Ling Fengyan had already decided to tell her aunt, who was the Empress, that she did not need to put in so much effort with the Eighth Prince, King Xuan, who was a ludicrous playboy. She secretly glanced at Feng Yuxuan out of the corner of her eyes. This man was inscrutable and was the opponent that the Third Prince should pay most attention to. Furthermore, he was also the man that her aunt had told her to draw to their side.
Out of the few of them, Feng Yuxuan was still filled with suspicion. He wanted to say a few more words to Mo Xuetong but Feng Yuran kept blocking him. Ling Fengyan looked down on Mo Xuetong’s status, and as such, her eyes were cold even though she wore a smile on her face. She did not look willing to speak with Mo Xuetong. Mo Xuetong did not say anything else other than occasionally pretending to be cute towards Feng Yuran, turning her voice into one of gentle seductiveness when she did that.
The four of them walked on the street and in the end, only Feng Yuran and Feng Yuxuan spoke a few words with each other. Fortunately, they spent most of their time solving riddles and had part ways in order to hasten their speed. Each team would guess the riddles down one street. In the end, Feng Yuran and Mo Xuetong lost.
“Eldest Brother, it seems that Second Miss Ling is indeed the most beautiful woman in the capital. Look, even heaven is helping her! Fortunately, I agree with that too. However, in my heart, the most beautiful woman in the capital is still my sweetheart!” Feng Yuran’s expression was one of regret as he held Mo Xuetong’s hand, drawing circles lightly on her palm. However, he spoke seriously, a complete contradiction to his actions and his solemn expression. His handsome devilish face coupled with his ostentatious purple robes and the large blooming flowers on the robes made it hard for others not to notice him.
Ling Fengyan could not help but turn to look at Feng Yuran with a beautiful smile on her lips that even she did not notice.
Mo Xuetong was not paying attention to all this. She suddenly saw a beautiful and elegant woman wearing a pink satin skirt at the corner of the street in front.
Mo Xuemin. How could it be her?
Mo Xuetong was startled. She turned hurriedly, wanting to see more clearly. A crowd surged forward, blocking her line of sight. By the time the crowd passed, she could not see anyone anymore. Could she have seen wrongly? Mo Xuemin should be in Fuqing Garden right now. After what happened at home, both Auntie Fang and her were in trouble. How dare she sneak out of the manor? Mo Xuetong would not think that she was so free and was in the mood to come and look at the fireworks.
She could not understand and her brows gathered slightly.
“Eighth Brother, shall we go to Fragrance House together? It would be nice to watch the fireworks from there. We already booked a room and we can go together.” Feng Yuxuan invited them politely.
Even though the fireworks on the day before New Year’s Eve could not be compared to those at midnight on New Year’s Day, it was still bustling. What was most important on New Year’s Eve was that the family could gather and eat reunion dinner. There were not many people on the streets at night. It was bustling tonight and they could stroll along the streets while admiring the fireworks. Many noble and wealthy families liked to eat out. They would pick a good spot and admire the fireworks while eating dinner in a booth with beautiful scenery.
“Eldest Brother, what a coincidence. We booked a booth at Fragrance House too. Let’s go together. I can chat with you while the two ladies can talk about interesting things that girls talk about. Wouldn’t that be great?” Feng Yuran’s eyes glimmered. His smile was filled with charm, laziness and wildness.
Despite Ling Fengyan’s good upbringing, she could not keep the smile on her face when she thought of chatting with a girl from the brothel and being friends with her. She was the Empress’ niece and the main daughter of the Ding General Manor. How could she hang out with a woman of such lowly status? If others saw her and spread rumors about it, she would be extremely embarrassed.
“It is still early and it would probably be an hour or more until the fireworks. It would be too early to go now. King Chu, will you accompany me on a walk? We were too busy trying to solve the riddles earlier and didn’t have time to walk around. What do you think, King Chu?” Ling Fengyan tilted her beautiful face up expectantly at Feng Yuxuan. While her tone was gentle, she swept her eyes at Mo Xuetong, her disdain for her was obvious.
Her eyes were gentle pools of water and the gentle expression on her beautiful face made it hard for a man to refuse her.
“Walk around? That’s great! We want to walk around too. Now that I think about it, it is indeed a little early. We can accompany you; Elder Brother and we can chat on the way.” Feng Yuran looked at them with a cheerful smile. It was obvious that he wanted to chat with them. He pushed Mo Xuetong towards Ling Fengyan as he spoke and said, “Second Miss Ling, help me take care of my beauty. You girls have common topics and it would be much more interesting for you two to chat.”
He wanted her to hang out with a slutty woman from the brothel! That’s too much!
Ling Fengyan tampered down on her anger and a flash of disgust appeared in her eyes. She turned away from Mo Xuetong and was about to find an excuse to avoid having to speak with Mo Xuetong. The slutty courtesan was not the only issue. Her aunt, the Empress, had arranged for her and King Chu to go on a walk today not just for them to meet. Her aunt had ordered her to make King Chu personally ask the Empress for her hand no matter what.
Even though the Queen could just sanction their marriage straight, it was different from King Chu asking for her hand. She had finally seen the shock in King Chu’s eyes and she had to follow up quickly right now no matter what. What exactly were the extra Feng Yuran and that courtesan up to?
Mo Xuetong stumbled because Ling Fengyan backed away and she could not help but bump into Feng Yuxuan. Fortunately, Feng Yuran’s reactions were fast and he pulled her back to his side and asked anxiously, “How are you? Were you injured?” He held his hand looking extremely distressed and put his arm around her slender waist worriedly.
He was the one who had pushed her over and knew that Ling Fengyan would avoid her. Yet, he was still making such a fuss. Mo Xuetong gritted her teeth secretly and pinched him hard when he reached his hand over. Anyway, he was acting right now and would not make any sound in pain.
Feng Yuran indeed did not show that it hurt at all. He pulled Mo Xuetong tightly into his embrace, looking extremely distressed while he spoke coldly and with dissatisfaction to Ling Fengyan.
“Second Miss Ling, if you have something on with Eldest Brother, you could just say so. Why did you have to behave so petulantly? My beauty is fragile and if she’s been injured, I would feel terribly worried. Forget it. Eldest Brother, since your lover is insistent about spending this beautiful night alone with you, I shan’t bother you too and spoil Second Miss Ling’s plans. Otherwise, she would just dislike us.”
He spoke really directly and was exactly right that Ling Fengyan had intentionally ditched them because she had other plans. She wanted to spend the night alone with Feng Yuxuan. However, the implications behind his words made Ling Fengyan flush hotly and she could not even raise her head as she scrunched up her handkerchief viciously into a ball.
She was so annoyed and humiliated that she could not even say anything.
He was saying that she had a bad reputation and wanted to meet a man in private!
But this was truly her intention today and she could not retort even if she wanted to.
Feng Yuxuan’s eyes flashed as he looked at Ling Fengyan. When he turned to look at Feng Yuran, his eyes were gentle and elegant once more. He explained, “Eighth Brother, what are you saying. Second Miss Ling only feels that it is still too early to go and eat dinner and did not mean to ditch you two. We might as well walk down that street together. It is rather picturesque over there.”
Feng Yuxuan was pointing at a major street of the capital. It was also along the river that ran through the center of the capital. It was the most bustling stretch of road and there were many large shops there as well as places to rest. It was indeed a good place to shop at.
Ling Fengyan secretly heaved a sigh of relief when she saw how Feng Yuxuan was helping her to explain the situation. Her aunt had said that she definitely could not make Feng Yuxuan suspicious. Feng Yuran had managed picked out her intentions by fluke and had scared her so much she was sweating. As such, she did not even care about retorting. She relaxed when she saw that Feng Yuxuan was not behaving oddly. However, even so, she did not dare to walk together Feng Yuran. He was an extravagant and wild person and did not care what could be said or not.
Hanging out with a person like this would mean that she had to be careful at all times! Ling Fengyan felt that she was really self-possessed but was worried that she would not be able to hold up against his shamelessness. She did not know what to do and as such, lowered her head and twisted her handkerchief, pretending to be shy. Meanwhile, she secretly plotted what to do. She must not let King Xuan come along with them tonight no matter what.
“No, beauty and I are going to walk in that direction. Eldest Brother, we shan’t go with you two then since we are all headed to Fragrance House anyway. If you like we can meet there later. We shan’t accompany you now lest my beauty is subjected to unpleasantness.” Feng Yuran glanced at Ling Fengyan with extreme dissatisfaction. Anyone could see that he was displeased.
Then, he did not wait for Feng Yuxuan to say anything. He put his fists together and continued, “Eldest Brother, you have a date with a beautiful woman tonight and must have fun. I will wait for good news from you tomorrow.” Then, he took Mo Xuetong with him down a different street without even turning back.
Wait for good news! What good news? If something happened between her and Ling Fengyan tonight, then he would have no choice but to ask for her hand tomorrow. The young mistress of the Empress’ family was not one to be humiliated so easily. Feng Yuxuan’s gentle eyes landed on Ling Fengyan, whose head was lowered and face was flushed.
She was beautiful beyond compare! This was the first impression that Ling Fengyan gave him. A beauty like her was ravishing. The Empress was really willing to invest her treasures. He heard that she had sent Ling Fengyan’s portrait to his eighth brother but it was tossed out by him. Then, she had intentionally appeared before him!
The famous beauty of the capital was indeed stunning! She had stayed at home and was rarely seen in public. Was it all for today?
It was a pity that he already had a beauty whom he admired. He recalled that childish face. Feng Yuxuan’s smile grew slightly gentler. A girl like that was more worthy of the title as the most beautiful woman. Even though she was still young and her body had not yet matured, no one would be able to compare to her in a few more years. Her wits, hidden beneath her gentle facade made one’s heart race even more.
Compared to the girl before him who pretended to be shy while plotting secretly, she was a hundred thousand times better. Forget it, since she had sent herself to him, so what if he played with her!
Ling Fengyan lowered her head. She looked up since she did not hear Feng Yuxuan speak in a long while. She raised her head to realize that he was looking at her tenderly and she lowered her head shyly once more. Her face was flushed as she said coyly, “Your Highness!”
“Do you want to go and walk around? It is indeed early. There was a shop we passed earlier and the lanterns inside were especially beautiful. I shall take you there. Is there one that you like?” Feng Yuran retracted his tender gaze and smiled as he pointed down the street they had passed and spoke to her in gentle tones.
“I will listen to Your Highness’ orders.” Ling Fengyan answered softly.
The two of them seemed like a good match since they both harbored feelings for each other. They looked very compatible with each other. Those who were following them secretly all nodded. It seems like King Chu was joining in!
On the other side, Mo Xuetong glanced at Feng Yuran from the side of her eye. She pouted slightly and asked, “You did it intentionally, didn’t you?”
“How could that be intentional! Ling Fengyan is obviously interested in my eldest brother. And they might just get together tonight. The two of us would just hinder their business. A gentleman is always helpful, and I am always a gentleman. How could I ruin things for them?” Feng Yuran said glibly as he waved his hand forcefully, looking extremely righteous. One would think that he was a gentleman just looking at him. However, the underlying meaning in his words was not gentlemanly at all.
What kind of person was he to dare to say something like that? Mo Xuetong flushed and glared at him. Then, she gritted her teeth and decided to ignore him. He sounded as if he was decent, but…
“It’s true. Second Miss Ling is not that simple. She is the Empress’ trump card. But I don’t know if that Third Brother of mine knows that the beauty he is in love with is going to marry someone else soon.” Feng Yuran smiled evilly as he held on to Mo Xuetong’s hands, his eyes glittering. He was just about to say something else when he noticed that there was a bruise on her pale slender hands. The blue patch on her porcelain skin made it seem rather pitiable. His expression changed immediately.
He pulled Mo Xuetong’s hands towards him and checked it out carefully. His expression darkened as he asked, “What happened?”
