Chapter 34: Rest Assured, No One Knows of This

"You are clearly just splitting hairs!"

Xiao Ming was quite startled. A noble heir like him would never come to admire flowers alone, let alone without even a single servant in tow. This was the Han family’s private estate, and the "Flower-Amidst Cottage" was remote and secluded. For this man surnamed Han to bump into her here—if he hadn't sought her out intentionally, such a coincidence was impossible. If it wasn't a hidden agenda, what was it?

She took several steps back, her almond-shaped eyes full of wariness. Han Yi smiled, yet sighed helplessly, "Miss..."

At that moment, a young attendant hurried over from beyond the flower grove. "Heir Han, the Dowager Consort Shu has already arrived at the flower grove with her party."

What? Dowager Consort Shu was coming? Xiao Ming thought to herself, "Oh no, there’s going to be trouble."

Han Yi raised a hand in a light gesture. "I know. Tell Young Marquis He to host them on my behalf."

"Yes, I shall report as instructed," the young attendant bowed. "Pardon me, Heir, please be quick."

"Wait," Han Yi called out to him.

"Does the Heir have further instructions?"

"The young lady merely lost her way. Do not let outsiders know, or I will not forgive you," he said in a calm tone.

"Rest assured, Heir, I understand."

Xiao Ming knew her suspicions were correct. He had seen her emerge from the Flower-Amidst Cottage from within the grove; it wasn't a chance encounter, or his servant wouldn't have been there to act as a lookout.

After the attendant left, Han Yi turned to Xiao Ming and gestured for her to follow. "Miss, please come with me."

"On what grounds! Who knows where you're taking me! You noble sons are all no—" Xiao Ming didn't dare be too reckless, swallowing the last two words she hadn't dared to utter. At least among the noble sons she knew, Mo Shichang was certainly no good, and while Ling Zhao and Yan Jing couldn't exactly be called "good," put together they barely managed to count as decent people.

"If that is how you feel, then I cannot leave you alone. I will stay here with you; it will be easier to explain later," Han Yi said, unfazed, maintaining his calm demeanor.

As he spoke, the sounds of lively conversation drifted closer. Xiao Ming was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, her nails digging into her palms hidden within her sleeves. If she left, who knew where this heir might lead her? What if a profligate like him tried to ruin her virtue?

His brother, Han Xiao, was a notorious idler, a good-for-nothing who frequented brothels and gambled. Being his own brother, how could he be any kind of upright gentleman? If she didn't leave, the crowd would arrive and see her alone in the grove with Han Yi—a man and a woman in private—which would be impossible to explain. Not to mention the damage to her own reputation, it would likely implicate the reputation of the entire Ling family as well.

"You, why are you not worried at all!"

She asked this in vain. He was the eldest son of the Duke of Han, standing in his own family's garden; what did he have to be worried about?

"That, Han, you, you..."

Xiao Ming could already hear the voice of Dowager Consort Shu. The group was drawing closer, and it wasn't just the Dowager; the noble sons and the scholars in their elegant robes were with her. She was so anxious tears were nearly forming. The area was surrounded by low flowering bushes, leaving nowhere to hide.

Gritting her teeth, she took a gamble and grabbed Han Yi’s wide sleeve. "Master Han, I cannot let them see me. I will go with you, but I warn you, if you harbor any wicked intentions toward me, I will never forgive you!"

If her virtue were ruined, it would be her own loss to bear alone, but if the reputation of the Ling estate were tarnished, it would be a catastrophe she could not afford to cause.

Han Yi laughed, annoyed by her. "Follow me."

He led the way, and she followed behind. They bypassed the cottage, passed through a hidden door concealed beneath dense vines, and emerged on the other side of the estate. Han Yi pointed to a new, secluded path. "If you walk that way, you can rejoin the others. I shall take my leave."

"That..." Xiao Ming bit her lip, hesitating.

Han Yi paused and turned back. "Do not worry, Miss. No one will know of today's events."

"You... you had best keep your word. If word gets out and damages General Ling's dignity, I will never let you off," Xiao Ming threatened, though her words lacked any real force.

Han Yi nodded, expressionless. "You’ve terrified me."

With that, he walked away, not lingering for a moment.

Earlier, her appearance had caused a stir among the guests, one that Han Yi could not ignore even if he had wanted to. Later, he had noticed Xiao Ming and the fourth Miss Ling heading toward the flower grove, and subsequently, the fourth Miss Ling had emerged alone and gone to the lakeside, leading him to conclude that she was likely the only one left in the grove.

This would not have been a problem, but the Dowager Consort had suddenly taken a fancy to visiting a spring on the estate. The only way to reach the spring was through the flower grove. Although the Flower-Amidst Cottage seemed secluded, it was actually quite close to the banquet, and many scholars were nearby. If the group walked past and she was discovered alone there, even if nothing had happened, she would inevitably be subject to groundless rumors of having a clandestine affair with some scholar. Thus, he had not bumped into her by accident; he had gone specifically to guide her out.

Xiao Ming stood in place for a while, staring blankly at the hidden path, hesitant to move. She still didn't fully trust Han Yi; after all, he was Han Xiao's brother, and all his displays of gentlemanly conduct were likely just a veneer to mask his true nature.

Just as she hesitated, she heard Huai Xi’s gentle voice. "Ming’er, so you really are here."

Xiao Ming turned to see that Huai Ning was also there. Excited, she hurried over to take their hands. "Sister, Huai Ning, why are you here? I thought you had gone with the Dowager to the spring; I was just about to look for you there."

Before Huai Xi could answer, Huai Ning cut in, "It was big brother who told us. He said you were lost, and since it was inconvenient for him as a man to come over, he asked us to find you."

Ling Zhao was here too? How did he know she was there? Had he seen her alone with Han Yi?

"Oh, let’s not waste time, let’s go quickly," Huai Xi said anxiously. "I heard there’s a fascinating legend about that spring; if we’re late, we’ll miss it."

"Don't worry, I just asked an old maid in the garden, and this small path is a shortcut," Xiao Ming said, pointing to the one Han Yi had indicated, and pulling Huai Xi and Huai Ning along. "We’ll definitely make it. Let's go."

The path was secluded, and after brushing past flowers and willow branches, they arrived near the spring. The terrain here was more rugged than the flat flower grove, with strange, jagged rocks surrounding the pool. A century-old mimosa tree leaned out over the water, and though it was only early summer, its blossoms were as vibrant as clouds. The water flowing from the spring made the petals swirl in the pool, creating an almost celestial scene.

The male and female guests were not strictly separated, and everyone stood in small groups. Xiao Ming and the others quietly took their places at the back of the crowd, and seeing that no one had noticed them, they gradually moved to the front, just in time to hear Dowager Consort Shu telling the interesting stories of the spring.