Chapter 607: Going into the Mountains to Find Someone

"Alright, Second Miss Wei is going through a tough time right now. If Yu Chongen truly loved her, he's already waited five years—what's a little more time for her to heal? Why must he twist the knife at such a moment?" Zhu Yaoxu shook her head, then suddenly remembered something and turned to Xingxing with interest. "Township Lady, I heard you also saved the Dowager Duchess of Xin. Do you really understand that mystical stuff?"

Everyone looked over with keen interest.

Young noblewomen were naturally extremely curious about such mysterious matters.

Xingxing nodded and held up her fingers a little. "Just a bit."

"Wow!"

The girls' looks at Xingxing now carried a touch of reverence.

They wanted to ask about their own romantic prospects but were too shy to voice such personal thoughts in front of others, so they could only ask Xingxing some simpler questions about their fortunes.

Xingxing gave brief answers, just a sentence or two.

They hung on Xingxing's every word, utterly reluctant to let her go.

Zhu Yaoxu's eyes lit up with mischief as she smiled. "I wonder if Township Lady has ever checked the love prospects for your brothers?"

The noblewomen's eyes instantly lit up.

Too embarrassed to ask about their own love lives, but someone else's? That was perfectly acceptable!

Xingxing, however, shook her head and smiled. "Fate isn't fixed. Some people commit terrible wrongs—though they were meant to have wealth and long life, their fortune changes because of those deeds. Others may be meant to struggle through life, but through kindness and good deeds, their fortunes can improve."

The noblewomen seemed to ponder this, each privately resolving to do more good deeds—perhaps handing out porridge outside the city walls come winter!

As the banquet concluded, the noblewomen eagerly invited Xingxing to visit their mansions once they returned to the capital, even playfully arguing over it.

"I invited Township Lady first!"

"No, it was me!"

Amid laughter and chatter, the group dispersed.

Zhu Yaoxu, however, lingered behind and quietly asked Xingxing, "...Township Lady, is it true your third brother hasn't been betrothed yet?"

Xingxing caught the implication and replied after a moment's thought, "Miss Zhu, though my third brother isn't engaged, he's already got his heart set on someone. He's trying his best right now, and may soon go to propose."

Zhu Yaoxu blurted out, "His heart is set on someone? ...Which young lady?"

Xingxing shook her head. "Since my third brother is still striving for her, I shouldn't say who, for the sake of her reputation. I hope you understand."

Zhu Yaoxu nodded, crestfallen. "I see... That's only right, of course."

She walked away, shoulders hunched.

Xingxing watched her downcast figure, unsure how to comfort her.

Qing An stepped forward and whispered, "...Yao Xu seems to have feelings for your third brother."

Xingxing bit her lip and sighed but didn't respond.

Qing An felt conflicted—on one hand, she felt a pang of jealousy; on the other, she knew Zhu Yaoxu meant well. If Zhu Yaoxu had fallen for anyone else, Qing An would have sympathized with her. But now, the person Zhu Yaoxu liked was the same one Qing An herself...

Qing An couldn't bring herself to console Zhu Yaoxu in good faith. Doing so would be dishonest—she thought.

She still felt conflicted.

Xingxing comforted her, saying, "These things should be mutual, Your Highness. You don’t owe anyone anything."

Qing An looked at Xingxing, this doll-like little girl, speaking so seriously about "these things" and "mutual," and found it oddly cute and funny.

Qing An couldn't help laughing.

Xingxing also smiled and bid farewell to Qing An before returning to the Yu family’s mountain villa.

What Xingxing didn’t expect was that by evening, Yu Yongliu had ridden hard from the capital to the Yu family’s mountain villa.

The first thing he did when he arrived was head straight to Xingxing’s room.

Yu Yongliu had brought pastries from the southern part of the city for Xingxing. Watching her delighted expression as she accepted them, the corners of his lips curled slightly.

Xingxing, however, was sharp as ever. She blinked at Yu Yongliu and said, "Third Brother, rushing all the way here in such a hurry—you must want to ask me about that cousin from Prince of Ying’s estate today, right?"

Yu Yongliu, seeing his little sister playing the grown-up, had to laugh. Still, he openly admitted his thoughts: "Yes."

Xingxing grinned and didn’t keep him in suspense, giving him the rundown on the events concerning that cousin surnamed Sheng.

Only then did Yu Yongliu visibly relax.

As the siblings were talking, an outer courtyard maid who had gone out with the steward on errands earlier passed by a wild pond where lotus flowers were in full bloom. Seeing farmers working nearby, she asked them to pick a few lotus stems for her and presented them to Xingxing like a prize.

Xingxing was delighted and had Zhao Ying give the maid some coins.

Zhao Ying went over to straighten the maid’s skirt hem. "You got mud all over your skirt. Be more careful next time."

The maid shook her head. "It wasn’t my fault. On my way back, I happened to see a group of riders entering the mountains. Their horses were galloping so fast—luckily, I dodged in time. Otherwise, I’d have been covered head to toe!"

Xingxing let out a small “ah” and glanced outside in surprise.

It was getting dark already.

"Entering the mountains at this hour?"

The outer courtyard maid nodded. "That group had about a dozen torch-bearing guards following behind them. They were questioning the nearby farmers. I caught a bit of it—they said two young ladies had gone into the mountains in the afternoon and hadn’t returned yet. They were going in to search... One of them seemed to be that Qing An who invited you over today."

Yu Yongliu's face went pale. "What did you say?!"

Xingxing also exclaimed, "Qing An?"

The outer courtyard maid started shaking, momentarily at a loss. Seeing Yu Yongliu’s face darker than she’d ever seen and Xingxing’s grave expression, the maid paled and immediately fell to her knees begging forgiveness.

Zhao Ying pulled her up. "No need to kneel. Just tell the mistress everything you know."

The maid shivered, nearly in tears. "But, Sister Zhao Ying, I only heard a sentence or two. I don’t know anything else..."

Xingxing frowned. "Don’t be afraid... Alright, you may go now."

The maid left, uneasy.

Yu Yongliu made for the door at once. Xingxing grabbed his arm. "Third Brother, I’m coming too. Let’s ride to Prince of Ying’s estate first and ask for details."

Yu Yongliu’s mind was in turmoil, so he didn’t refuse. He nodded, told the servants to saddle up, and rode off with Xingxing toward Prince of Ying’s estate.