The weather was fine in April, with the sun shining brightly.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew, fluttering Ye Xi's sleeves and the gauze curtains around her. Her long black hair danced in the wind.
Yi Yuan stood there calmly, his figure upright and elegant. He uttered the name "Ye Xi" casually, as if he were just mentioning it in passing.
But Ye Xi broke out in a cold sweat on her back.
She unconsciously clenched the hands hanging by her sides. She always felt that Yi Yuan wasn't answering her but calling out to her.
However... if he knew her identity, why didn't he expose her? Why did he ask her to "divine"?
And... what did he want to know?
Not knowing the answer, Ye Xi couldn't reveal her identity. She could only pretend not to know and said dryly:
"I wonder who this person is. What does the prince want me, a poor nun, to divine about?"
The person in front of him was visibly nervous. Yi Yuan couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.
It was like the bright moon embracing the world and the snow melting. Along with the gentle breeze and bright sun in April, it dazzled Ye Xi's eyes.
Who was she? A seemingly well - behaved girl, but actually a bit bold, a bit interesting, and a bit cute.
But Yi Yuan would definitely not say it out. He resumed his usual calm appearance.
"She is the second young lady of the Ye family, a minister of the Ministry of Rites, who is in charge of the young heir's education. I had a misunderstanding with her before. I'd like to ask the immortal nun to help me divine how I can make the young lady of the Ye family forgive me. And I'd like to know if she is still willing to come back to teach the young heir?"
"Our agreement..." Yi Yuan couldn't help but curl his lips, with a hint of wicked charm for no reason. "All of them still count. And since it was my misunderstanding in the first place, I'm willing to fulfill one request within my ability."
Yi Yuan paused very skillfully after the word "fulfill", so skillfully that Ye Xi always had the illusion that he was saying:
Fulfill one of your requests.
So was Yi Yuan admitting his mistake to her?
Ye Xi stood there blankly for a while. It was only when Sai Xing gently tugged at the corner of her clothes that she came back to her senses.
"Since the prince is so sincere, I think the young lady of the Ye family won't hold a grudge forever." Ye Xi chose her words carefully. "But from what the prince has arranged just now, it seems inconvenient for you to go with me to divine. How about I go on my own to relieve the prince's worry?"
Please don't come together. Otherwise, where could she find another "Ye Xi" for him?
Ye Xi silently prayed.
"I was just about to suggest that." Yi Yuan softened his eyes. This second young lady of the Ye family was really interesting. He didn't want to expose her for now.
"I'll have to trouble the immortal nun. Please help me convey to the second young lady of the Ye family that the prince's mansion will come to pick her up at the usual time tomorrow. If she is willing, she can get in the carriage and come. The person she asked me to find, I'll find for her as soon as I return from Wu City."
But what if you don't come back for ten days or half a month?
Ye Xi wanted to ask, but it was not appropriate for her to ask in her current identity, so she had to swallow the words.
However, Yi Yuan seemed to see through Ye Xi's thoughts and continued:
"If I'm away for a long time, I'll definitely find the person for her according to the previously set time."
Ye Xi felt a bit embarrassed.
"Then I wish the prince a smooth journey without any disasters." Ye Xi bowed and then said, "I'll take my leave first."
After saying that, she didn't care about Yi Yuan's expression anymore. Ye Xi took Sai Xing and rushed back to the Ye Mansion.
They had been out for a long time. If they didn't go back, Qing Yuan would notice.
Sure enough, as soon as they sneaked back into the room, Qing Yuan knocked on the door.
"Miss? Are you feeling better, miss?"
"Cough... " Pretending to cough weakly twice, Ye Xi made a feeble voice:
"What's the matter?"
"Oh, it's Young Master Cao." Qing Yuan's doubts gradually disappeared. Standing outside the door, she continued:
"Young Master Cao came to visit and said he wanted to see you. I've already told him that you're sick, but Young Master Cao said, 'Since she's sick, I should come and see her even more.' He's now in the main hall. Do you want to see him, miss?"
Cao Sheng?
Ye Xi and Sai Xing looked at each other, and they both saw confusion in each other's eyes.
Did he come because of the conflict with Ye Jueyao before and wanted to make Ye Jueyao jealous through her?
"Since Young Master Cao is so kind, please show him in."
Ye Xi "weakly" ordered.
Since he was already here, it was always good to learn more about the "enemy".
Sai Xing and two other maids brought in a painted screen to separate Ye Xi. They opened all the doors and windows and called some maids to stand by. Then they led Cao Sheng in.
"Xiao Xi," Cao Sheng sat on a low stool, looking tender. "You were fine yesterday. How could you be like this overnight?"
"Cough... " Ye Xi leaned lazily against the head of the bed.
"Maybe I caught a cold at the alley entrance when I came back yesterday. I'm not feeling well. I was still okay when I went to pay respects to mother this morning, but I don't know why I felt dizzy and uncomfortable when I came back. The doctor said massaging the Fengchi acupoint would relieve it a lot, but Sai Xing and the others are all girls after all. They always seem to lack strength when massaging."
"Since Young Master Cao is here, I wonder if I could trouble you to help me massage it?"
In order to read Cao Sheng's mind and figure out his purpose, Ye Xi didn't care about the taboo of physical contact between men and women.
In the past, Ye Xi always abided by the etiquette and never let Cao Sheng get close to her. Although Cao Sheng wasn't really interested in Ye Xi's face, he was still tempted by her fair and delicate skin.
Now that Ye Xi was willing to let him get close and even massage the Fengchi acupoint. He couldn't see her face, but the contact was so intimate. How could Cao Sheng refuse?
He immediately agreed repeatedly.
"I wonder what brought Young Master Cao here today?"
The moment Cao Sheng got close, Ye Xi started to ask.
"Oh, it's my grandfather. You haven't visited the national uncle's mansion for a long time. Grandfather has been missing you lately." Cao Sheng smiled gently.
"Yesterday when I got back, grandfather was overjoyed to learn that I went to the prince's mansion to pick you up. He also remembered that you calmly and bravely saved him when he accidentally fell into a trap in the hunting ground two years ago. After highly praising you, he missed you even more. So here I am."
[It's all because you've won the favor of the prince's mansion. Mother told me to get closer to you so that you'll be completely devoted to me.]
[Once we get closer to the prince's mansion, my little sister is so beautiful that she will surely catch the eye of Prince Yu'an. It will also make Ye Jueyao see her own place! Moreover, it can also help our aunt, the empress. By then, the whole Cao family will look up to me.]
[Haha... I'm so smart. I could even come up with such a brilliant plan that can kill three birds with one stone. By then, considering that you've also contributed, I'll reluctantly take you as a concubine. Otherwise, with that ugly appearance, tsk tsk~ Who would take a fancy to you? Only I'm so kind - hearted...]
What followed was a series of self - praise and belittlement of Ye Xi.
Ye Xi felt nauseous in her stomach and quickly dodged Cao Sheng's hand.
"Are you okay, miss?" Sai Xing immediately stepped forward to cooperate.
She separated Cao Sheng on one hand and quietly wiped the place where Cao Sheng had touched Ye Xi on the other.
"Did you catch a cold because the window has been open for too long?"
Ye Xi gave Sai Xing an appreciative look and said in an even weaker voice:
"I do feel a bit cold. I'm really grateful to Young Master Cao for massaging me. Otherwise, I don't know how much I would have coughed."
Seeing that Ye Xi still praised him even when she was uncomfortable, Cao Sheng smiled even more proudly.
"It's my fault that I didn't take good care of you, Xiao Xi." Cao Sheng softened his voice even more and pretended to be more affectionate:
"Since you're not feeling well, I'll come to visit you another day. You should take good care of yourself. When you're better, I'll pick you up and go to my mansion to have fun."
"Cough... Okay."
Ye Xi didn't want to say more and directly ordered:
"Qing Yuan, see the guest out."