Chapter 42

As Xiao Yuanfu left, even from his back, it was clear that he was angry and resentful.

The servant, who had been watching, didn’t dare to not follow him. Calling out, “Second young master, wait up,” the servant immediately wanted to chase after him, but didn’t dare to just leave.

It was only today that he realized.

Their cousin, the eldest young lady, was such a formidable figure.

If it were the usual time, the servant would’ve just left after being told, but after witnessing the eldest young lady’s behavior today, he no longer had the courage.

The second young master could leave like that.

But he couldn’t.

He didn’t want to offend the eldest young lady.

The servant turned around, about to bid Xu Duanyi farewell and leave.

Xu Duanyi spoke first, “Second cousin drank too much today. There’s no need for him to go to the Liu family later. I will send someone to tell my sister-in-law about it. You should stay with him and take good care of him.”

If this were the past, the servant wouldn’t have thought much about it. However, now he didn’t dare not to think more deeply about it. He felt that the princess might have more to warn him about.

Sure enough, very quickly, he heard the princess continue, “As for what happened earlier—”

Sensing the princess’ gaze, the servant felt a shiver run down his spine. Since he had become the second young master’s personal attendant, he wasn’t a foolish person. Before the princess could finish speaking, he quickly replied respectfully, “Second young master got drunk and accidentally fell into the lake. It was the prince who passed by and saved him!”

Xu Duanyi nodded, seemingly satisfied with his answer, and said, “Alright, you go take care of your master.”

The servant quickly acknowledged her and, before leaving, gave both of them a respectful bow before running off.

Xu Duanyi watched them leave, taking a deep breath. She was about to turn and speak to Xie Qingya, intending to tell him that everything was fine.

But then she realized just how close she was standing to Xie Qingya. It was only then that she noticed she was still holding his arm.

Her senses, which had seemed dulled earlier, suddenly became sharp again. Her palm felt hot, and her heart raced quickly. It was as though she had just realized she was holding onto a hot potato, and she hurriedly let go of his arm, muttering an apology.

In that moment, her demeanor was far from the calm and dignified manner she had shown when facing Xiao Yuanfu earlier. She looked flustered and unsure of what to do.

Xie Qingya, who had been momentarily distracted by the emptiness of his hand, looked at Xu Duanyi. Perhaps it was because her earlier behavior towards Xiao Yuanfu had surprised him so much.

Had he not seen it for himself, he wouldn’t have known that Xu Duanyi, who was usually calm and liked to defuse things, could also be threatening when necessary.

He watched her as she kept her head lowered, her face tense, no longer displaying the earlier commanding presence.

Xie Qingya slowly withdrew his hand, bringing it back behind him.

He stared at Xu Duanyi, feeling like there was so much he wanted to say but not knowing where to start. In the end, he asked, “What you said earlier… was it true?”

Xu Duanyi was still feeling flustered. Her brain wasn’t as sharp as usual, and she didn’t immediately respond to what he asked. She only looked up at him and asked, “What?”

Xie Qingya looked at her and added to clarify, “You said that after you were forced into marriage, he still tried to bully you. Is that true?”

Xu Duanyi hadn’t expected him to ask about this. Though surprised, she quickly replied, “It’s not true. He didn’t have the courage to do that.”

Xie Qingya believed her when it came to Xiao Yuanfu’s lack of courage. Xiao Yuanfu was the type to bully the weak and fear the strong. If he had been braver, he wouldn’t have let him leave so easily earlier.

Still, Xie Qingya couldn’t help but want to confirm it one more time. Only by confirming it wasn’t true could he feel at ease.

“Well,” he said, “Just be careful and keep your distance from him next time you see him.”

After he said this, Xie Qingya noticed Xu Duanyi, who had previously avoided his gaze, now looking up at him directly. Not knowing what she was looking at, he furrowed his brow and asked, “What are you looking at?”

Xu Duanyi snapped back to reality at his question. She lightly gasped, seemingly not expecting to be caught, and quickly shifted her gaze away, muttering, “Nothing.”

But the unease she had been feeling earlier gradually disappeared after hearing Xie Qingya’s words. She could feel his concern for her.

Xu Duanyi felt happy—not just because Xie Qingya cared about her, but because she knew, despite how carefree he seemed, he was fundamentally a good person. He had always been the type to stand up for others when they were wronged, just like when they were children.

Even though they weren’t close back then, he had beaten Xiao Yuanfu for her. Now, even though he didn’t particularly like the marriage arrangement or her status, he still followed her to the Duke’s residence and defended her when Xiao Yuanfu bullied her.

Xu Duanyi’s expression softened, her lips unconsciously curving into a bright, gentle smile.

Xie Qingya, standing nearby, noticed it all. He didn’t know what she was smiling about, but he could tell she was in a good mood, and his mood lightened as well. A smile almost appeared on his face too, but as he realized it, he quickly suppressed it.

He turned his face away, not wanting Xu Duanyi to see his expression. His thoughts were complex and filled with uncertainty.

He knew he should leave. If it hadn’t been for Xiao Yuanfu showing up, he probably wouldn’t have made an appearance. Now that everything had been resolved, he should leave right away.

But for some reason, he couldn’t bring himself to speak the words.

It seemed like he was still lingering in the moment when Xu Duanyi had stood up for him earlier. Not wanting Xu Duanyi to sense his feelings, Xie Qingya deliberately turned his attention to the lotus pond ahead, noticing that the flowers weren’t in full bloom yet and that only a few unbloomed lilies were quietly floating in the water.

There was no sound from Xu Duanyi beside him.

This didn’t surprise Xie Qingya, as she always seemed like that—never taking the initiative to disturb others.

However, Xie Qingya hesitated for a moment, then suddenly called out, “Xu Duanyi.”

“What’s the matter?”

Xu Duanyi heard him call her and hurriedly looked over and asked.

But Xie Qingya didn’t look at her. Xu Duanyi could only hear him ask, “Did I cause you trouble today?”

“What?”

Xu Duanyi blinked, thinking she had misheard.

Until Xie Qingya repeated the question, Xu Duanyi still had a confused look on her face.

She blinked again and asked in a daze, “Why would you say that, Your Highness?”

She really didn’t understand.

Xie Qingya still didn’t turn around.

He kept looking ahead, though what he was looking at, even he couldn’t say for sure.

He just didn’t want to turn around, didn’t dare to look into Xu Duanyi’s eyes.

Under the gaze of those bright, shining eyes, it seemed as if all his thoughts would become exposed.

After a while, he softly said, “Actually, even if I didn’t show up today, you could have solved it yourself, right?”

This was something Xie Qingya had only realized just now.

Xu Duanyi was no longer the pitiful and timid little girl she once was.

She was now of a noble status.

Not to mention Xiao Yuanfu, even Cao Da wouldn’t dare to easily offend her.

But he always remembered how she used to be.

He always felt she was still that silly girl who, when bullied, wouldn’t dare to fight back and only knew how to cry in hiding, which was why he couldn’t help but show up earlier.

But now, thinking about it, it seemed his appearance had only brought her more unnecessary trouble.

She could have solved it properly.

Now, because of him, she had to make an enemy of Xiao Yuanfu.

If Xiao Yuanfu went back and told the Xiao family anything, as an outsider, it wouldn’t matter much to him, but what about her?

After all, they were family.

What he couldn’t attend to before,

Now, thinking about it, he couldn’t help but feel guilty and regretful.

His thin lips pressed tightly together.

Xie Qingya couldn’t say anything else and could only lower his eyes and speak in a low voice, “If they ask about it and blame you, you don’t have to worry. Just put everything on me.”

“Today’s trouble was caused by me in the first place.”

At last, Xu Duanyi understood why Xie Qingya had said what he did earlier.

The confusion she had felt earlier now turned into warmth, and she still looked up at Xie Qingya by her side.

They were standing together, and she had to look up to him.

She had long since gotten used to looking at him like this.

The afternoon sunlight shone on Xie Qingya’s figure, his tall, slender frame enveloped in the glow.

This made him look like a celestial being.

Or perhaps, this was how Xu Duanyi saw Xie Qingya—a god who would always appear to save her in times of trouble.

In her eyes, an unconscious tenderness and admiration flowed, even her voice sounding as soft as flowing water.

“But I’m really glad that you showed up earlier, Your Highness.”

Xu Duanyi could feel Xie Qingya tremble sharply after her words, and the head that was about to turn toward her.

Though, for some reason, it didn’t turn in the end.

But Xu Duanyi’s mood was much more relaxed and soft than at any other time before.

She saw Xie Qingya staring at the lotus lake ahead, so she withdrew her gaze and looked ahead as well, standing together with him, gazing at it.

“I could have dealt with Xiao Yuanfu just now.”

“But you know my temperament, Your Highness. Even if I wanted to resolve it, I couldn’t just brush it off. Doing so wouldn’t give Xiao Yuanfu a clear lesson. He would still continue to use his cousin’s name to trouble me.”

“Now, this is fine.”

“Xiao Yuanfu is so angry now that he probably won’t come to bother me again.”

Xu Duanyi genuinely thought this was a good outcome.

She was already tired of her second cousin and didn’t want to keep pretending with him.

Now, if Xiao Yuanfu completely hated her, he wouldn’t dare to come in front of her and make trouble again.

“Your Highness, you said earlier that your appearance caused me trouble, but I don’t think so.”

Xu Duanyi once again looked up at Xie Qingya beside her, “If it weren’t for you being with me earlier, I wouldn’t have been able to make up my mind to sever ties with him. I’m grateful for your appearance today.”

There were some things she couldn’t directly tell Xie Qingya.

But the way he stood in front of her, taking action to teach Xiao Yuanfu a lesson, was enough to make her heart stir.

Just like in the past, every time he appeared in front of her.

As long as she looked at him, she couldn’t help but feel moved.

But this feeling of being moved, Xu Duanyi didn’t dare to let him know. She was afraid it would affect the peace they had finally achieved between them.

Moreover, she never intended to let him know.

So after saying the earlier words, Xu Duanyi once again turned her gaze forward, speaking calmly to Xie Qingya, “Your Highness doesn’t need to worry about me.”

“Xiao Yuanfu knows what’s important.”

“Today’s matter, he won’t dare to speak of it. Even if he does, my maternal grandmother and the others won’t believe him.”

Compared to Xiao Yuanfu, who had been causing trouble since childhood and loved to flirt with women,

In the eyes of her maternal grandmother and the others, she would always be the well-behaved, good-tempered, obedient child. Even if they were concerned about Xiao Yuanfu, they would never believe the things he said.

Xu Duanyi didn’t worry about this, for she knew that Xie Qingya would likely find a way to cover for him and please her, so she wouldn’t go back and tell her aunt anything.

Besides, she wasn’t as concerned about her maternal grandparents or uncles as she was about her aunt.

Feelings are limited and naturally come with varying degrees of importance. Even if they didn’t like her, it didn’t matter—she didn’t care about that.

What mattered to her was—

“Your Highness.”

Suddenly, Xu Duanyi looked up at Xie Qingya and softly called out.

Xie Qingya didn’t speak, but he turned his gaze toward her. His thick eyelashes slightly lowered, and his eyes landed directly on her.

He silently asked what she wanted.

Her emotions were still not entirely calm.

In this moment, as their eyes met, the seeming calmness on Xie Qingya’s face hid the lingering stir of emotions he hadn’t quite subdued.

This stir had been triggered by her earlier words.

And now, as she looked at him with those pure, bright, black eyes, it reached its peak.

His heart raced.

Xie Qingya suddenly clenched his fist behind his back.

Xu Duanyi couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but she earnestly spoke: “I spoke with Xiao Yuanfu earlier. He likely won’t make another move against you, but if he does, please do let me know.”

Xu Duanyi was still a little worried.

After she spoke, there was no immediate response from Xie Qingya. Instead, his eyes stayed on her.

His eyes were deep and dark, impossible to read.

Xu Duanyi couldn’t bear to be under his gaze for much longer.

She couldn’t handle looking into his eyes like that.

Her heart was racing faster than before, and just as she was about to lower her head and pull away from his gaze, Xie Qingya finally spoke.

“Xu Duanyi, are you protecting me?”

The familiar question echoed in her ears again.

His voice, though young, now carried a slightly hoarse tone.

Xu Duanyi remembered back to the time when they were in the carriage, and Xie Qingya had asked her the same thing. At that time, she had hesitated, unsure of his feelings, and afraid to give a clear answer.

Now, she still didn’t know how he felt about her.

But this time, after a brief hesitation, she nodded seriously at him. “After all, this started because of me. I have a responsibility to look out for Your Highness.”

When speaking of serious matters, she seemed much less nervous.

She was earnest, her face void of any unnecessary expressions.

Seeing Xu Duanyi like this, Xie Qingya couldn’t help but feel an itch in his palm, as though he wanted to reach out and ruffle her hair. But of course, he didn’t actually lose his composure and act on it.

If he did, things would get complicated.

Their situation was already unclear enough as it was.

The stir in his chest lingered, but it also seemed to grow into other, more inexplicable emotions.

Xie Qingya didn’t know what to do. He should keep a distance from her, maybe even make her dislike him, so they could go back to how things were—no meetings, no conversations.

But he could never seem to do it.

It made his heart restless, and it would hurt her too.

Suddenly, Xie Qingya clenched his fist, his lips pressed tight.

“No need.”

He abruptly and resolutely refused Xu Duanyi. His voice, filled with inner turmoil, had grown colder.

He caught a glimpse of the surprise in her eyes.

It seemed like she didn’t understand what had just happened.

Xie Qingya lowered his gaze and tightened the fist behind his back. He didn’t want her to overthink things, so he instinctively added, “Xiao Yuanfu isn’t someone I would be bothered by. You don’t need to worry about me.”

When he saw that her expression had returned to normal, Xie Qingya turned away, no longer looking at her.

But this was all he could say.

He feared that if he continued like this, his heart would truly become unmanageable.

At times like this, he shouldn’t let his thoughts linger on these feelings of love or affection.

He didn’t deserve to like anyone now.

This should end here.

It should end now.

“—Xu Duanyi.”

Suddenly, a gentle breeze blew, and Xie Qingya softly called her name.

Xu Duanyi quickly replied, “I’m here,” and then asked, “Your Highness, is there something you wanted to say?”

But Xie Qingya didn’t respond right away.

He remained silent, pondering for a while.

Xu Duanyi wasn’t in a hurry, just waiting quietly. After what felt like a long time, she finally heard Xie Qingya’s voice.

“…Can you stop interfering with my matters from now on?”

Without turning around, Xie Qingya spoke.

This time, he didn’t look at Xu Duanyi. He was afraid that if he saw the change in her gaze, he would soften his resolve.

He kept his fist clenched tightly and looked ahead.

Though the view ahead was beautiful, his heart felt barren, and his eyes were vacant, as though everything had turned into black and white, like ink on paper.

The silence around him remained.

But Xie Qingya could feel Xu Duanyi’s gaze on him, and it made him even more reluctant to look back.

He couldn’t bring himself to see her expression at that moment.

Xu Duanyi was indeed looking at Xie Qingya.

She hadn’t expected him to say something like that.

There was a sense of loss in her heart, but it was nothing more than that.

It was perfectly normal.

After all, she and Xie Qingya were only a couple in name, not in reality. They had been married by imperial decree, not because of love.

The Nominal Couple

Xie Qingya naturally didn’t want her to interfere in his affairs, which was entirely understandable.

Xu Duanyi felt only a little disappointment, a bit of sadness.

She only wanted to help him in the best way she could, just as he had always helped her when they were younger.

But even before entering the manor, she had already anticipated the future between her and Xie Qingya. To be honest, seeing him like this today was already an unexpected delight.

One should not be greedy.

Xu Duanyi was never greedy.

She didn’t insist on anything. Quickly composing herself, she lightly responded to Xie Qingya with a “Good,” without a hint of hesitation.

She didn’t appear upset.

After all, if Xiao Yuanfu truly dared to do anything to the Xie siblings in the future, she would have ways to find out. There was no need to disturb Xie Qingya over such a trivial matter.

Xu Duanyi soon forgot about the issue.

She had been out for a while, and it was time to go back. She needed to check on Baozhu.

In a little while, it would be time for her to leave.

Besides, the events of today should be kept from others, but she had to inform her sister-in-law and elder cousin in advance.

They couldn’t really be kept in the dark about everything.

As for Xiao Yuanfu, she also needed to ask her sister-in-law and elder cousin to keep an eye on him—it would be safer that way.

She also needed to find time to talk to her sister-in-law about today’s events.

Time was pressing.

Xu Duanyi decided to say goodbye to Xie Qingya.

Before leaving, she suddenly remembered that she had asked Bixi to find Chang Fe ng to inform Xie Qingya.

Now, since Xie Qingya was right here, there was no need to look far for him.

Xu Duanyi said to Xie Qingya, “Your Highness, I have to go to the Liu residence today, so I might return to the manor later than planned. You should go ahead and have lunch without waiting for me.”

Xie Qingya’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.

He turned to look at her.

Seeing that Xu Duanyi’s expression remained calm, with no signs of unusual emotion, she even smiled as she added, “Your Highness doesn’t need to worry. Xiao Yuanfu won’t be going to the Liu residence today.”

Xie Qingya looked at her, realizing she was not just sulking.

He pursed his lips lightly.

After a moment, he turned his gaze away, looking forward again. His voice was hoarse when he responded, “…Understood.”

Xu Duanyi watched his sharply defined profile.

She didn’t say anything more.

Not wanting to disturb him further, she said, “Then I’ll be going now.” After receiving his acknowledgment, Xu Duanyi did not linger, bowing slightly before turning and walking away.

Xie Qingya waited until she had left before looking back.

Her footsteps grew fainter.

Xu Duanyi was walking farther and farther away from him.

She walked without hesitation, not stopping for even a moment.

But he, watching her get farther and farther, couldn’t help but take a few steps forward after her.

But just a few steps later, Xie Qingya furrowed his brow and stopped.

He watched as she gradually disappeared from his sight, only then did he avert his gaze.

Lowering his eyes, he walked over and picked up the wine cup that had fallen to the ground.

As he was about to walk back to the pavilion, he suddenly realized that his right hand, which had been tightly clenched, was still holding a handkerchief embroidered with ink orchids.

The once smooth handkerchief was now wrinkled with creases, one corner damp.

It looked rather unpleasant.

Xie Qingya frowned as he stared at the handkerchief, unsure of what to do with it.

It wouldn’t be right to return it to her like this.

But he couldn’t just throw it away either.

He looked at it for a long time before finally folding the handkerchief carefully and putting it away.