Only after returning to her official quarters did Qiu Xinran discover that Xia Xiuyan hadn’t actually asked for his jade pendant back. She wondered whether he truly meant to give it to her. The jade pendant was clearly an item from the palace—if she sold it at a pawnshop, it would certainly fetch a good price. But she also worried that Xia Xiuyan had only temporarily left it with her. If next time he came with silver to exchange it and learned she’d pawned the pendant, he would surely settle accounts with her. Looking at it this way, keeping this item brought her no benefits whatsoever.

Thinking of this, she sighed and decided to go to the Academy tomorrow to find out the truth. For now, she could only store the item away. But when she went to the Academy the next day, she discovered Xia Xiuyan hadn’t come. Upon inquiring, she learned he’d gone out yesterday, caught a chill from the wind, and contracted a cold. Everyone found this perfectly normal. In fact, compared to Xia Xiuyan’s gradually improving health that allowed him to ride horses and play polo, people in the palace were probably more accustomed to him spending three days in bed every time the season changed. Only Qiu Xinran pondered for a long while but couldn’t recall where he’d shown any sign of catching a cold yesterday.

However, compared to yesterday’s disturbance at Qujiang, the Heir’s absence from the Academy today really wasn’t significant.

She heard that yesterday Wei Yi had been on a pleasure boat excursion with others. When the boat approached shore, chaos suddenly erupted on the riverbank, and someone took advantage of the disorder to infiltrate the boat and attempt assassination. Fortunately, the assassination failed—he only sustained superficial injuries. Unfortunately, the assassin took advantage of the chaos to jump into the river and escaped.

News also spread that Zhang Rong had fled during his exile journey. His Majesty issued an edict demanding accountability. To pursue the fugitive, the city’s security was strengthened for a time. After this Shangsi Festival, from the Yulin Guards to Jingzhao Prefecture to the local magistrates, all wore gloomy expressions—only one person received a reward: Qiu Xinran.

Not long after the Shangsi Festival, Qiu Xinran went to the palace to receive her reward. Though she’d correctly divined the hexagram, because it concerned a calamity after all, His Majesty granted her a sum of reward silver. As she emerged from the inner treasury, she encountered imperial guards on duty at the palace gate. Qiu Xinran often walked about the palace, and though she didn’t deal with court officials, she was quite familiar with the palace staff below. Everyone knew she’d received a reward. Seeing her emerge from the inner treasury, they teased her: “Bureau Director Qiu isn’t being fair—you divined and received a reward yourself, while we brothers in the imperial guards have been so busy our feet haven’t touched the ground these past two days.”

“I divined an inauspicious hexagram—didn’t expect I was divining for you all.” Qiu Xinran scratched her head and proposed: “How about I use the reward silver to buy some wine to send to the imperial guard offices, to reward your hard work these days?”

Hearing this, those two guards felt embarrassed: “Don’t listen to his nonsense. We’re just joking with you. Bureau Director Qiu receiving a reward makes us brothers happy too—how could we actually make you spend money?”

Qiu Xinran said generously: “It won’t cost much silver. Besides, last time when the Heir and I were abducted up the mountain together, I heard the imperial guard brothers came out before dawn to search the mountain and expended considerable effort—I haven’t properly thanked you yet.”

“What thanks is needed? It was all part of our duty.”

“Rescuing the Heir was part of duty, but rescuing me couldn’t have required such a grand operation.” Qiu Xinran said to them with a smile: “I was planning to buy some food to treat my colleagues at the Bureau of Astronomy anyway. This time I’ve caused trouble for the imperial guard office—buying a few jars of wine is showing my appreciation.”

The guard also laughed cheerfully: “The Bureau Director is young, but considers social matters more thoroughly than us rough folk.”

While they chatted for a few moments at the palace gate, another carriage emerged from inside. Qiu Xinran didn’t want to delay their duty, so after a few more words she took her leave.

She’d barely taken a few steps when she heard the carriage rolling up behind her. She hadn’t paid attention at first, but suddenly saw the carriage stop beside her. When the curtain lifted, she discovered it was actually the Princess’s residence carriage.

Xia Xiuyan sat inside. Not having seen him for some time, Qiu Xinran felt his gaze toward her seemed more distant again, like when they first met in the Imperial Garden—looking down from on high. She really couldn’t fathom this Heir’s mercurial temperament, not knowing where she’d offended him again. She honestly stopped and bowed to him.

Seeing her, Xia Xiuyan couldn’t help recalling that night’s dream. Feeling somewhat irritated, his tone was inevitably cold: “Bureau Director Qiu came to the palace today to receive a reward?”

Qiu Xinran found it strange he would suddenly care about this today, but still nodded in affirmation. The person in the carriage then said: “I just heard you say you’re buying wine?”

Qiu Xinran affirmed again.

Xia Xiuyan nodded. “There’s a place called Chunlai Residence on the city outskirts that sells wine famous far and wide. You could go look there.”

Qiu Xinran froze, looking up at him, probably wondering why he was telling her this. But she saw him naturally suggest: “I’m going out of the city this afternoon. If you want to go, I can give you a ride.”

When things are abnormal, there must be a reason. Qiu Xinran carefully chose her words to politely decline: “The city outskirts are far—troubling the Heir would be inappropriate.”

“I’m leaving the city for my own business.” The person in the carriage thought for a moment and added: “You just told someone this wine purchase also thanks the imperial guards who searched the mountain at the traveling palace last year—I’d like to contribute my share as well.”

Saying this, Qiu Xinran suddenly understood. So he’d heard her say she was buying wine and wanted to contribute a share but couldn’t bring himself to say so directly, so he hinted at it this obliquely—very much in Xia Xiuyan’s style. Looking at his cold expression today, could it be embarrassment?

The more she thought, the more she felt this deduction made sense. Looking again at his unsmiling appearance, she actually detected a somewhat awkward adorableness, and her gaze couldn’t help carrying a hint of amusement.

Xia Xiuyan didn’t know her tortuous thoughts. Seeing her look at him with a strange expression, he said impatiently: “Have you decided?”

Qiu Xinran felt if she refused his roundabout consideration, he would surely become angry from embarrassment. So she went along with it, nodding: “Since that’s the case, then many thanks to the Heir.”

Xia Xiuyan showed a satisfied expression. Before leaving, he dropped a line: “Wait for me at the city gate at noon.” Then he lowered the curtain and instructed the driver to leave without looking back.

After Qiu Xinran returned for lunch and changed clothes, when she arrived at the city gate on time, the Princess’s residence carriage was indeed already there. Gao Yang was responsible for driving. As soon as Qiu Xinran boarded, she discovered today’s carriage seemed more spacious than the one she’d ridden last time. Unexpectedly, though Xia Xiuyan appeared not to care about anything, he’d considered things quite thoroughly. She couldn’t help feeling touched. Especially when, after she sat down, the person in the carriage even reached out to push the refreshments on the table toward her, opening his mouth as if casually: “Peach blossom pastries from Guixiang Tower—I remember you quite liked them last time.”

Qiu Xinran was shocked! The young Daoist stared at him dumbfounded, actually feeling somewhat ashamed. She’d truly misjudged him in the past—the Heir was clearly a gentle and considerate person…

Xia Xiuyan glanced at the woman beside him whose expression was complex, frowned slightly, said nothing, and turned to open the book in his hands again. From the corner of his eye, he saw her carefully reach out to take a piece of peach blossom pastry and bite into it, then show a completely satisfied expression, like some satiated small animal. He smiled faintly and silently handed her the tea on the table, saying nothing.

Today it was Qian Fu on duty at the city gate. Security had been strict in the city these past two days—all passing pedestrians and vehicles were thoroughly inspected. He saw from afar the carriage bearing the Princess’s residence mark approaching and stopping outside the city gate, feeling somewhat surprised. The inspection guard stepped forward. When Gao Yang lifted the curtain, they saw a pale, handsome youth sitting inside holding a book. Hearing the movement, he looked up. Beside him sat a girl dressed as a Daoist acolyte, eyes closed, sleeping against his shoulder, his outer robe draped over her.

Qian Fu was startled: “The Heir is leaving the city?”

Xia Xiuyan set down the book in his hands: “Bureau Director Qiu said she wanted to go to Chunlai Residence to buy wine as thanks. I thought that from the last incident, I should also contribute my share, so I’m giving her a ride.”

The two inspection guards beside Qian Fu heard this and their eyes lit up. They’d indeed heard this morning that Qiu Xinran was using today’s reward silver to buy wine to treat the imperial guard office—who knew it would be wine from Chunlai Residence!

Qian Fu had probably also heard about this: “How embarrassing—Bureau Director Qiu is too kind.”

Xia Xiuyan smiled coolly: “She was on duty at the observatory last night. As soon as she got in the carriage, she fell asleep. Captain Qian, if you want to decline, you’ll probably have to wait until she wakes.” As he spoke, he freed his other hand to readjust the outer robe that had slipped from her shoulder, his movements appearing quite gentle.

The person leaning on his shoulder seemed disturbed in her sleep by his movement. Frowning, she nuzzled against his shoulder, finding a comfortable position again and burying her head. Xia Xiuyan’s hand pulling the robe paused. After quite a while, he finally withdrew his hand.

Somehow, the several people outside who witnessed this scene suddenly felt somewhat embarrassed and all averted their gazes. Qian Fu cleared his throat: “Ahem… Since that’s the case, please convey our thanks to Bureau Director Qiu for us, Heir.”

He waved his hand, signaling the others to let them pass, watching as the curtain fell and the carriage headed toward the city outskirts.

When the carriage reached a small river shaded by greenery on the city outskirts, Gao Yang stopped the carriage, tied the horses to the willows, and walked toward Chunlai Residence in the distance. Inside the carriage was completely quiet—only if one listened carefully could one detect some slight movement within.

A youth in short gray clothes crawled out from behind the panel beneath the carriage bench. When he sat down on the side and saw the young Daoist beside Xia Xiuyan, his gaze was somewhat complex: “Why involve her?”

“Weren’t you the one who involved her first?” Xia Xiuyan’s expression was cold as he retrieved a simple bundle from the side and tossed it to him. “I’ve helped you this far. From now on, if you die, it’s your own fate.”

“The Zhang family will remember the Heir’s kindness today.”

“Just mutual benefit.” Xia Xiuyan said coldly: “Though I’ve obtained the correspondence between your father and Wei Yi, it’s still not enough to prove his innocence. You understand, right?”

Zhang Rong’s brows pressed together as he said resolutely: “My father would never collude with foreign enemies!”

“The Court of Judicial Review won’t clear the Zhang family’s injustice based on your one-sided words.” Xia Xiuyan didn’t wish to engage in this pointless verbal dispute. He sneered: “May you live long enough to see that day.”

Such words would have been enough to enrage him in the past, but Zhang Rong only remained silent now, because he knew the other spoke the truth. Before leaving the carriage, he couldn’t help asking once more: “My younger sister…”

Xia Xiuyan’s expression was composed: “As long as Zhang Yong was truly wrongly accused, she’ll be able to live well.”

The youth bit his lip: “Thank you, Heir. I have one more unreasonable request…” The young man in the carriage lifted his eyelids slightly, adopting an expression of listening attentively. The gray-clothed youth picked up his bundle and stood. Finally looking once more at the young Daoist slumped unconscious against the carriage wall, after long hesitation he said: “When Bureau Director Qiu wakes, please convey this message for me, Heir: I slighted her in the palace, yet Bureau Director Qiu didn’t hold past grievances and was willing to help me. If I have the opportunity in the future, I will certainly apologize to her in person.”

Hearing this, Xia Xiuyan neither agreed nor disagreed—it was unclear whether he’d consented.

“In any case, many thanks this time, Heir.” Zhang Rong pressed his lips together, then as if making a decision, cupped his fists toward him again: “Though I have no proof, when my father was alive I once heard him mention… the Heir would do well to be cautious of Minister Wu while in the capital.”

His words were vague and ambiguous. Xia Xiuyan looked at him deeply before nodding slightly. Seeing this, Zhang Rong delayed no longer, jumped from the carriage, and turned into the greenery outside. When his figure could no longer be seen, Xia Xiuyan held his teacup and glanced at the young Daoist beside him sleeping obliviously, letting out a soft snort from his nose.

When Qiu Xinran woke, the sun was already slanting westward. She felt as if she’d slept for a very, very long time—so long that for a moment she couldn’t distinguish what day it was. She turned her head to see the pale youth leaning against the carriage wall reading a book, unable to recover her senses for a long while. When she moved and kicked something, looking clearly at several wine jars and boxes of pastries wrapped in oil paper piled at her feet, only then did she remember why she was here.

“How long… did I sleep?”

The person beside her heard the movement and glanced over, saying lazily: “Nearly two hours.”

“The Heir bought all this from the wine house?” Qiu Xinran sat up straight somewhat embarrassedly, reaching to touch the pastry boxes on the table. She heard the other answer unconcernedly: “Gao Yang arranged it all.”

“Then I’ve truly troubled Guard Gao.” Having just woken, her expression was still somewhat dazed. Probably having slept long, she felt her stomach growling. She couldn’t help reaching for the peach blossom pastries on the table she’d eaten earlier. The person beside her noticed and suddenly moved the plate away first.

Qiu Xinran froze: “What’s wrong?”

“Peach blossom pastries are twenty taels of silver per box.” Xia Xiuyan looked down at the book in his hands, not lifting his head as he answered: “If the Bureau Director likes them, you’d better send someone to buy them yourself.”