Bai Zhen’er was staring blankly at the man sitting atop his tall horse.
Liu Yueti knew that expression all too well.
—That was exactly how Bai Zhen’er looked whenever she became so captivated by a handsome man that she forgot how to move!
The black-armored cavalry rode past them without stopping.
Bai Zhen’er continued watching them leave.
“Have some dignity!” Liu Yueti said, exasperated. She grabbed Bai Zhen’er’s cheeks and squeezed until her lips puckered. “Stop staring!”
“Mm!” Bai Zhen’er snapped back to reality and pouted. “What are you doing, Yuebao?”
Liu Yueti deliberately asked, “Who was that?”
Bai Zhen’er tugged shyly at her.
“Oh, come on.”
“It was… Shen Hanzhi.”
She glanced at the Bai family servants standing some distance away, then lowered her voice.
“The system told you everything, right?”
“So it really was him!” Liu Yueti sucked in a breath and shook Bai Zhen’er’s head back and forth so hard she nearly rattled her brains loose.
“Bao’er! Can’t you tell he’s not a good person just by looking at how he dresses in all that black?!”
Liu Yueti held Bai Zhen’er’s eyelids open with her fingers.
“You actually mistook him for the male lead?”
“What were you thinking?!”
“But… but he’s so handsome.” Bai Zhen’er innocently blinked her big eyes. “Someone that handsome not being the male lead would be such a waste.”
Liu Yueti: “…”
This hopeless girl’s obsession with good looks was acting up again.
“I admit he’s pretty good-looking,” Liu Yueti sighed. “But I have no interest in men who are cold and rigid like that.”
“I know exactly what type you like!” Bai Zhen’er grabbed her hand. “I love cold, mature men, while you prefer younger guys. I get it!”
She gave her an exaggerated wink.
“I’ve already prepared one for you.”
Liu Yueti: “Huh?”
“Come home with me first. You’ll find out at dinner tonight!”
Bai Zhen’er spun around with her, looking incredibly pleased with herself.
“Hehehe…”
“I’m going to treat you like a real-life Barbie and dress you up properly!”
“You have no idea. Ever since I arrived here, whenever I see pretty clothes or jewelry, I always think, ‘This one is something I like,’ or ‘This one would look good on you…’”
She held Liu Yueti’s face in both hands.
“I’ve practically saved up your entire dowry!”
“I never imagined you’d actually come…”
Liu Yueti clasped her hand.
“Of course I would!”
“That’s what best friends are for!”
She clenched her fist.
“Just a little male lead. We can handle him!”
“Mm!” Bai Zhen’er nodded firmly.
……
“So this is the most prosperous restaurant in the capital.”
Liu Yueti had changed into a new outfit, still mainly blue-green, but now she wore considerably more jade jewelry and accessories. Compared with her plain appearance when she first arrived in the capital, she now looked much more refined and aristocratic.
In return, Bai Zhen’er had also been given a makeover by Liu Yueti. She had changed into a long goose-yellow dress, with velvet flowers adorning her hair. She looked like a bright spring flower.
The two girls sat beside a street-facing window on the second floor of Mingyue Tower, eating while watching the bustling streets below.
“He’s here, he’s here!” Bai Zhen’er gestured for her to look down. “Quick, look!”
Liu Yueti was still gnawing on a rib.
“Who is it? Why are you—”
She abruptly fell silent.
She immediately recognized the back of the man riding a white horse.
He wore a dark blue official robe with a rounded collar, which accentuated his tall, elegant figure, broad shoulders, and narrow waist. Even from behind, anyone could tell he was extraordinarily handsome.
Bai Zhen’er anxiously clasped her hands together.
“Turn around! Come on, turn around! Let my best friend see your face!”
As if he had heard her prayer, the man turned slightly, revealing his face.
Bai Zhen’er immediately tugged at Liu Yueti.
“Look!”
Those handsome features were accompanied by a pair of charming, peach-shaped eyes filled with laughter. Under the moonlight, he looked effortlessly suave and romantic.
Liu Yueti swallowed a mouthful of rib meat with a loud gulp.
Determined not to admit that she, too, had been captivated by his looks, she mumbled, “Well… he’s. He’s okay, I guess.”
“Oh, please!” Bai Zhen’er laughed mischievously and poked her in the chest. “Do you think I don’t know you? This is exactly your type!”
“Ugh!”
Liu Yueti swatted her hand away and leaned over the railing to look down.
“He’s the male lead?”
“That’s right.” Bai Zhen’er nodded solemnly. “He’s the male lead, Ling Buzhan… Ah, but he’s currently operating under the false identity of ‘Xie Anshi,’ so don’t accidentally call him by his real name!”
“Don’t worry.” Liu Yueti casually agreed. “What’s he doing? Riding around at night for fun?”
“Of course not.” Bai Zhen’er pointed at the man standing opposite him. “Look at who he’s facing.”
“That’s Yuan Shaoqi, the beloved illegitimate son of Marquis Yongchang!”
Only then did Liu Yueti notice that there was another man standing opposite Ling Buzhan.
Unfortunately, with such a stunning man standing right in front of him, the other one naturally went unnoticed.
Taking a closer look, the man sitting on the ground was dressed in gold and silver and clearly came from an influential family. If he weren’t currently looking so frightened, he could probably even be called handsome.
“Xie Anshi!” Yuan Shaoqi shouted, trying to sound intimidating despite his fear. “What do you think you’re doing?! My father is Marquis Yongchang!”
“Lay a hand on me, and I’ll make sure you disappear from the capital!”
“Please forgive me, Young Master Yuan.”
Ling Buzhan smiled, though he showed little sincerity in asking forgiveness.
“It is simply my duty.”
His voice rang out clearly.
“Yuan Shaoqi, son of Marquis Yongchang, harassed a commoner woman in the street. According to the law…”
He deliberately paused as though pondering the punishment, then said each word slowly.
“Those who speak indecently shall have their tongues cut out.”
Yuan Shaoqi’s face went deathly pale as he covered his mouth.
Ling Buzhan continued.
“Those who behave improperly shall have both hands severed.”
Yuan Shaoqi scrambled backward on all fours in terror.
“You dare!”
“I act under the Emperor’s command and patrol the realm on His Majesty’s behalf. Why would I not dare?”
Ling Buzhan looked at him with a faint, unreadable smile.
“Young Master Yuan, do you admit your guilt?”
Yuan Shaoqi trembled.
“I… I…”
Ling Buzhan spoke earnestly.
“If you sincerely repent, your crime may still be forgiven.”
“Young Master Yuan, surely you don’t really want to lose both hands?”
His hand came to rest on the long sword at his waist.
Trembling, Yuan Shaoqi lowered his head and confessed his guilt before him.
Liu Yueti’s mouth fell slightly open.
“He’s that arrogant…”
“The male lead only arrived in the capital a month ago, right? What rank is he already? How dare he treat the son of a marquis like that?”
Bai Zhen’er held up seven fingers.
“Seventh rank.”
Liu Yueti stared at her in disbelief.
“Seventh… He’s only seventh rank, and he’s already this arrogant? Why? Because he’s the male lead?”
“Because he’s the Inspector of the City.” Bai Zhen’er pointed down at the street. “His official rank may be low, but he answers directly to the Emperor. His position is low, but his authority is enormous.”
“Didn’t you hear what he said? He patrols the realm on the Emperor’s behalf!”
“The sword at his waist was personally bestowed by the Emperor! Major matters are reported for imperial judgment, while minor matters can be decided on the spot. Forget the son of a marquis—even the marquis himself would have to show him some respect…”
Liu Yueti’s hand suddenly jerked.
The bone she had gnawed completely clean slipped from her fingers and rolled off the second-floor balcony.
Under her horrified gaze, the beautifully shaped bone tumbled and rolled along the roof tiles.
Rolling…
Rolling…
And flew straight toward the male lead—
With a sharp smack, Ling Buzhan raised his hand and caught the bone.
“Assassins! Someone is trying to assassinate him!”
The guards beside him rushed forward.
“No.”
Ling Buzhan looked somewhat perplexed as he stared at the bone in his hand, then slowly raised his head.
On the second floor of Mingyue Tower, Liu Yueti met his gaze.
She immediately ducked out of sight.
After waiting for a while, Liu Yueti cautiously peeked back up.
“Looks like he’s gone… He didn’t get a good look at me, did he?”
Bai Zhen’er poked her.
“It’s fine.” Liu Yueti waved her off. “He was so far away. He probably…”
Behind her, someone leaned closer and asked with a smile,
“Are you talking about me?”