The man’s narrow eyes swept indifferently over her face before he turned away.
Yet that single glance sent Shen Xiyan’s heart racing!
She had seen many noble sons in Shengjing, but none could compare to the man before her.
He was simply breathtaking!
Though his attire wasn’t extravagant, it appeared custom-made with exquisite craftsmanship. A black-clad guard stood beside him with a sword at his waist, this young master surely had some status.
Shen Xiyan hurried downstairs, her gaze glued to that deep purple-clad figure.
Pei Jingheng, realizing it wasn’t Shen Mingshu, picked up his tea and took a slow sip.
Footsteps approached from behind, and the young woman from earlier stopped by his table.
Though fatigue lingered on her face, Shen Xiyan forced a sweet smile. “Young master, are you also passing through Huaiyang Town?”
Pei Jingheng set down his cup and lifted his eyes slightly. “What is it?”
“I’m just passing through as well. Seeing how extraordinary you are, I wondered where you’re headed. Perhaps we might even travel together.”
“My name is Shen Xiyan. May I ask how I should address you, young master?” As she spoke, she moved to sit at the table.
But the stool behind her was abruptly kicked away. Leng Feng spoke bluntly, “There’s no seat for you here.”
Shen Xiyan took a closer look and widened her eyes in shock. “Aren’t you the one from last night-”
She cut herself off mid-sentence.
Last night, she had cursed at this black-clad guard driving the carriage. She never imagined the person inside was this handsome young master.
Then… wasn’t he the one her master was looking for?
Shen Xiyan took two steps back, her tone slightly hurried. “Forgive me for disturbing your meal, young master.”
As she hurried away, Leng Feng leaned in and whispered to Pei Jingheng, “Master, that’s the shrew from the carriage that blocked our way last night.”
Pei Jingheng’s brow lifted slightly. “From the Anping Marquis’ household? How… convenient.”
Shen Mingshu and Yun Niang descended the stairs and immediately spotted Pei Jingheng sitting in the corner. Leng Feng waved enthusiastically at them.
The two took their seats, and Yun Niang exclaimed in surprise, “There’s so much food, can we finish it all?”
Leng Feng grinned. “Don’t worry, we’ll manage!”
There were over a dozen shadow guards hidden nearby. If they couldn’t finish, Yue Ying could always take the leftovers to them.
Shen Mingshu smiled at Pei Jingheng. “Then I won’t hold back.”
As they ate, she couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching her from across the room.
When she glanced up, she caught the girl hurriedly lowering her eyes.
Wasn’t that Yan’er?
Though she had only glimpsed her through the carriage curtain last night, Shen Mingshu remembered her vividly.
Pei Jingheng remarked coolly, “Her name is Shen Xiyan.”
“How do you know?” Shen Mingshu looked at him.
His tone was indifferent. “She introduced herself.”
Leng Feng added, “She came over earlier to strike up a conversation with my master and even asked for his name.”
Shen Mingshu’s expression turned odd as she glanced between Pei Jingheng and the distant figure of Shen Xiyan before suddenly laughing.
Her laughter unsettled Pei Jingheng. “What’s so funny?”
Shen Mingshu smirked. “No wonder Young Master Pei wore a veil before, you were afraid of attracting unwanted attention.”
Unfazed by her teasing, Pei Jingheng replied in a deep, magnetic voice, “I never liked wearing the veil. From now on, you can shield me from these… persistent admirers.”
“I can’t be bothered.” Shen Mingshu scoffed.
Pei Jingheng raised his left hand slightly, tilting his head at her. “Oh?”
The deliberately drawn-out tone, paired with his pleasant voice, was excessively melodious to the ears.
Shen Mingshu stared at the red thread, unable to help but recall the unexpected kiss in the carriage the night before.
Her ears burned, and she casually picked up a bite of food to stuff into his mouth: “No talking while eating, Young Master Pei. Eat quickly so we can continue our journey.”
Pei Jingheng looked at the food in his bowl, his grip on the chopsticks tightening slightly.
Leng Feng sensed the issue and hurriedly interjected, “My master doesn’t eat food served by others-”
Pei Jingheng picked up the vegetable leaf and slowly put it into his mouth.
“-served by others, uh…” Leng Feng finished his sentence before hastily covering his mouth and laughing awkwardly. “Ah, that was just a habit from my master’s childhood. He’s long since outgrown it!”
Shen Xiyan watched the scene unfold, chewing the food in her mouth with extra force.
Who was that wretched girl across from her? Not only was she dressed in rags, but her face, her face was actually quite pretty!
Realizing that even in coarse hemp clothing, the other girl looked better than she did, Shen Xiyan angrily slammed her chopsticks down and stormed upstairs.
She needed to inform her master immediately and find out who that young gentleman was.
In the room, Yin Zhuo was questioning the inn staff about Shen Mingshu’s group and learned that the new arrivals were a mother and daughter, along with two young gentlemen.
“Master! I found the people from that carriage!” Shen Xiyan barged in without knocking and plopped down angrily at the table.
Yin Zhuo’s expression darkened. “I already know. It’s Shen Mingshu and her adoptive mother, along with two young gentlemen.”
“Shen Mingshu?” Shen Xiyan quickly recalled the people at the table earlier, her willow-like brows furrowing instantly. “So that wretched girl is Shen Mingshu! How infuriating! How dare a poor, lowly wretch like her get so close to that handsome young gentleman!”
Yin Zhuo shot her a glance, his tone stern. “Those two gentlemen are likely highly skilled Xuan masters. Keep your vulgar thoughts to yourself!”
Anyone capable of breaking his Yin Gathering Array must possess considerable cultivation.
Shen Xiyan stood up and moved behind Yin Zhuo to massage his shoulders. “Master, we must kill Shen Mingshu as soon as possible! If Father finds out she’s still alive, he’ll surely trace it back to you and Mother!”
Back then, Lord Anping had truly intended to kill, sending men to chase Yun Niang and the infant Shen Mingshu out of Shengjing, determined to silence them forever.
Yin Zhuo recalled the past, when he had realized that Lady Anping was carrying the Body of Extreme Yin, he had already conceived the idea of harnessing it for his own use.
But he hadn’t anticipated that the lady would resort to a cesarean birth, forcibly turning the Body of Extreme Yin into a girl with an entirely Yin birth chart.
The Body of Extreme Yin combined with an all-Yin birth chart created a Lone Star of Heavenly Calamity, doomed to a life of misfortune and bringing disaster to those around her.
This meant he couldn’t directly utilize the Body of Extreme Yin and could only observe from afar.
Then, the pregnant Liu Ruyu had conveniently presented herself. Seeing her slightly rounded belly, Yin Zhuo immediately devised a plan to refine the Body of Extreme Yin using blood relatives.
With honeyed words, he persuaded Liu Ruyu. With her help, Yun Niang was allowed to settle in Huaihua Village, while he secretly set up the Yin Gathering Array to nurture the Body of Extreme Yin into greater purity. He had only needed to wait until Shen Xiyan was born and came of age to execute his plan.
But now, sixteen years of meticulous planning had been ruined by two Xuan masters!
“Master! Are you even listening to me?” Shen Xiyan shook his shoulders lightly when she noticed him lost in thought. “I want Shen Mingshu dead!”
Yin Zhuo turned to look at her, and suddenly another plan formed in his mind.
However, this plan was far too risky, one wrong move, and he could perish, his cultivation erased.
But waiting another ten or twenty years wasn’t an option, not only would his body not endure, but Shen Xiyan would never agree to it either.
With a grave tone, Yin Zhuo said, “Disciple, Shen Mingshu cannot die yet. If she dies, how will you improve your aptitude? How will you marry the imperial prince?”