Hearing her call out this name—one that in Jinling City no young lord or nobleman of their generation did not know— the man who had just been so arrogant was instantly dumbfounded, his words stumbling, and with a similarly incredulous, trembling voice, he said, “Ying… Ying Young Miss?”
Not only was his voice trembling, even his legs were somewhat weak.
The name Ying Xu, to people of their generation, was truly like thunder rolling through the ears.
She was the foremost “child of the Emperor” that could not be provoked.
However, Ying Xu was too lazy to give her gaze to this thing, which a moment ago had been so arrogant and, the next moment, upon realizing who she was, became a weakling. Instead, she fixed her gaze on the girl who had just pointed out her identity.
Her beautiful phoenix eyes looked at the other party for a long while. Ying Xu slightly furrowed her pretty brows and said, “You look… somewhat familiar?”
As her words fell, the girl instantly exploded. Having just been in a dispute with the man—even gotten physical—so that now she looked somewhat messy, she no longer cared about her image or decorum, and angrily cursed, “Ying Xu, you bastard!”
“Back then, I was at least by your side for several months, nearly a year, and now you actually don’t recognize me!”
Hearing the girl give her a definite time limit, Ying Xu’s mind had a bit of an impression.
After all, those who served as her attendants mostly didn’t last long.
Except for Xie Jingchen, who could stay with her for several years, others being able to stay at her side for a few months was already considered quite long.
After searching her mind to see who this girl in front of her was, Ying Xu nodded thoughtfully, and then immediately stabbed a finger toward the girl’s chest, “How did you become so ugly?”
No wonder she didn’t recognize her.
This matter this time really wasn’t Ying Xu being arrogant. It was truly that the girl in front of her was far different from her memory of her.
Ying Xu had basic standards for choosing attendants—primarily they had to be good-looking, so that her own beauty could be better accentuated.
But the person in front of her, to put it bluntly, if she had looked like this back then, she would never have caught Ying Xu’s eye.
The girl seemed choked by Ying Xu’s words, as if wanting to retort, but after glancing at the face that was still beautiful, even more graceful, like a fairy from the past, she ended up saying nothing after a long “you…”.
Because she realized, people really are different.
Both married, both experienced hardships after marriage—rumors in the palace recently, which weren’t just circulating in the palace—but Ying Xu, the always prominent young lady, could still live more exquisitely than during her maiden days, without a trace of haggardness.
Watching the girl treat Ying Xu so casually, the man beside her really couldn’t bear it, and loudly scolded her, “Shut up! Who do you think you are, treating Ying Xu Young Miss so casually?”
The people who angered Ying Xu last time weren’t just her! The entire mansion would suffer misfortune because of it!
Thinking of what happened to those who had offended Ying Xu before, the man couldn’t help but curse in his heart for marrying such an unlucky wife.
Seeing his attitude, Ying Xu was displeased and immediately snapped at him, “I’m talking to my own attendant. What business is it of some random nobody like you?”
In front of her, putting down her attendant’s face—wasn’t he deliberately causing trouble, implying she wouldn’t care about her attendant?
With Ying Xu’s words falling, Xie Jingchen, who had clearly heard the commotion outside, poked his head out of the carriage.
The handsome young man glanced at the man not far away who had just shouted at Ying Xu, lightly smiling, and said, “The heir of the Cheng’en Marquis House really is full of arrogance.”
Unlike Ying Xu, Xie Jingchen had memorized all the notable titles or official ranks of families in Jinling City.
After all, there was once a period when that was his specialty—managing personnel.
Naturally, Xie Jingchen remembered these households not to grant them favors when handling cases, but because the higher their status, the harsher he would punish them if they offended him, setting an example.
So, if just now the marquis heir went weak-kneed upon realizing the girl in the carriage was Ying Xu, now seeing Xie Jingchen, he was practically about to reflexively kneel, cold sweat continuously forming on his forehead.
Ying Xu’s status was noble, highly favored by His Majesty, even more like a princess than the official princess—not just anyone was qualified to see her—at least someone from a marquis house whose ancestors had military merits but had already declined wasn’t qualified to appear before this young lady.
But Xie Jingchen was someone recognized by most Jinling youths.
Back when he managed personnel affairs in Jinling City, he was famous for being arrogant, detached, and impartial.
Because no one impressed him, naturally he gave no face to anyone, except Ying Xu.
Before Xie Jingchen was dispatched to the desolate northwest, there were always rumors in Jinling City that he was Ying Xu’s dog—taking beatings and insults, loyal without question, different in front of Ying Xu versus others.
However, few were qualified to see Ying Xu. Xie Jingchen didn’t know exactly what he was like in front of her; after all, those who could appear before Ying Xu weren’t someone he could approach.
But regarding the rumor that he was Ying Xu’s lackey, Xie Jingchen himself never refuted it.
Compared to another rumor he quickly denied—that he saved a girl, but it was actually one of his subordinates, and he wasn’t present—anyone with a bit of sense could figure out the truth.
Ying Xu was pampered and bad-tempered, merely a rumor for many. But Xie Jingchen’s cruelty and ruthlessness were many people’s firsthand experience.
Seeing this ghost-like reaction, Xie Jingchen said casually, “Looks like you recognize me.”
Seeing Xie Jingchen, the girl who had just been familiar with Ying Xu, was also somewhat stunned.
Dazed for a moment, she finally seemed to realize something, and incredulously asked Ying Xu, “You’re together with the Eleventh Prince?”
Hearing this, Xie Jingchen glanced at this girl who had good eyes for seeing Ying Xu and slightly separated his peripheral vision, not yet feeling proud that she thought Ying Xu and him were suitable together.
Just after glancing at the girl’s appearance, he froze for a moment, saying, “It’s you?”
Hearing this, Ying Xu didn’t react yet. The girl, however, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, took a step back, somewhat startled.
First looking at Ying Xu, then at Xie Jingchen, she carefully said, “Your Highness… you actually recognize me?”
If it were another noble youth saying he recognized her, she would have been slightly proud, pleased with her own appearance—but now, the one saying it was Xie Jingchen.
The one who couldn’t tolerate anyone in his eyes besides Ying Xu, no matter male or female, and would crush anyone who fell into his hands.
At this moment, she couldn’t help but wonder if she had ever offended this master, allowing him to remember her incidentally.
To be recognized even in such a messy state—how deep must the grudge be?
As it turned out, it really was. While the girl was still pondering if she had offended Xie Jingchen and how to subtly ask, Ying Xu had already asked the question for her.
“How do you know Qu Luoya?”
There was no other emotion in her words, just simple curiosity.
Hearing this, Xie Jingchen replied, “I just happen to have some impression. After all,”
He paused, innocently and pitifully clarifying he had no absolute connection with her, “Four years ago, the one who asked that question to Xu was her.”
Otherwise, how could he have such a deep impression of a stranger?
Wasn’t it her question that led to the words which broke his heart, causing him to quietly go alone to the northwest and lick his wounds?
Having just mentioned this question, Ying Xu now understood what Xie Jingchen referred to—noting she had said he was useless.
She said, “Indeed.”
The two puzzled Qu Luoya, though confused, could catch the temporal keyword from Xie Jingchen’s words.
After recalling what she might have unintentionally done four years ago to offend the ruthless prince, and reviewing the few rare events that involved Xie Jingchen back then, a terrifying suspicion suddenly arose in her mind:
—Could it be that when she asked Ying Xu if she didn’t miss Xie Jingchen at all, Ying Xu’s answer happened to be overheard by Xie Jingchen?
If so, that would indeed be a deep, bitter grudge.
Although this couldn’t entirely be blamed on her—ultimately, it was Ying Xu’s coldness—Xie Jingchen was loyal to Ying Xu, having served her consistently for years.
Xie Jingchen definitely wouldn’t blame Ying Xu; if anything, she would bear the misfortune.
Just as she feared being sent to the Dali Temple for interrogation by Xie Jingchen, she suddenly heard Ying Xu ask, “So, what exactly is going on here?”
Hearing this, Qu Luoya first looked at Xie Jingchen, then at Ying Xu. Not because she prioritized Xie Jingchen over Ying Xu, but simply because she felt it wasn’t easy to speak with Xie Jingchen present.
But she couldn’t tell Ying Xu to send Xie Jingchen away—she didn’t have the courage.
Ying Xu saw her meaning and, thinking that this little attendant—or rather, feignedly kind former companion—had a decent relationship with her back then, reached out to poke Xie Jingchen, signaling him to first handle the man who had just yelled at her, then go to the palace to find her.
Xie Jingchen naturally wouldn’t resist Ying Xu’s arrangement; following her orders was almost ingrained in his bones.
However, the dog who had just regained his master’s favor couldn’t help feeling a little wronged, thinking their hard-won “date” had been disrupted.
His small eyes subtly glanced at the girl Ying Xu had beckoned, muttering “fox spirit,” and after chilling the girl’s scalp, he looked pitifully at Ying Xu with wet dog-like eyes. Instead of sympathy, Ying Xu directly pushed him and sharply said, “Stop dawdling, Xie Jingchen, why are you so clingy?”