Chapter 130

Shen Shuangning didn't know Xiao Jingyuan was nearby; she chatted and laughed with the people at the bow for a few sentences, then she pulled Su Ran's hand and slipped into the cabin.

Outside the sun grew fierce; inside the cabin there was a hint of a cross‑draft's coolness.

The young man in a moon‑white brocade robe, seeing this, flashed a hint of hesitation on his face, but unable to restrain himself, he also eagerly stepped forward and entered.

Surely he didn't want to miss this chance to be together.

In this pleasure boat, Su Chen knew the earlier discussion of the Medicine King Valley old case was too heavy, so he cleared his throat and deliberately lightened the topic.

"Speaking of which, that lad Xie Lin went to the Nüzhen state for a marriage alliance; once he left, the mountains are high and the waters far, and who knows how long it will take before he returns. The Fourth Miss is a young unmarried lady, at the age to be married; surely we can't really expect her to wait three or five years for him, can we?"

His words were half‑joking, half‑probing; his gaze fell on Xiao Jingyuan's face, as he wanted to know what the other was thinking.

Xiao Jingyuan is habitually deep‑thinking, especially regarding the matter of Yunxiao Lou; he doesn't speak, and even if others guess a bit, they dare not gossip recklessly.

Thus Su Chen didn't know that Xiao Jingyuan had already done something improper with the Fourth Miss; had he known, he wouldn't have asked that.

Xiao Jingyuan withdrew his gaze, lowered his eyelids slightly, but did not respond.

Seeing him silent, Su Chen wasn't embarrassed either; he glanced over and saw that the young ladies were no longer in sight.

He then turned his head, propped his elbow on the table, and said to himself: "I think the Fourth Miss isn't the type to cling to love, insisting on waiting forever once she's decided; after two or three years, when things and people have changed, if she truly devoted herself to waiting, that would be foolish."

Saying that, he glanced at Xiao Jingyuan and added: "Besides, with the Fourth Miss's family background and looks, if you look across the whole Jingcheng, the noble youths seeking her hand could line up from Vermilion Bird Street to the city gate; why waste yourself on someone whose return date is uncertain?"

"I think the Fourth Miss seemed quite happy just now, and doesn't appear to be overly distressed by it."

Having said that, his intention was to provoke Xiao Jingyuan, but the latter merely lifted his eyes and said: "As long as she's happy, anything goes."

Su Chen slightly widened his eyes: "........" No way, that's so magnanimous?

Su Chen simply wouldn't believe it.

His own master, who appears cold and abstinent, is actually black-hearted when you lay open his innards; not only does he say one thing and mean another, his mind is also petty.

At first, merely seeing Shen Shuangning and Xie Lin riding horses together made him unable to restrain himself; he unusually confessed his private matters to him, letting Su Chen know the secret he could not reveal to outsiders.

Who knows how much Su Chen later feared he would renege, and came up with a move to silence him permanently.

Later still, Xie Lin went to Danzhou to suppress bandits; the prince appeared unremarkable, but in fact eagerly went to tell the emperor that he could teach the princess archery and horsemanship.

The work at the Embroidered Uniform Guard is so busy, yet the prince fares well—he dumps it on him, while he himself goes to teach the little girls archery, enjoying a leisurely life!

Isn't it just so he can spend more time with the Fourth Miss?

Then, later still, came the spring hunt assassination attempt; knowing there are tigers in the mountain, yet insisting on going—what a foolish move!

Su Chen couldn't believe that Xiao Jingyuan, with such meticulous thinking, would fail to anticipate that the rebels would seize the chance to pursue him and cut off his supplies, yet he still went.

The result? He nearly lost his life, and is still recuperating.

The prince does more than he says, and he cares deeply.

That day, Xie Lin came to the Embroidered Uniform Guard; the two shut the door to lay their cards on the table. Su Chen didn't dare approach to eavesdrop, but fearing something bloody might happen, he stood in the corridor waiting.

Not long after, however, he saw the prince seeing Xie Lin out of the room in good spirits; the two remained as usual, appearing not to have fallen out over Shen Shuangning.

Yet Su Chen still dared not act rashly.

Then he saw Xie Lin holding a box. That box was very familiar; Su Chen remembered it was from the prince's quarters, having seen it twice before, but he didn't know what was inside.

Then he saw Xie Lin open the box, take out an object and hand it to the prince, saying: "The Marquis's manor is the place that raised me; now it faces imminent danger. Having enjoyed twenty years of prosperity, I cannot retreat even if not for Shen Shuangning; whether honor or disgrace, I will accept it gladly."

"But my only concern is her. If she encounters any mishap, please be sure to stand by her side and lend aid. I know only you can do that."

The prince accepted the item from Xie Lin's hand, and Su Chen finally saw clearly that it was a brightly colored sachet.

Resting in the prince's palm, it was the sole splash of color on his person.

How did the prince respond?

"Power can be abandoned, wealth can be cast aside, but she must not be let down."

Now Xie Lin has left the capital, having fully entrusted Shen Shuangning to Xiao Jingyuan; in Su Chen's view, the prince no longer has anything to worry about.

Why then does he not take the initiative, bring his beloved home? Wouldn't that protect her for a lifetime?

When did the prince become so timid and hesitant?

Su Chen gazed at the prince before him, shrouded in a pall of gloom.

For some reason, after speaking of the Medicine King Valley affair, he actually saw a hint of bewilderment and fragility in the other.

Su Chen sensed something, his heart tightened, and he asked: "You still haven't told me—what conditions did Pei Zhi use to persuade you to exchange that rebel that day?"

No one has spoken of this matter regarding Xiao Jingyuan.

At this moment he also doesn't intend to speak, merely saying lightly: "It's still under investigation; have Gu Fengchun come see me tomorrow."

Su Chen then dared not ask further, lowering his head and replying "Yes."

As the sun began to slant, the wind picked up.

The pleasure boat drifted slowly to the shore.

Bai Xiaosheng stood at the bow, thoughtfully helping the ladies disembark; when it came to Shen Shuangning, he deliberately pressed down on the bow with his foot, making the rocking more violent.

Sure enough, Shen Shuangning couldn't keep her balance; he, quick-eyed and swift-handed, seized the moment and pulled her in.

Her soft, fragrant form filled his arms; instantly his heart raced and his spirit fluttered, all worries vanished—dying beneath peonies would still be romantic even as a ghost.

Yet the instigator showed no sign on his face, his hand still resting on her slender waist, and with a solemn expression he asked solicitously: "Miss Shen, are you all right?"

The sudden proximity of this unfamiliar scent made her instinctively frown: "I'm fine."

While speaking, she hastily raised her hand to push him away, hoping to put some distance between them.

However, the boat itself was already rocking; this back‑and‑forth made even Bai Xiaosheng a little unsteady, so he almost instinctively held her even tighter.

At that moment, Bai Xiaosheng felt a sudden chill rise behind him; the hairs on his arms stood up all the way to his neck, and his scalp tingled.

It was as if some flood‑borne beast had fixed its gaze on him, as though his life were in danger!

"Not good! There's danger nearby!" Bai Xiaosheng dared not let go, warily scanning the surroundings.

Shen Shuangning had already labeled him a lewd fellow, and angrily said: "Master Bai, please conduct yourself properly!"

Bai Xiaosheng lowered his head, met her clear, furious eyes, and immediately released her.

"I......"

He seemed to want to say something, but Shen Shuangning glared at him angrily, and without waiting to steady herself, she hurried back to shore and left directly with her companions.

Seeing this, Bai Xiaosheng felt a bit annoyed and hit his head with the handle of his fan—he had gone too far.

But just as he was lost in thought, the boat suddenly lurched!

He was still standing on the boat, and this jolt was far more violent than before, almost as if it would overturn the entire boat!

Immediately after, there was a "plop"—

The commotion was quite noticeable.

Shen Shuangning and Su Ran, who had not yet gone far, turned back, but there was no sign of Young Master Bai anywhere.

All they saw was someone thrashing in the water, sending up a spray of chaotic waves, while shouting loudly, "Help!"

For a moment, the passersby on the bridge all stopped, looking toward the water, but none moved to help.

Shen Shuangning's gaze, however, fell upon that tall, slender figure, her eyebrows slightly lifting in surprise.

It was clear that Xiao Jingyuan had ordered someone to ram another's boat, deliberately knocking Bai Xiaosheng into the water, while he himself calmly stepped from another boat onto the struck one, bent to pass through the cabin, appearing completely relaxed and indifferent.

His expression was aloof and cold; he strode straight over the person's head, as if the struggling figure in the water had nothing to do with him.

Meanwhile, Su Chen stood at the bow, bent over, and extended a hand to the "drenched chicken," smiling gently: "Sir, the water near the shore isn't deep; you might as well stand up and see?"

Hearing this, Bai Xiaosheng tried to straighten up, and indeed his feet touched the bottom; he stood up directly, the water reaching only up to his chest.

"......"

Thinking of the recent wailing cries for help, his fair face instantly flushed with embarrassment.

Bai Xiaosheng also didn't take Su Chen's hand; he clumsily crawled out of the water onto the shore, and only after steadying himself did he notice the man standing at the edge.

Dressed in dark black robes, tall and slender, as soon as he appeared, the gazes of the surrounding young women were drawn to him.

Moreover, even Shen Shuangning was looking at him, making Bai Xiaosheng even more displeased; he stepped forward and tried to twist the man's shoulder.

"Hey! I'm talking to you——"

Before he could finish, the man seemed to find him noisy and turned his head to look at him.

With just an indifferent glance, a familiar chill rose behind Bai Xiaosheng's back; he felt as if a bone were stuck in his throat, unable to speak, and his hand jerked back.

This was not only due to the instinctive fear of a mouse seeing a cat, but also because he recognized the other's identity.

"Cousin...... cousin......" Bai Xiaosheng stammered, stepping back two steps and lowering his head, actually behaving quite obediently.

Bai Xiaosheng's mother came from the Yuan clan; she and the Yan Princess Consort were cousins, but their relationship was not close, even somewhat estranged, so despite both residing in Jingcheng, they rarely interacted.

Bai Xiaosheng is a bona fide good-for-nothing spoiled brat, his father can hardly control him, yet he alone feels both respect and awe toward Xiao Jingyuan.

Aside from the bloodline suppression Xiao Jingyuan imposes on him, Bai Xiaosheng also feels somewhat guilty.

Simply because, when he goes out, he often invokes Xiao Jingyuan's name, thereby gaining many fair-weather friends and the favor of young ladies.

But in reality, he rarely gets a chance to speak with Xiao Jingyuan, and the latter may not even acknowledge him as his cousin.

Xiao Jingyuan, however, didn't spare him another glance, striding straight toward Shen Shuangning and extending his hand to her.

Shen Shuangning looked up at him, puzzled: "What do you want?"

Xiao Jingyuan said: "The flower."

Only then did Shen Shuangning realize he wanted the flower Bai Xiaosheng had given her.

Knowing full well why he was doing this, Shen Shuangning still feigned ignorance, saying: "On the boat, I wanted to get it myself."

Having said that, she didn't even glance at his expression, and directly pulled Su Ran away.

Su Ran wore a bewildered expression.

She neither knew why Xiao Jingyuan was here, nor understood why he suddenly ran over to ask Shen Shuangning for a "flower" out of the blue.

Having been pulled a few steps, Su Ran still couldn't help turning back to look at Xiao Jingyuan, only to see him place a finger against his lips and actually curl them into a smile.

Having seen Young Master Xiao several times before, she had never seen him smile, and had thought he never would.

This smile was truly beautiful—like a red plum blossom quietly blooming on a branch in snowy weather, less aloof and icy, more full of warmth.

Su Ran was a bit dazed by it; when she came to, she couldn't help nudging Shen Shuangning with her elbow.

She had meant to say, "Is he sick?" but instead asked, "Does he like you?"

Shen Shuangning paused; at that moment, Xiao Jingyuan's voice came from behind, carrying an undeniable tone.

"I'll come find you in three days."

Shen Shuangning's face stiffened slightly, and her jade-like earlobes flushed with a suspicious crimson.

She turned her head to look at him, but saw he had already turned and walked away with Su Chen.

Young Master Bai looked dejected, honestly following behind Xiao Jingyuan, somewhat unwilling yet seemingly forced to comply.

Shen Shuangning withdrew her gaze, lowered her eyes slowly, and lightly bit her lips.

Four nights had passed since that evening at the Cloud Pavilion; he had promised to untie something for her, but hadn't specified whether it would be next time or the time after that.

Although Su Ran is lively, she is also a young woman whose emotions have awakened, and as Shen Shuangning's closest confidante, she immediately sensed something from her subtle expression.

She immediately put her hands on her hips, glared, and accused: "Well done, you, Shen Shuangning—you secretly got together with Young Master Xiao! I was still worried you wouldn't get over your heartache, wanting to take you out to relax..."

There were still many people around, so Shen Shuangning hurriedly covered the loudspeaker: "Keep it down, there's nothing like that!"

Su Ran didn't believe her.

The gossip spark in her heart instantly flared; she snatched away Shen Shuangning's hand and, in a break the pot to ask the bottom manner, pressed on:

"Then why is he specially coming to find you in three days?"