TL: Hua
“Hey!” Bai Yunduan’s eyes widened. “Why is Young Master in my house?”
Pei Xiting said, “Go ask your elder brother.”
Bai Yunluo had clearly made preparations. Since the Crown Prince moved freely in and out of the Bai residence, You Zong and Bai Yunluo must have secretly reached an agreement long ago to use a counter-plot.
The Bai family handing over the original draft would eliminate future worries of this kind. Yu Shaoyun, like a mantis stalking a cicada, would obtain the draft from behind the scene. However, in the eyes of the two other groups, the draft would appear to have been taken by the opposing side—killing two birds with one stone.
Bai Yunduan was unaware of his elder brother’s secret agreement with You Zong. He only remembered what his brother had said about how to act to deceive the fake Third Sister into entering the residence. However, he wasn’t stupid. That “guard’s” skills were excellent; he definitely wasn’t an ordinary person. It seemed his elder brother was meticulous and perceptive, having secretly made plans long ago.
And the young gentleman before him must be an accomplice of that “guard.”
“How is Third Miss Bai?” Pei Xiting asked.
Bai Yunduan replied, “She wasn’t physically injured, just frightened. Plus, she was unconscious for a few days, so she’s still feeling dizzy. My elder brother is with her right now. I’m about to leave the residence to buy her favorite snacks.”
“I’m going out too. Let’s go together,” Pei Xiting said.
Bai Yunduan had no objections. On the way, he asked, “Where’s my benefactor?”
“Hiding somewhere, who knows where,” Pei Xiting replied.
The two chatted casually as they walked, but then they bumped into someone coming towards them. It was Zhao Fan and his attendant, Gao Liu.
Bai Yunduan knew about the situation between Bai Yunzhi and Zhao Fan. He felt somewhat awkward and a little displeased, guessing that Zhao Fan must be a philanderer who had deceived his Third Sister’s heart.
However, Zhao Fan didn’t even look at him, his gaze fixed intently on Pei Xiting. “Xiting, what are you doing here?”
“I pondered over this matter and was still a bit worried, so I came over,” Pei Xiting said, glancing at Bai Yunduan beside him. “Luckily, I knew Yunduan, so I was able to come inside the residence.”
His elder brother’s planning was a secret matter, and Bai Yunduan knew how to be discreet. Hearing this, he didn’t expose Pei Xiting but instead sniffed the air and said, “Where’s that smell of blood coming from?”
“Here,” Zhao Fan said, gesturing with his fan towards the box Gao Liu was holding. “Open it and take a look.”
Gao Liu opened the box as instructed, and inside lay a severed human head.
Pei Xiting quickly looked away, while Bai Yunduan’s face contorted in shock for a moment. “…Who is this?” he asked.
Gao Liu closed the lid, and Zhao Fan said, “I promised my aunt and uncle that I would retrieve the head of the culprit for them. This is it. Since you’ve run into us, you can take it.”
Bai Yunduan didn’t dare to accept it. “I’ve already seen it,” he said. “I’ll tell my elder brother later. There’s really no need for this head to…”
“Then just take it and throw it away,” Zhao Fan said nonchalantly, gesturing for Gao Liu to place the box on a nearby chaise lounge. He then turned his attention to Pei Xiting, whose complexion wasn’t looking too good. Realizing something, he walked over and asked, “Did I scare you?”
Pei Xiting nodded honestly.
“My apologies, I momentarily forgot to consider you,” Zhao Fan said, opening his folding fan and fanning Pei Xiting. “Where are you going just now?”
“Originally, we were going out to eat, but now I’ve lost my appetite,” Pei Xiting replied.
“How about some cold drinks?” Zhao Fan suggested. “I know a good dessert shop. I’ll treat you as an apology.” The way he phrased it was already exceptionally “condescending”; it sounded like a question at first, but in reality, it didn’t allow for refusal. Pei Xiting didn’t say anything more and left with him.
The group exited the residence gate. Bai Yunduan bid them farewell first to go buy snacks. Pei Xiting then boarded the carriage with Zhao Fan.
Gao Liu reigned in the horse, and the carriage smoothly moved away.
Behind a nearby corner, Yu Shaoyun retracted his gaze, turned, and walked to the front of another carriage. “Your Highness,” he said, “Pei-wenshu and Prince Zhao got into a carriage and left together.”
Inside the carriage, tea smoke swirled. The Crown Prince heard this but remained silent. Earlier, when he had left the residence and turned back, there was no one behind him. It wasn’t that the sparrow had finally learned to be quiet, but that it had turned its head and flown elsewhere.
The carriage remained quiet for a long time. Yu Shaoyun hadn’t expected the Crown Prince to stay and wait for Pei-wenshu in the first place. Now, recalling the Crown Prince’s earlier unspoken thoughts, he felt uneasy. He chose his words carefully and said, “Although Prince Zhao’s intentions may be impure, with Yuan Fang secretly following, Pei-wenshu should be safe.”
The Crown Prince looked at the smoke in front of him and said softly, “Let’s go.”
Yu Shaoyun inexplicably sensed a hint of displeasure. Not daring to ask more, he quickly responded and drove the carriage away.
Pei Xiting sneezed, gently rubbed his nose, and leaned listlessly against the carriage window.
Zhao Fan looked at him for a moment and asked, “Do you want to go to the clinic and get some medicine to calm your nerves and clear your mind?”
Pei Xiting disliked bitter medicine the most. He shook his head and said, “It’s fine. By the way, aren’t you going to visit Third Miss Bai?”
Zhao Fan replied, “She has her own elders and cousins accompanying her. I won’t join in the bustle.”
“But I heard you two are romantically involved,” Pei Xiting said.
Zhao Fan was taken aback, then laughed. “Who’s spreading such rumors?”
Pei Xiting asked, “If there’s nothing between you, why did you give her a jade pendant?”
Zhao Fan looked puzzled. “What jade pendant?”
Pei Xiting was surprised. “That white jade pendant from Seven Treasure Pavilion! That’s what the culprit used to lure Third Miss Bai to Little Spring Garden.”
Zhao Fan suddenly understood. “Oh, that one. It’s just a jade pendant, not worth much. If she likes it, she can have it. I’ve given away hundreds, if not thousands, of jade pendants. Does that mean everyone who received one is in love with me?”
So, while others used fragrant pouches to convey affection and jade pendants to express intent, Prince Zhao simply scattered trinkets without a second thought.
Pei Xiting shook his head and said, “So, you have no other feelings for Third Miss Bai?”
Zhao Fan could easily see Bai Yunzhi’s feelings. However, she was still a member of the Bai family. He also had no shortage of companions. “If I had anything else with her, my mother would probably beat me to death if she found out.”
“Then Master and Madam Bai’s plans have completely fallen through,” Pei Xiting said. “They were still hoping to strengthen their ties with the Duke’s mansion through marriage.”
Zhao Fan scoffed. “Wishful thinking.”
“My lord, we’ve arrived,” Gao Liu said, stopping the carriage and gently knocking on the door.
“Let’s get off,” Zhao Fan said.
The two got out of the carriage one after the other and entered a dessert shop by the street, taking a seat in a corner.
The owner presented the menu, a large list. Pei Xiting was dazzled and ordered shaved ice with grape flavored rice balls, while Zhao Fan asked for iced bean curd.
The owner quickly served two porcelain bowls and said, “Enjoy your treats, gentlemen.”
Pei Xiting tasted the shaved ice at the bottom and a rice ball, saying, “Sweet but not cloying, quite refreshing.”
Zhao Fan smiled. “There’s a dessert shop in Yejing that’s just as good, on Yangliu Street. You can try it when you go back.”
Pei Xiting had never been there. Hearing this, he said, “I’ll remember…”
Before he could finish speaking, he saw the person walking directly towards them and slowly swallowed the grape ball in his mouth.
Zhao Fan glanced sideways, met Shangguan Jie’s gaze, and smiled. “Jinghe, you’re here for iced drinks too?”
“That’s right. What a coincidence.” Shangguan Jie raised an eyebrow and said with a smile, “I’m by myself, so I feel a bit lonely. Xingjian, would you mind if I joined your table?”
“Not at all,” Zhao Fan replied. “Please, have a seat.”
At a small square table, Pei Xiting and Zhao Fan sat facing each other. Shangguan Jie sat down on the left side, lifting his robe, and asked the owner for a bowl of iced syrup.
Zhao Fan asked, “I haven’t asked you yet, why did you come to Ningzhou?”
“Po Yinlin was stolen. Although the employer died, I’ve been investigating his accomplices and following them to Ningzhou.” Shangguan Jie said.
Zhao Fan thought for a moment and said, “Could it be related to the Bai family’s affairs?”
“Exactly. They are the same group who kidnapped Third Miss Bai,” Shangguan Jie said. “It’s just that they’re all dead now.”
Pei Xiting listened from the side. Liao Yuan’s accomplices and the “Ma Bi” who killed Liao Yuan were actually the same group. Was it an internal conflict? Or had Liao Yuan betrayed his organization and been eliminated?
Zhao Fan said, “If you had told me earlier, I would have left that culprit for you to interrogate before killing him.”
“It’s fine.” Although Shangguan Jie was a little annoyed, he couldn’t blame Zhao Fan. He then happened to see Pei Xiting looking thoughtful. “What are you pondering?”
“None—” Pei Xiting quickly swallowed “of your business” that he was about to spurt out and smiled softly. “Just think about something.”
Such a gentle tone and demeanor were rare for Pei Xiting. Shangguan Jie surprisingly forgot to pursue his nonsense and said, “You came to Ningzhou but aren’t handling official duties, just wandering around all day?”
Hearing this, Pei Xiting pursed his lips, not daring to retort, and lowered his head somewhat aggrieved.
“That’s because you arrived late. Xiting had already gone to the government office and handed over his task.” Zhao Fan said with a smile. “It’s his first time in Ningzhou, so shouldn’t he look around? Jinghe, why be so critical?”
The owner served the dessert in a porcelain bowl. Shangguan Jie reached for a spoon, twitched the corner of his mouth, and said, “You certainly know how to curry favor with the prince.”
“Putting aside the fact that Xiting and Sifan are good friends, his own gentle and sensible nature is also very likable,” Zhao Fan said, glancing at Pei Xiting, who had lowered his head and wasn’t even eating his grape ball. He reached out and patted Pei Xiting’s wrist. “It’s alright, eat quickly.”
Pei Xiting smiled at him, not daring to look at Shangguan Jie, and silently swallowed the grape ball in his spoon. Shangguan Jie sneered inwardly and said nothing more.
The three finished eating in silence. Zhao Fan offered to take Pei Xiting back to the inn while Shangguan Jie smiled and asked for a ride. So, the three of them traveled together in the carriage again.
Pei Xiting listened to their casual conversation and secretly yawned. Before getting out of the carriage, he thanked Zhao Fan softly and politely. He ignored Shangguan Jie’s stare, simply gave a respectful bow before leaving, and then turned and entered the inn.
The inn was very quiet. The backyard was empty. Pei Xiting hummed a song as he walked towards his room, but the front door suddenly opened.
Yu Shaoyun walked out, gave him a meaningful look, and then said, “Pei-wenshu has finally returned. His Highness has some free time tonight. Please go to your room and practice the zither.”
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