Outside, Qing Li worriedly glanced toward Xie Yi’s room. “I wonder how my lord is doing…”
Song Lü looked confused. “How what?”
Qing Li snapped, “Didn’t you see his expression when he came back? I’ve never seen him look that bad before.”
Song Lü scratched his head. “Doesn’t he always look like that?”
“Ow!” Another smack landed on his head.
“You understand nothing!” Qing Li lowered her voice. “The Xie family elders are stubborn as rocks. They must have made things difficult for him. And with the Madam gone… my lord is probably grieving alone in his room…”
“Huh?” Song Lü still didn’t get it. “Are we talking about the same lord?”
“Ow!”
“…Fine, fine,” Song Lü muttered. “Then what do we do?”
Qing Li glanced at the half-open window.
Song Lü widened his eyes. “Spying on the lord? Are you trying to die?”
Qing Li hesitated. “Just one look.”
“…Then I’ll—”
Before he could finish, both of them crept under the window.
And saw Xie Yi spreading his arms, as if holding someone in his embrace.
Qing Li: “!!!”
Song Lü: “!!!”
A sharp gust of wind slammed the window shut.
Song Lü stared blankly. “My eyes must be going bad… the doctor said I should eat less sweets…”
Qing Li forced herself to stay calm. “Mine too. Probably overworked.”
They looked at each other and nodded solemnly.
Yes. They definitely saw nothing.
—
Inside the room, Lin Zhiji was startled by the sudden window slam: 【W-what happened?】
Xie Yi replied evenly: 【Nothing.】
Lin Zhiji obediently accepted it: “Oh.”
He secretly observed Xie Yi.
The host’s arms were still lifted, loosely encircling the air, strangely obedient in appearance.
Lin Zhiji rolled his eyes and cautiously tested: 【Host, can I have cherry pastries tomorrow?】
Xie Yi paused: 【Alright.】
【Then… can I have Longjing sweet dumplings the day after tomorrow?】
【Alright.】
Lin Zhiji brightened.
He hadn’t expected him to be so easygoing today.
He immediately began listing more and more requests, getting more and more daring.
Xie Yi, surprisingly, agreed to everything.
Listening to the boy’s lively chatter, Xie Yi slowly curled his lips.
【Alright.】
Good.
Now he would have an excuse to never let go.
—
In the following days, Lin Zhiji felt that Xie Yi had become so accommodating it was almost frightening.
Even Qing Li and Song Lü were acting strange.
When Xie Yi suggested going to the temple fair, they hesitated for a long time.
They seemed to want to follow, but were stopped with a single glance.
Qing Li even prepared a purse filled with coins and silver, along with repeated instructions.
When Xie Yi left, they still stood at the gate, watching him with worry.
Lin Zhiji felt uneasy: 【Are they… possessed or something?】
Xie Yi replied calmly: 【Probably just too idle.】
He decided to give them more work when they got back.
Lin Zhiji accepted it and quickly shifted his attention to the temple fair.
He was excited: 【Host, have you ever been to one?】
Xie Yi naturally had not.
Lin Zhiji immediately regretted asking.
So he quickly corrected himself: 【It’s okay! Just follow my lead later.】
—
The capital’s temple fair was held in the open square outside Ci’en Temple.
Even though they arrived early, it was already packed with people.
At the sight of the crowd, Xie Yi frowned slightly.
Lin Zhiji, however, was immediately captivated.
It was indeed the capital—the scale and liveliness were extraordinary.
Colorful stalls lined both sides of the sacred road, vendors calling out loudly, the air filled with the sweet scent of pastries.
A stage was set up before the temple, carrying distant strains of opera singing.
Street performers, fortune tellers, and snack vendors crowded every gap.
Lin Zhiji, who had spent a long time either in hospitals or stuck with Xie Yi amid bloodshed, felt as if he had fallen into a jar of honey.
He joyfully pointed at everything, ordering Xie Yi to buy this and that.
Then he spotted a clay figurine stall.
While he hesitated over which one to choose, a surprised voice suddenly called out: “Benefactor!”
It was Qin Junce.
Ever since Xie Yi decided to take Qin Junce under his wing, he had sent him many study materials.
Qin Junce had been worried about the upcoming imperial exams, but unexpectedly, his benefactor had solved his problems for him.
Grateful, he had been studying diligently ever since.
Today, he was coincidentally out at the temple fair with his younger brother Qin Xuezhou.
He never expected to run into Xie Yi here.
And—
He looked at the many trinkets dangling in Xie Yi’s hands, surprised. He hadn’t expected his benefactor to like such things.
He pulled his brother over and squeezed closer. “Benefactor! What a coincidence! Are you alone? Let’s go together!”
Xie Yi gave a faint acknowledgment.
Qin Junce scratched his head. For some reason, he felt a chill from his benefactor just now.
But he didn’t think much of it and quickly started chatting enthusiastically.
Lin Zhiji glanced at Qin Xuezhou.
Perhaps because of his past illness, he tended to pay more attention to those who looked unwell.
Qin Xuezhou, despite his yellowish disguise, still had delicate features, and though he looked weak, his condition was clearly much better than before.
Before he could look longer, Xie Yi casually turned his body to block Qin Junce’s line of sight and asked lightly:
“The imperial exam is near. How are your preparations?”
Cen Junce’s expression turned solemn: “I have not yet thanked benefactor. If not for benefactor’s assistance, I fear I would have had no hope of entering the examinations in this lifetime. Such a reborn grace from benefactor, Junce will never forget even in death.”
Xie Yi said indifferently: “No need for this. Just a small effort.”
After speaking, he even offered him a few words of encouragement.
Cen Junce originally already felt overwhelming gratitude toward him; after this exchange, he even felt like he would willingly give his life for him.
Lin Zhiji said in shock: 【Host, I didn’t expect you to actually be this good at talking!】
After all, since he bound with Xie Yi, he had hardly heard a single human-sounding sentence from him.
Xie Yi replied lightly: 【If you’re done walking around, we’ll head back now.】
Lin Zhiji, who was still excited: …
He angrily shut his mouth.
Really—just after praising him for speaking like a human, he immediately stopped being human.
Cen Junce was still enthusiastically inviting Xie Yi to travel together, but Cen Xuezhou suddenly pulled him back: “Brother, aren’t you going to the calligraphy and painting shop later?”
Cen Junce was confused: “When did I say I was going…”
Before he could finish, Cen Xuezhou interrupted him and instead said to Xie Yi: “Benefactor, I heard from a few aunties that under the largest willow tree by the river, there is a shop selling tofu pudding, and it is very delicious, and also…”
Lin Zhiji was both surprised and delighted.
This was exactly what it meant to have a pillow delivered when one was dozing off.
He had originally been thinking that today he would not make things difficult for Xie Yi’s stomach, but since Xie Yi had just threatened him, he would make him eat it.
After all, the feeling of enjoying food while the fat was not on himself—was simply too wonderful.
Speaking of which, ever since Xie Yi had intentionally or unintentionally been indulgent, he had secretly looked at Xie Yi’s abdominal muscles every day.
Then, both envious and relieved, he discovered: damn it! They were still there!
He also didn’t know where all that food he ate went.
Lin Zhiji had originally been thinking that with so many food stalls around, he didn’t know which ones were good—but unexpectedly, Cen Xuezhou had actually summarized them all.
Lin Zhiji said very experiencedly to Xie Yi: 【Aunties and uncles are all food trend indicators. Listening to him won’t go wrong! As expected, good-looking people are popular wherever they go…】
Xie Yi’s gaze instantly turned colder.
Cen Xuezhou slightly shrank back, then paused and sped up his speech: “Then we won’t disturb benefactor. Benefactor, please go ahead.”
After Xie Yi left, Cen Junce finally asked in confusion: “Why did you just lie to benefactor and say I was going to the calligraphy shop?”
Cen Xuezhou said softly: “Brother, haven’t you noticed that benefactor dislikes traveling with others?”
“Ah? Is that so?” Cen Junce was blank for a moment, then reacted, “Wait, how did you know benefactor likes food?”
He had previously also asked Qingli about benefactor’s preferences, but Qingli kept her mouth shut, and he didn’t find out anything.
“I don’t know,” Cen Xuezhou bit his lip, “I was only guessing.”
Cen Junce stroked his chin thoughtfully: “I previously found it strange. Benefactor clearly has such a kind heart, yet Miss Qingli always seems somewhat afraid of him. Now I understand—benefactor is still young, and probably likes food and little trinkets, but fears losing authority in front of subordinates, so he deliberately pretends to be cold and unapproachable…”
Cen Xuezhou’s expression was indescribable, and after hesitating for a moment he said: “Brother, in the future you…”
Before he could finish, a scream suddenly came from behind them, followed by a shrill neigh of a horse.
Cen Xuezhou instinctively turned around, and saw a panicked horse charging straight forward, trampling and smashing stalls along the way. On the horse was a richly dressed young nobleman, his face full of terror as he desperately pulled the reins—but it was useless.
In the middle of the road, there was an unknown child standing there blankly, about to be trampled under the hooves.
Suddenly, a figure swept past like a hawk, scooping the child into his arms and narrowly avoiding the horse’s hooves.
Before Cen Junce could react, a child was suddenly thrown into his arms.
Then he saw Xie Yi grab the reins, veins bulging on the back of his hand, and actually forcefully stopped the panicked horse, then violently slammed it to the ground.
The horse and the rider were smashed onto the ground together, making a dull impact sound.
The horse let out a painful neigh, then went silent.
At that moment, a group of guards rushed over. Seeing the young nobleman thrown to the ground, they were frightened out of their minds.
They hurriedly rushed forward to help him up, while the remaining guards surrounded Xie Yi.
The young nobleman, dazed from the fall, glared fiercely at Xie Yi: “You commoner! You actually injured this young master, how bold!”
Seeing the domineering nobleman and the murderous-looking guards, the surrounding crowd unconsciously stepped back.
The child’s mother who originally wanted to speak for Xie Yi was also covered by her husband: “Do you want to die!”
Lin Zhiji’s joy from saving someone instantly turned cold.
Even though he rationally knew this was human nature, he still felt a chill, and could not help but feel a trace of heartache for Xie Yi.
Xie Yi, however, did not care at all, and only asked Lin Zhiji: 【Did the points come in?】
Lin Zhiji froze for a moment.
Just now, when he saw the child in danger, he subconsciously shouted to save him and did not pay attention to any task or points. He had not expected Xie Yi to assume he saved the child for a mission.
Lin Zhiji hesitated only briefly before firmly replying: 【They came in!】
Xie Yi responded, then turned and prepared to leave.
The young nobleman did not expect him to be so arrogant, completely disregarding him, and shouted angrily: “Stop! Quickly! Kill him for me!”
The guards, already worried about punishment for failing to protect him, immediately drew their blades and walked toward Xie Yi.
Cen Junce saw this and quickly pushed his younger brother aside, about to rush forward to help.
But before he could take a step, Xie Yi had already ended the fight.
The group of burly guards were already scattered on the ground, groaning in pain.
Xie Yi impatiently lowered his eyes and let out a soft “tsk.”
Dealing with this in public was troublesome; he still had to control his strength.
The young nobleman could not believe his eyes, but still refused to give up: “You ignorant fool! Do you know who I am!”
Lin Zhiji rolled his eyes: 【Ninety-nine percent of cannon fodder say this line when they open their mouth. Can they have any creativity!】
Xie Yi couldn’t help laughing at his disgusted tone, and the faint irritation in his chest immediately dissipated.
“I am the young marquis of the Zhaode Marquis Residence! The emperor’s current crown prince’s cousin! If you treat me like this, I will have my cousin execute your entire nine clans!”
Xie Yi’s steps paused.
Lin Zhiji: !!!
Xie Yi turned around and walked toward the young marquis.
The young marquis thought he was afraid now and said proudly: “Now you know fear? Too late! Unless you cut off your own leg, I might consider sparing your life…”
Before he could finish speaking, he was kicked down by Xie Yi.
“You… you’re insane!”
Xie Yi looked down at him condescendingly, then stepped down.
Accompanied by a “crack” of bone breaking.
The young marquis clutched his leg and let out a heartbreaking scream.