Yan Huaijin boarded Pei Yunting’s carriage, and the two of them headed toward the busiest street in Yanjing.
Once they passed Guanshan Gate, they could already see the towering building of Qiongyu Pavilion in the distance.
Qiongyu Pavilion belonged to Yan Huaijin, though very few people knew that.
It had been bestowed upon him together with many other gifts on his tenth birthday. When Pei Yunting first learned of it, she had sighed in admiration, joking that she had found herself a powerful patron. If anything ever happened in the future, at least she would never have to worry about starving.
The “powerful patron” himself, however, was leaning against the carriage wall with his eyes closed, brows slightly furrowed as though deep in thought. Pei Yunting’s annoyance had yet to fade. She merely glanced at him before looking away.
Lifting one corner of the curtain, she gazed out at the lively bustle of Yanjing’s streets.
The Grand Canal ran along the left side of the road, crossed by a stone bridge. Whenever there were lantern festivals or joyous celebrations, countless young gentlemen and maidens gathered there, making the place extraordinarily lively. It was therefore also known as Magpie Banquet Bridge.
Beneath the bridge, boatmen and members of the Waterborn Guild frequently sailed past, carrying either passengers or cargo.
She had never gone boating within the city. Ever since childhood, she had longed to drift across the water beneath Yanjing’s brilliant night sky, gazing up at the moon and the countless lanterns. Unfortunately, she had never found the opportunity.
The river divided the city into two shores. On the opposite bank, stone steps descended into the water, disappearing into unknown depths. Women rolled up their sleeves to wash clothes and vegetables by the riverside, while children splashed nearby, laughing as they tried to catch fish.
On this side, the streets bustled with traffic. Every time a street vendor lifted the lid from his bamboo steamer, clouds of fragrant steam billowed into the air, drawing curious passersby. Taking advantage of the attention, he loudly promoted his soup dumplings until they quickly sold out.
Nearby, a burly man carried a rack of candied hawthorns while calling out to customers, and an old grandmother sat beside a basket full of handmade trinkets that immediately caught the eye. A group of children stopped to admire them before being called away by their friends, continuing their playful adventure through the streets.
The carriage continued rolling forward at a leisurely pace.
The bustling scenery gradually disappeared behind them, leaving only the rhythmic sound of horses’ hooves.
Pei Yunting withdrew her gaze, only to discover that Yan Huaijin had opened his eyes at some point and was silently watching her.
“What are you thinking about?” she asked softly.
Still resting his arms across his chest, Yan Huaijin looked at her quietly.
“I’m wondering when I’ll finally be able to take a trip to Gusu with you.”
Understanding the meaning behind his words—and knowing he was trying to cheer her up—Pei Yunting smiled brightly, all traces of her earlier irritation vanishing.
“Anytime is fine.”
…
The two of them were regular visitors here, and Yan Huaijin was, in fact, the rightful owner.
The moment Manager Yang heard they had arrived, he hurried out clutching his account book.
“Young Master, you’ve arrived! The top private room has been reserved for you as always.”
When he spotted Pei Yunting peeking out from behind Yan Huaijin with a warm smile on her face, his own smile became even more genuine.
“Second Miss Pei, you’re here as well. I still have to thank you for what happened the other day.”
With that, he respectfully bowed to her.
“You’re too kind, Manager. It was only a small matter.”
She gently tugged on Yan Huaijin’s sleeve and said politely,
“There’s no need to lead us. We’ll head upstairs ourselves.”
“Very well! Please enjoy some hot tea first. The waiter will be there shortly.”
The group climbed the stairs.
Just as they reached the top floor and were about to enter their private room, someone below suddenly called out hesitantly,
“Second Miss Pei… Third Prince?”
Turning around, they saw the man immediately become nervous.
He bowed respectfully.
“My name is Yu Jin, son of the Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial. I happened to catch sight of Your Highness and Second Miss from afar and took the liberty of approaching you. Please forgive my intrusion.”
Pei Yunting found him somewhat familiar.
She soon remembered that they had once attended classes together at the Hanlin Academy. Now that he had introduced himself, she recalled his name and simply nodded with a polite smile.
Yan Huaijin raised an eyebrow.
“What is it?”
“A few days ago, my father was inexplicably implicated in the embezzlement case. According to the Ministry of Justice, he is to be dismissed and punished—but my father is innocent!”
Yu Jin’s face flushed with emotion.
“Today I arranged to meet the Assistant Minister of Justice, but he never showed up. Instead, he sent a servant to hint that I should offer silver… The amount they demanded is simply beyond what our family can afford. Fortunately, I happened to encounter Your Highness. Please, save my father!”
“Whether he is guilty or innocent will naturally be determined by the Court of Judicial Review.”
Yan Huaijin remained calm.
“There is no need to pay any silver. If your family is truly innocent, no one will make things difficult for you, and no one dares question the authority of the Court of Judicial Review. In the future, do not resort to such underhanded methods again.”
“Thank… thank you, Your Highness.”
The distant mountains were lush with spring greenery, shrouded in emerald mist.
Whenever the two of them dined together privately, they disliked having attendants wait on them.
Yan Huaijin behaved here as comfortably as if he were in his own home. After entering, he lazily reclined on a couch, using his folded arms as a pillow, every bit the carefree young nobleman.
Neither of them gave much thought to the brief interruption downstairs.
Pei Yunting poured herself some tea.
After the waiter came to take their order and the dishes had been selected, Yan Huaijin finally asked,
“What was Manager Yang thanking you for earlier?”
She rose and walked to the window, gazing at the mist-covered mountains in the distance before noticing raindrops beginning to fall outside.
“It was probably while you were recovering from your injury. I disguised myself and went out one day. Someone was causing trouble outside Qiongyu Pavilion. I listened for quite a while, and everything he said was riddled with contradictions.”
She closed the window.
Seeing Yan Huaijin’s expression of realization, she continued,
“So I stepped forward and argued with him. Unable to defend himself, he kept changing the subject. Anyone with half a brain could tell he was guilty, so the crowd gradually dispersed. After asking Manager Yang to hand him over to the authorities, I left.”
She looked at him with amusement.
“You’re the owner here, yet you didn’t know any of this?”
The dishes arrived quickly.
The very first plate was the beef pastries she had ordered.
Unable to resist, Pei Yunting immediately picked one up with her fingers.
The corners of Yan Huaijin’s lips curved upward as he silently smiled.
“I’ve been too busy lately.”
“Zhanyuan mentioned it to me once, but I forgot.”
He picked up a pastry himself and took a hearty bite.
The beef pastries at Qiongyu Pavilion had a crispy, lightly charred crust. With just one bite, the rich juices burst forth together with the tender beef filling.
The private room was peaceful and quiet.
The two of them became so engrossed in eating that they nearly forgot the purpose of today’s meeting.
Fortunately, although Pei Yunting’s attention was mostly on the food, she had not forgotten the important matter.
With one cheek puffed out from chewing, she asked,
“The embezzlement case?”
Without any context, no outsider would have understood what she meant.
Yan Huaijin leisurely picked up a piece of sweet-and-sour pork before nodding.
“That’s right. That Official Liu is named Liu Zisong. He’s only a fifth-rank official—nothing more than a middleman in this case. He isn’t important enough to matter.”
“The three people Zhou Siyan has uncovered are all insignificant figures as well.”
“I suspect the true mastermind…”
He did not finish the sentence, but Pei Yunting understood immediately.
She frowned thoughtfully.
“Then… could it be that Xiaoxiang Pavilion belongs to the people behind the case? Yue Niang was clearly extracting information from him that day.”
“Not necessarily.”
The young prince’s dark eyes gleamed beneath his black hair as he smiled faintly.
“Regardless, anyone who relies on such despicable methods is hardly worthy of respect. Once I drag every one of them into the open, we’ll see exactly what sort of monsters they’re hiding behind.”
His words carried unmistakable killing intent.
Yet they failed to frighten Pei Yunting in the slightest.
After discussing the matter for a while, she had already pieced together most of the situation.
“Just… be careful.”
“Don’t get injured again.”
“You’re even more nagging than my mother.”
“Yan Huaijin!”
“I was wrong, alright?”
He deliberately put on a pitiful expression.
“Why have you been giving me the cold shoulder all day? I haven’t even done anything wrong.”
Pei Yunting grabbed the nearest object and was about to throw it at him.
At that exact moment, Zhanzhao entered to report an urgent matter, sparing Yan Huaijin from disaster.
After whispering for a few moments, the smile on Yan Huaijin’s face gradually disappeared, replaced by cold seriousness.
“I understand.”
“Tell him to report back first. I’ll be there shortly.”
Pei Yunting accepted the handkerchief Yin’er handed her and wiped her mouth.
“You should go first. I can return home by myself.”
He remained silent for a moment, apparently weighing something in his mind.
Glancing out the window at the increasingly heavy rain, he said softly,
“No rush.”
“I’ll take you home first.”
Seeing how firm he was, she no longer tried to refuse.
Whenever Yan Huaijin decided on something, he always had countless ways of seeing it through.
The group descended the stairs.
There they met Manager Yang again.
Knowing how much Pei Yunting loved the pavilion’s beef pastries, he hurriedly handed her a package wrapped in oil paper.
“Second Miss, this is a small token of thanks. Whenever you crave these pastries in the future, just come here. We’ll make as many as you like!”
Pei Yunting accepted them happily.
Then she looked smugly toward Yan Huaijin, who had already opened an umbrella and was waiting beneath the eaves for her.
To him, however, she resembled the little kitten he had once raised in the palace.
After tasting something delicious, it would lick its lips, proudly lift its chin, and shamelessly ask for another bite.
Large raindrops drummed relentlessly against the umbrella.
There was no sign the rain would stop.
Yan Huaijin stepped forward, drawing her beneath the umbrella.
Zhanzhao and Zhanyuan had already prepared the horses and carriage nearby.
Amid the misty rain, the young man and young woman stood facing one another beneath the umbrella.
Together, they looked like a painting brought to life.
…
Not even fifteen minutes after getting into the carriage, drowsiness overtook Pei Yunting.
She yawned and leaned against the window to rest.
The vendors’ cries outside had been swallowed by the heavy rain.
The children had long since run home for dinner.
The candied hawthorn seller was probably sheltering somewhere inside a teahouse.
Only their carriage remained on the official road, rolling steadily through the rain.
Listening to the rhythmic patter against the roof, she unknowingly drifted off to sleep.
The young man beside her quietly watched the scene without blinking.
His eyes sparkled brilliantly.
The carriage was peaceful and warm.
Adjusting into a more comfortable position, he folded his arms and silently admired Pei Yunting’s sleeping face.
By the time she awoke, the sky had already darkened.
The furnishings around her and the familiar fragrance immediately told her where she was.
She was back in her own bedchamber.
Rubbing her eyes, she slowly sat up.
Yan’er entered carrying a cup of hot tea.
Seeing that she had awakened, the maid smiled.
“Miss, you’re awake. Eldest Miss came by earlier, but seeing how soundly you were sleeping, she didn’t dare disturb you and left shortly afterward.”
“What time is it now?”
“Replying to Miss, it’s already the Hour of You.”
The Hour of You?
Had she really slept for that long?
Noticing her slight frown, Yan’er continued,
“It was the Third Prince who carried you back today.”
“He nearly frightened everyone in the residence. We all thought something terrible had happened.”
“But the Third Prince truly dotes on you.”
“He even took off his own fox-fur cloak and covered you with it.”
“He said it would keep you warmer.”
Looking down, Pei Yunting indeed found herself wrapped in Yan Huaijin’s fox-fur cloak.
It still carried his familiar scent.
Her cheeks instantly flushed crimson.
Trying to hide her embarrassment, she immediately ordered someone to prepare water so she could wash her face.
As for the fox-fur cloak…
It naturally remained hanging in her room, blending seamlessly with the furnishings, as though it had always belonged there.
Looking at it somehow filled her with an inexplicable sense of comfort.