He had already reached the doorway, yet instead of entering, he left the errand to her—a cousin of awkward standing. Xu Shuyao didn’t need to think twice to know this was no good sign. But what could she do?
The memory of his faint, mocking smile made her scalp prickle.
Xu Shuyao was certain she had never offended the heir of the Duke’s mansion. In fact, she had scarcely spoken to him at all. Strictly speaking, this was the first time she had ever faced him so closely—the future master of the household.
Compared to that single glimpse through rain and mist at the city gates two years ago, this encounter was clearer, more direct.
How to describe it?
Two years ago, she had felt the cold, distant aura of a nobleman, the unbridgeable gulf of status between them. Now, there was something more—a chill that seeped into her bones.
There was no denying Xiao Mo was striking. Tall and straight, brows sharp and clean, eyes like cold stars. When his lips curved in a smile, it carried the icy clarity of first snow.
She could not fathom how she had offended him. Or perhaps her mere presence, traveling with others to the capital, had displeased him?
Xu Shuyao frowned, lost in thought, until Qiaowei whispered: “Miss! Cousin Liu is coming.”
She looked up to see Liu Qingwan approaching gracefully in a pale‑violet gown. “Cousin Xu!” The voice reached her before the girl did.
Xu Shuyao smiled and waited.
Liu Qingwan had already taken stock of this orphaned cousin from the second branch. Even in simple attire, she stood out.
Thinking of the man she had glimpsed earlier, Liu Qingwan asked with a smile: “Was that Eldest Cousin just now? Why did he leave without entering Songhe Hall?”
Though both were cousins living under another’s roof, Liu Qingwan’s situation differed. Her father was still alive, and Third Madam Liu treated her niece with more caution than Madam Chen did Xu Shuyao.
Thus, Liu Qingwan already knew who the guests were today, and why that dragon among men, Eldest Cousin, had come but not entered. She had her own guesses.
Xu Shuyao glanced at her. Since she had seen it, there was no point in hiding it. “Yes, it was Eldest Cousin.”
Liu Qingwan was taken aback by her frankness. But recalling Xiao Mo’s smile, her heart soured. She wanted to ask what he had said, yet could not find the words.
With nothing more to say, the two walked together toward the main hall.
The maids at the door had already lifted the curtain, urging: “Please enter, young ladies! Everyone is waiting inside.”
Xu Shuyao stepped in calmly and greeted the assembled guests. She did not recognize the woman seated beside the Old Madam, but seeing Shen Jingshu, she understood everything—and felt even more keenly the heir’s malice. She had thought he merely wanted her to deliver a message to the Duchess, which was not so serious.
But now, faced with the situation, Xu Shuyao resolved not to touch this trouble any further.
If Madam Wang had simply sent someone to inquire, she would have learned that the heir had left the mansion—why then make Xu Shuyao deliver the message?
The relationship between cousins was already enough to stir gossip. If she repeated word‑for‑word what the heir had told her he would return only at night, what would people think?
He had left without informing his grandmother or mother, yet singled her out to carry the news. It was a deliberate move to make her the target of suspicion.
Once Xu Shuyao pieced together the situation, she resolved to keep silent like a stubborn gourd. But others would not let her be.
When Madam Wang prepared to send another maid to Mingzhe Hall, Liu Qingwan cast a deep look at Xu Shuyao and spoke up: “Aunt, when I came just now, I saw Eldest Cousin speaking with Cousin Xu. If you wish to know his whereabouts, why not ask her?”
At once, every gaze in the room turned to Xu Shuyao.
Even Madam Ruan studied her carefully. She had already noticed the girl’s beauty, but now, looking closer, she saw it was more than that.
The young lady sat properly, quiet and composed, yet distinct from everyone else. Even without focusing on her delicate features, the pale glow of her profile and neck drew the eye like a luminous pearl. Her clothes were plain, even worn, yet on her they did not seem shabby—rather, she appeared like unpolished jade, naturally refined.
Madam Ruan’s expression sharpened as she considered Liu Qingwan’s words. Madam Wang too looked at Xu Shuyao as though seeing her anew, thoughtful.
Xu Shuyao cursed the heir silently once more, but outwardly remained calm. She lifted her eyes to Liu Qingwan, then said evenly: “Replying to Madam: just now the heir saw us heading toward Songhe Hall. He asked if we were going to pay respects to the Old Madam, and when I said yes, he seemed in haste. He told me that if Aunt asked, I should pass on that he had gone to the palace.”
Speaking of the heir—whom every noble girl in the capital longed to marry—her face showed no change, no trace of girlish shyness. She even explained why she had not mentioned it earlier: the heir had instructed her to relay the message only if Madam Wang asked, otherwise not. Neither her manner nor her words betrayed any flaw.
The elders withdrew their gazes; even Madam Ruan felt she had overthought.
Liu Qingwan, who had never sparred with Xu Shuyao before, had spoken out of jealousy at the heir’s different treatment. She had expected Xu Shuyao to stumble, but instead the matter was smoothed over effortlessly. Alarm rose in her heart. For the first time, she realized this seemingly quiet cousin was far more formidable than she appeared.
Suppressing her complicated feelings, Liu Qingwan quickly masked her expression.
Xu Shuyao had cleared herself, but the room was left more awkward than before.
The heir had given a plausible excuse, yet everyone knew the truth. For others, being summoned to the palace was a major event. For Xiao Mo, it was routine. The emperor often called him—sometimes for affairs of state, sometimes simply to talk or play chess.
There was no reason he had to go on his rest day, especially when important guests were present, guests tied to his lifelong marriage.
The answer was clear: he was deliberately avoiding the match.