“What are you doing!” She tried to pull her hand back, but couldn't. Annoyed, she glared at him.
Ji Jinmo spoke slowly, his voice betraying no emotion, yet it sent shivers down her spine. "Was it this hand that was touched just now? Or the other one?"
Nan Shiying blinked. So, he was making this cold face because of this?
She felt a mix of amusement and exasperation.
"She's a woman!"
"So?"
Nan Shiying turned her eyes and smiled. "So... you're jealous?"
Ji Jinmo hummed in a non-committal way. Nan Shiying had expected him to argue, but he admitted it so casually. She opened her mouth, unsure of what to say.
Ji Jinmo caressed Nan Shiying's hand, his voice as gentle as feathers brushing across water, sending ripples that reached Nan Shiying's heart. "Brewing vinegar!"
He wasn't eating it, but brewing vinegar in his heart.
It was sour from the inside out.
Nan Shiying looked at him, noticing a faint flush on his usually cool face, a blush that extended to his earlobes. A mischievous impulse seized her, and she reached out to pinch his earlobe.
Ji Jinmo trembled slightly. His slightly lifted phoenix eyes deepened. Nan Shiying almost drowned in his profound gaze and froze for several seconds. As the face before her magnified infinitely in her eyes, she suddenly snapped back to reality, only managing to lower her head.
Her forehead brushed against Ji Jinmo's chin. Ji Jinmo lowered his head in response, his straight nose burying itself in Nan Shiying's hair. The scent of iris flowers filled his nostrils, spreading instantly. He nuzzled her head with his nose, his thin lips softly kissing her hair.
Nan Shiying's heart began to pound violently, like a lost fawn running wild within her.
"Yin'er's hands are beautiful!" he suddenly said.
Nan Shiying's expression stiffened. She abruptly raised her head. The little fawn in her heart was no longer running wild; it had rushed straight to her head!
Nan Shiying glared at him!
Ji Jinmo continued slowly, "They would look even better cut off!"
Nan Shiying: "..."
Nan Shiying moved her lips. She felt it was best not to speak up for Yin'er, lest this petty man actually chop off Yin'er's hands. Yin'er's hands were so tender and smooth; it would be a shame to cut them off!
She let out a hmph. Her hand was held by Ji Jinmo, and she couldn't pull it back, so she stopped trying. Leaning back, she rested against the carriage, ignoring him.
Ji Jinmo let out a low laugh, holding Nan Shiying's hand, and leaned against the carriage shoulder to shoulder with her.
Silence fell within the carriage for a moment.
The carriage stopped at the main entrance of the Prince's manor. Nan Shiying, under the guise of Feng Luan's identity, swaggered into the manor.
It felt so good not to have to climb over walls!
...
Nan Shiying slept soundly without dreams, waking up naturally.
The servants in the Xinyuan Pavilion were accustomed to this. After all, the ladies in the manor were either mad or dead. The only relatively normal one, Madam Xinyang, had also shut herself in her courtyard and refused to come out. The Princess Consort didn't need to pay respects, and no one else did either. Apart from the Prince, no one could control the Princess Consort. Even the Prince doted on her endlessly, so why would he manage her?
Green Wan heard movement in the room and then entered with a basin of water. After serving Nan Shiying and helping her wash, Green Wan took the basin out. Bai Zhi entered carrying a food container that was half her height.
"Your Highness, the small kitchen has developed new dishes." Bai Zhi placed the food container on the table and began serving the dishes one by one. At a glance, there were over ten plates. The plates were new purchases from the kitchen, milky white with orchid patterns. Nan Shiying looked at the plates, her gaze falling on one of them.
Green Wan, with her usual sharp eye, scooped some of the food from the plate into Nan Shiying's small dish.
Nan Shiying did not pick up her chopsticks. Instead, she picked up the plate, tipped the food from it onto another dish, turned the plate over, tapped the bottom, and then applied force with her finger, prying open the bottom of the plate. It revealed a second layer, a hidden compartment containing a note.
Nan Shiying took out the note and unfolded it. It read: "Tomorrow, at Wei Shi, at Jinxiang Jewelry Shop on Yunlan Street!"
Nan Shiying handed the note to Green Wan. Green Wan's brows immediately furrowed, and her eyes flashed with sternness.
"Your Highness, it's the small kitchen..."
"Who is in charge of procurement?" Nan Shiying asked.
"It's Granny Liu!" Bai Zhi replied. The procurement for the small kitchen was a lucrative position. Granny Liu was an old servant of the Prince's manor, so when the Xinyuan Pavilion's small kitchen started operating, this task was assigned to her.
"Your Highness, should we interrogate her?" Green Wan asked.
Nan Shiying tapped her fingers on the table. After a moment of thought, she asked, "Does Granny Liu have children?"
"Yes, she has two sons, both serving in the manor!" Granny Liu's two sons had always helped her with procurement, but since the younger son had other duties, the elder son handled more. If there was a problem, Granny Liu's entire family would need to be interrogated!
"Have Jia Huan go and probe for information, see which of her sons procured items from which shop. It's not necessarily a spy in the manor; it's possible for such a note to be placed in the plate beforehand!"
"Right..."
Nan Shiying thought for a moment, then added, "Have Xuan Yi find Xuan Wei and secretly monitor Granny Liu and the others. If this is a spy, perhaps we can catch something in the process!"
"Yes!"
Green Wan received the order and went out to find Jia Huan and Xuan Yi.
Only then did Nan Shiying pick up her chopsticks and begin to eat. As Bai Zhi served the food, she asked curiously, "Your Highness, is it the Nan Manor?"
Nan Shiying nodded noncommittally. "It is the Nan Manor!"
"Will you go?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
"Your Highness, I don't quite understand. The note clearly states tomorrow. Logically, it should have been placed today, but why do you say it might have been placed in advance?"
Nan Shiying glanced at Bai Zhi and praised, "Not bad, you're starting to use your brain!"
Bai Zhi chuckled and flattered, "It's all due to Your Highness's excellent teaching!"
"You!" Nan Shiying poked her finger at her and then explained with a smile, "It says tomorrow, but what if someone at the jewelry shop is waiting every day?"
Bai Zhi blinked, not quite understanding.
Nan Shiying shook her head. "If someone is waiting at the shop every day, then what's the difference between today, tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow?"
Bai Zhi scratched her head, trying to comprehend. "You mean, the 'tomorrow' in the note refers to the tomorrow after you see the note, not specifically tomorrow?"
"Yes, that's what it means!"
"So that's why you said perhaps the note was placed there long ago!"
"This servant understands!"