The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 1236 - 1236 603 Alone (Second Update)_3

Chapter 1236: 603 Alone (Second Update)_3 Chapter 1236: 603 Alone (Second Update)_3 Xiao Hen walked toward him, and Fen Lin also ran toward Xiao Hen. The two stopped on the bluestone path in front of Hanlin Academy.

Fen Lin patted Xiao Hen on the shoulder, “It’s been a long time. You’ve grown taller again!”

“Have I?” Xiao Hen said. “You seem to have gotten a bit stronger, too.”

“That’s right!” Fen Lin beamed.

Xiao Hen had planned to take a walk alone, but since a friend had arrived, going out to sit together didn’t seem like a bad idea, “You came at just the right time, I…”

Before he could finish, Fen Lin turned back to the carriage and said, “Wife! Come down and meet Liulang! He’s the top scholar I told you about!”

Xiao Hen was taken aback. Wife? Fen Lin was married?

“It’s actually for the marriage that I requested leave. I only found out when I went back why my parents were so eager for me to return for the New Year. They had a marriage proposition for me…” Fen Lin explained somewhat sheepishly.

A young woman stepped down from the carriage, dressed like she was from a wealthy family, and conducted herself with propriety.

“She’s the daughter of a wealthy local,” Fen Lin whispered. “Her surname is Hu.”

Fen Lin came from a poor family, but after he placed high in two examinations and stayed in Hanlin Hall for further study, a well-to-do local took notice of his potential and gave his daughter to him in marriage.

Mrs. Hu greeted Xiao Hen, “I have the pleasure of meeting you, Sir Xiao.”

She had a look of pure innocence, and Xiao Hen returned the courtesy with a bow.

Noticing the weariness in Mrs. Hu, Fen Lin quickly said to Xiao Hen, “We’ve been on the road for several days; my wife is tired. I’ll take her back to the mansion to rest first. We’ll catch up with you later!”

Xiao Hen had never expected that Fen Lin would depart alone and return as a pair. The couple’s tender affection toward each other made it clear that they were newlyweds deeply in love.

After Fen Lin boarded the carriage, he lifted the curtain again and said to Xiao Hen, “Right, Lin Chengye’s married, too! He’ll be back a month late. It seems his father thinks he’s quite clever and needs to produce more offspring for the Lin Family. I guess the next time he comes to the Capital City, it’ll be three of them.”

Lin Chengye, his wife, and another on the way in her belly.

Xiao Hen felt as if he’d taken an arrow to the knee.

“Hey, Liulang, you haven’t left yet?”

Ning Zhiyuan came out of Hanlin Academy and, glancing at the departing carriage, asked, “Who was that?”

Xiao Hen replied, “That was Fen Lin; he’s returned to the Capital City.”

Ning Zhiyuan laughed, “Ah, he’s finally willing to come back. And what about that Lin kid?”

“You mean Lin Chengye?” Xiao Hen replied. “He’ll return next month.”

“Oh.”

Now, Xiao Hen really wanted to find someone to drink with, feeling rather stifled, “Would you care to take a walk, Ning brother?”

Ning Zhiyuan, who surely had no pressing matters, had been married to his wife for many years, his children grown; a settled couple like them would not be as excessively affectionate as the younger newlyweds.

However, Ning Zhiyuan scratched his head and said with a sheepish laugh, “I’m afraid I’m not available today. My wife is pregnant; I should stay with her.”

Xiao Hen, who had just had his fill of third-wheeling three times over, was speechless.

Xiao Hen truly felt frustrated.

After Ning Zhiyuan departed, he took a long deep breath and turned to walk back. Suddenly, a carriage stopped in front of him.

The masked coachman jumped down from the carriage and bowed to Xiao Hen, “May I ask if this is Sir Xiao from Hanlin Academy? My young master requests your presence.”

Xiao Hen looked at him wordlessly; did he not realize that Xiao Hen could recognize him as the third young master even with a mask on?

Change to another carriage?

Thinking his disguise was impeccable, the third young master asked, “May Sir Xiao honor us with his presence?”

Xiao Hen regarded him coolly, “Very well, this official shall oblige.”

Third young master: “…”

Was it really that easy?

Shouldn’t he ask who the young master is? Were the lines he memorized for nothing?

“My young master…”

But the third young master decided to finish his lines, regardless of Xiao Hen walking past him and getting into the carriage without a heed, “Let’s go.”

Third young master: “…”

The third young master drove the carriage toward a pavilion in the Suburb.

Night had fallen, and a gentle breeze blew.

The pavilion was veiled with a mysterious and faintly misty gauze, fluttering in the wind.

Lanterns hung at the four corners of the pavilion, casting a soft glow. Beneath the light, a graceful and lithe figure sat behind a stone table, tenderly stroking an ancient zither with slender, jade-like hands.

The third young master discreetly exited the scene.

Xiao Hen stared at the hazy silhouette behind the veil as he approached the pavilion step by step.

“`

It must be said that this scene was simply too beautiful; the person became one with the scenery, and the scenery merged into the sound of the qin. Every note reached the ears, tugging at the heartstrings.

At the top of the final set of stairs stood Xiao Hen, one more step and he would enter the pavilion.

His heartbeat suddenly quickened.

But just at that moment, a breeze blew by, sending a piece of gossamer fabric under his feet, which he then stepped on.

The gossamer pulled down the entire canopy crashing towards him—

He was knocked out on the spot—

Gu Jiao: “…!!”

Honestly, the canopy wasn’t heavy; it was mainly made of gossamer and a few rods used to hang it, of which only one was solid.

And it just had to be this solid rod that struck Xiao Hen.

Gu Jiao, holding her forehead: “What kind of luck is this?”

Xiao Hen came to about a quarter of an hour later. He was sitting on a stone bench in the pavilion, leaning on the stone table.

The pavilion had already been cleaned up, and even the Fo Xi qin was nowhere to be seen.

Gu Jiao was sitting opposite him, exceptionally well-behaved.

Xiao Hen touched his still aching head, looked around, then at Gu Jiao: “Did you summon me here just to kill me with a pole?”

Gu Jiao seriously said, “I don’t need a pole to kill you; one of my hands would suffice.”

Xiao Hen: “…”

Gu Jiao picked up a box from the ground and placed it on the table: “I have something amazing to show you; no one else has seen this before, you’re the first one.”

Upon hearing he was the first, Xiao Hen’s eyes sparkled, but he maintained a nonchalant facade: “I’m not interested.”

“It’s really fun,” said Gu Jiao.

She opened the box and took out a small bamboo tube, one end of which had a strange thread.

She asked, “Do you have a lighter?”

Xiao Hen took out a lighter from his chest and handed it to her.

Gu Jiao pulled off the lighter cap, sparked the lighter, and lit the thread on the bamboo tube.

Then, she tossed the bamboo tube away, and with a loud pop, the bamboo tube exploded!

Xiao Hen was slightly taken aback: “Is this… an exploding… bamboo?”

That was wrong; firecrackers were made from bamboo, and what they just saw clearly was not.

The air was filled with the thick scent of gunpowder.

Gu Jiao bent her lips into a smile, “This is a firecracker! Made with gunpowder, but the composition isn’t exactly the same. It doesn’t shatter upon impact; it must be lit! Do you want to try?”

Xiao Hen, with a cool expression: “What’s there to try?”

Gu Jiao, raising an eyebrow: “Are you afraid it’ll explode in your hand?”

Xiao Hen seriously replied: “How could I possibly be scared!”

“Here.” Gu Jiao handed him a small bamboo tube.

Xiao Hen’s fingers trembled slightly as he bravely accepted it.

“You’ll need the lighter too,” said Gu Jiao.

Xiao Hen held the firecracker in one hand and the lighter in the other, his Adam’s apple moving slightly.

Gu Jiao explained, “I made the fuse really long, so there’s enough time to throw the firecracker away.”

Xiao Hen didn’t light it.

Gu Jiao moved behind him, grasping his two stiff hands: “Like this…”

Guiding him, Gu Jiao helped to light the firecracker: “Quick, throw it away!”

Xiao Hen threw it fiercely, pop!

The firecracker exploded!

Xiao Hen’s pupils instantly dilated.

Men inherently have no resistance to things like firecrackers.

Gu Jiao handed him another one.

One, another one, and yet another one.

Someone became utterly engrossed in the fun.

When there was only one firecracker left, Xiao Hen, full of pride, lit the fuse and, in the excitement, threw away the lighter—

“`

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