The official road outside Wuyin Mountain was wide and flat, with carriages, horses, and pedestrians coming and going constantly.

Because Lin Hao had practiced martial arts, she could still manage, but Zhu Jiayu and Chi Caiyun, who had been raised in pampered comfort, couldn’t walk anymore.

Fortunately, at this time a guard caught up.

“Heir, Xuan Wu has linked up with us.”

Xuan Wu was the third guard. When Qi Shuo brought the three young ladies out of the mountain, he hadn’t yet arrived at where the man had died.

“He’s not injured, is he?”

A warm current flowed through the guard’s heart as he hastily said: “Not injured, please set your mind at ease, Heir.”

Qi Shuo nodded and instructed the guard: “You go into the city first and hire three carriages.”

“Yes.”

Seeing the guard about to leave, Lin Hao spoke to stop him: “Wait a moment. A’Shuo, I have something to tell you.”

The two walked to a secluded spot. Lin Hao directly stated her conjecture: “This kidnapping—I feel it wasn’t simply a bandit seeking wealth, but related to my visit to a medical clinic called Danxin Hall.”

“Medical clinic?”

“Yes, I saw a doctor surnamed Gu at the clinic and discovered his facial structure was very similar to Mister Fox in the portrait… If my suspicion is correct, once his people discover I’ve been rescued they’ll definitely be alerted. A’Shuo, have your guard return to the city and first arrange for people to watch the clinic. It doesn’t matter if we return to the city a bit later.”

Qi Shuo ruffled her hair: “Don’t worry, Xuan Yi has already arranged for people to watch the clinic.”

“You also suspected that clinic had problems?” In her surprise, Lin Hao’s eyes widened slightly.

“I wouldn’t say suspected—it’s just that before you were kidnapped, the places you went were only your cousin’s home and the clinic. Being more attentive couldn’t hurt.”

“A’Shuo, you’re really amazing.” Lin Hao’s gaze was ardent, not sparing her praise.

Qi Shuo coughed once to conceal his shyness, hastily calling the guard over to give instructions.

Lin Hao smiled sweetly and walked over to Zhu Jiayu and Chi Caiyun.

Chi Caiyun pulled at Lin Hao’s sleeve, both envious and aggrieved: “Miss Lin, you’re truly blessed. When something happened, your betrothed disregarded danger to enter the mountain searching for you. Not like me—not a single person from my family came.”

She was truly furious. Those concubines and sisters were probably clapping their hands in celebration, planning to use her jewelry and eat her lobsters in the future…

Thinking that Zhu Jiayu and Chi Caiyun had very likely suffered this undeserved disaster because of her, Lin Hao had considerably more patience for this girl: “Your family must have reported it to the authorities. They’re surely being cautious of the bandits and don’t dare act rashly. Look, no one from my family came either. The Heir entered the mountain quietly.”

To the side, Zhu Jiayu nodded: “A’Hao is right. No one from my family came either, but my parents couldn’t possibly not worry about me.”

Chi Caiyun was comforted and smiled brightly: “Where do you all live? Next time I’ll be the host and treat you to lobster…”

The lobsters in the capital were all transported from far away. The taste was delicious, the price expensive. All three had eaten them, and this topic successfully made all three of their stomachs rumble.

The guard was fleet of foot. Without waiting too long, he returned with three carriages.

At this time, the other two guards had already brought the man’s corpse out of the mountain.

Qi Shuo brought Lin Hao onto one carriage. Zhu Jiayu and Chi Caiyun rode together in another, with the remaining one carrying the corpse. That driver had originally been so frightened his face turned white and legs went soft, but once an ingot of silver tumbled into his embrace, his courage immediately grew and his hands gained strength. He drove that carriage even faster than the other two.

In the carriage compartment, sleepiness assailed Lin Hao as she struggled to keep her eyelids open: “A’Shuo, let’s go directly to the clinic.”

“I’ll go after sending you back to the General’s Manor.”

“Let’s go together.” Lin Hao strongly resisted the sleepiness.

But she had slept poorly last night, and now before the person she trusted most, she completely relaxed, utterly unable to resist the thick drowsiness.

“Stop forcing yourself. Sleep for a bit. When you get home you’ll need to wash up anyway. Just wait for my news.”

“All right.” Lin Hao stopped making things difficult for herself. Her eyes closed and she fell asleep.

Qi Shuo gazed at that face stained with mud, only now no longer concealing the heartache in his eyes.

By just a little, something would have happened to her.

He reached out his hand and gently touched her cheek. The warmth transmitted through his fingertips brought back to life his heart that had fallen into an icy purgatory.

This was truly wonderful.

He stared fixedly at the sleeping young lady, the unease and lingering fear in his heart unknowingly transforming into throbbing emotion.

The sleeping young lady—whether her slightly furrowed brow or slightly upturned lips—was exactly as he liked best.

When Qi Shuo came back to his senses, he was startled to discover that sleeping face was already close at hand.

If he kissed her once, it probably wouldn’t be discovered, right?

This thought flashed by, and the upright little person in Prince Jing’s Heir’s heart jumped out: How could you steal a kiss while someone is sleeping!

That’s right—

Just at this moment the carriage jolted. Qi Shuo’s leaning-forward body swayed, and because he was really too close, that handsome face smacked against Lin Hao’s face.

Lin Hao opened her eyes and said nothing for quite a while.

A’Shuo stole a kiss while she was sleeping and got caught—she should slap him across the face, right?

“A’Hao, this is a misunderstanding…”

“Mm, I believe you.” Lin Hao nodded with complete seriousness.

Since she couldn’t bring herself to do it, she might as well accept his feeble excuse.

Lin Hao’s reaction left Qi Shuo bewildered: She believed it so easily? Or was A’Hao angry and speaking sarcastically?

He decided to confess: “It’s also not entirely a misunderstanding—”

Lin Hao: ?

Did he feel uncomfortable not getting slapped?

The young lady’s pair of bright, clear eyes contained reproach, like a spring lake stirred into ripples by wind, also stirring the human heart.

The next instant, she was pulled into an embrace, cool lips pressing against hers.

After a long while, a low voice sounded: “Not a misunderstanding…”

The carriage stopped before the General’s Manor. Lin Hao, supported by Qi Shuo, descended from the carriage, feeling somewhat guilty.

“Second Miss has returned!”

Following the doorman’s shout, the General’s Manor erupted in jubilation.

“A’Hao, you scared Mother to death!” Madam Lin embraced Lin Hao and began crying.

Lin Chan, who had returned to her maiden home upon hearing her sister had met with trouble, stood beside the Old Madam continuously wiping away tears.

Cheng Shu vigorously patted Qi Shuo’s shoulder: “Heir, we truly must thank you.”

“A’Hao hasn’t eaten or drunk much and needs good care. I also need to return home early to report my safety to my parents.” Qi Shuo bowed to the Old Madam and Madam Lin, taking his leave.

“A’Hao, that villain didn’t harm you, did he?” Madam Lin looked her daughter up and down.

“He just wouldn’t let me eat or drink. Before he could really harm me, I was rescued by A’Shuo.”

“Thank goodness for our son-in-law. A’Hao, go wash up quickly. The food is all ready…”

When Prince Jing’s Manor saw Qi Shuo return, there was also jubilation.

Qi Shuo hastily washed and changed clothes. Without time to eat or drink, he went out again.

“Heir, I heard Second Miss Lin was kidnapped by a villain. If there’s anywhere you need help, just say so.”

“A’Hao has already returned home. I’ve come to find the Grand Commander because of Mister Fox.”

Upon hearing “Mister Fox,” Cheng Maoming immediately perked up: “Could the Heir have news of Mister Fox?”

Just as he thought—the Heir was his lucky star!

If Qi Shuo weren’t right in front of him, Cheng Maoming would have loved to slap his thigh.

“A’Hao’s kidnapping this time was very likely related to her discovery of Mister Fox’s whereabouts.”