"The voice belonged to He Rui.
"I was accompanying Grandaunt," He Xuan answered.
Lingxi curtsied, a bit embarrassed.
"Miss Mo, your status has elevated tremendously," He Rui remarked.
Lingxi smiled.
"Your Highness, you flatter me. I am still just an ordinary girl."
"You are too modest," He Rui said, looking deep into her eyes. But Lingxi did not avert her gaze; she stared right back.He Rui finally felt uncomfortable and changed the subject.
"You are truly carefree to take a stroll at this time of night. Other noble ladies wouldn't do the same," he said.
"I am indeed carefree. That is why I have my trusted bodyguard by my side at all times ", Lingxi answered.
He Rui finally noticed Qin Yan who had a face even sterner than his.
"I see"
"I booked a room in Tianyan pavilion. They have amazing food and drinks and they play refined music there. Do you guys care to join?" He Xuan asked eagerly.
"It is getting late. My father would be worried. I'll take my leave ", Lingxi turned to go but He Rui's voice stopped her.
"The view at Tianyan pavilion is splendid. Miss Mo wouldn't turn down my invitation, would she?"
Lingxi knew there was no letting this go.
She turned back and smiled, "since your Highness is politely inviting me, how can I refuse?" she said.
He Xuan led the way and she followed behind with an expression looking anything but pleased. He Rui paused for a moment and couldn't help but think that the word 'politely' was intentionally used to degrade him.
[Tianyan Pavilion]
The music and smell of wine filled the air.
The song was a touching dirge, but no one at the table seemed moved by it.
"Qin Yan", Lingxi gestured for Qin Yan to sit on the table of four.
"You sure dote on your bodyguard", He Rui noticed.
"Does your highness expect me to dote on you instead?" Lingxi asked.
"Why are you guys so tense? Bring your finest wine here!" He Xuan's voice rang out.
Fine wine was served and their cups were filled.
He Rui picked his first, "Miss Mo, we didn't get a chance to know each other at the banquet.I hope we can get along well in the future", he said and drank his wine.
"That will depend on your highness", Lingxi responded accepting his toast before drinking.
There was a long pause as music filled the air with dancing.
Lingxi had just started enjoying the scenery before her when He Rui broke the silence.
"Miss Mo seems quite familiar with the capital", he commented.
"Maybe it's because people change faster than places", Lingxi responded without looking at him.
"I heard you often travel out of the capital to explore the world", he said.
"Of course", Lingxi responded, her hand arm resting on the railings of the top floor as she watched the dancers on the bottom center.
"There are different places and people and also many delicacies. It would be a shame not to see and try them all", she added.
"Well, I guess your days of traveling around are almost over. You will soon be part of imperial granduncle's residence"
Lingxi's expression did not change, "if I still wanted to travel around, I wouldn't have returned in the first place"
"Oh? You no longer wish to explore?" he seemed interested.
"No"
"No?"
"I wish to explore the palace"
"Why?"
"It seems very interesting"
"How so?" he asked looking serious.
"Just the thought of you calling me grandaunt is already very interesting, isn't it?" she asked and He Rui's expression visibly shifted.
He Xuan coughed lightly to lighten up the tension.
Lingxi reached and packed a handful of rose petals and threw them onto the dancers below.
Finally looking up at He Rui, she stood up, "your highness, thank you for the reception here. We'll take our leave now", she curtsied and left with Qin Yan following behind her.
He Xuan obviously didn't want to stay behind with He Rui so he scurried along, "grandaunt, wait for me"
Outside, Lingxi bid farewell to He Xuan.
"All right but you owe me one", He Xuan said.
"I owe you?" Lingxi was a bit surprised. I took you to the top restaurant in the capital. Don't you owe me?" he answered.
"Shameless", Qin Yan muttered.
"I thought second prince was the one who invited me. Also, he seems to be the one paying", Lingxi said.
"Anyways, I was the one that came up with the suggestion. How do you plan on repaying me?"
Lingxi realized one could never win an argument with a scholar, "how does your highness want me to repay him?" she asked.
"Let me think", He Xuan started thinking and his gaze landed on the scented herbal pouch on her waist.
"I'll have the pouch", he said.
"This is just an ordinary calming scented herbal pouch. Are you sure?" she asked. "Yes", he responded.
Lingxi removed from her waist and gave it to him.
"Then, farewell", she curtsied and walked in the direction of her home with Qin Yan behind her.
"Farewell!" he waved.
[Grand Prince Residence]
The grand prince residence was, of course, heavily guarded. With shadow guards on patrol and in every direction of the residence, it would be difficult for even a fly to get in.
Well, except He Xuan who casually strolled inside.
Up the roof, Jun Jie raised a hand to signal the shadow guards not to attack.
He Xuan casually strolled through the corridors and eventually found He Yu who was standing and looking up at the room.
"Why are you here?" He Yu asked without looking at him.
"Of course, I'm here to see you", He Xuan responded.
"Anytime I come to visit you in your residence by this time, I feel like a high ranking and important person", He Xuan added.
"How so?" He Yu asked looking at him.
"Think about it", He Xuan said walking closer to him, "everyone knows not to casually enter your residence without prior notice, not even the emperor. If the emperor had tried walking in casually as I did, he might have walked into another realm", He Xuan answered with a face beaming of self-importance.
He Yu couldn't be bothered with the man standing next to him, but his gaze landed on the pouch on his waist.
"Where did you get it?" he asked.He Xuan followed his gaze to the pouch on his waist.
"You mean this?" he pointed at the herbal pouch.
"I got it from grandaunt," he answered.
"Grandaunt?"
"Miss Mo. We met at the market today," he said.
"She gave it to you? I'd rather believe you took it from her," He Yu said.
"Now you are being sarcastic," He Xuan accused, pointing his fan at He Yu. He opened his fan and fanned himself slowly. "I, He Xuan, am a gentleman and scholar. People refer to me as fine jade," he praised himself.
He Yu's ears started hurting all of a sudden due to He Xuan.
"If you have nothing important to say, you may leave," he said, leaving.
He Xuan followed behind.
"Of course, I have something important to tell you. He Rui met with your future wife today"
"I know"
"You know?" He Xuan was not very surprised.
"But you don't know what they talked about", He Xuan said before adding, "no need to worry. Your future wife has no interest in him. But, I must say, she is just as sharp-tongued as you are"
He Yu stopped and gave a short smile before turning to He Xuan, "if you are done, you can leave now".
He Xuan stopped in his tracks, "you are something else", he said removing the pouch from his waist.
He handed it to He Yu.
"What do you mean?" He Yu wondered why He Xuan was giving him the pouch.
"She said it was a calming scented herbal pouch. You need it, I don't", he said and left.
He Yu looked at the pouch in his hand and studied the familiar design carefully.
[Mo Residence]
Lingxi finally reached home and couldn't help but slump on the chair.
"Someone was watching us", Qin Yan started.
"I know", Lingxi responded.
"Why did you stop me from catching them?" Qin Yan asked.
He recalled she had told him to sit down when he noticed that they were being watched.
"I just chose He Yu today. There many eyes watching, Getting rid of one doesn't make any difference", Lingxi answered.
She had long realized that since she chose He Yu and rumors had started spreading, all eyes were watching her and waiting for her to make a wrong move.
She couldn't care less about someone following her as long as they didn't cross the line.
With that, she dismissed Qin Yan and prepared to go to sleep.
It was a long day and it was going to be even longer the next day.