Suddenly, she felt as if she had escaped from the clutches of a demon and landed in a gentle haven. Helian Duo effortlessly wrapped his arm around her slender waist and pulled her close to his side.
"She's mine. Are you even worthy?"
Helian Duo's face was cold and solemn. He didn't even glance at Cheng Xiran beside him. If he had, he would have seen her ogling him.
The man let out a lecherous laugh. "It seems this young master also has a taste for men. Since we're so fortunate to meet today, I wonder if I could learn a thing or two from your experience in this regard?"
Without saying a word, Helian Duo took out his waist token. The man first leaned in for a peek, then widened his eyes to confirm, and finally knelt on the ground in terror. "So it's the prince. I deserve to die!"
"Get out!"
Helian Duo said nonchalantly. Cheng Xiran watched as the man sobered up instantly and scurried away like a rat.
"Aren't you supposed to be in Yangzhou now? Why are you here?"
Cheng Xiran tilted her head and looked at him, asking casually. Just then, he turned to look at her. Their eyes met, and for a moment, sparks flew. The tenderness and affection in that moment were witnessed by Cheng Xiran.
Helian Duo was the first to avert his gaze. He gently let go of Cheng Xiran. "Can't I come back early after finishing my business?"
"The person I saw on the long street this morning was you, wasn't it? You were wearing a veil and a lake - blue robe."
Seeing Helian Duo turn his head away as if he was guilty, Cheng Xiran was even more certain of her suspicion. She couldn't help but continue to press. "The person on the eaves of my house tonight was you too, wasn't it? A Li didn't chase after because she recognized you."
"And that letter. Although it's not your handwriting, you could have changed your writing style. So why did you stay in the capital under the pretext of going out of the city? Have you noticed something amiss?"
"When did you become so smart? I never noticed it before." There was a hint of surprise in Helian Duo's words.
Cheng Xiran rolled her eyes at him. "Don't try to change the subject. You haven't answered my question yet."
After she said that, she suddenly realized that her words sounded like she was accusing him. Who was Helian Duo? He was the powerful regent. Did he really need to report his actions to a commoner like her?
Cheng Xiran was aware of her rudeness. She awkwardly changed the subject. "Well, you went through so much trouble to call me here. What's the matter?"
Helian Duo was slightly stunned before he slowly replied. "The reason I pretended to go to Yangzhou on business but stayed in the capital dressed as a knight - errant is to investigate those evil court officials recently."
Cheng Xiran didn't expect him to answer in such detail. He even mentioned the names of those court officials without hesitation, which really surprised her. She couldn't help but ask. "Aren't you afraid I'll tell my father later?"
But Helian Duo said straightforwardly. "You won't."
These three words were deeply engraved in her heart, leaving a vivid mark on her young soul.
Suddenly, Helian Duo grabbed her hand and led her into the crowd to a corner. Cheng Xiran blushed. She only heard Helian Duo whisper. "This Qian Youliang is not stupid. We can't let him find us."
His action of holding her hand was so natural that Cheng Xiran almost thought there was something special between them. Thinking of this, her face turned even redder. She forcefully pulled her hand out of Helian Duo's warm one.
Helian Duo didn't notice. He was only focused on the matter at hand. "I've already made an agreement with Ruoyue. Tomorrow morning, Qian Youliang will surely appear naked in the busiest part of the capital."
Cheng Xiran suddenly looked up. When she looked at Helian Duo, she could only reach his chin. But she could imagine that there must be a murderous look in his deep eyes and a proud expression on his face.
"Why are you looking at me with such admiration?"
Hearing Helian Duo's question, Cheng Xiran quickly averted her gaze. After that, she didn't dare to look at him again.
Cheng Xiran noticed that she was acting strangely today, and it all started when she met Helian Duo. There must be something wrong with this man. It wasn't his so - called charm. It must be because she hadn't seen him for a long time, and it was just the normal feeling between ordinary friends.
She was sure that she would act the same way when she met Xue Lianyu next time.
"Well, why are you doing this to Qian Youliang? Do you dislike him too?"
Following Helian Duo's gaze, she could see Qian Youliang standing on the balcony on the second floor. He had two women in his arms, both of them were just ordinary beauties. Cheng Xiran didn't think much of them.
"Rather than saying I dislike him, I'd say I want to teach him a good lesson this time..." Helian Duo let out a soft snort and continued. "Although Lord Qian is an upright and honest official, his son is really a headache. I'm just doing this to make up for the embarrassment and teach his son a lesson."