Chapter 40

The door was tightly closed, with sunlight seeping in through the cracks in the window. Faint voices could be heard from outside, making the room even quieter.

Sang Yao’s smile froze on her face. She couldn’t understand how the promised little cat turned into Xie Yun.

In the silence, Xie Yun slowly placed his removed outer garment aside and then looked at Sang Yao.

With a scrutinizing gaze, he quietly focused on the girl. His face showed no emotions as he calmly said, “You better explain.”

Explain what?

What did she have to explain? Sang Yao actually wanted to ask him where her nice little cat had gone and how a man ended up here.

He even closed the door.

…Could it be that he and the prince conspired together to deliberately lead her here and then want to take advantage of her?

But Xie Yun didn’t seem like that kind of person.

And judging by his expression, he seemed a bit surprised too. Could there be some misunderstanding in between?

Sang Yao glanced at the tightly closed door, then at Xie Yun, and asked in a low voice, sincerely, “How did you end up here?”

See, that’s the expected question.

She’s at it again.

She really doesn’t get tired of using such preemptive tactics.

Xie Yun walked slowly towards Sang Yao.

Without that loose and solemn outer robe, the man’s figure looked even more erect. A portion of his slender waist was pinched by the leather belt, and his black boots pressed firmly against the ground, his gaze carrying a sense of oppression.

“Miss Sang, considering the situation, you might as well be honest.”

A bit harsh.

Sang Yao silently stepped back a bit. She couldn’t understand what Xie Yun was saying. But listening to his tone, it seemed like he thought she deliberately appeared here.

Whenever this man had an expressionless face, Sang Yao inexplicably felt nervous.

She leaned against the wall. Though she hadn’t done anything wrong, she stuttered nervously as she explained, “I-I-I was waiting for my cat.”

Xie Yun obviously didn’t quite believe her. “You were waiting for your cat in my room?”

He stopped in his tracks, standing in front of Sang Yao. “So, did you find it?”

Sang Yao was forced to look at the man’s indifferent face. He still stood tall, but without that dignified and refined outer robe, he appeared somewhat aggressive.

As their eyes met, Sang Yao gently shook her head.

The pressure was too strong. Sang Yao couldn’t bear it anymore. Frowning, she said softly, “How was I supposed to know this was your room?”

“Why do you have a room in the palace anyway?”

“His Highness asked me to come in. He said to wait for Mimi here.”

Xie Yun remained silent, seemingly pondering the truthfulness of her words.

Sang Yao always felt this man was a bit harsh. She turned her body away from him, distancing herself a bit, then stood by the table, holding her big spider. Gathering her courage, she said to him, “Why are you being so fierce? His Highness asked me to wait here; you should ask him.”

She walked briskly towards the door, trying to open it while muttering, “Besides, what are you so angry about? I’ll just leave.”

And with that, she even hummed at Xie Yun.

Xie Yun looked at her expressionlessly.

It’s absurd; she’s actually angry.

And did he act harshly towards her? He didn’t understand.

Sang Yao didn’t understand either.

Moreover, logically, the two of them, being alone together

The door was tightly closed, with sunlight seeping through the window cracks, and faint murmurs of conversation could be heard outside, making the room even quieter.

Sang Yao’s smile froze on her face. She didn’t understand how the promised little cat turned into Xie Yun.

In the silence, Xie Yun slowly placed his discarded outer garment aside and then looked at Sang Yao.

Explain what?

What did she have to explain? Sang Yao actually wanted to ask him where her little cat had gone and why there was a man instead.

He even closed the door.

…Could it be that he conspired with Crown Prince?

Moreover, logically speaking, the two of them alone, shouldn’t it be her at a disadvantage?

She tried to open the door as she spoke.

But at this moment, the voices outside became clearer.

Not eunuchs, but courtiers, and maybe even other princes. It seemed a bit lively, with footsteps not densely packed but passing by every now and then.

“…”, Sang Yao’s hand stopped silently.

Xie Yun turned around to look at her deliberately. “Go out.”

Sang Yao’s hand awkwardly dropped.

She stood by the door, with a trace of hope, and asked, “Does anyone else know this is your room?”

Xie Yun: “What do you think?”

Sang Yao fell silent.

Although she didn’t care much about her reputation, she had to be a bit realistic about her future marriage prospects. If anyone saw her coming out of Xie Yun’s room in broad daylight, rumors would spread, and who knows what they would become.

Glancing at Xie Yun, she tentatively asked, “Can I slip out quietly?”

Xie Yun replied, “If you don’t mind, I don’t care.”

He really didn’t care about gossip. Usually, he would find the source of rumors and deal with it directly, using it as a warning to others.

Sang Yao fell silent again.

After a while, a familiar voice came from outside, “May I ask if Lord Xie is inside?”

It was Yang Wenchuan’s voice.

Sang Yao, holding the spider’s leg, tightened her grip. Her heart raced as she nervously looked at Xie Yun.

Help! He won’t let him in, will he?

Standing beside her, Xie Yun calmly said, “What, are you unhappy that Brother Achuan is here?”

Sang Yao pressed a finger to her lips. “Keep your voice down.”

Xie Yun: “Are you ordering me?”

Sang Yao: “Please, keep your voice down.”

Politely outside: “Is Lord Xie in? I have something to deliver on behalf of my teacher. Would you like to see it now?”

Xie Yun: “Come in.”

Sang Yao’s breathing paused, and she quickly hid behind the door.

As the door opened, Xie Yun stood by the door.

The servant was momentarily stunned, then he bowed and handed the item to Xie Yun.

As he stood up, he accidentally glimpsed a black object on the round table behind Xie Yun. It looked like… a big spider??

The door was closed again.

Sang Yao breathed a sigh of relief as she walked away from the door, saying, “You scared me.”

She asked, “When are you leaving?”

Xie Yun replied, “I think that question should be directed to you.”

Can we finally have a civilized conversation?

Sang Yao really couldn’t understand how Jing Lian could tolerate this man.

But being under the same roof, Sang Yao had to lower her head. She said, “Anyway, I didn’t intend to be here. I was about to leave, but then I ran into the Crown Prince.”

She sighed sadly, pouting, “He said he’d bring me a little cat. I waited for so long, The Cat probably not even half a month yet. I bet it’s still small. I’ve been imagining how cute it would be.”

“I was really looking forward to it.”

She glanced up and down at Xie Yun with a somewhat disdainful tone, muttering, “But it turned out to be you.”

Xie Yun nodded and said, “I’m sorry to disappoint you by returning to my own room.”

After a pause, he added seriously, “It seems it’s time to propose building a palace in the your house for your Mimi.”

Sang Yao: “…”

If this man ever stopped being sarcastic, he would probably feel uncomfortable all over.

“Can you speak nicely?”

So annoying.

Xie Yun ignored her. He walked to the round table alone and leisurely poured himself a cup of tea.

Well, he probably wouldn’t kick her out.

Xie Yun never liked people playing tricks on him, not even Sang Yao.

But for now, without anyone’s arrangement, she probably wouldn’t be able to enter with her wits alone.

Besides, with her poor acting skills, if she were pretending, it would be easy to see through.

Sang Yao stood silently by the door.

She stood there while Xie Yun drank tea, and in the silence, she regretted more and more.

Why was she so guilty just now?

She had no momentum at all.

Originally, it was the Crown Prince who asked her to wait here. She hadn’t lied. Xie Yun was more familiar with the Crown Prince, so if anyone was at fault, it should be him.

Sang Yao reflected silently. She felt that she had indeed become somewhat close to Xie Yun during this period.

This might lead to misunderstandings.

After finishing his tea, Xie Yun walked to the nearby desk and sat down.

The not-so-spacious desk was filled with various official documents, scrolls, and even some ancient texts and Buddhist scriptures. It seemed to be the only place in the room with some activity.

This should be Xie Yun’s temporary resting place in the palace. Those people walking around outside probably didn’t live far away.

He flipped through some documents.

As they sat and stood, neither spoke again. Sang Yao hummed in her heart, thinking that if he pretended she didn’t exist, then she wouldn’t bother with him either.

She stood by the door without moving, thinking that she would leave when there was no sound outside.

Stubborn man, why bother with that cold face?

Since he supposedly liked her, why not seize the opportunity to spend time alone with her? Instead, he was still arguing with her. So annoying.

She resolved to leave later. He would regret it.

Sang Yao made up her mind.

As time passed, whenever Sang Yao thought there should be no one outside, some footsteps would emerge.

Her legs started to ache from standing too long.

So she moved and sat on the stool by the round table, then half-laid her head on the table.

She sneakily glanced at Xie Yun, who was still sitting there, holding something in his hand, like official documents, but not quite. He had already looked through several.

Strange, wasn’t he supposed to sleep here at noon?

Why was he still dealing with official business?

Did he do this every day?

Previously, Sang Yao always thought that intelligent people like Xie Yun could do everything effortlessly. But now it seemed that wasn’t entirely true.

Not only was he smarter than others, but he also restrained himself more.

No wonder everyone in the court praised him endlessly.

Sang Yao looked at him, and as she continued to watch, she began to feel drowsy.

For example, now, she was so tired, but he still looked so focused.

But it wasn’t her fault. At home, she would have been sleeping by now.

Sang Yao tried hard not to fall asleep.

But eventually, despite her efforts, she couldn’t resist the drowsiness.

Her head involuntarily nodded, and after struggling to stay awake for fifteen minutes, she finally fell asleep on the table.

Her long black hair hung loose as she slept on the table.

Meanwhile, the man who had been focused on his work finally put down the documents in his hand in the silence. He raised his eyes and looked at the girl sleeping peacefully on the table.