If you were cold and aloof in your past life, why are you crying in this one?

Shen Qingdai blinked. "Okay, I understand why Xie Wanyi was so crazy."

Xi Lingxian did not respond.

Wang Jue approached the two of them and stopped three steps away. He first looked at Shen Qingdai, his tone cold, yet he displayed the proper manners expected of a young master from a prominent family.

"Miss Shen, I have something I'd like to say to Miss Xi. Would you do me the favor?"

Shen Qingdai was stunned, and Xi Lingxian was also taken aback.

"Ah... okay."

The man's gaze was so intense that Shen Qingdai couldn't resist and her mouth trembled first.

She turned and left, but didn't forget to wink at Xi Lingxian as she turned back.

Xi Lingxian: "..."

She probably doesn't think she's being very loyal!

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the figure standing with his hands at his sides, and her heart tightened. "Young Master Wang."

She curtsied slightly, her voice calm, "What can I do for you?"

"Miss Xi, there is something I don't understand."

"What?"

"Why do you seem to know the layout of my palace's inner courtyard so well?"

Lingxian froze, her heart pounding wildly. "It was just a coincidence."

She looked up and stared directly at him: "The structures of aristocratic gardens are all pretty much the same, there's nothing strange about them."

Wang Jue smirked. "Miss Xi, do you know that when someone lies, their eyes tend to look to the upper right?"

Lingxian's heart skipped a beat, but her expression remained unchanged. "I didn't. Young Master Wang has no evidence. How can you be so sure I'm lying?"

"Miss Xi, has anyone told you that you've changed a lot lately? So much that... you seem like a completely different person from before?"

This man is too perceptive. Even though she has the advantage of being given a second chance at life, Lingxian still finds him difficult to deal with.

"What makes you say that, Young Master Wang? Are you referring to my decision not to bother you anymore after I fell into the water?"

"If that's the case, I don't mind explaining a bit more; when I was in Guangling, my father and brothers were busy, and I was raised by the uncles and elders of my entourage. I'm bolder and more direct than most girls; when I first returned to Jiankang, you were beautiful, and I did like you quite a bit. But in this world, if I like someone today, I can like someone else tomorrow. Besides, you've never reciprocated my feelings, so I don't think I need to explain anything to you."

"Xi Lingxian." Wang Jue called her name for the first time.

He stared into her eyes and said, word by word, "I didn't ask that."

Xi Lingxian looked at him, puzzled.

"cousin?"

A gentle voice came from behind me.

Xi Lingxian had never felt Xie Wanyi's voice was so beautiful.

"Cousin, are you talking to Miss Xi? When did you two become so familiar?"

Xie Wanyi walked gracefully forward and affectionately took Lingxian's arm. "Miss Xi, my cousin has never been good at saying sweet words to please girls. If he offended you with anything, I apologize on his behalf. Please don't hold it against him."

Xi Lingxian shook her head and silently withdrew her arm. "No."

Wang Jue glanced at Xie Wanyi, "I still have things to discuss with Miss Xi, cousin, you should go first."

Xi Lingxian: "..."

Despite her good upbringing, Xie Wanyi was still a sixteen-year-old girl, and she couldn't bear Wang Jue's bluntness.

"What is it that my cousin has to say that he has to hide from me? I'd love to hear more about his secret with Miss Xi!"

She chuckled, her voice like a spoiled little girl.

Wang Jue remained unmoved, his eyes darkening slightly, easily deterring Xie Wanyi from acting rashly.

"Since that's what you say, cousin, then Wanyi will take her leave."

Feeling Xie Wanyi's venomous gaze, as if she wanted to devour someone, Xi Lingxian sighed and facepalmed.

"Young Master Wang, you are a very strange person. When I was chasing after you, you didn't even glance at me; but when I ignored you, you started talking to me. It seems that power is indeed a good thing, and even Young Master Wang, who is as pure as snow on a high mountain, cannot escape being controlled by it."

Wang Jue slowly leaned down, his gaze unwavering. "Who exactly are you?"

They were quite close, close enough that Xi Lingxian could smell the pine resin on him.

She felt a little uneasy. Could it be that this guy had also been reborn, or that he had memories of his past life?

How could something as absurd as rebirth happen to two people?

"I am who I am, Gao Ping Xi Lingxian, who else could I be?"

Their eyes met, and she saw a deep inquiry in his eyes, and a hint of... a complex emotion she couldn't understand.

Like a hunter eyeing its prey, or a scholar gazing at a puzzle.

He's starting to suspect her, but why?

Could it be because she's been behaving too strangely lately?

Lingxian's heart sank.

Shen Qingdai's voice came from afar, "Fanfan, that useless Ji Ruchuan is almost bankrupt from playing pitch-pot! We have to go save him!"

Xi Lingxian snapped out of her reverie, curtsied, and said, "Young Master Wang, I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now."

Wang Jue tightened his grip, staring thoughtfully at the departing figures of the two girls.

Suddenly, he said to thin air, "Aren't you coming out?"

A moment later, a young, slender figure used his light-footed skills to leap through the air from the bamboo path on the other side.

Lu Yun landed and clicked his tongue, saying, "You noticed all that? You have a really sharp eye."

"You've got some nerve, daring to eavesdrop at the Wang family's house?" Wang Jue said with displeasure.

Lu Yun scoffed, "Looks like the girl didn't give you a friendly look, that's why you're so temperamental."

Wang Jue flicked his sleeve and walked away.

Lu Yun followed and pressed, "What did you find out?"

Wang Jue gave him a deep look.

Lu Yun: "I think you're overthinking it. Xi Jian and his son aren't even in Jiankang. Where would they find the time or inclination to plot those things?"

Many times, Lu Yun felt that his brother was too meticulous and cautious, although the painful lessons learned afterward proved that his cunning was all in the right place.

Ke Xi Lingxian?

How could Xi Jian and his son be so foolish as to use a girl who looked completely naive and clueless to do their bidding?

Wang Jue: "Sometimes, the most unassuming people can achieve the most unexpected results."

Lu Yun: "Reason?"

Wang Jue stated firmly, "Her behavior is suspicious."

"What's suspicious?"

"..." Wang Jue couldn't say it for a moment.

Seeing that his expression was off, Lu Yun had an unbelievable thought.

"You're not suggesting that she's suspicious because she likes you, are you?"

Lu Yun rubbed his face to calm down. "I used to obey whatever you said, but this time, you definitely didn't use your cunning on the right side."

Wang Jue's face was gloomy. "You've said this countless times before."

Lu Yun was completely speechless.

"Everything has its rules and methods. According to you, what is their purpose?"

"Perhaps they have some ulterior motive? Although Xi Jian and his son have good reputations, you can only know a person's face but not their heart. You can't say too much about anything."

Lu Yun felt a headache coming on. "Xi Jian and Xi Rui are both fierce generals in the court. Apart from the father and son, no one can control the important town of Jingkou. With the military power of Lianghuai alone, what else do they need to plot?"

If it weren't for the fact that powerful families of the time didn't care about becoming emperors, the Xi family could have changed dynasties effortlessly.

Wang Jue felt that what he said made sense, but what he had previously thought was not entirely unfounded.

"Young master, the ladies of the Xie family mentioned you and Miss Xie. Madam Xie said that Miss Xie fell into the water and was rescued by you. Her clothes were soaked, which means you saw her. If she doesn't marry you, her reputation will be ruined."