074

Qin Sang turned onto the stairs, quickly followed the person downstairs, and then strode towards the opposite side. Just as she turned the corner where the white-clad figure had disappeared, she was suddenly blocked by a person who appeared and almost bumped into him.

She looked up and saw the face of the shadow puppet mask.

The pale mask had two dark holes on its face. Only upon close inspection could one see the eyes buried deep within them. The clear eyes shone with a sharp light, piercing through the air with a deep gaze.

Qin Sang was taken aback.

The man seemed to chuckle, or perhaps not, and after a long pause, he finally said, "You've been following me?"

Bai Yiqing's voice is warm and deep, with a slight magnetic tremor; it's an exceptionally pleasant voice that's hard to forget once you've heard it.

"It really is you." Qin Sang adjusted her slightly disordered breathing from walking so fast and said with a forced smile, "What a coincidence."

"Is it a coincidence?"

"..."

Just as she was about to speak, Qin Sang felt her wrist tighten as someone grabbed it. She looked down and heard Bai Yiqing say again, "Since it's such a coincidence, why don't you come with me somewhere?"

"..." Qin Sang struggled with her wrist, "That...isn't necessary?"

Bai Yiqing's hand was slightly cool, and with an irresistible force, she pulled the person down: "Since you're following me, why are you saying it's unnecessary now... isn't that a bit too pretentious?"

Qin Sang retorted, "What makes you think I followed you? I just..."

"You just happened to run into me?" Bai Yiqing asked sarcastically, as if she knew what she was going to say.

Qin Sang was dragged downstairs by him and hurriedly asked, "Excuse me, young master, where are you taking me?"

Bai Yiqing: "You'll find out when you get there."

He pulled Qin Sang along without giving her a chance to object. When they arrived at the shop entrance, she looked up and told the waiter, "Tell my friend I'll be right back."

The waiter stared blankly at the two of them, then nodded in agreement.

Standing at the entrance of the restaurant for only a short while, a carriage with a clanging sound came to a stop. The coachman got off the carriage attentively and set up the stirrups. Bai Yiqing, still holding Qin Sang's wrist, led her into the carriage.

As soon as the car door closed, he reached out and took off the mask, revealing a handsome face sculpted from ice and jade.

Qin Sang glanced at him, then quickly looked away to examine the interior decorations and furnishings of the car.

She had already ridden in Xie Xiao's carriage, which was already quite good. As the most beloved prince of Princess Yuanzhao, the carriage would only be decorated more elegantly and warmly.

I saw his slender fingers hold the teapot and pour two cups of tea, then he leisurely asked, "Where have you been dressed like this today?"

He brought the teacup to his lips, suddenly appearing nonchalant.

Qin Sang was still dressed in men's clothing, with her hair tied up high.

"Where I went is none of your business," Qin Sang said rather rudely.

Bai Yiqing drank his tea, put down the teacup, tapped the table lightly with his index finger, looked at Qin Sang expressionlessly, and asked, "How old are you this year?"

Qin Sang was taken aback and asked him in return, "...And you, how old are you?"

Bai Yiqing: "Twenty years old (by the traditional Chinese age reckoning)."

"Tsk tsk, you're so old already?...Isn't it said that a man should get married at eighteen? Why haven't you gotten married yet?"

"Of course, you should only talk about marriage when you meet someone with whom you share a similar heart. How old are you?"

Outside the carriage, a bustling crowd and vendors hawked their wares. Qin Sang smiled enigmatically and asked, "How old do you think I am, young master?"

Bai Yiqing put her hand down on the small table, flicked her wide sleeve lightly, and remained expressionless: "I can't tell."

Qin Sang: "?"

Bai Yiqing stared at her: "It seems you didn't listen to a word I said to you by the lake yesterday." Xie

Qin Sang: "I know what I'm doing, don't worry about it."

Bai Yiqing looked at her for a while, then lowered his eyes: "Yesterday, your first wife already made it clear that she wanted to arrange a marriage for you."

Qin Sang half-covered her face with her fan, slightly shy: "That's because... after all, she's good-looking, so even if she wanted to keep her, she couldn't."

Bai Yiqing: "..."

Bai Yiqing: "So, which company has she set her sights on?"

"It doesn't matter which family it is," Qin Sang said casually. "It's all the adults' idea, so I'll just go along with it."

Bai Yiqing remained unfazed: "You'd just send someone to any household, even if that person is over seventy or has a large number of wives and concubines, and you'd still comply?"

Qin Sang thought for a moment and nodded: "There's nothing we can do about it. They have their own reasons."

Although Bai Yiqing remained expressionless, Qin Sang felt that his gaze had become more somber.

During this casual exchange, Qin Sang was actually pondering this person in his heart. On the surface, this person appeared to be a wealthy and leisurely young nobleman, but he seemed to be no different from Xie Sui'an, who only knew how to eat, drink, and have fun.

His appearance in Quzhou Prefecture last time was by no means accidental.

It's unclear which side this person is on.

Qin Sang, wanting to test him, sighed softly, "I was born in a remote and uncivilized land, where the law doesn't follow the imperial court. Naturally, I've experienced many things that wealthy young masters like you can hardly imagine. For example, last time in Quzhou Prefecture, the brother-in-law of Prefect Qiao was all-powerful, oppressing the people by mining in the mountains. I stumbled into it and almost lost my life." She stared at his expression, "To be protected by the Prime Minister's mansion is already an immense favor. What more could I ask for?"

Bai remained unmoved by the epidemic, not even a single eyelash fluttering, as if he had never been to Quzhou Prefecture or heard of Master Wu's mining activities.

He refilled the teacup, a faint smile playing on his lips: "In that case, you're quite suited to Kyoto, a place surrounded by wolves and tigers."

She felt a bit stuffy inside the carriage, and fanned herself, saying, "What's this talk about whether it's suitable or not? Young master, have you ever seen a weed? It can survive anywhere you throw it."

"So what do you think of me?"

Qin Sang was about to serve tea when she heard this, her hand trembled, and she overturned the teacup.

The tea dripped down the small table, but neither of them bothered to wipe it up with a handkerchief, letting it flow onto the carriage floor.

Bai Yiqing smiled and put down her teacup: "So, I'm not on your shortlist."

Qin Sang stared at the puddle of water on the table, which was dripping down onto the felt carpet in the carriage.

She touched her sleeve, then paused: "...I still need to keep my handkerchief. Do you have any rags in your car to wipe water?"

"..." Bai Yiqing took out a handkerchief from her sleeve.

Qin Sang took it, then carelessly tossed the exquisite embroidered handkerchief onto the small table and wiped the tea dry.

“It’s not impossible,” she said.

Bai Yiqing was taken aback for a moment before looking up at her: "Hmm?"

Qin Sang looked up at his exquisitely handsome face and said, "Marrying you isn't impossible. But I can't make that decision myself. If you like me, you can go and propose to the Xie family." She smiled and stared at him, "You're so handsome, of course I like you too."

In the vast capital city, various forces are secretly at work, forming factions. Currently, the largest faction is the Eastern Palace, led by the Crown Prince, and Chunchen, led by Xie Zhongxu.

Qin Sang doesn't care which side it's from; as long as the other party has a powerful backer, she'll naturally find a way.

However, Bai Yiqing was indeed not considered.

She was self-aware; Bai Yiqing was aloof, noble, and of impeccable character, not someone easily swayed by beauty. Moreover, Princess Yuanzhao was the emperor's most favored younger sister, naturally possessing high standards; how could she possibly want a woman like her, with no social standing and unknown origins?

As for the others, marrying into the Ning'an Prince's mansion would be a second marriage, and to a man who would strike fear into the hearts of noble ladies in the capital. There's no guarantee that there won't be some surprises.

The Marquis of Du Nan's family and the Prime Minister's family are on good terms. Xiahou Ye is a playboy who is fond of beautiful women. Moreover, he is not the eldest son, so he will not have excessive demands on the mistress. With proper efforts, he can still be very successful in winning her over.

Furthermore, there's Tan Bi, the young and promising general who commands respect in the capital. He's young, single-handedly upholding his family's honor, and is known for his bloodthirstiness and tyranny. He's the kind of man that would deter most women. With her beauty and courage, Qin Sang might just be able to win his heart...

I really didn't expect that Bai Yiqing would bring this up with me.

She couldn't tell for a moment whether this was his true feeling or if he was hiding some kind of conspiracy.

This person was like the moon reflected in a well or a flower in water; Qin Sang couldn't see him clearly.

Bai Yiqing remained calm and composed, his face devoid of any smile, as he quietly watched Qin Sang.

Qin Sang felt uneasy after being stared at like that for a while: "Where...did I say something wrong?"

Bai Yiqing finally moved. He lifted the curtain and looked out of the carriage: "I suddenly remembered that I have other things to do today, so I can only invite you to come with me next time."

Qin Sang: "...???"

Bai Yiqing knocked on the carriage and instructed the driver, "Stop the carriage."

Qin Sang: "..."

Qin Sang was thus ushered out of the car by a beautiful woman, and watched as the elegant vehicle disappeared into the crowd.

On the bustling street, she half-covered her face with a fan, grinding her molars in anger.

"This person has a strange temper, it's best to stay away from him." She sighed deeply and asked a passerby for directions.

As she walked back towards Yanyun Tower, she suddenly stopped and realized: Was he trying to seduce me just now?

Seduction?

Recalling Bai Yiqing's eagerness in pulling her away from Yanyun Tower, and his nonchalant dismissal of her from the carriage afterward, she seemed to understand something.

A diversionary tactic!

So he quickened his pace and hurried toward Yanyun Tower.

Upon returning to Yanyun Tower, Qin Baoyun was anxiously waiting for her at the entrance. When she came back, he said that Cao Anmu had already left because he probably wouldn't be able to see the owner of Yanyun Tower today.

Qin Sang said it was alright, then stepped into the gate again. After taking two steps, she turned back and asked Qin Baoyun, "Have you seen anyone else in this restaurant? Someone you know?"

Qin Baoyun thought for a moment and said, "There is one."

"who?"

“The personal guards of Prince Ning’an.”

Does Prince Ning'an have a private relationship with Bai Yiqing?

On her way back, Qin Sang gently looked at her knees with her fan, lost in thought. But Prince Ning'an was a prince with a bad reputation. If Bai Yiqing was really the mastermind behind the gold mine, then in the end, their fate would actually belong to Prince Ning'an.

That unassuming Prince Ning'an, who pretends to be insane and manic?

But the current crown prince is of impeccable lineage and has an excellent reputation. He is the undisputed candidate for the throne. How could Princess Yuanzhao allow her son to support a prince who has no hope whatsoever?

Bai Yiqing isn't a fool; he wouldn't be that stupid.

So... Prince Ning'an really does have ambitions.

It seems I need to find an opportunity to meet that unpredictable prince as soon as possible...