Chapter 133

"Fourth Miss, the heir is still receiving guests; please wait here a moment, I'll go announce you." Qingyun led her into the main hall, poured her tea, then left.

Shen Shuangning sat patiently for a while, then a soft voice came from outside the door.

"Fourth Miss?"

Shen Shuangning's motion of holding the tea paused, she lifted her gaze and saw a beauty as lovely as a flower and jade standing there; in the solemn, austere Office of Pacification, she was like a hibiscus that could not be ignored.

Yingniang's status was special; from early on she could freely come and go in the Office of Pacification, the black-armored guards around took it for granted, while Shen Shuangning found it a bit surprising.

Yingniang smiled, lifted her skirt and walked in, bowing to Shen Shuangning: "I pay my respects, Fourth Miss."

Shen Shuangning lightly supported her arm and exchanged pleasantries for a moment.

Yingniang had originally planned to find an opportunity to go to the Duke's mansion to return the deposit Liu had paid for the headpiece, but unexpectedly she met the person herself here, saving herself the trouble, so she went ahead and said it.

Shen Shuangning only then learned that her mother had gone to the Treasure Pavilion to commission a headpiece for her; after thinking, she decided: "It must have cost you considerable manpower and resources, so you needn't return the deposit; as for the headpiece, if it's finished, just leave it to someone fated to have it."

Yingniang is a businessman, as the saying goes, no merchant is without deceit.

For the jewelry she sold externally worth three hundred taels, she dared to ask a thousand, but for Shen Shuangning she charged only cost, naturally not greedy for that little deposit.

But since Shen Shuangning had said that, Yingniang stepped down from the stairs, her voice growing ever gentler: "Fourth Miss's thoughtfulness, Yingniang will keep it in mind. However, the pattern of that headpiece was originally chosen according to your birthstone; swapped for another person it might not suit.

"In my opinion, it would be better to keep it for Fourth Miss for now, and when she finds a good match later, come take it back, thus completing this affinity. What do you think?"

Shen Shuangning heard the thoughtfulness in her words and couldn't help curling her lips: "If so, then do as you say."

Yingniang also laughed.

Qingfeng was passing by the door holding a stack of documents when he caught a glimpse of Shen Shuangning and also saw Yingniang there.

His gaze fell on Yingniang, and his ears tinged slightly red.

The two people inside also saw him.

Qingfeng did not go in; he stood at the door and bowed to Shen Shuangning.

Shen Shuangning gave him a slight nod, but noticed that Qingfeng's look at Yingniang was different.

But Yingniang's gaze was clear, without a ripple; looking at Qingfeng was no different from looking at anyone else.

Qingfeng had something on his mind, and when he bumped into Qingyun walking back, he called out to him.

"Hey, I'm asking you, how did Fourth Miss come here?"

Qingyun said: "How would I know? Perhaps there's something going on."

Qingyun was about to leave when Qingfeng hurriedly asked: "Does the heir have feelings for Fourth Miss, or......"

Qingyun turned his face to him: "What do you say?"

Qingfeng grew anxious: "What about Yingniang then?!"

Qingyun frowned: "What do you mean, what to do?"

Qingfeng said: "Yingniang treats the heir so well; shouldn't the heir......"

Qingyun directly cut him off: "What nonsense are you spouting? Just because someone is good to the heir doesn't mean the heir should marry her; then why doesn't the heir marry you?"

Qingfeng's face darkened like a pot bottom, he pressed his lips tightly, as if he were speaking up for someone.

Qingyun knew Qingfeng had long harbored feelings for Yingniang, but Yingniang's eyes held only the heir, so he dared not even show a hint of longing; instead he wholeheartedly hoped Yingniang would get her wish.

After all, they were brothers who had worked together for years; Qingyun didn't press too hard, only saying: "I think you're muddle-headed; if the heir had any thoughts about Yingniang, given her status she would already be the heir's consort—why wait until now?"

Yingniang is the adopted daughter of Yuan Zhenfeng; given the heir's respect for this uncle, if he truly had any thought for Yingniang, he would never let her be a concubine, which would wrong her.

"Don't worry about the master's affairs." Qingyun warned him, then left.

With such a fragrant, soft beauty constantly hovering around Xiao Jingyuan, Shen Shuangning found it hard not to suspect there was something between them.

Otherwise, to an outsider the Office of Pacification appears strictly regulated, with no one allowed in or out; without Xiao Jingyuan's tacit approval, how could Yingniang dare wander about freely, even commanding the underlings?

Perhaps noticing Shen Shuangning's doubt, Qingyun led her toward the inner courtyard, slowed his steps, and voluntarily began to explain Yingniang's background.

"Fourth Miss may not know: the former Commander of the Office of Pacification, Minister Yuan, is the heir's uncle, their bond as close as father and son; Yingniang suffered a great calamity in her youth, leaving her the sole survivor of her family; Minister Yuan, out of kindness, took her in; because of this connection, the old staff of the Office of Pacification and the heir naturally treat her differently."

"Minister Yuan's death is both a pain to the heir and a sorrow to Yingniang; everyone in the Office of Pacification keeps silent, fearing to touch the heir's taboo. However, if Fourth Miss wishes to ask the heir, I suspect he would certainly tell you the truth."

Qingyun said: "Therefore I dare to tell you these things first, Fourth Miss."

Shen Shuangning suddenly understood, speaking softly: "I see...... Yingniang is also a pitiful person."

Having said that, it turns out she had been mistaken all along.

Yingniang and Xiao Jingyuan have no private relationship.

In her previous life, Xiao Jingyuan silently sent Yingniang away from the capital; she didn't even know Yingniang existed then...... Was he doing that for fear she would think too much?

A vague, indescribable bitterness welled up in Shen Shuangning's chest.

Qingyun gave an affirming "Yes."

The Office of Pacification nowadays is no longer the old site; it has been relocated to a newly chosen location as a government office.

The front half is the iron-fisted domain in charge of prisons and intimidating the court; a straight passageway paved with blue stone slabs extends, and from the side chambers occasionally come the rustling of files being turned, or the low voices of clerks discussing matters.

Further back, several rooms have their doors and windows tightly shut, exuding a chilling aura—that is where the prisoners are locked up; although far away, one can almost smell a hint of blood.

Passing through a carved moon gate, the latter half suddenly changes scenery.

This is Xiao Jingyuan's usual place of rest, a small courtyard lacking the front yard's tension and solemnity, instead possessing a touch of tranquil elegance.

Vines of green cover the corridors, rustling when the wind blows; a small square pool was dug in the corner of the courtyard, with koi swimming beneath the lotus leaves; several main and side rooms have warm pavilions, their window paper pasted extremely thin, faintly revealing the zitan wood tables and chairs inside.

Front and back, separated only by a wall, yet they seem like two entirely different worlds.

Shen Shuangning had been here twice, but Ah Meng was setting foot inside for the first time, unable to help sneaking a look.

Upon reaching the gate, Qingyun added earnestly: "The heir harbors no other thoughts toward Yingniang; over the years she has kept her place, merely assisting the heir in managing his business in the capital; they are utterly pure, Fourth Miss can rest assured."

Shen Shuangning, upon hearing that, immediately grasped the meaning, turning her gaze to Qingyun.

Qingyun, however, lowered his eyes, only watching the fluttering corner of her robe as he said, "I take my leave."

Ah Meng watched his retreating figure and muttered: "The person beside the heir may not speak much, but he's more pleasing to the eye than the other one."

As Shen Shuangning stepped into the courtyard, she bumped into Gu Fengchun, who was just about to go out.

The man was still wearing official robes; when he saw her, he froze for a moment, as if he hadn't expected to meet her here, his gaze somewhat profound.

Shen Shuangning also hadn't expected that the guest Xiao Jingyuan was seeing was him.

They had met once in the palace, but because Gu Fengchun had once stood beside Pei Zhi, Shen Shuangning remembered him and also knew he served in the Ministry of Justice, a protégé of Pei Zhi.

But she didn't know more than that.

However, seeing Minister Gu here, Shen Shuangning always had a bad premonition, though she didn't dare ask further.

Indeed, even if she asked, Gu Fengchun would not reveal a word.

Gu Fengchun lowered his eyelids; his features were delicate and youthful, yet he bore a calm maturity forged by hardship, rarely smiling, and he merely bowed his hands gently to her.

Shen Shuangning returned the salute with folded hands, pondered a moment, then asked: "Junior Tutor, do you have any news of Xie Yan?"

Gu Fengchun's eyes flashed with surprise, but after a moment's thought he understood.

This Miss Shen Fourth had previously been discussing marriage with the Xie family, but the engagement fell through entirely because of the trouble caused by "Xie Yan," which even forced a fine young Xie junior marquis to become a prince consort for someone else.

One can imagine this Fourth Miss surely hates Xie Yan to the point of gnashing her teeth.

Not long ago, Junior Tutor Pei Zhi voluntarily petitioned His Majesty to personally investigate Xie Yan's whereabouts and bring the traitor to justice, also seeking to make up for the earlier mistake of accidentally killing a rebel.

Since Xiao Jingyuan was still recuperating, the Emperor entrusted the matter entirely to Pei Zhi, specially appointing Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard Yan Zheng and giving full authority to the Three Offices to cooperate, determined to capture this person.

Recently, Pei Zhi has been busy with this matter.

Gu Fengchun knew that Junior Tutor Pei Zhi knew Shen Shuangning, so her question was no surprise; moreover, investigating Xie Yan was not exactly a secret, so he answered candidly:

"A cunning rabbit has three burrows; we have not yet found his exact whereabouts, but we have caught many hidden rebel remnants, pried open their mouths, and given this situation, we should soon have results."

Shen Shuangning, as if she had anticipated this, was not surprised either.

Xie Yan had managed to stay completely hidden under the emperor's nose for years; with his wit, he surely foresaw today's situation, so of course he is hard to catch.

If this person is not eliminated, he will ultimately be a serious hidden danger.

But all she could do was wait for news.

Gu Fengchun, not one for many words, then took his leave.

Shen Shuangning lifted her foot and walked to the door, gently knocking twice.

Ah Heng, being tactful, did not enter.

Thin, curling smoke rose from the incense burner in the corner; Shen Shuangning glanced at it.

Xiao Jingyuan rarely used incense, except for soothing incense, which he lit only when troubled by thorny matters; the thicker the smoke, the heavier the knot in his heart.

Xiao Jingyuan was sitting behind the desk, his expression shrouded in a layer of gloom.

Until that slender figure at the doorway came into view, the surging hostility completely receded, yet his thin lips remained tightly pressed in a straight line, and his jawline showed a hint of cold hardness.

A sudden storm was forcibly pressed down, only able to maintain surface calm, yet far from a gentle spring breeze.

Shen Shuangning sensed his mood was not good and spoke first.

"What's wrong?"

Xiao Jingyuan pressed his lips, gave no answer, instead picking up the documents on the table, rising from his seat, gesturing for her to sit on the cushioned warm kang by the window, and brewed her tea.

Shen Shuangning did not sit, but stood before him; seeing he did not wish to speak, she tactfully refrained from pressing further, shifting the topic lightly.

"When will my poison be completely cured?"

Xiao Jingyuan paused, lifted his eyelids to look at her; seeing her earnest expression, also tinged with a hint of unease.

A prickling pain flashed in Xiao Jingyuan's eyes, but he said lightly: "Soon. Why stand? Sit."

Shen Shuangning looked at him: "The doctor said it would take a year; when you say 'soon,' roughly how long?"

Xiao Jingyuan's hand, loosely resting on his knee, tightened imperceptibly; he averted his gaze, not looking at her: "Shen Shuangning, I cannot give you a definite answer, but since you do not want me to touch you, I will not take advantage of your vulnerability. Thus, can you rest easy?"

Shen Shuangning had long grown accustomed to his cold, aloof demeanor, and did not find his prickly words inappropriate.

The original detox method was too intimate, and now they are not husband and wife in name and reality.

Shen Shuangning naturally felt it was better to avoid it if possible; yet continually having him feed her blood left her feeling somewhat guilty.

After all, this was not Xiao Jingyuan's fault; it was her bad luck to get entangled in this mess, which had nothing to do with him, and he could well ignore her.

Thinking of this, Shen Shuangning lowered her lashes, her voice soft and gentle: "Last night...... I did not mean to hit you."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingyuan's originally frozen expression barely loosened a fraction, and he lifted his deep eyes to look at her.

Shen Shuangning lightly bit her lower lip, whispering: "I didn't see clearly; I thought you were someone else."

Hearing this, the hint of coldness in Xiao Jingyuan's eyes completely melted away, even gaining a glimmer.

But his face, accustomed to calm stillness, gave no hint of emotional fluctuation.

Shen Shuangning felt the upcoming words were a bit embarrassing; she clenched her cuffs, turned her face away, and murmured weakly: "Next time, don't be so rough......"

No sooner had her words finished than he pulled her into his arms, and before she could react, his warm, slightly passionate lips pressed against hers.

He softly sucked and nibbled, gliding in with a gentle, graceful touch; their lips and tongues met, slowly entwining as if savoring a fine delicacy.

Until her breath grew shallow, her lips numb from sucking, her dark eyes filled with mist, the man then eased back slightly, his low, deep voice asking: "Thus, is that gentle enough?"