Chapter 10 Chapter 10 It seems like... a secret meeting.

At this point, if Nie Xiangyi still doesn't know what they want to do, then she is stupid.

After going through so much trouble, it turned out that he was coming here just for her.

Yinhu, when she first arrived at the mansion, the Taoist almost pointed at her nose and said something.

She couldn't help but sneer. Why would she go to the theater today? The show at the mansion was enough for her to watch.

What's funny is that she was the eldest daughter of this family, but now she has become a stranger in their eyes.

She belatedly felt a burning pain on her cheeks, and looked at everyone in the room with cold eyes.

Nie Zhengqing frowned unconsciously, his expression a mixture of impatience and hesitation, "Just tell me why."

Taoist Wuyang twirled his gray beard. "The feng shui of this mansion has been set for a hundred years. If someone comes, the fire and earth elements of the Yin-Tiger zodiac sign will clash, disrupting the feng shui. All we need to do is move this person out of the house and wait until spring."

Only a few months after she returned to Beijing, some people found her an eyesore and tried every possible means to drive her away.

Nie Zhengqing's expression showed a hint of hesitation. His eldest daughter had just returned from Shanzhou, and asking her to move to a separate courtyard out of nowhere would easily give rise to criticism, making people think he was mistreating his eldest daughter.

"Is there any other solution? What if we don't move..."

The Taoist shook his head helplessly. "The eight characters clash, and evil spirits are causing trouble. The snake plague is just one of them. If this continues, I'm afraid there will be no peace in the mansion forever."

He pinched his fingers seriously and said, "What's worse, the official star is restrained, and the fortune is not prosperous. I am afraid that there will be disasters that will be implicated."

Upon hearing that it would damage his career and that others would be implicated, Nie Zhengqing's expression immediately became serious.

"Never mind. I understand."

After Taoist Wuyang left, Nie Zhengqing looked at Nie Xiangyi. He seemed to have some reluctance, and even his tone slowed down a lot, looking helpless.

"I was furious just now. But you've already heard that this matter involves the Nie family's foundation. Why don't you move to another courtyard first and come back after spring?"

Nie Xiangyi sneered to himself, the corner of his mouth pulling at the numb pain on his cheek, "Father, if you're bothering with these gods and ghosts and your daughter's marriage, it would be better for you to make progress yourself, instead of just clinging to an empty title all day long."

"You!" Nie Zhengqing's face turned blue and red due to her words, and he almost started fighting again.

It was Jiang Yun'e who stopped him and handed him a cup of hot tea at the right time, "Lord, calm down! Xiangyi is just like that."

Nie Xiangyi was too lazy to argue with him. He sneered and turned away.

"Miss! This is definitely Jiang's deliberate act! If you really move out of the Marquis' Mansion, who knows what others will say! They'll probably think you've become the abandoned daughter of the Nie family!"

Hanxu was shocked by the news and couldn't help but feel anxious. While using a hard-boiled egg to soothe the redness on her face, she said, "Mrs. Jiang is so treacherous! She's deliberately delaying your marriage."

"A mere daughter of the Nie family, it's not worth it."

She was sent to Shanzhou before, and now she is moved to another courtyard, but it's the same.

"Go pack your things. We'll move tomorrow."

"Ah?" Han Xu's eyes widened. "If we move to the other courtyard like this, wouldn't that be too easy for them?"

"How can that be?" Nie Xiangyi snorted coldly, "Go find some people for me."

Is she the type to suffer in silence? After suffering such an injustice, she can't let them get away with it easily.

The next day, the boxes and clothes in Qingfangyuan were almost packed, and Nie Xiangyi led a group of people to the direction of Furongyuan.

Jiang Yun'e was startled when she saw her coming. In the blink of an eye, her face was filled with a gentle smile, "Why are you here?"

"I'll pack up."

Jiang Yun'e didn't understand the meaning of her words, but her smile was very understanding. "The master said that I'm just going to stay in the other courtyard for a while and will be back in the summer. Don't worry."

Nie Xiangyi was too lazy to talk nonsense with her and waved to the people behind him, "Get started."

I saw a group of big men rushing into the yard. They took out valuable items such as vases and jades, and even took away screens and mirror frames.

"Hey!" Jiang Yun'e's face suddenly changed, and her smile instantly became difficult to maintain. She hurriedly sent someone to stop him, while asking Nie Xiangyi, "Xiangyi, what are you doing?"

"Pack up your things!" Nie Xiangyi answered confidently.

She looked at Jiang Yun'e with contempt, "Are you comfortable living in my mother's yard? You've taken over my mother's nest, do you really think it's your own?"

The phrase "cuckoo taking over the magpie's nest" made Jiang Yun'e's face change instantly, "You!"

The bright smile on her face was both ostentatious and malicious. "What? Did it hit a sore spot?"

"Girl, the step-up bed in the room is not easy to move." Han Xu was directing everyone to move things, and the exquisite and complicated step-up bed in the room made her feel troubled.

"Then tear it down and take it away!" Nie Xiangyi said without hesitation, "The thought of you sleeping on my mother's dowry bed for more than ten years makes me sick. I'd rather tear this step-out bed down and use it as a firewood stick than leave it to you."

"Nie Xiangyi!" Jiang Yun'e couldn't help herself and scolded her with a sharp voice she had never heard before, "Over the years, I have never treated you badly! Why do you have to make things so difficult for me?"

These words almost made Nie Xiangyi laugh out loud.

"Jiang Yun'e, you can deceive others, but don't deceive yourself."

She still remembered how, as a child, she would be accused of being selfish and stingy even if she ate an extra piece of cake. Whenever she objected, Jiang would cry to her father with a look of grievance, "I'm Xiangyi's mother now, and I have to teach her the proper rules. Who knew this child would be so unruly?"

Every time this happened, my father would say with a serious face, "Xiangyi! You should learn from your sister!"

Nie Xiangyi sneered, "Ever since my mother's death, rumors have spread throughout the capital that I'm unruly and willful, and difficult to educate. Whether it's my stepmother's harsh treatment, or my refusal to obey discipline, you know the answer."

"you!"

She stopped talking to Jiang Yun'e. After a while, under Nie Xiangyi's command, these people even took down the plaques and couplets outside the house, almost reducing Furong Courtyard to an empty shell.

As the sky gradually darkened, while Nie Zhengqing was still on duty, several horse-drawn carriages carrying piles of boxes and crates drove out of the Yongyi Marquis' Mansion.

"Why bother bringing everything with you, girl? It's always troublesome."

"Since I moved out, I haven't thought about coming back." Nie Xiangyi snorted, "Even if they beg me to come back in the future, I will never pay any attention!"

Hanxu understood and followed her lead, saying, "But I heard that this house to the east was originally under Madam's name. It would be a good idea for you to move there now. It's quiet and deserted, and who would dare to say anything bad about you?"

"Really?" Nie Xiangyi's eyes suddenly lit up, "Isn't that perfect?"

As she spoke, she couldn't help but lift the curtain, and her face showed some anticipation.

As soon as she stuck her head out, her eyes curved into a smile and she called out cheerfully, "Han Xu!"

She turned her head, her eyes sparkling, "Look at this road, does it look like the one that leads to the Third Prince's residence?"

It was dark at night. Xie Zhi had just returned to his mansion after finishing his duty when he saw many servants gathered around the house opposite, moving things in and out.

"Your Highness, this..."

This house had been vacant for years, so someone suddenly moved in, which made people suspicious. In addition, Xie Zhi was in charge of the Shen Ce Department at such a young age, so many eyes were watching, so he had to be on guard.

Without Xie Zhi's reminder, Ling Zhu had already quietly sneaked into the house opposite at night to find out something.

But before Ling Zhu came back, an uninvited guest arrived at his house.

"Your Highness? Your Highness?"

The girl's voice was soft, with a whisper, as if she was afraid of being discovered. Xie Zhi looked out the window, following the sound of the voice. The moonlight was soft, and the slender outline of the courtyard wall was faintly visible. The moonlight was soft, and the night breeze was gentle. The corners of the goose yellow clothes fluttered by, so lively under the bright moonlight.

Like a willful kitten, he winked at Xie Zhi cunningly.

Xie Zhi couldn't help but frown when he saw her, "Why are you here?"

She was quite bold. It was already late at night, and a girl in the boudoir dared to barge into someone else's house, as if...she was having a secret meeting.

Has no one taught her to avoid suspicion?

Or is she already very familiar with breaking into other people's houses at night?

Suddenly, an inexplicable thought flashed through Xie Zhi's mind. Could she also do the same and climb over the Wang family's wall?

Nie Xiangyi hopped down the courtyard wall briskly, and looked at Xie Zhi through the window, her eyebrows curved, "I'm here to see His Highness."

Xie Zhi's voice was cold and hard, "What can't be discussed tomorrow?"

"I can't wait." Nie Xiangyi blinked, "I have something to give to His Highness."

But before she could take out the things, Xie Zhi coldly refused, "No need. You can go back now."

"Your Highness, please take a look first." She seemed to not care about Xie Zhi's refusal. She just took out the lonely book from her bosom and handed it to Xie Zhi through the carved wooden window.

The rare copy was precious, and she was afraid it would get wrinkled if she put it in her sleeve, so she wrapped it in brocade cloth and put it in her arms.

"I saw that Your Highness likes reading, so I found this rare copy especially for Your Highness."

The familiar fragrance of gardenia seemed to be right under his nose. Xie Zhi frowned and watched her take the book out of her arms with cold eyes, but did not reach out to take it.

He remembered Ling Zhu's report. It turned out that she bought this kind of book from the bookstore that day, just to give it to him?

Who taught her to act so recklessly? Was he a frivolous playboy like Wang Wulang?

He really doesn't have any self-conceit at all.

However, Nie Xiangyi just stared at him eagerly, her watery eyes full of anticipation, like a puppy waiting for praise. She handed the book to Xie Zhi,

"Your Highness?"

Xie Zhi pursed his lips, his voice already cold, "Take back your banned book."

"Ban, banned book?" Nie Xiangyi paused, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Is this also considered a banned book?"

She hurriedly pulled the rare copy of "Nine Stars Literature" out of the brocade cloth, "But the guy told me that this is a rare and unique copy!"

Xie Zhi was stunned for a moment. How could it not be the "Pretty Man Runs Away at Night" that Ling Zhu mentioned?

He almost laughed out loud for a moment.

Good job, Ling Zhu. The job is getting better and better.

Seeing him remain silent, Nie Xiangyi thought she had been tricked by the bookshop clerk and stamped her feet in anger. "How dare that clerk trick me! I'll smash his shop tomorrow! And that Wang Wulang, he didn't even warn me! He must have been deliberately trying to make fun of me."

Hearing Wang Wulang, Xie Zhi's lips suddenly tightened, "Wang Wulang also has this unique copy?"

"Of course not!" Nie Xiangyi denied it firmly. But before Xie Zhi's brows could fully relax, she added, "His is a different one."

Although his expression remained the same, Nie Xiangyi felt that his whole body had inexplicably turned cold.

Xie Zhi no longer looked at her, "Go back."

"I……"

Before Nie Xiangyi could speak again, she was startled by the sudden hurried footsteps.

Someone is coming this way!

She was panicking, but there were walls all around her, leaving her with nowhere to hide. In a moment of desperation, she lifted her skirt and climbed in through the window.

"Who is it!" It was Ling Zhu's voice.

Nie Xiangyi crouched down and hid under the desk at Xie Zhi's feet.

"Why are you hiding?" Xie Zhi frowned, watching her carefully gather the hem of her skirt, almost touching her legs.

"Someone's coming!" Nie Xiangyi replied in a soft whisper, "What if they spread gossip about you?"

Xie Zhi felt like laughing for some reason. As a young girl, she wasn't worried about her own reputation, but was worried about him instead.

What's more, he is a prince, who dares to interfere easily?

However, Nie Xiangyi looked up at him with clear and sincere eyes, without any pretense.

Xie Zhi's expression became slightly restrained.

Nie Xiangyi muttered to himself, "Your Highness is a gentle and kind person, naturally unlike me, who doesn't feel itchy even though he has too many lice."

She chuckled softly, raised her head and blinked at Xie Zhi, her cat-like eyes lively and playful. "Besides, I don't care about these things."

This reminded Xie Zhi that she was indeed somewhat "famous." Ever since she returned to Beijing, rumors about her unruly, headstrong, rude, and unfilial nature had never ceased, so much so that he had heard some of them.

Seeing her now, I feel that she is like an unrestrained wild cat, not trapped by etiquette.

Nie Xiangyi heard the footsteps outside had stopped, thinking that the person had gone far away, and was about to get up.

A hand suddenly fell on her shoulder.

Just as she was wondering, she suddenly heard Ling Zhu's voice approaching.

"Your Highness?"

Xie Zhi glanced at her feet. This posture was really indecent. But the action just now was just subconscious.

Nie Xiangyi was crouching under his desk, late at night. If someone saw her, wouldn't it arouse their imagination and make things worse? She could ignore the gossip, but he couldn't let it go.

Even though Ling Zhu was a subordinate he trusted, he couldn't let her endure the strange looks because of this.

Xie Zhi thought that he did not do it on purpose for her, but simply because it was a gentleman's act.

Ling Zhu, dressed in night clothes, looked around cautiously, "Your Highness, is there any unusual movement in the courtyard that would disturb Your Highness?"

Xie Zhi's eyes dimmed, "No."

He frowned and looked down. The light under the table was dim. The girl's face was innocent and pure, but she was hiding beside his legs in an extremely ambiguous posture.

The candlelight outlined the soft round flesh on her cheeks, like a plump peach, juicy and lovely.

Through the thin fabric, he could almost feel the soft hair on her temples brushing against his legs.

Perhaps it was because she had to dodge in a hurry and it took some effort, or perhaps it was because someone was here that made her nervous.

I saw that her hair was slightly tilted, her breathing was rapid and panting, and there was crystal sweat on her forehead.

It seemed that just by lowering his eyes, he could see her heaving chest like a piece of white jade under her thin goose yellow spring shirt.

Xie Zhi abruptly looked away.

But the warm breath that was so close to him was all over his skin.

The annoying fragrance of gardenia seemed to linger around me again, vaguely.

Xie Zhi frowned deeply. He hadn't turned a single page of the book on the table, but he had wrinkled a corner of it for no reason.

He had no choice but to lower his eyes and glare at Nie Xiangyi again, signaling her to stay away from him.

However, Nie Xiangyi just blinked her bright eyes and looked at him innocently.

It was so cramped under the table that there was no escape.

Nie Xiangyi, hiding under the desk, was also feeling uncomfortable. After squatting in the cramped space for so long, her feet felt numb. She couldn't stand still for a moment and could only hold on to Xie Zhi's legs.

The muscles under his palm tensed up.

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Suitable: breathing.

Xiao Xie: Great tricks.