Long Fei Ye's back was to Han Yunxi, but he knew immediately when she stopped.
He turned around and saw Han Yunxi staring at the sealed Tender Fragrance Teahouse. He seemed to want to say something, but stopped himself. Cold eyes were fixed on her.
Han Yunxi wondered if Gu's teahouse had been sealed up by Long Fei Ye again.
Was it because Long Feiye bumped into her the last time she came back for a meal?
She couldn't help but feel heartache for Gu. Celestial Fragrance Teahouse had a criminal record, so Long Fei Ye could seal up his businesses at any time. Why didn't that fellow know to keep a low profile?
Han Yunxi was about to leave when she realized that Long Fei Ye was staring at her. She immediately averted her gaze.
"Are you very familiar with Gu?" Long Fei Ye asked.
Han Yunxi immediately shook her head. "Your Highness has investigated him before, so you should know him better than chenqie, right?"
Long Fei Ye had indeed investigated, but all he found out was that Gu was a merchant with vast wealth and properties all over the world. As for his poison skills or martial arts master, there were no clues at all.
Judging from his age, he had to have an extremely powerful backer if he wanted to be rich.
Unfortunately, Chu Xifeng hadn't found much information yet.
"Your lordship sees that you two are very familiar with each other," Long Fei Ye said next, clearly alluding to their meeting at Heavenly Fragrance Teahouse that day.
Han Yunxi hated this kind of questioning tone. She hadn't asked him anything, so what right did he have to ask about her private life?
"For better or for worse, he saved chenqie's life once, so he counts as a friend."
Han Yunxi's words were seventy percent true. Although Gu wasn't serious at all, he didn't harbor any enmity. It was better to have one more friend than one more enemy.
Long Fei Ye just looked at her deeply and didn't ask any more questions. He turned around and continued to walk forward.
They were already silent to begin with, but after this, they grew even more silent. Still, Han Yunxi followed behind them from beginning to end, while Long Feiye didn't walk too fast. One in front, the other behind, they seemed to have a tacit understanding.
Han Yunxi kept her head down, immersed in her own world. Suddenly, Long Fei Ye's voice seemed to descend from the sky. "Are you hungry?"
She looked up and found that this guy was standing right in front of her. She was one step away from bumping into him.
"A little." In fact, she had been starving for a long time. She could be considered a swift and decisive person, but every time she was in front of this guy, it was as if she had changed into a different person. She was not reserved, but she was especially sensitive.
Long Fei Ye didn't speak, but entered a restaurant on the side. Han Yunxi hurried to follow him.
Long Fei Ye asked for a private room, and the two of them sat across from each other. Long Fei Ye pushed the menu in front of her, indicating that she should order.
Han Yunxi didn't refuse. She ordered a few dishes that she liked, then pushed the menu in front of him without a word.
Long Fei Ye glanced at it, then poured a jug of wine before calling for the dishes to be served.
While they waited, the two of them remained silent in the room. It was as if the whole world had fallen silent.
Han Yunxi couldn't stand the silence and inadvertently raised her head, only to meet Long Fei Ye's deep gaze. She gave a start and subconsciously wanted to avoid it, but decided to find a topic to talk about.
Thus, she asked mildly, "Your Highness, is there any news about that masked man from last time?"
Although Madame Li was dead and all of Tianning's poisons spies had been purged, the existence of the masked man was still an enormous threat.
With Long Fei Ye's personality, he wouldn't let it go so easily.
"There's a bit of a lead, but it's still better to investigate." Long Fei Ye didn't hide anything. These days, he'd been busy with this matter as well. If he guessed correctly, that masked man should be a high-ranking member of Northern Li's imperial clan.
Naturally, it wasn't easy to investigate the situation in Northern Li's imperial clan, but he could start with the poison sects of the jianghu. Such a formidable person must have some reputation in their circles.
Once there was a topic to talk about, Han Yunxi felt much more at ease, as if she'd been granted amnesty.
"What leads?" she asked anxiously.
Actually, she'd asked around in secret as well. Gu Beiyue had said that someone with such formidable poison skills must have come from a sect. Gu Beiyue had also said that there were plenty of poison sects in the world, but they'd all originated from the poison caves in the medical academy. Now that the poison caves in the medical academy were closed, the sects had flourished in the past two years.
Still, poison was poison, and detoxification masters were poisoners as well. Thus, most of these sects weren't accepted by the orthodox medical community and formed their own circles. It wasn't easy for outsiders to join them.
Long Fei Ye didn't answer Han Yunxi's question, nor would he tell her that when he'd interrogated Madame Li's subordinates, he'd found out that the mysterious man had kidnapped Han Yunxi not to threaten him, but to target Han Yunxi herself.
An ordinary man was innocent, but treasuring a jade ring would arouse the envy of others. Han Yunxi had such brilliant poison skills, so how many pairs of eyes were watching her from the shadows?
Leaving aside the distant ones, Emperor Tianhui himself was a huge source of trouble.
"Where did Lady Tianxin get those poison and medical manuals?" Long Fei Ye changed the topic.
Han Yunxi said that she'd learned her poison skills from her mother's poison and medical manuals. Although her story was flawless and the dead couldn't bear witness, how could he believe it so easily?
He'd investigated Lady Tianxin before, but discovered that her birth family was a fake. This woman with brilliant medical skills who'd helped Han Congan prosper was simply a mystery that had appeared out of thin air.
Long Fei Ye had long gone to the justice courts to interrogate Han Congan. Of course, Han Yunxi had no idea.
"I don't know either. I found it when I was rummaging through her belongings," Han Yunxi continued to lie. She really didn't know whether Lady Tianxin knew poison skills.
Very soon, the food and wine arrived. Long Fei Ye didn't say anything else, but started eating. After chatting for a while, Han Yunxi felt much more at ease and relaxed as she ate.
She reached out with her chopsticks to pick up some food, but accidentally bumped into Long Fei Ye's chopsticks. She immediately withdrew her chopsticks, but Long Fei Ye acted like a gentleman and placed some food into her bowl without a sound.
"Thanks."
Han Yunxi glanced at him and saw that he was sitting upright with one hand holding a bowl and the other holding a pair of chopsticks. Even his movements as he ate were graceful. She didn't know that this was the first time His Highness Duke of Qin had ever picked up food for someone other than his mother.
Still, she couldn't help but wonder if he'd been like this the other day when he'd gone shopping and eaten with Duanmu Yao.
Thinking up to here, Han Yunxi couldn't help but fall into a dilemma.
The first time she'd met Duanmu Yao was during the fight against the poison python. Long Fei Ye had risked his life to protect this little junior sister of his. He hadn't been polite in the face of Medicine Ghost Valley's enemies. But now … he'd accepted Duanmu Yao's gift one moment, then ran over to go shopping with her the next.
Just what kind of place did Duanmu Yao hold in his heart?
What if, what if, she guessed right, Emperor Tianhui was forcing him into a marriage again? Would he have no way to refuse? Would he have to marry Duanmu Yao after the new year?
Seeing Long Feiye eat in silence, Han Yunxi felt a sudden impulse. She really, really wanted to ask him directly if he was willing to marry her.
But when she recalled that Emperor Tianhui had forced her into his arms, she resentfully lowered her head and ate in silence.
Everything was quiet throughout the meal.
Han Yunxi discovered that if she didn't try to find a topic to talk about, this fellow could stay silent for an entire night. Of course, his silence wasn't stuffy, but a kind of cold detachment. Even though they were close, he kept her at arm's length.
After the meal, Long Fei Ye didn't say anything else. Han Yunxi continued to follow behind him until all the hustle and bustle in the streets had died down. Only then did they return to the Duke of Qin's estate.
As luck would have it, they saw Grand Concubine Yi personally escorting Duanmu Yao out the door.
Duanmu Yao was already feeling gloomy after being stood up by Long Fei Ye. She was out of sorts all night, but had no choice but to accompany Grand Concubine Yi to eat and chat. She even comforted the woman about Murong Wanru's marriage.
When she saw Long Fei Ye return, she immediately went forward. "Senior brother, where did you go? I was still waiting for you to open that jug of snow wine!"
"I left it for imperial muhou to drink," Long Fei Ye replied.
This … hadn't he accepted it before? This was the goodwill she'd stored away for ten whole years!
Duanmu Yao's heart felt stifled. She was about to speak when she saw Han Yunxi walk up from behind Long Fei Ye. Could it be … senior brother went out with this woman?
What a Han Yunxi. It was fine if she didn't show her face, but she even stole senior brother away. How could she swallow this?
In an instant, Duanmu Yao's heart burned with jealousy. Her hands clenched into fists within her sleeves as she lost her mind. Throwing caution to the wind, she asked loudly, "Senior brother, what are your plans for the marriage alliance after the New Year?"
Han Yunxi gave a start at these words. She'd never dared to ask, but Duanmu Yao did. Grand Concubine Yi gave a start as well, her expression complicated as she looked at her son.
But Long Fei Ye acted as if he hadn't heard a thing. Without a word, he strode away.
Now Grand Concubine Yi was incensed. "Feiye, stop right there!"
Unfortunately, Long Fei Ye ignored her.
"Senior brother!" Duanmu Yao stamped her feet and chased after him.
Long Fei Ye's figure flashed before vanishing into thin air.
"Senior brother! Master's asking about us too! "
"Senior brother!"
Duanmu Yao angrily shouted a few times. Unfortunately, the only reply she got was silence.
Flustered and exasperated, Duanmu Yao turned back to glare at Han Yunxi before throwing herself into Grand Concubine Yi's arms. "Esteemed Imperial Concubine, senior brother's bullying me again! Sobsob … "
This … counted as bullying?
But if Long Fei Ye wasn't willing, why didn't he reject her outright? He'd never been a sloppy man.
Han Yunxi mused that in a way, this counted as a form of bullying.
"Alright, alright, don't cry. I'll definitely teach him a lesson later."
"Be good, Yao Yao's the most obedient. His Majesty and I will support you in your marriage alliance, so don't worry," Grand Concubine Yi comforted her.
Han Yunxi only laughed coldly in her heart. Grand Concubine Yi, ah, Grand Concubine Yi. In the end, she's the daughter-in-law you've chosen. So this time you won't oppose Emperor Tianhui?
Hearing this, Duanmu Yao stopped crying. "I just knew esteemed Imperial Concubine was the best."
"Silly child, your senior brother never said he wouldn't marry, did he?" Grand Concubine Yi smiled.
Duanmu Yao immediately lowered her head, her face red.
"I'll help you keep that jug of snow wine for now. When New Year's Eve comes, I'll bring it to the palace to open it," Grand Concubine Yi was even more patient with Duanmu Yao than she was with Murong Wanru.
Naturally, Long Fei Ye would attend a family banquet on New Year's Eve.
Duanmu Yao was waiting for Grand Concubine Yi's words. In other words, she could attend the banquet as well.
Before leaving, Duanmu Yao purposely drew close to Han Yunxi and murmured, "Esteemed wangfei, after New Year's … I'll have to ask for your guidance."
"Nothing's set in stone yet. Don't be happy too early," Han Yunxi wasn't to be outdone.
"Let's wait and see!" Duanmu Yao replied Cold.
If not for Han Yunxi, she might have waited until her senior brother saw her good points and willingly married her. But Han Yunxi's existence gave her a deep sense of danger.
No matter what, even if imperial father pressured her, she had to marry into the Duke of Qin's estate after New Year's!
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