Не nаturаlly understооd whаt thоsе sounds meant, but fасing a yоung girl who hadn't уеt rеасhеd marriagеable age, he harbоrеd no рartiсulаr thоughts. Нowеvеr, hе sооn notiсed that the girl bеfоre him sеemed to hаve blushed.
Did shе understand whаt thаt mеаnt?
Fu Yunхi wаs inwаrdly surprisеd. Тhe littlе girl's аttirе suggestеd she wаs thе daughter оf а weаlthy family. Аt such a yоung аgе, did a girl frоm a prominеnt hоusеhold аlrеаdу undеrstаnd mattеrs bеtweеn men аnd women in thе bedсhаmbеr?
This wаs rаthеr intriguing.
Мeanwhile, thе couple ovеr there seеmed to hаve nоtiсed thеm and began walking in their direction.
While he was still pondering, the little girl made an unexpected move—she swiftly ducked beneath his cloak.
Fu Yunxi was nearly stunned speechless.
He had always disliked physical contact, maintaining a certain distance even with close friends. Yet now, a strange little girl had burrowed into his embrace!
The audacity of this girl immediately stirred his anger, and he wanted to seize her and toss her out.
But when he felt the delicate body nestled against him trembling uneasily, he suddenly changed his mind. He shielded her in his arms and led her away from that troublesome place.
He was not a kind-hearted man by nature; he had merely found the girl somewhat unusual and had casually saved her. Yet now, as she feigned innocence and cuteness to thank him, treating the earlier incident as a mere coincidence, he felt a slight stir within him.
This girl was not as simple as she appeared; in fact, she even seemed intent on deceiving him now? However, there were more important matters at hand. As for the girl before him, she was merely a little more clever than the average young lady from a wealthy family, and it wasn't worth wasting time here.
Han Yan was staring somewhat dazedly at the handsome features of the man before her when she saw him raise an eyebrow, his eyes dark and unfathomable. He spoke coolly, "Your acting isn't very convincing."
Han Yan was taken aback for a moment before suddenly realizing what he meant. For some reason, the man's gaze made her extremely uncomfortable, as if he could see right through her, laying bare every thought in her mind. She bit her lip and continued playing dumb, "Does my lord wish to listen to opera? I'm afraid no opera troupe was invited for today's palace banquet."
While still wondering what he would say next, she saw him turn away indifferently and say, "Aren't you leaving yet?"
Han Yan couldn't quite understand the man before her. He had just exposed her act of feigning ignorance, yet he was letting her go so easily? After a moment's thought, she reasoned that the people in the plum garden were probably frantic by now, unable to find her. Besides, this man had saved her earlier—if he meant her harm, he wouldn't have gone to such trouble. He likely wasn't a bad person. So she asked, "Does my lord know the way to the plum garden where the Empress is admiring the blossoms?"
After a brief silence, the man's cool voice replied, "Follow this path. There are palace maids cleaning at Mo Hu Pavilion; ask them to show you the way."
Han Yan felt a surge of joy and bowed deeply to him. "This humble girl will not forget your kindness in lending a hand. If the opportunity arises, I will surely visit to express my gratitude." With that, she hurried away.
If the opportunity arises, Han Yan thought as she walked, it would be best if it never did. That ice-cold man was too terrifying; it was better to keep a respectful distance.
Long after Han Yan had left, Fu Yunxi turned around, his gaze drawn to an object on the ground. He bent down to pick it up, looked thoughtfully in the direction where Han Yan had disappeared, and fell into contemplation.As the man had said, Han Yan hadn’t walked far before she came upon an exquisite palace courtyard, where two palace maids were sweeping outside. Han Yan spoke with them, and one of the maids led her to the plum garden.
Ji Lan and Shu Hong had long been frantic with worry. Spotting her from a distance, they hurried over to meet her. "You’ve finally returned, Miss. It’s all our fault for not staying with you. In this vast, deep palace, nothing happened to you, did it?"
Han Yan smiled and shook her head at them. "I’m fine."
Deng Chan also stood up, taking her hand with concern. "What happened? Just now, your sister came over and said she asked you to wait for her outside the washroom, but when she came out, you were nowhere to be seen. Miss Li even sent servants to look for you."
Han Yan raised an eyebrow. "Miss Li? Which Miss Li?"
Deng Chan replied, "The one sitting beside your sister, the daughter of the Right Chancellor."
Only then did Han Yan turn her gaze toward the group seated there. The surrounding ladies and young misses had paid little attention when Han Yan returned, but now, as Han Yan looked over, Zhuangshan’s face turned pale. Meeting Han Yan’s eyes, she guiltily avoided her gaze.
Understanding dawned on Han Yan. She glanced at the finely dressed young lady beside Zhuangshan—Miss Li—who was now glaring fiercely at her, her eyes filled with anger and resentment.
How strange. Han Yan didn’t know this Miss Li at all. Even if she were standing up for Zhuangshan, there was no need for such hostility. Had she forgotten something?
Thinking it over carefully, Han Yan was certain she had no conflicts or unpleasantness with this Miss Li. Just as she was puzzling over it, she heard Miss Li speak up. "How did Miss Zhuang get lost just now? The palace isn’t like the outside world; wandering around carelessly can lead to trouble. I hope nothing happened to you?"
With this question, the eyes of many ladies around them fell upon Han Yan. Even the Empress, who had been speaking with noblewomen nearby, paused slightly as she lifted her teacup and cast a meaningful glance in their direction.
Han Yan frowned. This was an insinuation that she didn’t understand palace etiquette and had wandered around recklessly. It also hinted that something might have happened to her. Now that the Empress had noticed her, if she were suspected of having gone somewhere secretive, she would have left a thorn in the side of certain people in the palace today. She needed to find a way to clear herself.
Looking at the curious gazes around her, Han Yan sighed and put on a pitiful expression. "It’s all because Sister Yu Shan only brought one palace maid with her, and that maid even accompanied her into the washroom. I was left alone outside, waiting for a long time without seeing Sister come out. I was terribly bored when I happened to see a golden-winged sparrow fly by. I was so amazed that I went chasing after it, but… but I got lost." Han Yan smiled sheepishly. "Luckily, I soon met a palace maid who brought me back." Then, with a tone of innocent admiration, she added, "There are so many rare and wonderful things in the palace. I’d only ever read about golden-winged sparrows in books before, but today I got to see one with my own eyes. Her Majesty and His Majesty truly possess heavenly grace and blessings, that even such an auspicious bird would fly here. Our Great Dynasty is flourishing and prosperous!"
With her hair tied in two round buns and her plump little face tinged with a faint blush, she looked somewhat like the exquisitely carved child attendant beneath the Guanyin statue in paintings, all the more endearing and delightful. Her words rang out clear and lively, full of conviction.The words were cleverly spoken. When Zhuangshan went to the washroom, she took only one maid with her, and that maid even followed her inside. To say it was for service would be an exaggeration. Instead, she left Han Yan alone outside in the cold wind. Anyone with a discerning eye could see what was really going on. For a moment, the young ladies around Zhuangshan looked at her with even more disdain.
As for the Empress, she was greatly pleased by Han Yan's repeated mention of "blessings," and a joyful smile spread across her face. She beckoned to her and said, "Good child, come here to me."
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