Before dawn, in a desolate, deserted forest.

Prince Yanxi of Jing'an rode his horse slowly through the crowd. He was dressed in a black brocade robe, and his figure on horseback was tall and handsome. His black hair was tied up with a crown, and his fingers holding the reins were well-defined and clean and slender, like fine cold jade carvings.

Beside him were a group of bodyguards protecting him.

"My lord, we have sent people to investigate the surrounding area. They say that Madam Ning's village was ransacked by bandits more than a decade ago. As for why Madam Ning is involved with the Sang family... I'm sorry, I'm incompetent and haven't been able to find out."

Upon hearing this, Yan Xi turned her head slightly, her long, dark phoenix eyes as deep as a cold pool.

"It's alright, if we can't find out, then so be it. How's that matter going?"

His trip to the south of the Yangtze River was for another purpose.

Marquis Jing'an had been supporting the current emperor since he was a prince, and he was also involved in the bloody storms that led to his ascension to the throne.

Yan Xi's trip to Jiangnan was ostensibly to find a friend for her mother to fulfill a promise, but in reality, she was acting on a secret order from the emperor.

Find the orphan who escaped during the palace coup and eliminate him completely!

The Emperor sent a message saying that the orphan is now recruiting soldiers under the guise of bandits in the mountains around Suzhou in Jiangnan. If possible, he asked Yan Xi not to alarm too many people, as he did not want too many outsiders to know about this matter.

This is also why Yanxi chose to operate at night.

Upon hearing this, the guard glanced around before getting up and whispering in Yan Xi's ear.

After he finished speaking, Prince Jing'an's previously indifferent expression suddenly froze. He pondered for a moment, nodded, and made a gesture to the guard.

The guard understood, bowed his head, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and turned to disappear into the dense forest.

The group continued walking forward, slowly arriving near the east gate of Suzhou.

From afar, the person in charge of liaison at the city gate saw his master arrive and rode up to greet him.

"Master, Sang Chengfeng of the Sang family has invited you to a banquet at Tianxiang Restaurant in the city at noon. He says he wants to ask about the token from back then."

Yan Xi snapped out of his thoughts. The Sang family would probably bring the woman he was betrothed to to this banquet.

Although she didn't care much about matters of love between men and women, the position of the Marquis of Jing'an's mansion was such that the future heir's wife couldn't be someone who knew nothing. Thinking that she could take this opportunity to see the other party's character, Yan Xi did not refuse and nodded in agreement.

"Can."

Upon hearing this, the trusted confidant dared not linger and immediately rode away at full speed to report back.

After working through the night, Yan Xi was feeling a bit tired. With the journey to the city and back to the inn imminent, she slowed down her horse considerably.

Just then, an exquisitely decorated carriage swayed along, and Shadow, the bodyguard who was a step behind, couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "Eh!"

"This carriage looks like the one that was parked at the Sang family's place before. What are the Sang family doing out of the city so early in the morning? And with so many guards following them."

When the young master ordered him to go to the Sang family to inform them of the marriage agreement, Shadow remembered all the people and things in the Sang family clearly, and now he recognized them immediately at a glance.

Upon hearing this, Yan Xi's attention was also drawn to the carriage, and she lifted her eyelids to take a look.

Just then, the carriage curtain was lifted, and a slender, pale hand reached out. The handkerchief in the hand deliberately loosened as the wind passed by, and it swirled and flew towards his face.

The shadowy figure beside her reacted swiftly, immediately drawing his sword to slash, but Yan Xi raised her hand first, catching the handkerchief that had been thrown at her face perfectly.

Shadow paused, then reluctantly withdrew the knife from his hand.

Yan Xi reined in his horse and looked at the pink handkerchief in his hand. He noticed the character "欢" (joy) embroidered on the bottom of the handkerchief. He raised his eyebrows slightly and, almost without hesitation, turned his horse around and approached the carriage.

The servants by the carriage tried to stop him, but Shadow drew his sword and revealed his master's identity, causing all the servants to kneel down instantly.

Yan Xi approached the carriage and gently tapped it with her hand.

"Girl, you dropped your handkerchief."

After he finished speaking, there was no sound from inside for a long time.

Yan Xi raised an eyebrow, just as she was about to continue knocking on the window.

Then he saw the slender white hand that had just reached out reappear, and now that it was closer, he could see it more clearly than before.

Her hands were as white as jade, her skin as smooth as cream, and her fingertips were clean and beautiful, gleaming with a pinkish luster in the morning light.

Before he could look away, the carriage curtain was lifted, and the girl's delicate and pretty face came into view.

The girl had fair, soft skin, bright and clear peach blossom eyes, long eyelashes like cicada wings, arched willow eyebrows, and lips like blooming peonies, rosy and beautiful.

When their eyes met, she smiled sweetly, and her soft voice made the young master stare blankly for a moment.

"Thank you, young master."

Having said that, she extended her fingertips toward the man's large hand holding the handkerchief.

Instinctively, Yan Xi pulled her hand back slightly.

Then, he met the girl's questioning gaze.

Realizing what he had done, the usually aloof and arrogant young master remained silent for a moment. However, he was thick-skinned and quickly regained his nonchalant demeanor.

He raised his hand and offered the item to the other person, his voice clear and gentle.

"Here you go, young lady. Don't lose it again next time."

"Alright, thank you, young master."

As if worried that he would stop again, the girl leaned closer to the carriage, her petite figure coming into the view of the man who was taller than her.

A slender, delicate neck connects to an exquisite collarbone, and below that, snow-white and soft...

Yan Xi was surprised by how loose her clothes were, and his eyes turned away as if he had been stung. Just as he was feeling embarrassed and at a loss for what to do...

As the silk handkerchief was slowly pulled away from his large hand, a warm, soft, feather-like substance gently tickled the pad of his index finger.

Yan Xi was startled and looked at the girl in front of him in surprise. She smiled sweetly at him and winked. The handkerchief that had just left his palm was gently stuffed back into his hand.

"Young master, the fact that this item has come to you means you are destined to have it. Therefore, I will present it to you as a gift."

Having said that, the curtains fell, and the carriage was urged to drive away again.

Even after the carriage and its servant disappeared from sight, Yan Xi was still immersed in that smile and the subtle teasing in her palm.

He completely ignored the repeated calls from the shadow beside him. It wasn't until the shadow couldn't stand it anymore and shouted "Young Master" that Yan Xi was startled back to his senses.

He frowned, his long, dark phoenix eyes giving him a displeased look.

"What are you yelling about?"

Shadow was utterly innocent. He hadn't been quiet, had he? It was clearly the young master who had been distracted, yet he was being blamed.

But he and Yanxi had grown up together, so he wasn't afraid of her scolding. It was rare to see his master so infatuated with a woman, especially since she was completely blocking him from view, so he couldn't help but ask out of curiosity.

"Master, what does that Miss Sang look like that makes you so, um, so lost in thought?"

"You're saying she's a young lady from the Sang family?"

"Yes, that carriage and the servant belong to the Sang family. And who else could the person in the carriage be but Miss Sang?"

Upon hearing this, a dark glint flashed in Yan Xi's eyes, and her thin lips slowly curved into a smile.

"Since she is Miss Sang, she will be the future Crown Prince's wife. You will find out what she looks like at noon."

Yan Xi had a hunch that the other person was his fiancée.

Moreover, she must be extremely satisfied with him.

Otherwise, how dare she be so bold as to seduce him? The handkerchief was practically slapped in his face.

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