Lin Hao tilted her head slightly back, feeling the cool breeze in the wind, and advised, “Mother, let’s return tomorrow instead. It might rain soon.”

A voice came from behind, “How does the young lady know it will rain soon?”

Lin Hao turned around to see several people standing not far away, surrounding Prince Wei in their midst. The one who had just asked was Prince Wei himself.

“Greetings to Your Highness.” Lin Shi stepped forward to shield her two daughters behind her and performed a bow.

Prince Wei smiled, “Madam, there’s no need for such formality. This prince and a few friends are preparing to descend the mountain today. Upon hearing your daughter’s words, I grew curious, so I asked.”

Lin Hao listened to Prince Wei’s words while her peripheral vision subtly swept over the several people beside him.

Yang Zhe, Han Baocheng, and Wen Feng were all among them.

She was somewhat surprised for a moment.

She hadn’t expected that Tang Wei’s incident would instead become an opportunity for these few to forge connections with Prince Wei.

Lin Shi was unwilling to have dealings with Prince Wei and smiled, “A young girl wanting to play outside for another day speaking nonsense. Your Highness shouldn’t take it seriously.”

She definitely didn’t want Prince Wei to have a good impression of her daughters who were as beautiful as flowers and jade. What if he developed thoughts of seeking marriage?

Lin Shi’s thinking was very straightforward: she absolutely could not marry her daughters to a round ball, no matter how noble that ball might be.

“So it was just joking words.” Prince Wei smiled, seeming to think of something. “I haven’t yet asked which household Madam is from.”

Lin Shi grew secretly vigilant, “This humble woman is from the Lin family of the General’s Mansion.”

“The Lin family of the General’s Mansion—” Prince Wei understood, “No wonder Madam looks familiar.”

Lin Shi responded, “Hehe.”

Seeing that Lin Shi wasn’t particularly talkative, Prince Wei bid her farewell.

Lin Shi breathed a sigh of relief and immediately brought the Lin Hao sisters back to their room.

“Since Prince Wei is descending the mountain today, we’ll leave tomorrow then.”

Lin Chan didn’t understand, “Mother seems very reverent toward Prince Wei.”

Lin Shi said with a serious expression, “You two must also be reverent toward Prince Wei. Stay as far away as you can.”

Meeting her two daughters’ puzzled gazes, Lin Shi said quietly, “Prince Wei hasn’t yet taken a wife. What if he takes a fancy to you two?”

Lin Chan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, “Only you would think that way. Marrying a princess consort isn’t something so casual.”

“That would be best. Mother only hopes you two will find matches of comparable character, appearance, and family background.”

Lin Hao fell silent for a moment.

Her mother was so wary of Prince Wei because she disliked that he was fat, not knowing that Prince Wei would also be a graceful and handsome gentleman when slimmed down.

Of course, there was no need to mention this matter.

After Prince Wei and his party finished packing up, they descended the mountain.

Yang Zhe and his companions had come on horseback. After bidding farewell to Prince Wei, they spurred their horses on at full speed toward the capital.

Prince Wei got into his carriage and leisurely made his way toward the capital.

Prince Wei’s carriage was exceptionally spacious and luxurious, with thick brocade carpets spread inside. Two clean and refined young servants attended him—one pouring tea for Prince Wei, the other feeding sauce-colored quail eggs into his mouth.

The quail eggs had been stewed together with streaky pork, absorbing the meat juices until they were fragrant but not greasy.

Prince Wei had eaten several meals of vegetarian food at Qinglu Temple and had long since tired of it. Upon tasting the quail eggs, his appetite immediately opened wide.

While heartily eating, he thought of Scholar Yang’s words: “This student has a family remedy that might treat Your Highness’s obesity.”

Could he really slim down?

Prince Wei touched the flesh on his face, still finding it hard to believe.

Suddenly, a fierce wind arose outside, and the carriage curtains flew up.

It was raining.

Prince Wei stared at the rain outside the window forming continuous curtains, involuntarily thinking of the words spoken by that young lady in a green dress at Qinglu Temple: “Let’s return tomorrow instead. It might rain soon.”

Had she truly predicted it?

Curiosity made Prince Wei feel an impulse to turn back, but after thinking about it, he dismissed the idea.

His carriage was so comfortable that even rain wouldn’t matter.

As for that somewhat unusual young lady, he would surely encounter her in the capital.

Speaking of which, he’d encountered quite a few unusual people recently—that young lady was one, and Scholar Yang was another.

Prince Wei suddenly felt that his boring life was beginning to become interesting.

The rain had little effect on Prince Wei sitting in his luxurious carriage, but it was hard on Yang Zhe and his companions.

Riding horses in the rain while rushing back—if they caught a cold, it would be troublesome.

The group entered a farmhouse to take shelter from the rain, inevitably bringing up Lin Hao.

“Brother Wen, does your cousin also have the ability to observe celestial phenomena?”

Wen Feng smiled, “I only came to the capital this year and am actually not very familiar with my cousin. From what I’ve seen living at the Wen Mansion, my cousin is just an ordinary young lady. Today was probably just coincidence.”

As he spoke, he suddenly recalled his father’s words: “Feng’er, let me tell you, Ah Hao is a man-eating demon. You should stay far away from her.”

Could his cousin be—

Wen Feng shook his head vigorously.

A gentleman does not speak of strange powers and chaotic spirits. He couldn’t let his father lead him astray!

Seeing the usually gentle and steady Wen Feng shaking his head wildly, everyone said, “Brother Wen, we believe you.”

There was no need to be so agitated.

At this moment, the farmhouse owner led someone in.

It was a young man who, having been drenched by rain, had jet-black hair plastered to his fair cheeks, making him look less gentle than usual and more cold and stern.

Han Baocheng was startled.

The young man who entered was actually someone he recognized—it was the young prince of Prince Jing’s Mansion.

“Heir.” Han Baocheng politely greeted him, thinking to himself that these past two days had been somewhat uncanny—everyone he encountered was someone he couldn’t afford to offend.

Qi Shuo looked toward Han Baocheng.

Han Baocheng cupped his hands, “My grandfather is the Minister of War. I’m called Han Baocheng.”

“Young Master Han.” Qi Shuo nodded slightly and looked at the others.

Among these people, he actually knew three of them—Scholar Yang, Wen Feng, and the eager-to-introduce-himself Han Baocheng.

“Scholar Yang.” Qi Shuo nodded.

Yang Zhe cupped his hands and bowed, “Heir.”

The other three each reported their family backgrounds.

Qi Shuo remained composed and aloof, showing no particular attention toward Wen Feng.

Due to Qi Shuo’s arrival, the atmosphere became somewhat constrained.

“Is the Heir also returning to the city?” Han Baocheng tried hard to find topics of conversation.

Qi Shuo smiled and asked, “Are you gentlemen out traveling for pleasure?”

“We went to Qinglu Temple yesterday, but didn’t expect a situation to occur. Today, once matters became clear, we left.”

“What situation?” Qi Shuo affected a curious manner.

Since Second Miss Tang’s incident at Qinglu Temple definitely couldn’t be concealed, Han Baocheng told the truth.

“Before the eyes of Buddha, such a thing could happen.”

“Who says it isn’t so. The Heir didn’t see that maid whose throat was slit—it was too tragic.”

Everyone chimed in agreement, “Too tragic.”

Qi Shuo also nodded, “Too tragic.”

The rain appeared to have lessened somewhat. Qi Shuo sought out the farmhouse owner, “I wonder if you have rain gear? I’d like to purchase a set.”

The farmhouse owner quickly said, “There’s a set of rain cape and bamboo hat, though they’ve been worn before. If the young master doesn’t mind—”

Qi Shuo smiled, “Having something to use is already very good.”

After purchasing the rain gear from the farmhouse owner, Qi Shuo bid farewell to Han Baocheng and his companions. Donning the rain cape and bamboo hat, he mounted his horse and departed.

The fierce wind and heavy rain had turned to fine drizzle like silk threads. Lin Hao held up a green bamboo umbrella and gazed into the distance.

The sky was overcast and gray. At the foot of the mountain, she could still see the monks and yamen runners guarding the road. On the official road, carriages occasionally passed slowly by, and there were also rain-drenched pedestrians looking rather bedraggled.

A person wearing a bamboo hat rode by on horseback. Perhaps the ties weren’t fastened properly, as the bamboo hat flew off and fell to the ground.

Lin Hao rubbed her eyes, thinking she must be seeing things.

Why did that person look like Prince Jing’s Heir?