Chapter 118: A Love Rival Appears

Chapter 118: A Rival Appears

Given Xie Nai's distinguished status, he had never attended any banquet hosted by princes or ministers before. Yet here he was at the Marquis of Pingning's residence. The elderly marquis was absolutely delighted, his face beaming with a smile that rivaled the most brilliant spring blossoms.

"Why is your hair disheveled?" Stopping before Qin Jiao, Xie Nai casually smoothed his hair.

With a group of young gentlemen he'd just met still standing before them, Xie Nai's natural gesture made Qin Jiao blush. He couldn't very well say that Jiang Qingrong had mussed his hair, so he could only manage an awkward smile. "Perhaps the wind was too strong." After blaming the troublesome spring breeze, Qin Jiao also extended his greetings to the Marquis of Pingning.

Having navigated the imperial court for decades, the Marquis of Pingning was a master of social grace. One look at Xie Nai's expression was enough to tell him why he had deigned to attend the banquet today. Moreover, having been fond of Qin Jiao since he was a child, he was even more delighted now, immediately declaring that he would bring out his treasured "Hundred Fruits Tea" to treat the distinguished guest. Qin Jiao naturally agreed.

As more guests began to arrive at the residence, the Marquis of Pingning and Jiang Qingrong could not linger, as they had to attend to their visitors. They had the eldest son of the household escort Xie Nai and Qin Jiao to a place to rest.

As Qin Jiao departed, he clearly saw Jiang Qingrong pouting in displeasure, so he asked the eldest young master of the Jiang family another question along the way.

Qin Jiao had often visited the marquis's residence as a child, and the eldest young master knew him well, so he didn't hide anything. Smiling warmly, he told Qin Jiao that the Marquis of Pingning was preparing to find a bride for Jiang Qingrong.

Qin Jiao understood now—no wonder Qin Han hadn't come, and that explained Jiang Qingrong's disappointment.

But in matters of marriage, it all comes down to fate. If Jiang Qingrong truly had feelings for Qin Han, then the Marquis of Pingning's plans this time were bound to fall through.

As they walked partway, a servant came to find the eldest young master of the Jiang family, saying there was a problem with the banquet dishes and asking him to come take a look. He hesitated at first, since the Marquis of Pingning had repeatedly instructed him to take good care of the Prince of Lingnan. In the end, it was Xie Nai who saw his predicament and told him he could go.

"I remember there's a crabapple tree up ahead—one that Qingrong and I planted together as children. I wonder if it's blooming this season." Qin Jiao pointed to a spot not far away.

Xie Nai responded softly, "Let's go take a look."

"Your Highness, Little Master Qin, mind your step." The servant the eldest young master had left with them was sharp-witted. As he led the way, he said, smiling, to the two distinguished guests, "Our young master cherishes that crabapple tree—he waters and weeds it himself. A few days ago, I went with him and saw that the tree had sprouted small buds. I'd say a few more days of spring breeze and they'll bloom."

Qin Jiao: "Qingrong is lazy about everything—it's rare to see him put this much care into that crabapple tree."

"That's the pot calling the kettle black." Xie Nai couldn't help but laugh.

"Cut it out, or I'll get mad." Qin Jiao feigned irritation and strode ahead.

"Slow down." Catching up to Qin Jiao in a few steps, Xie Nai draped an arm over his shoulder, half-pulling him into his embrace. "I won't say anything more."

Qin Jiao curved his lips into a smile. "That's more like it."

The servant following along watched the two of them. The famously aloof and noble Prince of Lingnan was actually so close to the young master of the Qin family, even playfully bantering with him as if they were the only ones there. Shocked inwardly, the servant became even more careful and attentive in his duties.

Before long, the servant led Qin Jiao and Xie Nai to the crabapple tree. Perhaps the spring breeze wasn't warm enough—the tree had lots of buds, but few had actually bloomed.

Though the crabapple hadn't blossomed, a camellia tree beside it was in full bloom. And beneath the camellia tree, Qin Jiao caught sight of a "familiar face."

Actually, "familiar" wasn't exactly the right word, since Qin Jiao had only met her once. But she recognized Qin Jiao at a glance.

"Qin Jiao, you're here too?"

Li Nanli wore a beautiful pink brocade dress with a butterfly pattern. The spring day was perfect as she stood gracefully beneath the flowering tree—cool and elegant, like a celestial being descended to earth.

Qin Jiao was taken aback, even forgetting to ask why Li Nanli was here: "Miss Li knows me?"

"My aunt and the Second Prince both died at your hands—of course I know you." Li Nanli paused, then added, "And we met before at Tongjia Manor."

"You have an excellent memory, Miss Li." Li Nanli's tone was calm, neither provocative nor mocking, so Qin Jiao only lightly addressed her second statement.

She didn't seem to care about Qin Jiao's response either. After giving Xie Nai another cold look, she turned and went back to admiring the flowers on her own.

Qin Jiao looked at Xie Nai with some confusion. Li Nanli's attitude toward Xie Nai today was icy cold, completely unlike the gentle warmth she'd shown at Tongjia Manor that day. If he hadn't known beforehand that she suffered from delusions, Qin Jiao would have sighed over "a woman's heart is as unfathomable as the depths of the sea."

"Li Nanli is actually related to the marquis's household? How strange..." Qin Jiao murmured softly, gazing at Li Nanli's retreating figure.

He thought his voice was low, but Xie Nai's hearing was sharp and caught it immediately. "Li Nanli has a younger half-sister who married the eldest young master of the marquis's household as a concubine around the time you left the capital. So there is some connection, I suppose." Xie Nai explained.

"I see." That explained why he'd never seen Li Nanli at the marquis's residence in his early years.

Qin Jiao was just thinking about the days he'd spent running wild and playing with Jiang Qingrong at the marquis's residence when he failed to notice that a handsome young man had suddenly appeared beside Li Nanli.

"Your Highness, these flowers—"

"Brother Xie!"

Qin Jiao's voice and the handsome young man's voice sounded simultaneously.

Qin Jiao: "Brother Xie? Who are you calling?"

Before he could turn to look, Xie Nai had already called out the young man's name: "Xiaojiu?"

"Brother Xie, it really is you!" Once Xie Nai recognized him, the young man named Xiaojiu lit up with joy and bounded over to Xie Nai's side in a few steps.

The young man was extremely enthusiastic. Though Qin Jiao was standing right beside Xie Nai, Xiaojiu managed to squeeze Qin Jiao aside and press himself against Xie Nai: "Brother Xie, Xiaojiu missed you so much!"

Qin Jiao, shoved aside, was bewildered. What was going on? Who was this young man?

Just then, Li Nanli also approached, standing beneath the flowering tree with curved brows and a look of amusement, as if enjoying the show.

Xie Nai subtly distanced himself from Xiaojiu and naturally pulled Qin Jiao back to his side: "Xiaojiu, mind how you address me."

Xiaojiu blinked in confusion: "What's wrong with how I address you? I've called you Brother Xie since I was little."

Qin Jiao glanced sidelong at Xiaojiu.

The young man before him was about sixteen or seventeen, with dark hair swept up high, an expensive white jade crown on his head, rosy lips, and fair teeth—graceful and striking.

Unlike Qin Jiao's refined clarity or Qin Chaole's tender beauty, Xiaojiu had a pair of very distinctive eyes—moist and glistening, gazing at people with fervent, bewitching warmth, like an innocent yet alluring spirit that was impossible to refuse.

For some reason, Qin Jiao didn't like the way Xiaojiu looked at Xie Nai with those eyes. But since he didn't know Xiaojiu's identity, Qin Jiao remained silent.

"Brother Xie, why won't you let me call you that anymore?" Faced with Xiaojiu's slightly petulant complaint, Xie Nai offered what could almost be called a gentle explanation:

"Now that you're older, it's no longer appropriate."

Qin Jiao was momentarily stunned. He had never seen Xie Nai like this before.

How to describe it? It was a rare gentleness and warmth, as if he would indulge every bad temper the other person might have.

For a moment, Qin Jiao grew even more curious about the relationship between the two of them.

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