Volume One, Chapter 19: Could He Have Misunderstood?

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Lin Sheng broke out in a cold sweat at Zhou Xunli’s words—after all, he had directly detained the man and taken him straight to the Judicial Office! He had already resorted to harsh methods; if the evidence turned out to be insufficient and the higher-ups blamed him, he would be in serious trouble.

“Prefect, then this…” Lin Sheng saw Zhou Xunli playing with the tea cup in his hand, still not responding. Growing anxious, he tried to ask another question.

Before he could speak, there was a knock at the door. A young guard bowed and reported, “Sir, there is a young lady outside requesting an audience, saying she’s here to repay a favor.”

“Show her in,” Zhou Xunli said, pausing his fingers and setting down the multicolored glass cup—a fresh novelty from the Western Regions, a birthday gift from the Second Prince.

“Sir, you’re not even asking who it is?” Lin Sheng scratched his head and asked curiously.

Zhou Xunli glanced at him, his sharp eyebrows lifting slightly, a trace of disdain flickering in his cold, jade-like eyes. “Who else but her? After two years as deputy envoy, you should have learned something.”

Lin Sheng cursed himself for speaking out of turn. Indeed, who else in the capital would dare provoke the cold-hearted Prefect of the capital’s governor’s office except Miss Xie San?

Last year, during the Lantern Festival, the youngest daughter of the Wang family had merely brushed against Zhou Xunli’s sleeve, and he had instantly drawn a dagger to cut the cloth, causing the delicate beauty to cry and run away.

Tsk, when it came to matters of affection, the Prefect was truly thick-headed—he would never understand in this lifetime.

“I’m foolish, very foolish,” Lin Sheng chuckled awkwardly, then respectfully bowed, “I shall take my leave now.”

“Mm,” Zhou Xunli nodded slightly.

As Lin Sheng stepped out, he happened to collide with Xie Shu entering, and was struck by her unexpected radiance.

Gone was the startling red bridal gown from the morning; now she wore a plum blossom-patterned jacket of deep sapphire brocade, thin and close-fitting, with a plain armored vest cinched tightly at the waist, revealing her graceful figure.

Against the backdrop of pure white snow, that splash of sapphire truly dazzled the eye.

“Miss Xie San, what a coincidence to see you again!” Lin Sheng’s heart fluttered at the sight of her, and he spoke smoothly with a flattering tone.

Xie Shu did not mind in the slightest; after all, they were destined to meet often in the future. She nodded gracefully, “Deputy Prefect Lin, perhaps this is a fate cultivated over several lifetimes.”

“Ha ha, perhaps, perhaps.” Lin Sheng smiled so broadly his eyes narrowed to slits.

But as he brushed past Xie Shu and prepared to descend the steps, an inexplicable chill crept over his back.

Why did it feel so eerie behind him?

The room where Zhou Xunli conducted his daily investigations was small.

Their few words at the door had clearly entered his ears.

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Fate?

How laughable. If he hadn’t sent Lin Sheng, how would he have had the chance to meet her?

When Xie Shu entered and looked up, she immediately saw the other’s face pale, his expression dark and troubled.

“Lord Zhou, are you facing some difficult matter?” Before she finished speaking, Xie Shu glanced at the green willow standing behind.

The green willow promptly handed her the fox fur coat neatly folded, then turned and left the room, closing the wooden door tightly behind her.

The room was silent. Warm steam rose gently from the brazier, spreading slowly in the confined space, wrapping the two in a comforting warmth. Xie Shu stepped lightly, surveying the surroundings before focusing on Zhou Xunli’s cold, jade-like face.

One had to admit, the scholar personally appointed by His Majesty was quite handsome.

That face was worthy of her eldest sister.

No—no man in this world was worthy of her eldest sister.

Xie Shu scolded herself inwardly. What was she thinking?

“You seem quite familiar with Deputy Lin,” Zhou Xunli said, not answering her question, but rather making an ambiguous remark.

The tone was half a question, half a statement.

It aroused suspicion.

Xie Shu pondered for a moment. In her previous life, she had never met Zhou Xunli and knew nothing of his character. Judging by that tone, she guessed: perhaps he disliked her having much contact with the people of the capital’s governor’s office? That made sense. Given her current status, anyone who associated too much with her might lose their head.

With that thought, Xie Shu chuckled softly and replied casually, “Whether I’m familiar or not depends on your lordship’s will, doesn’t it?”

The flattering tone mirrored exactly the one she used earlier with Lin Sheng.

As expected, women were always actors. Zhou Xunli thought silently.

“However, I’d rather be more familiar with Lord Zhou,” Xie Shu said, placing the fox fur coat on the table in front of him, atop several spread-out documents.

She lifted her toes slightly, twisted her slender waist with a graceful motion, and leaned sideways in the chair opposite Zhou Xunli. Her fingertips traced the collar of the fur coat, sliding along the table’s edge, then directly onto his sleeve, her thumb lightly twirling in the crook of his arm.

A faint tingling sensation spread instantly through his body.

Truly, this was shameless!

Was the General’s mansion that careless in raising its daughters? Didn’t Xie Ying care at all?

Zhou Xunli gripped Xie Shu’s right hand firmly. A flicker of anger sparked in his deep, ink-colored pupils. “Crown Princess, conduct yourself with dignity.”

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Tsk, how boring.

She had only been captivated by his good looks and acted on a whim to tease him.

She had heard before that Zhou Xunli was indifferent to women. It seemed true.

Well then, she was more than willing to play the beauty’s game!

“Judging by your words, Lord Zhou, I merely happened to find a strand of hair,” Xie Shu said, twirling the hair between her fingertips and presenting it before his eyes—it was indeed a strand of jet-black hair.

Her grip loosened slightly.

“Phew—” Xie Shu parted her red lips, warm breath brushing past his nose. She raised her eyes, a triumphant smile gleaming within them. “Prefect, look.”

The rising inflection on “Prefect” was as soft and plaintive as a stray kitten begging for food.

A wave of heat surged from below, rushing straight to his head.

Zhou Xunli instinctively averted his gaze. No woman had ever dared to be so bold before him.

“Get off.”

With a sharp command, Zhou Xunli withdrew his arm, his wide robe concealing the tumult within his heart.

His movement was too sudden. Xie Shu’s hand, still lightly tugging on his sleeve, was caught unprepared by the abrupt pull. She lost her balance and slid down, landing squarely on Zhou Xunli’s lap.

“Ah!”

Xie Shu exclaimed.

Caught off guard, she fell against Zhou Xunli’s chest, her arms wrapping tightly around his neck. Unintentionally, her warm lips brushed the pale skin of his neck.

She almost fell to the floor!

The sudden weight pressed down on Zhou Xunli with a muffled grunt. Yet his hands instinctively wrapped around her waist, and when she tried to pull away, his fingers gripped firmly, holding her close.

Wait, she hadn’t meant to sit on his lap!

He wouldn’t misunderstand, would he?

After all, she had just deliberately tried to seduce him.