Chapter 31: Tea Aroma: Resolute Rejection

The same walk, the same woman, yet how could her sister-in-law walk so fast?

“Sister-in-law, wait for me!” Sweat beaded on her forehead as Zhao Qingyue shouted toward Yan Yiqing’s retreating back.

Her footsteps quickened once more.

Finally shaking her off completely, Yan Yiqing let out a silent breath of relief.

After breakfast, she had started peppering her with questions nonstop. Even when Yan Yiqing said she had business to attend to and needed to leave first, the girl insisted on showing her the way. This little miss was truly persistent, like an inescapable sticky plaster.

Reaching a secluded corner, Yan Yiqing shook the copper bell and waited in place for a moment—

“Palm Mirror Envoy.” Jia Lan had changed into the attire of a female servant from the Duke’s Mansion.

Though she had already convicted Zhao Huaijin in her heart, for some inexplicable reason, she urgently wanted to confirm that her judgment was correct.

“How’s the interrogation going?”

“His mouth was tight. It took the third set of tools before…”

Yan Yiqing raised her hand, frowning. “Get to the point.”

“It was the Madam of Duke Rui.”

Not Zhao Huaijin? Her gaze flickered almost imperceptibly as Yan Yiqing asked, “Are you sure you didn’t make a mistake?”

Jia Lan shook her head. “I confirmed it multiple times. His confession before and after had no inconsistencies.”

Why had Wang Jinlan drugged her?

What benefit could tarnishing her innocence bring her?

“Did you ask for the reason?”

“He didn’t know. He was just following orders.” Jia Lan paused, then added, “Even under waterboarding, he didn’t change his story.”

Yan Yiqing had always believed there was a cause for everything.

But she couldn’t figure out why Wang Jinlan had done this.

That clear-breezed Zhao Heir was like an enigma; everything and everyone connected to him defied normal patterns, leaving her unable to discern any logic.

It seemed she had to investigate Zhao Huaijin’s background first.

“The problem must lie with Zhao Huaijin. Have someone watch him and report every move to me.”

Jia Lan was about to agree when her eyes suddenly flashed. “Palm Mirror Envoy, someone’s coming.”

Thinking it was Zhao Qingyue catching up again, Yan Yiqing straightened her clothes and turned around with a straight face after Jia Lan flipped over the wall and left.

“Why are you here?!”

Zhao Huairen pursed her lips, her gaze calm. “Young Master Yan, this is Duke Rui’s Mansion.”

“I know that, of course.” An odd feeling washed over her, like being caught badmouthing someone behind their back. Yan Yiqing cleared her throat and feigned casualness. “What I mean is, how do you walk without making a sound?”

“Hm, probably because… Young Master Yan was too focused chatting with the hidden guard just now.”

Her fingertips twitched slightly, and Yan Yiqing’s breath hitched for a moment. “How much did you hear?”

Seeing the little cat’s stunned expression, Zhao Huairen’s mood suddenly improved. She said warmly, “So it really was a hidden guard.”

“You were tricking me?”

“Is Young Master Yan angry?” Her voice was like a clear stream as Zhao Huairen drawled, “I have hidden guards too.”

“What do you mean?” Yan Yiqing asked instinctively.

A faint arc hooked at the corner of her lips, almost imperceptible, as Zhao Huairen explained, “There, now we’re even.”

Like a snow-white tangyuan dumpling on the surface.

One bite, and the black sesame filling leaked out.

“Who wants to be even with…”

The person before her was clearly smiling, but Yan Yiqing felt—Zhao Huaijin’s mood was quite poor at that moment.

The words reached her mouth but were swallowed back. Yan Yiqing didn’t quite understand why she had suddenly lost her momentum.

Perhaps… she just didn’t want to argue.

The little wildcat who loved to bare her fangs and claws had gone quiet like this. Hiding the surprise in her eyes seamlessly, Zhao Huairen asked softly, “Why stop halfway?”

“None of your business.” With that, Yan Yiqing turned and walked away.

What the hell? Why had she cared if he was upset or not? Clenching her fist silently, dark clouds gathered between Yan Yiqing’s brows.

She followed slowly behind Yan Yiqing.

Staring at her back, fluctuations stirred in Zhao Huairen’s eyes.

“Young Master Yan.”

The little cat obediently stopped in her tracks, but the instant she did, she was shocked by her own compliance. Her brows furrowed tightly, and Yan Yiqing nearly broke into a run.

“About last night, could you let me explain?”

If she hadn’t accidentally injured him.

She absolutely wouldn’t listen to his nonsense now.

“Thank you, Young Master Yan.” Standing beside her, Zhao Huairen lowered her phoenix eyes slightly. “It’s a private matter. Could we speak somewhere else?”

Yan Yiqing said icily, “Whatever.”

“Thank you for indulging me, Young Master Yan.”

As if! Where was she indulging him? How did this person manage to gild himself like that?

–

The winds of the fourth and fifth lunar months were the gentlest.

The lake surface rippled under the breeze, shimmering with fragmented sunlight.

Sitting at a stone table not far from the Lake Heart Pavilion, Zhichun propped her chin, her gaze full of resentment. “Zhuyu, what do you think the Heir is talking about with her?”

Her brows furrowed, Zhuyu fiddled with the sleeve arrow in low focus.

“Zhuyu, how can you not care about the Heir’s safety at all?”

After silently confirming the sleeve arrow’s range and realizing she could precisely hit Yan Yiqing with one shot, Zhuyu felt much more at ease.

The copper bell at the pavilion’s corner occasionally let out a light chime, soon shattered by the shimmering light, leaving only a wisp of clear tone mixed into the curling tea aroma.

Zhao Huairen sat upright at the bluestone table, her light blue sleeves rolled halfway up, revealing a section of fair wrist.

The silver kettle on the small furnace bubbled steadily.

She poured the tea with fluid, graceful motions, the tea soup flowing into the cups.

Pinching fish food between her fingertips, Yan Yiqing leaned lazily against the railing. “The fish in your Duke’s Mansion look much fatter and finer than those outside.”

“Does Young Master Yan want to eat some?”

At that, Yan Yiqing shot her an displeased look. “I’m not a cat. I don’t want to eat fish just because I see them.”

“My apologies; it was a slip of the tongue.” Suppressing a smile at her lips, Zhao Huairen pushed the celadon tea cup closer to her.

Yan Yiqing desperately wanted to nitpick her tea-brewing, but in the end, she could only grind her teeth in frustration.

A complete fake.

So perfect—it was utterly hypocritical.

“I don’t like tea.” Glancing at the clear, spring-like tea soup, Yan Yiqing crossed her arms. “Explain.”

“The person last night was sent by my mother.” The celadon set off her jade-like fingertips as Zhao Huairen lifted her cup and continued, “Young Master Yan must be very curious now why my mother did this.”

Yan Yiqing pursed her lips and gave her a noncommittal look.

“The reason, of course, lies with me.”

“You were eavesdropping?” Yan Yiqing’s face darkened abruptly.

Her phoenix eyes shone with blatant innocence as Zhao Huairen set down her cup. “You’re overthinking it, Young Master. My ears aren’t that sharp.”

Tch, so her brain is sharp instead? Yan Yiqing pursed her lips and rolled her eyes dramatically. “So? What’s the reason on your end?”

“It’s a secret no one knows.”

“I don’t have time to waste with you.” Seeing her still playing coy, Yan Yiqing shot up from the bench. “What explanation? You’re clearly just here to toy with me.”

Faced with Yan Yiqing’s aggressive accusation, Zhao Huairen’s expression didn’t change; she even leisurely took a sip of tea.

“She’s got issues.” Yan Yiqing flicked her sleeve and left.

Her shoe had just touched the stone steps when a light, floating voice drifted from behind, like mist from afar—

“You’re not wrong, Young Master Yan. I do have an issue.”

Her footsteps paused slightly, and Yan Yiqing turned back to look at her.

The beauty sat at the bluestone table, her jet-black hair cascading entirely at her side, her long lashes framing eyes that gazed calmly and composedly at her.

“I’m impotent.”

Just three very short words.

But it took Yan Yiqing a long time to process them.

Her fingertips lightly rubbed the tea cup. Seeing Yan Yiqing struck dumb like she’d been hit by lightning, Zhao Huairen lowered her gaze. “I’m impotent, so I’ll never have heirs in this lifetime.”

“If others found out, the position of Duke Rui Heir Apparent would be gone.”

“My mother doesn’t know how much you despise me.”

“She worried you’d discover my impotence later.” Her long lashes lifted slightly as Zhao Huairen stared into her eyes. “So she struck first, hoping to use this to hold something over you.”

Her dark, lustrous pupils were clear and bright.

Pursing her lips, Yan Yiqing walked slowly back to the table and sat down.

“Why tell me?”

As if she had anticipated the question, a perfectly timed flicker of helplessness crossed her face. Zhao Huairen said mildly, “You can’t wrap fire in paper. Better I confess now than have you uncover it later.”

“True enough.” Yan Yiqing picked up her tea cup.

Zhao Huairen lifted the pot and, with keen awareness, refilled her cup. “Now can Young Master Yan sit and chat properly with me?”

“What do you want to chat about?” Her grip tightened on the cup, Yan Yiqing’s gaze darkening slightly. “Zhao Huaijin, to be honest, I don’t want to befriend you.”

Somewhat surprised by Yan Yiqing’s frankness, Zhao Huairen quickly readjusted her emotions. “Why? We’ve hardly met before.”

Her gaze skimmed over Zhao Huairen’s face before dropping to the calm lake surface. Yan Yiqing’s eyes complex, she said, “I choose friends by vibe. I don’t like your face.”

“My face?” Zhao Huairen was momentarily stunned.

Staring into her tea, Yan Yiqing nodded. “Mm, I don’t like how you look.”

It was the first time she’d been rejected for such a reason. Though puzzled, Zhao Huairen quickly accepted—the fact that she was disliked for her appearance.

“I just want to cooperate with you. Looks…”

“No.” Yan Yiqing rejected her resolutely.

Seeing no hesitation at all, as if fleeing some flood beast, Zhao Huairen couldn’t help asking, “Am I that ugly?”

Her fingertips gripped the cup until they turned white. Taking a deep breath, Yan Yiqing drained the tea in one gulp. “I don’t like it.”

“Doesn’t it burn?”

Yan Yiqing looked up. “What?”

“That cup was scalding hot.”

Only then did Yan Yiqing look down and see her hand was already red from the burn, yet she hadn’t felt a thing while drinking.

This bizarre situation only convinced Yan Yiqing further that she needed to stay far away from Zhao Huaijin.

“I have business. Farewell.” Yan Yiqing abruptly stood.

Not expecting this outcome, a faint flicker of disappointment crossed her phoenix eyes. Zhao Huairen said softly, “Though Young Master Yan didn’t make trouble, my mother’s actions… I apologize on her behalf.”

“I injured your face too. We’re even.”

“Yours was an accident, but…” After a moment’s silence, Zhao Huairen looked up at her. “Young Master Yan seems knowledgeable about gold, silver, and jade. How about this: go to my private storehouse and pick what you like as my compensation.”

“Whatever.”

Her gaze skimmed lightly over her.

Yan Yiqing felt she couldn’t stay a moment longer.

“I’ll take my leave first.”

Before Zhao Huairen could respond, Yan Yiqing vanished like a fleeing rabbit in an instant.

Her phoenix eyes lowered, gazing at her reflection in the tea.

Zhao Huairen’s sword brows furrowed slightly.