Chapter 32 Late winter doesn't mean I like you!

Fu Yao bent down and leaned close to Yue Yining, speaking up for her: "Miss, why did you ask him to meet you? He's so shameless. Maybe we should just ignore him."

Yue Yining didn't know what was wrong with Ye Miheng again, but she really needed to talk to him. Many things were too complicated to explain in detail, and she couldn't ask about them in a letter.

The reply was brief, but the handwriting and tone were familiar to Yue Yining, suggesting it was drafted by Ye Miheng himself.

She stared at the invitation in her hand for a long time, recalling the man's past behavior, and suddenly realized: "I understand!"

Fu Yao looked bewildered, but then she saw Yue Yining wave her sleeves again and again: "Yao Yao, go and get me some new stationery."

Fu Yao didn't understand, but she did as she was told. After getting the letter paper, she squatted down beside Yue Yining and watched her write with great anticipation. In less than ten minutes, she had drafted a new visiting card.

Yue Yining blew on the ink on the Xuan paper, then placed it above the stove to dry it before folding it and handing it to Fu Yao. "Go tell the gatekeeper to send another visiting card, this time to the Fourth Prince's residence. Go."

The visiting card sent out this time received a reply very quickly.

Yue Yining received a reply for the second time; the letter was even shorter, with only one word remaining after removing the signature and closing:

allow.

Yue Yining looked at the reply in her hand, feeling both annoyed and amused. She had only guessed at first, but now that her guess had been confirmed, she felt both amused and somewhat sentimental.

This was indeed the Ye Miheng she remembered.

Fu Yao, who was organizing the files, was very dissatisfied: "Who is he putting on airs for? He only agrees to meet you if you personally draft the invitation, Miss. He's really putting on airs! It's his good fortune that our Miss wants to see him!"

Yue Yining wasn't angry; she could even tease her little maid with casual remarks: "Don't say that. He's practically your master."

Fu Yao immediately exploded: "What kind of master is he?! I just happened to learn a good technique, and he just happens to be the creator of this technique. Does that mean everyone who practices this technique is his disciple? Besides, I don't want to take a guy with such a bad temper as my master!"

Upon hearing this, Yue Yining burst into laughter, almost laughing until tears streamed down her face.

Fu Yao started practicing martial arts after following Yue Yining, and it's been almost five years now. Back then, Yue Yining saw that she seemed to have extraordinary talent in this area, so he decided to find a good training method for her, which is why he approached Ye Miheng, who was quite knowledgeable in this field.

"Alright, it was indeed my oversight. He replied to all the posts himself, but the invitation I sent was drafted by someone else. It's normal for him to be dissatisfied. It's all about reciprocity." Yue Yining put on her crane cloak, pulled the ends of her hair out of her clothes, and said to Fu Yao, "Let's go, Yao Yao, you come with me."

Yue Yining and Ye Miheng arranged to meet at Manshenglou, the largest restaurant in Yanjing.

A carriage with vermilion wheels and green canopy rolled along the ten-mile-long street and stopped in front of a restaurant with fluttering red banners. A woman in a green dress with her hair in a cloud-like bun and a jade hairpin stepped down slowly. Her fair face and dark eyebrows were none other than Yue Yining.

Peddlers carried their wares on shoulder poles, and pedestrians thronged the streets, some wrapped in fur coats and others in felt clothing; on both sides, bare trees and winter plum blossoms intertwined, their gray-white branches and fiery red flowers intermingling, while the weeping willows, though not yet in bloom, already hinted at the coming of spring.

At the end of the long street, one can still glimpse the majestic palace, and the faint sounds of bells and drums can be heard.

Yue Yining and Fu Yao alighted from the carriage. There were many carriages and horses parked in front of the restaurant. She glanced over and happened to see a figure bending down to step into a carriage, dressed in black with silver patterns and a jade crown tied high.

Yue Yining's feet suddenly felt like they were rooted to the spot, and she didn't move an inch.

When she noticed Yue Yining stop halfway, Fu Yao was a little surprised. Seeing her young mistress staring intently at a BMW carriage that had just started moving, she also took a look and asked, "Miss, what are you looking at? Is there anything special about that carriage?"

In the short time they were delayed, the sedan chair had already driven far away.

Yue Yining watched the car disappear into the distance, then slowly looked away: "It's nothing."

She was perhaps a little delirious. The curtain hanging from the carriage door was deep purple and had a ruyi pattern, clearly indicating that the carriage belonged to a first-rank official of the imperial court. How could the person who got on the carriage be Ayu? She remembered very clearly that although Ayu's carriage at that time was also very beautiful, it was far less distinguished than this one.

After several months apart, Yue Yining thought she had almost forgotten Ayu, but now, just a back view that bore an eight-tenths resemblance to him was enough to stop her in her tracks.

Yue Yining composed herself, unwilling to think about it anymore.

The two entered the restaurant. The carriage continued forward, and the number of pedestrians gradually decreased, leaving the hustle and bustle behind.

The carriage stopped in front of a secluded mansion.

The attendant lifted the carriage curtain, and the first person to disembark was a handsome scholar. After landing, he waited by the side until another young man in black got off the train and stood still before bowing deeply and saying, "Thank you for your help today, sir. Rongxuan will remember it forever."

"If you ever need anything in the future, I, Rongxuan, will go through fire and water without hesitation."

The person who got off the carriage behind was Xie Qingyu, dressed in a black robe with a brocade belt, her head bowed and her jade-like face radiating warmth.

He smiled slightly and said slowly, "Lord Rong, you flatter me. Perhaps in the future, Qingyu will still need to rely on you."

Rong Xuan was flattered: "That's too kind of you. I don't deserve it."

Xie Qingyu smiled and said, "How could that be? I think only Lord Rong is worthy of Qingyu's expectations."

Rong Xuan was clearly confused, but he was no longer a naive newcomer to officialdom. Since five years ago, when he offended Vice Chancellor Wang with his outspoken memorial and was demoted from Yanjing to a local official in Yu'an City, he had gradually figured out the ins and outs of official life. Xie Qingyu was helping him today, and he would definitely repay her kindness in the future, otherwise he would only be attacked even more severely.

The man before him, Lord Xie, was said to be only twenty-five years old, yet his demeanor was already composed and profound, much like his father. If Xie Qingyu asked him to side with the Xie family, he would agree, believing that Xie Qingyu was destined for greatness and that aligning himself with him now was the wise choice.

"It's rare for Lord Rong to come to the capital. I'll send someone to escort you back to Yu'an tomorrow." Xie Qingyu gestured with her hand. "There was a lot of noise in the restaurant just now, and I still have some things to say. Lord Rong, please come in."

......

What is it like to see an old friend again after five years?

Yue Yining was surprised.

"You've changed so much," Yue Yining exclaimed. "If it weren't for the fact that your facial features haven't changed much, I wouldn't have recognized you."

In a private room on the second floor of Manshenglou, a table was set with celadon teaware and exquisite pastries. Sitting opposite Yue Yining was a young man, dressed in a royal blue robe with white plum blossoms, which made him look dashing and handsome. He had sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, and his gaze was piercing.

Ye Miheng said coldly, "You haven't changed at all; you're still dressed so poorly."

Yue Yining clapped her hands and sighed, "Yes, yes, yes! That's exactly it! That kind of smug, punchable vibe that makes you want to slap them the moment they open their mouths, that's so right!"

Sure enough, the guy who had been putting on a cool act instantly lost his composure. Ye Miheng was furious and embarrassed, his face turning blue with anger. He was about to slam his fist on the table and shout, "What did you say?! Yue Yining, you dare say it again!"

Yue Yining poured him a cup of tea and pushed it towards him: "Calm down. I called you out today to talk about serious business. Let's not argue."

"What's going on with you? Why did you suddenly come down from the mountain and even become an official in the court?" Yue Yining said. "This doesn't seem like something you would do."

"Tell me, where did that guy who said he would devote himself to cultivation and become the number one master in the world go?"

Ye Miheng sneered: "What? You're allowed to go down the mountain and make your way in the world, and you're allowed to meddle in the struggle for the throne? What you can do, why can't I do?"

Yue Yining said helplessly, "Ye Miheng, can't you speak properly? I didn't say you couldn't come. I just want to know why you came."

"Since your ambitions lie elsewhere, why bother getting involved in this mess?"

Ye Miheng looked at her, his gaze shifting like the midsummer sky, a lively interplay of sunshine, rain, and gloom. After what seemed like an eternity, he finally turned his head away, saying, "...You wouldn't understand even if I told you."

Yue Yining surrendered: "Fine, then tell me why you chose the Fourth Prince?"

"Working for Wei Jing must be exhausting, right? I'm curious how you can tolerate him with your personality."

When the Fourth Prince was mentioned, Ye Miheng looked genuinely disgusted.

But he said, "I have calculated the fate of the nation. The fourth prince, Wei Jing, is the one destined by heaven. If I don't choose him, who else can I choose?"

Yue Yining's hand, which was still fiddling with the tea leaves, suddenly stopped.

She frowned immediately: "You also used tortoise shell divination? Did your master explain the drawbacks of this kind of technique to you?"

Ye Miheng: "I know, it's just ten years of lifespan. If you can afford it, I can afford it too!"

“It’s not a question of whether we can afford it or not, it’s such a waste…” Yue Yining sighed. “You know I’ve already calculated it, so why don’t you send me a letter to ask me if you want the result?”

Ye Miheng glared at him angrily: "Where did you send it? Even your master didn't know where you went in the past five years, how could I possibly know? How dare you bring this up!"

Yue Yining felt a little guilty, but only for a moment: "Ahem, that's true..."

"But wouldn't you be losing your lifespan for nothing? I would also feel it's a pity. I'm different. I've already given it all, so telling others won't make a difference."

As Yue Yining spoke, she looked at Ye Miheng again, only to find that the guy who had been baring his teeth and claws had suddenly fallen silent.

His eyes darted away: "Are you... are you worried about me?"

Yue Yining found it strange.

Although the cubicle didn't have a window, the second floor wasn't that stuffy, so why did my face turn red from the fumes?

"Of course I'm worried. We're old friends, aren't we? Even though you might dislike me a little, I..." But she still hoped he would be well.

She has been down the mountain for five years, witnessing the vastness of mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas, and understanding the complexities of human relationships. The world is vast, new paths are endless, but old friends are hard to find.

Ye Miheng suddenly exploded: "Who said I hate you?!"

Yue Yining, who was interrupted halfway through her sentence, was stunned for a moment: "Huh?"

After saying that, Ye Miheng deflated again. He seemed afraid to look Yue Yining in the eye and stammered out, "...Anyway, it's not that I hate you."

“I’ve met way more annoying people than you, you’re definitely not one of them,” Ye Miheng stammered as he said this. “But please, please don’t misunderstand! I only said I don’t dislike you, I didn’t say I like you!”

Yue Yining found his expression quite novel and chuckled, "Okay, I got it."

Ye Miheng smiled at her, the blush on his face slowly fading. He sat up straighter, his gaze towards her becoming somewhat serious: "You've asked so many questions, isn't it my turn to ask you some?"

"Since you already knew who the chosen one was, why did you still join the Third Prince's camp?"

It's true that Ye Miheng dislikes the Fourth Prince, but he also doesn't think much of the Third Prince: "Moreover, he is weak and powerless, his talent and character are not outstanding, and he is not favored by the emperor. No matter how you look at it, he has no chance of winning. I really don't understand why you would choose him."

Yue Yining laughed and said, "I didn't choose the Third Prince."

Ye Miheng looked confused, but Yue Yining clearly didn't intend to continue. "You'll understand eventually. Now that we belong to two different factions, we're bound to clash in the court in the future."

"Let me make this clear first, I won't be lenient."

Ye Miheng said proudly, "Of course, we'll each rely on our own abilities!"

...

The windows are bright and the tables are clean; the yellow sun shines into the room.

That day, Xie Yunying was brought to the First Madam's courtyard again and placed in front of Wang Shi, supposedly to accompany her in embroidery.

Xie Yunying, who used to be forced to "cultivate her character" and would wear a long face, was unusually well-behaved today. She was not only obediently embroidering, but also frequently looked up to see Wang Shi's expression.

Madam Wang, the first wife, could naturally sense her daughter's hesitation. She was puzzled and stopped inserting the needle after a few attempts. "Does Ying'er have something to say?"

Xie Yunying, having her thoughts exposed, immediately changed the subject, saying, "It's nothing, Mother."

Madam Wang frowned. She had just picked up the needle when, as if she had thought of something, her face suddenly turned pale: "Ying'er, you haven't gotten into trouble outside again, have you?!"

Before Xie Yunying could speak, Jin Xuan spoke up to defend her: "Madam, you misunderstand. Second Miss has been staying indoors these past few days. How could she have had the chance to cause trouble?"

"It seems that the second young lady has something to ask of the first lady, but is too embarrassed to ask, which is why she is looking around hesitantly."

Xie Yunying: "......."

Xie Yunying: "Actually, that's not the case. I was just thinking about how to phrase it so that what I was about to say would sound more natural."

System: "It's alright, host, this is a beautiful misunderstanding."

Over the past month, Xie Yunying has secretly investigated Xie Qingyu many times, including but not limited to deliberately serving him fruits and snacks that Xie Qingyu didn't like before to see if he would eat them; sending her personal maid with silver to bribe Xie Qingyu's attendants to inquire about Xie Qingyu's current daily habits and then comparing them with those in the original book to see if they match; and following Xie Qingyu's carriage on his days off to see where he went and who he met.

Her plan was perfect, but the result was less than ideal. No matter what she brought over, Xie Qingyu would only politely eat a bite or two. Afterwards, when she asked the servants to clear the dishes, the outcome was almost always the same: whether it was food he liked or disliked before, it would all be wasted equally.

When questioned about Xie Qingyu's daily life, the attendants spoke succinctly and meticulously, providing no information whatsoever.

As for tracking the carriage, that's even more of a challenge. It's incredibly difficult to follow it without being detected or losing track of it. Xie Yunying managed to catch up twice, but Xie Qingyu only went to visit some officials and nothing special happened.

Xie Yunying also sent people to investigate Xie Qingyu's whereabouts during the six months she was missing. She spent a lot of money to find a spy with a good reputation, but in the past month, all three spies she found had taken her money and then absconded with it.

Now look what's happened! She's emptied out her secret stash, but hasn't gotten any intelligence at all. She's furious!

System: "Master, why don't you just go and chat with Xie Qingyu directly? If it's someone else, many of the little things from your childhood wouldn't match up. Wouldn't it be easier to get information out of her directly?"

Xie Yunying said expressionlessly, "Do you think I have the guts?" She was having nightmares just looking at Xie Qingyu's face now.

After Jin Xuan reminded her, Wang Shi suddenly realized, "That's true. Lately, I haven't seen Ying'er asking me for money to buy rouge and face powder much."

"When spring arrives next month, the capital will become lively. First, the results of the civil service examination will be announced, followed by the banquets held by the noble families to appreciate the beauty of spring. The Hundred Flowers Welcoming Spring Banquet is the most important of all the spring banquets in the capital. Our Ying'er is already sixteen years old. Before, she just joined in the fun, but from now on, she will have to go with the eyes of someone looking for a husband."

Xie Yunying couldn't hear a word about the Hundred Flowers Welcoming Spring Banquet. She thought to herself, "Heh, Mother, you never expected this, did you? Her ultimate fate is to marry that cruel and heartless cripple from the Yuan family." All their scheming and planning couldn't withstand the main system's single command.

Xie Yunying: "Mother, there is something I want to tell you, but you must promise me that you will not tell my eldest brother about it."

Upon hearing "elder brother," Madam Wang's expression immediately turned serious: "What? It's related to your elder brother? Is there some young lady who has taken a liking to your elder brother and wants your advice on a roundabout way to save the country?"

Xie Yunying really wanted to roll her eyes. Did she have to bring up that incident?

"No," Xie Yunying said. "I wanted to ask Mother if she has noticed anything strange about my older brother lately."

Madam Wang, the first wife, was puzzled: "What's so strange about it?"

Xie Yunying didn't want to be too direct, so she hinted indirectly, "That's right, I've always felt that my older brother has been acting a bit strange lately, like he's become a different person. I was wondering if Mother feels the same way..."

Xie Yunying stared nervously at Wang Shi, only to see her expression gradually shift from confusion to understanding.

Immediately afterwards, Madam Wang reached out and patted Xie Yunying's head, saying affectionately, "Look at you, child, why are you saying silly things again?"

"Tell me, did you quarrel with your older brother again? If you want your mother to judge for you, just say so, no need to beat around the bush."

Xie Yunying: "......."

System: "Pfft."

Hearing the system's barely suppressed laughter, Xie Yunying finally exploded.

Heavens above!!!

"No, Mother, I really didn't quarrel with my older brother." Xie Yunying tried to struggle a little in her despair, "I really feel that my older brother is not the same as before."

"Mother, do you really not feel anything at all? Why don't you think about it again..."

Wang: "What could be different? Your older brother is your older brother. Could he be a monster in disguise?"

The maids and servants inside were secretly suppressing their laughter, and Jin Xuan couldn't bear to look at them.

At the same time, a maid hurriedly entered the corridor from outside the courtyard, curtsied at the threshold, and said in a clear voice, "Madam, the eldest young master has arrived."