Chapter 34: Can’t Have, Can’t Let Go

Qingmi Courtyard.

Tang Mi dismissed Fu Ling and didn’t ask Ban Xia to stay the night either.
She lay in bed, completely without sleepiness.

Was Xiao Fengze really that man?
Why did he have no reaction at all upon seeing her?
It was as if nothing had ever happened between them, as if he had no heart, no feelings.

This Xiao Fengze didn’t match the man in her memories at all.
If it weren’t for the fact that he looked exactly like that man’s son, she would never even suspect him.

Could she have been wrong all along?
Or… was this man simply too good at pretending?

Tang Mi tossed and turned, finding no answer.

Just the night before, she had been so sure she had finally found him.
But now, she was hesitating.

Perhaps she should find a way to test Xiao Fengze.
She didn’t know why she had to confirm his identity so badly.
Maybe it was because he kept appearing in her life over and over again, his presence unsettling her.

She urgently wanted to confirm who he really was.
And then what?
Warn him to stay away?
Confront him about his past heartlessness?

She hadn’t figured that part out yet.

Tang Mi turned over. The poetry gathering in two days… maybe she should go.

That night, she thought about many things and only drifted off to sleep past midnight.

Prince Yu’s Manor.

Feng Pan reported the latest news from the shadow guards to Ye Junyu.
“Your Highness, today Eldest Miss Tang went to the Lantern Festival with Third Young Master Tang. There they encountered the young lord of the Duke Rong’s household and also the Heir of the Fengze family. And…”

Feng Pan glanced cautiously at Ye Junyu, not daring to continue.

Ye Junyu frowned. “What?”

Feng Pan braced himself. “The Heir of Fengze seemed… to have an interest in Eldest Miss Tang.”

Snap!
The red pen in Ye Junyu’s hand broke in half.

Feng Pan jumped in fear and immediately bowed his head.

Ye Junyu’s face was twisted with displeasure. First it was Ye Chenxuan, and now Xiao Fengze too?

“What was Eldest Miss Tang’s reaction?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.

Feng Pan quickly responded, “Miss Tang was very proper. She only offered a formal greeting and didn’t speak much to the heir.”

Thank heavens he had asked the shadow guard beforehand, he knew His Highness would want every detail.

Only then did Ye Junyu’s expression ease a little.
Now that she had requested the emperor’s verbal decree to annul the engagement, as long as she had no feelings for Xiao Fengze, it wouldn’t come to anything.

“But…” Feng Pan hesitated again, casting another glance at Ye Junyu.

Ye Junyu kicked him, irritated. “Can’t you just say everything at once?”

Feng Pan didn’t dare delay any longer.
“When the heir was pulled away by the young lord, he seemed to have invited Miss Tang to the poetry gathering.”

“The poetry gathering?”

“Yes,” Feng Pan nodded quickly. “I looked into it, it’s being hosted by the Marchioness of Yong’an, likely to select a bride for her young heir.”

Ye Junyu’s brow furrowed. “Did Miss Tang agree to go?”

Feng Pan shook his head immediately. “No, she didn’t respond.”

Ye Junyu narrowed his eyes. “Have Qing Wang keep a close watch. If she goes to that gathering, report to me at once.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Ye Junyu then asked, “And the matter I had you investigate last time?”

Feng Pan bowed his head, ashamed.
“That eunuch who gave the cloak didn’t seem to be from the palace. No one recognized him, and he hasn’t appeared since, as if he vanished into thin air.”

Ye Junyu’s eyes turned cold. “No need to check further. This prince already knows who it was.”

Based on Ye Chenxuan’s odd behavior that day, it had to be him.
Only he could execute something so flawlessly.
Only he would dare challenge Ye Junyu.

“Have someone monitor Prince Xuan’s manor. Any unusual movements must be reported at once,” Ye Junyu ordered sharply.

Since Ye Chenxuan already had a plan to marry Tang Mi, then Ye Junyu couldn’t afford to let him succeed.
If he wanted to compete, he had better be ready for the consequences.

“Yes, Your Highness,” Feng Pan replied and bowed out.

Ye Junyu sat by the table for a long time, deep in thought.
It wasn’t just Ye Chenxuan or Xiao Fengze.
To prevent anyone else from developing feelings for Tang Mi, he had to act quickly.

Only by marrying her could he truly feel at ease.
He could only hope that Tang Ying didn’t mess things up again.

Meanwhile, at Prince Xuan’s Manor.

Ye Chenxuan also received the news about Xiao Fengze’s interest in Tang Mi.
He remained silent for a long time.

Yan Shu, waiting for instructions, finally asked, “Your Highness, should we give Fengze a warning?”

Ye Chenxuan cast a cold glance at him. “Leave.”

“Huh?” Yan Shu was stunned.
The woman he liked was about to be taken away, and that was his reaction?

Ye Chenxuan gave him a glare, and Yan Shu dared not speak another word. He immediately bowed and retreated.

Ye Chenxuan moved to the window, looking at the bright moon outside.

What exactly was he supposed to do with her?

Want her? He didn’t dare.
Let her go? He couldn’t.

The Next Morning

Tang Mi got up early.
She personally made a few snacks in the small kitchen and brought them to Chifeng Courtyard.

“Sister?”
Tang Feng was surprised to see her so early.

“I knew you were going to the academy today, so I made some snacks for you,” she said, handing the food box to Fang Yan.

Looking at the large box, Tang Feng hesitated.
“I’ll be on break in ten days. There’s no way I can eat all this.”

Tang Mi patted his head. “Take more. If you can’t finish it, share with your classmates.”

Tang Feng’s face flushed red. “I’m not sharing with them.”

“Is your exam coming up?” she asked, helping straighten his collar.

At the mention of the exam, Tang Feng winced. “Yes. The teacher wants me to try it out this year.”

Tang Mi nodded. “Then give it a try.”

Tang Feng stole a glance at her, looking like he had something to say.

Of course Tang Mi knew what he was thinking. She smiled.
“I know you don’t like studying. After you pass the county-level exam, you won’t have to study anymore.”

“Really?” Tang Feng couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

Tang Mi raised an eyebrow. “Unless you want to be the top scholar?”

“No way,” he shook his head immediately.

He hated reading. Top scholar? That was impossible.

Tang Mi shrugged. “Then once you pass, I’ll find you a martial arts teacher. You can focus on training.”

“Really?!” Tang Feng was stunned.
She was actually going to let him learn martial arts and even help him find a teacher?

Tang Mi looked him in the eye.
“If you don’t like studying, I won’t force you. Just do what you love in this life.”

“Big Sister…”
Tang Feng was deeply moved. He quickly promised,
“I’ll definitely pass the exam!”

If it meant he could train, he’d work hard.

Tang Mi smiled.
“Then study seriously. If you don’t understand anything, ask your teacher or you can come ask me.”

“Okay!” Tang Feng nodded eagerly, like a little chick pecking rice.