"Really?! You're Mrs. Pei?!"
Yan Shiman's face flushed with excitement. "I've always wanted to meet that talented woman from the Pei family who caused such a sensation in the capital. I never thought I would actually have the honor of meeting her today."
"Her name is Shen Yunjiao, not Mrs. Pei."
Xiao Huaijin suddenly spoke up to correct him.
Shen Yunjiao quickly waved her hand and replied with a smile, "You can call me whatever you want, sister. It's just a title, and I'm not some kind of talented woman."
It was merely a fortunate coincidence that it benefited from the influence of the literati throughout Chinese history.
"Sister?" Yan Shiman fell silent again.
Seeing that her expression was off, Shen Yunjiao hesitated and said, "Then, Sister Man?"
Yan Shiman gave a stiff smile, her eyes piercing Xiao Huaijin like knives. "You haven't told her yet?"
Xiao Huaijin calmly put down his wine cup and smiled at Shen Yunjiao, saying, "Shi Man is a man."
Shen Yunjiao felt so embarrassed that she felt like she was digging her toenails into the ground.
This guy is actually a cross-dresser?!
"Well, I didn't mean to, it's just that you're so beautiful, and you're wearing women's clothes." Shen Yunjiao smiled apologetically at Yan Shiman.
"It's not your fault, it's my cousin's fault. Looks like he'll have to treat us tonight." Yan Shiman said magnanimously, revealing a set of white teeth, showing a somewhat unrestrained and high-spirited demeanor of a young man.
“Yan Shiman is the owner of this restaurant, and he’s my cousin. He has such peculiar hobbies,” Xiao Huaijin said with a faint smile, waving his folding fan.
"Greetings, Young Master Yan." Shen Yunjiao nodded.
"Miss Yun Jiao, why are you with my cousin?" Especially at such a late hour.
Yan Shiman's face was full of curiosity, but he didn't ask the question that followed.
Shen Yunjiao gave an awkward laugh, and Xiao Huaijin replied calmly, "Don't ask what you shouldn't ask."
Yan Shiman immediately shut his mouth. His cousin looked elegant and refined, but he was actually very fierce.
Shen Yunjiao didn't understand Yan Shiman's question either, so she could only reply, "I'll accompany Your Highness to relax."
Yan Shiman's expression immediately turned strange upon hearing this.
Did my cousin bring Princess Pei here specifically just to drink and watch the performance?
Then why call him up and reveal your identity to the Crown Princess?
He was meant to be his cousin's secret agent, and he absolutely couldn't reveal his identity until the crucial moment.
Yan Shiman's inquisitive gaze darted back and forth between the two of them.
Xiao Huaijin coughed lightly and covered Yan Shiman's eyes with his hand: "Alright, we just came to take a look. You can go now."
"Wait a minute, I haven't finished asking yet."
Yan Shiman wanted to stay longer, but the next second Xiao Huaijin slunk out of the house.
Shen Yunjiao found the interaction between the two brothers quite interesting.
Moreover, Yan Shiman was the first person who made her feel that she could live a carefree life in Dayong.
"Stop looking, he's already gone." Xiao Huaijin's words pulled Shen Yunjiao out of her thoughts.
Shen Yunjiao sighed to Xiao Huaijin, "I also wish I could be as free and unrestrained as your cousin, able to do whatever I want."
After filling his wine glass, Xiao Huaijin said in a deep voice, "He also went through hardships. No one can have everything they want in life."
"What are you saying, Your Highness? Your Highness is pampered and of noble birth, what is there that you cannot obtain?" Shen Yunjiao replied casually, but she noticed that the faint smile on Xiao Huaijin's face had disappeared.
"Can I get what I want just because I want it?"
Xiao Huaijin stared intently at Shen Yunjiao, then opened his lips and asked in a low voice.
What if I said, "What I want is you?"
"What outrageous words!" Shen Yunjiao couldn't believe what she had just heard.
She stiffened slightly and pushed the tea that Xiao Huaijin had just poured for her back in front of him: "If Your Highness is going to make such a joke, then I'll be leaving."
"Has Your Highness forgotten everything I said?"
Xiao Huaijin lowered his eyes, then took a deep breath, and put on a gentle smile again: "Shen Yunjiao, do you think I was just joking?"
The atmosphere became somewhat tense, and Shen Yunjiao felt like she was sitting on pins and needles. Finally, after Xiao Huaijin silently finished drinking the peach blossom wine in the porcelain bottle, she hurriedly said, "I should go back now."
Xiao Huaijin had a sweet and sour peach scent on him, which Shen Yunjiao noticed when he got up.
She suddenly felt that if peaches could become spirits, Xiao Huaijin must be the incarnation of the Peach Immortal Lord.
Unfortunately, Peach Immortal was clearly in a bad mood because of what he had just said.
Shen Yunjiao didn't really understand Xiao Huaijin's inner thoughts. Did he like Shen Yunjiao as a person, or did he like the scent on her?
Don't try to guess what an 18-year-old boy is thinking; you won't understand even if you do.
"If you need anything in the capital, you can look for Yan Shiman, and he will help you."
After Xiao Huaijin got into the carriage, he finally spoke to Shen Yunjiao.
Upon hearing this, Shen Yunjiao's eyes brightened with a hint of clarity: "Thank you for your recommendation, Your Highness."
It just so happens that she will need Yan Shiman's help in a few days, and since it is His Highness the Crown Prince's kindness, she will not refuse.
only. . .
"Your Highness, thank you so much for taking me out for so long and introducing me to your cousin." After thinking for a moment, Shen Yunjiao earnestly suggested, "As a way of repaying you, how about I give you a few acupuncture treatments?"
Xiao Huaijin's eyelashes fluttered, and he cleared his throat lightly, saying, "No need to be so polite, I had a very pleasant evening too."
"Oh, I see."
Shen Yunjiao responded regretfully. She hadn't been able to give acupuncture to anyone for the past few days, and she felt quite uncomfortable not practicing for several days.
Looks like I should prick myself before going to bed tonight.
Shen Yunjiao leaned back on the soft couch, but her peripheral vision fell on Xiao Huaijin's clasped hands.
Xiao Huaijin's fingers were fair and slender, with a slightly wide back of his hand and visible pale blue veins. There were thin calluses on the tip and pad of his right index finger.
The reason Shen Yunjiao remembered it so clearly was because Xiao Huaijin had held her hand when he was in a state of confusion.
Suddenly remembering that dry, warm touch, her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly looked away from Xiao Huaijin's hand.
If I keep watching, I'll start to become abnormal myself.
On the return trip, the carriage took a shortcut and arrived at the west gate of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion in less than half an hour.
Shen Yunjiao gently jumped off the carriage and was about to tiptoe towards the side gate when Xiao Huaijin behind her suddenly made a move.
Shen Yunjiao only felt her arm being grabbed, and with a little force, she was pulled into Xiao Huaijin's arms.
His hand then casually climbed up Shen Yunjiao's soft and slender waist.
"What are you doing!" Shen Yunjiao was a little annoyed, but she didn't dare to shout loudly for fear of disturbing others.
So she could only try to pry Xiao Huaijin's arm away, and whispered angrily, "Let go of me!"
Xiao Huaijin remained calm, resting his chin on her shoulder, and whispered in her ear, "If we rush in like this, we'll be discovered. Hold on tight, I'll take you in."
The arm around her waist was strong and powerful. Shen Yunjiao tried her best but couldn't break free. She could only grab his collar in annoyance and say, "You'd better hurry up—"
Before she could finish speaking, Shen Yunjiao felt herself suddenly rise into the air.
The floating sensation startled her, and she forgot all about being reserved, reaching out to tightly embrace the prince's warm body.
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