After lunch, it was time to wander around the estate. Many guests were exploring the Jiang residence, and Li Huaiyu and Lu Jingxing took the opportunity to split up and look around.

While Jiang Xuanjin’s quarters were off-limits, there were bound to be servants in the house who knew the latest news. So, Huaiyu lifted her skirt and went to find a servant to pry for information.

However, just as she passed a rockery in the back garden, she ran into Jiang Yan.

The young master of the Jiang family seemed to be hiding from someone. When he saw her, he was startled. But upon recognizing her, his expression brightened. “What a coincidence! What are you doing here?”

Huaiyu smiled. “What a coincidence! Young Master, what are you doing here?”

Standing up straight, Jiang Yan looked a bit embarrassed. “Just wandering around.”

That excuse was unconvincing in front of a master of deception like Huaiyu, but she didn’t call him out. Instead, she tiptoed to look around.

Outside the rockery, Bai Xuanji was searching for something with a puzzled expression, holding a cup of tea in her hand.

Raising an eyebrow, Huaiyu leaned back and whispered, “Isn’t that Miss Bai?”

With a hint of embarrassment on his face, Jiang Yan glanced at her and nodded. “Yes, she’s from the Bai family. Fourth Miss Bai was supposed to come, but for some reason, she did not. Grandfather asked me to accompany her in the garden.”

“Fourth Miss?” Huaiyu looked at him in surprise, then glanced down at her attire. Suddenly, she raised her sleeve to cover her mouth, laughing with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “I’ve heard that Young Master has an engagement with Fourth Miss Bai.”

Jiang Yan immediately grew anxious at her words. “I don’t acknowledge it!”

“Hmm? Why not?”

He looked at her and sighed. “Who would want to marry a fool? The engagement was arranged before I was born, and I had no idea about it. Why should I acknowledge it?”

Touching her chin, Huaiyu nodded. “That makes sense, but what if Fourth Miss Bai isn’t foolish?”

“Even if she’s not foolish, I still don’t want to marry her,” Jiang Yan frowned. “It’s my marriage; I should be the one to decide.”

Unable to help herself, Huaiyu clapped her hands and laughed. “Young Master, you’ve truly learned the Purple Sun Lord’s domineering attitude to perfection.”

Mentioning his uncle made Jiang Yan’s eyes light up with admiration. “Uncle is truly impressive. I wish I could be as independent as he is.”

“Oh?” Huaiyu said with a teasing smile, “The Purple Sun Lord can’t possibly make all his own decisions, can he? His position is a bit too high for that.”

Children raised in the Jiang family were quite innocent and had never encountered someone as cunning as Li Huaiyu. Upon hearing her question about his uncle, Jiang Yan immediately retorted without thinking. “Uncle makes all his own decisions. He never makes mistakes, so Grandfather never interferes.”

“I’ve heard many praises about the Purple Sun Lord’s achievements in governance, but I haven’t heard any about him making decisions.”

“If you don’t believe me, just ask anyone in the house,” Jiang Yan said, raising his chin. “For instance, no one dares to enter his residence without permission. Even my father and second uncle have to report first. If even the elders can’t enter his courtyard freely, who else could make decisions for him?”

With wide eyes, Huaiyu clasped her hands to her heart. “Is it really that impressive? If no one can enter his residence, does that mean it’s filled with traps or something?”

Seeing her expression, Jiang Yan felt a bit smug. “It’s not that no one can enter; recently, some people have been sent in. Uncle’s status is high, and many want to harm him, so it’s normal for there to be more traps in the courtyard.”

“How impressive!” Huaiyu exclaimed, her face filled with admiration, like an innocent girl.

Jiang Yan’s face flushed slightly. He glanced at her, then cleared his throat and looked away. “If you’re interested, I could take you to see it from a distance.”

“That’s not necessary; it wouldn’t be good to disturb the Purple Sun Lord,” Huaiyu replied with a smile. “I just think that the way you describe it makes the residence sound quite mysterious. What kind of people would be sent in there?”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yan immediately fell silent. He shifted his gaze and smiled. “May I ask for your name, Miss?”

With such a quick change of subject, Huaiyu felt almost certain—Qing Si was indeed inside the residence.

Clenching her fist in her sleeve, she maintained her composure and continued to smile. “I’m afraid saying it might scare you.”

Jiang Yan was taken aback. Looking at her elegant attire, he assumed she was from a prominent family. But then he thought, which family in the court was larger than the Jiang family? Who could scare him?

So he smiled confidently. “Go ahead; I definitely won’t be scared.”

“Alright.” Huaiyu smiled slightly, lifted her skirt, and performed a very proper greeting. “I am Bai Zhuji, Fourth Miss of the Bai family. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Young Master.”

Jiang Yan: “…”

He was indeed scared.

The noble-looking girl in front of him was Fourth Miss Bai, the one rumored to be engaged to him, the very same Bai Zhuji he had just disparaged!

“You…” He stared at her with wide eyes, feeling as if he had misheard. “How can you be Fourth Miss Bai?”

She didn’t look foolish at all!

Huaiyu smiled sweetly, enjoying the change in Jiang Yan’s expression, then sighed with a hint of melancholy. “I wish I weren’t, but I truly am Fourth Miss Bai. I’m afraid I’ve disappointed you.”

Jiang Yan’s face turned a myriad of colors as he looked at her with a strange expression, unsure of what to say.

Was there anything more embarrassing than speaking ill of someone only to have them hear it?

“I…” The young master stammered, trying to defend himself. “What I said earlier wasn’t meant that way. I just dislike the marriage forced upon me by my elders; I didn’t mean to disparage you.”

“Is that so?” Huaiyu replied, her voice softening, but her eyes fell, displaying a heartbroken expression. “You don’t need to comfort me. I know very well what people say about Fourth Miss Bai. It’s only natural that you wouldn’t like me.”

“No… that’s not it.”

“What is it then?” She pretended to wipe away tears, looking pitiful.

Jiang Yan’s face turned red. Usually eloquent, he now resembled a fool, anxiously stammering, “You’re great! You’re not foolish! Your dress is beautiful, and you… you’re beautiful too.”

Unable to hold back, Li Huaiyu burst into laughter.

Seeing her smile, Jiang Yan let out a sigh of relief. Looking at her sparkling eyes, he felt his ears grow warm.

Just as he was about to say something more, a voice suddenly called out from outside the rockery. “Young Master?”

Startled, Jiang Yan quickly tried to hide, but the voice belonged to Cheng Xu, who had sharp hearing and was certain he was behind the rockery. With a smile, he said, “The old master is angry. He wants you to hurry to the pavilion.”

After all the effort to arrange a meeting with Second Miss Bai, he had ended up losing her, and the old master would surely be upset.

Jiang Yan felt a chill run down his spine. He glanced at Huaiyu and said helplessly, “I’ll go take a look.”

“Take care, Young Master.” Huaiyu curtsied to send him off, but then called out, “Cheng Xu!”