Chapter 455: Chapter 453: In the world, only he is worthy of Shen Yinning
Guan Songyuan lowered his lashes, but his gaze lingered on Huo Mingyan’s embroidered shoes.
As if sensing something, Huo Mingyan hurriedly tucked her embroidered shoes under the hem of her dress and shot Guan Songyuan a bashful yet annoyed glare.
Guan Songyuan chuckled, "Your Highness, do you plan to check on Young Master Huo and Princess Zhaoning? It’s such a dark and windy night; I truly fear they might act recklessly and cause irreparable consequences."
"Of course I will." Huo Mingyan stood up gracefully, a touch of arrogance in her poise. "They say the young ladies of the Capital are well-mannered and cultured, but I see that’s not always the case. If Shen Yinning truly dares to seduce my younger brother, I will be the first to spare her no mercy!"
Distracted, she accidentally stepped on her own dress hem.
"Careful, Your Highness!" Guan Songyuan reacted swiftly, stepping forward to catch her in time.
The man’s warm and broad hand pressed firmly against Huo Mingyan’s waist.
Her cheeks flushed red as she scolded coquettishly, pushing him away, "What are you doing?!"
Guan Songyuan chuckled again, bowing gently. "It is my fault, Your Highness. I have angered you."
Huo Mingyan tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and scolded lightly, "You men are all the same—so rough and careless! At crucial moments, you never mind the details. Someone your age still needs me to remind you that men and women shouldn’t be too familiar... If His Majesty saw this, he would surely misunderstand our relationship."
Though she chastised him, her tone was unexpectedly tender.
The tassel lantern hanging from the beam of the flower pavilion cast a bright glow.
Guan Songyuan dared to lift his eyes, staring directly at Huo Mingyan. Suddenly, emboldened, he lightly touched her delicate hand.
Before she could erupt in anger, he quickly plastered on a mischievous grin and said, "Your Highness, look, *this* is truly being too familiar. Just now, I was only afraid you might fall and hurt yourself, which is why I reached out to catch you."
"Ugh!" Huo Mingyan smacked his hand hard and huffed, "You’re insufferable!"
Finishing her words, it was unclear whether she was angry or amused, but she pursed her lips and quickly walked out of the flower pavilion.
Guan Songyuan smiled and touched the back of his hand before hurriedly following her.
...
On the other side.
The so-called "treasures" were nothing more than scattered luminous pearls.
They were scattered along the banks of the Li River—some hidden within rockeries, others perched atop walls, and a few that had rolled into the flower bushes.
Shen Yinning leaned languidly against the flower wall, watching as Huo Mingxu burrowed into the shrubbery to hunt for luminous pearls.
Still a young and sprightly youth, he was so enthusiastic about such an activity that, in less than a mere half hour, he had already found seven to eight luminous pearls. Afraid that Shen Yinning might tire herself, he placed them all in a flower basket, which he carried on his arm.
Suddenly, he turned back excitedly, raising a luminous pearl high in the air. "Commandery Princess, Elder Sister! I found another one!"
Shen Yinning smiled faintly, but her eyes held little warmth. "Young Master Huo, you’re truly impressive. I’ve searched for so long and haven’t found a single one. Tonight, I’ll have to rely entirely on you."
"Oh, it’s nothing!" Huo Mingxu placed the pearl into the basket, his hair adorned with twigs and leaves, and walked back cheerfully. "Helping you makes me happy too, Elder Sister! That said, I wonder how many pearls everyone else has found. To be safe, we should probably gather a few more to secure victory!"
Shen Yinning’s voice was sweet, "Young Master Huo, your foresight and wisdom are remarkable. I’ll leave everything to you."
On the other side of the wall.
Lu Ying stood tall and poised, dressed in black robes embroidered with a golden hairpin motif.
The lantern he held illuminated his handsome face, shaded with an icy coolness, colder even than the dew of the night.
"Lantern Treasure Hunt" had been his painstakingly designed game, meant to make Shen Zhaozhao happy.
According to his plan, he and Shen Zhaozhao were supposed to carry a pair of lanterns and "accidentally" meet on a certain arch bridge.
Then, under the pretext of the treasure hunt, he would accompany her in a leisurely stroll, collecting luminous pearls along the way.
He’d thought this arrangement quite romantic, a surefire way to win a young lady’s heart.
But after the banquet, he’d been delayed by rounds of drinks with officials, losing track of time. The palace attendants under Huo Mingyan’s command were clumsy as pigs, allowing Huo Mingxu to take the lantern that was meant for him.
Lu Ying lowered his eyes, staring at the lantern in his hand inscribed with the poem "An Hour in Spring is Worth a Thousand Gold." His face darkened further.
Alone, who was he to share "An Hour in Spring is Worth a Thousand Gold" with?
Beyond the wall, Huo Mingxu proposed, "Elder Sister, I heard there’s a Stone Palace nearby, its many chambers formed by jagged rocks. Quite a few people are exploring and playing there. Why don’t we take a look? Maybe we’ll find more luminous pearls."
Lu Ying was familiar with the Stone Palace.
The winding paths within, paired with underground streams that created stunning stalactites, had rendered it eerily chilly and largely unused. Over the years, it had become a favored haunt for young nobles seeking clandestine trysts.
That Huo Mingxu was taking Shen Zhaozhao there harbored questionable intent.
He overheard Shen Yinning cheerfully agree, "I’m so afraid of the dark. If we go into the Stone Palace, Young Master Huo, you mustn’t leave me behind."
Her soft, delicate tone likely sounded to Huo Mingxu like a tender sparrow seeking protection.
But Lu Ying knew the truth. Huo Mingxu, a naïve boy unversed in the ways of women, didn’t stand a chance against Shen Yinning, a cunning hawk who would use him until not even his bones remained.
No one else in the world was worthy of Shen Yinning but him.
Lu Ying gripped the lantern handle tightly, unable to restrain himself any longer, and stepped out. "Are you two headed to the Stone Palace?"
Huo Mingxu jumped in surprise. "Cousin?"
Lu Ying replied, "I will accompany you."
Huo Mingxu looked reluctant.
A spring night under the moonlit flowers—how wonderful it would’ve been with just him and his Elder Sister! Why did his cousin have to butt in?
He coughed lightly, then forced a smile at Shen Yinning. "Elder Sister, I’ll have a quick word with my cousin first!"
He dragged Lu Ying aside and complained, "Cousin, aren’t you being unfair? Grandmother told you to care for me while we’re in the Capital, but now you’re ruining my date with Elder Sister!"
Lu Ying glanced coolly at his cousin’s head, littered with twigs and dampened with dew. "A date? Can’t you see she’s using you to gather luminous pearls? You call being exploited a date?"
"I’m willingly helping her gather luminous pearls! How’s that exploitation?!" Huo Mingxu protested indignantly. "Cousin, if you don’t understand, don’t talk nonsense and ruin the mood!"
Suddenly remembering something, Huo Mingxu lowered his voice, "Cousin, we slept in the same bed when we were young. Be honest with me—do you still have feelings for Elder Sister? After all, she’s your sister-in-law now!"
Lu Ying fell silent.
"If you don’t," Huo Mingxu hesitated, "then... could I pursue her? After all, there’s an old saying in the Central Plains: ’Fair maidens are meant for gentlemen who court them.’ I’m of marriageable age now, and Grandmother and Father asked you and my sister to help me find a good match in the Capital. But I think no one compares to Elder Sister..."