âI asked the maid in the courtyard to buy food and wine and gave them to the guards. Theyâre eating and drinking now. However, it doesnât seem likely that they will leave.â Jingzhe was still a little afraid of Xie Jingxing. As she spoke, she looked at his expression.
âAlright.â Shen Miao glanced at Jingzhe. âJingzhe, can I trust you?â
Hearing this, Jingzhe couldnât even be bothered with worrying about Xie Jingxing. She immediately lowered her head and said, âIâm loyal to you. Iâll do anything you ask me to.â
âThen listen, whether itâs you, Gu Yu, or Bai Lu, donât come in later. Donât look for me, and donât stop me.â She stuffed the hourglass into Jingzheâs hand. âWhen the sand reaches hereââ She pointed at a small mark on the glass. âGo out and call for help. You have to rush out to the birthday banquet in the east courtyard to shout for help in front of all the guests. I think you are smart and bold. You know what to do.â
âThisâ¦â Jingzhe was a little confused, not understanding what Shen Miao meant. However, when she saw Shen Miaoâs expression, she swallowed all her questions and said to Shen Miao solemnly,â I understand. â
âAlright, then go out now.â Shen Miao instructed with a serious expression, âRemember, no matter what you see or what happens, donât come in.â
Jingzhe gritted her teeth and glanced at Xie Jingxing, then at Shen Miao. She nodded and left the ancestral hall.
After Jingzhe left, Xie Jingxing looked at Shen Miao and said lazily, âWhy are you being so mysterious? What do you want to do?â
âWhat do I want to do?â Shen Miao stared at him. Xie Jingxingâs standing posture was relaxed, but his beautiful peach blossom eyes were as sharp as knives. When looked at by those eyes, it was as if nothing in her mind could be hidden.
âYoung Marquis, if you donât want to be implicated by me, you can leave first,â she said coldly.
âNo one in the world can implicate me.â He spoke arrogantly, but it was as if he really meant it.
âSince you want to die with me, I have nothing to say.â Shen Miao turned around.
Xie Jingxing frowned. Before he could understand what Shen Miao meant, he saw Shen Miao suddenly walk up to the incense burner and stop in front of the memorial tablets of the Shen familyâs ancestors. The next moment, even he was stunned.
Shen Miao suddenly picked up the neatly arranged memorial tablets and threw them into the charcoal pot on the ground without a word. Wood was easy to ignite. In an instant, the flame that was originally burning faintly rose high. The fire devoured the wooden memorial tablets, and the name on them was faintly discernible in the firelight.
âAre you crazy?â Xie Jingxing looked at Shen Miao in surprise.
Destroying the ancestral tablet was treasonous and the person would even be expelled from the family. Shen Miaoâs sudden actions were really puzzling. Was she venting her anger at being locked up? But if she did this, she would only be punished more in the future.
Shen Miao looked coldly at the gradually charred memorial tablet in the flame. It was not that she was showing disregard for her ancestors, but the most important thing in the world was what was in front of her. Her future, Shen Xinâs future, and the future of the Shen family were obviously more important. If the ancestors knew that her actions could resolve the crisis of the Shen family, they would not be furious.
âYoung Marquis, itâs not too late to leave now.â Shen Miao ignored Xie Jingxingâs surprised gaze and threw another bunch of tablets into the charcoal pot. In an instant, the flames burned even more fiercely.