Ling Buzhan smiled and called out to her.
“Miss Liu.”
The man really did have an exceptionally handsome face. When he smiled, his charming, peach-blossom eyes became even more alluring.
Liu Yueti awkwardly looked away.
“When did you get here?”
Ling Buzhan smiled.
“Not long ago.”
Liu Yueti thought he was being considerate and had just started to relax when he added,
“I happened to overhear Miss Liu’s ambitious declaration.”
Liu Yueti: “…”
This guy did that on purpose! He really knows exactly what to bring up!
“Ahem.”
Her ears turned slightly red, but she forced herself to stay composed and turned back to face him.
“If you heard everything, how dare you come looking for me alone?”
She stepped closer.
“Aren’t you afraid someone will see us together? Then rumors will start spreading, and before you know it, the two of us will…”
Ling Buzhan suddenly grabbed her and pulled her behind the flower bushes.
Before Liu Yueti could even let out a cry, his hand covered her mouth.
That’s the second time!
This guy has covered my mouth twice today!
Liu Yueti’s temper flared. She was about to bite him to teach him a lesson about human nature when she suddenly heard voices approaching from nearby.
A man and a woman seemed to be arguing.
The man sounded desperate.
“Wanwan, listen to me! Wanwan! Let me explain! It’s not what you think!”
“I’ve been wronged!”
“Get away from me!”
The woman’s voice was choked with tears.
“Yuan Shaoqi, I must have been blind back then!”
“You harassed a commoner woman and were publicly reprimanded by the Inspector of the City. Everyone in the capital knows about it!”
“Where does that leave me?!”
Liu Yueti immediately stopped struggling.
Her eyes widened as she perked up her ears and leaned closer to listen.
Ling Buzhan suddenly felt the woman in his arms press closer.
His entire body stiffened.
Liu Yueti’s eyes sparkled with gossip. She was clearly fascinated by the drama unfolding nearby.
Ling Buzhan: “…”
So that’s why she moved closer.
She just wanted to watch the spectacle.
She scared me for a moment.
He had thought this bold Miss Liu was actually going to cling to him and let someone catch them together.
Outside, the two were putting on a classic tearful scene of “Listen to me!” and “I don’t want to hear it!”
Liu Yueti watched with great interest, practically wishing she had a couple of pounds of melon seeds to snack on.
Only after the two had run off into the distance, one chasing after the other, did Liu Yueti reluctantly turn her attention back.
Ling Buzhan looked at her with an amused, knowing smile.
Unable to contain her curiosity, Liu Yueti asked,
“Young Master Xie, who are those two?”
“The man seems to be the one you reprimanded in the street that day. Who’s the woman? What happened between them?”
“Want to know?”
Ling Buzhan leaned toward her with a smile.
Liu Yueti nodded enthusiastically.
“Mhm!”
Ling Buzhan chuckled.
“Then could Miss Liu let go of me first?”
Liu Yueti looked down.
Both of her hands were currently gripping his official robes, making her look rather suspicious.
“Gasp—”
She immediately spun away and rolled neatly out of his arms.
A flicker of amusement passed through Ling Buzhan’s eyes as he filled her in.
“The man is Yuan Shaoqi, the illegitimate son of the Marquis of Yongchang. The woman is Lin Qingwan, the legitimate daughter of the Minister of War.”
“The two of them seem to be in love, and their families had originally intended to arrange a marriage between them. However…”
He deliberately paused.
“It seems something happened recently. The marriage will probably be called off.”
Liu Yueti gave him a sideways look.
“…You don’t know what happened?”
Ling Buzhan put on an innocent expression.
“Your humble servant truly doesn’t know.”
Liu Yueti: “…”
How could you possibly not know?
You publicly caught the man harassing a respectable woman and made him confess in front of everyone.
Which family would still want a son-in-law like that?
If I were Lin Qingwan’s father, I wouldn’t agree either!
Liu Yueti stepped forward.
“I might know.”
“That day in front of Mingyue Tower, what did you say the punishment was for harassing a respectable woman?”
Ling Buzhan’s eyes flickered slightly.
Liu Yueti continued,
“And what should your punishment be for covering my mouth today?”
For some reason, Ling Buzhan suddenly felt like teasing her.
He leaned down slightly and smiled.
“There’s no punishment.”
“Miss Liu, you have no evidence.”
His smile became even more mischievous.
“I refuse to admit anything.”
“You!”
Liu Yueti pointed at him.
He really had done it both times when no one else was around!
This shameless male lead!
Ling Buzhan raised an eyebrow triumphantly.
“Fine!”
Liu Yueti lowered her hand and turned around.
“Then I suppose you don’t want the letter either.”
“Wait!”
Ling Buzhan immediately knew when to stop teasing. He stepped in front of her and politely bowed.
“Miss Liu, I was rude just now. Please be generous and forgive this petty man.”
Liu Yueti couldn’t keep the smile from spreading across her lips.
“Hmph. So you want the letter?”
“Yes.”
Ling Buzhan smiled and nodded.
“Then I helped you with such a huge favor…”
Liu Yueti smiled until her eyes curved into crescents.
“Shouldn’t Young Master Xie…”
Ling Buzhan froze.
Surely she isn’t about to…
“Treat me to a meal at Mingyue Tower!”
“Miss Liu, I have no intention of taking a wife yet… Hm?”
Liu Yueti narrowed her eyes.
“What did you say?”
She hadn’t heard him clearly.
Ling Buzhan: “…”
“Nothing.”
“Mingyue Tower, right? Haha, of course.”
“I’ll prepare a proper feast and thank Miss Liu for your help.”
“Good!”
Liu Yueti was satisfied.
“I’ll give you the letter then.”
She happily headed toward the northwest corner.
Ling Buzhan reminded her,
“Miss Liu, that item is extremely important. Don’t peek at it.”
Liu Yueti waved dismissively.
“Got it, got it.”
Ling Buzhan watched her walk away, a hint of amusement lingering in his eyes.
Feiying suddenly appeared from somewhere and asked,
“Master, why are you smiling like that?”
“What’s wrong with me?”
Ling Buzhan quickly suppressed his smile.
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
Feiying lowered his voice.
“Did you get the item?”
“No. But I got something unexpected.”
Ling Buzhan looked up.
“Perfect. Let’s see whether this Miss Liu is…”
“Friend or foe.”
……
Without the qin player, the courtyard felt particularly deserted.
During the earlier fight, the qin had fallen in front of the table.
Shen Hanzhi stopped walking.
Suddenly, he flicked his sleeve.
Snap!
Every string on the qin broke at once.
The fine instrument instantly shattered into several pieces of worthless wood.
The female attendants in the courtyard were terrified and dropped to their knees.
Bai Zhen’er, who had just caught up, was startled and cried out.
Shen Hanzhi abruptly turned around.
“You…”
He looked away.
“Why did you come here?”
Bai Zhen’er stepped over the debris on the ground, completely ignoring the murderous aura surrounding him.
She walked up to him and spoke softly.
“I… I thought you seemed angry.”
Shen Hanzhi turned away.
“I’m not.”
“Then you are.”
Bai Zhen’er moved in front of him again.
“Why are you angry?”
Shen Hanzhi: “…”
Just when Bai Zhen’er thought the taciturn man would refuse to answer, he finally spoke.
“All of you, leave.”
The female attendants hurriedly withdrew, leaving only the two of them behind.
Shen Hanzhi’s imposing presence was intimidating as he advanced step by step.
Bai Zhen’er looked up at him without backing away.
“What’s wrong?”
“Miss Bai.”
Shen Hanzhi stared directly into her eyes.
“Why was your handkerchief found on Xie Anshi?”
Bai Zhen’er froze.
“Huh?”
“That day at the Yue Lao Shrine, you wanted to bandage my wound but couldn’t find a handkerchief on you.”
Shen Hanzhi took out the handkerchief.
“Miss Liu threw hers to you.”
“So this handkerchief belongs to Liu Yueti.”
He suddenly grabbed Bai Zhen’er by the wrist.
“And the one found on Xie Anshi belongs to you.”
Bai Zhen’er: “!”