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Although she had already walked a hundred steps or so, Qin Sang's mind was still filled with Bai Yiqing's exquisitely beautiful yet sorrowful appearance, which lingered and made her heart feel heavy.
Just then, a boy with a high ponytail, dressed in a slender black outfit, bound with red wristbands, and with a red hairband, stood in the distance, arms crossed, with a smile on his lips.
If Bai Yiqing was a lone white wolf in the snow, then Xie Suian was a cunning red fox in the green forest. He had no tail, but Qin Sang felt that he was swaying.
A large, fluffy, ethereal tail hung behind it, swaying back and forth, inexplicably bringing joy to the wearer.
"You won the match?" Qin Sang approached and immediately knew.
Xie Sui'an took the gold hairpin from his pocket, placed it in his palm in front of her, and said, "I keep my word."
Qin Sang glanced at the gold hairpin. Although it wasn't top-notch in craftsmanship, it was still quite rare.
She reached out her hand, but Xie Sui'an withdrew it, saying, "I'll put it on for you."
Qin Sang raised an eyebrow and leaned back slightly, clearly displaying a wary and resistant expression.
Xie Suian paused, but was not discouraged. He just clicked his tongue in annoyance, raised his other hand, went around the back of her head, and gently pulled her forward, smoothly inserting the gold hairpin.
"So many people want this, but I won't give it to them. You should be secretly happy." He carefully admired his prize and suddenly had a feeling that wearing this golden hairpin was like possessing something.
Xie Sui'an was a head taller than Qin Sang. When she looked up, she could see his smooth jawline and his smiling eyes that sparkled with starlight.
Qin Sang's old heart skipped a beat again.
She felt a little helpless.
After some reflection, I summarized my fickle behavior.
It must be because I was too pure and abstinent in the past. Even the gods in heaven are pure and abstinent. It's really a sin to be so easily moved and have feelings.
She has such little self-control; she likes everything that looks good.
So she waved the fan even more vigorously, coughed lightly, lowered her head, took half a step back to create some distance, and said with a smile, "If other women like it, you can give it to them. Giving it to me won't do you any good."
Xie Sui'an frowned: "I don't like other women, so why would I send them?"
Both of them were stunned when they heard this.
Qin Sang's eyelashes fluttered slightly as she pondered what he meant by "like".
The lingering, hesitant, and unspoken feelings of the past were suddenly revealed by a gust of wind.
"..." Xie Sui'an realized what he had said and his ears burned. But he thought that since things had come to this point, he might as well be clear. Just as he was about to take another step forward, he saw out of the corner of his eye a figure in white walking from the direction Qin Sang had come from.
Originally, it was nothing, thinking that he was just someone who happened to be passing by, and that it would be fine to explain after he passed by. However, Bai Yiqing suddenly stopped when he walked to Qin Sang's side.
A slender, clean hand was revealed from within the wide sleeve, and in the palm of the hand was a jade ruyi pendant.
"You left your clothes in the side hall when you were changing." He didn't even look at Xie Sui'an, but lowered his eyes to look at Qin Sang.
Qin Sang stared at the pendant in the man's hand. For some reason, the blush on her face deepened, and she felt a strange, unsettling ache, as if a cat's claws were scratching at her heart.
I can't describe the feeling. My usually quick wit is now stuck to my lips like glue, and I really don't know what to say.
This jade pendant is actually a very ordinary one, with no special significance. It was just something that Granny Liu casually put on her when she was getting ready this morning, and she hadn't really noticed it when she took it off.
But his grabbing and releasing made it seem as if something had happened between the two of them...
That's really unfair.
"Thank you." She reached out to take it, but Bai Yiqing didn't offer it to her. He simply held out his hand, letting her take it herself.
Just as Qin Sang extended her fingertip, she heard Bai Yiqing's cold voice: "The jade pendant is not of good quality. I have a piece of top-grade mutton fat jade. I will bring it to you another day when we have the chance to meet."
"I brought it for you"...
It's not "bringing it to you"...
The word "give" carries such an ordinary tone and familiar manner.
But the two of them are clearly not familiar with each other, right? Just a short while ago, he didn't even bother to speak to me. Could it be that an unintentional flower opened his mind?
Could it be that he has some misunderstanding about himself?
While she was still stunned, Xie Sui'an pulled Qin Sang aside, stepped forward to block her, and said with a grin, "Thank you for your kindness, Young Master Bai. If she likes anything, I will find it for her without troubling others."
After saying that, she took the jade pendant from his hand.
Qin Sang stepped slightly to the side and saw that Young Master Bai withdrew his hand expressionlessly, also looked over Xie Suian's shoulder, gave her a deep look, and then left.
Xie Sui'an turned around and saw Qin Sang still staring at the other person's back, and his heart pounded with anxiety.
He ground his back teeth, realizing how careless he had been. He should have expressed his feelings much earlier; why had he let someone else get there first?
"Lingding, go away. I have something to say to your daughter." A possessive glint appeared in his eyes as he stared at Qin Sang as if he wanted to devour her.
Lingding understood immediately, nodded, and silently walked away.
Although she didn't quite understand, she had some knowledge of this mistress's personality. She certainly wouldn't be content to stay at home and be a wife and mother, much less marry a dissolute playboy with no real power.
These days, she and Qin Baoyun have visited almost every teahouse and tavern in Kyoto, acquired some valuable shops, selected several houses for Qin Sang to choose from, and even bought a number of people, young and old, all in preparation for making a name for themselves.
Although Xie Sui'an is the prime minister's grandson, he currently has neither official rank nor a job, so why would Qin Sang be interested in him?
She stood by the courtyard wall in the distance, counting the roses blooming one by one at the corner.
But the lush roses bloomed in clusters all over the wall, countless in number.
***
After returning home from the princess's birthday banquet, Xie Sui'an went straight to his study and never came out again.
Qin Sang returned to her courtyard, removed her hairpins and jewelry, changed into casual clothes, and rested with her eyes closed on the chaise lounge.
After a long day of work and meeting many people, she went through them all in her mind, and in the end, she couldn't help but think of Xie Sui'an's words.
"If you marry me, I will protect you. If you want revenge, I will help you. Whatever you want to do, I will be with you. I will talk to Grandpa, and you don't need to worry about Mother. I love you and want to grow old with you and spend the rest of my life with you."
A smile appeared on her lips. This boy was so direct, and so naive.
What he so confidently declared will one day turn out to be nothing more than youthful, ignorant fantasies; touching, yes, but nothing more.
As darkness fell, the maids lit the palace lanterns in the courtyard. The dim, yellowish light illuminated a cluster of small blue-purple flowers beneath the lanterns, making their bright, vibrant colors appear hazy and indistinct.
After an unknown amount of time, Lingding lifted the bamboo curtain and came in to report that Qin Baoyun wanted to see her.
Qin Sang then got off the bed, put on her shoes, and took Lingding out the door.
It was already late at night, and Qin Baoyun wouldn't have wanted to see her so late if it weren't for something urgent.
Following the dimly lit garden path, they arrived at the flower hall where they often met, where Qin Baoyun was already waiting.
Upon seeing her arrive, he respectfully bowed and said, "Miss."
"Uncle Qin, there's no need for such formalities."
There were tables and chairs in the flower hall. After she sat down, she asked Qin Baoyun to sit down as well, and Lingding consciously went to stand guard beside her.
After sitting down, Qin Baoyun didn't waste any time and went straight to the point: "Miss is busy during the day now, so I can only bother you in the evening. The things you asked me to do earlier are almost done, but there are still some things that you need to decide. We've found three houses that meet your requirements, and you can go and take a look at them when you have some free time. As for manpower, we've found a group of people who are good at guarding the house. They all live in the vicinity of the capital, so they can come whenever you call, and you don't need to worry about them. In addition, we are still negotiating with the few shops that you have your eye on. They mainly involve the owners and forces behind them, which are quite complicated and involve a wide range of people."
Qin Sang had heard Ling Ding mention these developments before, and she said, "Hmm, anything else?"
Qin Baoyun looked around, leaned forward slightly, and lowered his voice: "Back then, there were many people like me who were implicated. I have also found some who are willing to serve you, young lady. However, you need to go and meet them."
This was unexpected; Qin Sang hadn't considered it beforehand.
She paused for a moment, then said, "If they see me, will they believe me? I was young back then, and they might not even remember me. Besides, what happened back then was ultimately because of my father and brothers. They should hate me, so why would they help me?"
Qin Baoyun: "Many people personally experienced what happened back then. The blood-stained edict from the Emperor was seen by more than just the General. They all understand that there is someone else behind it all. Now that you are willing to risk your life to recount what happened back then, they are naturally willing to serve you."
Qin Sang: "A lot of people?"
Qin Baoyun: "There aren't many left, but these few I found might be of good use to you, young lady."
Qin Sang: "In that case, I must go and see him. Uncle Qin, if you think it's appropriate, arrange a time, and I'll go."
Qin Baoyun then looked slightly troubled: "But young lady, is it easy to leave during the day?"
Qin Sang smiled and said, "I am staying here as a guest, not being detained. The First Madam treats me very well, so you don't need to worry."
Qin Baoyun then took out a folded piece of paper from his pocket: "This is the list of those people, and the business they are currently engaged in. You can take a look first, remember it, and then burn it."
Qin Sang accepted the gift, and Qin Baoyun immediately stood up to take his leave.
The flower hall quickly became empty and silent, leaving only Qin Sang alone.
She slowly unfolded the folded paper, which listed nine names, with three highlighted and circled: a beggar, a courtesan, and a bricklayer.
Those who suffered back then faced far more than just execution.
When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter; none of the snakes, insects, rats, and ants that lived around the tree survived.
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