Chapter 23 (8,000 words) Xuan Yizhen looked at Shen...

Under the moonlight, the dark surface of the pond vaguely reflected a silvery-white glow. Scarlet candlelight flickered inside the waterside pavilion, and coldness and heat competed silently, confronting each other.

The candlelight cast a soft light between Xuan Yizhen's empty and cold eyes, making her jade-white cheeks look not too indifferent and distant, making it difficult to see.

Even though Yin Xing knew that Xuan Yizheng had always been gentle and never lost her temper, even if he made her worried and unhappy, she would only say a few lukewarm words to criticize him.

But Yin Xing still felt that he was too stupid and could never see through Xuan Yizheng's thoughts. Therefore, he often felt inexplicable awe and dared not look into her silent and cold eyes, as if her aura of intimidation without anger was enough to tear everything apart.

"Yizhen, I'm fine. Have you had dinner?" Yin Xing put his cheek against Xuan Yizhen's cool palm, raised his hand and gently placed it on the back of her hand, trying to ease the atmosphere.

"Yeah." Xuan Yizheng looked at Yin Xing, who had bright eyes and white teeth. Seeing that her eyes were clear and bright, reflecting his cold and gloomy expression, he withdrew his hand, lowered his eyes slightly, with a treacherous look in his eyes, and pursed his thin lips, looking annoyed and lost his composure.

Yin Xing was a little surprised by Xuan Yizhen's distant behavior. In the past, she would not shy away from touching him, otherwise she would not have been so concerned and worried before and explored his details so intimately.

But the Xuan Yizheng in front of him looked normal, with her beautiful eyes lowered, letting her long eyelashes cast sparse shadows in her eyes. The two completely different lights of the cold moon and the warm candle reflected freely on her beautiful white cheeks, making her look like she was covered by a layer of light gauze, flickering, ethereal and quiet.

For some reason, Yin Xing felt that Xuan Yizheng's consciousness at this moment seemed to be floating outside, and seemed to be immersed in it alone. He was clearly right in front of him, but seemed to be isolated from the world and about to disappear from his sight.

Seeing this, Yin Xing didn't know whether he should call out Xuan Yizheng. He could only stare at her and observe her changes.

Suddenly, a gust of night wind blew in, the gauze curtains swayed slightly, several candles went out one after another, and the view suddenly became much dimmer.

Yin Xing was about to light the lamp again, but before he could stand up, his arm was held by a warm and cool palm. The slender joints rubbed against his wrist. The sudden feeling was like being wrapped around by a snake, cold and soft, yet so cautious.

"Yizhen, what's wrong?"

"Where are you going?"

The clear voice was spoken softly, but the tone was chilly and seemed to contain no emotion.

Perhaps it was because he couldn't see Xuan Yizheng's face clearly at the moment, and without her gentle and beautiful expression, her voice seemed to be silent and cold, without any sadness or joy, and very unfamiliar.

This is somewhat different from the usual Xuan Yizheng, it is hard to describe and depict.

Yin Xing hesitated for a moment, noticing the increasing force on his wrist. Only then did he regain his composure, leaning forward slightly to observe, and softly called out, "Yizhen, I'm here. Are you afraid of the dark?"

As he finished speaking, Yin Xing gradually adjusted to the darkness. He saw Xuan Yizhen standing upright, but his expression was wooden. His beautiful eyes were as dark as the abyss, and he was silent and dead. But his tone was gentle, "Of course I'm not afraid. I'm just worried that you might fall down due to your clumsiness. So let Manager Xin hold the lights."

Yin Xing looked at Xuan Yizheng's inconsistent expression and words in front of him, and was horrified and speechless for a moment.

Soon, Manager Xin came in to light the lamps, and the pavilion regained its bright yellow light. He then ordered people to add incense and serve tea before leaving.

Xuan Yizhen let go of his hand, drank his tea calmly, and said calmly, "Since you are afraid of the heat, then tell Manager Xin to prepare an ice jar. I think the Dragon Boat Festival will be even hotter in a while."

"Okay." Yin Xing raised his hand to grind ink and prepare to write a letter. His eyes gradually shifted from his red wrist to Xuan Yizheng's expression, and he began to suspect that it was just an illusion.

At this moment, the angles of Xuan Yizheng's eyebrows and eyes were subtle and vivid, but her expression always seemed so appropriate, pleasing to the eye, gentle and affectionate.

But how can a person's words, actions, joys, sorrows, anger and happiness always be exactly the same?

As for Yin Xing's burning gaze, Xuan Yizhen did not shy away from it. He raised his eyes to her clear and bright eyes and said slowly, "You always seem to like looking at people directly like this."

Hearing the voice, Yin Xing's face turned red. He immediately lowered his head, raised his hand to pick up the pen, and did not dare to peek at Xuan Yizheng again.

As for daily letters, they are mostly written at random and do not have much logic in their writing.

After Yin Xing briefly explained the daily life of the Dali Temple and expressed his usual concern and condolences at the end, he stopped writing and waited for the ink to dry.

Unexpectedly, Xuan Yizheng raised his hand to take the letter, then lowered his eyes to read it. His expression was calm and peaceful as his eyes moved around.

Yin Xing's gaze fell from Xuan Yizheng's narrow and long eyelashes with slightly upturned phoenix eyebrows to her beautiful nose. Even after looking at her many times, he was still amazed by her natural beauty.

Although the princesses of the dynasty were not bad looking, their stature and temperament were far inferior to Xuan Yizheng, which was something that no amount of gold, jade, or jewelry could embellish or compare to.

Xuan Yizheng has a tall and slender figure, black hair tied in a high bun, a delicate forehead and beautiful eyebrows, a face as fair as ice and skin as white as cream, but these are not her most eye-catching features.

"Now that the deadline is only a few days away, it would be great if you could think it through and give up." Xuan Yizheng folded the letter lightly with her jade hands, looked up at Yin Xing and spoke.

"If I don't give up, there's really no other way. Wu Shijie is so cunning." Yin Xing responded, meeting Xuan Yizheng's beautiful eyes filled with mist, like the boundless night sky without stars and moon, with only endless darkness, and was slightly dazed.

Mysterious and ethereal is probably the most appropriate word to describe Xuan Yizheng's temperament.

Maybe if I move to another courtyard and spend more time with Xuan Yizheng, I might be able to better understand her mysterious reasons.

Xuan Yizhen replied with a hint of smile in his tone: "It's not like you to be so depressed."

"Then what do you think I should be like?" Yin Xing blinked and looked at Xuan Yizhen, who seemed to be doing fine, hoping that she could trust him.

If it weren't for the previous glance, it would have been difficult for me to notice that something was wrong with her.

"You are a reckless and enthusiastic beautiful little fish, but a little stupid, so you need to be taken care of carefully." Xuan Yizheng responded slowly after careful consideration, his tone casual and intimate, his thin lips raised slightly.

"..." Yin Xing looked at Xuan Yizhen without saying a word. Seeing that she didn't look like she was joking, he had to believe that she was serious.

Yin Xing's face flushed red as she sighed innocently, "Ah, in my eyes, there are only slender and graceful cranes hidden in the clouds. Isn't the gap between the two too big?"

Xuan Yizhen smiled, her beautiful eyes blinking slightly, her jade-white fingertips lightly resting on the red silk ribbon on her wrist, her eyes revealing a sincere response: "Is that so? But I still prefer the little fish raised in the glass wall."

Seeing this, Yin Xing felt inexplicably embarrassed, feeling that this fish was not that fish. After all, Xuan Yizheng often described himself like this.

But Yin Xing then thought that Xuan Yizheng already had the habit of raising fish, and his mind suddenly became confused and a bit brain-burning.

"You should rest early and don't hurt yourself again, otherwise I may not let you out of the fish pond." After saying that, Xuan Yizheng glanced at the dark night, stood up and gave a solemn warning.

"Well, are you leaving so early tonight?" Yin Xing thought Xuan Yizheng was laughing at him. He responded with hot ears, followed him, and looked reluctant.

Xuan Yizhen raised his hand and gently touched Yin Xing's cheek. It was no longer hot. His fingertips brushed past her eyes, as if plucking stars. He said softly, "I've been a bit busy lately, so don't waste your time coming here on your day off. When you move to the other courtyard in a while, you'll naturally have plenty of time to spend together."

Yin Xing looked at Xuan Yizheng's gentle expression and realized that he was a bit clingy. He felt hot in his ears and didn't say anything more.

Then the two of them left the water pavilion and walked through the courtyard together. After Yin Xing watched Xuan Yizheng's carriage disappear into the night, he returned to the water pavilion alone, still feeling a little embarrassed.

This must be because Xuan Yizheng is too gentle, so Yin Xing always wants to stay with her for a while longer.

But Xuan Yizheng was obviously so busy, yet she still came to tell me. She is such a nice person!

Yin Xing lay on the couch with an unstoppable look of joy in his eyes, and was even looking forward to moving to Xuan Yizheng's villa.

After a while, Yin Xing remembered the bad book hidden in the collection of essays. He raised his hand to take it out, looked around inside the pavilion guiltily, and then flipped through it curiously.

The paintings in the book all depict women with graceful figures and intimate actions. They are all naked and charming, and the paintings are truly exquisite.

However, the further you go on, the more erotic it becomes, far beyond appreciation, and there may even be mosaics.

Yin Xing closed the bad book with a flushed face, then lay down on the bed, looking around to choose a hiding place.

Yin Xing was busy walking around the bookcase, desk, couch and vase, but he felt that it was not safe anywhere.

Maybe he has something to hide, so he feels uneasy.

Although Manager Xin would not enter and search without permission, the counters and items inside the pavilion were not locked, for fear that he might accidentally discover a damaged book while tidying up.

After all, Manager Xin and the others are close confidants sent by Xuan Yizhen to take care of him, so he cannot hide the news about himself.

He was so troubled and worried until the second half of the night. Yin Xing's eyelids drooped with fatigue. When he was about to fall asleep, he suddenly felt that it would be safest to return the bad book!

After all, this bad book is really expensive, and Yin Xing feels a little sad when he thinks about it.

The next day, the sky was clear and the air was fresh. The sun in the east had not yet risen, but the wind was already hot and unbearable. Yin Xing did not go to the Dali Temple first, but instead took a carriage to the study with his books.

However, as soon as Yin Xing came out of the carriage, he heard a lot of bustling conversation. The study was surrounded by people in three layers, and there was no way out.

Are all the people in the capital so studious?!

Yin Xing, who was standing on tiptoe outside and trying to look, saw a large seal on the door of the study and heard whispers around him.

"It is said that a large number of obscene books and paintings were copied, and those books were illegally printed privately, so they were confiscated."

"No wonder so many young scholars flock to the study every day. It turns out they're not there to read the sage books. These scholars are truly vulgar and shameless."

Yin Xing felt that what he was holding in his arms was not a book, but a red-hot iron. He quickly stepped back and hurriedly got on the carriage to leave the study.

Because of this incident, Yin Xing didn't dare to leave the bad book in the carriage, so he had to take it to the Dali Temple and secretly think about how to deal with it.

When they entered the office, Yin Xing was sitting at the desk, motionless, as if facing a great enemy.

"Master Xiao Yin, Master Wu invites you." An official stepped forward and called out.

"Oh, okay." Yin Xing stood up in confusion.

On the top floor of the pavilion of the Fourth Office, the entire floor was originally the residence of Chang Shaoqing, but now it has become Wu Shijie's territory. It is obvious that he will be the next Shaoqing of the Fourth Office.

After collecting his thoughts, Yin Xing stepped inside and saw Wu Shijie with a kind smile. He said warmly, "Master Yin, please take a seat. The deadline given by His Majesty is approaching. How is the closing document for the Third Princess's boat accident being prepared?"

"Mr. Wu, I have no idea about this matter now. I am afraid I can only resign and apologize like Chang Shaoqing." Yin Xing sat down casually by the window, only to find that from here he could overlook the situation in the service halls around, including his own position.

No wonder I always get nothing when following Wu Shijie. Maybe he was already on guard against it.

After he finished speaking, Wu Shijie pulled out a document from his sleeve and handed it over, saying, "Don't worry, Master Yin, this is the closing document for the cruise ship accident. As long as you stamp it with the official seal, this will be your credit."

Yin Xing looked away, looking questioningly at the smiling Wu Shijie. He flipped through the case documents, puzzled, and asked, "Wu Sicheng, logically, the fire should have been caused by fake fireworks. Why does the case documents instead attribute the accident to the boat's hull being completely torn apart by a major overhaul?"

"Because Mr. Ji, the shipyard's owner, admitted to the crime of privately modifying the official vessel under the wise and powerful interrogation of Lord Xiao Yin, and handed over the atlas, only then did he prove the main cause of the accident."

"How could that be? Boss Ji said the renovation album was stolen a long time ago. This is clearly a fake."

Wu Shijie raised his hand and gently patted Yin Xing's shoulder to stop him, saying kindly, "Little Master Yin, please be careful with your words. Whether the main cause of the boat accident was adulterated fireworks or unauthorized modifications to the boat, it was all the Third Princess' fault. Pursuing the former would involve wider consequences and shock the court and the public. The latter is the lesser of two evils, not to mention that Boss Ji has already confessed his guilt and committed suicide."

Yin Xing looked at Wu Shijie's fake smile, which was completely unable to conceal his cruel eyes. He felt sick in his heart, breathing rapidly and avoiding his hand, and said angrily: "You are forcing a confession through torture. You are taking human life lightly!"

"Tsk tsk, Master Xiao Yin, have you forgotten that you and your guards were searching the capital's shipyard with great fanfare these days?"

"So what?"

Wu Shijie, still maintaining the demeanor of an elder, explained affably, "The shipyard was discovered by Lord Xiao Yin, and coincidentally, a fire broke out there. Therefore, I have another petition written in blood by Boss Ji, accusing Lord Xiao Yin of arson. Please choose carefully."

Yin Xing looked at Wu Shijie's carefully planned plan in disbelief, feeling extremely horrified.

He must have had a plan to plot against me long ago, which was perfectly linked to each other.

"I'm afraid Wu Sicheng went to so much trouble to get me to sign this document, but it's not really a merit, but another trap."

"Master Xiao Yin is overly concerned. I was solely focused on my duties, but I didn't take any of the credit for myself."

Yin Xing stared at Wu Shijie and said bluntly, "Really? So that's how you framed Chang Shaoqing for burning the archives?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the smile on Wu Shijie's face suddenly froze. He looked at the boy with gloomy eyes and whispered, "What did you see?"

It was truly astonishing how quickly this devilish face changed.

"Wu Sicheng, if you don't want others to know, then don't do it yourself. Now I understand why there was chaos during the shipyard inspection. I'm afraid you're responsible." Yin Xing suppressed his fear, stood up, looked at Wu Shijie, whose true face was exposed, and patted his shoulder. "Your clerk put all the blame on the Third Princess, but the fireworks and the boat tour clearly showed two different groups of people. So which group are you on?"

Wu Shijie was surprised that Yin Xing, who usually seemed to be without temper and brains, did not give in to the intimidation. He softened his expression and said, "Master Yin, I don't understand what you are saying."

Yin Xing looked at Wu Shijie's changed expression and said slowly, "I don't care which group you belong to, but the Third Princess certainly wouldn't want to see such a closing document, so please ask Wu Sicheng to quickly forge another one."

"you!"

"I'm not like Wu Sicheng who always tells lies. If you must submit that blood letter accusing me, at least there should be a living witness to make it more credible. Besides, my official seal is in the hands of Princess Zhanghua. If Wu Sicheng wants to steal it, go ahead and steal it."

After he finished speaking, Yin Xing stepped away. In the pavilion, Wu Shijie gritted his teeth, holding the teacup tightly in his palm. He managed not to throw it out, his mind in a mess.

If the Third Princess was the only one behind Xizhou Marquis Yinxing, it would be easy to deal with him. But if Princess Zhanghua knew about it, things would probably become extremely dangerous and difficult.

Princess Zhanghua had always been a spectator on the sidelines. If her methods had not been so cruel, the other princesses and princes would have torn her apart long ago. There was no way they would allow the only daughter of the empress to enjoy the same noble treatment as the crown prince.

I thought it was just one step away, but this kid managed to escape by luck. How hateful!

Yin Xing, who had just come out of the pavilion, sat in front of the table in a daze. He was still in shock, his heart beating fast. He was thinking to himself, if the Smiling Tiger really filed a complaint, what would he do?

Although Yin Xing tried his best to appear indifferent, it was obvious that if he got involved in such a murder case, he probably wouldn't have to resign from his post.

Maybe then I will go straight to jail.

Yin Xing knew that he couldn't panic, and he couldn't get Xuan Yizheng involved.

After all, Wu Shijie would not frame him for no reason. He might want to get him into trouble because Xuan Yizheng gave him the golden signature.

The more Yin Xing thought about it, the more he felt that there were complicated people behind this cruise ship accident.

A fire broke out in the Dali Temple's archives, killing officials. One Shaoqing resigned, while another Temple Secretary was plotting something unsettling and his stance was unclear.

Not to mention the assassination attempt he encountered, as well as the murder and fire at the shipyard. It was a complete mess.

Yin Xing stood up and decided to investigate and verify the true situation of Boss Ji.

But when Yin Xing saw that most of the shipyard had become ruins, all the ships were destroyed, the place was covered with black soil and dust, and there was no sign of anyone, he couldn't help but feel discouraged.

Walking along the streets along the coast, Yin Xing looked dejectedly at the increasingly familiar scene, only to find that the shipyard was actually the waterway downstream of the lake.

There are willow trees beside the embankment, and many people are enjoying the cool air underneath. There are also children playing barefoot in the water, having fun.

"You guys are not afraid of death. I don't know how many water ghosts have sunk in the water. Come ashore quickly!" An old lady frightened the children and brought them ashore.

Yin Xing looked at these carefree children and calmed down a little. His eyes fell on their shoes. They were not straw sandals but clogs, and the material was very good. There were intricate patterns engraved on them, which seemed familiar.

"Kid, your shoes are very nice. Where did you buy them?" Yin Xing bent down and called with a smile.

"My mother picked up wood from the waterside and asked my father to make shoes for me. Many people picked up many beautiful items, but there were a lot of bees stinging people on the water surface those days." The child answered in a childish voice.

After that, the child ran off to play somewhere else. Yin Xing turned to look at the vast lake, thinking that they were probably all things from the cruise ship.

Walking back to the street market from the shore, there was a sudden sound of firecrackers. Yin Xing looked at the people coming and going in the newly opened restaurant, raised his hand to pat the scattered dust, and thought that perhaps the third princess was indeed responsible for the accident.

Fireworks should be set off outdoors, not on cruise ships.

It was also mentioned that the cruise ship had been modified without permission. If the three princesses had behaved properly, it would have been unlikely for anyone to tamper with it.

The banquet that night would either cause a fire due to the large number of fireworks, or the cruise ship would malfunction and take in water. It seemed that the third princess had quite a few enemies.

"Young Master Yin, our master invites you."

"Who is your master?"

Yin Xing looked at the two people who suddenly appeared, and was subconsciously alert. His eyes fell on their rich clothes, and they looked vaguely familiar.

As soon as he finished speaking, a majestic and arrogant voice came from the carriage not far away, calling out teasingly: "What, you don't recognize me?"

Yin Xing only then realized that the area around him had been cleared by guards. He looked at the third princess wearing a golden mask. Her mask was inlaid with tiny and dazzling gems, which was particularly eye-catching.

The third princess really loves gems. Even her clothes and accessories are inlaid with a wide variety of pearls and stones, which makes her look extremely charming.

However, Yin Xing remembered Xuan Yizhen's instructions and did not move. He just wanted to keep a certain distance and did not even dare to look at her for a second longer.

"You are born in a marquis's mansion, why are you dressed so shabby?"

"Replying to the Third Princess, I am currently on duty, so please forgive me for any discourtesy."

The third princess's gaze fell on Yin Xing's well-behaved posture, and she jokingly said, "You are so dull and boring, no wonder you are ignored. It seems that she doesn't care much about you."

Yin Xing asked with a puzzled look: "Who is she?"

"Who else could it be? It's definitely Princess Zhanghua, the one who gave you the golden signature. She's been hosting a banquet for the three great families lately, and she's especially close to the Xiahou family. They're very popular right now, and it looks like you'll be kicked out soon."

"What kind of party? Are there many people?"

The Third Princess looked at Yin Xing, who was completely unaware of the situation, and said contemptuously, "Given her status, it's natural that many people would come to the banquet to curry favor with her. It's not surprising that you, a mere son of the Marquis of Xizhou, would be discarded like a piece of trash."

Yin Xing looked innocently at the Third Princess who was making sarcastic and personal attacks, thinking to himself, I guess I didn't provoke her?!

But it turns out that Xuan Yizhen was busy because he had another party.

"Let's not talk about spoilers today. How's your investigation at the Dali Temple going?"

"It's really hard to explain. I'm already preparing to write my resignation letter. Princess, please be careful to avoid being schemed against again."

After she finished speaking, the Third Princess laughed wantonly, not disguising her teasing, but a fierce look flashed in her eyes. She raised her hand and said, "This restaurant is a new place I have purchased. If you are poor and have been abandoned by her, you can come here for help. Perhaps you can find a chance to settle down in the capital again."

Then the carriage hurried through the street, and the sound of gold and jade colliding was clear and melodious. The third princess' smile disappeared, and she raised her hand and gently stroked her mask. She would not let any of those people go!

Yin Xing turned his head to look at the lavish restaurant in confusion, then walked away, thinking that he would not be abandoned by Xuan Yizheng.

However, the third princess was terribly gloomy and depressed last time, but now she seems to have come out of the shadows, which is at least a good thing.

As the sun sets, Yin Xing takes a bath and writes a letter, but he avoids Wu Shijie's threats and the third princess's ridicule, and tries to write about daily pleasant things.

However, Yin Xing remembered the banquet that the third princess mentioned, and was curious, so he asked a few questions in the letter.

It was late at night, and Yin Xing hid the bad book on the top shelf of the bookshelf before falling asleep.

However, Yin Xing did not sleep well. When he woke up, it was just daylight. The sky was dark in the pale blue, but the heat was obvious.

In the morning, Yin Xing was eating a medicinal meal and curiously asked, "Did Manager Xin reply?"

Manager Xin shook his head and did not give any further answers.

Yin Xing thought that maybe Xuan Yi was really busy and might reply in the evening.

But after several days passed, there was still no reply. Yin Xing couldn't help feeling discouraged. He stopped writing on the letter paper and suddenly didn't want to share his daily life anymore.

Xuan Yizheng hasn't replied to a single letter for such a long time. Maybe she doesn't read it every day.

Yin Xing put the pen aside in a somewhat dejected manner, collapsed on the couch, and counted the deadline with his fingertips. The deadline was the day after tomorrow.

He didn't know how to report to Wu Sicheng and whether he would be framed by him. The more Yin Xing thought about it, the more restless he became.

The waterside pavilion was brightly lit, making it seem even more empty. Yin Xing recalled his first night in the capital, when the markets were so bustling.

But apart from busying himself with the work at the Dali Temple and getting along with Xuan Yizheng, there was nothing else for him to do.

Tomorrow is a day off, and Xuan Yizheng said she doesn't need to go to the villa. It is obvious that she has other plans.

So tomorrow might be a very boring and anxious day.

Yin Xing propped himself up and didn't want to let his mind wander so much, so he decided to go out to the night market.

So Yin Xing put on his clothes, shoes and socks, and just as he was leaving the pavilion, he saw Manager Xin and asked in confusion, "What's going on?"

Steward Xin glanced at the maid beside him, who responded, "Young Master Yin, you haven't written a letter to express your condolences to the Lord today."

"I don't have anything to write today, so I'll write it tomorrow." Yin Xing didn't want to say what he was thinking, so he had to explain, "It's cooler at night than during the day, and I want to go out for a walk. You don't have to take care of me, just go to bed early."

After he finished speaking, Steward Xin's expression became quite serious. The maid said in awe, "Young Master Yin, you should consult the Lord first. You are not allowed to travel without permission at this time."

Yin Xing's face was stunned, and his eyes moved between Manager Xin and the maid. His gaze fell on their unquestionable expressions, and he suddenly understood.

Obviously, this is not something that Manager Xin and others can decide, but a rule set by Xuan Yizheng.

"Now that I can't see your master anymore, and my letters aren't guaranteed to get a reply, can't I just go out freely?"

"yes."

Yin Xing was silent for a while before he had to retreat back to the pavilion. He stared at the pen and ink on the desk but did not start writing.

Manager Xin and the others did not retreat from the pavilion, which seemed like a stalemate of guarding.

Seeing this, Yin Xing picked up a pen and wrote a few words, folded the paper and handed it to them, saying, "Can we go to bed now?"

Manager Xin nodded, regained his usual amiable demeanor, and led the maid away.

Soon, the pavilion became silent. Yin Xing stood there alone, raised his hand to turn off all the lights, and his figure blended into the night and disappeared.

The waning moon hung low in the sky, and the streets of the capital were bustling with carriages and horses. Late at night, a carriage drove into the courtyard, and Xuan Yizheng leaned out, walking slowly down the corridor.

After the medicinal bath and changing of clothes, the maids added fragrance and left. Xuan Yizheng sat alone beside the couch, unfolding the envelope delivered tonight between her fingers. Her beautiful eyes lowered and her expression changed slightly.

It was late at night. The originally quiet courtyard was brightly lit, while the waterside pavilion was empty and deserted. Manager Xin looked at Princess Zhang Hua who was sitting and drinking tea with a serious expression.

The young lady usually looked well-behaved and quiet, but I didn't expect that she could evade the layers of guards and leave the courtyard. She was really careless!

Seeing that it was midnight and the waterside pavilion was silent, Xuan Yizhen stood up and walked inside. His eyes wandered over the various furnishings and he said in a clear voice, "Leave."

Manager Xin nodded, and with slightly stiff legs and feet he slowly stepped out of the pavilion, completely unaware of where the young lady had gone.

There was not a single piece of news about her in the entire streets of the capital. It seemed that she had no idea of ​​the consequences of angering Princess Zhang Hua.

When the footsteps faded away, Xuan Yizheng took the scissors and extinguished all the candles inside. He walked slowly and steadily, his figure tall and slender, walking in the dim moonlight, as if he was not in a hurry at all.

Outside the water pavilion, the clear croaking of frogs came one after another, while inside the pavilion, Yin Xing could only hear the sound of his own heartbeat, thump thump non-stop.

Originally, he just wanted to play a trick on Xuan Yizheng and test whether she had read the letter he wrote.

But now Yin Xing felt more like he was being teased. Because of the darkness and limited vision, he couldn't see clearly.

Yin Xing didn't know whether Xuan Yi had really left the water pavilion or was still there. He could not hear much movement at all.

Not long after, Yin Xing quietly pushed open half of the wardrobe and cautiously leaned out, like a timid cat.

Unexpectedly, his eyes were suddenly covered by a warm and soft hand. Yin Xing was so frightened that he lost his balance and fell down. The person beside him was also dragged back into the closet. The rich aroma of herbs filled his breath.

For the first time, Yin Xing was thankful for the spaciousness of the luxury wardrobe, otherwise the two of them would have bumped their heads against each other.

"Is it fun?" Xuan Yizheng lightly stroked Yin Xing's warm cheek with his fingertips. Even though his body was unstable just now, he never relaxed.

Yin Xing couldn't see Xuan Yizhen's expression, so he could only mutter, "It's not fun at all. You scared me just now."

What happened just now was actually very dangerous. Yin Xing didn't expect that Xuan Yizhen, who looked calm and steady, would take such a risky action.

Xuan Yizhen let out a faint smile, and patted her thin back with his other palm in a soothing manner, with gentle force, and said softly: "Don't be afraid, I thought you like playing like this."

Yin Xing was silent, blinking his eyes, trying to see Xuan Yizheng's expression at the moment, but the closet was too dark, so he had to give up.

If I had known that Xuan Yizhen had guessed that I had not left the water pavilion, why would I have played hide-and-seek like a fool?

"Yizhen, why don't you ever reply?"

"Because if I have something to say, I will tell you in person. I don't want to borrow paper and pen or anyone else."

Yin Xing listened to Xuan Yizhen's calm and gentle voice, and his heartbeat gradually calmed down. He looked closely at her blurred facial features, raised his hand to imitate her movements, tracing her brow bone, and muttered resentfully, "But you've been so busy lately, and you don't allow me to visit you. Now we can't even go out to the night market. It's not good at all."

As he spoke, Yin Xing's fingertips moved from Xuan Yizhen's brow bone to her long eyelashes, and he realized that she had tacitly closed her eyes at this moment. The rare soft gesture made Yin Xing seem to taste the sweetness of a flowing spring. The corners of his lips could not help but rise, and he had a silly smile on his face.

Although he was a little bothered by Xuan Yizheng's strange way of getting along with others, Yin Xing was full of confidence. No one else could be as close to her as he was!

-----------------------

The author has something to say: Thank you to the 386 lovely readers who quietly clicked on the collection to support you (≧▽≦)

Thanks to 17 lovely readers for following the update and leaving comments and rewards (≧▽≦)

New article recommendation collection: The fate of accidentally flirting with the paranoid queen (through the book)

A sweet story about a beautiful ambitious paranoid and a pure love silly little white rabbit. I hope you can click on the new article collection to support it (≧▽≦)

The author has many more completed works, please click on the column to read them, please (≧▽≦)