These words carried a hint of danger.

Xiao Shu and Yan Lin’s gazes met.

Everyone inexplicably felt their hearts racing with alarm, yet found it difficult to fathom what unknown reasons lay within, so they simply watched them.

Fortunately, at this moment the steward’s voice came from behind, speaking to someone else: “The coming-of-age ceremony is set for the beginning of the noon hour. The banquet for guests is in the front hall. Many guests have already arrived, so if Shaoshi goes now, the timing will be just right.”

Xie Wei had returned from Chengqing Hall.

His figure emerged from behind the door and came up. His complexion seemed somewhat paler than when he left. As he reached the corridor, he looked up at everyone and simply asked, “Not going to the front hall yet?”

Yan Lin then closed the sword case, cupped his fists toward Xie Wei, and said, “We’ll go now.”

Xie Wei’s gaze swept over everyone. When he saw Xiao Shu, there was no particular reaction, but when he caught sight of Xiao Ye, he paused briefly before following the steward directly along the corridor toward the front hall.

The tense, hostile atmosphere that had pervaded the area outside Qingyu Hall dissipated considerably.

Prince Yanping immediately took the opportunity to laugh and say, “On such a wonderful day, why must everyone be so hot-tempered? These are all small matters, small matters. Let’s go, let’s go to the front hall. We mustn’t keep Master Xie and so many guests waiting.”

Xiao Ye snorted heavily and turned away with a cold laugh.

Though Xiao Shu’s face showed displeasure, she seemed to have no intention of pursuing the matter further. She merely bowed to Yan Lin with apparent politeness before leaving together with Xiao Ye.

With Prince Yanping laughing and easing the atmosphere, and the Xiao siblings having departed, everyone finally relaxed and headed toward the front hall.

Yan Lin lingered at the back, with Jiang Xuening walking ahead.

However, just as they were about to leave Qingyu Hall, he suddenly lowered his voice and called out, “Ningning.”

Jiang Xuening’s body trembled slightly, and her footsteps stopped.

She turned to look at him.

The young man glanced at the others walking away ahead, then came before her and smiled. The hand he had been holding behind his back emerged, and with a toss, he threw toward her a heavy brocade pouch containing something: “For you.”

Jiang Xuening instinctively reached out to catch it.

Prince Yanping, walking ahead, suddenly noticed someone was missing and couldn’t help but look back, calling from afar, “Yan Lin, what are you doing?”

Yan Lin raised his head and called back, “Coming.”

Lowering his head to look at Jiang Xuening again, his lips curved, though a wisp of melancholy like mist appeared in his eyes, fleeting as it passed. He said softly, “Too bad there are no water caltrop seeds this season.”

Having spoken, he walked ahead to catch up with Prince Yanping and the others.

Jiang Xuening stood in place and gently opened the pouch.

Inside was a small bag of roasted pine nuts, already shelled.

Just like in the past.

She seemed to see again that young man jumping down from beneath the high courtyard wall of the Jiang estate, stretching out his long legs and casually sitting by her window, his brow relaxed and spirits high as he placed a small bag of shelled pine nuts before her.

Looking up ahead, the young man’s back remained straight, but compared to those days, it now carried a heavier, more mature weight.

Jiang Xuening couldn’t help but sigh softly, then for some reason smiled knowingly.

Cloud vapors surged across the horizon. Wind suddenly rose, wrinkling the calm lake surface. As ripples spread, koi beneath the water kissed toward the surface.

It seemed rain was coming.

She carefully tied the small bag of pine nuts back up, then walked toward the front.

In the waterside pavilion, most people had already left.

As the sky outside darkened, Zhang Zhe’s footsteps paused. He stopped by the railing, gazing outward.

Seeing this, Chen Ying couldn’t help but stop as well.

In Chen Ying’s impression, this person who had been transferred from Investigating Censor of the Office of Scrutiny for Punishments to Chief of the Bureau of Personnel in the Ministry of Justice was quite strange. He wasn’t enthusiastic about the socializing and networking of officialdom, and even on the rare occasions when colleagues gathered, he would only make an appearance before leaving.

Diligent and conscientious, yet not obsessively ambitious.

Mostly silent, only speaking eloquently when investigating cases or interrogating criminals, yet even when speaking he seemed quiet. Such a person was like a calm sea—beneath his bland expression, one always felt he was concealing many things. Not deliberately hiding them, perhaps, but simply not accustomed to expressing himself, nor willing to reveal them.

The former Minister of Justice, Minister Zheng, had angered His Majesty by speaking on behalf of Marquis Yongyi’s estate and been ordered by imperial decree to retire early and return to his hometown. The new Minister of Justice, Gu Chunfang, was already on his way to the capital and would arrive soon to become everyone’s new superior.

And Zhang Zhe’s patron was precisely Gu Chunfang.

Chen Ying’s eyes flickered slightly. Pondering this, he felt it was an excellent opportunity. He laughed and walked to Zhang Zhe’s side, saying, “What is Chief Zhang still looking at instead of leaving?”

Zhang Zhe glanced back at him, his expression neither fearful nor warm, still bland as ever, merely saying, “It’s going to rain.”

Chen Ying found this baffling.

He wanted to say what was so important about rain—in Jiangnan during the plum rain season it rained every day—but what came out was: “Usually Chief Zhang seems taciturn and rather dull, but I never expected such refined interests. Truly, you must be deeply cultured within. No wonder Lord Gu had the discerning eye to recognize your talent back then. Most enviable indeed.”

Zhang Zhe said, “This official is merely dull-witted. Only through Lord Gu’s patient cultivation did I reach today’s position, though I’m still just a mediocre minor official. Lord Chen overstates matters.”

Chen Ying hastily waved his hand: “Not at all, not at all!”

Only the two of them remained in the waterside pavilion, making even their voices sound hollow.

Chen Ying also stood beside him, gazing at the surging clouds beyond, only saying, “Minister Zheng spoke frankly and lost his position, sent by His Majesty to retire. Lord Gu Chunfang will take office soon. Chen has long heard of Lord Gu’s illustrious reputation, but because Lord Gu has always held positions outside the capital, I’ve had no opportunity to meet him. Chief Zhang formerly served under Lord Gu and was quite valued by him. When Lord Gu returns to the capital, I’ll have to rely on Chief Zhang to introduce me.”

Truth be told, everyone in the current Ministry of Justice wanted to speak with Zhang Zhe.

Unfortunately, Zhang Zhe was a tight-lipped gourd—clearly difficult to approach.

Though people wanted to curry favor with him or learn something of Gu Chunfang’s habits through him, whenever they faced Zhang Zhe, they felt utterly frustrated. In private, they had surely cursed this impenetrable man who barely spoke a word countless times.

Chen Ying’s meaning was already quite clear.

He wanted to meet Gu Chunfang early, hoping Zhang Zhe, an old acquaintance, would introduce them. That way, even if Gu Chunfang was incorruptibly upright, he wouldn’t refuse.

After all, he was Zhang Zhe’s superior, different from others.

He felt that even if Zhang Zhe was unwilling to agree, it would be difficult to refuse.

But unexpectedly, Zhang Zhe said flatly, “We’ll all see Lord Gu after he takes office. Why would you need Zhang to introduce you? Lord Chen flatters me. This Zhang doesn’t dare accept.”

Chen Ying nearly choked to death.

The false smile that usually hung on his face could barely be maintained. His eyelid twitched as he struggled to think of words to smooth over this awkwardness. Just as he raised his head to speak, however, he saw a charming figure walking along the corridor ahead. His eyebrow suddenly arched, and he forgot what he wanted to say.

Chen Ying had seen that young lady before.

Not long ago, in Cining Palace.

One of Grand Princess Leyang Shen Zhiyi’s study companions, the protagonist of that raid on Yangzhi Studio, and also… the person that Grand Tutor Xie Wei had asked him to protect!

Due to the delay with that small bag of pine nuts, Jiang Xuening had fallen behind everyone else. Not wanting to be too late, she simply took a shortcut through the side.

But unexpectedly, there were people at the waterside pavilion.

From afar she saw that figure, and her heart already leapt. When she drew closer and confirmed it was indeed him, a hidden joy and delight rippled quietly through her heart.

At this moment, Zhang Zhe also saw her.

Their eyes met.

Zhang Zhe lightly lowered his eyelids, while Jiang Xuening gazed at him. After a moment, she turned to glance at Chen Ying, then bowed to both of them: “Greetings, Lord Chen, Lord Zhang.”

As she curtsied, one hand rested lightly at her waist.

Her snow-white, slender wrist was thus partially exposed.

Zhang Zhe’s lowered gaze fell upon her, immediately catching sight of that not-very-obvious scratch mark tinged with faint blood color. He watched the hands folded together and hidden by wide sleeves, and his grip tightened slightly.

His emotions stirring somewhat, he said nothing.

But Chen Ying smiled at Jiang Xuening: “Miss Jiang has also come. Have you seen Shaoshi Xie?”

Zhang Zhe remained silent, and Jiang Xuening felt a small disappointment.

But thinking it over, they weren’t actually acquainted now, and Zhang Zhe truly wasn’t talkative in public or private. So she quickly put her smile back on and replied to Chen Ying, “Master Xie went to see the Marquis and has already gone to the front hall.”

Chen Ying said “Oh,” and this dignified third-rank court official, holding the same position as Jiang Xuening’s father, was all kindness and affability toward Jiang Xuening, saying, “Thank you for informing me, Miss Jiang. I was just wondering where to find Master Xie. I’ll go there shortly with Chief Zhang.”

Are Chen Ying and Xie Wei on good terms?

A shadow of doubt arose in Jiang Xuening’s heart. She glanced at Zhang Zhe again, but this deadpan face had turned to look at the fish in the water and the ripples blown by the wind. Inexplicably feeling stifled, she said, “Then I’ll take my leave. Farewell, my lords.”

Even as she walked away, Zhang Zhe resisted the urge to look back.

Chen Ying, however, watched until her figure disappeared before withdrawing his gaze, a hint of interest showing in his eyes. He turned to tease Zhang Zhe: “How is it that I noticed this delicate young lady looking at you more than once? After all, you did rescue her from danger in Cining Palace that day—that counts as ‘saving a beauty.’ She seems rather taken with you?”

Zhang Zhe lowered his eyes: “Lord Chen jests.”

Chen Ying shrugged, but thought of something else and mused aloud, “True, after all, she’s someone Master Xie personally asked to protect. How could it be anyone else’s turn?”

“…”

Something in Zhang Zhe’s heart suddenly tightened sharply. He slowly turned to look at Chen Ying.

Chen Ying simply said, “What?”

Zhang Zhe closed his eyes briefly: “Nothing.”

Chen Ying’s mind had already moved to what he would say when he saw Xie Wei, so he didn’t notice his rather obvious unusual state. He merely pondered: “Shaoshi Xie truly is inscrutable. Though I’ve had some dealings with him, I always feel our friendship isn’t deep. But strangely enough, Chief Zhang, though you’re not like Master Xie, you also give Chen this feeling of being unfathomable and incomprehensible. You say you don’t love beauties—when others invite you to houses of pleasure, you won’t go. You don’t love fine clothes or food either, always coming and going alone, living simply and retiring early. It’s truly puzzling. Chen doesn’t quite understand—what exactly are Chief Zhang’s aspirations?”

“Rustle rustle,” the rain fell.

Water mist like a layer of gauze covered the lake surface and veiled the pavilions. Suddenly the whole world became quiet, filled with a hazy beauty.

Zhang Zhe raised his head to look.

After a long while, when even Chen Ying thought he was lost in thought and wouldn’t answer this question, he unexpectedly spoke, slowly saying, “My ambitions aren’t high, my aims not distant. To distinguish right from wrong, serve those closest to me, secure a corner of peace, and quietly watch the rain. That is all.”