Chapter 30

Xiao Jingyuan originally intended to withdraw his gaze, but hearing Su Chen say that, he instead followed that faint white light with his eyes.

Even though there was some distance between them, he could still make out her appearance.

The woman shone like the rising sun, radiant among the crowd, her scarlet robe like a brilliant hibiscus flower.

Shen Shuangning, who usually went about with a plain face, had actually dressed up with great care—all for the sake of meeting her lover.

Xiao Jingyuan frowned, his eyes narrowing slightly, not even realizing how sharp his gaze was when he looked at that man.

But before he could make them out clearly, both of them had put on masks.

Although the customs of Liang were open, if an unmarried man and woman behaved too intimately, it could be called a romantic escapade for the man, but for the woman it easily invited criticism.

Thus, lovers who were of one mind often bought masks at the lantern festival to conceal their faces, thereby casting off the constraints of propriety and freely enjoying a pleasant evening together.

At this lantern festival, there were not a few masked couples.

Xiao Jingyuan suddenly felt a sting in his eyes.

Perhaps in the dream, Shen Shuangning was his consort, loving him wholeheartedly and belonging entirely to him.

He considered himself rational, but the feeling in the dream was too real, as if it had truly happened; seeing Shen Shuangning now in a private meeting with another man, even a sage could not remain completely indifferent.

He even felt as if he were wearing a green hat.

He knew he shouldn't feel this way, no matter how real the dream seemed, it was still false; yet he could not help clenching his fingers, his heart as if gripped by an invisible hand, unable to tell at once whether the pain came from his wound or his chest.

Again, the words Shen Shuangning had spoken righteously in the bamboo grove that day came to mind.

"I feel only respect for the heir; the heir is not the type of man I like, and in the future, when the Duke's mansion arranges my marriage, it will certainly not choose the Yan Prince's mansion—heir, you can rest assured......"

It turned out she wasn't just talking; the man who was escorting her around the lantern festival was the one she liked? What does he have that's good?

This thought flashed through his mind, and Xiao Jingyuan suddenly realized he was actually jealous!

Absurd! Simply absurd!

Xiao Jingyuan immediately withdrew his gaze, his breathing slightly disturbed, and he promptly flicked his sleeve and left.

"Eh? Heir, why are you leaving?" Su Chen hurried after him, saying, "What a lovely night—how wonderful to behold!"

"What's there to see in men and women exchanging favors privately? If you like watching, stay and watch your fill." Xiao Jingyuan said without turning back.

Su Chen:?

He was fine just a moment ago; why did he suddenly act as if he'd taken stimulants?

Who provoked him?

Could it be because of Miss Four?!

Su Chen felt incredulous at his own thought—how could that be? He must be crazy.

The heir had never shown any interest in Miss Four; if anything, he only felt wary—how could he possibly be jealous of her?

Surely the heir thought Miss Four was wasting her time and neglecting her duties, which caused his displeasure.

When Su Chen looked up, he saw Xiao Jingyuan leaning on the railing with one hand, his back appearing weak, and hurried over to support him.

Before Su Chen could voice his concern, Xiao Jingyuan raised a hand and said, "It's nothing."

At that moment, Qingfeng entered, his expression solemn, and bowed, saying, "Heir, we've captured several suspicious individuals.".

Xiao Jingyuan suddenly lifted his eyes and said in a low voice, "Bring them up."

Their appearance today was certainly not for strolling the lantern festival or admiring the scenery, but to seize the opportunity to lure out the rebels.

Soon after, a burly strongman and several men were brought before Xiao Jingyuan, all bound with rope.

All six had been beaten beforehand; now their faces were bruised and swollen, to the point that even their own mothers might not recognize them.

Although these men did not know the identity of their captors, their aura made it clear they were not ordinary—filled with killing intent, especially the man seated in the chair, whose presence made their hearts tremble!

The leading strongman was so frightened he burst into tears.

Qingfeng clenched his fists and snarled, "Still crying?!"

The strongman immediately fell silent, utterly obedient.

Su Chen swept his sharp gaze over them and said coldly, "Speak—what were you doing sneaking around on Chang'an Street?!"

The somewhat thin man beside the strongman hastily craned his neck and replied, "Sir, you've wronged us—we're law-abiding citizens, we've done nothing wrong!"

"And you still dare to say you've done nothing wrong? I clearly saw you causing trouble on Chang'an Street!" Qingfeng shouted sternly.

That man wore a mournful face, not knowing how to explain, and only said, "I, we did get into a bit of a scuffle, but we certainly didn't hurt anyone!"

Su Chen looked at Qingfeng and asked, "What exactly is going on?"

Qingfeng said, "I saw them secretly following the eldest son of the Rongguo Duke's mansion, then they surrounded him, nearly beating him, and afterward hid themselves, waiting for an opportunity to act—their behavior is highly suspicious!".

Su Chen frowned, "The eldest son of the Rongguo Duke's mansion? Shen Xiuci?"

Qingfeng nodded, "Exactly him."

Recalling how he had just seen Miss Four meeting her lover privately at the Yunxiao Pavilion, Su Chen formed a vague suspicion, pinched the bridge of his nose, turned his gaze to those men, and said, "Speak the truth—if you utter even half a lie, I'll tear out your tongues!".

The thin-faced man hurriedly said, "We, too, are just hired hands; that person only instructed us to trip up that young master and his servant, to keep them from continuing to follow those two ladies—aside from that, we know nothing at all!"

Qingfeng, unaware of anything about Miss Four, thought these men were dishonest and hiding something, and immediately wanted to "subject them to strict interrogation.".

Fortunately, Su Chen spoke up in time: "Enough, release them—these fellows clearly aren't members of the Heavenly Saint Sect."

Qingfeng: "......" They're quite suspicious.

Su Chen said, "If I tell you to release them, release them—don't ruin Miss Four's good fortune."

Qingfeng glanced at the man seated beside the table; seeing him express no opinion, he understood.

Drawing his sword, he cut each of their ropes in turn; the men, as if pardoned, hurriedly knelt and kowtowed in thanks.

"Thank you, sir, for your mercy! Thank you, sir, for your mercy!"

Qingfeng kicked out a foot: "Get lost, quick!".

It's all their fault for stirring up trouble for no reason, causing him to arrest the wrong people and waste his energy!

"Wait."

Those few people were stunned, turned their heads, glanced around, then realized it was that adult in the seat who had spoken.

Their scalps tightened, and they immediately flopped down to kneel, trembling, their hearts almost jumping out of their throats.

"Sir, sir... any further orders?"

Xiao Jingyuan tapped his fingertip on the armrest, unhurriedly saying, "You took a few coins and caused that brother and sister to be separated; if that young lady is schemed against by villains and anything goes wrong, when the Duke's Manor investigates, you'll be accomplices. By then, heads will roll—you may earn this money, but can you spend it?"

The six were all startled; they hadn't thought of that much at the time!

"We really didn't mean to harm anyone; please, sir, point us a clear way!"

Xiao Jingyuan said, "Then hurry and bring Young Master Shen to find someone!"

"Oh, yes, yes, yes! We'll go right away!"

The few people reacted, then hurried off.

Su Chen clasped his hands in his sleeves, thus glancing at Xiao Jingyuan a few times. The heir apparent is really lacking in virtue—isn't he deliberately ruining the Fourth Miss's happiness?

Meanwhile, Qing Feng, standing aside, scratched his head in puzzlement: When did the heir apparent start caring so much about Fourth Miss Shen?

Shen Shuangning, meanwhile, didn't know what would happen; Xie Lin took her to the lantern fair, to guess riddles, they walked many places, the two enjoyed themselves immensely, tireless.

Ah Heng followed far behind.

At this moment, Shen Shuangning was drawn to a stall selling sugar paintings, so she walked over.

Xie Lin's gaze followed her, and he naturally stood at her side.

The stall owner was a woman carrying a doll, with sharp eyes, who had early on noticed this young couple—

The two walked side by side, each holding a flower lantern.

Though they still observed propriety, the young man didn't take advantage, but whenever the young woman lowered her gaze, her flower lantern kept leaning toward him, so the two lanterns lightly bumped, almost tangling.

Even the air seemed coated with honey.

The stall owner, seeing the affection they couldn't hide in their brows and eyes, had already reckoned them as a young couple; thus, when they paused before her stall, she instantly broke into a smile and sweetly said:

"'Madam, want to buy a sugar painting? Buy a pair, and I guarantee you'll have smooth sailing this year and early blessed offspring!'"

Shen Shuangning saw she'd misunderstood and hurriedly explained, "We're not married."

Xie Lin, beside her, laughed and gave her some loose silver, needing no change, only saying, "Keep the change."

The stall owner, being very perceptive, immediately scooped up golden sugar syrup and skillfully painted a pair of birds, handing it to the two.

Shen Shuangning was no longer a naive boudoir maiden; she hesitated only a moment, then openly took it, split it in half, and gave one half to Xie Lin.

The youth's eyes behind the mask blinked slightly, his ears actually turning red.

He took her half of the sugar painting, curled his lips in a smile: "Thank you, cousin."

Shen Shuangning said, "You may call me Ningning."

Xie Lin said, "Then don't always call me 'Young Marquis'; call me Mingyuan.".

Xie Lin, courtesy name Mingyuan.

A young master's courtesy name is something only those very close may use directly.

Shen Shuangning smiled: "I'm still used to calling you Young Marquis."

Xie Lin then said, "Whatever you say."

The stall owner, seeing their affectionate looks, couldn't help but laugh—this wasn't a married couple, yet they were even more like one.

The stall owner then pointed into the distance, saying, "You two might as well go up that bridge to view the lanterns; the scenery there is no worse than that of Yunxiao Lou."

Afterwards, the two stood on that bridge.

The sugar-painting stall owner spoke truly; the flower lanterns on the street and on the bridge reflected in the water, shattering into a river full of flowing, multicolored light.

Shen Shuangning stood by the railing, slightly bent forward to look, her eyes fixed.

Xie Lin, however, was looking at her.

Seeing her eyes reflect the rippling light, the jade butterfly at her temples lovely and lively, he couldn't help but reach out, brushing the stray hairs from her cheek behind her ear, his fingertips then gliding back to lightly graze that jade butterfly.

Shen Shuangning raised her head to look at him, her eyes seeming to be moved.

Xie Lin, following his heart, placed his cool hand lightly on the back of her neck, and, half-masked, pressed his lips to the girl's forehead.

To be precise, it was a kiss on the mask.

Shen Shuangning froze, unmoving.

Until fireworks burst brilliantly on the horizon, Xie Lin suddenly startled awake.

He finally realized what he had done; a youthful face flushed crimson, his eyes wide open, he stared at her equally startled gaze, his fingertips as if scalded, loosening their hold on her.

For a moment, unable to face himself, he turned away, supporting his forehead.

"Good heavens, Xie Mingyuan, what have you done? You scoundrel, Ningning will be scared off by you!"

Xie Lin already regretted it to death.

Suddenly, something was shoved into his palm.

Xie Lin instinctively gripped it, lifted his hand to look, and found it was a scented sachet.

Ningning's scented sachet?!

"Ningning..."

Xie Lin raised the corners of his mouth, immediately turned, about to say something, when he saw Shen Xiuci standing behind Shen Shuangning at some point!

The smile froze at the corner of his mouth.