Qi Yubai had already left for a while, yet the burning heat and blush on Lanyin’s face had not completely faded. Suddenly, hearing footsteps outside the door, her heart tightened in alarm. Just as she was about to turn her back to conceal her current expression, she heard Shi Yu’s voice behind her.
“Master.”
Hearing it was Shi Yu, Lanyin let out a breath of relief, her tone returning to normal. “He left?”
“He left.”
Shi Yu came in to brew tea and spoke about matters outside. “The lord said that you haven’t been resting well these past few days and asked you to rest in the side chamber. Madam Qi only instructed me to take good care of you and didn’t mention anything else.”
Seeing Lanyin nod, Shi Yu secretly glanced at her cheeks—her fair face blushing shyly, almond eyes shimmering with tenderness. Even when her mistress was about to marry into the Chengbo Manor before, she had never looked like this. A thought stirred in Shi Yu’s heart, recalling Qi Yubai’s expression when he had left earlier. Although she already had a guess in her mind, she still couldn’t help but ask, “Master, you and the lord…”
Upon hearing this, Lanyin’s slender fingers curled slightly. She didn’t intend to hide it from Shi Yu, so under her maid’s attentive gaze, she nodded. “Mm, we’re together now.”
Even she could hear the lightness in her own voice as she spoke those words, filled with an undisguisable joy that couldn’t be hidden, even if she tried. Even the corners of her lips seemed to lift involuntarily.
Shi Yu’s eyes immediately sparkled with excitement. “Then when will you and the lord get married?”
Seeing her so thrilled, Lanyin felt both helpless and amused. “How could it be so soon?”
Not to mention that she herself was not yet ready, even if they were to get married, they would have to inform her family first. After all, marriage was never just a matter between two people. Even if she didn’t want to return to that family, if she truly wanted to marry Qi Yubai, she would have to make a trip to Lin’an.
Thinking of Lin’an, Lanyin couldn’t help but think of Wang Jin, who was already on her way. When she arrived in Bianjing and found out that she and Qi Yubai were together, who knew what kind of trouble she would stir up?
And then there was Xiao Ye. Although she had made things clear with him last time, his current state still made her feel somewhat uneasy. If he found out about her and Qi Yubai, what would he do?
Thinking of these two people, the joy and excitement in Lanyin’s heart faded somewhat.
However, she wasn’t too worried. No matter what happened, she and Qi Yubai would face it together.
Shi Yu didn’t know what was on her mistress’s mind and simply followed up on their earlier conversation. “It’s fine if you don’t get married right away.”
She also felt that rushing into marriage wouldn’t be good. As long as her mistress and the lord were together, that was all that mattered. With the lord by her side, she would never have to worry about her mistress being bullied again.
The more she thought about it, the happier she became, to the point that she unconsciously started tearing up.
Seeing her switching between laughter and tears, how could Lanyin not know the reason? She was deeply moved, thinking of how Shi Yu and Ting Yun had been worrying over her these past days to the point of losing sleep and appetite. She reached out, pulling Shi Yu to sit beside her, then took a handkerchief and carefully wiped away her tears. Her voice was gentle as she coaxed, “Why are you crying? Isn’t everything fine now?”
“I’m just too happy.” Shi Yu sniffled, then looked up at Lanyin with teary eyes. “You finally don’t have to be alone anymore.”
Hearing these words, Lanyin’s eyes turned red as well, but she still held back her emotions and teased, “I think you’re the one eager to get married. Once Ting Yun is married off, it’ll be time to talk about you and Song Yue.”
In her past life, because she had suffered in the Chengbo Manor, Shi Yu had refused to marry and had even grown disgusted with all men because of Xiao Ye. As a result, the matter between her and Song Yue had been postponed indefinitely.
She had tried persuading Shi Yu before, but Shi Yu wouldn’t listen.
Later, Song Yue had come to her personally, saying he wasn’t in a hurry—he would only marry Shi Yu, and if she wasn’t willing, he would just wait until she was ready. Seeing that, Lanyin had stopped interfering in their matters.
Now that everything had changed for the better, she naturally didn’t want to delay them any longer.
At her words, Shi Yu’s tear-streaked face instantly flushed red. Embarrassed beyond measure, she stubbornly retorted, “I’m not!”
The room was lively with their banter, the master and servant speaking intimately.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Qi Yubai did not return to the manor with Madam Qi. There was much work to do at the Court of Judicial Review, and now that he was preparing to enter the Secretariat, there were many matters awaiting his attention. He had postponed them earlier to visit Lanyin, but now that everything was settled, he had no intention of going home to rest.
He instructed Tianqing to escort his grandmother back, while he took Zhusheng and headed toward the Court of Judicial Review.
He had ridden a horse to come today, so naturally, he was also riding a horse to the Court of Judicial Review. He had just left Jinxiu Hall when he overheard a few hushed conversations from nearby.
“This Jinxiu Hall is doing such good business. I’d say half the noble circle of Bianjing has turned out today. I heard that some clothing shops originally wanted to stir up trouble in secret, but the moment they saw those old ancestors showing up, they didn’t dare anymore.”
“Who would dare? Offending Jinxiu Hall is like offending the Pang family, the Feng family, the Ji family, the Qi family… Didn’t you see how those noblewomen were all scrambling to do business with her?”
“Speaking of which, did you see that lady boss? That face, that figure…” Someone clicked their tongue. “No wonder the Young Marquis Xiao still can’t forget her. Who could? I wonder if the lady boss is still willing to marry.”
The man beside him let out a chuckle. “Even if she wants to marry, it won’t be you, so what’s the point of thinking about it? But for a beauty like that, even without much money, I’d be more than willing.”
Qi Yubai happened to pass by just as the two were getting more and more out of line with their words. His expression darkened.
“Master,” came Zhusheng’s voice behind him, laced with anger.
Qi Yubai held the reins in one hand while slowly turning the Buddhist prayer beads in the other. His voice was calm and indifferent. “Drag them into the alley. Just don’t kill them.”
“Yes!”
Zhusheng, eager to act, was just about to dismount when, before he could land, he saw a man in black, clad in a fitted martial outfit, swiftly grab each of the two men by the collar and drag them into the alley without a word.
This street was the main thoroughfare, lined with shops but no street vendors. Most people were still gathered at Jinxiu Hall to watch the excitement, which was why these two dared to gossip so brazenly despite knowing Lanyin was not someone to offend.
The man in black moved so fast that the two barely had time to cry out before they were yanked into the alley.
Zhusheng, momentarily stunned by the speed, looked toward the alley, then frowned as he recognized the figure. “Master.”
No one knew where Xiao Ye had come from. He turned back to look at Qi Yubai, but Qi Yubai said nothing. Sitting tall on his horse, his deep gaze remained serene as he watched from a distance. The punches thrown in the alley were so forceful that the wind from each blow could be heard, but his expression remained as still as a placid lake.
Even when his eyes met Xiao Ye’s blood-streaked, murderous gaze, there was not a single ripple of emotion in them.
As Qi Yubai looked at Xiao Ye, Xiao Ye was also looking at him. His fists ached from the impact, and the two men on the ground had long since fallen unconscious. His black eyes locked onto Qi Yubai in the distance. After a long, silent stare, he wiped the blood from his face with a single finger, said nothing, and turned to leave.
Qi Yubai withdrew his gaze as well. “Let’s go.”
Without sparing a glance at the fate of the two in the alley, he simply continued riding toward the Court of Judicial Review.
On the road, Zhusheng followed behind him on horseback, still somewhat concerned. “That Xiao fellow… will he go after Mistress again?” A title he once dared not utter now rolled off his tongue with ease.
Sure enough, Qi Yubai didn’t correct him.
Hearing the question, he simply replied without looking back, “He doesn’t dare to find her now.”
“Now?” Zhusheng frowned. “What about later?”
The wind lifted Qi Yubai’s robe, and his voice drifted lightly on the breeze. “Later, he won’t have the chance.”
Xiao Ye didn’t know what Qi Yubai was thinking. After leaving the alley, he avoided lingering in front of Jinxiu Hall, worried that Lanyin might notice and hear rumors that could tarnish her reputation. Instead, he rode back home.
Today was his day off. He had originally left the house because he couldn’t stand staying there any longer. At first, he had planned to visit the Tu family to drink with Tu Yiting and check in on Lin’er and Siyu. But after coming out, he had learned that Lanyin’s shop was opening today. Even though he knew he shouldn’t, he still couldn’t control himself and came anyway.
He didn’t dare get too close, afraid that someone with ill intentions would see him and spread rumors that could harm her. He could only watch from afar.
Seeing how lively her shop was, seeing how many people were there to support her, he was happy—at least, after leaving him, she was still living well.
But after the happiness faded, a wave of sorrow crept in.
She no longer belonged to him.
From now on, whether she was well or unwell, happy or sad, it would have nothing to do with him.
Xiao Ye had not planned to show himself today.
Since he had made a promise to her, he would not interfere in her life again. If it hadn’t been for those two men, he might have just quietly watched and left.
Even after beating them, he felt no burden in his heart.
He was certain they wouldn’t dare to spread rumors. Even if they did report it to the authorities, he wasn’t afraid. However, when he thought of Qi Yubai—thought of that man being so close to Lanyin—a smoldering resentment still lingered in his chest. His grip on the reins tightened, his thick, dark brows furrowed in an icy expression. Even when he dismounted upon returning home, his face remained grim and cold.
The Chengbo Manor was now a place of unease.
The two doorkeepers, upon seeing him return, only trembled and called out, “Young Marquis,” not daring to approach.
Xiao Ye ignored them, tossing his riding whip to them casually before striding toward the inner residence. As he passed through the moon gate, a maid ran past him in tears, covering her face. Recognizing her as one of his mother’s attendants, Xiao Ye stopped and frowned.
“What happened?”
“Young Marquis?”
The maid clearly hadn’t expected to run into Xiao Ye, her face going pale. Hearing his question, she hesitated, not daring to answer. She merely clutched her face, keeping her head down, and stood frozen in place.
Xiao Ye didn’t press her further, simply pursing his lips as he continued toward his mother’s courtyard. He knew that she had been bedridden recently. Though he held resentment toward her in his heart, he still visited daily to check on her.
As soon as he arrived, he saw a group of maids and older servants standing around in unease. Though he frowned, he said nothing and was about to lift the curtain to enter when he heard his mother’s voice from inside, cursing bitterly.
“That wretched woman—what kind of ability does she have? The Pang family, the Feng family, the Ji family—they all actually came to support her!”
“I told you she had ulterior motives. Otherwise, if she had such capabilities, why didn’t she help Ye’er plan ahead? If those families had backed us back then, how could our Chengbo Manor have ended up like this?!”