Chapter 76: Luo Jin An’s Sleepless Night & A Game at Jingxin Pavilion

When Xiu’er arrived carrying the medicinal dish, she immediately noticed the two attendants standing upright on either side of the door. Feeling a bit nervous, she hesitated. Ever since learning that the man was a prince, Xiu’er had been on edge. After all, she had glared at him and spoken loudly in his presence before. Would the prince hold a grudge and have her executed for it?

“Esteemed attendants, my lady sent me to deliver this medicinal dish for the prince. Could you please inspect it to ensure there are no issues?”

Liu Yun and Liu Qin were not fools. Earlier, the prince had refused even to let them inspect the room. How could they dare check the food now? Liu Yun simply took the bowl with a smile.

“I’ll take it inside for His Highness.”

Luo Jin An gazed at the bowl of medicinal soup in front of him, grinning like a fool. Nian Nian had personally cooked for him—did this mean she was no longer angry at him?

That night, Luo Jin An tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. Just knowing that Xu Nian was staying nearby filled him with energy. It wasn’t until dawn that he finally drifted off.

The next morning, still eager to go out, Luo Jin An finished his breakfast early and sent Liu Yun to relay a message.

Xu Nian first went to pay her respects to Madam Wang and then informed Madam Tian before accompanying Luo Jin An out. Xu Ling also joined them.

Today, Luo Jin An didn’t insist on sharing a carriage with Xu Nian. After all, they were not engaged, and being seen together in the bustling county could harm her reputation.

“Elder Sister, where are we going today?”

“Where would Ling’er like to go?”

Xu Ling thought for a moment before her eyes lit up.

“Grandfather said that Jingxin Pavilion recently started performing a new opera. I’ve never watched an opera before. How about we go there?”

Xu Nian didn’t mind where they went, but she still wanted to check with Luo Jin An first.

Before heading to Jingxin Pavilion, they made a stop at a bookstore. Luo Jin An took his time selecting items, spending nearly the duration of two tea servings before finally settling on an inkstone and three wolf-hair brushes.

“These are barely acceptable. I’ll bring you better ones from the royal city when I return.”

Xu Nian glanced at the embarrassed shopkeeper beside them and smiled. “I think these are already quite good. This bookstore is one of the finest in Wansheng County.”

The shopkeeper beamed and eagerly agreed. “The young lady has excellent taste! These are top-tier goods imported from the south.”

Xu Nian tugged at Luo Jin An’s sleeve, prompting him to reluctantly nod. “Fine, they’re decent. Wrap them up.”

The shopkeeper, delighted, carefully packed the items and courteously sent them off.

After leaving the bookstore, Xu Nian shared Xu Ling’s suggestion about visiting Jingxin Pavilion. Luo Jin An had no objections—after all, as long as Xu Nian was with him, he was happy to do anything.

“Let’s go directly to Jingxin Pavilion, then.”

Luo Jin An helped Xu Nian onto the carriage before boarding his own, surrounded by his guards. As Xu Nian peered through the window, she couldn’t help but notice that Luo Jin An’s security detail seemed significantly larger than usual. Thinking back to his injury from the previous day, an uneasy feeling crept into her heart.

Jingxin Pavilion was the largest teahouse in Wansheng County, exuding an air of history and refinement. The building featured intricate flying eaves, carved beams, and painted pillars. Its crimson doors and windows gleamed vividly under the sunlight.

A rustic plaque hung above the entrance, displaying three bold, elegant characters: Jingxin Pavilion. The calligraphy was powerful and striking. Xu Nian stared at the inscription for a long moment.

“What’s wrong?”

Luo Jin An noticed that she had stopped in her tracks, fixated on the sign.

“Nothing… I just think the calligraphy is quite impressive.”

This was actually Xu Nian’s first time visiting Jingxin Pavilion. She hadn’t expected it to be even livelier than the renowned Zhike Teahouse.

The moment they stepped inside, a faint yet refreshing tea fragrance enveloped them. The main hall was elegantly furnished with finely crafted wooden tables and chairs. Beautiful calligraphy and paintings adorned the walls.

The teahouse manager immediately noticed their distinguished attire, especially the young nobleman who radiated an air of nobility. With a bright smile, he stepped forward to greet them.

“Honored guests, please come inside. Would you prefer a private room or—?”

“We want your best private room,” a guard interrupted coldly.

The manager refrained from asking further questions and quickly led them upstairs.

With a mere glance from the guard, a portion of the security team strategically stationed themselves at key vantage points in the main hall. Meanwhile, another group closely followed Luo Jin An as they ascended to the second floor.

The group followed the shopkeeper as they ascended the winding wooden staircase. The second floor consisted of private rooms, each with wide-open windows draped with soft gauze curtains. A gentle breeze swept through, bringing a refreshing coolness and an air of tranquility. Xu Nian found herself growing fond of this place.

Looking out through the window, she was surprised to discover a backyard—a small but exquisite garden.

Since it was already May, the garden was in full bloom, with vibrant flowers competing for attention, creating a breathtaking scene.

At the center of the garden was a small pond, where several fish swam freely. The water’s surface reflected the blue sky, white clouds, and the surrounding flora, forming a picturesque landscape like a painting.

Standing by the window, Xu Nian admired the view, feeling a tinge of regret that she had only now discovered this teahouse. Luo Jin An, noticing the sparkle in her eyes, curled his lips into a faint smile.

He beckoned a guard to his side and whispered a few words. The guard bowed slightly and swiftly left to carry out his orders.

“Esteemed guests, please step inside.”

The shopkeeper’s voice pulled Xu Nian from her thoughts. She turned to Luo Jin An and offered a sheepish smile.

“This is my first time here as well. I never expected the county to have such a wonderful spot. Today, we have Ling’er to thank for this discovery.”

Xu Ling blushed slightly and replied, “I only knew about it because Grandfather mentioned it.”

The group entered the private room. At that moment, the faint sound of a guqin playing downstairs drifted up to them.

“It seems the performance hasn’t started yet. We’ll have to wait a little longer.”

“No rush,” Luo Jin An responded.

Noticing a chessboard placed atop a couch by the window, he walked over and called out, “Nian Nian, would you like to play a round with me?”

Xu Nian was tempted to ask Liu Qin to take her place, but when she glanced at Liu Qin, the maid quickly lowered her head, unwilling to meet her gaze. Left with no choice, she reluctantly agreed.

“I’ll say this upfront—I’m not very skilled at chess. Don’t blame me if I ruin your fun.”

Luo Jin An chuckled indulgently. “What a coincidence. I’m not very good at it either.”

However, as the game progressed, Luo Jin An began feeling increasingly uneasy. He had never found a game of chess so mentally exhausting before. No matter what moves he made, he couldn’t maneuver the board in a way that allowed Xu Nian to win.

Watching him furrow his brows and rack his brain, Xu Nian couldn’t hold back her laughter.

“Why are you struggling so much? I already told you I’m not very good at this.”

Not wanting to torture him any longer, she reached out and messed up the chessboard.

“Let’s play something simpler. Do you know Gomoku? Actually, I bet you don’t. Here, I’ll teach you.”

Luo Jin An looked at the enthusiastic Xu Nian, his eyes softening with amusement.

“Alright, I’ll learn Gomoku from you, then.”

Since no one else here knew the rules of Gomoku, Xu Nian took full advantage of the situation, making up rules as she went along. Whenever she found herself on the verge of losing, she would simply tweak the rules to her advantage. Even Xu Ling, watching from the side, couldn’t stand it anymore.

“Big Sister, you’re cheating! Brother Changsheng clearly won just now.”

“What do you know? The rules are meant to be like this.”

“But you just said—”

“That’s right, that’s right.”

“…”