From Xie Wanqing’s perspective, it was flickering in and out of view.

After being praised, Cao Yingying served even more diligently.

Even in the storybooks she read, there was never such an absurd and disgraceful scene described. Xie Wanqing was so shocked that her mind was unsettled, and she involuntarily stepped back half a step.

By coincidence, she happened to step on a branch by her foot, making a slight noise that startled the two people over there.

"Who’s there!" the Second Prince shouted in a low voice.

In that moment, Xie Wanqing thought of many consequences of having stumbled upon such a scandal.

The most severe being silencing her.

Ultimately, she believed that no matter how audacious they were, they wouldn’t dare to silence her in broad daylight, within the Pei Family’s premises.

As her thoughts raced, her lips were suddenly covered by someone from behind. In the next instant, her body felt a sudden lightness, and when she came to her senses, she had already been taken to the other side of the rockery.

While she had been standing beneath the peach tree just moments before, two birds, perched on a branch at some point, suddenly flapped their wings and flew away.

The Second Prince, who had already walked over, relaxed his expression. As he turned around, he caught a glimpse of a pair of footprints left on the ground.

Clearly, someone had been standing there for a long time to leave such deep impressions on the not-so-soft earth.

Then, he saw the handprints on the tree trunk.

He paused, looked around, glancing over the places where someone could hide, and then walked back to Cao Yingying’s side, saying, "Don’t be afraid, it was just a couple of careless birds."

Cao Yingying, who was already dressed properly, breathed a sigh of relief. If someone had caught sight of the scene just now, she wouldn’t have been able to live with it.

But before she could completely relax, the Second Prince leaned in and whispered something in her ear.

Xie Wanqing couldn’t see Cao Yingying’s drastic change in expression; she only heard the Second Prince jokingly scold a couple of birds, without suspecting that someone might have broken in on their illicit encounter. Only then did she look up to see who had saved her at the crucial moment.

Perhaps because she had been entangled with Lu Ziyuan too often, her first reaction was to think it was Lu Ziyuan when she felt a slight tightening around her waist. But when she looked up, her pupils slowly dilated.

"Shh..."

Ji Chengfeng’s warm fingers were lightly pressed against her lips, and only when he saw her nod did he remove his finger.

Xie Wanqing hurriedly covered her mouth with both hands, afraid she might accidentally make a sound or two.

She hadn’t expected it to be Ji Chengfeng. When did he arrive?

...He could do martial arts!

Well, even though he was a scholar, he came from a noble family, and the Six Arts of the Gentleman, archery, horse riding, and shooting were all essential.

The world has been tumultuous for more than just a day or two, and aristocratic families have long demanded that their children be skilled in both literature and martial arts. Even Pei Yuqing, who had been afflicted with a heart condition since childhood, was no frail scholar without strength...

Thinking like this, as Xie Wanqing regained her composure, she noticed that their current posture was quite inappropriate.

This hiding spot was a corner with only a small space, so they couldn’t help but be close.

Her back was against the stone, with nowhere to retreat, and to avoid exposing himself, he could only prop one hand by her neck while the other respectfully remained behind his back. Yet, even so, this posture almost encircled her within his embrace.

Ji Chengfeng lowered his gaze and could see the girl in front of him covering her lips with her hands. Her round eyes were wide open, with his image reflected in her clear, bright black pupils.

There was a vague mist of confusion in her eyes.

She looked easy to bully.

Their eyes met for a brief moment, then Ji Chengfeng leaned in slightly, speaking in an extremely low voice, "Don’t speak yet."

Knowing he was indicating the two were still present, Xie Wanqing obediently nodded again.

So obedient, so soft...

He averted his eyes, listening for any sounds from the other side.

Xie Wanqing perked up her ears, but seeming to have lost interest, there was no further act of indecency from the other side, and she heard nothing.

Soon, the Second Prince and Cao Yingying emerged from behind the rockery, having regained their composed demeanor, and they left separately, one heading south and the other north.

A moment, two moments... the person in front of her hadn’t stepped back.

Xie Wanqing couldn’t help but open her mouth, only to be silenced again by a finger placed against her lips.

"Just in case it’s a trap, wait a little longer," Ji Chengfeng said softly.

His voice was very light, and he was very close, with a faint scent of ink reaching her nose.

Fine-quality inkstones often carried a delicate and elegant scent. This scent of ink, Xie Wanqing had smelled at her brother’s place before, but mixed with his own scent, it was a different aroma.

Were they standing so close that they could actually smell each other...

Xie Wanqing felt flustered, standing there stiffly.

After a long while, the person beside her finally moved back, and she took a deep breath, as if having buried her face in a comforter in winter, deprived of air.

Ji Chengfeng handed her a handkerchief.

Xie Wanqing glanced down, seeing it wasn’t the one she had given him earlier, and quickly waved it away, "When did Cousin Ji arrive?"

"Before you," Ji Chengfeng replied, "We must have arrived here almost simultaneously."

Xie Wanqing was just about to ask where he had been hiding, how she hadn’t noticed him, when she saw him point to a huge tree not far away, "I was seeking some peace and quiet, away from the ruckus."

Xie Wanqing: "..."

Truly, another ’frail scholar’ with extraordinary skills.

She felt somewhat envious.

Recalling the scene she had stumbled upon, she awkwardly asked, "Did you see it too?"

She too had come out seeking peace and quiet, only to encounter such sordid business instead.

Being reminded, Ji Chengfeng also felt a bit awkward, though his reserved nature made it hard for anyone to notice.

He gave a low hum of acknowledgment, pausing for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Has Cousin ever been acquainted with Miss Cao?"

This Miss Cao was undoubtedly none other than Cao Yingying, one of the main figures from just now.

Xie Wanqing didn’t understand why he asked this, but she instinctively thought of the yellow plums Cao Yingying had sent specially at the end of last year, followed by several invitations she couldn’t decline, which led her to attend a banquet once.

With this in mind, she truthfully replied, "Not very familiar, but we’ve interacted a few times."

Before now, she always thought Cao Yingying was being coerced by the Second Prince, but today’s event made her uncertain.

After all, the way she was kneeling and attentively serving the man, there wasn’t a hint of reluctance...

"Then Cousin should be more wary of Miss Cao in the future," Ji Chengfeng, unaware of her thoughts, simply said, "If she tries to get close or invites you somewhere, you must consider it carefully and not be as unguarded as before."

His serious tone made Xie Wanqing’s heart skip a beat, "Do you think they realized we were here?"

Ji Chengfeng slightly shook his head, saying, "Whether they’re aware or not, having stumbled upon such a scandal, it’s essential to remain cautious."

"And with the Second Prince, be cautious too." Considering she, as a lady of the inner court, would have little interaction with the Second Prince, he didn’t elaborate further.