The buckle outside the carriage jingled softly, while inside, the atmosphere was filled with unspoken tension. Yuexi widened her eyes, taking a moment to comprehend what had just happened. Instinctively, she reached out to push against his chest but then hesitated, opting instead to clutch his garment. This added a touch of ambivalence to her gesture as if she were both resisting and yielding.
Her mind was in chaos, trapped in indecision, unsure whether to advance or retreat. Then, she felt the pressure on her lips slowly recede, and she hastily took in a deep breath. Xiao Du’s face hovered inches from hers, his gaze seemingly veiled in mist. His fingertips lightly brushed against her cheek as he said, “Has no one ever told you: that when someone kisses you, you should pay attention?”
Yuexi’s lips parted slightly, blinking in confusion. She replied softly, “W-who… who should have told me?” Xiao Du finally gave up on eliciting a coherent response. Instead, he gently lifted her chin, silencing her with another kiss. Her lips felt tender and yielding, echoing the sweetness of her voice, carrying a hint of fragrance that slowly seeped into his heart. Just as he was about to deepen the kiss, the carriage suddenly came to a halt.
The curtain was pulled aside from outside, revealing a familiar figure. The servant who had secured a spot by the lake now stood outside, smiling broadly. He announced, “Master, we’ve arrived at the famous Drunken Immortal Pavilion. Miss Third sent me to find you. She said we wouldn’t make it back in time for dinner at the mansion, so why not dine here?”
He had hoped to make amends for his previous blunder, but seeing Xiao Du’s predatory glare and the flushed lady behind him, a shiver ran down his spine. Memories of his past experiences flooded back, and his legs began to tremble involuntarily. Xiao Du’s eyes ran over him with disdain, and finally, he spat out a single word through gritted teeth: “Leave!” The servant felt as if he had been granted a reprieve, and he hurriedly scurried away, relief flooding through him. He rejoined Xiao Zhixuan, who curiously asked, “Did the master agree to dine here?” The servant, still pale with fright, wiped his brow, thinking, “Thank goodness he didn’t eat me.”
Xiao Du reentered the carriage with an air of annoyance. Yuexi, her face still flushed, clutched a silk cushion to her chest, attempting to bury her face in it. Xiao Du chuckled inwardly at the sight, then abruptly pulled the cushion away. Just as he was about to speak, Xiao Zhixuan bounded out of the carriage, exclaiming, “Brother, I’ve heard that the Eight Treasures Duck at Drunken Immortal Pavilion is exceptional. Why don’t we try it today?”
She caught sight of the scene inside the carriage, still somewhat bewildered but now understanding some of it. She then coyly retreated, leaving behind a parting remark, “I’ll go ahead to the restaurant and wait for you both.” Xiao Du’s dark expression darkened further at the antics of these uncooperative individuals. When Yuexi lifted her head, looking pitiful, and murmured, “I’m hungry…” Xiao Du couldn’t help but shoot her an exasperated look before finally relenting, and pulling her down from the carriage.
After dining at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, the group returned to the mansion under the cover of night. As Xiao Zhixuan stepped inside, she joyfully dashed ahead, then turned back to wink and said, “I’ll head to my room first. Brother, sister-in-law, you should rest early.” Xiao Du walked alongside Yuexi, planning to say something, but suddenly, he spotted a familiar figure ahead. His expression changed, and he hurriedly said, “I have some matters to attend to.” With that, he quickened his pace, leaving Yuexi behind. Since getting off the carriage, she hadn’t dared to look at him. She had eaten the meal without tasting it and felt a sense of relief when he hurried away. Yet, she also felt inexplicably despondent.
As the moonlight cast their shadows long, Yuexi tentatively brushed her lips, feeling as if something had been tugged at her heartstrings, leaving her feeling light-headed. As they passed by the courtyard outside the princess’s residence, they heard Anhe’s startled whisper, “Isn’t that the master?” Yuexi looked up to see the Marquis standing alone, hands behind his back, dressed in somber hues that blended with the shadows. Mist crept up his robes, dampening his temples, but he remained motionless, gazing wistfully through the window lattice as if nothing else in the world mattered. The starlight reflected in his eyes held tenderness, pity, reluctance, and something Yuexi couldn’t quite comprehend. Inside the pale yellow paper window, a delicate figure leaned against it, tears silently streaming down her face. Unbeknownst to her, the person she longed for stood just outside the wall. They were mere steps apart, yet separated by an impassable chasm.
Yuexi watched this scene blankly, sighing softly as she lowered her head. She instructed Anhe and Rongqiao not to make a sound, carefully sidestepping the quiet confrontation. She didn’t understand what had transpired between the Marquis and his wife, and the love, hatred, right, and wrong entwined over time. It would be many years before she truly comprehended it all.
Meanwhile, Xiao Du strode into his study, where a figure emerged from the darkness. Clad in black from head to toe, with a sword at his waist, the only touch of color was a dark green camellia embroidered on his hem—the insignia of the mansion’s secret guard. As soon as he saw Xiao Du, he bowed deeply, full of self-blame. “It’s all my fault for being late. Almost caused trouble for the Marquis and Madam!”
Xiao Du waved it off. “It’s fine. I just didn’t expect them to be so impatient. With so many people around Lake Yuquan, they dare to take risks.” He sat down and asked, “Did you catch anyone alive?”
The guard shook his head. “Those few individuals were well-trained assassins. Seeing that they couldn’t escape, they immediately took their own lives, leaving no clues behind. However, in my opinion, this matter is related to the Xia family.”
Xiao Du’s gaze flickered. “Is there activity on the border again?”
The secret guard took out a sealed letter from his pocket and respectfully handed it over. Xiao Du opened it and read it carefully, then sneered. “Old Fox Xia Xiang is indeed trying to make use of the situation between Wuguo and Murong to his advantage. He attempted to appoint Xia Xian as the commander of the Xiao family army. However, none of the soldiers were willing to obey him. He couldn’t even control a single battalion in Qingzhou City and accomplished nothing, so he had to slink back to the capital.”
The secret guard lowered his voice. “They must be very clear that as long as you’re still here, General Zheng and the others won’t easily relinquish military power. And they can’t do anything to the Xiao family army either. So this time, they must have been desperate, eager to make a move against you.”
Xiao Du placed the letter in the candle flame, watching it burn to ashes. “I didn’t expect Xia Xiang to be so ruthless, sacrificing his own daughter’s safety just to deal with me.”
The man in black hesitated for a moment before speaking. “But how can you be sure, my lord, that Madam is not involved in this matter?”
Xiao Du suddenly turned around, glaring fiercely at him. “Who gave you the audacity to speculate about the mistress!” The man in black quickly knelt, but his face showed no sign of retreat as he continued, “Forgive my bluntness, my lord, but Madam is Xia Xiang’s daughter after all. She happened to be in danger alongside you. Whether she is involved or not, she is the person closest to you, and we must be cautious!”
Xiao Du was taken aback, picturing her face, always tinged with shyness, and her eyes that flickered like a young deer’s. Could someone with such eyes lie? Annoyed, he waved his hand. “Enough, I have my judgment.” Then, as if remembering something, he asked, “What about the person I asked you to investigate last time?”
The secret guard replied, “Luo Yuan is from Jingnan, a Jinshi in the Gengzi year. The following year, he was recommended to enter the Hanlin Academy as an editor. He lives a frugal life, has no political affiliations, and rarely socializes with fellow Jinshi. In his youth, he served as a tutor in the Xia family, but there is no evidence of further contact with the Xia faction after entering the court.”
Xiao Du pondered for a moment before saying, “Help me deliver a letter to Luo Yuan. Say that my younger sister is unruly, and the mansion needs to hire a new tutor. Ask if he is willing to come to the mansion during his free time to teach my younger sister.”
The secret guard looked at him strangely but didn’t say anything more. He took his leave through the window.
Alone in the room, Xiao Du sat for a long time. Moonlight filtered through the window lattice, casting a silver arc on the wall. In his mind, he once again saw the slightly weathered face of the late emperor, his voice deep and full of expectation: “The Xiao family army is the lifelong effort of me and your father. It is a cavalry that guards the border. Now, I entrust it to you. Remember, no matter the cost, you must protect it!”
The scent of gardenias wafted over them, jolting him awake. Xiao Du stood up and walked to the outskirts of Yuexi’s courtyard. A branch of apricot blossoms stretched diagonally from the wall, blooming softly. Her tender voice echoed from a distance. He stood silently for a long time before gently plucking the branch of apricot blossoms and leaving.