Chapter 58 Qin Jiao and Xie Nai Frequent Misunderstandings

Chapter 58: Qin Jiao and Xie Nai – A Series of Misunderstandings

"Shen Fuqing."

Inside the pavilion, Shen Fuqing, who sat opposite Qin Jiao, greeted him, but Qin Jiao did not respond.

Shen Fuqing was not offended. He spoke to Qin Jiao again: "Young Master Qin, my name is Shen Fuqing."

Qin Jiao still did not look at him. Even so, Shen Fuqing remained unperturbed. He tossed aside the reed he was holding and laughed at Xie Nai, who was beside Qin Jiao: "Xie Nai, this little master of yours may have quite a temper, but he is strikingly handsome. I have met Vice Minister Qin before, and honestly, you two really don't look alike at all..."

"Shut up."

Xie Nai shot Shen Fuqing a glare, unable to tolerate it any longer.

"Fine." Shen Fuqing raised an eyebrow and made a "fine, I'll shut up" gesture.

The place where Qin Jiao and the others were currently was Taiyu Temple. Not far away, Luo Bei and Luo Yue stood next to Cong Shuang, who looked furious.

Shen Fuqing had already explained why he had abducted Qin Jiao to this place.

Today, he and Xie Nai had come to Taiyu Temple to pay respects to the deceased Emperor Chengyuan and the late Crown Prince. By chance, he overheard Xie Nai tell Luo Yue to go to the neighboring Dongshao Temple and invite Qin Jiao over.

However, for some reason, after a moment of silence, Xie Nai added, "If he is unwilling to come, then forget it."

It was at this moment that Shen Fuqing's mischievous streak was ignited. Afraid that Luo Yue might fail to bring Qin Jiao and that he would miss out on a good show, he decided to beat them to it. Before Luo Yue could set off, he sent someone to tie up Qin Jiao and bring him over.

And to prevent Cong Shuang from leaking any information, he thoughtfully had her tied up too.

After capturing his target, Shen Fuqing tossed Qin Jiao into Xie Nai's room and urged Xie Nai to head back. By the time Luo Yue returned from Dongshao Temple, having searched everywhere but failed to find Qin Jiao, Shen Fuqing had already watched the show for a good while.

Having been missing for so long, Qin Jiao and Cong Shuang would be difficult to explain if the Qin household discovered it. Qin Jiao said coldly, "I'm leaving."

"Don't go, it's already this late," Shen Fuqing chimed in faster than Xie Nai. "It's not too late to stay for lunch. I left people at Dongshao Temple. The Qin household has already finished their lunch and gone to admire the plum blossoms. No one has noticed your disappearance."

Shen Fuqing was extremely handsome, with distinct features and deep black pupils. When the corners of his eyes lifted, his gaze was sharp and penetrating, but when he smiled, his entire demeanor could almost be described as bewitching.

So when he grinned slyly and said, "The Qin family couldn't care less about you," Qin Jiao felt somewhat annoyed. He no longer wished to linger with Shen Fuqing and Xie Nai, so he stood up to leave, but Xie Nai, sitting beside him, grabbed his hand.

The young man's fingers were slender and pale, and placed alongside Xie Nai's well-defined hand, there was an odd sort of beauty. However, Qin Jiao was in no mood to appreciate it at the moment. He tried to pull away hard... and, well, he failed to break free.

Shen Fuqing, chin propped up, sat across from them, looking thoroughly entertained. This only fueled Qin Jiao's anger. He was about to use his other hand to pry Xie Nai's fingers off when Xie Nai patted his slender back reassuringly:

"Sit down. Let's eat first." Xie Nai paused. "Military Doctor Hou has also come. After the meal, let him check your pulse and do a follow-up exam."

Then he addressed the meddlesome Shen Fuqing: "You, get lost."

Shen Fuqing ignored Xie Nai's tone. He stood up, adjusted his clothes, and teased under his breath, "Now that you've met, you chase away the one who set you up. You two are really something!"

"Alright, I'm gone."

Before Xie Nai could tell him to scram again, Shen Fuqing laughed heartily and departed. He walked fast, the wind lifting his black hair. Qin Jiao happened to turn his head and noticed what seemed to be a red scar behind Shen Fuqing's right ear. He didn't think much of it and looked away.

On this side, Xie Nai still had not let go of Qin Jiao's hand.

"Sit down." Xie Nai pulled Qin Jiao to sit beside him.

"Fine." Now that the irritating Shen Fuqing was gone, and Qin Jiao had matters to discuss with Xie Nai, he decided not to fuss further.

"Cong Shuang, come eat with me," said Luo Yue from a short distance away, addressing Cong Shuang.

"Alright."

Cong Shuang trusted Xie Nai. When she had first been kidnapped and the first person she saw was Luo Bei, her heart had settled. Seeing that Qin Jiao and Xie Nai no longer seemed on the verge of another quarrel, she followed Luo Bei and Luo Yue away without worry.

As for Dongshao Temple, whatever. They didn't even know their Young Master was missing. Screw them!

Qin Jiao had to admit that the vegetarian dishes at Taiyu Temple were far superior to those at Dongshao Temple. Take the dish in front of him, for example—Stuffed Golden Mushrooms: its color was enticing and its flavor delicious, enough to whet anyone's appetite. As he ate, Qin Jiao observed Xie Nai across from him. Xie Nai ate slowly, his posture exceptionally refined and elegant.

Sure enough, whatever gorgeous people do, they do beautifully.

Qin Jiao thought to himself.

The two ate in silence. Beneath the waterside pavilion, fish leaped mischievously, sending ripples spreading outward—each one a stirring ripple.

After a while, when Qin Jiao felt he'd eaten enough, he set down his chopsticks, gearing up to discuss "serious matters" with Xie Nai. Unexpectedly, Xie Nai spoke first:

"I heard Lin Wen wants to call off your engagement?"

Qin Jiao thought: How coincidental—Xie Nai brought up exactly what he was about to say.

He answered quietly, "Yes, he proposed to break the engagement, but I refused."

"Why didn't you agree?"

Xie Nai's voice dropped low, and his tone became somewhat forceful. "You have to break off the engagement with him."

Qin Jiao dug in his heels: "This is my own business."

Seeing Qin Jiao's obstinacy, anger crept into Xie Nai's voice: "He wants to kill you, and you still want to marry him?"

At that, Qin Jiao's expression changed instantly.

He stared at Xie Nai intently and asked, "Is it really Lin Wen who wants to kill me?"

"Who else?"

Qin Jiao grew angry as well: "Xie Nai, you still want to deceive me!"

"Qin Jiao, today you've already said three times that I deceived you. Tell me, how exactly have I deceived you?" Although he was willing to indulge Qin Jiao, that didn't mean Qin Jiao could act unreasonable.

Xie Nai was firm, and Qin Jiao was equally furious: "You lied to me, saying Lin Wen wanted to kill me!"

"Here is the proof!" Qin Jiao said as he took something out from his bosom and slammed it hard on the table, his anger flaring.

The atmosphere between them suddenly shifted from warm and friendly to tense and hostile. Qin Jiao glared icily at Xie Nai, and Xie Nai stared back, his face unreadable.

Xie Nai recognized the object on the table as the White Jade Seal he had given Qin Jiao earlier. "How is Lin Wen's personal seal evidence?"

Qin Jiao's voice was icy: "This is not Lin Wen's personal seal. This is the token our families exchanged when Lin Wen and I were engaged."

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