The sun was high in the sky, and the cicadas were chirping loudly.
The fire crackled and popped inside the courtyard, waves of heat surged, and wisps of smoke and ashes drifted into the distance on the warm, dry summer breeze.
Under the crabapple tree, Zhan Xinjia sat on the ground, idly propping her chin up, poking at the still-burnt pages of a book in an iron basin with a thin stick. Anyone who didn't know better would think she was burning paper money for a dead person.
Beside her, a large, orange chicken leg, glistening in the sunlight, was sleeping soundly, nestled comfortably against a section of her dress that draped to the ground.
The years are peaceful and tranquil, a time of leisure and contentment.
When the books were almost burned, Zhan Xinjia, whose legs were numb from squatting, turned her head and looked towards the study with her buttocks sticking out.
"Is there—anything else?!"
The young man, who was sitting on pins and needles in the study, remained silent for a few moments. After a while, he brought out a box of miscellaneous books.
A quick pry with a wooden stick is best for opening a letter.
Wow! Goodness!
"The Domineering General Falls in Love with Me: After the War God General Loses His Memory, He Endures a Life of Farming in the Countryside with His Pampered Wife..."; "The Sickly, Obsessive, and Charming Young Marquis Bravely Pursues Her, and the Peerless Thief Flies Bravely..."; "The Soft and Delicate Fiancée Who Was Rejected from Her Engagement, and the Cold and Aloof Prince's Pursuit of Her After Becoming a Monk Leads to a Heartbreaking Scene..."
Zhan Xinjia: "..."
Zhan Xinjia: "To be honest, it's quite impressive that Fu Shouan was able to gather such a large bundle of ancient divine books for you. He's really capable. I don't think I could find such a complete collection even if I were asked to."
Ever since she returned home from the palace, she had ransacked Lord Shen's study, confiscating and destroying everything.
It can't be burned out, it simply can't be burned out!
Regardless of how many melodramatic novels Fu Shouan actually sent, she strongly suspected that Lord Shen was keeping some for himself.
Thinking of this, Zhan Xinjia switched hands and rested her chin on her hand.
She lazily raised her eyes and spoke in a higher voice.
"Are you sure they're all here? No one escaped? Lord Shen? Hmm?"
Silence fell over the study again, and after a long while, Shen Suqing's voice, feigning composure, finally broke through.
"He brought over three book boxes, cough... I haven't looked at any of them except for the one in the carriage."
"Hmph, you'd better be."
After neatly tossing the last box of books into the brazier, Zhan Xinjia casually wiped her dirty hands on Jide's fluffy head, stood up, grabbed a wooden stick, and deftly tossed her braid before heading out.
Her movement finally made Shen Suqing, who was pretending to be serious while holding his teacup, unable to sit still any longer.
Where are you going?
Zhan Xinjia, who had already reached the door, glanced at him.
She rolled up her sleeves to her elbows, revealing her snow-white wrists where the wounds had healed to the point of leaving only a few faint scars. She wore a pure white inner lining with a light blue jacket embroidered with pear blossoms, and underneath were practical and cool Song-style trousers, paired with a pair of plain embroidered shoes. The whole outfit was neat and refreshing.
But at this moment, she was carrying a stick on her shoulder, standing awkwardly, and looking like a hoodlum.
"Where else can I go? I'll go beat up that damn idiot Fu Shouan first. I think he's been giving me too much of a hard time."
This stupid, noble male protagonist does nothing but cause trouble all day long. He can't investigate the Lanjiang region properly, and he can't catch the assassins. All he does is watch the show and cause trouble for Lord Shen. He's really giving him face!
Shen Suqing seemed to want to speak but hesitated, then hesitated again.
He wanted to scold Ah Zhi for always using foul language, saying it wasn't good, but he was also a little afraid that Ah Zhi would beat him up too...
Furthermore, he needed to offer some advice on this matter. After all, Fu Shou'an was one of his few close friends, and he still had to mediate between the two, even though he also found Fu Shou'an to be quite talkative.
Seeing the young man's hesitation, Zhan Xinjia, who had been expressionless, rolled her eyes. The next second, a soft and sweet smile bloomed on her face, which was very deceptive.
She threw down the stick and walked briskly back to Master Shen's side.
The little girl tilted her soft, white face up, wrapped her arms around one of his dangling arms, and gently swayed it from side to side, clearly acting coquettishly.
"Could it be that Lord Shen intends to tip him off...?"
As she spoke, Zhan Xinjia lowered her eyebrows, bit her rosy lower lip with her white teeth, her butterfly-like eyelashes trembled, and her beautiful peach blossom eyes were made clear and sparkling in the shady golden sunlight.
She stared at him with pleading eyes, her adoring gaze accusing him of not standing by her side.
From Shen Suqing's elevated perspective, he appears even more adorable than ever.
The little girl's soft, dark hair was tied into two little buns with a blue silk ribbon, while the rest of her hair was loose and flowing. When she moved, it bounced up and down like a lop-eared rabbit. The silver hairpin carved into the shape of a butterfly on her hair shone brightly in the sunlight.
Coupled with that fair and sweet face and her charming smile, she held him rooted to the spot for a long time, unable to come back to his senses.
Shen Suqing: "..."
Hesitating for less than a second between the adorable Ah Zhi and his best friend Fu Shouan, the always upright and incorruptible Shen Suqing immediately made up his mind.
He dusted off his sleeves, his expression righteous and awe-inspiring.
"I'll help you lure him out."
——
"Oh, that's unusual. This is the first time in all these years that Brother Shen has taken the initiative to invite me out for tea. What, have you finished reading all the books I gave you last time? Hey, did you learn any little tricks?"
As he spoke, Fu Shouan raised his eyebrows mischievously and chuckled as he reached out to put his arm around Shen Suqing's shoulder.
Shen Suqing subtly avoided him, disdainfully distancing herself from him.
Changning Street was bustling and prosperous, with grocery stores, restaurants and teahouses, and a lively atmosphere, a scene of peace and prosperity.
In the scorching mid-July sun, walking among the throngs of people, Shen Suqing felt a chill run down his spine, sweat beaded on his forehead, and a dull ache in his conscience.
In the shadows, a young girl in blue at the alley entrance was listlessly tossing a gleaming, sharpened knife around.
The short, narrow, sharp knife in her hands was like a juggling prop in a theatrical troupe, tossed up and down, spinning gracefully on her fingertips, yet its sharpness did not diminish its lethality.
Seeing the young man glance over, the girl returned a cryptic, mischievous smile.
Shen Suqing immediately looked away.
Standing still, Shen Suqing looked with a hint of sympathy at Fu Shouan, who was unaware of the impending bloodshed.
After careful consideration, out of consideration for the few remaining friendships he had, he decided to temporarily test Fu Shouan's words and strength.
"Brother Fu..."
"What's wrong?"
Being looked at with such a strange, pitying gaze by his own brother Shen, Fu Shou'an immediately shuddered and rubbed his arms, trying to shake off the goosebumps. He asked suspiciously.
"Brother Shen, why are you looking at me like that?"
"If... I mean, if someone were to attack me in the street, would you come to my aid?"
"Hey, what kind of weird question is that! We're buddies, of course I'll protect you!! I'll definitely stand up for you."
Fu Shouan patted his chest with an air of righteous indignation, a wide smile playing on his lips. Finally, he casually patted his close friend's shoulder to reassure him.
"Don't worry, my best buddy, for life!"
But Shen Suqing's expression remained solemn.
"What if this person were my son, Ah Zhi?"
Fu Shouan: "Who?"
Fu Shouan: "..."
The image of the God of War's dashing figure thrusting into someone's buttocks flashed through Fu Shou'an's mind instantly. He grimaced, a hint of embarrassment on his face, and chuckled as he touched the back of his head.
"Hahaha... Then I'll show you what a real coward is."
He's going to fight that monster girl? Really?!
No sooner said than done, Zhan Xinjia, who was hiding in the shadows, was about to take advantage of the atmosphere to give Fu Shouan a good beating, but unexpectedly, a white shadow flashed before her eyes, and someone was even faster than her.
Suddenly, Zhan Xinjia stopped in his tracks, puzzled, and looked closely. To his surprise, it was Yan Xiyue who had rushed out!
At this moment, Yan Xiyue's eyes were slightly red, her fair face was streaked with tears, and she was glaring angrily at Fu Shouan, whose expression was very unnatural, while she was holding his wrist tightly with one hand to prevent him from leaving.
"Why have you been avoiding me these past few days? I went to your house to look for you, and you weren't there. I went to the Dali Temple to look for you, and you weren't there either. But when someone else calls you, you're there right away. Do you look down on me?!"
Fu Shou'an was about to speak in his defense, but then seemed to suddenly remember something, and his expression and attitude instantly turned cold.
He avoided Yan Xiyue's gaze with a sour expression.
Although his tone was deliberately light and casual, it sounded somewhat sarcastic, as if he was awkwardly holding his breath.
"Why did you come looking for me again?"
Oh dear, I'm just a lowly fourth-rank official trying to make a living. How can I compare to the renowned young master Zhan Wending, whose fame fills the entire capital?
Although I didn't go on the tribute day, I heard how well Princess Caixia and that young master Zhan were a perfect match. If the princess needs a playmate to pass the time, she should just go find young master Zhan.
"Where would we lack a mere nobody like myself?"
"Fu Shou'an, you!"
Yan Xiyue was so angry at his words that she wanted to explain, but it was difficult to explain to too many people.
Besides, Fu Shou'an is always as gossipy as a pimp on the street corner. If you dare to tell him a secret, the whole capital, even the stray dogs, will probably know about it by the next day.
However, the thought that he had been avoiding her these past few days because he cared about "Young Master Zhan" made Yan Xiyue feel much better. She felt sweet inside and was no longer as aggrieved and angry as when she arrived.
She snorted coldly, crossed her arms haughtily, and turned away.
"Of course! You do have some self-awareness; Young Master Zhan is the best in the world!"
Her little sister is the best!
Now it was Fu Shou'an's turn to be furious.
He just made a few sarcastic remarks, hoping the other party would flatter him and give him a way out. After all, he had indeed been depressed for several days because of this sudden emergence of "Zhan Wending".
Unexpectedly, this wicked little princess not only didn't explain, but actually admitted it!
Oh my, who was it that used to cling to him and call him "Lord Fu" so sweetly? Tsk, they've gotten tired of it so quickly.
The thought of this made Fu Shouan feel uneasy all over.
He happened to spot a familiar-looking little girl standing on the side of the street, playing with a short knife. His eyes lit up, and he immediately stepped forward to seek justice.
“Little girl, tell me! Compared to your cousin, I’m not that much worse, am I? Do you think I have nothing that I can’t do better than him? You’re just bragging about being the best in the world.
"Zhan Qiding" himself: "..."
Zhan Xinjia said without batting an eye, "My cousin is indeed the best. Young man, you don't need to feel inferior for losing to him."
Fu Shouan, deeply traumatized, stumbled back a few steps in disbelief, clutching his chest, looking fragile and on the verge of collapse. He was still stubbornly trying to save face and maintain his composure.
"Your opinion doesn't count! That's true, he's your cousin, of course you'll side with your relatives."
"I must be crazy to ask you that... I'll ask someone else!"
After saying that, Fu Shouan suddenly had a breakthrough. He looked up sharply, his eyes burning, as if he were grasping at a last straw and placing all his hopes on his dearest friend.
He can't rely on anyone else, but he's known Brother Shen for four or five years. Surely Brother Shen will side with him?
Who would have thought that as soon as the question "Who do you support, me or that young master Zhan?" was asked, Shen Suqing immediately gave an answer that completely broke Fu Shouan's defenses without the slightest hesitation.
"Oh, I am also a follower of Young Master Zhan."
He certainly supports Ah Zhi.
Fu Shouan: "..."
The sky has fallen.
Aren't we best buddies for life?
Is the world crazy, or is he just destined for misfortune? No, how could this be? How did his brother Shen inexplicably become someone else's follower? And who exactly is this Zhan Wending?!
But nobody paid him any attention.
Meanwhile, Zhan Xinjia, who had put away his dagger, was already chatting casually with Yan Xiyue, their arms around each other's shoulders.
"Where's your brother? That delusional, overprotective siscon didn't go out with you today?"
Wait a minute, aren't these two always seen together? It's strange that they've ever acted alone together.
Upon hearing Zhan Xinjia's question, Yan Xiyue's brows furrowed with worry, and she looked sullen, as if she found it difficult to speak.
"He's in big trouble lately... Oh well, let's not worry about that, let's think about what wedding gift to give him first!"
When the geese return, is it a newlywed wedding?!
Her words stunned everyone present.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com