Xie Yu’an came to pick her up?
Hearing her elder brother’s voice, Qiao Yin stood up with a radiant smile.
Seeing that she was about to leave, Xue Wanran remembered her own business: “Qiao Yin, consider this a favor I owe you. Could you help me apologize to Mr. Meng?”
“Understood, I’ll have someone convey your message. I have other matters to attend to, so I won’t keep you company.”
As she spoke, Qiao Yin had already reached the doorway.
Curious, Xue Wanran followed her to the entrance. In the courtyard, she saw a tall, slender figure walking alongside Qiao Yin’s elder brother, Qiao Mo.
Xie Yu’an wore an indigo robe, his hair tied up with a jade crown, exuding an air of elegance and composure, yet not without a touch of charm.
Qiao Mo seemed to have said something to him, and Xie Yu’an listened with his head slightly lowered. Soon, a hearty laugh followed, and Qiao Mo even patted him on the back.
Xue Wanran was astonished. How could Xie Yu’an be so close to the Qiao family? Could it be that he and Qiao Yin were truly about to announce their engagement?
She shifted her gaze to Qiao Yin, who was walking toward them with light, joyful steps, her face beaming with a smile like a young girl in love. Her delight was unmistakably genuine.
“Why did you come to pick me up?”
Qiao Yin had already reached the two of them. Xie Yu’an smiled gently. “I wanted to see you sooner, so I came to pick you up.”
Before Qiao Yin could react, Bizhu, standing nearby, blushed.
Qiao Mo gave Xie Yu’an a playful punch. “You rascal…”
Xie Yu’an staggered slightly from the impact, clutching his chest and smiling sheepishly. “I was too forward.”
Qiao Mo chuckled. “Go on, go on. You two go out and have fun. Just come back early.”
“Then we’ll take our leave.”
Xie Yu’an was courteous as ever, gesturing for Qiao Yin to go first.
Qiao Yin instructed Bizhu to bring the food box and left with Xie Yu’an.
Watching the entire scene unfold, Xue Wanran couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy. She sighed inwardly: Xie Yu’an came from a prominent family, was exceptionally talented, and was so gentle and considerate. No wonder Qiao Yin had so decisively given up on Lu Jinzhi.
Qiao Yin and Xie Yu’an boarded the carriage and sat facing each other.
Xie Yu’an’s gaze fell on the food box in her hands. “Did you prepare something delicious for me? What is it? Let me try it first.”
Qiao Yin protectively moved the food box behind her, eyeing him warily. “Xie Ren, have you had enough of acting?”
Xie Yu’an’s expression stiffened for a moment, but soon his eyes curved into crescents, and he flashed a row of white teeth with a grin.
“Hahaha, you caught me. How did you figure it out? I even fooled your elder brother.”
Xie Ren’s laughter was hearty, even a bit boisterous, completely different from the deliberately lowered voice he had used earlier.
Qiao Yin rolled her eyes inwardly: Her brother was already so dazzled by the title of “Xie Family’s brother-in-law” that he couldn’t tell left from right.
Xie Ren touched his face, looking puzzled. “I wore my brother’s clothes and even stole one of his hair crowns. When I looked in the mirror before leaving, I couldn’t even tell who I was. How did you see through it?”
“Was it my voice? No, I’ve been imitating my brother since I was a kid. I’ve perfected his voice.”
“Ah, how on earth did you recognize me?”
Qiao Yin looked at Xie Ren’s face. It bore a striking resemblance to Xie Yu’an, yet it was entirely different from him.Probably because Xie Yu’an was so reserved and steady, he would never say “I want to see you” after just five days of knowing someone.
Even if he really wanted to see her and came to her house, he’d probably just say he was passing by while walking his dog.
“Tell me quickly, where did I slip up? I’ll fix it next time,” Xie Ren kept pressing.
Goodness, are you addicted to playing cosplay now?
“Hehe, because Xie Yu’an seems smarter, while you, Brother Ren, seem… more…” Qiao Yin glanced at his eager expression, “more innocent.”
To avoid further questioning, Qiao Yin quickly changed the subject. “Is the carriage heading to the General’s Manor?”
Xie Ren sat back in his seat, tilting his chin up mysteriously. “You’ll know when we get there.”
With that, he lifted the curtain and called out, “Uncle Wang, whip the horses! Hurry, hurry!”
The carriage lurched forward abruptly, jolting Qiao Yin and making her eyelids twitch.
Why did she have such a bad feeling about this?
She had no idea how many streets they passed, but Qiao Yin had never ridden in a carriage so fast and bumpy. Halfway there, Xie Ren grew impatient with the driver’s slowness, took the reins himself, and cracked the whip loudly, as if urging them on like a death sentence.
Qiao Yin wedged herself into a corner, clutching the food box tightly, afraid it would be tossed around.
Finally, the carriage came to a stop.
“We’re here!”
Xie Ren lifted the curtain from outside, grinning widely.
Holding the food box, Qiao Yin peeked out. “The Eastern Palace? Is Xie Yu’an waiting for me at the Eastern Palace?”
Xie Yu’an was not at the Eastern Palace; he was at home.
He was standing under the corridor at that moment, staring blankly at the courtyard wall.
It was already mid-morning, but there was no news from the gatekeeper, and no heads had popped up over the wall either.
“Young Master, could it be that the young lady has stood you up again?”
Wangshan, Xie Yu’an’s personal guard, couldn’t help but speculate.
As soon as the words left his mouth, he earned a cold glare from his master.
“Go, keep watch at the gate.”
Wangshan looked at his master with some concern. “Young Master, I’m a bit worried. What if that girl is just toying with you? Her previous affair with the Young Master of the Duke’s Manor was the talk of the town. Why would she suddenly come looking for you out of nowhere?”
“Choose between cleaning the latrine or the stables.”
Seeing the gloomy look on his master’s face, Wangshan wisely backed away. “Hehehe, I run fast. I’ll go keep watch at the gate.”
Wangshan had only taken a few steps when a question came from behind.
“Has Xie Ren gone out?”
Before Wangshan could answer, a maid from Xie Qingxuan’s side hurried over and anxiously reported, “Young Master, Miss sent me to inform you that Master Ren impersonated you and took Miss Qiao to the Eastern Palace.”
Xie Yu’an helplessly pinched the bridge of his nose and said slowly, “Prepare the carriage. We’re going to the Eastern Palace.”
…
Meanwhile, Qiao Yin got out of the carriage, followed by Bizhu. The mistress and servant followed Xie Ren into the Eastern Palace.
The people at the Eastern Palace saw Xie Ren and, without a word of question, respectfully welcomed him inside.
“Master Xie, His Highness is fishing by the lake. You may proceed directly.”
Xie Ren nodded and continued forward.
Qiao Yin couldn’t help but ask, “Are you also close with the Crown Prince?”
Xie Ren laughed heartily and pointed to his own face. “Haha, he knows this face even better.”
Qiao Yin was momentarily speechless. No wonder those people were so respectful.But Xie Ren must also be familiar with the Crown Prince; otherwise, he wouldn’t be so at ease navigating the Eastern Palace. The three of them passed through a bamboo grove, and their view suddenly opened up to reveal a lake. A winding plank bridge stretched across the water, leading to a pavilion at the center of the lake. Inside the pavilion, Crown Prince Jiang Huailu was personally guiding a young woman in casting a fishing rod.
Wasn’t that the same young woman who had told her that Xie Yu’an had gone to the Star-Gazing Tower?
But where was Xie Yu’an?
Just as Qiao Yin was wondering, an exclamation came from the pavilion:
“Xie Ren, you really managed to lure her out!”