Chapter 42: Caught in the Act

The night was as cool as water, and the capital city tonight was illuminated by twinkling stars. The streets stretched for miles, lit up with splendid lanterns, bustling with people. The entire scene was dazzling, with beautiful lanterns lining the roads, making it hard not to admire the sight. People walked in groups, chatting and laughing, adding to the lively atmosphere.

In the midst of the crowd, a petite figure swiftly moved through. The woman’s stunning appearance drew attention, but when people saw the intimidating, cold-faced man walking beside her, they didn’t dare come closer.

Holding two sugar figurines in her hands, Xia Tong was happily munching on them, her mouth full of sweetness. She glanced innocently at the man behind her and blinked, “Weren’t you unwilling to come out, Your Highness?”

Under the glow of the lanterns, the man, with his hands behind his back, walked steadily. His sharp eyebrows twitched slightly as he glanced at her indifferently. “Eat more. This might be the last time.”

Xia Tong: “…”

Startled, she quickened her pace, walking ahead of him while occasionally glancing back, full of frustration. This man was only good at threatening her and nothing else.

Behind them, Fang Yu followed, smiling faintly. In truth, the prince only talked harshly but never actually did anything to her master.

“Did you say last time that the marten star herb^[1]Marten star herb, or Schisandra chinensis, is a plant whose berries are used for health benefits, helping to reduce stress, protect cells, support liver function, and boost the immune system, and it … Continue reading could cure headaches?” Xifeng suddenly came up beside Fang Yu.

Glancing at him, Fang Yu’s expression remained calm as she nodded. Her voice was composed. “Grind it into powder, take three liang^[2]liang (两) is a traditional unit of weight. It is equivalent to approximately 50 grams., mix it with astragalus, and take it once a day. It works wonders.”

“But isn’t the marten star herb poisonous?” Xifeng seemed puzzled.

Hearing this, Fang Yu’s eyebrows lifted slightly, and she replied nonchalantly, “In proper amounts, it’s not harmful. Besides, the astragalus^[3]Astragalus is a plant whose root is used in traditional medicine for boosting the immune system, improving energy, and promoting overall health. can suppress its toxicity.”

Amid the surrounding noise, Xifeng gave her a deep look and asked with a meaningful tone, “You seem to know a lot about medicine.”

He had investigated her—Fang Yu seemed to have appeared out of nowhere and wasn’t actually a distant relative of Qing’er, as she had claimed.

Feeling his intense gaze, Fang Yu didn’t turn back. She glanced at him lightly and said, “My family used to run a medical clinic. If you don’t believe me, you can ask my master.”

At that moment, the princess’s voice called out from ahead, asking to buy something. Fang Yu said no more and quickly followed.

Xia Tong had spotted a stall selling dough figurines. The vendor was an elderly man in his sixties, and his stall was tucked away in a dimly lit corner, clearly a spot others didn’t want. Yet, the figurines he made were lifelike, which still attracted some business.

“Old man, how long does it take to make a dough figure like this?” she asked curiously.

Looking at the group of wealthy or noble people in front of him, the old man smiled slightly reservedly, “It will take less than half a minute.”

Upon hearing this, Xia Tong stepped back and pointed to the man beside her, smiling. “Then make one that looks like him!”

Xifeng’s face changed slightly. The princess was truly bold!

Looking at the smiling woman before him, Gu Qin narrowed his eyes. He reached out and grabbed her arm, leaning in slightly.”Do you think this king can only scare people?”

Xia Tong felt a sudden, sharp pain in her ribs, and she had no idea where the man had pressed. The persistent ache became unbearable, and in a pitiful gesture, she grabbed onto his sleeve, gritting her teeth, refusing to utter a word.

The flickering lights cast alternating shadows across her delicate face. Their eyes met, and Gu Qin gazed at her for a long while before impatiently pressing on her arm, his face cold as he stopped speaking.

The pain in her ribs vanished instantly, and Xia Tong smiled as she urged the old man making figurines to hurry. She’d just discovered something—no wonder men liked women who seemed so delicate and pitiful. Acting frail really worked.

The old man worked quickly, and before long, a figurine resembling Gu Qin was completed. Though the figure didn’t capture his stoic, poker-faced expression, Xia Tong still thought it was a decent likeness. After Xifeng tossed down some coins, they began strolling to the other side of the street.

The figurine had a sweet fragrance, and Xia Tong wasn’t sure what kind of candy it was made of. She took a bite out of the head and, holding the piece in her mouth, snuck a glance at the man behind her.

“Tasty?” His lips curled into a smile, his eyes burning as he looked at her.

His gaze made Xia Tong’s skin tingle, but she still sidled up to him, shaking his arm. With her mouth full, she mumbled, “This consort only wants to keep Your Highness close to my heart—there’s absolutely no disrespect intended.”

Behind them, Hongxue’s eyes flashed with disdain. Such glibness and shamelessness—how could the prince have taken a liking to this woman?

Gu Qin cast a glance at her but said nothing. He continued to walk ahead at a steady pace, seemingly unwilling to argue with her.

As she followed beside him, Xia Tong observed his cold, sharp profile, always so aloof and unreadable. She hesitated before whispering, “Your Highness… aren’t you angry?”

Although Gu Qin, as the villainwas ruthless to others, especially the heroine, he had only ever tried to scare her. Sometimes, he even stood up for her. He had never actually harmed her. But why was he being so kind to her?

The street was filled with people, and the dazzling lanterns lit up the night. Some were solving riddles, and a group had gathered around one of the busiest spots, creating a lively scene.

Walking ahead, Gu Qin paused briefly at her question, turned his head slightly, and gave her a faint look. His tone was calm as he said, “Have you ever thought about why I only treat you with such patience?”

Their eyes met again, and Xia Tong found herself lost in the depths of his dark eyes. She stood frozen for a moment, before hurrying to catch up, her ears tinged with a slight blush.

After solving some riddles and collecting small prizes, Xia Tong lingered at a poetry contest platform, where several noble young men were gathered, each eager to show off their literary talents.

“Master.”

A tall figure dressed in black emerged from the crowd. Xia Tong turned to look, seeing that he was speaking with Gu Qin, though it seemed he was trying to keep others from overhearing. Feeling a bit guilty, Xia Tong shuffled forward a few steps.

The urgency confirmed that the second male lead was indeed about to break someone out of prison. But it didn’t matter—even if Gu Qin rushed back now, it would take him at least half an hour, giving the second male lead plenty of time to complete the rescue.

However, she had taken the evidence. What if the heroine came asking for it later?

When Xia Tong turned around, the figures in the crowd had already vanished. Unsure if they had returned to the manor, she decided to wander the bustling market a bit longer before heading back. After all, it was Gu Qin who had willingly come out with her. It couldn’t possibly be her fault.

But Gu Qin was so clever, he’d undoubtedly figure out she had something to do with it. For a moment, unease bubbled up inside her, and she wondered if acting pitiful again would help this time.

As she mulled it over, she stopped in front of a jade jewelry stall. Picking up a pair of circular and square jade pendants, she admired the unusual shapes.

“You’ve got a sharp eye, miss. These are fine jade pieces. Jade of such quality is becoming rarer by the day,” the stall owner, a middle-aged man with a fawning expression, said.

Xia Tong wasn’t too impressed. The manor had plenty of jade, she was simply intrigued by the unique design of these pendants.

Just as she was about to pay, someone bumped into her arm. A slender figure hurried past, and Xia Tong glanced at the man, feeling a sense of unease. Sure enough, when she reached for her waist, her purse was gone!

The man had already disappeared into the crowd. Xia Tong glared in the direction he had gone, her face filled with frustration. How bold! When she returned, she’d have the entire city searched for this thief!

“Young lady, you must be careful when going out alone. Many people have had their money stolen in recent days,” the stall owner said, offering some sympathetic advice.

Xia Tong gave a bitter smile, a look of worry crossing her delicate face. She still had a banknote worth 200,000 taels on her, but there was no way the stall owner could provide change for such a sum. It was best to forget it.

“Is this yours?”

A familiar voice sounded from behind her. Slowly, Xia Tong turned around to see a tall, elegant man dressed in white robes. His face was handsome and sharp, exuding a noble aura. In his hand, he held a purse embroidered with lotus flowers—her stolen purse.

Startled, Xia Tong reached out and took it, bowing slightly. “Thank you… sir.”

Under the starlit sky, her delicate figure in a pink silk dress floated like a cherry blossom in the breeze. Her slender frame and graceful posture, combined with her radiant beauty, made her unforgettable in the sea of people.

“Why are you alone?” Xiao Jing asked, his gaze lingering on her.

Xia Tong smiled lightly and continued walking ahead, her voice soft. “I lost my maidservant in the crowd. Aren’t you also alone, Your Highness?”

She weighed her purse in her hand. The male lead truly embodied justice, always doing what was right. The antagonist, on the other hand, would never do something as honorable.

Xiao Jing watched the slim figure in front of him, his gaze lowering slightly without a word.

It wasn’t that he was alone—he had sent his men away as soon as he had seen her.

“It’s dangerous at night. It’s not safe for a woman to be alone. You should head back to your residence soon,” he said gently.

Hearing this, Xia Tong turned around, surprised to see the male lead. Since the heroine wasn’t around, he had come out alone to enjoy the lantern festival. But why wasn’t the male lead with the heroine tonight?

Just as Xia Tong was about to respond, a sudden commotion erupted ahead. Perhaps something exciting was happening, and the crowd surged toward it. Xia Tong was jostled several times until her back unexpectedly collided with a solid wall of flesh, and a large hand suddenly rested on her waist.

The crowd continued to push forward, and Xia Tong quickly turned around, only to be met with a grim face. His deep, dark eyes seemed to bore into her, as if he were about to devour her, staring intently.

Glancing at Xiao Jing in front of him, the man leaned over and stared at her with a half-smile, his voice dark, “Who were you talking to just now?”