15
Wei Zhuo moved silently through the second floor, keeping a close eye on the activity around him.
Unaware of his presence, Yu Shu had already ordered a full spread of the restaurant’s signature dishes and was enjoying them with Qingli.
The spicy fish was both numbing and fiery, and with each bite, it felt like flames were bursting on Yu Shu’s lips.
Qingli quickly poured her a cup of water and placed it by her hand. “Miss… have some water first. Eat a little slower.”
She nearly slipped up and called her “Princess” but managed to correct herself in time.
Yu Shu took a bite of the fish, carefully spitting out a tiny bone before picking up the cup and sipping the water to ease the burning sensation in her mouth.
“This fish is absolutely delicious. Coming here was so worth it!” She was thoroughly enjoying herself. After spending days in the guesthouse eating the same bland meals, she had been beyond frustrated. Lian Sheng had even told her that since her food was injured, she should eat light meals for now.
Excuse me? She had twisted her ankle, not hurt her mouth—why shouldn’t she eat good food? Today, she was going to indulge to her heart’s content!
“Qingli, eat too! Stop just picking food for me.” As she spoke, Yu Shu placed a piece of fish into Qingli’s bowl. “This fish is incredibly tender—so much better than whatever the guesthouse chef makes.”
Qingli obediently picked up her chopsticks, carefully removing the fish bones before taking a bite.
“The flavor is really amazing.” Though the spice set her mouth on fire, turning her cheeks red and making her forehead break out in sweat, she had to admit—it was the best fish she’d ever had.
Between them, Yu Shu and Qingli devoured an entire large bowl of spicy fish, along with several other dishes. Only when they were completely stuffed did they finally put down their chopsticks.
There was still plenty of untouched food left, so Yu Shu decided to have it packed up to take back—she could enjoy it again in the evening. Qingli called for a waiter to come in and prepare the takeout.
“The food here is amazing. We’ll have to come back next time.”
After paying the bill, Yu Shu and Qingli left the restaurant. As they stepped outside, Yu Shu noticed that Xiao Jingyao’s carriage was still parked nearby. She pursed her lips but didn’t linger, stepping straight into her own carriage.
“Princess, where are we going now?” Qingli asked once they were seated inside.
Without hesitation, Yu Shu replied, “Like I said earlier—let’s go take a boat ride on Ying Mountain Lake.”
Qingli promptly instructed the coachman to head to Ying Mountain Lake.
Meanwhile, on the third floor of the private dining room, Xiao Jingyao remained fixated on the movements happening below in the second-floor private room, his full attention locked onto it.
After Yu Shu and Qingli left, Wei Zhuo returned to the third floor and reported, “Master, they’ve gone.”
“Did they leave anything behind?” Xiao Jingyao asked, referring to any potential markings or signs.
“I checked thoroughly—nothing was left behind,” Wei Zhuo confirmed. “They even took their leftover food with them.”
Something felt off to Xiao Jingyao, though he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what. Frowning slightly, he asked again, “You’re sure they didn’t leave anything at all?”
“Absolutely nothing,” Wei Zhuo replied, sharing his own impression. “They genuinely seemed like they were just here for the food. They ate, paid, and left. Aside from the waiter who served their dishes, no one else entered their room—not even her bodyguard. There was no interaction, no message exchange with anyone.”
Xiao Jingyao walked to the window, still feeling that the whole situation was just a little too… coincidental. “I don’t think it’s that simple…”
He trailed off mid-sentence. His gaze had landed on the lakeside across the street, where a familiar carriage had just come to a stop. Two women stepped out, speaking briefly with a boatman. After negotiating a price, they—along with their guards—boarded a boat.
“We’re going to Ying Mountain Lake as well,” Xiao Jingyao suddenly declared, his gaze fixed on the small boat drifting leisurely across the water. “They’ve gone to tour the lake—let’s follow them and see if they do anything unusual.”
Wei Zhuo immediately understood his master’s intent and quickly responded, “I’ll make the arrangements right away.”
“No need,” Xiao Jingyao said. “We’ll head over and simply hire a boat to follow them.”
Without further delay, he and his men hurried out of Zuixian Pavilion, boarded their carriage, and made their way to the lakeshore.
Once they arrived, Xiao Jingyao stepped out while Wei Zhuo went ahead to secure a boat.
“Master, the boat is ready,” Wei Zhuo reported upon his return.
Xiao Jingyao glanced at the vessel—it was noticeably larger and more refined than the one the Xijiang Ninth Princess had chosen. Clearly, Wei Zhuo had been thoughtful in his selection.
“Let’s go,” Xiao Jingyao said, stepping onto the boat. Wei Zhuo and the other guards followed closely behind.
The boat drifted slowly away from the shore as Xiao Jingyao instructed Wei Zhuo, “Tell the boatman to follow the one ahead.”
“Yes, master.” Wei Zhuo relayed the order, and the boat subtly maintained its course, trailing behind Yu Shu’s vessel at a steady pace, keeping her every movement in sight.
Meanwhile, Yu Shu remained blissfully unaware that she was being watched. Completely immersed in the tranquil scenery of Ying Mountain Lake, she suddenly pointed ahead. “Qingli, look over there—it looks like a pair of mandarin ducks.”
Qingli followed her gaze and, upon recognizing the birds gliding gracefully across the water, beamed with excitement. “They’re beautiful!”
“I wish I could paint them,” Yu Shu sighed wistfully. “But I didn’t bring any paper or brushes with me today.”
“Young Miss, you can take a good look and commit them to memory. Then, you can paint them later when we return,” Qingli suggested helpfully.
“That’s a great idea. In that case, I’ll memorize the entire landscape and paint a few more pieces when I get back,” Yu Shu said cheerfully. The water, the breeze, the mountains of Ying Mountain Lake—everything about this place was utterly enchanting.
A gentle gust of wind swept across the lake, lifting the sheer white veil of Yu Shu’s headpiece. The fabric fluttered lightly, revealing the delicate curve of her chin and her soft, naturally rosy lips.
Aboard the larger boat behind hers, Xiao Jingyao had been watching Yu Shu’s every move. The moment the wind lifted her veil, exposing the graceful line of her jaw and those strikingly red lips, his gaze sharpened, his pupils contracting.
A strange sense of familiarity surged within him.
**