Chapter 22 (8,000 words) I really don’t like…
The surface of the pond outside the water pavilion is shimmering with dappled light due to the bright sunlight, like broken gold, and green water lilies of various sizes lying quietly in it float on the water, creating ripples.
The sound of gurgling water was heard, and the hot mist from the teacup on the table gradually dissipated. The slender, jade-white hand poured the tea with skillful and elegant movements. Only the red silk ribbon on the wrist fluttered with it, adding a touch of brightness and attracting attention.
Yin Xing blinked her round eyes, her mind in a trance. After a while, she turned her gaze to the elegant and beautiful face of Xuan Yizheng with her delicate forehead and beautiful eyebrows. At this moment, her calm and beautiful eyes were like a clear mirror reflecting the light outside the pool. It was difficult to see what she was thinking, but it reflected her clearly.
Yin Xing immediately stood still, not daring to move, letting Shen Jing's gaze sweep over her body. His eyes were fixed on Xuan Yizhen's skin, which was even whiter than light itself. It was like creamy jade, translucent and white. With envy filling his heart, he softly called out, "Yizhen, what are you looking at?"
"Nothing, just seeing you in your official robes and hat for the first time is quite novel." Xuan Yizhen paused briefly as he spoke, placing a cup of tea across from him. "Please take a seat."
His words were gentle and affectionate, his movements friendly and casual, but Xuan Yizheng carried a natural, commanding aura. A look, a final syllable, and subtle changes all carried an indescribable noble arrogance.
If this wasn't Yin Xing's usual residence, he would probably suspect that he was in Xuan Yizheng's villa.
"Oh, I thought something really happened today." Yin Xing stepped forward and sat down. He raised his hand to take off his official hat and put it aside. He picked up the teacup and took a sip. Suddenly, he paused and was secretly surprised that it was so hot!
Xuan Yizhen asked calmly, "How is this tea?"
Yin Xing immediately withdrew his tongue-sticking, exhaling gesture and replied seriously, "Mm, it tastes good."
In fact, Yin Xing didn't know much about tea tasting, and it was hot now, so he usually drank boiled water, so he was careless.
"Really? You accompanied the Minister of the Imperial Clan to the Third Princess's residence today to inquire about the boat accident. Did everything go smoothly?"
"Alas, this matter is unlikely to have any conclusion. The Third Princess said that the fireworks had a problem, but the mastermind behind it has not been found, so we have no clue at the moment."
After saying that, Yin Xing puffed out his cheeks to blow on the cold tea, then took a sip to quench his thirst.
Speaking of which, the third princess didn't even ask anyone to prepare a cup of tea. She was so arrogant and rude.
However, Yin Xing's mind slowly reacted when he thought about this. How did Xuan Yizhen know that he and Zong Zhengqing had gone to the Third Princess to inquire about the case?!
Yin Xing had just come out of the Third Princess's residence, and when he returned to the waterside pavilion he saw Xuan Yizheng. This didn't seem to be a coincidence.
Xuan Yizhen watched Yin Xing's expression change with a sullen gaze, and said slowly, "Could it be that the Third Princess didn't recognize you as the noble young man who missed the banquet?"
Yin Xing collected his thoughts and looked at Xuan Yizhen, who was showing a gentle expression. He couldn't see much emotion in her, so he answered truthfully, "No, originally, but a waiter pointed me out, and I was almost killed by the Third Princess today to be used as fertilizer for her flowers. How did Yizhen know so quickly?"
Now that I think about it, the Third Princess is a ruthless person. I should stay as far away from her as possible in the future.
Xuan Yizhen looked at Yin Xing's frightened expression calmly, raised his hand to refill her tea, the tea gurgling as he spoke slowly in a clear voice, "I received a message from the secret guards escorting you. I thought you would suffer."
Yin Xing heard the words and understood the situation. He realized that Xuan Yizheng was always concerned about his movements. He also remembered that she said gloomily last night that she didn't care whether he lived or died. It was obvious that she was not sincere. She was so cute.
"I knew that Yizhen was the kindest and gentlest person in the world, so you came here today because you care about me, right?" Yin Xing couldn't help but smile with his eyebrows curved, and the smile in his clear eyes was far more dazzling than the golden surface of the pool outside the water pavilion.
"If you say so, then it is so. So how did you leave the Third Princess's residence safely?" Xuan Yizheng met Yin Xing's scorching gaze, which was a little dazzled. A faint smile reflected in his quiet eyes, and he cooperated.
Yin Xing looked at Xuan Yizhen's gentle and beautiful expression, and when he saw her frankly admitting her concern for him, his face suddenly flushed and his heart beat fast. He replied honestly, "I don't know why the ruthless Third Princess was willing to let me go, but I was worried about implicating Yizhen, so I avoided Yizhen when answering the Third Princess' questions."
After that, Yin Xing repeated his conversation with the Third Princess to Xuan Yizheng in detail, so that she wouldn't worry about offending the Third Princess by being impolite.
After Yin Xing finished his rambling, he remembered the reason why he returned to the waterside pavilion and said, "I was so scared by the Third Princess that I broke into a cold sweat, so I went back to the courtyard to change clothes."
Then, Yin Xing got up and went to change clothes inside, although it was very confusing that the third princess said she was a dirty thing.
But if Xuan Yizheng also felt that he was dirty, it would be a heartbreaking blow to Yin Xing!
Xuan Yizhen listened to Yin Xing's words with doubt in his heart. He followed her, his eyes fixed on her brisk steps, and asked, "The Third Princess is letting you go just like that. Doesn't she have any other harsh demands?"
"No, the third princess is very strange." After answering, Yin Xing took out clothes from the cabinet and turned around, only to find that Xuan Yizheng followed her in quietly, but her expression was normal, as if she didn't care about anything else and was just strolling around.
"What's wrong?" Xuan Yizheng came back to his senses and met Yin Xing's blinking eyes, confused.
Yin Xing looked into Xuan Yizhen's clear and beautiful eyes and said hesitantly, "I want to wash up and change into clean clothes. Yizhen, why don't you go sit outside?"
Xuan Yizhen blinked her beautiful eyes, gazing at Yin Xing's odd reaction. She then lightly moved to the soft couch not far from the screen, sat down leisurely, and said softly, "It's okay. Someone prepare the bath."
Yin Xing, who originally just wanted to wipe it clean, didn't even have time to say the words of dissuade.
Because Manager Xin quickly led the maid into the inner room, where there was misty water and the sound of splashing water.
Soon, everyone left the room. Yin Xing looked at Xuan Yizhen who was sitting idly on the couch. She glanced sideways at the view of the pond outside the window. It was obvious that she didn't understand her shy polite words.
Therefore, Yin Xing had no choice but to step behind the screen, turned around and changed her clothes. Although she didn't understand Xuan Yizheng's thoughts, it was not good to let her wait too long.
In the silence, clothes and outer robes were draped on the screen, and a slender and light figure was looming. Xuan Yizheng followed the movement with his eyes, trying to find out something.
After a piece of red silk ribbon was placed on the screen, Yin Xing entered the water, raised his hand to stir the water surface, and wiped it with a handkerchief twisted in his palm.
Xuan Yizheng looked behind the screen and didn't see anything unusual about Yin Xing. He was even more puzzled as to why she had avoided it before, as if she was intentionally hiding something.
After a while, Yin Xing got out of the bathtub naked, raised his hand to wipe the water droplets with a towel, and put on his clothes quickly. He always felt that someone was watching him.
Not long after, Yin Xing came out from behind the screen in wooden clogs to look for his coat, and saw Xuan Yizheng looking down at some collections of essays placed next to the couch.
Because Yin Xing could not read at first, he would put some collections of essays everywhere and read them diligently.
Yin Xing watched Xuan Yizheng lowering his eyes as he flipped through the book. He looked quiet and elegant, like a scholar concentrating on his studies. He couldn't help but regret his previous suspicion.
Xuan Yizheng is not the type to play pranks or anything like that.
"Yizhen, it's going to be hot and stuffy in here with the moisture. Why don't we go outside?"
"good."
Xuan Yizheng slowly turned his head to look at Yin Xing, whose fair cheeks were flushed with pink. She was full of youth and vigor. The misty water vapor did not dim her bright eyes, but made them look even brighter. Her lips were red and her teeth were white, clearly showing the delicate charm of a young girl that could not be concealed.
The setting sun cast its rays, and the heat mist silently surged, its changes distinctly evident. Through the stain of a few water droplets, the girl's thin clothing revealed a slight shift in her slender figure, which was even more evident under the sunlight.
Xuan Yizheng gripped the scroll tightly with his fingertips, his long eyelashes hiding the unclear expression in his eyes. He put the scroll down, stood up and walked out, his steps hurried.
Yin Xing looked at Xuan Yizheng, who was like a cold moon passing through the mist and disappearing into the distance. His gaze fell on the collection of essays placed on the table. He blinked his round eyes, a little confused.
After Yin Xing was dressed neatly, he tactfully raised his hand to hold the scroll in his arms and followed her footsteps. He secretly sighed in his heart that the princess might not have the habit of taking things by herself.
No wonder the princesses of the dynasty were surrounded by so many maids and attendants. It seems they were all there to help.
The two of them walked from the darker area to the brighter area, one in front and one behind. The wind outside the pavilion made the gauze curtain sway slightly, dispelling much of the damp and stuffy heat.
Yin Xing saw Xuan Yizhen sitting alone on a low couch, with an upright posture, a calm expression, and her beautiful eyes reflecting the shimmering light of water, calm and empty, like a quiet and beautiful jade statue. He placed the collection of essays on the small table in front of her, poured tea, and served cakes. It can be said that he was considerate and thoughtful.
After everything was in place, Yin Xing was about to sit down, but he didn't expect to hear Xuan Yizhen say calmly, "Incense burner."
Yin Xing paused and looked at Xuan Yizheng, who looked calm and easy-going. He sighed that the princess's meditation seemed to be something extraordinary.
Yin Xing then diligently moved the incense burner with intricate patterns and carefully placed it on the table. With a smile, he asked, "Princess, do you have any other instructions?"
"No, sit down."
"OK."
Although Xuan Yizhen still didn't look up at Yin Xing, she didn't mind the joke at all.
Yin Xing sat cross-legged on the side drinking tea to quench his thirst. He saw Xuan Yizheng lowering his eyes and quietly flipping through the collection of essays, as if he didn't intend to speak, with a somewhat arrogant and aloof demeanor.
Seeing this, Yin Xing didn't want to disturb him. He raised his hand and opened the small box, took out the record document and looked through it.
In the silence, there was only the sound of turning pages. Yin Xing raised his hand, picked up the soft, sweet pastry and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing it, one piece after another. When he reached out again, he suddenly found nothing.
Yin Xing looked around suspiciously, only to find that the pastry plate had been moved to another place. Xuan Yizhen had put down the collection of essays without knowing when, and said calmly, "Are you hungry?"
"Well, a little." Yin Xing actually hasn't had lunch yet.
"Then let's eat. Eating these sweets all the time will easily make people doubt your identity." Xuan Yizheng's mood gradually calmed down, and his eyes became clear. He looked at Yin Xing's childish eyes calmly, and his tone was filled with a helpless reminder.
Upon hearing this, Yin Xing smiled bitterly and replied, "Don't worry, I don't eat much sweets when I'm out, but the meal in the courtyard is already past its due time today, and Manager Xin usually doesn't prepare meals specially, so it's better not to bother."
Yin Xing had mentioned the matter of meal time a few times in the past. Knowing that it was Xuan Yizheng's arrangement, he had to slowly adapt to it even though it was strange.
"But I had already told Steward Xin to prepare a meal when I learned you were going back to the courtyard by carriage. It seems you're not hungry, so forget it."
"No, I'm hungry!"
Xuan Yizhen met Yin Xing's eager gaze. Although he was bothered by the inexplicable discomfort he had felt earlier, he stopped teasing her. He raised his hand to put the collection aside, his eyes glancing over the document with the Dali Temple seal. He spoke slowly, "Steward Xin, please serve the meal."
Yin Xing happily helped to tidy up the things on the desk. He glanced at Manager Xin who came in quickly and could already smell the fragrance!
Soon, various bowls and dishes were placed on the table, and the aroma filled the air. Manager Xin retreated inside, secretly surprised at Princess Zhang Hua's indulgence of Yin Xing. The two sat on the same bed with almost no distinction between superiors and inferiors.
Yin Xing stared intently at the various dishes, then noticed Xuan Yizhen also had a bowl and chopsticks in front of him. He paused for a moment and asked, "Yizhen, didn't you have lunch either?"
Xuan Yizhen saw Yin Xing's eyes shining as he looked at the food, his eyes full of thoughts that he couldn't hide, and replied with a faint smile: "Well, you don't have to be so reserved, enjoy your meal."
"Okay." Yin Xing picked up the chopsticks and first tasted the chicken with the fresh fragrance of lotus leaves. It was soft and delicious. Then he took small bites of the steamed beef with rice flour. It was fragrant and tender. He immediately didn't care about eating slowly and buried his head in eating!
Xuan Yizhen, who had originally only drunk ginseng soup because he had no appetite, saw the thin and frail Yin Xing eating with relish, as if his eyebrows were filled with satisfaction and joy, his cheeks bulging as he chewed. He looked quiet but seemed so busy.
Xuan Yizheng picked up the chopsticks with great interest and tasted the same dishes with her one by one, savoring the flavor slowly, but found it very ordinary and couldn't help feeling disappointed.
The egrets on the water lilies on the pond raised their long necks and swiftly swooped down on the small fish in the water, causing ripples on the water and blurring the reflection of the waterside pavilion.
After Yin Xing put down his chopsticks in satisfaction, Manager Xin came in to clear the bowls and dishes, prepared tea, added incense, and tactfully led everyone out.
"Don't you want tea?"
"No, I'm a little full."
Even though Yin Xing has gradually gotten used to light flavors, he still feels that there is too little salt, so he doesn't feel thirsty.
Seeing this, Xuan Yizhen said nothing and just sipped his tea. His eyes swept over her bare feet that were casually dangling. They were pink and small, and could be held in one hand, which was very suitable for wearing some items.
Bored, Yin Xing flipped through the records, unable to think, and muttered, "Yizhen, who would be so cruel as to disfigure the Third Princess?"
That night, Yin Xing was hunted down by the Third Princess's troops throughout the city. This shows that the area around her must be heavily guarded, and it would be impossible for ordinary people to achieve their goal quietly.
"Perhaps you could find out who has a grudge against the Third Princess?"
"No, this investigation might implicate Yizhen."
Hearing this, Xuan Yizhen paused, her beautiful eyes blinking slightly, a faint light flashing across them. She looked at Yin Xing, whose face was filled with worry, and asked in confusion, "What do you mean?"
Yin Xing leaned in a little closer and said, "Yizhen, you have no idea how terrible the rumors in the capital are right now. Everyone says that the princess dispute started because of me. It was clearly a rivalry between the eldest princess and the third princess, but I don't know how Yizhen got pushed to the forefront. It's really abominable."
"Is that so? I've heard about it a long time ago. Are you worried?" Xuan Yizheng looked at the changes in the expression on Yin Xing's fair face. A faint light flashed in his eyes, and he responded as if he didn't care.
"Of course I'm worried. There were hundreds of casualties in the accident that night, and the commotion was so loud that everyone in the capital knew about it. If such a bad thing was framed on you, it would definitely spread very badly, and you might even be punished." Yin Xing looked at Xuan Yizheng, who seemed unaware of the seriousness of the situation, and became even more anxious.
Perhaps it is because Xuan Yizheng is too gentle and kind that he is always framed and slandered.
Xuan Yizhen chuckled softly, raised his hand and placed it on Yin Xing's forehead, lightly touching the white scar on her hairline with his fingertips. He placed his palm against her cheek to soothe her, and called softly, "Xing'er, you are also concerned about me, right?"
Yin Xing looked at Xuan Yizhen, who was calm and composed, and could clearly feel the cool touch of his palm against his cheek. He nodded with a flushed face, "Well, I don't want Yizhen to be bullied by other bad guys, so I have to find out the truth as soon as possible."
"But the Third Princess couldn't find out who wanted to harm her, and the evidence in the Dali Temple was burned. How can you investigate now?"
"Although the Third Princess kept the fireworks matter a secret and didn't allow anyone to interfere, I think there are still two discoveries we can try to investigate."
As he spoke, Yin Xing stepped back slightly, feeling a little embarrassed to accept Xuan Yizhen's child-like gesture. He raised his hand and gently held hers, explaining, "There was a fire in the archives, and Chang Shaoqing resigned, taking the blame. However, Wu Shijie is fine, so he's very suspicious."
"Do you still suspect that he is related to the mastermind behind the cruise ship accident?" Xuan Yizheng stroked Yin Xing's soft palm with his fingertips and responded as if he didn't care.
"Well, there's also the fact that the Third Princess's boat had undergone a major overhaul, which might be related to the boat falling apart. Unfortunately, the Third Princess seems very resistant to investigation and questioning, and is unwilling to explain more. I really don't understand."
"The expenses of royal princesses have always been regulated, from small items like gold, jade, silver, and copper to large items like the length and weight of ships. Therefore, there are special manufacturing workshops. Perhaps the Third Princess's repairs were done in violation of regulations, so she doesn't want the court to handle it."
Upon hearing this, Yin Xing blinked as he gazed at the relaxed Xuan Yizhen, saying with admiration, "No wonder the Dali Temple keeps comparing the cruise ship wreckage with the original blueprints. I guess the overhaul was handled by a private shipyard, so the interior is completely unrecognizable. Yizhen, you might have been a big help!"
Xuan Yizhen greeted Yin Xing with a look of delight. He gently tapped her upturned nose with his fingertips and said slowly, "Don't be too happy. I didn't intend to help you investigate. Moreover, we know that the key to the cruise ship accident was adulterated fireworks. Why would the mastermind behind the incident tamper with the cruise ship? Isn't it a waste of time?"
After he finished speaking, Xuan Yizheng's fingertips did not leave Yin Xing's nose, but playedfully moved around the tip of her nose and between her eyebrows, as if depicting a painting.
Yin Xing blinked, raised his hand to hold Xuan Yizhen's rebellious hand, and said, "Although the Third Princess only said that the fireworks caused the fire, and the second batch of fireworks for the Hundred Birds Singing were placed on the bow, so the interior of the cruise ship was torn apart in an instant, it still feels suspiciously related to the overhaul."
Perhaps it was because the cruise ship was repaired beyond recognition and its structure was greatly changed, so it could not withstand the destruction of the fireworks.
"Alright, then you should cherish your time. There are dozens of large private shipyards in the capital. Besides, they certainly wouldn't dare admit to renovating the royal cruise ship without an imperial decree. They're afraid that your efforts will be in vain and thankless." Xuan Yizhen stopped teasing Yin Xing and calmly withdrew his hand. "I have something else to do. Go and think about it yourself."
As she finished speaking, her skirt was suddenly tugged at by a corner. Xuan Yizhen paused, lowered her eyes to look at Yin Xing's charming and innocent expression, and pretended to be ignorant and asked, "What are you doing?"
Yin Xing curved his eyebrows and called out in a playful manner, "Yizhen, why don't you give me some more hints?"
"You think you can just ask for my tip for nothing?"
"Then is there anything you really want?"
Xuan Yizheng said nothing, lowering his eyes to look at Yin Xing calmly, like a deep pool of water, which could drown a person silently.
Yin Xing didn't dare to look directly at her. She vaguely felt that Xuan Yizheng's aura was too strong, and the strength of her fingertips pulling on her skirt gradually weakened.
At this time, Xuan Yizhen softened his tone and said, "Perhaps you could go to the southeast of the capital to check."
Yin Xing nodded obediently, took note of it, and asked, "What does Yizhen want me to do?"
Xuan Yizhen leaned forward slightly, her cold gaze carrying a hint of aggression, but her tone was gentle as she spoke, "I demand that you never have any contact with the Third Princess again."
"Okay, even if Yizhen doesn't ask me to, I will stay as far away from the Third Princess as possible." Yin Xing agreed happily, still a little confused. "Yizhen, why don't you want me to contact the Third Princess?"
Xuan Yizhen lowered her eyes and looked at Yin Xing's sparkling beautiful eyes, which seemed to reflect all the darkness in the world. She turned her head and murmured, "This doesn't need any reason. Anyway, I don't like it."
After saying that, Xuan Yizheng left the pavilion on his own, leaving Yin Xing watching dully as his figure disappeared from his sight.
For a long time, Yin Xing covered his face with his hands, blushing, thinking that this answer was indeed in the style of Xuan Yizheng.
The midsummer heat wave continued, and Yin Xing did not see Xuan Yizheng visit again for several days.
Xuan Yizhen didn't reply to Yin Xing's nightly messages, but she was not discouraged at all. She thought that she might be embarrassed.
After the middle of the month, the weather became increasingly hot. After Yin Xing signed in at the Dali Temple, he led the guards to the southeast market to check the shipyard.
That morning, Wu Shijie, holding a teacup in the office, looked at the Third Princess's inquiry documents and frowned, "This kid looks like a weak scholar, but I didn't expect him to be so lucky. He actually came out of the Third Princess's residence safely."
In the past, officials sent by the Dali Temple were either beaten and driven away, or kept away from the court. However, Yin Xing was quite capable.
"Master Xiao Yin, are you still going to the shipyard today?"
"Yes, Master Xiao Yin has been investigating a shipyard in the southeast of the capital these days."
Wu Shijie waved away the clerk with his hand, his eyes full of contempt, thinking that Yin Xing's investigation of the shipyard was a world of difference, going in the opposite direction.
Under the scorching sun, Yin Xing wiped the sweat from her cheeks with an embroidered handkerchief. Standing on the deck of a ship in a shipyard, her gaze fell on the intricate carvings. She tilted her head to look at Boss Ji and called out, "Did you hear about the Third Princess' boating accident?"
Boss Ji replied calmly, "It's said that this was an accident caused by fireworks."
"Do you have any archival albums of previous ship repairs stored here?" Yin Xing took out a pair of rubbings of scroll trademarks from his sleeve. Although there were no words on them, the patterns were extremely similar.
"Of course there is."
"Then please bring it over and take a look at the atlas."
Boss Ji paused and replied hesitantly, "Sir, what are you looking for?"
Yin Xing took the initiative to show the rubbing of the scroll trademark, and said with a curved eyebrow, "You can deny it, but the government will seal it up and search it, which will inevitably affect your business. So just hand over the album of the Three Princesses' cruise ship, and I won't make any other trouble."
After he finished speaking, Boss Ji's face darkened slightly, and he said firmly, "Sir, most patterns like this are imitations made by shipyards. Moreover, the Third Princess's pleasure boat is supervised by the imperial shipyard. Repairing it without permission is a capital crime. Who dares to break the law?"
"I told you I only want the album, why don't you cooperate?" Yin Xing didn't expect Boss Ji to be so responsible, and felt helpless.
It seems that the only option is to order people to search first. Yin Xing raised his hand to give the order.
Who would have thought that a huge fire would be emitting thick smoke right before our eyes, and all the wood in the shipyard would be on fire, and the fire would be extremely fierce.
"Put out the fire quickly! You can't burn my family business!" Boss Ji wanted to put out the fire out of concern.
Yin Xing quickly ordered the guards to take the man away. He looked back at the multiple flames and thought to himself that this couldn't be such a coincidence.
As the sun set, Boss Ji sat on the ground in a daze. Yin Xing sighed softly, "If you confess everything you know now, you might still be safe. Otherwise, it's hard to say."
Boss Ji replied with a look of dejection, "Sir, all the supervisors were killed, and the atlas was stolen. I was completely unaware of this. I was just trying to earn some money for the repairs, but who knew it would cause so much trouble?"
"When did the people responsible for repairs and oversight of the cruise ship die?"
"Not long after the cruise ship was repaired, they were all inspecting the boat's launch during a repair and were inexplicably drowned in the cabin."
Yin Xing was shocked. There were problems with both the fireworks and the cruise ship. Wouldn't that verify Xuan Yizheng's guess?
Perhaps it is not a superfluous move, but a two-pronged scheme to harm people, and there may be two groups of masterminds behind it.
At dusk, the twilight was vast and the capital was dyed red with blood. Yin Xing was holding Xiaoguai's hand and was a little exhausted.
The sound of horse hooves clattered by, Yin Xing stroked the horse's back with his palm as he walked on the streets of the capital.
It is obvious that the mastermind behind the incident has already killed people to silence them, but he still set fire to the place again. How outrageous.
Yin Xing returned to the waterside pavilion and fell motionless on the low couch. He was thinking of Xuan Yizheng and wrote words of missing him.
Before going to bed, Yin Xing thought vaguely that maybe he should listen to Xuan Yizheng's words, and that his actions would be in vain.
The next day, Yin Xing stepped into the Dali Temple and stayed in the office properly, not going anywhere.
Wu Shijie looked at Yin Xing curiously, who was sitting at the table with a dull expression, and his thoughts were somewhat unfathomable.
At noon, Wu Shijie got up and left the office.
Yin Xing blinked at Wu Shijie, then followed him out of the office. He thought that if there was no news about the cruise ship, he could only keep an eye on the smiling tiger.
So after a few days, Yin Xing followed Wu Shijie from the Dali Temple to his residence and knew his itinerary almost like he was familiar with it.
But Yin Xing looked embarrassed, because Smiling Tiger's daily schedule was very fixed. Apart from going to the study, he almost went between two points.
If this is true, then Smiling Tiger is simply incorruptible.
If this is fake, Yin Xing has obviously been exposed.
That day, Yin Xing watched Smiling Tiger enter the study, so he mustered up the courage to follow him in and wander around, flipping through the books he had read and the places he had stopped.
Seeing the Smiling Tiger pick up a book and suddenly turn around, Yin Xing's heart stopped and he embarrassedly picked up a random book to cover his face.
Wu Shijie glanced at Yin Xing's clumsy disguise, shook his head and walked to the counter.
If it weren't for the fact that Yin Xing was involved with Princess Zhanghua and the third princess, Wu Shijie would have been impatient long ago.
After a while, Yin Xing quietly looked away and saw that Smiling Tiger came out earlier today than yesterday, and felt a little puzzled.
After seeing the Smiling Tiger leave, Yin Xing subconsciously wanted to follow him out. The study owner, a wealthy woman with a round fan in her hand, hurriedly said, "The young master has been coming here every day these days. Could he be stealing books?"
"No, you misunderstood. Please give me the change." Seeing the Smiling Tiger walking away, Yin Xing had to take out the change from his pouch in embarrassment.
This is the pocket money that Xuan Yizheng considerately asked Manager Xin to give him. He usually doesn't want to spend it.
Yin Xing took the copper coin, looked at the woman, and asked curiously, "Shopkeeper, that man just now is also a regular customer of our store. Is he usually alone?"
The shopkeeper said nothing, but just kept rubbing with his fingertips. Yin Xing didn't understand it at first, but later he saw the petty officials in the Dali Temple asking for rewards in this way, and then he understood.
Yin Xing counted out three copper coins in a pinch, and asked with a wary look in his heart, "Are you running a scam?"
The shopkeeper nearly fainted after hearing these words. He took a deep breath and said, "Boy, even a beggar wouldn't want three copper coins. If you don't have money, don't dress so extravagantly to act rich. That man is an official. He usually comes alone, but he occasionally has a book friend. He hasn't been seen much lately."
"Oh, so that's it. Thank you very much." Yin Xing thanked him with sudden realization, then put away the three copper coins and the book and left in a hurry.
The shopkeeper was so angry that he shook his fan violently. He had never seen such a stingy young man. No wonder he wanted to buy pornographic books. Which girl would like such a poor guy!
The night fell and the moon hung low in the sky. Yin Xing was bathing and sitting cross-legged on the couch. Seeing that his time was running out, he felt depressed. He raised his hand to grind ink and prepared to write a letter to Xuan Yizheng.
The wind blew the candlelight, silently blowing the neglected book. Yin Xing subconsciously went to pick it up, and caught a glimpse of the picture sketched in the book with just a few strokes. Her face suddenly flushed, and she quickly pressed the book down, muttering, "No wonder this book is so expensive!"
After he finished speaking, Yin Xing was about to destroy the damaged book, but just as he got off the bed, he saw Xuan Yizhen walking calmly inside. He had no choice but to hide the book in the collection on the desk.
"Yizhen, why are you here?"
"Why, were you lying when you said in the letter that you missed me?"
Yin Xing looked at Xuan Yizhen sitting beside the couch, then he remembered his letters and replied awkwardly, "No, I just haven't seen Yizhen often lately, so I was a little surprised."
Xuan Yizhen's eyes fell on the unclosed pen and ink on the desk. It was obvious that she was preparing to write a letter. She said, "You can continue writing. I won't disturb you."
"Ah?" Yin Xing was slightly stunned. He looked at Xuan Yizhen, confused, as she raised her hand to take the collection. He grabbed her hand in shock and stammered, "Yizhen, you're here now. Do I still need to write?"
"Of course, you promised to write it, how can you go back on your word?" Xuan Yizhen didn't break away from Yin Xing's hand while speaking. His eyes fell on her flushed face, and he placed his palm on her smooth forehead. "It's so hot, are you uncomfortable?"
Yin Xing looked at Xuan Yizhen in front of him, then at the books in the anthology, and said with great difficulty: "No, I'm just a little hot now, but Yizhen's hands are very cool."
Xuan Yizhen looked at Yin Xing, who was reacting strangely. He carefully touched her face with his palm to examine it, and frowned. "Even if you want to work at the Dali Temple, there's no need to work so hard. If you pass out from the heat, there's no cure."
These words were a little more impatient than usual. Yin Xing looked at Xuan Yizhen's frowning face, feeling a little guilty. He put his cheek against her palm and said kindly, "Yizhen, I'm definitely not sick. Don't worry."
However, the existence of that bad book is like a time bomb that may cost me my life!
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