Outside the window, the breeze was gentle and the moon was bright. Inside the room, it was pitch - black and quiet. The two people just stared at each other in silence, not knowing what to say for a moment.
Qin Junxing looked at the girl hidden in the darkness. He took two steps forward and stood by the window. "The moonlight is really nice tonight. I'll take you out to have a look."
If it had been before, Xie Fengran would have unhesitatingly kicked the person out, but tonight...
She looked around, lifted her skirt, stepped on the chair by the window, and stood on the windowsill. Apparently, she was going to jump out of the window in an unusual way!
Qin Junxing was stunned at first, then a smile spread across his lips. He reached out his hand to hold Xie Fengran around the waist and lifted her down.
"I'll surely live up to Ranran's friendship of attempting to jump out of the window at night!"
Xie Fengran didn't know why she had been so impulsive. However, "That's not necessary. You can just take back the things you sent here."
The jade jewelry was too precious. No matter what Qin Junxing's intention was, she couldn't accept it!
"The things I send out will never be taken back," Qin Junxing knew that this excuse couldn't deceive her, but how could he take back the things he had gone to so much trouble to give!
He quickly changed the topic. "Come on. The third floor of Lingfeng Teahouse is the best place to enjoy the moon."
Saying that, without caring whether Xie Fengran was willing or not, he directly carried her, gathered his inner energy, stepped on the trees, and leaped out of Tingfeng Courtyard.
"Qin Junxing!"
The sudden sense of weightlessness made Xie Fengran instinctively grab the person in front of her.
After a few leaps, they landed on the roof of Lingfeng Teahouse.
Qin Junxing put her down and said, "We're here!"
Xie Fengran didn't suspect anything. She quickly let go of her hand, straightened up, and said, "I'm telling you, you... Ah!"
The tile under her foot loosened, and she let out a scream instantly.
Qin Junxing shook his head and smiled. He steadied her and said, "Why are you in such a hurry, Ranran?"
"You, you, you. Hurry up and let me down!" Xie Fengran tightly grabbed Qin Junxing's arm, glanced downstairs twice, and quickly averted her eyes.
"Be good, Ranran. Don't look down. Look up instead."
Xie Fengran closed her eyes and then opened them again. She looked in the direction Qin Junxing was pointing.
Among the twinkling stars, a full moon hung high.
The gentle breeze blew, and the clouds billowed. The moon seemed to break through the clouds and hang right above the two of them. It seemed out of reach, but at a certain moment, it felt within reach!
"Qin Junxing... It's so beautiful!"
Xie Fengran stared blankly until the moon was covered by the clouds, then she looked away.
Qin Junxing smiled and led her down. A table had been reserved for them on the third floor.
Although it was the fifteenth day of the lunar month, Lingfeng Teahouse was still brightly lit and bustling with noise!
The storyteller in the evening was a man in his thirties. He was wearing a long gown, looking a bit dull like a scholar, but his words were incisive.
The loves and hatreds written by Xie Fengran took on a different mood when spoken from his mouth!
After listening for a while, Xie Fengran looked away and turned to the person sitting opposite her. "Does the prince - county have something to tell me today?"
Qin Junxing didn't deny it. He played with the cup in his hand for a few times, then suddenly looked up and said seriously, "Ranran, Monk Yuanning admitted that he has the imperial grandmother's imperial edict in his hand. He also promised that if one day I expose the Wang family's true face, he will present the edict with his own hands."
Half a month ago, when the Protectorate Temple was surrounded, Xie Fengran knew that he would surely achieve his goal. But hearing him say it with her own ears still made her feel incredible.
"Why is Monk Yuanning willing to help you?"
Qin Junxing curled his lips and said disdainfully, "That bald donkey has a guilty conscience!"
"Guilty conscience?"
Qin Junxing waved his hand. He didn't want to dwell on this issue and continued, "The Wang family has done many evil deeds. My people have investigated the Wang family thoroughly in the capital over the years. That Teacher Wang offended you. Tomorrow, I'll start with him. What do you think, Ranran?"
Xie Fengran was stunned. "You... You don't have to do this!"
"Ranran, don't worry. I'll settle accounts with those who bullied you one by one. I'll never let you be wronged!"
Xie Fengran seemed to be seeing this person for the first time!
In the past, Qin Junxing was arrogant but also a bit cautious. Now, after peeling off that layer of timidity, his true unruly nature was revealed.
Xie Fengran wasn't surprised. An eagle soaring in the northern desert could never become a sparrow in the capital, no matter how well it pretended. The one on the dragon throne thought he could control this person.
But he never thought that one day he would be bitten back!
However, this person... "Your Highness, I'm just a little woman. I'm not worth such treatment from you. It's getting late. Please send someone to take me back. I'll send the things back tomorrow."
"Ranran, are you trying to draw a clear line from me?"
"..."
"Ranran, why don't you believe that I really want to marry you?"
Xie Fengran was silent for a moment, then said, "Your Highness is a person who is going to achieve great things. I can't keep up with your steps, nor do I want to hold you back. Please fulfill my wish."
"Who should I fulfill? You and the Crown Prince?"
A glint of gloom flashed in Qin Junxing's eyes. "Xie Fengran, don't even think about it. You can only marry me in this lifetime!"
Xie Fengran was so angry that she laughed. "What? Does the prince - county want to rob me by force? You truly live up to your bandit nature!"
"Xie Fengran!" Qin Junxing gritted his teeth, wishing he could grab this little woman and beat her up!
It was a pity that this girl was neither his subordinate nor his enemy, but the person he wanted to marry. So he could only glare at her angrily.
After a while, he softened his tone and persuaded, "Ranran, the Crown Prince wishes he could stick to you all the time. If you don't marry him, no one else dares to marry you except me."
"Moreover, if the Wang family falls and the emperor still favors the Crown Prince, he may very well agree to your marriage with the Crown Prince. Then you can only use the excuse that you can't get married during your time at the women's college to delay. But you'll still have to marry the Crown Prince after three years."
"Ranran, the Crown Prince is not a good match!"
Xie Fengran gave him a sidelong glance. "Is the prince - county a good match then?"
"Of course. If you marry me, I'll never let you be wronged in the slightest. From now on, anyone who dares to bully you has to ask my permission first." After thinking for a while, he added, "Including the Old Lady Xie and the Marquis Xie!"
"..." "Then I really have to thank the marquis!" Xie Fengran gritted her teeth and suddenly asked, "Does the prince - county have no intention of vying for that position at all?"
"Ranran, you don't need to test me. I'm not interested in rebellion!"
Xie Fengran looked away and pondered over Qin Junxing's words.
The Crown Prince had been in the emperor's favor for so many years and hadn't been too partial to the Wang family. It was unlikely that the emperor would depose the Crown Prince because of the Wang family's matter.
Then...
"Ranran, I know you don't like scheming. So this time, I'll respect your decision!"