He showed respect, and Huaiyu was not polite in return. She accepted it and replied, “Young Master is courteous.” Her voice was like a yellow oriole, and her words carried a smile that sounded somewhat familiar.

Jiang Yan looked up, curiosity piqued as he glanced at her. It was fine not to look, but once he did, he was so shocked that he took two steps back, eyes wide as he exclaimed, “How can it be you!”

“Yan’er!” Jiang Chong, standing nearby, scolded him, “How can you shout like that?”

“It’s not… Father… Uncle… Isn’t this Miss Bai Si?!” Jiang Yan felt a chill run down his spine, rubbing his eyes vigorously to see again, then shook his head repeatedly, “How could she be here?”

Seeing his surprise, Huaiyu was also taken aback. When Jiang Xuanjin decided to throw caution to the wind, she thought Jiang Yan had left on purpose to allow Jiang Xuanjin to propose to the Bai family… but it seemed that wasn’t the case.

His shocked expression was as if the sky had fallen. Huaiyu looked at Jiang Xuanjin beside her with confusion.

Jiang Xuanjin seemed equally surprised by Jiang Yan’s reaction. His expression was perplexed, but he calmly explained, “She is your newly arrived little aunt, so naturally, she must be here.”

“But…” Jiang Yan’s face turned pale. He wanted to say that Miss Bai Si shouldn’t be the one he was supposed to marry, but then he remembered the conversation he had with his uncle in the front courtyard—

“There are ways, but you must think carefully. Are you truly unwilling to marry?”

“I’ve thought it through; I don’t want to!”

At that time, the elders had arranged for him to marry Miss Bai Er, and he had expressed his unwillingness without telling his uncle that he was willing to marry Miss Bai Si. His uncle knew nothing.

Looking again at Miss Bai Si before him, Jiang Yan rubbed his face hard, his heart sinking deeper.

Why hadn’t he said more back then? Why hadn’t he resisted his grandfather’s decision? Why had he naively thought that he was still young and could wait a couple more years to marry?!

Now, it was all too late; the person he could have married was now to be called “little aunt.”

Damn, little aunt!

“Is Young Master tired from your journey?” Huaiyu looked at him kindly and said, “Little aunt can have someone prepare hot water for you?”

“…”

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Yan darkened his face and cupped his hands in salute, “No need.”

Then he turned to the old master and said, “Grandson is unfilial; please punish me!”

Just moments ago, he had been joking and trying to avoid responsibility, yet now he was voluntarily asking for punishment. Jiang Laotaiye was taken aback, glancing at his dusty appearance and tired demeanor, his heart softened slightly. He sighed, “Go bathe and change first, then we can discuss punishment.”

“Yes, sir.” Jiang Yan replied, bowing his head, and turned to leave, his steps heavy, completely losing the carefree demeanor he had when he entered.

Jiang Xuanjin looked at his retreating figure with confusion, then glanced at the person beside him who was grinning foolishly. His thoughts stirred, and his dark eyes half-closed.

After the formalities were completed, he pulled her into the garden.

“Do you have anything to say?” he asked.

Li Huaiyu was overjoyed, laughing and bouncing, looking around to ensure no one was watching, she grabbed his sleeve and said, “Did you see Young Master’s expression? Hahaha, little aunt! He was just saying in front of me that Miss Bai Si is a fool, and now he has to call me a little aunt!”

Jiang Xuanjin didn’t laugh. He looked down at her from above, “If I remember correctly, you were very eager to marry him before.”

You even asked me for help.

The laughter stopped, and Huaiyu immediately stood up straight, “I need to explain. At that time, I wanted to marry him, not because of him, but because life in the Jiang family is good!”

“And now?” Jiang Xuanjin narrowed his eyes, “Is marrying me also because life in the Jiang family is good?”

Huaiyu was momentarily speechless, feeling a bit helpless, “Why are you so petty?”

Seeing his brows furrow again, she quickly surrendered, “No, no! I want to marry you because you are handsome, charming, and have unparalleled character and temperament!”

Isn’t he just fishing for compliments? As long as he wanted to hear it, she could find ways to praise him every day!

Jiang Xuanjin, pleased by the flattery, relaxed his brow and generously decided not to hold it against her. He withdrew his sleeve and said, “I’ll go check on Yan’er. You stay in Moju and don’t wander around.”

“Ah?” Huaiyu pouted, “What’s so good about staying alone in that courtyard? Can’t I go with you?”

“Didn’t you say you wanted to mark your territory?” he replied, “Moju is yours; feel free to mark it.”

Her eyes brightened, and Huaiyu jumped up, hugging his arm, eagerly asking, “Really, I can mark it?”

“As long as you don’t tear down the house.”

“Okay!” Clapping her hands in delight, she smiled brightly, “Then I’ll go back and wait for you.”

Wait for him? That word was quite new. Jiang Xuanjin snorted lightly and walked toward Jiang Yan’s courtyard. Just as he was about to leave the garden, he paused and quietly turned back to glance.

The azaleas in the garden were blooming beautifully, vibrant red, and someone stood among the flowers, gazing at him dreamily.

Seeing him turn back, she froze for a moment, then broke into a grin, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she spun around in place and waved at him.

What was so worth celebrating? Jiang Xuanjin shot her a glance and disdainfully turned away.

However, after taking just a few steps—

“Master, what are you smiling about?” Cheng Xu asked, puzzled.

“I’m not smiling.”

“But…”

“Shut up.”

Watching his figure disappear beyond the moon gate, Li Huaiyu immediately returned to Moju. Pretending to be nonchalant, she wandered around, eventually getting closer to the washing pool.

“Madam.” As soon as she stepped in, someone came to stop her, “Madam, why not take a walk elsewhere?”

Pouting unhappily, Huaiyu replied, “The Lord said I could move freely in Moju; isn’t this place part of Moju?”

“… It is.”

“Then why can’t I move around?” She looked at him suspiciously, “Could it be that the Lord is hiding a girl in there?”

“…”

“Is there a girl hidden?” Seeing his guilty expression, Li Huaiyu became furious, “He lied to me! He said I was the only one in this life, but it turns out he has a hidden beauty!”

“It’s not!” The dark guard shook his head repeatedly, “That girl inside is not…”

“Get out of my way!” Ignoring his explanation, Huaiyu furrowed her brows and charged inside.

The dark guard was helpless. He wanted to stop her, but remembering Cheng Xu’s warning about this lady, he didn’t dare to intervene and could only follow closely behind, shouting, “Madam, you’re misunderstanding! Misunderstanding!”

How could it be a misunderstanding when she barged in so smoothly? Huaiyu secretly rolled her eyes, but her face showed a jealous expression as she walked straight to the locked bamboo house.

“Open the door for me.”

The dark guard sighed, “Madam, the Lord has instructed that no one is allowed to approach the person inside.”

“Protecting her quite tightly, aren’t you?” Lifting her chin with a cold smile, Li Huaiyu pointed at the lock, “Open it for me, or I’ll have someone break it down. You choose!”

The dark guard knelt with a mournful face, “Madam, think twice. If the Lord finds out…”

“I’ll take the blame; it has nothing to do with you.” She pointed to her nose with great authority, “Give me the key!”

“You… you just need to take a look at the door, and you’ll understand what’s going on. No need to go in.” The dark guard trembled as he handed over the key.

Huaiyu snatched it away, her hands shaking slightly. After a moment, she finally aimed it at the keyhole and pushed the bamboo door open.

“Creak—”

The person inside, who looked weak, was startled by the sound, frowning and squinting to avoid the sunlight streaming in. After a while, she adjusted and looked up at the newcomer.

It was not Ziyang Jun but a delicate young girl.

As soon as the girl saw her, she seemed to be greatly frightened, her pupils constricting, gasping for breath, and her face turned pale.

“What is this?” She shouted at the dark guard beside her.

The dark guard replied softly, “She is an assassin captured by the Lord, to be interrogated. It’s not what you think.”

“You’re talking nonsense!” The girl jumped up angrily, “If you caught an assassin, how could you not send her to the yamen? Instead, you lock her up here? I see she’s a good woman your Lord has abducted, and when she refuses to comply, you lock her up here to torture her!”

“…” The dark guard wanted to say that this reasoning was too absurd.

However, the girl seemed to be so furious that she started crying, big tears rolling down her cheeks, and her small hands wiped at her face, but it was never enough, looking very pitiful.

“Madam!” The dark guard was terrified, “Please don’t cry!”

“I like him so much, yet he lied to me!” Huaiyu cried heart-wrenchingly, “How could he lie to me!”

“Miss.” Lingxiu was also anxious, “Please calm down!”

“It’s only my first day after marrying, and he’s hiding a woman in the house! How can you ask me to calm down?” Huaiyu glared, angrily saying, “You go call him over; I want to hear him say it to my face!”

Hearing this, the dark guard felt his legs go weak. Who in the house didn’t treat the Lord with respect? She dared to say, “Call him over,” with such imposing force that it left everyone dumbfounded.

Lingxiu was the first to regain her senses and nodded, “I’ll go right away.”

The other dark guards watched her leave, not daring to move.

Jiang Xuanjin was speaking with Jiang Yan in Wangshu Courtyard.

Jiang Yan was feeling very wronged, kneeling on the mat with his head drooping, quietly asking, “Uncle, why did you suddenly get married?”

“You left, and no one went to propose. The old master was furious, so I had to step in.” Jiang Xuanjin said calmly.

Was it because of him? Jiang Yan paused, feeling a bit guilty, “I’ve caused trouble for you.”

“It’s nothing; being married will reduce some trouble.” Jiang Xuanjin shook his head, “But why aren’t you happy?”

Jiang Yan opened his mouth, wanting to tell the truth, but he swallowed it back. His uncle was protecting him so much; how could he say those things and add to his troubles?

All the bitterness was swallowed down, and the young master forced a smile, “I just didn’t expect you to marry Miss Bai Si; I’m a bit surprised… Do you really like Miss Bai Si?”

Without thinking, Jiang Xuanjin replied, “Not really.”

Jiang Yan was shocked, “Huh?”

“That person has no merits.” He said with a stern face, “She’s rude and lacks manners, always talking nonsense, and she eats a lot.”

Jiang Yan was dumbfounded, stammering, “I’ve seen her once before, and she seemed… quite proper?”

Jiang Xuanjin shook his head in exasperation, “She only looks proper. The rumors outside aren’t baseless; although this Miss Si doesn’t seem foolish when she goes mad, she’s no better than a real fool.”

Just then, Cheng Xu rushed in in a panic.

“Master.” He said, “Something happened at Moju; please return quickly!”

Jiang Xuanjin was taken aback and frowned at Jiang Yan, “See, it must be her causing trouble again.”

Saying this, he stood up, “I’ll go back first; you rest well.”

“Yes.” Jiang Yan nodded, watching his uncle leave.

Standing at the door, he dazedly comforted himself that perhaps not being able to marry Miss Bai Si was a blessing in disguise.

As soon as Jiang Xuanjin left Wangshu Courtyard, his expression darkened, “What’s going on?”

Lingxiu followed closely, whispering, “The master saw you hiding a girl in the back courtyard and was furious, insisting on asking you to come back to talk.”

A girl? Jiang Xuanjin was confused. When had he hidden a girl in the courtyard?

Recalling the only girl in Moju, his expression changed, and he scolded, “Nonsense!” Then he quickened his pace back.

He had previously forbidden anyone from entering the washing pool; if she found Qingsi, it meant she had barged in! So many people were there, and no one stopped her!

With anger in his heart, Jiang Xuanjin stormed back, eager to catch her and teach her a lesson.

However, as soon as he stepped into the washing pool, he heard the sound of loud crying, and he froze.

Li Huaiyu was sitting on the threshold of the bamboo house, her head tilted back, her mouth open, tears streaming down her face, her eyes red and swollen, and her voice choked with sobs.

“You…” He walked over, frowning as he pulled her up, “What’s wrong?”

Huaiyu continued to cry, shaking off his hand, feeling wronged and sobbing.

Jiang Xuanjin shot a cold glare at the dark guard beside her.

The dark guard quickly cupped his hands, “I tried to stop her, but the Madam insisted on coming in.”

“Who upset her?” He asked in a deep voice.

He didn’t even blame her for barging into the washing pool? The dark guard was taken aback, quickly lowering his head, “I… I don’t know. The Madam has been crying since she opened the door.”

Crying for so long? Jiang Xuanjin’s brows furrowed tightly as he squeezed her shoulder and scolded, “Aren’t you afraid of crying yourself unconscious?”

“If I pass out, then so be it!” Huaiyu sniffled, glaring at him, “You’re hiding a beauty in a golden house; you must not like me anymore!”

Looking at her tear-streaked face, he took out a handkerchief and pressed it to her nose, “Blow.”

Huaiyu obediently blew her nose, her eyes still watery as she glared at him.

Jiang Xuanjin found it somewhat amusing, squeezing her shoulders to turn her around, pointing at Qingsi, who was shackled inside, “Who do you think would hide a beauty like that?”

“Why wouldn’t it be like that?” She sobbed, “Maybe she doesn’t want to be with you and is being held here against her will!”

Jiang Xuanjin sighed, “What on earth do women think?”

“What else can we think?” Huaiyu retorted, “We think about the person we like!”

Jiang Xuanjin was momentarily speechless, his lips pressed together as he tossed the dirty handkerchief aside and replaced it with a new one to wipe her face, “Stop talking nonsense. The person inside is useful to me; that’s all, nothing more.”

Wiping her face, Huaiyu muttered, “What use? She has it, and I don’t?”

“You don’t.” Jiang Xuanjin shook his head, “After all, she knows the Princess of Danyang very well, and you don’t even know what she looks like.”

Li Huaiyu paused, glancing down at herself, wanting to say, “Old brother, your wife knows the Princess of Danyang best.” Qingsi could only be considered half-informed in front of her!

However, she couldn’t say that. Instead, she feigned surprise, “The Princess of Danyang?”

Jiang Xuanjin hesitated for a moment and said to the people behind him, “You all can leave.”

“Yes.”

Once everyone had cleared out, he looked at her and asked, “Do you want to know?”

Huaiyu nodded vigorously.

After thinking for a moment, Jiang Xuanjin pulled her into the bamboo house.

Qingsi’s gaze turned sharp as soon as he entered, and now that he was inside, she moved her chains as if she wanted to pounce.

Huaiyu instinctively clutched his clothes, urging him to step back.

Jiang Xuanjin shot her a glance, a slight smile curling his lips, then said, “This is a maidservant of the Princess of Danyang. She knows all of the Princess’s secrets, but she refuses to speak, so I can only keep her here.”

Huaiyu was astonished, “You lock her up just because she’s loyal to her master and won’t leak secrets?”

“It’s not that I want to lock her up.” Jiang Xuanjin sighed, “But if I let her go, she would still stubbornly come to take my life. Since that’s the case, why should I let her go?”

Huaiyu glared at Qingsi with gritted teeth.

What does it mean to be a mantis trying to stop a chariot? What does it mean to be an ant trying to shake a tree? Why couldn’t she just fly far away? Why did she have to come back to seek death?

Qingsi was bewildered by her glare, frowning slightly as she looked at her.

Huaiyu then asked, “If you keep her locked up here and she still refuses to speak, do you plan to keep her until she dies?”

“It’s better than letting her go and falling into someone else’s hands.” Jiang Xuanjin shook his head, “Her death is just one life; if she falls into someone else’s hands, who knows how many people will be implicated?”

Li Huaiyu trembled slightly.

Did he think like this? She had thought he was so stubborn about keeping Qingsi locked up just to pry information from her, but it turned out he was considering much more.

Who would Qingsi’s release implicate? None of the “three major remnants” could escape. The reason Xu Xian and the others were still safe in the court was that there was no direct evidence proving they had worked for the Princess.

Last time, Li Fengxing came to demand Qingsi, intending to use her testimony to drag Xu Xian and the others down with him. Jiang Xuanjin didn’t give her up, and she thought he had some other scheme, but it turned out he genuinely valued talent and wanted to protect a few pillars of the nation regardless of factional lines.

Could it be that he had truly been used back then, which was why he had sent her poisoned wine?

Huaiyu felt a bit lost.

“If you want to know anything else, just ask.” Jiang Xuanjin said lightly, “As husband and wife, I won’t hide anything from you.”

So generous? Li Huaiyu was a bit incredulous, grabbing his arm and widening her eyes, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll leak it?”

“What good would leaking it do you?” He said coldly. “From the moment you entered the bridal chamber, your life is tied to mine. If I’m not good, you won’t have a good life either.”

That seemed to be the case. If she truly were Bai Zhujing, then this statement was completely valid.

Unfortunately, she wasn’t.

Grinning, Huaiyu affectionately rubbed against his arm, “I definitely won’t betray you!”

Glancing at her, he said, “Crying for a criminal for so long, isn’t that a loss?”

“Not a loss!” Her eyes, which had cried, sparkled with light as she looked at him, “If you can be honest with me, I wouldn’t mind crying myself unconscious!”

Saying this, she stood on her tiptoes and planted a kiss on his chin.

Jiang Xuanjin paused, glancing at the side with a dark expression, pulling away from her and gritting his teeth, “Do you think there’s no one here?”

Qingsi, in the corner, looked at them in shock, her expression as if she had seen a ghost.

Huaiyu waved her hand dismissively, “She won’t say anything anyway; what’s there to be afraid of?”

“…” There was no way to communicate with such a thick-skinned person. Jiang Xuanjin shook his head and turned to leave.

“Hey!” Huaiyu called out, “I think this girl is quite interesting. I’m bored right now; can’t I chat with her here?”

Chat? Jiang Xuanjin said irritably, “If you can get her to say a single word, the Falling Flower River will probably flow backward for half a month!”

“Really?” Huaiyu was unconvinced, “Then I’ll make her speak!”

Looking back at her, Jiang Xuanjin said, “Just don’t cross the line beneath your feet; the rest is up to you.”

Although his tone wasn’t very pleasant, his words had already allowed her to do as she pleased. Huaiyu’s eyes sparkled with joy.

Seeing her finally happy, Jiang Xuanjin pursed his lips, forgetting that he had wanted to teach her a lesson, and called for someone to quietly instruct, “Bring her a stool.”

The dark guard trembled in the wind, “Master, is this… okay?”

Didn’t he say that no one could enter this place? Now it was good; not only could she come in, but he also wanted to bring her a stool to chat?!

Jiang Xuanjin asked expressionlessly, “What’s the problem?”

… The dark guard cupped his hands, no longer saying anything, and quickly brought a stool, placing it in the room before swiftly retreating.

Huaiyu sat down, her eyes fixed on Qingsi. Jiang Xuanjin thought she would say something, but instead, she opened with, “Miss, how long has it been since you bathed?”

“…” Qingsi frowned at her, not responding.

Huaiyu sighed, “Why do you do this? If you obediently tell them what they want to hear, you can bathe, eat, and sleep comfortably in bed! Being tied up like this must hurt your wounds, right?”

“I was injured before too; the physician said that if the wound gets dust on it, it can easily cause a high fever, and once a high fever starts, it’s hard to stop, and a person can easily die. Look at you, in your prime; why do you have to think so negatively?”

“The Lord is a good person; he doesn’t want to harm your master. Why do you glare at him so fiercely? Don’t you think he’s quite handsome if you look at him for a while?”

“What nonsense are you talking!” The person behind her scolded.

Pretending not to hear, Huaiyu looked deeply at Qingsi and said, “Since you can live well, why must you seek death?”

The chains in the corner rattled, and Qingsi looked up, staring at her in a daze.

Li Huaiyu smiled at her, a gentle smile.

Although Qingsi ultimately didn’t speak, when they left the washing pool, Jiang Xuanjin was quite surprised, “Why are you so talkative?”

One person spoke for so long without a break!

Huaiyu, feeling parched, said, “Isn’t it all for you?”

“Hmm?” What does that have to do with him?

“You said she’s useful to you, so I’m helping you persuade her. Maybe that girl is soft-hearted and will be willing to help you if I talk to her!” She said seriously, “I’ll come back tomorrow.”

“Why bother?” He shook his head.

Li Huaiyu suddenly stopped, beckoning him with her hand, “I’ll tell you a secret.”

Looking at her in confusion, Jiang Xuanjin lowered his head.

A sly smile flashed in her eyes as Huaiyu quickly wrapped her arms around his neck, opening her mouth to capture his lips, sucking hard before releasing him with a “pop.”

“You’re so sweet; I don’t find it bitter at all.” She smiled.

Their foreheads touched, and an indescribable tingling sensation lingered on his lips. Jiang Xuanjin was momentarily stunned, and after realizing what she had said, his throat moved slightly, feeling both annoyed and a bit embarrassed. He opened his mouth to say something but found himself unable to speak.

Seeing his expression, Huaiyu laughed, wrapping her arms around his waist and coaxing, “Don’t be shy, don’t be angry, don’t rush to scold me. I’m serious! If I could, I’d want to pick the stars and moon from the sky and stuff them in your arms!”

He turned his head away, his ears slightly red, his tone a bit fierce, “If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll throw you into the pool!”

A gentle breeze blew, and the washing pool beside them rippled, carrying the scent of ink. The petite girl stood in front of the tall young man, hugging his waist, looking up at him with a smile. The young man turned his head away, his expression somewhat annoyed, but he allowed her to hold him without pulling away.

At noon, the old master summoned the meals for each room and courtyard. Jiang Shen hummed a little tune as he walked along, and just as he passed through the moon gate, he bumped into the newlyweds.

Huaiyu held Jiang Xuanjin’s hand, walking ahead, looking in a good mood, even skipping small steps. Jiang Xuanjin followed behind, his expression appearing somewhat disdainful of her, yet he obediently let her lead him, like a tamed wolf.

Jiang Shen’s jaw nearly dropped in surprise. His eyes darted, and he smiled as he stepped forward to block their path, “Third Brother, Sister-in-law, what a coincidence!”

Looking up at him, Jiang Xuanjin’s disdain only grew, “We’re all going to Hongyuan Pavilion.”

It was certain they would run into each other. What was so coincidental about that?

Being choked by his words, Jiang Shen felt quite sad and turned to complain, “Sister-in-law, look, Third Brother has been giving me a cold shoulder these past few days.”

“It’s fine.” Huaiyu said, “He doesn’t give me a good face either.”

“That’s not the same.” Jiang Shen shook his head, “Sister-in-law, you don’t know when you were injured before…”

Jiang Xuanjin shot him a cold glare.

Jiang Shen swallowed his words, blinking innocently.

Li Huaiyu’s curiosity was piqued, “What happened when I was injured before?”

“Nothing much.” Jiang Xuanjin pulled her forward, “It’s getting late; don’t keep the elders waiting.”

“Hey, let him finish!” She pouted, “I want to hear!”

“There’s nothing to hear.”

“Jiang Xuanjin~” She whined.

“Useless.” He pulled her into Hongyuan Pavilion, turning back to glance at his second brother from a distance.

Jiang Shen, who had been smiling and watching the show, felt a chill run down his back under Jiang Xuanjin’s gaze, instantly losing his smile and shivering.

While dining under the old master’s watchful eye, Jiang Xuanjin was worried that the person beside him would wolf down her food and get scolded. However, to his surprise, from the moment she picked up her chopsticks, Huaiyu didn’t say a word. Not only did she chew slowly, but she also wore a smile, her every movement precise and graceful.

The elders at the table couldn’t help but cast approving glances. Huaiyu smiled and nodded in response.

Jiang Xuanjin thought, could it be that she learned the rules?

However, just as this thought crossed his mind, a foot under the table hooked onto him, lightly tracing his shoe, then wrapping around his leg.

He nearly choked on a mouthful of soup, looking at her in shock.

Li Huaiyu continued to smile, but when she looked at him, her eyes held a hint of mischief, and her foot was bold, while her body remained upright.

What are you doing? He glared at her.

What else could she be doing? Teasing you! She smiled demurely.

Jiang Xuanjin’s face darkened as he set down his soup bowl, trying to pull his leg away, but she could wrap both legs around him, refusing to let go.

“What’s wrong with Third Brother?” Jiang Chong, sitting opposite, noticed something was off and put down his chopsticks to ask, “Are you feeling unwell? Why is your face so red?”

Hearing this, everyone turned to look at him.

Jiang Xuanjin stiffened, putting down his chopsticks to reply, “I’m fine. It’s a bit hot.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he heard a muffled laugh beside him.

The veins on his forehead throbbed, and he gritted his teeth, picking up his chopsticks to continue eating, continuing to eat calmly.

After lunch, as everyone took their leave, Jiang Xuanjin stopped Jiang Shen.

“Second Brother, are you prepared to participate in this year’s selection?” he asked with concern.

Jiang Shen took two steps back upon hearing this, “No need for Third Brother to worry; Second Brother has no plans to enter the officialdom.”

“Is that so?” Jiang Xuanjin said, somewhat surprised, “Then why is your name on the memorial submitted by Inspector Bai?”

“What?” Jiang Shen was stunned, “No way! I didn’t submit anything!”

After pondering for a moment, Jiang Xuanjin said, “Perhaps I misread it.”

“Hey, hey! Third Brother, how could you misread my name?” Jiang Shen became anxious, following closely behind him, “If it’s true, it’s most likely my elder brother added it. You know I have no intention of entering the officialdom; hurry and think of a way for me!”

Jiang Xuanjin shook his head, “It has already been presented to the Emperor; there’s no other way.”

If he didn’t get selected, it would be a disgrace to the Jiang family, and he would be beaten to death by the old master. If he did get selected, that would be even more infuriating; he didn’t want to be involved in the officialdom at all! Jiang Shen’s face fell, feeling as if the sky had collapsed.

Jiang Xuanjin didn’t pay him much mind. Leaving him behind to wail, he took Huaiyu and headed toward Moju.

Huaiyu looked back at Jiang Shen several times, asking, “Are you taking revenge?”

“Is it that obvious?”

“It’s way too obvious; only he hasn’t realized it.” Huaiyu sighed, “What happened to being broad-minded?”

Jiang Xuanjin sneered, glancing at her, “I hold grudges.”

Hearing this made her feel a bit guilty. Looking around, she forced a laugh, “The weather is nice; should we take a stroll in the garden?”

Saying this, she began to lean back, pulling the person beside her.

However, Jiang Xuanjin couldn’t be bothered to respond to her. Feeling the resistance, he turned back, bending down to lift her.

“Wow!” Huaiyu screamed, “Mind your manners! Mind your manners!”

“I have good manners.”

“But if you do this, I won’t have good manners!”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Li Huaiyu was utterly speechless, flailing her arms and struggling, but he held her firmly. Once they returned to the main building, he directly set her down on the bed.

“Was it fun?” he asked.

Huaiyu naturally knew what he was asking, grinning foolishly as she looked up at the canopy, “It was okay.”

With a chuckle, he reached out to pinch her ankle.

“Ah! Stop! Don’t pinch!” Huaiyu was startled by his action, quickly bowing and cupping her hands, “I just recovered from my leg injury not long ago; I still have scars!”

To execute her plan, she smashed her foot with a stone, resulting in several patches of skin being scraped off her ankle, and it still hurt to touch.

“Just recovered not long ago?” Jiang Xuanjin said expressionlessly, “You seemed quite agile just now.”

Huaiyu pouted, “Who told you to hide things from me? You clearly said this morning that we should be honest with each other, yet you turned around and denied it.”

Mentioning this, Jiang Xuanjin felt a bit annoyed, “What good words could he have?”

“Then you say.” Huaiyu smiled, looking at him with her eyes sparkling, “What were you doing when I was injured?”

Jiang Xuanjin fell silent, his gaze drifting.

His eyes were already quite handsome, and when he focused on someone, he exuded an unyielding aura. But now, in this daze, he revealed a hint of childlike innocence, looking both innocent and guilty.

Faced with such beauty, Huaiyu swallowed hard, flipping over to pin him down onto the bed. She leaned against his chest, pressing her nose against his.

“Are you going to say it?” She grinned, “If you don’t, I might just kiss you.”

Their warm breaths intertwined, and Jiang Xuanjin was momentarily stunned, feeling a bit annoyed, “It’s my turn to be concerned; why are you the one asking me?”

Leaning down, she pecked him on the lips, grinning, “Who told you your face isn’t as thick as mine?”

“…” This kind of audacity was indeed thick-skinned.

Jiang Xuanjin wanted to push her away, but the person on him seemed to have anticipated this, immediately grabbing both of his hands and straddling his waist, leaning down to peck him again, “If you dare resist, I’ll kiss you!”

“I’m not resisting.” He felt a bit irritated, “Why are you kissing me too?”

“Sorry.” She leaned down to peck him again, smiling with her eyes sparkling, “You’re just too handsome; I couldn’t help it.”

“…”

Like a dragonfly skimming the water, kisses fell on his face, nose, and forehead. The person on him seemed to be addicted, kissing him several times in a row. Then she looked up at him, her eyes filled with affection, her hand caressing his palm, and she leaned down to cover his lips again.

Jiang Xuanjin wasn’t a person driven by desire; in fact, he had been so pure for many years that he had nearly cast aside worldly affairs. But now, being teased like this, his gaze darkened, and his throat couldn’t help but roll up and down. At the moment she kissed him for the last time, he raised his head and met her lips.

Their lips touched, and the kiss suddenly turned domineering. He reached up to hold the back of her neck, pressing her down heavily.

Huaiyu’s eyes widened in surprise, letting out a muffled sound as she tried to push against his chest, but the difference in strength was too great, and after struggling a couple of times, she was still held down. Then the world spun, and the person in front of her leaned over, pressing her against the innermost wall of the bed, greedily kissing her.

No longer the calm and rigid demeanor from before, his breath was hot, and his movements were somewhat urgent. While kissing, he squeezed her delicate waist, his fingers pressing down, knuckles turning white. A wave of heat spread from his throat to his heart, and his body trembled slightly.

“Jiang Xuanjin?” Huaiyu was breathless from the kiss, finally managing to push his lips away, her voice hoarse and nasal.

Jiang Xuanjin paused, taking a gentle breath, then kissed her deeper.

Huaiyu tenderly accepted his advances, her mind dizzy from his kisses. She wanted to say something but forgot in an instant, only vaguely thinking that this person, whose face looked so hard, had such soft lips…

The room felt a bit hot, and her consciousness was slightly hazy. In the distance, it seemed she heard a knock at the door.

“Knock, knock, knock—”

The door was indeed knocking!

Struggling to push the person of her, Huaiyu gasped, “Someone’s at the door!”

Impatiently grabbing her hand, Jiang Xuanjin groaned, “Don’t mind it.”

What do you mean by “don’t mind it”? Huaiyu was both amused and exasperated, dodging his kiss, “The door isn’t locked!”

Looking up at her, his eyes were filled with displeasure.

She quickly coaxed softly, “Let’s see what’s the matter, okay?”

Jiang Xuanjin coldly snorted, releasing her as he angrily opened the door.

Cheng Xu had been calling for a while without a response. Just as he was about to push the door, it was suddenly flung open, a gust of wind rushing in.

His master stood at the door, his gaze filled with the chill of deep winter.

“Master… Master.” Cheng Xu’s legs went weak, “Urgent… urgent matter!”

“Speak.”

“General Xu Xian’s house was searched an hour ago, and they found two hundred thousand taels of gold and silver. He has already been personally taken to the prison by Liu Tingwei!”

“What?!” The two inside the room exclaimed in unison.

Jiang Xuanjin was taken aback, turning to see Huaiyu, disheveled, jumping down from the bed and rushing toward him.

“Bang!” The door was suddenly slammed shut, and a gust of wind blew past, leaving Cheng Xu somewhat dazed.

Jiang Xuanjin stepped forward to block her, frowning as he asked, “What are you doing?”

“Xu Xian!” Li Huaiyu grabbed his sleeve anxiously, “Something happened at this time; someone must be trying to harm him!”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she suddenly remembered her current identity and quickly added, “He is Lu Jingxing’s elder brother; didn’t he come to support me yesterday?”

Jiang Xuanjin said impatiently, “You don’t even know the facts, and you’re jumping to conclusions so quickly?”

Huaiyu looked at him in surprise, “Don’t you know General Xu? Even I, a sheltered girl, know he is a loyal and patriotic man with great achievements!”

“That doesn’t prove he’s flawless.” He picked her up and placed her back on the bed, saying, “I’ll go take a look first.”

Huaiyu was a bit annoyed by his calmness, but then she thought that he had no real connection with Xu Xian, so it was understandable for him to speak rationally. So she calmed down and helped him change clothes.

After changing into a neat outfit, Jiang Xuanjin suddenly asked her, “Is your relationship with Lu Jingxing really that good?”

Huaiyu was taken aback, thinking he was suspicious of something, and quickly shook her head, “We just know each other early; he feels sorry for me and takes care of me a bit.”

“And you?”

“What about me?” Huaiyu was confused, “I have nothing to repay him with; I can only remember his kindness.”

Looking at her, Jiang Xuanjin said nothing and took Cheng Xu out the door.

Huaiyu sat on the bed in a daze for a while, recalling something, she tidied her clothes and rushed toward the washing pool.

“Madam.” This time, the dark guard didn’t stop her. Without her saying anything, he proactively went to unlock the door for her.

Huaiyu entered and closed the door, taking several deep breaths to calm herself.

“Qingsi.” She whispered, “Xu Xian is in trouble.”

The chains in the corner rattled, and Qingsi opened her eyes wide, frowning at her.

Listening carefully to the sounds outside, not hearing any movement, Huaiyu stepped over the line on the ground.

Just as she did, Qingsi almost immediately stood up, reaching out to grab her neck and pulling her in sharply.

Breathless, Huaiyu didn’t scream. Her first reaction was to grab the chain hanging from her hand to prevent it from making too much noise.

Qingsi tightened her grip on her throat, glancing down at her actions, puzzled.

“You…” Huaiyu gasped, “You’ve been with me for eight years, and this is the first time you’ve laid hands on me.”

Eight years? Qingsi was stunned, feeling confused, and then heard her say, “Didn’t you promise to protect me for a lifetime, never to die or abandon me?”

—I, maidservant Qingsi, vow to protect the princess for a lifetime, never to die or abandon her!

A little girl, her forehead pressed against the cold marble floor, solemnly promised as she cried on the Hehuan couch. Each word was firm and resonant.

Qingsi’s heart trembled, and she suddenly released her grip, looking at her in panic.

Huaiyu gently lowered her chains, covering her mouth to cough a couple of times, then chuckled, “I was still worried about your serious injury, but seeing your strength, it seems I don’t need to worry.”

Qingsi opened her mouth, staring at her in a daze, reaching out to touch her face, but then realizing her hands were covered in blood, she quickly put them behind her back to wipe them vigorously. Her eyes blinked, filled with shock and confusion.

Just as Huaiyu was about to say a few more words, the bamboo door was suddenly pushed open.

“Madam!” The dark guard rushed in, seeing her sitting on the ground, holding her neck and covered in dust. He gasped, stepping forward and pointing his knife at Qingsi.

“Hey, hey!” Huaiyu frowned, “What are you doing?”

The dark guard gritted his teeth, “I’m here to protect you!”

Feeling both amused and exasperated, Huaiyu covered her neck and said, “With your reaction, if she wanted to kill me, what you’d see now would be a corpse. Put the knife away.”

The dark guard was taken aback. Looking down, he noticed she had crossed the line on the ground, while Qingsi hadn’t made any moves.

“I’ve already made a deal with her; she won’t hurt me again,” Huaiyu said.

The dark guard stared, clearly not believing her. Huaiyu immediately stood up, extending her neck toward Qingsi.

“Madam!” The dark guard exclaimed in a low voice, stepping forward, but saw that the girl in chains not only didn’t attack but even smiled gently.

She smiled!

This shocked not only the dark guard but also Li Huaiyu, who quickly turned to look at her, wanting to see what Qingsi looked like when she smiled.

However, her hair fell, blocking her face, and the smile vanished in an instant.

Sighing regretfully, Huaiyu straightened up and asked the dark guard, “Is there a more hidden place in Moju where people can hide? One that can’t be searched?”

The dark guard shook his head, “The Lord hasn’t set up a private prison.”

Even this bamboo house was specially vacated for Qingsi.

Li Huaiyu frowned, muttering, “That won’t do; we need to find a place quickly.”

“What does Madam want to do?” the dark guard asked.

“Save someone,” Huaiyu replied.

“…”

When Jiang Xuanjin arrived at the Tingwei Yamen, there were already quite a few people standing inside. Upon seeing him, Liu Tingwei stepped out from the crowd, personally welcoming him.

“Your Highness.” He said with a joyful expression, “Why are you here as well?”

Glancing at the people in the courtyard, Jiang Xuanjin said, “I heard you captured Xu Xian.”

“The news travels fast.” Liu Yunlie shook his head with a smile, leading him to the back courtyard, stopping in front of a storeroom and opening the door for him to take a look.

“This time, it’s a case of both the person and the goods being seized; Xu Xian has no way to defend himself!”

Piles of gold and silver were stacked high, creating a strong visual impact. Jiang Xuanjin frowned and asked, “Was this found in his house?”

“Of course, otherwise how could I easily lock him up?” Liu Yunlie said, noticing Jiang Xuanjin’s attitude was somewhat off, and slowly reined in his smile.

“Your Highness.” He looked at him and said, “Recently, many people in the court have said you’ve started to associate with Xu Xian and Han Xiao. Is it true?”

“Where did these rumors come from?” Jiang Xuanjin replied, “In my eight years of official service, have you ever seen me associate with anyone?”

“But…” Liu Yunlie’s expression turned strange, “Some say you’re reopening the old case of the Princess of Danyang, and with your wedding yesterday, Xu Xian and the others came to join in the fun… it’s hard not to raise suspicions.”

Pausing, he added, “If that’s not the case, then Yunlie will apologize to Your Highness.”

Slightly gathering his sleeves, Jiang Xuanjin asked, “Who told you I was reopening the old case of Danyang?”

“There’s no wall that doesn’t let the wind through.” Liu Yunlie lowered his gaze, “Just like I just captured someone, and you arrived as soon as you heard. As long as something has happened, someone will always know.”

Jiang Xuanjin fell silent.

A figure rushed in from the front courtyard, seemingly searching for something. Upon seeing them, his eyes lit up, and he hurried over, lifting his robe as he walked.

“Inspector Liu, Your Highness!” Li Fengxing approached with a smile, as if he hadn’t had a conflict with Jiang Xuanjin earlier, and bowed to them.

Jiang Xuanjin looked at him expressionlessly, while Liu Yunlie asked, “Is there something you need, Lord Li?”

“Upon hearing that Inspector Liu captured a traitor, I came to congratulate you, and by the way…” He glanced at Jiang Xuanjin, smiling, “I also have a bigger lead to provide.”

“What is it?” Liu Yunlie asked curiously.

“General Xu Xian is not only guilty of embezzlement; he’s also involved with the Princess. There’s an important witness, Qingsi, who is being held in the Ziyang Jun’s residence. If you interrogate her, you’re sure to gain something.”

Qingsi? Liu Yunlie was startled, turning to ask, “She’s in your residence? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Jiang Xuanjin’s expression darkened, his gaze icy as he stared at Li Fengxing as if he wanted to bore a hole through him.

Li Fengxing smiled broadly, “Your Highness, don’t be angry; I’m just speaking the truth.”

Saying this, he leaned closer to Liu Yunlie and whispered, “Hurry and catch her; don’t give Your Highness a chance to shift the blame.”

Hearing this reasoning, Liu Yunlie immediately shouted, “Come here!”

“You want to search the Jiang residence?” Jiang Xuanjin said unhappily.

“If you hand her over directly, I won’t need to search.” Liu Yunlie glared at him, “But you’re hiding such an important person from me; Jiang Xuanjin, what are you thinking?”

“Of course, I’m thinking about how to protect the remnants of the Princess.” Li Fengxing smiled and cupped his hands, “I’ve seen it for myself.”

“Lord Li.” Before Jiang Xuanjin could explode, Liu Yunlie shot him a cold glance and said, “Before the matter is resolved, slandering Your Highness is a serious crime.”

Li Fengxing was startled and quickly lowered his head.

Liu Yunlie then looked at Jiang Xuanjin, “Come with me.”