I can't let you go.
Gui Fang had watched Ji Lin grow up and naturally felt sorry for her. With the changes in the Ji family, Ji Lin was all alone and would inevitably face difficulties in the future, so she couldn't help but feel worried.
"I think His Highness is a kind person and has taken good care of you, so he will not distance himself from you." She said this with a hint of guilt.
Gu Jinning shook her head and sighed, "My cousin's wedding is approaching, and that princess is notoriously domineering. How could she possibly tolerate me? In a few days, I will be going back to my grandmother's old house to guard her grave."
Guifang said urgently, "That won't do. You're a frail woman, how can you endure the wind and sun? You must stay."
Gu Jinning just looked at her with a wronged expression, her almond-shaped eyes filled with tears.
Gui Fang's heart clenched, and she became even more anxious.
"Miss, His Highness is not yet married, we still have a chance."
She picked up the soup bowl and shoved the tray into Gu Jinning's hands, suggesting, "Take this lotus root soup to His Highness and say that you made it yourself."
"As the saying goes, those near the water get the moon first. You are good-looking and have a good temperament. Spend more time with His Highness. If His Highness likes you, he will take you into his household first, and that will be fine."
Gu Jinning reluctantly went out, asking, "Will this... work?"
"Don't worry, there's no man who won't fall for this."
Gui Fang pushed Gu Jinning out of the courtyard gate, urging her to hurry up.
Guards were already patrolling the mansion, and lanterns were hung everywhere, but Yunshu Courtyard was completely dark.
Looking into the distance, Gu Jinning wondered if Xiao Heng'an was asleep. That shouldn't be the case. Xiao Heng'an had ridden his horse at most a quarter of an hour earlier than her.
Hasn't he returned yet?
Just as they were wondering, a group of people turned onto the garden path, led by Xiao Heng'an.
Gu Jinning greeted him with a smile, "Cousin, what a coincidence."
Song Ming and Song Hui glanced at the soup in her hand, exchanged a look, and silently withdrew.
Xiao Heng'an stopped in his tracks, his gaze sweeping over them with an ambiguous searching look.
Gu Jinning lowered her eyes and accepted his scrutiny, feigning shyness as she said, "Thank you, cousin, for finding me a wet nurse. If you don't mind, please try this lotus root soup. It used to be my favorite."
Xiao Heng'an remained silent for a moment, then went to the pavilion and sat down.
Gu Jinning thought there was a chance, so she followed closely and served a bowl of lotus root soup.
Xiao Heng'an took it, tasted it, and commented, "It tastes good."
Gu Jinning said, "I'm glad you like it, cousin. Actually, the lotus roots at the market aren't very fresh. If they were picked fresh from the pond and paired with lotus flowers and seeds, that would be truly sweet and delicious."
Xiao Heng'an didn't respond, so Gu Jinning continued to mutter to herself, "We have a lotus pond in our mansion, and the lotus flowers are in full bloom right now. Cousin, shall we go take a look?"
She took the opportunity to grasp Xiao Heng'an's hand.
The familiar warmth spread across the back of his hand. Xiao Heng'an felt a jolt in his heart, and suddenly everything became clear.
Gu Jinning realized her rudeness and quickly and shyly let go, stealing glances at Xiao Heng'an out of the corner of her eye.
Xiao Heng'an quietly held the bowl of lotus root soup, stirring it slowly and methodically, understanding everything in his mind.
He looked up, saw through her little scheme at a glance, and stood up to cooperate. "Alright. The water is cool in the late night, it's a good place to escape the heat."
Gu Jinning was first taken aback by his straightforwardness, then she hurriedly caught up with him, secretly pleased: It seems my honey trap worked, I must win him over tonight!
With unwavering determination, Gu Jinning discreetly tucked a few stray hairs from her forehead and pulled her clothes down further to enhance her allure.
The lotus pond is long and winding, with pink lotuses standing tall among the green lotuses, swaying in the wind in a pleasing and orderly fashion.
A small boat was moored by the pond; it was the one Gu Jinning used when she planted the lotus flowers.
“Cousin, there’s a boat over there.” Gu Jinning feigned surprise.
Xiao Heng'an, anticipating her thoughts, stepped into the boat first and extended his hand in invitation.
Gu Jinning grabbed his hand and jumped into the small boat. Taking advantage of the boat's rocking, she leaned to the side and bumped into Xiao Heng'an's arms.
Xiao Heng'an gently put his arm around her waist, helped her sit down, and then let go to sit opposite her.
Gu Jinning took the oars from the boat and rowed with Xiao Heng'an.
The small boat drifted leisurely into a patch of lotus leaves that were half a person tall.
The lotus flowers stand tall, towering overhead, forming a natural floral umbrella. Among them, lotus pods and leaves are scattered, within easy reach.
The summer breeze, carrying the coolness of the lake and the fragrance of lotus flowers, brushes against my cheeks, refreshing and pleasant.
The lake water was gentle under the moonlight, the lotus flowers in the pond were tender, and even the people bathed in the moonlight seemed to shimmer with a soft glow. It was as if a sharp sword had been coated with beeswax, concealing its edge.
Gu Jinning was captivated by Xiao Heng'an's appearance, quietly admiring him. Putting everything else aside, she had been attracted to his looks since childhood.
Xiao Heng'an sat against the light, and he could clearly see the shining stars in her eyes, just like in prison.
At that moment, she seemed to have forgotten how to pretend.
"You really like lotus flowers?" Xiao Heng'an asked.
Gu Jinning replied, "I like all beautiful things, including lotus flowers, of course."
Xiao Heng'an knew that this was Gu Jinning's true answer and had nothing to do with Ji Lin.
"While appreciating beauty, one must also learn to accept its other side."
Gu Jinning assumed that Xiao Heng'an was giving her a warning about the Ji family, so she naturally switched to Ji Lin's tone and replied, "Cousin is right. I have always kept the Ji family's affairs in mind and taken them as a warning. I have never dared to forget them."
Xiao Heng'an played along, saying, "The Ji family fell into depravity due to greed and was destroyed by desire. Since my cousin understands this principle well, she will surely be open-minded and happy when she returns to her hometown to cultivate her character."
The small boat unknowingly drifted to the depths of the lotus pond. Gu Jinning abandoned the oars, letting the boat drift, and covered her face in sorrow, taking advantage of Xiao Heng'an's words.
“I know my cousin truly cares for me, and I also want to return to my hometown to chant Buddhist prayers every day to atone for the Ji family’s sins. But I just can’t let go of what’s on my mind.”
Xiao Heng'an bent down and raised his hand to shield her from the huge lotus leaf behind her.
Gu Jinning looked up with tears in her eyes and caught a glimpse of tenderness in his eyes. Knowing that he was not completely heartless, she boldly grabbed his wrist and moved forward to sit next to Xiao Heng'an.
"Cousin, I can't let you go."
Gu Jinning held his hand tightly, pulled him close to her chest, and confessed: "The royal family appears wealthy and prosperous on the surface, but inside it is full of intrigue and danger. Everywhere you look, it's all about interests; there's no sincerity to be found."
"Cousin, I feel sorry for you."
A few tears gathered in her eyes, as clear and bright as pearls, and fell silently into Xiao Heng'an's hand as her eyelashes fluttered.
"I don't care about myself, I just hope you have someone caring and genuinely kind to you. But this world is so cold..."
Gu Jinning met him with teary eyes, her tenderness transforming into a gentle breeze and fine rain, invisibly enveloping Xiao Heng'an.
Xiao Heng'an couldn't help but stroke her face and wipe away the tears that remained under her eyes.
Gu Jinning cried out "Cousin!" and threw herself into his arms, half-sobbing and half-pouting, "Cousin, if no one understands you, I'm willing to be the one who does. Even if it's just silently watching over you from a corner, I'm willing to do it."
Xiao Heng'an embraced her, thinking to himself, "When did her acting become so good?"
Gu Jinning felt Xiao Heng'an's arm strength and was secretly delighted: "Little brat, I'll take you down now."
The small boat came to a stop without anyone noticing, and the lotus leaves all around it completely covered it.
Gu Jinning traced circles on Xiao Heng'an's chest with her jade-like fingers.
“Cousin, the air here is filled with the fragrance of lotus blossoms and a gentle breeze; it’s so refreshing. Why don’t we sleep here tonight?”
She reached up to Xiao Heng'an's clothes with her five fingers, and seeing that Xiao Heng'an did not refuse, she became bolder. She wrapped her other hand around his waist and searched for the jade belt at his waist.
A large hand appeared just in time and held down her restless hand.
Gu Jinning looked up, puzzled, and met Xiao Heng'an's clear gaze.
He moved closer to her, his sharply defined profile close to her cheek, his warm breath brushing against her ear.
Gu Jinning suddenly felt nervous, her breathing stopped, and her heart raced uncontrollably.
She was the one who flirted with him first, but she didn't expect him to be so proactive.
Gu Jinning steeled her heart, closed her eyes, and thought to herself, "If he's serious, I don't mind taking a loss."
Xiao Heng'an noticed her unease, and a playful smile appeared on his lips. He reached out and wrapped his arm around her lower back, then pulled a small book from a crevice in the deck beside her.
"What's this?"
He sat back down in his original seat with a hint of suspicion, patted the dust off the book, and the yellowed cover gradually became visible.
Perhaps because it had been placed in the interlayer for too long, it inevitably suffered from wind and rain, and the writing was no longer very clear, but the two characters "戏说" could still be vaguely recognized.
Gu Jinning leaned closer for a look, and her eyes widened in shock. It had fallen into the boat! No wonder she had been searching for so long without finding it.
Xiao Heng'an guessed something from her expression and casually reached out to look through it.
Gu Jinning quickly pressed down the small book and laughed, "It's best not to look at things of unknown origin."
Xiao Heng'an said, "Since these are items from the manor, there's no harm in taking a look."
Gu Jinning quickly said, "Look how dirty this is, let me wipe it first, so you don't get your hands dirty."
Xiao Heng'an avoided her hand and turned the pages of the book. Page after page turned to ash and fell away in a flurry, with a sheet of oil painting flying out and fluttering down.
Gu Jinning rushed to take it, but Xiao Heng'an grasped it first.
Gu Jinning's hand froze in mid-air, slightly embarrassed. "This paper is quite sturdy; the book was torn, but it's still here."
When asked to take the painting, Xiao Heng'an calmly avoided the question, saying, "Oiled paper is naturally resistant to wind and rain." His subordinates had already turned over the painting paper.
A portrait was clearly displayed before Xiao Heng'an. The eyebrows, eyes, and figure were almost identical to his own, only slightly thinner and more youthful than he was now.
Xiao Heng'an recognized him at a glance; this was himself from three years ago.
Gu Jinning wished she could jump into the river and hide. She had only been drawing lotus flowers for fun when she had nothing else to do, and never thought that the real person would see it.
Gu Jinning frowned, troubled, not daring to look at Xiao Heng'an's probing gaze, wondering how to explain herself.
"Aren't you going to see what it is?" Xiao Heng'an teased.
Gu Jinning then remembered that she was Ji Lin at this moment, and what did the portrait have to do with her? She resumed Ji Lin's demeanor and pretended to be calm.
"Cousin, what is it?" She feigned curiosity and leaned closer to take a look.
Xiao Heng'an turned and put the painting into his sleeve, replying, "It's just some pretentious poetry and miscellaneous paintings, nothing special."
Gu Jinning smiled along, her hands idly touching the oars as she pondered what to do next.
The perfect atmosphere is gone; if she tries to stir things up again, it will inevitably feel too awkward.
"Cousin," Gu Jinning said, pulling her clothes closer, "the wind in the water has gotten a bit chilly. Let's go back."
After saying this, he released the oars, pushed aside the lotus leaves blocking his way, and rowed towards the shore.
Throughout the journey, she never dared to look Xiao Heng'an in the eye again.
As soon as the boat docked, she sullenly lifted her skirt and walked away. Xiao Heng'an followed closely behind. The boat instantly lost its balance and swayed precariously.
Gu Jinning, whose body was slightly unsteady from raising her left foot, staggered backward and let out a scream.
Xiao Heng'an hooked his arm around her waist with one hand, leaped up, and landed steadily with her.
Song Ming and Song Hui rushed over upon hearing the commotion and were astonished to see "Ji Lin" nestled in Xiao Heng'an's arms. They could hardly believe their eyes.
So...they're already hugging?
Gu Jinning steadied herself and called out shyly, "Thank you, cousin." Then she ran off, leaving everyone with endless room for imagination.
"Your Highness, are you with Miss Biao?" Song Hui blurted out.
Xiao Heng'an's gaze followed the departing figure. He seemed to be in a good mood and asked, "How was it?"
Song Hui quickly replied, "It's nothing, I'm fine."
Gu Jinning ran back to the courtyard, went straight into the house and closed the door, leaving Chu Lang and Gui Fang, who had been waiting in the courtyard for a long time, standing there.
Just as Chu Lang was about to chase after her to ask, Gui Fang grabbed him and said meaningfully, "Miss is tired, let's not disturb her."
Gu Jinning slipped into the light gauze tent in one breath, untied the belt around her waist and lay down, only then feeling at ease.
Strange, so strange. Xiao Heng'an's behavior today is so different from before, it's completely unlike his usual self.
"Did he/she get a shock?"
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