Chapter 2

After Qin and her son took their leave, Xie Qinghong breathed a sigh of relief and turned the jade bracelet on his wrist, wondering, "What does Aunt Qin mean by this?"

Madam Xie gently tapped her forehead: "It's what you think it means."

Xie Qinghong was greatly shocked: "I don't want to. I really mean it when I say they're a good match."

Madam Xie also said, "That's right. Even after all that, he still wants to harm you. He used to be so affectionate, but now he says he only sees you as a younger sister and has never overstepped his bounds. Only he can believe that. Ah Yao, don't be fooled by him. I think that Qin Sanlang seems to have changed his ways. I wonder what he's up to."

"Don't worry, Mother, I know everything." Xie Qinghong didn't want to be involved in a love triangle drama one day.

When Xie Erge returned home from his shift that evening, the first thing he asked was, "Did Qin Heng come over?"

"We've been here," Xie Qinghong replied. "Mrs. Qin came with us."

The Xie family has three siblings, with Xie Qinghong being the youngest. Her two older brothers dote on her the most and are very dissatisfied with the two culprits who caused her to fall into the water and become ill. If it weren't for the fact that Zheng Qiniang is a woman, they would have made her fall into the water again.

Xie Qingzhou was indeed a troublemaker, just as Madam Xie had said. He had caused countless troubles in his youth, and it was only last year, when he became the Director of the Armory under the Imperial Guard, that he began to look more serious.

"What about the Zheng family?" Xie Qingzhou looked fierce when he put on a stern face. If Zheng Yingluo saw him, she would definitely be so scared that she would cry.

"The apology has been sent, but I haven't seen her in person." Xie Qinghong shook his head. "I heard she suffered a lot and almost died."

Although Zheng Yingluo recovered from her illness faster than her, the process was extremely dangerous. She lay unconscious for two days, talking nonsense. The Zheng family even invited a high-ranking monk to pray for her recovery.

Xie Qingzhou knew about this, so he was even less inclined to seek revenge. He could only grit his teeth and secretly remember the Zheng family, vowing to get his revenge later.

Xie Qinghong thought for a moment, but still couldn't help asking, "Brother, do you think someone's personality would change drastically after they've come to understand life and death?"

"Of course there are. Isn't there one right here now?" Xie Qingzhou said dismissively. "Isn't that one from the Zheng family? He's become quite smarter after falling into the water. Maybe his brain was flooded with water."

Xie Qinghong was speechless, and even felt that what he said made some sense. After all, he had just gone through a life-or-death situation and received blessings from a high monk. He might have gained some enlightenment.

So they left that aside and the brother and sister happily went out to eat Huaiyang cuisine. Since their mother's ancestral home was Huaizhou, the family had specially hired a chef who was skilled in Huaiyang cuisine. Unfortunately, the chef had recently taken leave, and Xie Qinghong hadn't eaten it for half a month and missed it terribly.

The most famous restaurant in Beijing for cooking Huaiyang cuisine is Yechunlou, and Xie Qinghong was a regular customer. As soon as he entered, he was warmly welcomed and led to a private room on the third floor. Yechunlou is built by the water, and from the third floor, you can see the shimmering lake. As night falls, the painted boats on the lake are decorated with lanterns, and there is also a constant stream of pleasant music, making for a wonderful view.

Xie Qinghong sat down by the window. Just then, the sunset faded and night fell. A few stars twinkled in the distance, and the lights on the shore gradually lit up. On the lake, painted boats sang and danced under the moon, and the music drifted on the evening breeze. It was a love song, tender and poignant.

Xie Qingzhou frowned: "This sounds so weak and listless, what's the point? It's like they can't even breathe."

Xie Qinghong sighed, "Brother, no wonder they all say you're clueless about romance."

Xie Qingzhou scoffed: "A bunch of pedantic literati. My arms are thicker than their thighs. What do I need romance for? You can listen to what I say, but don't be like Zheng Qiniang, who talks about love all the time. It's unhealthy."

Seeing his brows furrow again, Xie Qinghong couldn't help but laugh: "Brother, please don't worry. I've met all the young masters from prominent families in the capital, and none of them are as good as you and your brother. How could I possibly be infatuated with love? Don't you think so?"

Xie Qingzhou was satisfied. Indeed, Zheng Qiniang was so ignorant because the Zheng family's young men were not particularly handsome, which made her think that Qin Erlang was extraordinary and secretly fall in love with him. As for his family, with him and his brother as role models, Ayao would have to think twice.

The restaurant presented the menu, and Xie Qinghong first ordered her brother's favorite dishes, then ordered a bowl of chicken soup for herself. She then asked her brother if he wanted anything else to eat, but she didn't hear Xie Qingzhou answer when she called out. When she looked up, she saw that her brother was already standing by the door, his ear pressed against the door rather furtively, as if he was eavesdropping.

"Brother?" Xie Qinghong put down the menu and walked over, asking in a low voice, "What are you listening to?"

Xie Qingzhou coughed lightly, straightened up, and tried to cover up his mistake: "I didn't hear anything, Ayao, don't follow my example, go sit down."

Xie Qinghong didn't believe it, but her hearing wasn't as good as someone who practiced martial arts, so she couldn't hear anything outside. She could only stare at Xie Qingzhou with a face full of accusation.

Xie Qingzhou had no choice but to tell her, "The voice outside the door sounds familiar, like a colleague. I was thinking of asking him to do something if he has time."

Xie Qinghong said, "Why can't we talk about this during the day? Why do you have to call someone after work and during mealtime?"

She still didn't quite believe it. Even if she needed to find someone, she could just push the door open and go out when she heard the noise. But her brother was sneaking around by the door, eavesdropping.

"Oh dear, please let me go, it's really important business." Despite Xie Qingzhou's carefree attitude, he was tight-lipped. Seeing his reaction, Xie Qinghong knew it was probably related to business and didn't ask any more questions.

By the time they finished their meal, the night outside was already dark, with stars twinkling in the sky. The music on the pleasure boat had changed, and the pipa's sound was strong and resonant, even possessing a certain clanging quality. Xie Qingzhou clapped along a few times and exclaimed, "This sounds pretty good. Ah Yao, let's go down and listen more closely."

Xie Qinghong reminded him, "It's getting late, brother, you should go home."

Xie Qingzhou hesitated upon hearing this. Xie Qingya, the elder brother of the Xie family, was a strict and dignified man with great prestige. He was the patriarch of the family, and even his father and mother dared not offend him.

Recently, due to Xie Qinghong's illness, Xie Qingya has been leaving work earlier each day and has also stipulated that Xie Qingzhou is not allowed to go out and cause trouble after work. In particular, if he takes Xie Qinghong out, they must return home promptly.

Thinking of this, he dared not dawdle any longer, and got up and said, "Let's go, let's go home quickly."

Xie Qinghong stood up briskly, and as soon as he stepped out, he heard the door to the private room next door open, and someone said, "Please, Your Highness."

Seeing that they seemed to be surrounded by five or six people, and not knowing which prince they were, Xie Qinghong moved a step behind his elder brother to avoid bumping into them. After all, there were two or three princes with bad reputations, and it would be best to avoid them.

Suddenly, someone in the group spoke up: "Hey, Qingzhou, you're here too. Did you bring your sister for a meal?"

Xie Qinghong looked up and saw that three or four people in the group looked familiar. They should be her brother's colleagues or friends. Why didn't these people invite her brother to their gathering? No wonder her brother had to sneak up on the door to eavesdrop.

She looked sympathetically at her brother's back, only to hear him speak with a smile, readily spouting official jargon: "Indeed, what a coincidence to meet you here today. I really didn't know the young master was also dining here. If I had known, I should have gone over to offer him a toast. My apologies."

"It's alright."

Xie Qinghong was still wondering which prince it was when the unfamiliar man in the center spoke up: "Second Master Xie, you're too kind."

Xie Qinghong couldn't help but exclaim "Wow!" in his heart. His voice was slightly low but not hoarse. Looking at the man, he was dressed in black, handsome and dashing, with upturned eyes and a calm expression. In the dim candlelight of the corridor, no particular emotion could be discerned.

She had never seen such a person in the capital. Just now she thought that the young masters of noble families in the capital were not as handsome as her brother and elder brother, and now there was someone who could compare. She had to say that fate was truly wonderful.

Xie Qingzhou gestured for them to go first, but his colleagues invited him to join them on the pleasure boat. Xie Qingzhou repeatedly refused, saying, "I can't, I have to take my sister home. It's not good to be late."

The person who made the invitation said with a hint of regret, yet also with a touch of joking, "Why don't we bring Miss Xie along? Today, for the sake of the young master, we've specially booked the entire pleasure boat, and there's no one else around."

Xie Qingzhou gritted his teeth inwardly. He had known these people had ill intentions. They didn't want to invite him; they clearly wanted to abduct Ayao. Fortunately, he had firmly shielded Ayao behind him, not revealing her at all. Even his perfunctory smile faded a bit: "No need. My sister has just recovered from her illness and can't be exposed to the wind."

It was no use forcing them. The person who had spoken earlier suppressed his thoughts, then regretted speaking up when he remembered that the Prince of Nan was still there. He quickly said, "Then so be it, Your Highness. Why don't we go down first? There's a Southern opera performance specially arranged on the pleasure boat today..."

Before he could finish speaking, the Prince of the South interrupted him: "Since Xie Erlang wants to take his sister home as soon as possible, why don't you go first?"

Xie Qingzhou didn't want to bypass them, and he didn't know the temperament of this Prince of the South. Just as he was about to decline again, Xie Qinghong couldn't help but cough because of the wind blowing through the corridor.

Xie Qingzhou dared not delay any longer. Regardless of whether the Prince of Nan was being insincere, he led Xie Qinghong to pass by them.

Just as she was about to walk over, Xie Qinghong's trailing skirt was stepped on by someone. She lost her balance and stumbled. Just as she was about to fall, a long sword suddenly appeared in front of her. The fingers gripping the sword were long and strong, and she instinctively reached out to steady it.

A pair of hands rested on the end of the sword sheath.

"Be careful." The prince, whose identity was unknown, bowed slightly and steadied her with one hand holding his sword.

Before Xie Qinghong could speak, Xie Qingzhou rushed over, helped her up, thanked the young master, and then quickly led her away.

"Brother, which family's heir is that? I've never seen him before."

Xie Qingzhou's heart skipped a beat, but he still tried to remain calm: "It is the Prince of Nan. You have indeed never met him before. He only came to the capital recently to celebrate His Majesty's birthday. He is unpredictable and not easy to get along with. Since he is not familiar with the capital, His Majesty specially selected a few young men to accompany him on his tour."

She subtly tried to sow discord, but all she heard was a soft "Oh."

Oh?

Xie Qingzhou felt inexplicably uneasy.