Ling Buzhan had a feeling he’d been set up.
But Liu Yueti was smiling so mischievously that he couldn’t bring himself to feel angry.
Even he couldn’t quite explain his own emotions. He asked her, his tone carrying an ambiguous edge, “Are you really this happy?”
“Mm.” Liu Yueti poked him. “It doesn’t look like they’re here to kill us. Aren’t we going out?”
Only then did Ling Buzhan belatedly let go of her.
Liu Yueti poked her head out and smiled at the people outside.
“Zhen’er!”
“Thank heavens you’re all right!”
Bai Zhen’er finally relaxed her clenched hands. Her legs nearly gave way from relief. She quickly took a cloak from Jianshu and wrapped it around Liu Yueti as she hurried over.
“What kind of people were they? How did you end up—”
Then she spotted Ling Buzhan beside her and immediately grew irritated.
“Lord Xie! Our Yue’er got dragged into this because of you!”
“Ahem.”
Knowing he was in the wrong, Ling Buzhan lowered his eyes.
“…I’m sorry.”
“Miss Bai, you should take Miss Liu home first. She needs a bowl of ginger soup as soon as possible.”
“I brought some! I brought some!”
Bai Zhen’er hurried back.
“Jianshu, the soup!”
She took a bowl of ginger soup from her and held it to Liu Yueti’s lips.
Liu Yueti scrunched up her face.
“It smells so strongly of ginger. I don’t like it—”
“Oh, be good.” Bai Zhen’er held her hand. “I put lots of brown sugar in it. It’s sweet, so you can’t taste the ginger anymore. Open up. Ah—”
Reluctantly, Liu Yueti opened her mouth.
Ling Buzhan happened to see her lips and immediately remembered that underwater kiss.
He hurriedly turned away.
“I will investigate this matter thoroughly and give Miss Liu an explanation.”
“Heh.”
Shen Hanzhi let out a cold laugh.
“Investigate?”
“Lord Xie, perhaps you’ve stuck your nose too far into matters that don’t concern you. That’s why you’ve gotten yourself into this mess.”
Ling Buzhan wasn’t remotely polite with him.
“If there’s something I shouldn’t investigate, perhaps the Regent would care to enlighten me?”
“Or could it be…”
His eyes narrowed.
“…that I’ve investigated all the way to you, Your Highness?”
The two of them were like fire and water. If no one kept an eye on them, they would start arguing again within minutes.
Liu Yueti hurriedly intervened.
“Is there any more ginger soup? Give Lord Xie a bowl too.”
Bai Zhen’er’s eyes gleamed mischievously.
“There is, but it’s still in the pot. We only have one bowl.”
She gestured for Jianshu to bring over the pot and pour some into the bowl, then handed it to Liu Yueti.
“Uh…”
Liu Yueti awkwardly held the bowl out.
“If you don’t mind, Lord Xie, please have some.”
“I—I don’t mind.”
For some reason, Ling Buzhan didn’t dare meet her eyes. He quickly took the bowl and drank it all in one go.
Bai Zhen’er leaned against Liu Yueti and whispered,
“Does this count as an indirect kiss?”
“Cough, cough!”
Ling Buzhan choked.
He hurriedly cupped his fists.
“I’m truly sorry about today. I will investigate this as quickly as possible. Miss Liu… be careful not to catch a chill. You should go home as soon as possible.”
He finished speaking and, without caring about anyone else present, hurriedly called for Feiying and left.
“Wait! Brother Anshi!”
Pei Yu called after him.
“I was the host of today’s gathering, so I owe both of you an apology. If there’s anything I can do to help…”
Ling Buzhan turned slightly and studied Pei Yu.
He looked like a refined scholar, and the apology in his manner was sincere enough. He seemed like an easygoing man.
But Ling Buzhan had never underestimated him.
Anyone valued by Bai Xiang was bound to be more complicated than he appeared.
Ling Buzhan returned the salute.
“Brother Pei, don’t take it to heart. I was the one who disturbed the peace of your poetry gathering. I’ll make it up to you another day. Farewell.”
“Master,” Feiying hurried after him. “Are you all right?”
“Of course I’m fine.” Ling Buzhan’s expression was calm. “Do you really think this was enough to drown me?”
Then, for some reason, he suddenly became annoyed and glared at Feiying.
“Other people knew enough to bring ginger soup and a cloak. Did you come empty-handed?”
“I…”
Feiying muttered, “Of course I don’t have the thoughtfulness of a young lady.”
“But Wei Zhao and I did catch someone alive!”
“He’s already been tied up and thrown into the interrogation room.”
Ling Buzhan’s expression finally softened.
“That’s more like it. At least my using myself as bait wasn’t for nothing.”
Feiying stole a glance at him and muttered,
“It’s just a pity Miss Liu got dragged into it too…”
Ling Buzhan shot him a sideways glance.
“Why are you always speaking up for her?”
“Hehe.”
Feiying grinned.
“Wei Zhao said that Miss Liu heard I’d gotten a lot of injuries from practicing martial arts, so she gave me a whole bunch of medicinal ointments. They’re all excellent things you can’t even buy at ordinary pharmacies!”
Ling Buzhan gave a cold laugh.
“Oh? So you’ve accepted bribes behind my back.”
“Give them back.”
“What?” Feiying’s face fell. “Master… I already took them.”
“Do I really have to return them?”
Ling Buzhan: “…”
“Then confiscate them.”
Feiying: “…”
If you wanted them too, you could’ve just said so! Why make such a roundabout excuse?
……
After Ling Buzhan left, Bai Zhen’er hurriedly protected Liu Yueti and took her home, saying goodbye to everyone else as well.
After helping her into the carriage, she saw Pei Yu step forward and salute.
“Miss Bai.”
“Miss Liu was frightened today. I will certainly visit your residence another day to apologize.”
Bai Zhen’er didn’t answer immediately. She lifted the curtain slightly and asked,
“Yue’er, what do you think?”
“It wasn’t Brother Pei’s fault.”
Thinking that he was one of Bai Xiang’s people and therefore practically family, Liu Yueti spoke pleasantly.
“Don’t worry about it.”
“I…”
Pei Yu was about to say something more when Lin Qingwan pushed him aside.
“Oh, move. The important thing is for you to get changed into some dry clothes.”
“Oh! Right!”
Pei Yu nodded repeatedly.
“Miss Lin, you should do the same!”
He stood there blankly watching the carriage disappear into the distance.
Behind him came Shen Hanzhi’s quiet voice.
“Lord Pei, who are you looking at?”
Pei Yu startled.
“I—I…”
Shen Hanzhi gave him a meaningful look.
“Don’t look at someone you shouldn’t.”
Pei Yu hurriedly asked,
“Who… who shouldn’t I look at?”
Shen Hanzhi: “…”
“Miss Liu has her heart set on Xie Anshi. Looking won’t do you any good.”
“Oh—”
Pei Yu suddenly understood, a smile appearing on his face.
“So that’s why those two were on the same boat! I see. I see!”
He actually seemed rather happy.
“If I can help bring two people together today, that would be a great merit!”
Shen Hanzhi gave a faint laugh.
Then he suddenly said,
“Since you’re a disciple of Bai Xiang, you should also look after your mentor’s daughter.”
Pei Yu cheerfully agreed.
“Of course. It’s only right that I look after her.”
A cold glint flashed through Shen Hanzhi’s eyes.
But Pei Yu continued,
“Bai Xiang finally has his precious daughter back. He practically wants to hold her in the palm of his hand.”
“I’m deeply indebted to Bai Xiang, so naturally I’ll treat her like my own younger sister.”
“Besides, Zhen’er is so innocent and lively. It’s impossible not to like her…”
Shen Hanzhi’s expression settled back into calmness.
“But she will have to marry eventually. As her ‘older brother,’ if you spend too much time with her, be careful not to invite gossip.”
“I understand!”
Pei Yu smiled.
“Although, from what I heard from Bai Xiang…”
“He seems reluctant to marry his daughter off. He appears to be considering bringing a son-in-law into the family, so he can protect Miss Bai forever.”
Shen Hanzhi fell silent for a moment.
“That would be good.”
“She has a gentle nature. The great families are all places where people will devour you without even spitting out the bones. If Bai Xiang can continue looking after her, that may be for the best.”
Pei Yu suddenly slapped his forehead.
“Oh, look at me.”
“I’m actually discussing family matters with the Regent. How presumptuous of me…”
“It’s fine.”
Pei Yu watched Shen Hanzhi leave.
Only then did he lower his hands from the formal salute, a faint smile playing on his lips.
“My mentor’s kindness toward me is as heavy as a mountain.”
“As her older brother, naturally I have to help my little sister…”
“Get exactly what her heart desires.”