Chapter 4 : He Covered Her Lips

“Go rest in the pavilion, and send a maid to call me if you need anything.”

“All right… I understand.” Xue Qingyin tugged on his sleeve, crumpling and rubbing it slightly. Then she looked up at him with pitiful eyes: “Even though I can’t bear to part with you, I only wish you could always be by my side. But Mother told me to think of you more, so I can only let you attend to your own matters.”

He Songning paused at her words.

He gave Xue Qingyin a deep look and smiled. “It’s good that you’re understanding.”

Yet that smile didn’t reach his eyes.

Xue Qingyin didn’t care; she just wanted He Songning gone.

As he turned and left, the maid accompanied Xue Qingyin to the pavilion.

Sitting there was utterly boring.

The spring wind was still a bit chilly.

“Do you know how to play leaf cards?” Xue Qingyin asked the maid.

The maid blushed, stammering as she avoided a direct answer.

When servants had free time, they would sometimes use their wages to play cards. But how could they let the masters find out?

“Just tell me if you can play or not,” Xue Qingyin urged.

“A little…”

“Then teach me. We’ll sit here and play leaf cards together.”

The maid’s expression changed. “That—that wouldn’t be appropriate… Besides, we don’t have cards…”

“Look around—what’s most abundant at a poetry gathering? Pen, ink, paper, and inkstones! We’ll make our own cards.”

“…All right.” The maid reluctantly agreed.

The eldest lady of the household didn’t like studying, and her mother indulged her.

Now she even wanted to learn card games.

As the maid left, Xue Qingyin finally had no one attending her.

She exhaled softly, feeling a rare sense of freedom, and decided to take a walk in the garden.

He Songning had said something right—Xue Qingyin seldom left the house and was naturally a bit frail from staying indoors.

This was typical for girls of the inner court during this era.

She needed a plan to persuade her mother to give her the family estate in the countryside. Then she could live there, eat, drink, and stroll around daily. Having a healthy body and a relaxed mind was far better than getting involved in the love story between the male and female leads.

This place was called Egret Garden.

The garden was filled with egret flowers, also known as crape myrtles, creating a sea of purple-red. It featured rock formations, flowing water, pavilions, and terraces, offering a truly beautiful scene.

Xue Qingyin wandered for a long while.

…And got lost.

Her weak body couldn’t handle much, and she was already slightly out of breath.

Not minding the dirt, she brushed off the dust on a large stone and sat down to rest.

At this moment, the sound of approaching footsteps startled her.

Xue Qingyin lifted her eyelids but didn’t intend to hide.

“Lin Lang,” a woman’s voice called.

“Hui Niang, how about the matter I spoke to you about recently?” a man responded.

Xue Qingyin immediately realized what was happening.

“Lin Lang” was actually “Lover Lin.”

How unlucky could she be to stumble upon lovers secretly meeting?

Feeling awkward, Xue Qingyin stood up and peeked through a gap.

The dense crape myrtle trees obscured the view, but if she walked out, they would surely notice her—how embarrassing!

Staying or leaving both felt awkward.

“Why ask about this as soon as you arrive?” the woman called Hui Niang said irritably.

Lin Lang chuckled, “Don’t you know me by now? I’ve been striving hard so I can marry you openly one day…”

Hui Niang laughed. “If you’re serious about marrying me, why not impress my brother-in-law and Prince Xuan today?”

Lin Lang replied, “With Xue Ning here, how could we shine?”

Hui Niang sighed. “True enough.”

Lin Lang added, “With the spring examination approaching, even if I have some ability, others are scrambling to make connections. If I don’t follow suit, I’ll be edged out sooner or later. Isn’t that right?”

Hearing this, Xue Qingyin froze.

Something related to the imperial exams?

Anyone familiar with history knows that involvement in exam fraud is a major scandal!

Now she really couldn’t leave!

“Well, then I’ll be the only one who works hard for you. I don’t know how you thank me…” Hui Niang sighed. “

How about thanking you like this?”

There was only a rustling sound of clothes.

Xue Qingyin: “…”

Damn it.

Now she can’t go out at all.

Hui Niang said with a sweet smile, “Be careful of someone.”

“Today, the King of Wei and the King of Xuan are both here. Everyone is rushing to please them. How can anyone come here? Just shout softly.”

“You bastard.”

Xue Qingyin: “…”

I can’t listen anymore.

My ears are going blind.

At this moment, Xue Qingyin felt a little warmth coming from behind.

It’s like… someone is approaching silently.

Xue Qingyin was startled, clenched her fingertips, and looked back.

Oh well.

There are two big people standing behind her!

One of them is wearing a dark green robe, with cold eyebrows and eyes, looking down at her.

When she turned her head, he leaned over and covered her lips.

It’s the King of Xuan!

Xue Qingyin’s heart immediately pounded, and her hands and feet went limp.

It was an instinctive reaction when facing danger.

It has to be said that the closer they are… the more murderous the King of Xuan is, the stronger it is.

Xue Qingyin took a deep breath and turned her eyes.

She saw another man in a scarlet robe, with a long beard, pale face and beads of sweat on his forehead. He stood beside King Xuan and looked even more nervous than her.

Xue Qingyin: “…”

What kind of fucking luck is this? Such a place can gather so many people? Are they all here for a meeting?

Xue Qingyin pointed to her mouth and made an “ok” gesture to King Xuan.

After making the gesture, she realized that people probably couldn’t understand it at all.

Forget it.

You cover it.

Xue Qingyin chose to play it down and sat there quietly.

At this time, Lin Lang and Hui Niang had already taken off their clothes.

It seemed that they were about to have more intimate actions.

For a moment, no one wanted to leave…

Xue Qingyin pondered and patted the big rock.

She signaled King Xuan not to be polite and sit together.

How tiring it must be to just stand behind her, bend over and cover her mouth…

King Xuan glanced at her again, with a little surprise flashing across his eyes.

Perhaps he didn’t expect her to be so comfortable with it so quickly.

King Xuan didn’t sit down after all.

He raised his eyes and glanced in front of him, frowned imperceptibly, and suddenly raised his other hand to cover Xue Qingyin’s eyes.

Xue Qingyin was startled again.

In an instant, King Xuan could feel her long eyelashes quickly sweeping across his palm.

This time… it seemed that even the palm covering her mouth had a clearer perception.

Xue Qingyin couldn’t help sighing.

What’s the use?

Someone come and cover my ears too.

Xue Qingyin listened like this for a while, and she really couldn’t listen any more.

It would be fine for her to listen here by herself.

So many people listening together…

It’s too weird, too weird!

Xue Qingyin blocked her ears on her own.

The man next to King Xuan saw her action and immediately felt a little bit of laughter and tears.

The little girl was not afraid at all and was quite sensible.

Fortunately, Lin Lang was not a man of many uses…

Hui Niang quickly packed her clothes and said, “I have to go.”

“Why are you leaving so quickly?”

“If I stay with you any longer, people will inevitably find out. You are lucky because you are a man. The worst that can happen is that you will be beaten and expelled from the capital. I will be miserable.”

After saying that, Hui Niang left first.

King Xuan waited for a while before withdrawing his hand.

Xue Qingyin looked again.

Lin Lang was still there.

He turned around several times and looked around.

He was a little wary, but not too much.

At this time, the man next to King Xuan suddenly said, “Look first to see if there is anyone?” As soon as

these words came out, Lin Lang was so scared that he ran away.

“I was scared to death.” I don’t know how far he ran before Lin Lang stopped, panting and muttering to himself, “Most likely he is here to meet his lover. Otherwise, why would he ask if there is anyone first…”

Lin Lang breathed a sigh of relief, straightened his clothes, and strode forward with his head held high.

Xue Qingyin stood up: “I’m leaving too.”

She had been sitting on the big rock for a long time, and her butt hurt.

“Wait a minute.” The man next to King Xuan suddenly said, “May I ask which girl you are?”

The man stared at Xue Qingyin.

Should I say don’t worry, I didn’t hear anything?

But the other party will usually say, right? I don’t believe you.

So Xue Qingyin thought about it, not only was she not afraid at all, but she also said confidently: “I am Xue Ning’s sister. Do you know Xue Ning?”

No matter what, throw He Songning out to block the bullet first.

After all, he is the original male protagonist, stubborn and responsible. If anything happens, you die first.