Oh my!
Since when did his elder brother allow women to get so close to him?
At the same time, he was overwhelmed with ecstasy.
Brilliant! Su Xiaoyu's tactic of sacrificing herself for righteousness and clinging desperately was absolutely brilliant!
He instantly realized that if he didn't slip away now, when would he ever get another chance?!
Taking advantage of the precious moment when his elder brother was stunned by Su Xiaoyu's "surprise attack," Xiao Jingxuan tiptoed toward the door while rapidly saying:
"E-elder brother! Since Xiaoyu has already admitted everything, th-then there's nothing more for me to do here! Y-you can question her slowly! I'll return to the residence first to reflect on my mistakes behind closed doors! Farewell!"
Before the words even faded, he slipped out of the private room like an eel, running even faster than Zhao Rui and the others had earlier.
Su Xiaoyu was still clinging desperately to Xiao Jingheng's leg, crying with "genuine emotion."
Xiao Jingheng lowered his gaze, looking at the dark wet stain on his robe, his brows furrowed so tightly they could crush a fly.
He took a deep breath, trying to suppress the surging, indescribable irritation in his heart.
"Let go!"
He spoke, his voice even colder and deeper than before.
Carrying an unquestionable command.
Hearing this voice, Su Xiaoyu's heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly looked up.
She saw Xiao Jingheng's gaze fixed on the wet stain at the hem of his robe, his jawline tightly clenched, the aura around him frighteningly oppressive.
Su Xiaoyu panicked instantly, hastily releasing his leg and scrambling up from the floor, her voice trembling slightly:
"Y-your Highness, I'm sorry! This servant didn't mean to, I was just too anxious earlier and didn't pay attention…"
[Oh no, oh no, Young Marquis must be angry. This is an official robe! If I've stained it, will I have to pay for it?]
[But my monthly allowance is only five hundred wen—how could I possibly afford to compensate for it? If I'd known, I wouldn't have grabbed his leg. I didn't get to eat the roasted chicken, and now I might have to pay for the robe. What a loss!]
Xiao Jingheng's temple throbbed with pain.
Making a scene here would truly be beneath his dignity.
He forcibly suppressed the impulse to punish her, squeezing out a few words through gritted teeth:
"Get up. Follow me back to the residence."
Su Xiaoyu felt as if she'd received a royal pardon, scrambling to her feet using both hands and feet, her head bowed low as she obediently followed behind, not daring to make a sound.
Xiao Jingheng no longer looked at her, turning expressionlessly to descend the stairs.
Su Xiaoyu trailed behind like a little tail, her head drooping as she followed step by step.
Just as the two were about to exit the main hall of the Drunken Immortal Inn, a gentle and graceful voice suddenly sounded nearby.
"Young Marquis? What a coincidence, are you dining here as well?"
Curious, Su Xiaoyu secretly glanced over and saw a young woman dressed in elegant clothing standing not far away, accompanied by her maid.
She had a delicate and beautiful appearance, her demeanor as refined as an orchid in a secluded valley, her movements dignified and proper. A perfectly measured faint smile graced her face as she gazed tenderly at Xiao Jingheng.
[Wow! It's Lin Wan'er, the female lead from the original book! The future Princess Consort! She truly has an extraordinary aura, just like a fairy.]
Su Xiaoyu's eyes instantly lit up.
[This is a golden opportunity! I need to quickly get familiar with her. Once she enters the household, my life will become much easier!]
Thinking this, Su Xiaoyu forgot her fear and struggled to put on her most proper smile, staring intently at Lin Wan'er as if she wanted to write "I'm on your side" across her face.
Xiao Jingheng paused mid-step, slightly turning his gaze.
Heir Apparent's Consort?
Female lead?
A faint, almost imperceptible glimmer flashed in his eyes, vanishing in an instant.
"Miss Lin."
He gave Lin Wan'er a slight nod in return, his tone somewhat distant.
Lin Wan'er returned the greeting with gentle eyes, but her gaze lingered for a moment on the "page boy" behind Xiao Jingheng—wearing ill-fitting servant's clothes, tear stains still visible on her face, yet trying hard to smile at her. Understanding flashed in her eyes.
With her sharp perception, how could she not tell this was a woman disguised as a man, and that her relationship with Xiao Jingheng was unusual?
But Lin Wan'er had impeccable upbringing and did not expose her. Instead, she politely said, "Then I won't disturb Young Marquis any further. Wan'er takes her leave."
With that, Lin Wan'er gracefully departed with her maid, her demeanor flawless and elegant. A faint, lingering fragrance seemed to hover in the air.
Su Xiaoyu watched her retreating figure, her mind racing with admiration:
[As expected of the original novel's female lead! Such grace! Such poise! Facing a cold, handsome man of the Young Marquis's caliber without a hint of nervousness, so calm and composed, chatting and smiling effortlessly—truly impressive! It seems I've chosen the right person to latch onto!]
Xiao Jingheng, walking ahead, heard every word of her "praising others while undermining herself" inner monologue clearly, his expression growing increasingly somber.
Was she so fond of clinging to others?
He snorted coldly and quickened his pace.
Su Xiaoyu, bewildered, only felt the air around him grow even colder. She hurriedly trotted to keep up, all the while happily planning how to "ally herself" with the future Princess Consort.
Outside the Drunken Immortal Inn, Changfeng was already waiting quietly with the carriage. Xiao Jingheng stepped inside first, his face expressionless.
Su Xiaoyu dawdled along behind.
The thought of the confined space inside the carriage made her heart pound nervously.
She veered her steps, attempting to climb onto the front shaft and sit with Changfeng.
Just then, Changfeng suddenly felt the temperature inside the carriage drop sharply, sending a chill down his spine.
Sure enough, an icy gaze shot out from behind the carriage curtain, landing precisely on Changfeng's back.
Changfeng shuddered.
He swiftly shifted to block her path, forcing a professional smile. "Miss Xiaoyu, it's windy outside. Please ride inside the carriage."
Su Xiaoyu pleaded pitifully, "Brother Changfeng, I—I'm fine sitting outside! I'm tough, I don't mind the wind…"
Changfeng's lips twitched, thinking to himself:
You may not mind the wind, but I can't handle the cold aura from the Young Marquis inside!
Without another word, he gently pushed Su Xiaoyu, "ushering" her into the carriage, then swiftly lowered the curtain to separate inside from outside—all in one fluid motion.
Stumbling into the carriage, Su Xiaoyu looked up and met Xiao Jingheng's deep, unreadable eyes.
Her heart clenched in fear, and she scrambled on all fours to the farthest corner, pressing herself tightly against the carriage wall. She curled into a ball, even lightening her breath, wishing she could become invisible.
[The Young Marquis can't see me, he can't see me…]
Su Xiaoyu prayed frantically in her heart.
Seeing her avoid him like the plague, Xiao Jingheng felt an inexplicable irritation added to his already displeased mood from the incidents at the inn and the gambling den.
His slender fingers tapped unconsciously on his knee.
Was he really so terrifying that she wouldn't even dare to come near him?
This thought displeased him greatly, and the pressure around him dropped imperceptibly even further.
The carriage rumbled along, the interior deathly silent save for the sound of wheels and Su Xiaoyu's faint, suppressed breathing.
Halfway through the journey, as they passed a bustling street crossing, a child chasing a leather ball suddenly darted out from ahead. Changfeng reacted swiftly, yanking the reins hard!
"Whoa!!"
The carriage jerked to an abrupt halt!
Propelled by the tremendous inertia, Su Xiaoyu—who had been shrinking in the corner trying to be as inconspicuous as a quail—was caught completely off guard. She was flung forward like a tiny cannonball, hurling straight toward Xiao Jingheng at the other end!