Bai Qingyan walked leisurely with Dong Tingzhen with lowered eyes. Intuitively… she believed that Cousin Dong Changyuan was not someone obsessed with romantic love between men and women.

So when Mother hinted that Dong Changyuan had performed poorly due to worrying about her, she simply thought Mother still harbored hopes of matchmaking between her and Dong Changyuan.

Thinking about it now, Dong Changyuan’s failure at the examination was probably because the Dong family had unpleasantness over her affairs, affecting him.

Dong Tingzhen truly hoped Dong Changyuan and Bai Qingyan could make a good match, especially seeing Dong Changyuan transform from a handsome and dashing young master into someone so dejected and thin. Dong Tingzhen felt truly distressed.

“Female Cousin, do you see that red-painted pleasure boat moored at the Taoyin Lake pier ahead? If Female Cousin is willing to see Elder Brother Changyuan, then come with me on the pleasure boat. If you’re unwilling… at least I, as his cousin, will have done my best for Elder Brother Changyuan. Dear Female Cousin… I’m just afraid you’ll be angry with me.” Dong Tingzhen shook Bai Qingyan’s arm somewhat anxiously.

“Brother Xiao!”

Dong Changsheng, who was walking at the front with Bai Jinzhi and the two concubine-born sisters, suddenly called out.

Bai Jinzhi also very boldly followed with a shout: “Master Xiao!”

On the pier where pleasure boats and tour boats moored at Taoyin Lake, Xiao Rongyan’s sword-bearing guards stood in two rows on alert, and there were unfamiliar martial artists holding swords and keeping watch all around, creating an imposing scene that warned strangers to keep away.

Standing beside Xiao Rongyan was a man of similar height, and though his appearance couldn’t be seen clearly, his bearing from a distance was clearly extraordinary.

Walking in front of Xiao Rongyan and that man was an elderly man of advanced years who had never grown a beard, and a child of only about ten years old, whose words and actions were extremely elegant and noble.

Bai Qingyan looked up ahead and saw that Bai Jinzhi, relying on her familiarity with Xiao Rongyan, had already run in Xiao Rongyan’s direction first. Dong Changsheng couldn’t stop her, even with his outstretched hand, and had to hurry to follow.

Before Bai Jinzhi could get close, she was first blocked by unfamiliar guards emanating killing intent.

Xiao Rongyan smiled and said to the man beside him, “This is the Fourth Miss of the Bai family from Duke Zhenguo’s mansion.”

The man standing beside Xiao Rongyan, upon hearing it was the Fourth Miss of the Bai family, smiled and spoke with a voice as gentle and refreshing as a spring breeze: “Pingyi, let Miss Bai Four come over.”

Only after receiving the order did the man, full of a murderous aura, who had blocked Bai Jinzhi, step aside.

Bai Jinzhi was extremely happy and leaped onto the pier. Just as she was about to bow, she froze upon noticing the appearance of the man beside Xiao Rongyan.

In all her years, Bai Jinzhi had never seen such a beautiful man. She had thought the most beautiful man she’d ever seen was Xiao Rongyan, but she never imagined there could be such a beautiful man in the world! She was somewhat uncertain in her heart… this should be a man, right? Dressed in men’s clothing and with a masculine bone structure.

Dong Changsheng was also stunned for a moment upon seeing that man’s appearance, even faintly guessing the identity of the man beside Xiao Rongyan in his heart. This man’s appearance was so stunningly beautiful, accompanied by an elderly man who had never grown a beard and a child of about ten years old – his identity was self-evident.

But how could Xiao Rongyan be together with the Yan Emperor?

Dong Changsheng was tactful. Since the Yan Emperor was traveling in civilian clothes, he didn’t want people to know. He smiled as he stepped onto the platform, nodded to Murong Yu, then pulled Bai Jinzhi to his side, asking with refined courtesy: “Brother Xiao brought friends out for boating?”

Just as Dong Changsheng finished speaking, Bai Jinzhi came to her senses and hurriedly pointed toward the back for Xiao Rongyan: “Master Xiao, my elder sister is over there…”

The moment Xiao Rongyan saw Bai Qingyan, his hands clasped behind his back slowly tightened. He hadn’t expected such coincidence today – to actually encounter Bai Qingyan.

The tender branches of willows that had just sprouted swayed in the wind. Bai Qingyan stood among them in plain-colored robes, her sleeves fluttering in the wind like a fairy who might ascend to immortality at any moment.

Murong Yu glanced at the cheerful Bai Jinzhi, then looked at his younger brother… Seeing his brother’s gaze openly looking toward the distance without avoidance, he also looked over and saw a young lady in a plain-colored dress standing under the willow trees with an outstanding and transcendent bearing.

The two concubine-born daughters of the Dong family didn’t dare approach either, turning their heads to look in Bai Qingyan’s direction.

Xiao Rongyan’s group stood against the light, making it difficult for her to see their faces. Only when she stepped onto the pier supporting Chun Tao’s hand and walked before Xiao Rongyan’s group did Bai Qingyan see the stunningly beautiful man beside Xiao Rongyan.

Perhaps because Xiao Rongyan’s aura was too imposing and dazzling, everyone only noticed upon approaching that beside Xiao Rongyan stood a man of peerless beauty.

“Miss Bai!” Upon seeing Bai Qingyan, Yue Shi immediately bowed, his gaze full of reverence.

“Miss Bai…” Xiao Rongyan bowed solemnly. “What a coincidence – I didn’t expect Miss Bai to also be enjoying the spring scenery.”

Standing to the side, Dong Changsheng’s brow twitched. His gaze fell on Xiao Rongyan, then on Bai Qingyan, feeling that Xiao Rongyan’s emotional tone when speaking to Bai Qingyan was unusual.

“Master Xiao.” Bai Qingyan curtsied slightly, then nodded to the Yan Emperor in acknowledgment, her gaze falling on the extraordinarily dignified eleven-year-old boy, also smiling and nodding.

Xiao Rongyan was truly bold and skilled! He dared to so openly bring the Yan Emperor and the Great Yan prince boating.

But it made sense – the more openly Xiao Rongyan associated with the Yan Emperor and Great Yan prince, fully displaying the profit-seeking attitude of a merchant, the less anyone would suspect he had any relationship with Great Yan.

After all, if he were truly Great Yan’s Ninth Prince, he should be avoiding the Great Yan Emperor at all costs – how could he gather together for others to see?

Upon hearing the words “Miss Bai,” Murong Li, seeing Yue Shi’s attitude, knew this was the young General Bai of the Bai family army. He smiled at Bai Qingyan in a very friendly manner.

“Elder Sister, since we’ve encountered Master Xiao by chance, why don’t we go boating together?” Bai Jinzhi said happily, very thoughtfully, trying to create opportunities for Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan.

“Xiao Si… come here.” Bai Qingyan’s face darkened.

Since Xiao Rongyan could go boating with the Yan Emperor, presumably the two had important matters to discuss on the pleasure boat. What if Bai Jinzhi’s interference ruined everything?

Seeing her elder sister’s expression change, Bai Jinzhi felt alarmed and quickly ran to Bai Qingyan’s side: “Elder Sister…”

“We’ve disturbed Master Xiao’s boating with his friend.” Bai Qingyan maintained her cool demeanor, her gaze falling on Murong Yu with a slight nod. “We’ll take our leave first.”

“Miss Bai, please wait…” Murong Yu smiled and spoke. “Since we’re all here for boating, might Miss Bai condescend to join us? Miss Bai Four has such a rare and genuine nature. We are all rather dull people – with Miss Bai Four present… the pleasure boat would have more laughter and joy.”

Murong Yu’s gaze was gentle and pure, his voice also warm, inspiring great fondness, like a gentle elder.