Even with a vague premonition, Zhao Xuanzhen couldn’t help but feel speechless when he heard Su Wantang’s tearful explanation. How could there be such a clumsy person in this world?
Beside them, Su Huajin’s eyes were full of sarcasm, her tone languid as she sighed and chided, “Wantang, the Heir is a man of such breadth; why would he be petty over a game of chess… Do you think your little schemes just now went unnoticed by others?”
Su Huajin glanced at the visibly displeased Zhao Xuanzhen, feeling even more disdain for this fool Su Wantang. “Winning or losing is of no consequence, yet you had to be so self-righteous, only to disrupt the mood between the Heir and his cousin. Why must you do this to yourself?”
Su Wantang stayed silent, not daring to speak.
Zhao Xuanzhen felt at a loss for words seeing her dull, cowardly demeanor. Seeing her stand there silently while being lectured by Su Huajin, he couldn’t help but recall the brazen boldness she had displayed before him last night.
So, she only dares to be wild in front of me…
Too lazy to dwell on the strange stirring in his heart, Zhao Xuanzhen waved his hand in impatience. “That’s enough. It’s nothing, go back now.”
Seeing his impatient expression, Su Huajin felt even more convinced that she had been overthinking things. If Zhao Xuanzhen were truly bewitched by this “little harlot,” he wouldn’t treat her with such cold indifference—he was never the type to pamper women.
With her mood improved, Su Huajin couldn’t be bothered to torment Su Wantang further; after all, she still needed her womb, so she couldn’t afford to be too overtly cruel.
“That’s enough. Since there’s nothing to do today, and the Heir is obviously annoyed by you, why don’t I take you out for a stroll? Is there anywhere you’d like to go?”
Su Huajin offered, as if dispensing charity, “Or if you need to purchase anything, just tell me.”
As her voice fell, she saw Su Wantang’s face light up with flattered surprise. “Sister is truly kind to me.”
Looking a bit melancholy, Su Wantang added, “I haven’t seen Changling in days… Before returning to the capital, Mother—the concubine—asked me to take good care of Changling. Sister, could you take me to see him?”
Su Changling was studying at the Imperial Academy. It wasn’t convenient for female relatives to visit him under normal circumstances, but the back gate of the Academy adjoined the Xiao family’s Bamboo Grove Garden. The garden was frequently used for hosting noble guests and holding poetic banquets, and the academy students happened to be holding a poetry gathering there that day.
Thinking of the foolish Su Changling, who treated her like kin and obeyed her every word, Su Huajin was delighted at the prospect of seeing him glare at his own biological sister, Su Wantang. She curled her lips and agreed, “Fine. I will take you to see Changling.”
Su Wantang was overjoyed. “Thank you, Sister.”
Not long after, the carriage traveled along the main street toward the Imperial Academy. Su Wantang leaned by the window, lifting the curtain to peer outside, acting like a country bumpkin fascinated by everything she saw. Su Huajin gave a silent, cold snort and turned away, feeling annoyed that she had repeatedly worried that such a fool would disturb Zhao Xuanzhen’s mind.
Su Wantang peered through the window. As they passed a few beggars huddled in a street corner, she seemed to feel a pang of sympathy, pulling a small silver ingot from her sleeve and tossing it out.
Clang. The silver rolled to the beggar’s feet, who scrambled to pick it up and kowtowed in thanks. Not long after, the beggar stood up, clutching his bowl and leaning on his cane, moving away as if to find another place to beg.
Yet, after rounding an empty corner, the beggar, who had previously been hunched over, quickly ducked into a nearby courtyard. Someone immediately approached him. “How did it go?”
“Got it.”
The beggar rubbed the silver ingot, revealing a small porcelain bottle inside, no bigger than a fingertip. He pulled out the stopper, and a faint floral fragrance drifted from the bottle.
“Hurry.”
Soon, someone gestured with their fingers to lead several small, purple-black butterflies over. The butterflies hovered and swirled around the fragrant powder poured from the bottle, clearly captivated by it.
A woman dressed as a commoner felt a glimmer of hope in her eyes and whispered, “Make the arrangements. Release the Purple Night Butterflies after nightfall…”
Grand Tutor Xie Yan’s men had secretly transported captives into the capital, and among them was the Right Hall Master. Xie Yan would surely go to see them in person. When that happened, they could use the Purple Night Butterflies to track Xie Yan’s movements and find out where their captive brothers were being held.
On the main street, Su Wantang sat back in the carriage, unhurried. Her “stumble” onto the chessboard earlier wasn’t just to act foolish; it was her only chance to get close to Xie Yan. She had sprinkled powder on the sleeves of that garment. When she fell, she had pressed against Xie Yan’s sleeve. The powder was nothing but a light floral scent—non-toxic and harmless—but it would attract the Purple Night Butterflies.
If all went according to plan, the Right Hall Master and the others would be brought into the capital today. But Xie Yan’s men were too cunning; they were disguised and hidden to prevent the Red Lotus Sect from intercepting the prisoners. She had to find another way. I hope it goes smoothly, she thought.
She knew that few people were aware of the existence of the Purple Night Butterflies; this method should be effective… until she followed Su Huajin into the Bamboo Grove Garden and saw Xie Yan walking over from the other side.
Seeing the light purple robe Xie Yan was wearing, Su Wantang froze.
He changed his clothes?!
She could understand a daily change, but could someone tell her why a man like Xie Yan would change his entire outfit in less than an hour? Did he have to change every time he went out?
At that moment, Su Huajin spotted Xie Yan and smiled. “Cousin, we meet again. What a coincidence.”
Xie Yan gave a faint nod. His gaze then fell on Su Wantang, his expression gentle and polite, yet with a hint of inquiry: “Second Miss Su has such an expression… could there be something wrong with my attire?”
Su Huajin frowned and turned back.
Su Wantang felt speechless, but knowing that the fox-like man had caught a glimpse of her momentary lapse, she had to follow his lead and put on a shy expression.
“It’s just that seeing the Grand Tutor walking towards me so unexpectedly, looking like a celestial being, I was momentarily stunned…”
Internally gritting her teeth, Su Wantang had to probe: “I saw you in the Prince’s garden earlier in a different set of robes; I didn’t realize you were so particular about your attire.”
She played the part of an uncouth, tactless girl teasing him, trying to find out why he had changed. He couldn’t possibly have realized I did something, could he?
Beside her, Su Huajin frowned and scolded her in a low voice, “Wantang, as a young lady of a prominent family, why are you concerned about a man’s clothing? This is so rude. Apologize to the Grand Tutor at once.”
Xie Yan replied calmly, “My previous robes were stepped on by a cat at my grandmother’s place; I changed them to avoid appearing disrespectful for this banquet.”
Su Wantang: …
He has to change his clothes because a cat stepped on him? Why doesn’t that dead clean-freak just drop dead!
But she had already given away the powder in the porcelain bottle… Just as she was filled with irritation, she remembered: even if the bottle was gone, her sleeve still had the powder on it. If she rubbed it on him again, surely he couldn’t change three times a day!
Confirming that the powder on her sleeve was still concentrated, Su Wantang calmed her heart and followed Su Huajin forward, keeping her composure. But just as she brushed past Xie Yan, she tripped and let out a startled cry, falling toward him.
They were extremely close. Seeing the girl falling toward him in a panic, Xie Yan reached out to catch her.
Unfortunately, this Second Miss Su was truly clumsy. Even while being held, she remained panicked and disoriented, grabbing onto his arm and fumbling for several moments before managing to steady herself. Even then, she couldn’t stand straight, clutching his arm with lingering fear.
“Thank you, Grand Tutor…”
After rubbing and scraping against him enough to ensure Xie Yan’s clothes were definitely stained with the powder, she stood up with a grateful expression.
Xie Yan withdrew his hand and nodded faintly. “You are welcome.”
But just then, a sharp voice rang out:
“What kind of ignorant, shameless, and frivolous thing is this, throwing herself at the Grand Tutor in broad daylight… Do you really think no one can see through those cheap, low-class tricks of yours?”