Chapter 30 Chapter 30 As if savoring their previous encounter...

Night fell, the gurgling of running water echoed.

The lights dimmed within the tranquil bath. As the man rose, the drifting water suddenly surged, lapping against the dry bank. Mottled light and shadow fell on the man's sharply defined back, casting a faint, sculpted image.

Fu Huaiqing donned his coat and descended the steps.

Jiang Yue, guarding the bath entrance, rose and followed him.

After leaving Qingshizhai, Biezhi returned to the Qin residence. After sending Hua Chao off to rest, she went alone to the main courtyard. After informing Madam Qin through a side door, she hurried to the palace. The

journey back and forth took nearly half an hour.

Arriving at the palace gates, she was greeted by the same guards from last night.

Cheng Jin led her to the outer courtyard of the calligraphy room, pushed open the door, and turned back, saying, "Young lady, please come in and wait for a moment."

Biezhi's heart skipped a beat.

Standing outside, she scanned the visible parts of the study. While she couldn't see a desk, it didn't detract from her memory of the decor. The four treasures of the study, scattered across the desk, bore the marks of frequent use. This was clearly Prince Su's usual study, not a place for casual receptions.

Yet, he allowed her to wait in the empty study...

There must be something fishy going on!

Biezhi's eyes shifted. She paused under the eaves, her pupils subtly capturing the man's expression. "The study is a privileged area. I'd better wait outside."

Cheng Jin, sensing the girl's scrutiny, leaned over to gesture towards the stone table behind the rockery. He was also struck by the realization that Prince Yu truly understood Biezhi. He had already determined from the outset that she wouldn't be willing to wait inside, and had already arranged for servants to prepare refreshments in the courtyard.

Smoke rose from the teacups on the polished table, and a few cakes were placed in the center.

Instantly, Biezhi breathed a sigh of relief.

As expected -

that bastard!

He sent her over to answer the question and even tricked her. If she had really walked into the study without any preparation just now, she might have been in a mass grave, dead without a burial place.

How come he had such a handsome face, but his heart was so dark.

Biezhi's mumbling stopped immediately when she caught a glimpse of the cakes on the table. She frowned and looked at the delicious and tempting cakes. Three out of the four were to her taste, and they were not the exquisite cakes that were used in the homes of ordinary dignitaries.

She looked at the cakes in silence for a long time without sitting down.

This place was full of tiger blood.

Whether it was the deliberate test just now or the cakes that suited her taste now, it was enough to prove that she was as transparent as a bee in the eyes of Prince Su.

Biezhi knew that he would investigate her, but she never thought that he would reveal it so directly, which was obviously a warning to her to stop any unnecessary thoughts.

What exactly does Prince Su want to do?

She couldn't help but feel puzzled.

Biezhi did not sit down, but stood beside the table and waited. However, she waited for nearly half a cup of tea, but Prince Su did not arrive.

She glanced at the guard who was holding the hilt of the sword in his palm ten steps away and sighed.

After waiting for a while, she finally heard the sound of footsteps.

Biezhi, who had been waiting for a long time, raised her eyes and saw the tall figure coming along the corridor. Her eyelashes trembled slightly.

Prince Su looked even better today than usual...

The bright moonlight poured down generously, and the light and shadow swayed with the man's figure. The golden threads under the dark black robe were looming, making the whole person look even more extraordinary.

Biezhi was a little stunned, and suddenly came back to her senses when she heard the trembling sound of the guard's sword handle beside her. She was shocked and realized that she seemed to have gone too far and dared to be disrespectful to Prince Su.

If she wanted to blame someone, she could only blame him for being too handsome today, as if he had dressed up deliberately. It was obvious that he was deliberately seducing her. What would be the harm in looking at her a few more times? Her eyes were on her, and she could look at him however she wanted.

Thinking of this, Biezhi secretly lifted her drooping eyelids.

It would have been better if she didn't look. As soon as she raised her eyes, she met the depths of the man's deep and unfathomable pupils. She hurriedly lowered her head and bowed, saying, "Biezhi greets the prince."

Fu Huaiqing said nothing, staring at her for a moment, and glanced at the tea and cakes on the table that had not been touched by anyone, with a hint of helplessness in his expression.

Biezhi lowered her head, watching the tall shadow approaching under the bright night sky. The moment the man's bony knuckles touched her fist, she was stunned for a moment, raised her eyes along with the man's strength, and looked at him with a little daze.

Fu Huaiqing lowered his knuckles, and rubbed the fingertips hanging by his side casually.

It seemed that he was savoring the touch just now.

Biezhi stared at the man's back as he walked towards the table in a daze, feeling more and more suspicious. She couldn't figure out what Prince Su's intention was. Could it be that she had just passed his test, and this time he was giving her a sweet treat because of the test?

Fu Huaiqing knocked the table with his knuckles, raised his chin slightly, and motioned her to sit down. Biezhi

was silent for a while, walked to the opposite side of him, and said with a bow: "The master has instructed his subordinates today. Within the next two and a half months, the subordinates will deliver the news to the palace on time."

Fu Huaiqing looked at the girl standing in front of him and nodded.

The tea he drank last night hadn't lasted more than twelve hours, so there was no point in using it any longer. Therefore, he absolutely couldn't speak. Just as she wished, he could remain mute.

"Young lady, if you ever need to come to the palace again," Jiang Yue, standing behind her, said at the right moment, raising his palm slightly and gesturing in Cheng Jin's direction. "Just inform Cheng Jin half an hour in advance, and he'll report back to His Majesty immediately."

Bie Zhi followed his movements, turned around, glanced at Cheng Jin, and nodded.

Cheng Jin had accompanied Bie Zhi many times before, but today was their first formal acquaintance. He met the smile in the girl's almond-shaped eyes and returned a faint smile. Before the smile could even reach the bottom of her eyes, a sudden gust of cold wind swept past, causing him to subconsciously straighten his back. From the corner of his eye, he saw the prince's thin lips tighten into a straight line. He instantly lowered his half-raised mouth, set his face sternly, nodded at Biezhi, and then, looking away, gazed off into the distance. Biezhi, observing the change in Cheng Jin's expression, was speechless. 

Everyone in the Su Wang Mansion was eccentric, from top to bottom, so unpredictable... 

It was best to avoid this place. 

She turned to look at the Su Wang; this was the source of everything. 

Fu Huaiqing raised an eyebrow at the glint in the girl's almond-shaped eyes. He couldn't tell who had offended her. She looked normal, but he could tell that if it was Ji Ran standing before her, Biezhi would have been furious, pouting and muttering. 

Biezhi waited for a long time, but received no further instructions. 

As the night drew closer, she softly said, "It's getting late. If the prince has nothing else to do, I won't disturb his rest." 

Hearing this, Fu Huaiqing glanced at the bright moon hanging high above the branches. 

He silently observed the girl's slightly tense expression for a moment, but didn't force her to stay. He nodded. 

Bie Zhi breathed a sigh of relief, bowed, and turned to leave. 

Cheng Jin followed.

Jiang Yue watched the two figures, one in front of the other, until they disappeared into the study courtyard. He withdrew his gaze, lowering his eyes to glance at the prince's pensive expression. After a moment's hesitation, he tentatively said, "The situation is becoming increasingly tense. Is it possible to send more personnel to Miss Biezhi—"

As he spoke, he met the prince's vague gaze and stopped talking.

A few days ago, when Jiang Yue realized that the prince was interested in Biezhi, he had sought out the popular novels in Beijing and read them to his heart's content. Perhaps he had read too much, and was inevitably influenced by the content, so much so that he had forgotten that the prince's decisions never changed in the slightest because of anyone.

Fu Huaiqing's eyes were dark, and his knuckles drummed on the table.

The occasional, irregular tapping sound was like a beast lurking in the jungle at night, making people breathe slowly.

The capital was crowded with people and eyes, and the more people there were, the easier it was to be exposed to the public.

"Have someone keep a close eye on Xianyun Tower." Fu Huaiqing stood up and said in a cold voice: "If there is any unusual movement, order them to be shot."

Jiang Yue was startled and accepted the order.

Biezhi walked to the gate of the palace and realized belatedly that Prince Su was like a mute today, not saying a word.

Sure enough, it was more suitable for him to be a mute.

When he was a mute, not only was his appearance elegant, but the coldness around him was also less.

Before leaving the palace, Biezhi couldn't help but turn around and ask Cheng Jin: "Has your prince's voice always been like that?"

Or did he eat something wrong a few days ago, or was he seriously ill, which caused his voice to be so unpleasant last night, so unpleasant that it made her numb and she didn't want to hear it again.

"Huh?" Cheng Jin was puzzled. "What?"

Biezhi thought for a while and said tactfully: "Is it always so unique?"

Cheng Jin paused.

What is unique? Not as warm as Lord Su and Lord Qin, is it unique? If that counted, he nodded. "The prince's voice has always been like this."

Biezhi had completely given up hope.

She sighed, "In this case, I can only accept my fate."

Biezhi waved goodbye to Cheng Jin and left the palace.

Watching the girl leave, Cheng Jin was about to return to his study to report when he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure walking quickly towards him. He frowned and walked forward.

The secret guard who arrived immediately after hearing the news whispered in Cheng Jin's ear. As Cheng Jin listened, his eyes widened slightly. He looked at the man and frowned, "Really?"

The secret guard nodded, "Absolutely true."

Cheng Jin's expression became a little stern. He said, "I'll go report to the prince now. You guys keep an eye on it and help when necessary."

His pace was a little faster than usual. He reached the study in an instant, which usually took a hundred steps. Cheng Jin knocked on the study door three times. He heard the master's voice from inside, pushed the door open and walked in, saying, "Prince, there are two pieces of news in Xianyun Tower."

Fu Huaiqing didn't raise his eyes, and slowly read the contents of the memorial, "What are they?"

"One is that Jing Qing was seriously injured tonight, seemingly from a sword wound." Cheng Jin replied, feeling puzzled. "Although his close combat skills are not as good as the assassins in Qingyin Pavilion, he usually avoids close combat. I don't know why he suddenly took such a risk today." "

Let them investigate," Fu Huaiqing said. He reached out and picked up the pen to write his mark on the memorial. Without looking up

, he asked, "What's the other news?" Cheng Jin glanced at Jiang Yue, who looked back at him, puzzled.

He pursed his lips and said, "The secret guard reported that Miss Biezhi came to Lingfeng today and proposed to marry Ji Ran."

In an instant, the brushstrokes on the memorial froze for a moment, and the bean-sized ink stain spread into a ball. Fu Huaiqing raised his eyes, as if he had heard the words of a fairy tale: "With whom?"