuntao remembered the instructions given earlier and forced them back down.

Looking at the family members in front of her, the awkward atmosphere was almost overflowing the room.

"My lady, husband, I'll go fetch some hot water for you both to wash up." Seeing the situation, Chuntao hurried away tactfully with quick steps.

Xiao Ziyu stood in the familiar yet unfamiliar room, his gaze wandering around the surroundings.

"My wife is truly... resourceful. In the blink of an eye, she brought us straight home from that place?"

He curved the corners of his lips, lifted his eyelids to cast a sideways glance at her, and asked with icy detachment.

Chen Xingmiao felt her heart skip a beat, but she forced a smile onto her face, trying to muddle through it. "Oh, husband, stop teasing me. It was just a coincidence."

As she spoke, she quietly observed Xiao Ziyu's expression.

However, the man merely narrowed his eyes slightly, a trace of imperceptible amusement flashing in the depths of his gaze, as if he didn't buy her explanation at all.

"A coincidence?" Xiao Ziyu repeated her words, his tone carrying a bit of playfulness.

"There are no such coincidences in this world. Perhaps my wife wouldn't mind explaining in detail, so as to broaden your husband's horizons."

As he spoke, he slowly walked closer to Chen Xingmiao, every step steady and powerful.

Chen Xingmiao only felt her heartbeat grow more rapid, a thin layer of sweat breaking out across her back.

"And, I am still curious about my wife's family background... why on earth did you change your mind and marry me?"

Just as his voice fell, the icy smile at the corner of his lips vanished entirely. Before she could react, he grabbed her by the throat and pinned her against the wall, his dark, chilly eyes staring fixedly at her.

"Husband!" Chen Xingmiao was startled, letting out a trembling cry of alarm.

What was he doing? Was he going to choke her to death? Had he gone dark?

A chain of questions instantly popped into her head.

Subconsciously, she swallowed and gently patted Xiao Ziyu's hand.

"H-Husband, what's wrong with you? Are you unhappy today?"

Xiao Ziyu leaned closer to her, close enough for Chen Xingmiao to feel the chilly breath he exhaled.

"Unhappy?" he coldly repeated. "What does my wife think?"

He tossed the question right back at her, forcing Chen Xingmiao to place both hands on his once more as she said with difficulty, "Husband, you're making me... very uncomfortable."

Seeing the look of pain on her face, a trace of hesitation flashed in Xiao Ziyu's eyes. After a brief pause, he slowly loosened his grip.

Dammit...

Chen Xingmiao took heavy, ragged breaths, observing him with bewilderment.

Why did he always resort to choking people by the neck? The little villain and Xiao Zilin truly deserved to be brothers, acting identically even without being blood-related.

"Husband, are you trying to kill me?" Her voice still carried a tremor, her tone elevated by a mixture of anger and fear.

Hearing this, Xiao Ziyu's body gave a slight jolt, a flash of panic crossing his face, though he quickly regained his cold expression.

"Kill you?" He gave a cold laugh, yet his eyes revealed a hint of confusion. "If I truly wanted to kill you, I wouldn't have let go just now. But remember this: I loathe deception above all else."

Deception? Did he know something?

Chen Xingmiao pressed her lips together and tentatively said, "I have never deceived my husband."

Before Xiao Ziyu could reply, Chuntao pushed the door open.

"My lady, husband, you can wash—"

Chuntao's words cut off halfway as she sensed the tense, drawn-sword atmosphere inside the room and choked on her breath.

Lifting her gaze, she saw Chen Xingmiao up close with red-rimmed eyes, taking heavy gasps for air, while Xiao Ziyu stood coldly off to the side.

Startled into a jolt, she swallowed the second half of her sentence right back down. Her expression filled with helplessness, she stood frozen in place, unsure whether to step forward or retreat.

Xiao Ziyu softened his expression slightly, took the washbasin, wrung out a towel, and gently wiped Chen Xingmiao's hands.

"I'm sorry. Today's birthday... I really liked it."

Chen Xingmiao raised her eyes and ran straight into his guilt-ridden gaze, instantly prompting an even larger question mark to emerge in her mind.

What was going on? The attitude changed just like that?