“The Prefect also said that if the Princess wants to know more details, he will come another day to speak with the Princess personally.”

“Good!” Bai Qingyan nodded. “By the way, Steward Hao, please send someone to tell the gatekeepers that if Uncle Ping returns, have someone immediately come to Boyun Courtyard to report.”

“Yes!”

Chun Tao hesitated to speak, extremely worried about Bai Qingyan’s health.

The more information Bai Qingyan obtained, the clearer the outline of this matter became. By now… Bai Qingyan’s intuition told her that the missing children incident was connected to Prince Liang.

Bai Qingyan stood in the corridor, using her handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her neck and forehead. She lowered her eyes in thought—if Prince Liang was still entangled with the Bai family, trying to destroy them, Bai Qingyan would be willing to continue matching wits with him. But if he had lost even basic humanity for the sake of that position, then he no longer deserved to live in this world.

From the northern frontier to returning to Shouyang, Bai Qingyan had exhausted her mind and body—she was indeed physically and mentally fatigued. She was still waiting for Lu Ping to return, so without even removing her clothes, she leaned against the soft couch and fell asleep. Even in her dreams, she was troubled by the matter of bandits kidnapping children.

She dreamed that Prince Liang flew into a rage and raised his sword toward little Eighth Miss Bai Wanqing.

She desperately pulled her Sun-Shooting Bow to full draw, but could see that her arrow’s speed couldn’t match the swiftness of Prince Liang’s striking blade.

“Bai Qingyan…”

Bai Qingyan’s eyes flew open, her chest heaving violently, her entire body drenched in sweat, even her hair was wet.

“A nightmare?”

Bai Qingyan’s throat bobbed. Still shaken, she saw Xiao Rongyan sitting beside her soft couch and was startled, only then realizing she was tightly gripping Xiao Rongyan’s hand.

She quickly released her grip and propped herself up: “You…”

Xiao Rongyan stood up from the soft couch: “My apologies.”

Bai Qingyan looked around, seeing that this was her Boyun Courtyard, and frowned as she asked: “Is there some urgent matter? The mines?”

Xiao Rongyan stared intently at Bai Qingyan. Instead of blaming him for intruding into her boudoir, she was worried about some emergency. This trust that Bai Qingyan placed in him made Xiao Rongyan very pleased.

“There is urgent business.” As soon as Xiao Rongyan finished speaking, he saw Bai Qingyan about to rise.

He quickly bent down to stop her movement, looking at her with a smile, saying in a low voice: “I heard you returned to Shouyang, and unable to bear the longing, I originally just wanted to see you and leave. I didn’t expect the Bai Mansion’s secret guards to be more formidable than anticipated, and since you were having nightmares, so…”

Hearing this, Bai Qingyan was slightly stunned, then her ears turned completely red as she remembered that when they were in the capital… they had already pledged their hearts to each other.

“Have you ever before…”

“The first time!” Xiao Rongyan answered before Bai Qingyan could finish asking. “Rest assured, I had Yue Shi lead away the Bai Mansion’s secret guards and your attendants. I truly only came to deliver something and see you before leaving!”

Taking such risks just to deliver something and see her—wasn’t that a bit much?

“The Bai Mansion’s secret guards are extremely skilled, and none are fools. If a man emerges from my boudoir, how would Master Xiao have me explain this to Mother?” Bai Qingyan asked.

Although Bai Qingyan had long sworn never to marry in this lifetime, and everyone in the Bai family regarded her as their backbone and head of household—though she was a woman, she performed better than any man—even if she met with an outsider late at night to discuss important matters, it would be acceptable. But the prerequisite was that Xiao Rongyan enter properly through the front gate, or meet with Bai Qingyan in another location.

What was this, a meeting in Bai Qingyan’s boudoir?

Xiao Rongyan knew this time he had indeed been rash. He took out a bottle of healing medicine that was a closely guarded secret of the Great Yan palace from his chest: “You’ve always been strong-willed, never mentioning when you’re injured. If this continues, it will inevitably damage your foundation. This medicine is a secret formula from Great Yan that was just delivered to me half an hour ago. Take one pill dissolved in warm water every three days—it will benefit you! Physician Hong has examined this medicine, so you can use it with confidence!”

Before he had pledged his heart to Bai Qingyan, Xiao Rongyan was moved but could still restrain himself. But after their pledge… he became like an inexperienced young man, experiencing what it meant for one day apart to feel like three autumns.

Today when the medicine arrived, he used delivering medicine as an excuse… but it was merely to come see Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan’s gaze fell on Xiao Rongyan’s long, powerful hands. She reached out to take it, grasping the small jade bottle in her palm: “Thank you!”

This was the first time Xiao Rongyan had entered a young lady’s boudoir. He didn’t know if all girls were like Bai Qingyan—their rooms so simple and efficient. Looking around, aside from the bed, incense burner, screen, and small table with books, there weren’t any other flowers or plants.

The entire room was filled with Bai Qingyan’s deep, rich fragrance. Xiao Rongyan clenched his hands behind his back, his breathing slightly quickened, and he deliberately slowed his breathing.

“Let me escort you out!” Bai Qingyan wasn’t flustered. Whether guards or assassins, everyone in the Bai family was tight-lipped—she wasn’t worried about word spreading.

Bai Qingyan lifted the thin blanket Chun Tao had placed over her and stood up, saying to Xiao Rongyan: “Please wait a moment, Master Xiao!”

Before Bai Qingyan could walk around the screen, her slender wrist was grasped by Xiao Rongyan.

Bai Qingyan turned back to look at the high-nosed, deep-eyed Xiao Rongyan, her heartbeat quickening.

“This matter was my rashness.” Xiao Rongyan looked down at Bai Qingyan’s wrist that he held, his distinct knuckles gripping slightly tighter, his thumb caressing her wrist bone. “I truly couldn’t help myself—I missed you terribly…”

Xiao Rongyan raised his eyes to gaze quietly at Bai Qingyan, his profound pupils hiding depths of emotion that could make one fall.

He gently pulled Bai Qingyan before him, his focused gaze tender and affectionate: “Having first tasted the flavor of being moved, I never knew… that longing could be so unbearable!”

In the darkness, Xiao Rongyan’s low, mellow voice speaking words of love seemed especially enchanting, making Bai Qingyan’s breathing slightly irregular.

Xiao Rongyan’s large hand grasped Bai Qingyan’s slender shoulder, lowering his head… his distinct features slowly approaching, his voice terribly hoarse: “Have you ever… missed me like this, A’Bao?”

Hearing Xiao Rongyan call her pet name, Bai Qingyan’s breath caught, her eyelashes trembling slightly from nervousness.

Xiao Rongyan’s burning large hand that gripped her shoulder moved to cup Bai Qingyan’s face, his gaze falling on her lips, tentatively using his thumb to caress her chin, as if testing whether to kiss her.

She gripped Xiao Rongyan’s distinct, solid wrist, pushing away: “Xiao Rongyan, you…”

Xiao Rongyan’s movement paused slightly. He looked seriously at Bai Qingyan whose gaze was evasive, forcing her to look at him, bringing one of her hands to encircle his narrow waist.

Silence accompanied by certain desires spread quietly between the two.

Seeing that Bai Qingyan no longer resisted, he lowered his head and gently touched Bai Qingyan’s lips.

Bai Qingyan’s heart was momentarily lost, her breath filled with Xiao Rongyan’s forceful, compelling presence.

Bright moonlight streamed through the unshuttered window, falling at their feet.

As wind passed, swaying tree shadows danced, with rustling sounds and summer insect songs filling their ears.

Xiao Rongyan withdrew lightly, his deep eyes gazing at Bai Qingyan’s exquisite, flawless features.