Jiang Xingyan walked out of the study and cast a cold glance at Huo Ci standing outside the door.
At his feet lay a shattered flowerpot, its red decorations stark against the plain ceramic shards.
It looked like it had been knocked over by someone stumbling backward.
Servants hurried to clean up the mess, whispering about moving the plant to the backyard for now and repotting it tomorrow once a new pot was bought.
“What are you doing here?”
Jiang Xingyan’s tone held not a shred of emotion.
No disgust, no displeasure, no hatred.
It signaled that the person before her could no longer stir her feelings.
Huo Ci not only understood this but had also overheard everything.
He had been standing outside the door when A’Yan laughed and chided Yun Chunfeng for his smooth talk.
He had come here from the military camp without having the servants announce him, pretending it was just like returning to his own home.
He had wanted to savor just a little more of the feeling of being alone with A’Yan.
But reality had dealt him a crushing blow.
Huo Ci felt his heart convulsing violently, the pain leaving him speechless.
He knew A’Yan’s nature.
Once she set her heart on someone, she would never so much as glance at another.
He had truly lost A’Yan.
He tried desperately to hold back, but the heartache only grew more intense, boiling within him.
Jiang Xingyan frowned, raising a hand to press against her own chest, feeling the familiar, sharp pang for the second time.
This was the second instance of resonance between Huo Ci’s body and soul.
She looked up in surprise to see Huo Ci biting his lower lip hard, straining with all his might to control his emotions.
Could this man’s inner turmoil really be so intense?
She had once thought that aside from his concern for his mother, he was indifferent to everyone else.
It took the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea for Huo Ci to barely regain some composure.
He turned his face away, cleared his throat twice, and spoke with difficulty, “May I come in to talk?”
Jiang Xingyan saw him swaying on his feet, likely a side effect of forcibly suppressing his anguish earlier.
If he stood there any longer, he might faint the next second.
If only he had thought of today back then.
She didn’t feel sorry for Huo Ci, but she did feel sorry for the fine Huanhua brocade robe he was wearing.
It would be a shame if it got dusty.
“Fine.”
Jiang Xingyan agreed and turned to walk back inside first.
The flush on Yun Chunfeng’s face hadn’t yet faded.
The young mistress had sincerely and clearly confessed her feelings to him right in front of him. Just thinking about it made him shy.
If only we could ignore Huo Ci’s annoying face!
He had lamented this countless times.
He’d even felt like rushing up the mountain to find his master.
But, the young mistress had just told him not to do anything that might harm his body.
He really ought to listen obediently.
Starting today, I, Yun Chunfeng, am going to cherish my life!
Glancing up, he saw someone following the young mistress in, head hung low, looking as if he had suffered a tremendous blow and was in great pain.
The corner of Yun Chunfeng’s mouth lifted. “Well, if it isn’t General Huo. What brings you to our humble home for a brief visit today? You didn’t even notify us in advance so we could have prepared properly.”
His tone was unmistakably that of the master of the house, making Huo Ci feel as if a thousand-pound boulder were blocking his chest.
“Of course, it’s for an urgent matter.”
Jiang Xingyan shot Yun Chunfeng a look that was both exasperated and doting, gently mediating, “Alright, let him speak.”
Huo Ci took a deep breath and began narrating.
“Just a moment ago, I was in the backyard, packing the pastries to be sent to the palace tomorrow. The shopkeeper rushed in, flustered, saying someone had come to the shop to cause trouble. I followed him to the main hall and saw a woman wearing a veil. She had placed a tray of gold in front of her and declared she wanted to buy out the entire shop. But the moment she saw me, she was so startled she dropped the teacup in her hand. She kept repeating ‘Impossible’ and rushed out in a panic, leaving the gold behind.”
He paused, his heart clenching again as he saw Jiang Xingyan and Yun Chunfeng exchange a knowing glance.
“I don’t know who she is or whether she’s friend or foe. Does A’Yan have any ideas?”
Jiang Xingyan certainly did.
No wonder she had always felt that Shangguan Luoyue was not someone to get close to.
No matter how righteous and fearless she appeared, Jiang Xingyan felt the woman wore a thick mask.
She was indeed not someone easy to deal with.
Just think, who would go probing around the shop of a man after knowing he had already divorced his wife?
What decent person would do such a thing?
If she had truly fallen in love with “Huo Ci” at first sight and wanted to see what the woman he had married and divorced looked like, she should have gone openly, stating her intentions frankly and directly.
That would be the mark of a truly upright and honorable person.
Hiding behind a veil and flaunting her wealth was simply petty and beneath contempt.
Shangguang Luoyue probably never expected that upon arriving in Western Zhou, she would immediately run into the very person she was looking for.
Caught off guard with no plan, she could only flee.
Before learning about this, Jiang Xingyan still had about thirty percent doubt, wondering if she was overthinking things.
Now, there wasn’t a shred of doubt left.
It seemed the heartless scoundrel who had abandoned her mother was none other than the ruler of the Great Xia Kingdom, Shangguan Hanshan.
“I will, personally, kill him!”
Jiang Xingyan’s eyes reddened.
Her mother had waited for his return until her dying day.
Who would have thought that the man she waited for was now alive in this world, putting on an act?
Finding a look-alike and bestowing upon her the title of Princess Huaiwan?
It was utterly disgusting!
Although Huo Ci didn’t fully understand what was happening, seeing A’Yan in such profound grief told him the matter was serious.
At this critical juncture, Yun Chunfeng didn’t want to keep Huo Ci in the dark.
After all, Huo Ci still occupied the young mistress’s body and needed to be vigilant.
He briefly explained the woman’s origins and her connection to the young mistress.
Huo Ci was horrified, his eyes widening as he exclaimed, “A’Yan is in grave danger!”