Helian Duo halted in his tracks and glanced back at her slightly. When he saw Cheng Xiran quickly turn her head away as she looked at him and then walk straight ahead, he said, "Follow properly."
Helian Duo's figure was tall and imposing. Carrying a lantern, he walked in the darkness. He would take a few steps and then stop to wait. Cheng Xiran suddenly lost herself in thought. She felt that as the Regent, Helian Duo seemed very lonely. Apart from Xue Lianyu, he didn't seem to have many friends.
Cheng Xiran then recalled her previous speculation. Following behind him, she let out a soft chuckle and said, "Helian Duo, do you two have something going on with Xue Lianyu?"
Helian Duo didn't even turn his head as he walked in front. In a chilling tone, he said, "I like women."
Cheng Xiran was taken aback. How did he manage to guess that? She quickly asked, "If you like women, why haven't you gotten married? Xue Lianyu isn't married either. Are you two really innocent?"
"Lianyu has someone he loves."
"What about you? Do you have someone?" Cheng Xiran was extremely curious about Helian Duo's past. She thought that if she turned his story into a small tale and included it in *Anecdotes of the Capital*, it would surely be a great success.
Hearing this, Helian Duo's thoughts drifted into the distance. A charming woman in pink appeared in his mind. Then he said coldly, "I did."
Cheng Xiran heard the unhappy tone in his voice and secretly guessed that the woman must have hurt him. Otherwise, they would have gotten married long ago. No, she had to find an opportunity to ask him properly. Such good material would be a waste if not used.
The originally short journey took the two of them quite a while to complete as they chatted along the way. Cheng Xiran didn't know that Helian Duo had deliberately taken a detour with her, which was why they had wasted so much time.
When they reached the entrance of Nanyuan Courtyard, Helian Duo waited until Cheng Xiran had entered before leaving.
He had walked this way back countless times. Since she had left, he had never set foot in Nanyuan again. But for some reason, he had let Cheng Xiran move in.
When he returned, he saw Zuo Yan squatting on the ground in the courtyard, looking troubled as he stared at the unconscious Xiao You. Xue Lianyu was flipping through *Anecdotes of the Capital* as if nothing had happened. When he saw Helian Duo coming back, he quickly ran over and asked, "My lord, what should we do?"
Helian Duo glanced at Xiao You on the ground, sat on the stool beside Xue Lianyu and said, "Throw him at the entrance of the Xiao Mansion. Consider it a warning to Xiao Cheng." After thinking for a while, he added, "Leave through the back door. Don't let Cheng Xiran see this."
Xue Lianyu beside him was a bit surprised when he heard this. "A Duo, since when do you care about other people's feelings when doing things? Just now I saw you grab some of Yulang's jujubes. Did you give them to her?"
"Yes."
Xue Lianyu thought for a moment and then said, "A Duo, she does resemble Yunxiu a bit, but she's not her. If you let her live in Nanyuan, where will Yunxiu live in the future?"
He had been really shocked when he first saw Cheng Xiran. Her appearance was 60% similar to Su Yunxiu's. If it weren't for the fact that Su Yunxiu was the daughter of a convicted official, they might have gotten married long ago.
"I understand. She'll leave tomorrow." Mentioning Su Yunxiu, Helian Duo suddenly felt annoyed. He lifted his feet and walked into the house.
He only heard Xue Lianyu's voice trailing behind him, saying, "The Empress Dowager's birthday is in three months. There will be a national reward. Sons and daughters of convicted officials from the past will be allowed to return to the capital. But Su Yunxiu's situation is special. It might take some effort."
"Why?" Helian Duo stopped in his tracks, turned around and asked Xue Lianyu.
"Although the Su family didn't participate in the rebellion back then, letters related to it were indeed found. This has always been a thorn in the Emperor's heart. If you want Su Yunxiu to come back, you'll probably have to get the Emperor to give his permission."
"Is there any good way?" Helian Duo asked.