Publish Time: 2026-07-06 07:32:00
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«Chapter 545: The Confused and Dazed Ruyi
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“She said, ‘I need some time…'”
After saying this, Miss Ruyi hugged Lihua tightly and went out.
This seemed even harder for her to accept than when she first learned monsters existed.
Seeing Miss Ruyi leave,
Ying En turned back. “Ying En thinks… she scared Miss Ruyi.”
Chen Changsheng replied, “It’s good for her to witness more things.”
Ying En then asked, “Uncle Chen, you mean…”
Chen Changsheng said, “Certain matters remain in her own hands.”
Ying En nodded. “Uncle Chen is a very kind person.”
“Huh?”
“It’s nothing.”
Ying En smiled, then stood up. “Then Ying En won’t stay longer. Uncle Chen, if you’re ever free, please come visit the Dragon Palace for tea. Father often mentions wanting to drink with Uncle Chen.”
“Certainly. Let me walk you out.”
Chen Changsheng stood and escorted her to the door.
…
It was mid-morning. Zhishu had steamed some sweet date cakes earlier, which turned out delicious. Even Hong Jin, who usually avoided meals, ate two slices.
Yun Xiang thought Mr. Chen might like them too, so she placed some in a food box to take to him.
Right after stepping outside, she heard a woman’s voice.
Looking toward the sound, she saw a stunningly beautiful girl with an ethereal air walk out of the small courtyard opposite hers—
with Mr. Chen beside her.
Yun Xiang froze, suddenly flustered.
Feeling eyes on her, Ying En glanced back. She saw an older woman holding a food box, staring blankly at her.
Chen Changsheng noticed Yun Xiang. “Miss Yun, heading out?”
Snapping back to reality, Yun Xiang forced a weak smile. “It’s… nothing.”
Without another word, she retreated into her courtyard.
As the gate closed behind her, Ying En seemed to grasp the situation.
“She’s so fortunate,” she murmured.
Then, she immediately bid farewell: “Uncle Chen, I’ll take my leave now,” giving Chen Changsheng no chance to respond.
Helpless, he opened his mouth. “Safe travels.”
After the Dragon Princess left the alley, Chen Changsheng’s gaze lingered on the closed gate opposite him.
Inside, Yun Xiang leaned against the door, food box still clutched.
Only when the outside fell silent did her swirling thoughts begin to calm.
Questions flooded her mind:
Who was that girl?
How could anyone be that beautiful?
Her hand drifted unconsciously to her own face, fingertips tracing the clear wrinkles at her eyes—years of hardship etched into her skin.
Uneasy, she glanced down at the ornate box in her other hand, feeling lost.
What if…
She dared not finish the thought, yet knew she held no right to question anything about the man opposite her.
Just then, a knock sounded.
“Miss Yun? Are you there?”
Chen Changsheng’s voice called out.
Yun Xiang jolted back to awareness. She reached to open the door, but her hand paused.
Even without an answer, Chen Changsheng could sense her presence behind the wood.
He spoke: “I’m trusted friends with the Dragon Lord of Tongtian River. The young lady before was the Dragon Lord’s daughter. She brought me some herbs on her father’s behalf.”
He paused, waiting for any response.
Behind the door, Yun Xiang blinked.
She hadn’t expected him to offer an explanation.
Her already tangled emotions tightened further.
Why explain at all?
Was this… meant for me?
Biting her lip, she suddenly flushed bright red.
Unconsciously, a smile bloomed across her face—dazed, almost silly.
All her worries melted away.
Too shy to open the door or reply, she stayed hidden in silence.
Moments later, sensing no movement outside, she peeked through a crack. Seeing no one, she cautiously opened the gate.
The instant she turned—
Chen Changsheng stood right beside her.
Yun Xiang’s cheeks burned crimson.
“Miss Yun.”
Flustered, Yun Xiang’s eyes dropped to her hands. She impulsively thrust out the food box.
“D-date cakes. Very tasty.”
Chen Changsheng stared in surprise but accepted it.
Panicking, Yun Xiang slammed the door shut.
BAM! The just-opened gate closed firmly.
In that hurried moment, he clearly saw the blush staining her cheeks.
As he recovered from the shock, he looked down at the warm box in his hands.
A chuckle escaped him. He faced the closed gate.
“Thank you, Miss Yun.”
Hearing no reply, he didn’t linger, taking the box to his own courtyard.
Behind the shut door, Yun Xiang pressed her flaming face against the wood.
Her fingers nervously twisted her clothes, eyes wide and lost—
just like decades before in Tang Manor, when she’d been merely a blushing, inexperienced maid caught making a mistake: flustered red cheeks, clutched clothes, lowered head…
After some time, she finally steadied her breathing.
Remembering Mr. Chen’s purposeful explanation, she giggled softly to herself.
“Heh…”
Her smile froze.
Lifting her head, she found two people staring at her—
Zhishu and Yu Hongjin had appeared silently.
“Ah!”
Yun Xiang jumped, heart pounding like her secret had been discovered. “Y-you… why are you here…?”
Yu Hongjin watched her with narrowed, suspicious eyes, stepping closer.
“You’re acting weird.”
Yun Xiang couldn’t meet her gaze. “I… I’m not.”
“Really?” Yu Hongjin pressed forward.
“I’m not!” Yun Xiang insisted, still turned away.
Even Zhishu seemed puzzled behind them.
This wasn’t at all like her lady.
For the first time in years, Zhishu glimpsed the young mistress she’d known over a decade ago.
Just as Yu Hongjin prepared another question, Yun Xiang blurted:
“I… I’m sleepy! Going upstairs to rest!”
She brushed past both without looking back and hurried up the stairs.
“Miss, be careful!” Zhishu called out uselessly as Yun Xiang vanished from sight.
Yu Hongjin scratched her head, baffled. “Sleep? But it’s barely morning…”
Seeing Hong Jin’s confusion, Zhishu smiled softly, patting the little one’s head. “Little Miss wouldn’t understand. But our lady… has matters on her mind now.”
“What matters?” Yu Hongjin asked. “What could worry Sister Yun?”
Zhishu just smiled. “Zhishu doesn’t know either.”
She certainly couldn’t tell the Little Miss.
But Zhishu guessed easily: it surely, completely, involved Mr. Chen from across the alley.
Yu Hongjin frowned, trying to puzzle it out. Giving up, she shook her head and skipped out, thoughts entirely occupied by which wine shop to visit today.
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