Chapter 48 After sobering up, I will leave Chang'an the day after tomorrow.

At dawn, a sliver of sunlight peeked over the distant eastern mountains, and the pervasive mist gradually thinned. Dewdrops rolled and swayed among the swaying leaves, sparkling with a crystalline halo. The tranquil morning breeze stirred the red tassels hanging under the eaves, causing them to sway silently.

Guang Sheng paced back and forth in front of the courtyard.

Madam Zhao suddenly fainted last night, and there wasn't a single female relative in the mansion available to take care of the distinguished guest for the time being, so he had to bite the bullet and come.

The maid who had been assigned to serve Xue Rongyue last night walked over lightly and shook her head at Guang Sheng, saying, "My lady is still not awake."

Guang Sheng couldn't help but feel embarrassed.

Madam Xue has rarely visited the mansion in recent years, and the cook in the mansion is unaware of Madam Xue's dietary restrictions. He wanted to come and ask, but Madam Xue still hadn't gotten up, and he couldn't very well wake her up.

Just as they were hesitating, they saw the Crown Prince approaching from afar.

His dark hair was tied up with a silver crown. Today, Qin Jin wore a black, narrow-sleeved, tight-fitting robe embroidered with gold and silver clouds and cranes, with a white jade belt around his waist. The well-tailored robe exposed his superior figure with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. His tall and muscular build was well-proportioned. As he walked with his head held high, he exuded the vigorous and spirited aura of a young man.

Guang Sheng quickly stepped forward: "Your Highness, you're up so early?"

He remembered that at the second watch of the night, the candles in the main hall were still lit, and the prince paced back and forth inside. At the third watch, the prince still hadn't fallen asleep and even opened the window to let in the cold wind for a while. His expression was said to be unusually pale and stiff. The servants on night watch thought they had seen a ghost at first glance and were so frightened that they didn't dare to breathe too loudly.

Guang Sheng seized the opportunity to ask tentatively, "Madam Xue hasn't gotten up yet, and the cooks are in a dilemma. They don't know if Madam Xue has any dietary restrictions."

Qin Jin said calmly, "She doesn't eat scallions or ginger, doesn't like jujube porridge, doesn't like osmanthus rice cake or glutinous rice balls. Remember, she can't eat loquat, mulberry, or chestnuts, or she'll get a rash if she touches them. There's nothing else she needs to avoid, just make sure her diet isn't too sweet."

The Crown Prince actually knew this, and even knew it so well. What mortal enemy would know this? His brother had indeed lied to him! How despicable!

Guang Sheng lowered his head, suppressing his resentment: "Then I will go and instruct the cook to prepare the meal."

Guang Sheng hurried away, but Qin Jin did not leave. He stood under the pomegranate tree in front of the courtyard gate, his tall and strong body leaning against the thick trunk, his back line vigorous and smooth. He lowered his head and kicked the cobblestones laid under the tree idly.

As time passed, the sun rose in the east, and the morning glow replaced the ever-changing white mist, spreading outwards from the distant mountain peaks and spreading a peach-pink hue, painting the overlapping green mountains with a rouge color.

A golden hue fell on the eaves of the courtyard, and swallows pounced on the eaves, their wings fluttering as they suddenly pecked at the bronze bell.

Accompanied by hurried footsteps, the courtyard began to commotion. Qin Jin snapped out of his reverie and belatedly realized: Xue Rongyue has woken up.

Upon realizing this moment, his lips tightened, he suddenly straightened up, took two steps with his head down amidst the violently pounding heartbeat, and then abruptly stopped.

With an unpredictable expression, Qin Jin lowered his head for a moment, but ultimately hesitated and stood back under the tree.

He didn't have to wait long.

Xue Rongyue slept soundly all night. When she got up, she learned that Qin Jin was waiting outside the courtyard. She quickly washed and dressed and ran out: "Qin Jin!"

"Here."

Qin Jin's hoarse voice interrupted Xue Rongyue's wandering gaze.

Xue Rongyue followed the sound and turned around to walk over: "I heard you came here early. Why are you awake so early? Didn't you sleep well last night?"

Qin Jin looked up at her and said, "It seems that Madam Xue slept very well last night."

"not bad."

Xue Rongyue said, "I always fall asleep quickly after drinking alcohol."

Qin Jin gave a nonchalant "Oh," and Xue Rongyue tilted her head and tentatively asked, "You came to see me so early, is there something important?"

Qin Jin unconsciously clenched and unclenched his knuckles, then looked away and said casually, "Guang Sheng didn't know your tastes and preferences, so he called me here."

Xue Rongyue, unsuspecting, asked curiously, "Then how does Your Highness know my tastes and preferences?"

Qin Jin's expression stiffened for a moment, then he lowered his head and began kicking the pebbles on the ground again.

Seeing this, Xue Rongyue sneered, crossed her arms, and deliberately mimicked his old tone: "Xue Rongyue, you are not allowed to pry into my privacy again!"

Her sarcastic tone was so lifelike that Qin Jin's indifferent expression immediately faltered, and he turned his head and chuckled: "I didn't pry into your privacy."

Xue Rongyue didn't believe it: "Then how would the young master know? Or is the young master making things up?"

Qin Jin looked at her and said, "We've lived and eaten together in the palace for several years, so it's only natural that we know these things."

Xue Rongyue pouted: "Don't be so obviously evasive. We were only a few years old then, how could we remember these things?"

Qin Jin said casually, "That's because you have a bad memory."

"Pretending, pretending, pretending again."

Xue Rongyue sneered and retorted, "Your Highness, we grew up together since childhood. We were both people who were punished by the Grand Tutor in the Imperial Study every now and then, with our hands slapped. Who doesn't know each other's character? You can fool outsiders with these words."

Qin Jin solemnly clarified: "I was punished by having my palms slapped for copying texts because I was naughty, skipped school, and didn't listen to my teachers, not because I had a bad memory or couldn't recite the texts."

Xue Rongyue was immediately annoyed: "I... I didn't put my heart into memorizing it. The Grand Tutor said that I am very intelligent, but I just didn't focus on my studies!"

Qin Jin ruthlessly exposed: "The Grand Tutor says that to everyone, even the second son of the Prince of Xinan."

Princess Xinan suffered a severe shock during childbirth, resulting in a difficult labor that lasted two days and two nights. As a result, her second son, Xie Tu'an, was born mentally challenged and unable to take care of himself.

Xue Rongyue's face turned green: "You're talking nonsense!"

Qin Jin looked at her with pity: "Madam Xue, can you recite the Three Character Classic in its entirety now?"

"Of course I can—"

Halfway through her sentence, Xue Rongyue finally realized that Qin Jin's words were mocking her, not a genuine question, and she flew into a rage: "Qin Jin, you bastard!"

Guang Sheng, upon his return, was completely bewildered by what he saw.

Why did the young master and Lady Xue suddenly start arguing again? Could it be that his brother didn't actually lie to him?

But why does the Crown Prince seem to be in such a good mood even though he was scolded? He no longer seems to be burdened with worries and resentment like he was in the past few days.

With a slight upturn of his thin lips, Qin Jin dodged the pebble thrown by Xue Rongyue. Guang Sheng also quickly stepped forward to separate the two sides: "Young Master, Madam Xue, breakfast is ready. Shall we move to the main hall?"

Xue Rongyue glared angrily at Qin Jin, then stomped her feet heavily and stormed ahead.

Qin Jin couldn't help but laugh again, and slowly followed behind her.

As they were distinguished guests, the cooks in the manor, having received the news, prepared a complete and exquisite meal, and even specially cooked two bowls of porridge to help them sober up, which even contained Xue Rongyue's favorite pickled mustard greens. Guang Sheng said, "This porridge was ordered by the young master to be cooked by the kitchen last night."

Xue Rongyue took two sips; the sweet and sour dried fruit complemented the thick, appetizing flavor: "You actually know so much about it..."

Her gaze was suspicious, and she sighed, seemingly genuinely, "The fact that the young master knows so much makes me very uneasy."

Qin Jin raised an eyebrow upon hearing this: "Why are you uneasy? Are you afraid I'll put croton seeds or poison in your food?"

These were all methods that Xue Rongyue had used on Qin Jin.

Hearing this, she couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed: "A hero doesn't dwell on past glories. Didn't we agree to let bygones be bygones? You promised me last night, Your Highness, a gentleman's word is as good as his bond. You won't go back on your word, right?"

Qin Jin stirred the porridge in the bowl.

Seeing that he remained silent, Xue Rongyue grew anxious and was about to question him about whether he was going to break his promise when she heard Qin Jin give a low reply and then ask, "Why did you come to see me last night?"

Xue Rongyue remained calm and composed.

She came to find Qin Jin because of a special mission from the system, but she realized the abruptness of her trip beforehand and had prepared her explanation in advance.

She glanced around, and Qin Jin raised an eyebrow before ordering the servants who were attending to her in the main hall to leave.

Xue Rongyue then spoke up: "Your Highness should know that a book called 'The Overbearing Prince's Gentle Pampering' is being sold in the bookstores of Chang'an?"

The spoon slammed into the bowl, and Qin Jin's brow twitched violently. Realizing what had happened, he stammered, "Why should I know?! Don't make false accusations! I don't know, I didn't buy it, and I never even saw it!"

Xue Rongyue was taken aback.

When the books were burned before, Jingnu said that Qin Jin had seen the book. Could it be that he had already forgotten about it? Then why was he so agitated, and why did he have a strange feeling of guilt?

Suppressing her suspicions, Xue Rongyue shifted the blame to Jingnu: "I bought this book because Jingnu told me that both the content and the names of the characters were very similar to yours and mine. And indeed, there are many similarities."

"Is that so?"

Qin Jin pretended not to know, but couldn't help asking to confirm, "Did you buy this book just for this reason?"

Xue Rongyue nodded decisively and changed the subject: "After thinking it over, I still think I should consult with the young master to see if it was fabricated by his servants. After all, some of the actions in it are quite plausible."

Qin Jin gave a low "hmm" in response.

Seeing his lack of interest, Xue Rongyue wasn't sure if she had managed to fool him. Just as she was hesitating, she suddenly heard Qin Jin ask again, still unwilling to give up: "Really?"

"What?" Xue Rongyue was slightly taken aback, thinking he was referring to the fabrication by her servants. Just as she was about to nod, she saw Qin Jin looking directly at her and pursing his lips as he said, "You bought this book simply because Jingnu mentioned that she was similar to you and me... that's all?"

"Yes, yes." Seeing his persistence on this issue, Xue Rongyue couldn't help but feel a little guilty. "Then...then...then what else could it be!"

With his thin lips pressed into a straight line, Qin Jin gripped the soup spoon and vigorously stirred the porridge in the bowl, turning what should have been a perfectly good bowl of rice porridge into a paste.

Xue Rongyue swallowed hard: Did he know something, or guess the real purpose of her buying the books?

Qin Jin was conflicted: Was it really just because they looked similar that he bought them for comparison? Had he been overthinking things before?

Undeterred, Qin Jin hesitated for a moment before asking, "Why did you say that you would never study these books again when you ordered Jingnu to burn them that night?"

Xue Rongyue: "......"

Xue Rongyue: "...You heard everything?"

Qin Jin nodded absentmindedly.

With a heart ashen, Xue Rongyue closed her eyes and remained silent for a moment. Unable to calm her emotions, she suddenly stood up and ran away, saying, "Jingnu seems to be giving birth today. I'm going to help her choose a midwife. I'll go ahead."

Just as Xue Rongyue was about to leave the main hall, Qin Jin finally recovered from the shock of her words: "Xue Rongyue."

Xue Rongyue didn't stop running, and upon hearing this, she ran even faster, until—

Qin Jin pursed his lips and said in a low voice, "I will be leaving Chang'an the day after tomorrow, and I won't be able to return to Chang'an for at least two months."

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Author's Note: Don't worry, the young couple won't really break up. The author has a clever plan. [Let me see][doge]