After hesitating in front of the door for a while, someone suddenly patted her shoulder from behind. Sang Yao was startled and quickly turned around, seeing a face with an exotic feel.

The man had sharp and deep black eyes, looking at her and asking, “Why aren’t you going in?”

Sang Yao remembered, it was Rong Yan.

Lu Li’s good friend.               

Sang Yao didn’t know why Rong Yan suddenly appeared here. She bent her knees in a bow to him, then discreetly took a step back, avoiding Rong Yan’s hand.

Rong Yan’s aura was too aggressive. Sang Yao didn’t like such a strong-looking face. Being stared at so intently by him always made her feel a little scared and uncomfortable.

Rong Yan noticed her movement, but his expression remained unchanged as he said, “I’m here to find His Highness. When I passed by and saw you hesitating at the door, I came over to ask.”

Sang Yao acknowledged and said, “Thank you for your concern, Young Master Hou.”

Rong Yan asked again, “Is there anyone else inside?”

Sang Yao nodded, saying, “Miss Ming is inside.”

She explained, “I came back this morning because I was reciting scriptures last night. I was worried that Miss Ming was still sleeping.”

Rong Yan nodded understandingly and said, “Why don’t you knock on the door directly? Mingrong shouldn’t be angry.”

Sang Yao didn’t know why, but hearing the words “Mingrong” from his mouth always felt strange to her. She couldn’t explain it. Rong Yan continued, “It’s time for a meal. You can wake her up for breakfast.”

Sang Yao nodded and said, “Okay, thank you, Young Master Hou.”

Rong Yan still hadn’t left. He stared at the girl’s exquisite face, her unique beauty always shining brightly. He asked, “What do you thank me for?”

Sang Yao didn’t know how to respond. Usually, Rong Yan should have left on his own when it came to this point. Why was he still here?

Feeling a bit awkward, she glanced at the tightly closed door, thinking that the adulterer should have left. They were bold, but not so reckless.

She didn’t know who the man was, but he could go to the princess’s mansion and accompany the sacrifices. But whoever he was, it had nothing to do with Sang Yao.

Xie Yun was right. The less she knew in this capital city, the safer she would be. And with her fragile state of mind, if she knew who it was, she would be scared to death.

She turned around and said, “Then… I’ll knock on the door.”

Rong Yan smiled and nodded, saying, “Mingrong is really easy to talk to.”

A deep voice came from behind her. Suddenly, Sang Yao remembered why this voice felt strange to her.

The teasing banter of a man and a woman mixed with the sound of rain seemed to echo in her ears again. His mention of Mingrong, combined with that strange day with Rong Rong, seemed to overlap oddly.

Sang Yao’s scalp tingled, and her hand, originally about to knock on the door, paused in midair.

Lu Li had said that Rong Yan and he were extremely close, having known each other since childhood, with many years of friendship.

Moreover, in terms of relations, Ming Rong was his cousin-in-law.

She still remembered, that day Ming Rong had said that he had forced her at first. So, this meant that Rong Yan had forced his future cousin-in-law.

And it didn’t stop at just once. In the end, the two of them actually hit it off and started having an affair everywhere, even disregarding the fact that they were in a monastery this time.

Rong Yan asked, “What’s wrong with you?”

Sang Yao, with her back to him, tightly pursed her lips, feeling desperate. She forced herself to steady her expression, pulled out a smile, and said as naturally as possible, “Nothing, I’m just afraid Ming Rong hasn’t woken up yet.”

Rong Yan glanced at Sang Yao’s fingers tightly clutching her clothes, then said, “Is that so?”

Sang Yao nodded and said, “But… it really is time for breakfast.”

Rong Yan nodded, then said, “In that case, I won’t disturb you, Miss.” Sang Yao nodded.

Rong Yan turned around and left with long strides. Finally, he was gone.

Sang Yao breathed a sigh of relief. She thought it was over, she had found out. Hopefully, she hadn’t revealed anything suspicious just now.

But she thought there shouldn’t be any problem. Even if she reacted strangely, he shouldn’t think too much about it.

Sang Yao knocked on the door. Ming Rong was already awake, sitting in front of the mirror, putting on earrings.

She looked at Sang Yao through the mirror and asked, “Who were you talking to outside?”

Sang Yao avoided her gaze and then turned to pour herself some tea.

Since Ming Rong asked like this, it proved that she must have heard who it was. Sang Yao pretended to be casual and said, “I met Young Master Hou Rong.” Mingrong nodded, her tone rising as she asked, “Do you know him?” Sang Yao gripped the tea cup, feeling extremely distressed. She shook her head and said, “I don’t know him.”

Sang Yao paused for a moment and silently added, “Well… not really familiar. I saw him once standing beside the Crown Prince before.” Standing up from in front of the mirror, Ming Rong asked, “Then why did you talk for so long?”

It wasn’t long at all, okay? Why did she keep asking? Was she jealous?

Sang Yao felt extremely humble. Clearly, it was someone else having an affair, yet she was so nervous. She replied truthfully, “I was afraid you were still sleeping, so I didn’t dare to knock on the door.”

Ming Rong looked at her back and didn’t speak. The less she said, the more nervous Sang Yao became.

At this moment, she felt extremely uneasy.

Fortunately, Ming Rong soon looked away. She opened the door and walked out.

After returning, Sang Yao casually washed up and changed clothes before walking out of the greenhouse. There was a meal on the table, but Ming Rong still hadn’t returned.

Around the time of the hare, the people who had rested at Qiyang Temple overnight began to move again. Sang Yao followed them out of the temple. Everyone walked in pairs, but she was all alone.

Sang Yao started looking for her father. After searching for a while and not finding him, Yang Wenchuan walked up to her.

He had changed clothes and maintained a familiar but courteous distance from her. He asked, “Yao Yao, how was your rest last night?”

Sang Yao nodded and said, “Brother Yang, that fragrance you had was really pleasant.”

Yang Wenchuan smiled and said, “Since we’re going to be on the carriage for half a day today, it’ll help you feel better.”

As they walked down the steps together, Sang Yin watched them from the corridor with satisfaction. With his hands behind his back, he looked at Yang Wenchuan as if he were evaluating a son-in-law.

The man beside him stroked his beard and said, “I wonder why Yang Wenchuan is reluctant to see my daughter. It turns out he’s been snatched up by your family.”

Sang Yin’s expression turned serious as he scolded, “What are you saying? Even if Yang Wenchuan likes my daughter, he still has to pass my test first.”

The man glanced at him and said, “Aren’t you satisfied with the top scholar?”

Sang Yin snorted and lifted his chin proudly, “Of course not.”

He paused for a moment, then added something to emphasize his point, “To be honest, Xie Yun also has some feelings for my Yao Yao.”

As Sang Yin said this, Xie Yun happened to turn around the corner, hearing every word. He froze in his tracks.

Jing Lian, who had rarely returned early for rest yesterday, was feeling refreshed. He stopped with Xie Yun and looked at the three figures ahead of them, with Sang Yin standing in the middle.

Someone beside him asked, “What’s the matter?”

Sang Yin clicked his tongue and said, “I’m actually quite troubled.”

He continued without changing his expression, “In fact, that child Xie Yun has mentioned to me several times, intentionally or unintentionally, wanting my daughter to marry into the Xie family. I have been hesitating about this matter.”

“What’s there to hesitate about? Xie Yun is no ordinary person, and it would benefit you too.”

Sang Yin sighed and said firmly, “So what? I, Sang Yin, act upright and straightforward. How could I trade my daughter’s lifelong happiness for my own future?”

Jing Lian silently pursed his lips and glanced at his master’s expression. Good, no change in expression.

“You don’t understand, the main issue is that my daughter is not interested in Xie Yun.”

“This…”

“You see, in terms of attitude, can Xie Yun compare to Yang Wenchuan?” “Xie Yun has met me privately many times, I’m tired of it.”

“It’s just that I’ve recently realized that Yang Wenchuan seems quite decent. But it also depends on my daughter’s approval. Marriage is a serious matter, not child’s play.” Jing Lian couldn’t bear it any longer.

He coughed lightly twice.

Sang Yin frowned and turned back with an air of authority. Time seemed to freeze in that instant.

Sang Yin, who had stood tall, silently bent down.