Chapter 3.2

Ye Shen was still walking at an unhurried pace, his thumb slightly pushing to press the thin mahogany stick that was picking the lamp in his hand.

He had indeed been to the Li Residence at the emperor’s behest. He had spent the entire afternoon by the emperor’s side, when close to the evening meal, an urgent war report had arrived at the emperor’s palace. The soldier had rushed through the entire journey and was on the verge of collapse. Kneeling in front of the emperor, he reported that the Xiao Family’s father and son had made a mistake. As to whether they were alive or dead was unknown and the frontier was in utter chaos.

The emperor’s hand holding the teacup loosened, the shattering sound of the porcelain particularly loud in the quiet surroundings. After asking a few questions, the sovereign perused the deputy general’s war report. By the time he finished, his countenance was especially ugly.

Soon after, the emperor’s eyes for some reason fell on him, and with an ambiguous tone, he asked, “Your elder sister’s husband’s family and the Xiao Family are hosting a marriage, aren’t they? Isn’t today the day of the wedding? Why don’t you take the opportunity to join in the fun?”

As such, he had immediately left the palace and went there.

He stayed beside the emperor all year round. To say he knew the emperor was somewhat understandable, but there were also days like today, when his words were unclear. Therefore, he too didn’t know why he was leaving the palace to go to the Li Family.

He had always acted solely for the results he wanted. Today was an exception, leaving the palace muddle-headed, even falling for the Xiao’s little miss’s scheme. However, he didn’t anticipate that the Li Family would abandon Xiao Youning.

It widened his horizons.

She was just a little girl, but after the Xiao Family’s father and son had a mishap, the Li Family immediately threw her out to protect themselves before the emperor had even given out the order to punish the Xiao Family. She was just a little girl, she wasn’t even worth mentioning for the emperor. Even if her father became a criminal official, it was unlikely that he’d make things difficult for her.

The Li Family was stupid. This was why he had walked away abruptly. In the end, he, because of the Li Family’s stupidity, was dragged into the same situation as them.

That young girl from the Xiao Family … Ye Shen seldom wrinkled his brows. A gust of wind blew and the fire in front of him flickered, mirroring the calculation within Xiao Youning’s eyes at the Li Family’s gates a while ago. She perhaps didn’t know that, as early as when she started to scheme, he’d already noticed her craftiness.

“No need to report anything, it was just a casual remark from His Majesty.”

His finger bent slightly, handing over the lantern he held to the young imperial bodyguard. Then, both hands gathered together inside his sleeves and his steps accelerated.

Forget it, one orphaned girl, in order to survive, what did her attempt count as? The Li Family deserved it. He and the Li Family were related, for him to be involved was normal.

The young imperial bodyguard took the lantern and hurried to catch up to his master’s pace. Recalling a matter, he said to the one walking ahead, “Last time’s matter, the person investigating returned—”

——

Xiao Youning was awakened by the sound of a shop opening on the street. Opening her swollen eyelids, she gazed at the unfamiliar storehouse’s blue colored canopy top, expression blank. There was another bang outside, then a married woman’s curses.

“Why did I marry you, you lazy bum, you can’t even heat up an oil pan! Damn it…”

There was a long string of shouting in the back, which Xiao Youning simply ignored, sitting up slowly and with much clearer eyes.

She had pawned the golden hairpin last night. For the sake of safety, she found an inn to stay at in the main street, as the military was charged with patrolling the street in the evening.

“Miss, why are you awake so early?” Yuan Guo woke with a start at her sitting up, massaging her eyes and sitting up as well.

Last night the miss hid inside the quilt, crying for a long time. Even if she tried hard not to make a sound, she was very close and Yuan Guo was trained in martial arts. Her eyes and ears were sharper than an ordinary person’s. How could she not know her mistress was crying?

With all that happened, it was already not easy for a young girl, more so for one barely old enough to be able to shoulder the burden in front of an outsider. Their young miss indeed had been pampered, held in the palm of the lord and the young master’s hands since small.

Yuan Guo got out of bed and went to grab her outer clothing, draping it over her miss’s body. It was bought last night after she pawned off the golden hairpin. That wedding dress was not fit to be worn again, yet this dress was still a bright red.

Yuan Guo roughly understood her mood. So long as there wasn’t any news about the master and young master, the young miss would not believe that the two people truly had, along with the soldiers, died on the battlefield. As a result, she refused to wear white clothes, afraid of gratuitously increasing their bad luck.

She was a stubborn one.

“Yuan Guo, have the waiter order hot water and breakfast, we will eat and then leave.” Xiao Youning put on her outer clothing by herself, got out of bed, and walked to the vanity table and began brushing her hair.

Yuan Guo sighed.

After freshening up and having breakfast, Xiao Youning, with lifted spirits, went outside and started looking for the homes of those who were previously acquainted with her father and older brother.

“—Our master did not return last night. We honestly apologize, Miss Xiao.”

She had heard that banging sound from early morning up until now. Xiao Youning already lost count of how many times doors were opened and closed in front of her.

“These people!” Yuan Guo, at her side, was annoyed to the point her face looked very red, hands shaking in anger. Today they learned the true meaning of the phrase “human relationships are delicate and human hearts are cold”.

Despite the curt refusal, Xiao Youning still seemed very tranquil. Slowly, from the tightly closed gates, she turned around. She had prepared long ago for all sorts of put-downs, therefore, she didn’t mindlessly scold them. “We’ll go to another house.”

The sun pinned her shadow beneath her feet, and she trudged on, thinking there was no hurdle she couldn’t cross. After just a couple of steps, she saw a flower in front of her and her foot weakened, almost falling headfirst.

Yuan Guo was scared into a big jump by her lady, promptly holding the shaking and swaying young girl and helping her to one side. “Miss, where are you feeling uncomfortable? We should go back to the inn earlier.”

Or else they wouldn’t find anyone to help and would simply end up making themselves sick first.

XIao Youning’s ears were buzzing. Without putting up a fight, she nodded, letting Yuan Guo hold her and slowly support her on the walk back. Once they reached the main street, Yuan Guo wanted to hire a carriage to go back. From behind her, she heard a pleasantly surprised voice—

“Youning! Finally, I found you!”