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墨書 Inktalez
The scenery of Jiangnan is breathtaking, with each season showcasing its unique beauty.
At the onset of early autumn, the temperature still carries a hint of summer's warmth, yet it is a far cry from the sweltering heat of July. In the morning dew, there is a touch of chill.
As autumn approaches, the trees begin to mature, shifting from vibrant green to shades of orange and red.
A stone arch bridge, characteristic of Jiangnan, spans across the river. On one side, a red maple tree stands tall, its delicate leaves unfurling in the moist air, creating a pleasing sight.
At this moment, it is still early; few pedestrians pass by. Occasionally, someone walks past, their gaze inevitably drawn to the red maple tree. There sits a young man, reeking faintly of alcohol, with a wine jar beside him.
In most circumstances, such a drunkard would be avoided by everyone. However, today he unexpectedly attracts attention due to his strikingly handsome appearance.
"Ha ha, Jiangnan, Jiangnan," the drunk mumbles indistinctly, perhaps not even aware of what he is saying.
On the other side of the bridge, two familiar figures approach—Ye Xiaohan from the Jiangnan Exhibition Association and Luo Jingxian, who has accompanied him.
Jiangnan boasts an abundance of local delicacies, and during their leisure time, they often venture out to sample the food. Today, they are heading out early for breakfast.
"Someone's there." Luo Jingxian's keen eyes spot the figure beneath the tree at the bridge's edge and alerts Ye Xiaohan.
What's so strange about seeing someone? Aren't there people everywhere on the streets? Why did it catch Luo Jingxian's attention?
Ye Xiaohan follows her gaze and upon recognizing the drunken man’s face, he is taken aback.
"The Third Prince? What is he doing here?" Ye Xiaohan's first instinct is to look around for any guards or attendants that might be accompanying him.
However, there is no one in sight.
Murong Jing should not have been alone in a place like this; there would surely be someone following him, at the very least a Shadow Guard providing covert protection.
"Can you sense any hidden experts nearby?" Ye Xiaohan asked. Luo Jingxian concentrated for a moment and shook her head.
Ye Xiaohan looked helplessly at the drunken Murong Jing. Could he have sneaked out on his own? Considering the time, their convoy should have arrived at this stretch of road.
However, it was unexpected that they were not in a hurry to pass through but had intentionally come through the town. Was it to confuse the enemy?
Regardless, they couldn't just leave him on the street.
Ye Xiaohan took Murong Jing away, but instead of bringing him back to her residence, she settled him in an inn.
"Is this alright?" Luo Jingxian asked, her gaze toward Murong Jing filled with wariness. Although he was technically her relative by marriage, she held no fondness for him.
Gu Bei had suffered at the hands of Murong Jing in the capital, and they were well aware of these matters. It was hard to feel any goodwill toward someone who appeared arrogant on the surface yet was deeply scheming underneath.
"Forget it; he hasn't caused any serious harm. Let's just consider it for the princess's sake," Ye Xiaohan said, taking Luo Jingxian's hand and ignoring the drunken Murong Jing in the inn. They hadn't eaten yet!
When Murong Jing woke up, he found himself in an unfamiliar place that resembled an inn based on the furnishings.
He inquired at the front desk and learned that two young ladies had brought him here. A thought crossed his mind. After asking for a detailed description of their appearances, he was completely certain.
Ye Xiaohan had already adjusted her body; the original aura and physical condition had vanished entirely. If someone familiar saw her now, they would definitely not recognize this as the same person.
As for Luo Jingxian, she was even easier to identify; with her striking face, no one could mistake her for anyone else.
Murong Jing burst out of the inn, heading straight for Ye Xiaohan's residence.
Ye Xiaohan was no longer the nameless person she once was; her name could be heard throughout Jiangnan and even in all of Dongchuan.
When Murong Jing first arrived here, she quickly learned about Ye Xiaohan's various deeds.
She had long since memorized her address.
Ye Xiaohan looked at Murong Jing, who was sitting in the hall sipping tea, her feelings were quite complicated.
"The Third Prince has important matters to attend to, so I won't keep you any longer. Please finish your tea and head back," Ye Xiaohan said directly, without any hint of subtlety.
Murong Jing set down her teacup and looked up at her. "It's been a long time since we last met. Why have you become so distant? I still prefer the old you, the one who would argue and make noise."
The one who would gently comfort him and happily cook for him.
Ye Xiaohan smiled slightly and replied, "If only time could turn back, I would also prefer that friend who was arrogant yet carefree—the Third Prince."
Unfortunately, time was the cruelest of all; what was lost was lost forever.
After everything that had happened in between, it was indeed difficult for her to be carefree and maintain a friendship with Murong Jing.
Especially since Murong Jing had genuinely wanted to eliminate Gu Bei back then.
"Is it because of him?" Murong Jing forced a smile that lacked warmth, a fleeting shadow of sadness crossing her face.
Ye Xiaohan saw him but remained unmoved. Every path taken was a choice of one's own; since Murong Jing had chosen the throne, he could not simply ignore the harm that had been done.
"The Third Prince should return early; the Queen must be very worried about you."
To be honest, Ye Xiaohan found it strange that the Queen had allowed Murong Jing to come out instead of binding him and sending him back to his fief.
Murong Jing seemed not to have heard her, lost in his own thoughts as he sipped tea. Luo Jingxian stepped forward, looking at Ye Xiaohan, silently asking if they could throw him out.
Ye Xiaohan shook her head slightly; unless absolutely necessary, she did not want to escalate matters to an irretrievable state.
Thus, Murong Jing stayed until after dinner. It was only when Ye Xiaohan finally forced him out that she returned to the inn.
"Your Highness, you are finally back!"
Murong Jing walked into the room that Ye Xiaohan had reserved for him, only to find someone already inside—his personal guard. Upon seeing him, the guard hurriedly approached.
"Where is Mother Empress?" Murong Jing asked as the guard helped him remove his outer robe, inquiring about the Queen's situation.
The guard quickly replied, "Your Highness, you slipped away from your attendants and guards like this, causing great worry for the Empress. Fortunately, we later received news that you were safe, which eased her concerns. The Empress sent me to follow you and hopes you can take care of yourself and relax before setting off again."
"Really?" Murong Jing was somewhat skeptical. "Is Mother Empress really like that?" Given the Queen's protective nature towards him, would she truly allow him to wander alone outside?
The guard affirmed, "It’s true! The Empress must have noticed your recent unhappiness and thought it would be good for you to adjust your mood in the picturesque Jiangnan."
No matter how beautiful the scenery was, it could never compare to even a fraction of the one he loved.
With a heart full of mixed emotions, Murong Jing fell asleep in what he considered a very simple inn.
In the following days, Murong Jing almost clung to Ye Xiaohan, following her wherever she went.
"Your Highness the Third Prince, do you still remember your current identity?" Ye Xiaohan said, unable to contain her irritation as she faced him. "Don't forget, there are still people waiting for a chance to assassinate you. Aren't you afraid that exposing yourself like this will bring about your own demise?"
Murong Jing chuckled lightly. "Are you concerned about me?"
Ye Xiaohan returned the smile, but there was no trace of amusement in her eyes. "I'm worried that someone's reckless behavior will cause trouble for my business."
She had originally thought that after such a clear rejection, Murong Jing's pride would prevent him from pursuing a woman so relentlessly. To her surprise, he truly did!
Even after Ye Xiaohan made it clear several times, even bringing up Gu Bei, Murong Jing refused to give up.
The Queen had purchased a residence in the city, where wealthy merchants were plentiful. Due to the thriving commerce, many people came and went, making their group appear rather inconspicuous.
Murong Jing spent his days and nights pursuing Ye Xiaohan, which left her feeling harassed and forced her to ignore him as much as possible.
"You seem to be in a good mood today," Murong Jing said, leaning against the open window and looking at Ye Xiaohan.
Today, Ye Xiaohan was in her study going over accounts. After expanding her business, this task had become quite a headache. Even with the hiring of an experienced accountant, managing the overall accounts was one of the busiest tasks of the month.
While she was busy reconciling accounts, Murong Jing quietly watched from the side and only approached her to speak when she took a moment to rest.
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