On this day, Zhao Yingqiu and Yan Ningshuang emerged from the Old Princess Consort’s Shou’an Hall.

“Why have you been so absent-minded lately? Just now, when Old Princess Consort asked you something, you were lost in thought again.” Zhao Yingqiu looked at Yan Ningshuang with concern.

Yan Ningshuang shook her head without speaking.

Zhao Yingqiu sighed and stepped forward to link arms with Yan Ningshuang: “Ningshuang, you’ll be returning to the capital in three days. Unfortunately, I won’t be going back with you this time. I don’t know if I’ll ever have another chance to see my family in this lifetime. Could you help me take a few letters to my mother and sisters at home?” Zhao Yingqiu had been granted a marriage, so she had to remain in Yunyang City awaiting her wedding.

Zhao Yingqiu’s words only made Yan Ningshuang’s expression grow darker. Those who wanted to stay couldn’t remain, while those who didn’t want to stay were forced to – truly a cruel twist of fate.

“Alright…” Yan Ningshuang agreed with pursed lips.

“Thank you, Ningshuang.” Zhao Yingqiu said gratefully. Seeing Yan Ningshuang’s poor spirits, she thought for a moment and suggested, “Why don’t I accompany you for a stroll in the garden?”

Yan Ningshuang usually enjoyed wandering around Yanbei Prince’s mansion’s courtyards. Of course, she wasn’t there to admire flowers and plants – she was only hoping for the chance to encounter the person she wanted to see. Unfortunately, this had never happened, so now Yan Ningshuang had lost much of her enthusiasm for garden strolls.

Seeing Yan Ningshuang shake her head, Zhao Yingqiu added: “I heard Second Young Master Xiao had someone bring in over ten pots of camellias, placed in the greenhouse behind Ding Garden for care. Don’t you also like camellias? Why don’t we go take a look?” Ding Garden was one of the three major gardens within Yanbei Prince’s mansion. Because it was far from Zhaoning Hall, where Xiao Jingxi lived, Yan Ningshuang rarely visited there.

Hearing this, Yan Ningshuang was somewhat tempted, but couldn’t help asking suspiciously: “How do you know Master Xiao had camellias brought into the mansion?” She always paid the most attention to news about Xiao Jingxi – there was no reason Zhao Yingqiu would know something she didn’t.

Zhao Yingqiu smiled helplessly: “The maids in Shou’an Hall mentioned it just now when we went to pay respects to Old Princess Consort. Didn’t you hear? If you don’t believe me, ask your maid.”

Yan Ningshuang looked back at her maid Ping’er. This maid had come with her from home. Due to Yanbei Prince’s mansion’s strict rules, she and Zhao Yingqiu were each only allowed to bring two of their maids, and even this was specially permitted by Old Princess Consort out of concern for their convenience.

Ping’er quickly nodded: “Yes, Miss. This servant heard it too. You were lost in thought earlier and didn’t notice.”

Remembering that she had indeed been somewhat distracted in Shou’an Hall, Yan Ningshuang perked up a bit and nodded: “Then let’s go take a look.”

The two walked arm in arm to Ding Garden.

Yanbei Prince’s mansion didn’t overly restrict Yan Ningshuang and Zhao Yingqiu’s movements. As women, they generally didn’t go to the outer courtyards, but they could freely wander most areas of the inner courtyards except for a few specific halls. Whether anyone was secretly assigned to watch them was unknown.

Ding Garden’s greenhouses housed relatively precious flowers and plants. Though called greenhouses, it was actually a fairly large courtyard with small bridges, flowing water, flying eaves, and intricate brackets – built in imitation of Jiangnan gardens.

The overall architectural style of Yanbei Prince’s mansion emphasized majesty over delicacy. While towering trees were numerous among the building complexes, flowers and ornamental plants were rarely seen. Previous Yanbei Princes had disliked such fancy decorations, so Ding Garden had been specially created for Princess Consort after the current Yanbei Prince Xiao Yan married. Thus, such flowers and plants were all kept in several designated gardens.

Camellias feared wind but loved the sun, so they were placed in the courtyard outside the greenhouse. As soon as Yan Ningshuang entered, she spotted a tall figure in a dark robe standing with his back to them before a pot of “Eighteen Scholars” camellias, apparently admiring the flowers.

Yan Ningshuang stared blankly at that back for a moment. When she realized who it might be, her face suddenly filled with joy. Disregarding Zhao Yingqiu’s presence, she quickly walked several steps to position herself behind the man and called out in delighted surprise: “Master… Master Xiao.”

Hearing this, the man turned to look at Yan Ningshuang. First showing some confusion, his face gradually broke into a smile: “This young lady… recognizes me?”

After clearly seeing this man’s face, Yan Ningshuang couldn’t help but freeze. This man wasn’t Xiao Jingxi, though their backs were somewhat similar and they appeared to be of similar age. Though this young man was also quite handsome, he was far inferior to Second Young Master Xiao. Moreover, when he smiled, his expression carried a mocking quality that seemed rather roguish.

Realizing she had mistaken him for someone else, Yan Ningshuang’s face flushed deep red. Though she was bold and uninhibited when facing Xiao Jingxi due to uncontrollable emotions, she wasn’t the same with other men.

“I’m sorry, I… I mistook you for someone else.” Yan Ningshuang quickly stepped back.

The man raised an eyebrow, his gaze brazenly scanning her body before looking at Zhao Yingqiu, who had followed behind Yan Ningshuang. After thinking for a moment, his face showed an expression of sudden understanding: “I remember now – I heard two beauties from the capital had taken residence in the mansion. That would be you two, wouldn’t it?”

Zhao Yingqiu guessed his identity and immediately pulled Yan Ningshuang into a curtsy: “Greetings to Third Young Master Xiao.”

So this was Third Young Master Xiao Jingyue. No wonder his back resembled Xiao Jingxi’s. Yan Ningshuang couldn’t help showing disappointment.

Xiao Jingyue’s gaze remained fixed on Yan Ningshuang, naturally noticing the disappointment in Miss Yan’s eyes. His smile became tinged with interest.

“Who did Miss Yan mistake me for just now? Do I closely resemble that person?” Xiao Jingyue asked with a grin.

Yan Ningshuang felt no fondness for this Third Young Master Xiao, whose back resembled Xiao Jingxi’s – she even somewhat resented their similarity. Her expression returned to the coldness she typically showed other men: “I was mistaken. You’re not alike at all.”

Xiao Jingyue wasn’t about to let her off so easily, continuing to smile: “You called out ‘Master Xiao’ just now. In this mansion, besides me, only my second brother Xiao Jingxi could be called ‘Master Xiao.’ You were calling for him, weren’t you?”

Yan Ningshuang pressed her lips together without responding.

Zhao Yingqiu quickly spoke up to help Yan Ningshuang: “We didn’t expect to encounter Third Young Master Xiao. We were rude to disturb your flower appreciation. Please forgive us, Third Young Master.”

Xiao Jingyue chuckled and winked: “How could it be a disturbance? I was just feeling bored, admiring flowers alone. The two young ladies arrived at the perfect time.”

Seeing this man’s frivolous words and behavior, Yan Ningshuang felt even more that mistaking him for Xiao Jingxi had been complete confusion on her part. Not wanting to socialize with Xiao Jingyue, she said: “I’m feeling unwell. I’ll return first.”

Seeing her intention to leave, Zhao Yingqiu quickly said: “Then I’ll accompany you back.” She then smiled apologetically at Xiao Jingyue: “Third Young Master Xiao, we must take our leave.”

Xiao Jingyue continued smiling at them without obstructing their departure. Only when Yan Ningshuang had turned away did he leisurely say: “My second brother rarely strolls through gardens because his poor health can’t tolerate wind. However, he has a small flower house near Zhaoning Hall where he tends to all the flowers and plants. Would you like to take a look?”

Yan Ningshuang immediately stopped in her tracks. Xiao Jingyue’s smile became even more pronounced and meaningful.

Sure enough, Yan Ningshuang turned around and asked: “Isn’t Zhaoning Hall off-limits?”

She had tried to go there before. Though Zhaoning Hall didn’t appear to have more guards than other places, anyone who approached even slightly would be stopped by people who appeared from nowhere, making it impossible to get close.

Xiao Jingyue somehow produced a folding fan, twirling it in his hand as he smiled: “It’s off-limits to outsiders. Am I an outsider?”

Yan Ningshuang took the bait: “So Third Young Master Xiao can take us inside?”

Xiao Jingyue tapped his chin with the folding fan and winked: “If the beauty wants to go, naturally I can take you there.”

Yan Ningshuang’s eyes regained some of their luster.

But now Xiao Jingyue glanced at the sky: “It’s almost noon now. We’ll need to eat soon, and my second brother isn’t in the mansion right now. However, if Miss Yan wants to go now, I’d be happy to accompany you.”

Yan Ningshuang’s desire to visit Xiao Jingxi’s flower house had ulterior motives. Hearing that Xiao Jingxi wasn’t currently home, she quickly said: “Since Second Young Master Xiao isn’t in the mansion now, let’s wait until he returns before going. Otherwise, going there suddenly wouldn’t be appropriate.”

Xiao Jingyue looked at her for a while, smiling as he slowly opened his folding fan and fanned himself gently: “In that case, let’s wait until my second brother returns. Where are you two currently staying? I’ll have someone find you when the time comes.”

Zhao Yingqiu glanced at Yan Ningshuang with some hesitation, but Yan Ningshuang still told Xiao Jingyue their current residence.

Xiao Jingyue smiled as he made note of this. Only then did Yan Ningshuang and Zhao Yingqiu bid him farewell and leave Ding Garden.

Xiao Jingyue stood in the courtyard, smiling as he watched their figures disappear around the corridor corner. He chuckled softly, reached out to pluck a camellia blossom, and held it to his nose to sniff. In an intoxicated whisper, he murmured: “Indeed, other people’s flowers always smell sweeter!”

After leaving Ding Garden, Zhao Yingqiu gently advised Yan Ningshuang: “Ningshuang, this Third Young Master Xiao seems somewhat… we’d better not have too much contact with him.”

Remembering Xiao Jingyue’s appearance, Yan Ningshuang also felt that this person seemed unreliable. However, she still didn’t want to miss the opportunity to get close to Xiao Jingxi: “We came to Yanbei on Empress Dowager’s orders – what could he possibly do to us? We’ll just bring more people along when the time comes.”

Seeing this, Zhao Yingqiu could only sigh without saying more.

Yan Ningshuang glanced at her and said hesitantly: “If you don’t want to go… I can go alone.”

Hearing this, Zhao Yingqiu thought for a moment: “I’ll still accompany you. In case something happens, it’s better to have someone there for support.”