Chapter 126: A Fortunate Accident

Although Lan Shui had mentally prepared herself, having her suspicions confirmed by Lian Yue left her in disbelief. The little girl she had always watched over had grown up, and her heart had begun to stir for someone.

Lan Shui did not answer immediately. Instead, she asked earnestly, "Yue'er, before I tell you anything, I want you to think carefully: is this feeling you have for him truly affection, or is it just because he amused you when you were bored? Or is it because he always appeared when you needed him most, or perhaps something else entirely?"

Lan Shui listed the possibilities one by one, as she was still uncertain who exactly had captured Lian Yue’s heart.

"Does it have to be categorized into so many types?" Lian Yue was bewildered, beginning to ponder Lan Shui's words seriously. Was it because he amused her when she was bored? It seemed he rarely spoke, yet being with him was truly joyful.

He appeared when she needed him. In the forest, he would clear away anything that frightened her. When she was hungry, he always prepared delicious food. He would meticulously arrange her bedding, and every time she woke up in the middle of the night, the campfire was still burning, and he was always within her line of sight.

He also tirelessly taught her the basics of swordplay.

Moreover, Lian Yue believed that if her elder brothers or Sister Lan were by her side, they would treat her the same way. Perhaps it was only because they had been strangers that she paid such close attention to him.

Lian Yue felt confused herself. "I just want to see him. Even if he doesn't say a word, just like before, as long as he is by my side, I feel at ease. Sister Lan, you just need to tell me if this is 'liking' someone. Yue'er really doesn't know how to describe it."

Lian Yue's description immediately ruled out Qiao Zhi and steered Lan Shui's thoughts toward Yuwen Lingxi (Xiao). She had not expected that even though her mother had been worried about Lian Yue's marriage before she passed, Lian Yue would ultimately choose Yuwen Lingxi (Xiao). Lan Shui did not yet realize that her blind guess had hit the mark, though she could not have known that the Yuwen Lingxi they were interacting with was actually Yuwen Lingxiao, who had been presumed dead for over a decade, while the real Yuwen Lingxi was An Ming, the person currently occupying Lian Yue’s thoughts.

Lan Shui weighed her words, trying to be as gentle and tactful as possible. "Whether it is 'liking' cannot be decided so quickly, but it is certain that you are fond of him. He may seem cold-hearted, but in truth, he has been very good to you."

Lian Yue’s mind went blank again. How did Sister Lan know these things? Had she accidentally spoken in her sleep and been overheard? At the thought, the tips of her ears turned red. Her response was soft and hesitant. "Sister Lan, you know everything."

Watching her shy expression, Lan Shui’s eyes and tone were full of doting affection. "I didn't expect I would actually guess right. I originally thought your unnatural behavior whenever you saw him was just embarrassment. I didn't realize this was the reason. Though, come to think of it, your reactions were indeed strange after you met him three years ago."

*What is going on... what is happening... Does Sister Lan think the person I mentioned is Yuwen Lingxi?*

Lian Yue finally realized the misunderstanding. Her ears flushed an even deeper shade of red. She hurriedly interrupted Lan Shui, who was still speaking. "Sister Lan, that’s not who I meant!"

Lan Shui looked puzzled. "Could it be Master Zhou?"

"Not Master Zhou, and not that clingy Prince either! In short, you have seen this person, but you don't know him. My dear sister, every time I see that Yuwen Lingxi, it feels like thousands of ants are crawling all over me. How could you think I... I was talking about him!"

Seeing that Lian Yue’s expression was not one of fear that she might be teased, a black figure flickered into Lan Shui’s mind. The more she thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. "Yue'er, are you talking about the man in black who abducted you?"

As Lian Yue defended herself, she felt a wave of relief that she hadn't been talking in her sleep. But Lan Shui’s words made her gasp, and she stared, stunned, at the anxious woman before her. "Did I really talk in my sleep?"

Lan Shui became even more frantic. It really was that man in black. Who was he? A killer—an assassin from the Rakshasa Palace! People from that place wouldn't blink an eye at taking a life. Lian Yue had nearly lost her life because of him and had spent days in the wilderness. No, this was absolutely unacceptable.

But if Yue'er truly liked him, what could she do? She couldn't stop her; would that not break Yue'er's heart?

Lan Shui pondered the gravity of the situation. "Yue'er, you know he is a killer, an assassin from the Rakshasa Palace. Aren't you afraid of him?"

"I was afraid at first, but he is actually a good person. He didn't hide anything from me and even told me his story. If he had a choice, I believe he wouldn't want to be a killer."

Recalling the story An Ming had told her, Lian Yue felt nothing but heartache.

Lan Shui sighed inwardly. It seemed Yue'er was truly deeply involved. After they had found Lian Yue in the forest, they had asked her many times, but she had never mentioned these things. It appeared Yue'er had known about his identity in the Rakshasa Palace all along but had kept it hidden. She would have to tell Ling Jun about this.

Lan Shui decided not to speak ill of the man in black for now. To a young girl who had just felt the stirrings of love, nothing she said would be believed—Lan Shui knew this from her own experience. For now, she would just probe a little further.

"I didn't say he was a bad person. Although I still cannot forgive him for abducting you, I trust your judgment, Yue'er. If you say he is a good person, then he must be."

Lan Shui’s words caused Lian Yue to set aside her worries, though she grew even more bashful. "Sister Lan..."

Lian Yue’s reaction made Lan Shui even more concerned, but she suppressed the urge to interrogate her further and smiled. "Our little Yue'er is shy, isn't she? It seems it’s more than just simple fondness. I will have to keep a close watch on this!"

Embarrassed by her words, Lian Yue stood up and stomped her foot. "It’s only fondness, and who knows if we’ll ever meet again? I didn't know you could be so mean, Sister Lan. I’m not talking to you anymore!"

With that, she turned and ran off, leaving Lan Shui behind.

Lan Shui waited until Lian Yue had gone some distance before she started to follow. She knew that if she chased her immediately, Lian Yue would only feel more embarrassed. She needed to give her time to compose herself.

As she ran, Lian Yue touched her face; it was burning hot. She knew her face must be bright red. She truly liked An Ming. She hadn't expected to be tricked into admitting it by Sister Lan. If they asked her about An Ming’s identity, what should she say? Would her brothers be angry at her for keeping it from them?

Lost in her thoughts, Lian Yue wasn't paying attention to the path ahead. *Thump!* She crashed into a wall of human flesh and stumbled backward.

Qiao Zhi had been looking for Lian Yue. He had seen her rushing from afar and had intentionally blocked her path, but he hadn't expected her to actually run into him. He quickly reached out to steady her.

Lian Yue took a few steps back and used Qiao Zhi’s arm to steady herself. Recognizing the culprit by the fan in his hand, she said angrily, "Don't you look where you're going, Your Highness? You must have done that on purpose!"

She had been walking with her head down, so her forehead had made intimate contact with Qiao Zhi. She rubbed her head with her small hand and looked up to protest indignantly.

Qiao Zhi’s smile froze on his face when he saw Lian Yue’s flushed, pretty face. He lost his focus entirely. The Lian Yue before him, with her almond-shaped eyes filled with anger and her cheeks flushed, possessed an indescribable charm. Just looking at her was a pleasure.

Qiao Zhi felt the scenery around him shift; in his field of vision, there was only Lian Yue.

Lian Yue had expected Qiao Zhi to tease her, but he just stood there, dumbfounded. Had she accidentally struck an acupuncture point that turned him into a fool? But she had never heard of any such point.

Tentatively, she poked Qiao Zhi’s arm with her hand. No reaction. She tried pinching him lightly, but still, nothing. Increasing her strength, she gave his arm a fierce twist.

"Ah!" Lost in his own world, Qiao Zhi finally felt the sharp pain in his arm and let out a cry.