As soon as Yu Lingxi saw Ning Yin’s expression, she knew what he wanted probably wasn’t anything normal.

Her eyes turned slightly as if hiding a small hook, and she promptly added: “It must be within the bounds of propriety, with not harming others or yourself as the primary concern.”

“Keep that in mind for now,” Ning Yin said, as if annoyed by too many rules, letting out a light snort, yet his eyes rippled with deep pleasure.

Looking at the jade-like young woman before him, his smile deepened as he said slowly: “When the time comes, I hope Miss will allow me to take something away from the Yu residence.”

The lake’s surface reflected bright waves, with dancing golden light.

Yu Lingxi, as if bewitched by his smile, inexplicably nodded.

By the time she came to her senses, Ning Yin had already left with a smile, leaving only half a string of cool grapes beside her hand, dripping with crystal-clear water droplets.

“What kind of trap was he setting just now?” Yu Lingxi wondered, casually picking a grape and putting it in her mouth, then suddenly shuddered as it was so sour her toes curled together.

…

In the palace, Cui An ordered someone to drag away the eunuch who had been beaten to death.

He looked toward another subordinate prostrating on the ground, speaking slowly: “Her Majesty hasn’t given us much time. And you? Haven’t you found out anything either?”

“Please calm your anger, Superintendent! The rumors come from too many scattered sources. When my subordinates traced them to several brothels and teahouses, the trail went cold…”

Seeing Cui An’s darkening expression, the man hastily raised his voice, “But my men accidentally discovered that the Yu family’s young general is secretly investigating the Seventh Prince’s whereabouts.”

Was the Seventh Prince truly not dead, or were the Yu family’s covert actions preparation to take a side?

Regardless of the reason, it was enough to make the Crown Prince in the Eastern Palace both suspicious and furious.

The old injury between his legs seemed to ache faintly. Cui An’s normally expressionless eyes revealed deep malice as he chuckled slowly: “Keep a close watch on the Yu residence’s movements. Also, present this information to our Crown Prince.”

…

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Su Wan decided to make a sword tassel as a gift for Yu Huanchen for the Qixi Festival but was still missing a piece of high-quality ice jade for decoration, so she decided to go out to the streets and invited Yu Lingxi to join her.

Yu Lingxi, remembering she hadn’t yet found a gift for Ning Yin, agreed with a smile without much thought.

The carriage Su Wan usually used was small and narrow, making it slightly crowded for two people, so the steward was instructed to exchange it for the large carriage that Yu Huanchen often used for court, personally escorting them to the entrance.

The official carriage was spacious and comfortable, equipped with fruits and ice chambers for cooling. Yu Lingxi leaned against an embroidered pillow and blinked: “My brother doesn’t say it, but he cares about Sister-in-law.”

Su Wan made a soft sound of agreement, a newlywed’s sweet blush appearing on her face: “I know, marrying him was the right choice.”

Yu Lingxi had always been curious. In her previous life, her brother and sister-in-law had never met, yet after her brother died in battle, Su Wan refused to break the engagement and remarry even at the cost of her life, choosing instead to spend the rest of her days in solitude and Buddha…

The last time she heard such a story was in restrictive doctrines like “Biographies of Exemplary Women” and “Book of Chaste Women” that bound women. Yet observing Su Wan’s temperament, she didn’t seem like someone who would rigidly adhere to such old-fashioned principles.

She guessed in her heart and asked: “Sister-in-law, did you admire my brother before?”

Beyond this, Yu Lingxi couldn’t think of any other reason that would make such a clever, refined young woman from a sheltered home resolutely cut her hair and remain faithful to his memory.

Su Wan’s face reddened even more, like a child caught in a secret.

She nodded slightly, covering her face with a fan, and said softly: “Four years ago he demonstrated martial arts before the Emperor, and I was there with my father.”

From that moment, she had fallen for him, secretly giving him her heart.

Yu Lingxi was surprised, not expecting their fate had be decided so early.

The more fulfilled things were in this life, the more she felt the regret of her previous life. Yu Lingxi let out a soft sigh.

“This secret I’ve only told you, Suisui. You absolutely must not tell my husband,” Su Wan held Yu Lingxi’s hand, her cheeks red as she said, “I’m afraid he would laugh at me.”

“Rest assured, Sister-in-law,” Yu Lingxi hooked pinkies with her to seal the promise, then comforted her with a smile, “Even if he knew, he certainly wouldn’t mock you, he would only think himself fortunate.”

Yu Lingxi understood her brother’s temperament all too well.

He had a strong sense of responsibility and was intelligent. Even if he was unwilling before marriage, once his wife crossed the threshold, he would protect her with his life.

“Enough about me,” Su Wan changed the subject and asked, “In a few days, it will be the Qixi Festival. Does Suisui have someone in mind to give a gift to? Throughout the year, only on this day are the barriers between men and women lifted, allowing one to freely express their feelings.”

Yu Lingxi’s eyelashes fluttered, and unconsciously Ning Yin’s cold and willful face appeared in her mind.

“The first man Suisui thinks of now is the one you have feelings for,” Su Wan leaned closer, speaking with the tone of someone experienced.

Yu Lingxi suddenly raised her head, seeming both surprised and confused, blinking repeatedly.

“Is that so?” she asked hesitantly.

Su Wan nodded with certainty: “Having feelings for someone can’t be hidden. He will unconsciously pop into your mind.”

Yu Lingxi thought about it, and indeed, lately, she had been thinking of Ning Yin quite frequently.

From the fear and regret of her previous life to the forgiveness and trust of this life, from their reunion at the arena with ulterior motives to his repeatedly breaking rules to protect her… Every single incident had left an imprint on her heart.

Without realizing it, over two lifetimes, they had already experienced so many ups and downs together.

Is this what having feelings meant?

Yu Lingxi wasn’t quite sure. The closest contact she had with Ning Yin included everything except discussing love.

Then, what about Ning Yin?

“Sister-in-law, tell me…” Yu Lingxi’s thoughts surged, the sunlight through the carriage window flashing across her beautiful features as she asked softly, “If a person has earned a vile reputation, is cruel, and always mistreats the person by his side. But after that person dies, he preserves her body in ice, unwilling to bury her—is that love?”

Su Wan thought for a moment, then said: “I think so.”

“But isn’t that just obsessive possession to the point of madness?” Yu Lingxi asked.

That night in the corridor, even Ning Yin himself had admitted that things that served him well should be locked away.

“Who says obsessive possession isn’t a form of love?” Su Wan laughed lightly, “Imprisonment, even mistreatment—villains have their way of loving…”

Probably realizing she had spoken out of turn, Su Wan bit her lip and fell silent.

A stone causes ripples across the water. Yu Lingxi’s lips parted slightly, and after a long moment she asked with astonishment: “How does Sister-in-law know these things?”

After hemming and hawing for a while, Su Wan finally confessed in a small voice: “I was bored in my maiden chambers and read many books.”

From proper poetry and songs to less proper novellas and stories, from “gentlemen seeking beauty” to forceful taking, her reading was quite extensive.

Hearing this, Yu Lingxi’s impression of her young sister-in-law rose to another level as she gazed out the window, lost in thought.

Her emotions rose and fell, refusing to settle for a long time.

Is it as my Sister-in-law said? Yu Lingxi slowly lowered her curled eyelashes.

Unfortunately, she could never return to the past to ask Ning Yin directly.

By her side now, she only had a little madman, Wei Qi, who would cut her hair and eat spicy pepper powder for her…

Soon, even Wei Qi would no longer belong to her.

Thinking of this, her heart felt sour and warm, actually spreading a faint sense of melancholy.

…

Xuanping Street was most famous for its jade wares.

Linlang Workshop was the largest jade store on Xuanping Street. The shopkeeper was a shrewd person, keeping rare high-quality jade pieces on the second floor, available only to distinguished customers.

The second floor was extremely elegant in decoration, even employing musicians playing zithers and pipa for entertainment.

While Su Wan was selecting a jade ring suitable for making a tassel, Yu Lingxi had nothing to do and walked along the counters displaying various jade items.

Then she paused, her gaze drawn to a palm-sized piece of black jade.

This jade was deeply colored yet fine-textured, smooth without a single impurity, as if formed from black ice, or as if a piece of deep night had been condensed into a small space.

For some reason, Yu Lingxi thought of Ning Yin’s hands.

His skin was frost-white, and those long, slender fingers playing with this dark black jade would undoubtedly create an indescribably elegant and noble scene.

Under her light veil and hat, Yu Lingxi softened her gaze, making up her mind.

This was a most suitable, excellent gift.

“This jade is a newly arrived uncarved piece, not yet worked on,” seeing Yu Lingxi’s gaze lingering on the black jade, the shopkeeper immediately said attentively, “After the esteemed customer purchases it, our humble shop can carve it for you.”

Yu Lingxi shook her head: “That won’t be necessary.”

Ning Yin’s tastes differed from the norm. Yu Lingxi wasn’t sure what design he would prefer, so she planned to buy it first, ask him clearly, and then have someone carve and polish it according to his preferences.

Since she was buying unworked jade, Su Wan didn’t think much of it and happily left Linlang Workshop arm in arm with Yu Lingxi.

At the same time, in the teahouse across the street.

A servant boy glanced out from the elegant room’s window, then exclaimed in surprise: “Second Young Master, isn’t that the carriage of the Yu family’s eldest young master?”

Xue Chen looked in the direction he was pointing, just in time to see a graceful figure leaving Linlang Workshop.

Even with her wearing a veiled hat, Xue Chen recognized Yu Lingxi at a glance.

Unable to hide his excitement, he was about to rise and go downstairs when he saw another slightly smaller woman following behind, dressed as a new bride.

Young Madam Yu was also present. Xue Chen could only suppress the joy in his eyes and sit back down properly.

“Young Master, won’t you go greet them?” the servant boy asked.

Xue Chen shook his head slightly, his expression deep and controlled as he said gently: “The Yu family’s new bride is there. As an unrelated man, I should avoid suspicion.”

In public, even if he went down now, with his friend’s newly wedded wife present, he wouldn’t be able to exchange more than a few words.

The servant boy pouted, muttering softly: “Young Master is just too proper. If you were willing to use just a little scheming, what person couldn’t you get?”

Two knocks on the door broke the silence.

The tea servant led in a thin, tall, and steady man.

Xue Chen immediately stood up and respectfully called out: “Elder Brother.”

…

At sunset, the summer heat had not yet dispersed.

Across from the Yu residence, in a shadowy corner, a man wearing coarse clothes was furtively watching the movements of the Yu household.

A gust of chilling wind rose behind him. The man turned back alertly, only to see the alley empty, with no one in sight.

However, when he turned back, a youth in dark military attire appeared before him, seemingly out of nowhere, standing tall against the rich slanting sunlight.

Before a cry could leave his mouth, it was strangled in his throat, and he fell to the ground with a thud.

Ning Yin grabbed the man’s collar with one hand, dragging his heavy body, his long shadow turning into the back alley, and disappearing into the remaining light.

With his hands behind his back, he kicked open the lower garment of the man with his toe, revealing the token at his waist.

“Someone from the Eastern Palace?” Ning Yin sneered coldly.

With Ning Tan’s pig brain, he couldn’t possibly track down his hiding place so quickly.

That meant it could only be targeting the Yu family.

Ning Yin wiped his hands methodically, then his eyes darkened.

If he remembered correctly, hadn’t Yu Lingxi just left the residence in Yu Huanchen’s carriage?