Suddenly, Zhou Cangyan looked over.
His gaze was so cold and sinister, it was as if she were being stared down by King Yama himself. Song Lianhe instantly held her breath.
'He really is the villain from the book. He's mastered that look of a mass murderer perfectly!'
"Second Miss Song, we have plenty of time."
He left her with those words, a sinister sneer on his lips, and departed with his Shadow Guard.
In the speeding carriage, Zhou Cangyan rested with his eyes closed.
The Shadow Guard across from him looked over several times.
"Speak your mind."
He didn't open his eyes.
"Your Highness, the men we have stationed outside the General Mansion are awaiting your command. Just give the word, and I guarantee the Second Miss Song's head will roll by tomorrow—"
"That won't be necessary." The handsome, stern-faced man slowly opened his eyes. "Have them keep watching."
"...Yes."
Though the Shadow Guard was confused, he didn't dare presume to know what his master was thinking.
"Did you... offend King Qing?"
Song Xingfeng was the first to come to his senses, looking suspiciously at his younger daughter.
Song Xilan also stood up to look at her.
Song Lianhe frantically shook her head. 'Offend a man that dangerous? Would I dare? I'd be signing my own death warrant!'
Song Xingfeng dismissed the faint doubt that pricked at him, concluding it was impossible.
Song Lianhe had always been sheltered in the inner chambers. Though her reputation wasn't the best, she wouldn't go so far as to meet with men in private. As for Zhou Cangyan, he had only just returned to Ling'an a day or two ago. The two of them couldn't have had any opportunity to meet!
"Let's go."
Song Xingfeng was clearly in a foul mood. Song Xilan, knowing her actions today had displeased her father, said nothing more and obediently climbed into the carriage.
Song Lianhe, however, glanced at the carriage they had arrived in, then turned and started walking. "I ate too much. I'll walk it off."
"You—"
She waved Shuang Ye over. The young maid, who had been scared witless by the man who looked like King Yan, followed along, her face pale.
"I'll treat you to something delicious!"
'Ever since I transmigrated into this book, I haven't had a chance to properly explore the city.'
"Come back!"
"If you're so displeased, Mr. Song, you can have me dragged back."
Song Xingfeng suppressed his anger. 'I can't very well drag her back in front of all these people, can I?'
Resigned, he ordered two guards to follow her.
He turned back to look at his eldest daughter. Song Xilan lowered her head, "Father..."
Song Xingfeng said grimly, "We'll speak of this when we return to the mansion."
After the army left the city, the crowd of onlookers also dispersed.
A young Daoist boy pushed his way against the current of the dispersing crowd and grabbed an old man in a short, coarse, navy-blue tunic. "Master! Stop trying to run away!"
The old man, despite his age, had white hair and a youthful complexion. His eyes were sharp as he glared. "Nonsense! Am I running away? I was merely bored and came out for a stroll."
The young Daoist boy said helplessly, "You said you were looking for some 'person of destiny,' but you've been searching for months with no sign of them! Is it possible you just find the quiet life at the monastery dull and made up an excuse to leave?"
"Hmph! You ignorant whelp, you'd better believe it! As for this person of destiny, I've already..." The old man shot him a look, deliberately building suspense. "Hehe, I'm not telling you!"
The young Daoist boy treated it as the old man's usual nonsense. He linked arms with him, afraid he would bolt again; he wouldn't be able to face the Monastery Head otherwise.
"Don't pull me, I can walk on my own. Since I've already promised to return with you, why would I deceive a mere babe like you?"
The words had barely left his mouth when the old man spotted an opening, slipped through it, and bolted.
"Master!!"
The young Daoist boy chased after him in a panic. In his haste, he accidentally bumped into an elegant gentleman in a long robe and quickly apologized, "My apologies, sir."
"No harm done."
Seeing the boy run off again, he called out a worried reminder, "Be careful!"
Then he turned back to his friend and said, "Rongbai, you should have seen it! At her elder sister's birthday banquet, the Second Miss Song actually brought out General Li Hua's memorial tablet! The look on General Song's face... truly priceless!"
The friend raised an eyebrow and said slowly, "How could she be so disrespectful to her elder sister?"
Su Huaqing gave him a long look. "Rongbai, as you've seen, Song Xilan is already deeply in love with Prince Ling. Why must you insist on torturing yourself..."
"I know!"
The young man's hands clenched inside his sleeves. He wet his dry lips and gave a bitter smile. "You don't have to persuade me anymore. It's just... I can't let go of this obsession just yet. Besides, Miss Song probably doesn't even remember who I am..."
Seeing his dejected expression, Su Huaqing was filled with a sense of pity.
"You really should forget her and focus on preparing for the autumn examinations. After all, you're a Triple First scholar! You're destined to enter the court and serve as an official alongside me!"
The man forced a smile. "I know."
"But speaking of that pair of sisters from the Song family..." Su Huaqing fanned himself with his tattered feather fan, which was missing a plume. "I find the Second Miss much more interesting. In short, she's my kind of person!"
"Perhaps it's because, like you, Huaqing, she doesn't care for rules and conventions."
Su Huaqing laughed, tapping Rongbai's shoulder with his fan. "You're not wrong there, Rongbai! The world's rules and restrictions are tiresome. It's much more liberating to live freely, unconcerned with worldly matters, taking life as it comes!"
The man looked up at him. "But you associate closely with Prince Ling. That means your future is destined to be anything but peaceful."
Su Huaqing understood his meaning. He frowned and shook his head. "Rongbai, that's no way to think. Can anyone truly live a life free of trouble? Heh, I'm simply a wise bird choosing a worthy branch to perch on."
The man looked at him, speechless. "Whatever you say, Huaqing."
'He's made all the arguments for and against his own case. What's left for me to say?'