Chapter 148: Illusion

Chapter 148: Illusion

The casual tone of the conversation made it sound like gossip about someone else, leaving Xin You momentarily speechless: "Engaged?"

"Yes, apparently to Miss Duan's second daughter. Is she your elder or younger cousin?"

"Miss Duan's second daughter—" Xin You smiled, "She is my elder cousin."

It seems the old lady was unwilling to let go of this match. She had promised not to let Duan Yunling marry into the family, so Duan Yunhua took her place.

Recalling the lunch on the tenth, both Duan Yunling and Duan Yunhua were unhappy. If Duan Yunling was distressed because she was chosen, then Duan Yunhua must have been upset because she was not.

This match ultimately reached a satisfactory conclusion for everyone, which was quite amusing.

"Then congratulations to Mr. Dai."

After sharing his gossip, Dai Ze walked away with a light step.

Having found the culprit who brought him bad luck, he now had a solution. The next step was to make that person follow his plan.

For Dai Ze, this was simple. He carefully selected a large rooster and would often walk around the manor with it.

On the morning of the fifteenth, Dai Ze brought the rooster to where Chang Liang was on duty and beckoned him over.

"What does the Young Master need?"

"Chang Liang, right? Chunhua is tired from walking. Carry her for a while."

"Chunhua?" Chang Liang slowly lowered his head to meet the round eyes of the rooster.

"That's it."

Chang Liang's expression twisted, but he quickly bent down to pick up the rooster.

In the hands of a martial artist, the rooster struggled only a few times before settling down.

Dai Ze nodded in satisfaction. "Let's go."

Chang Liang followed closely behind Dai Ze, and the servants they passed showed no surprise at all.

It was entirely normal for their Young Master to do such things.

Dai Ze strolled leisurely and left the Count Gu Chang's manor through a side gate.

The morning air was chilly, but there were already many people bustling about on the streets.

Dai Ze pulled his collar tighter and pointed to an old locust tree nearby. "Chang Liang, take Chunhua and walk around the tree three times."

Chang Liang: ?

Dai Ze glared at him. "What are you waiting for? Go!"

Though Chang Liang could not understand the Young Master's behavior, he had no choice but to comply. He stiffened and carried the rooster, Chunhua, around the tree three times.

The rooster kept clucking, drawing curious and shocked glances from passersby.

Chang Liang had never felt more embarrassed in his life. He returned to Dai Ze's side with a blank expression, still holding the rooster.

"Young Master."

"Good job." Dai Ze patted his shoulder and pulled out two gold leaves from his purse. "Here, as a reward."

The cold gold leaves in his hand made Chang Liang's heart warm instantly. "Young Master, do you need me to carry Chunhua any further?"

He was willing to do anything!

"No need, don't tire her out." Dai Ze felt the cold and hurried back.

Chang Liang couldn't help but look down at the rooster in his arms.

Tire her out?

"Cluck—cluck—cluck," the rooster crowed proudly.

Chang Liang's lips twitched, and he hurried to catch up with Dai Ze.

Not long after, a handsome young man emerged from a nearby corner and quickly blended into the crowd.

The young man was none other than Xin You in disguise.

Chang Liang, in his mid-twenties, had an ordinary appearance that made him blend into any crowd. Now, his face was firmly etched in Xin You's memory.

Dai Ze said that many people like Chang Liang did not live in the manor but in the surrounding residential area. They came to work each day and returned home at night.

Many noble families operated similarly, employing more people than ordinary officials. Among them were many former soldiers who had become guards.

These guards worked in shifts, and Chang Liang's shift change was likely in the evening.

The Qingsong Bookstore was nearby, but Xin You turned into an alley instead.

At the end of the alley, a door was locked. She took out a key, unlocked it, and went inside. Soon, she changed out of her male attire and resumed her original appearance.

This unremarkable residence was recently purchased by Xin You to facilitate her disguises and avoid revealing her identity.

Leaving the alley, Xin You intended to return directly to the eastern courtyard but noticed a familiar figure.

Was it Lord He coming to read books?

Once, this was a common occurrence, but lately, Lord He only visited the bookstore when he had business, not to read.

Xin You hesitated for a moment before walking towards the Qingsong Bookstore.

It must be that the shops she asked Lord He to investigate have yielded some results.

"Lord He has arrived." Liu Zhou's spirits lifted as soon as he saw He Qingxiao enter.

There was no helping it; the playboy son of Count Gu Chang always came looking for the owner, and he found it quite terrifying.

Their Lord He was much better.

With no other customers in the bookstore early in the morning, Liu Zhou was especially enthusiastic: "We even got a new travelogue yesterday, right where Lord He usually reads."

He Qingxiao listened to Liu Zhou with a gentle expression and then said, "Is Miss Kou here? I need to speak with her."

"Oh, the owner is here. Stone—" Liu Zhou was about to call for Stone to find Xin You when he saw her coming in from outside, "Owner?"

Xin You walked inside and saw the man turn around, his clear, water-like eyes looking at her.

This was their first meeting since Xin You realized her feelings for him. She couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy and slightly averted her gaze.

He Qingxiao's gaze lingered on the young girl's pale, small earlobe for a moment, his heart stirring.

The last time, Miss Kou had disguised herself as a man to assassinate him and removed her earrings. Now, her earlobes were empty again.

Was she disguising herself as a boy to undertake dangerous tasks again?

He Qingxiao's thoughts raced, and not knowing how to start, his voice was a bit lower than usual: "Miss Kou—"

The deep voice created an unintended illusion of deep emotion.

Xin You's heart skipped a beat, and her cheeks flushed faintly without her control.

He Qingxiao was taken aback.

After a brief silence, Xin You regained her composure: "Lord He, shall we go to the guest room for a cup of tea?"

"Oh, yes." He Qingxiao didn't move, waiting for Xin You to lead the way.

Xin You lowered her eyes and walked into the guest room.

Compared to the spacious reading hall, the guest room was small and much warmer.

Xin You sat down, her face showing no trace of the earlier turmoil: "What does Lord He need from me?"

"The shops Miss Kou asked me to investigate have been clarified."

"So quickly?"

He Qingxiao smiled: "They are all ordinary shops, and the information Miss Kou wanted was all out in the open."

Xin You took the list and read it carefully.

Her eyes were half-closed, the corners slightly upturned, her face as white as cold porcelain, exuding a distant and noble aura when she was quiet.

He Qingxiao thought that the blush on Miss Kou's face just now must have been his imagination.

"Lord He." Xin You called out after finishing the list.

Her voice matched her demeanor, distant and calm.

The man's gaze involuntarily fell on her cheeks, and the voice in his heart became more certain: it was indeed an illusion.

At this moment, He Qingxiao felt a hint of self-mockery, though he wasn't sure what he was mocking or what he was hoping for.

"Please, Miss Kou, speak." His voice also became calmer.