Xiao Jinghan reached out and grabbed Yi Qing's collar. Seeing that he was about to slip away, he couldn't help but suspect that Yi Qing was feeling guilty.
"Where are you going, my lady?" A faint smile played on Xiao Jinghan's lips.
Yi Qing felt doomed. She guessed that she would be held accountable later: "General, you're so busy. I won't bother you."
"Not bothering at all." Xiao Jinghan scooped Yi Qing up horizontally and walked off.
"Where are we going?" Yi Qing was startled.
"Didn't my lady want to meet the two young masters of the Yuan family? I'll take you to meet them."
"I was just asking casually."
"But I'm being serious."
The two young masters of the Yuan family were hosting a poetry gathering at the Qingyun Tower today. Many talented scholars from the capital had come, and some young ladies from prominent families were hiding on the second floor, watching and seizing the opportunity to look for a husband.
By the time Xiao Jinghan and Yi Qing arrived, the poetry gathering was already over. The hosts were hosting a dinner at the Qingyun Tower for the scholars who had participated in the gathering.
Their carriage was parked across from the Qingyun Tower, from where they could see what was going on inside.
"I really don't want to watch. General, you're so handsome, elegant, and valiant. After seeing you, everyone else seems vulgar and unappealing to me." Yi Qing flattered him desperately.
The slight upturn of Xiao Jinghan's lips betrayed him: "You still need to make a comparison so that you can give up completely, my lady."
Yi Qing claimed that she had already given up: "I..." Just as she was about to explain, she caught a glimpse of Bai Yutang from the corner of her eye. "Bai Yutang?"
Hearing Yi Qing call out like that, Xiao Jinghan looked back. It really was Bai Yutang. She was casually browsing the stalls on one side, selecting things.
"She came out like this without even bringing a maid." Yi Qing thought this was a good opportunity. "Doesn't she always accompany Lady Di for meals?"
Xiao Jinghan sized Yi Qing up slightly: "When did you learn to beat around the bush?"
"When I'm worried that telling you something will make you angry." Yi Qing replied honestly.
"If you're worried that I'll get angry, does it mean you care more?" Xiao Jinghan was about to lower the carriage curtain.
"Wait a minute." Yi Qing watched intently. "If I'm not mistaken, she'll run into one of the two young masters of the Yuan family soon."
"Why?" Xiao Jinghan didn't understand.
"It's the routine of a green tea bitch." Yi Qing thought that if her prediction came true, she could confirm this matter.
"Green tea bitch? What does that mean?"
"It refers to someone who is very beautiful and looks delicate and weak, and is always considerate in front of many men."
"That sounds good."
Hearing Xiao Jinghan say this, Yi Qing suddenly turned to look at him. Straight men really couldn't tell a green tea bitch when they saw one.
"What's wrong?" Xiao Jinghan didn't know why she had such a strong reaction all of a sudden.
"Get this straight. She's being considerate in front of many men to achieve her own goals. How would you feel if your woman was also very considerate and caring in front of other men?"
Xiao Jinghan directly pinned Yi Qing against the carriage wall: "How dare you even think about it."
Yi Qing wondered if they had strayed from the topic: "You're going to take a concubine soon. Why do you still care about what I think?"
"I've said that wasn't my intention."
"Is it so hard for you to marry a beauty?" Yi Qing deliberately provoked Xiao Jinghan. Why should she be the only one angry?
Xiao Jinghan directly grabbed the back of Yi Qing's head and pressed her down, aggressively invading her lips in anger.
"Um..." Yi Qing felt that she had gone too far. Xiao Jinghan seemed to want to bite her to death.
Feeling Yi Qing's struggle, Xiao Jinghan loosened his hold on her a little, giving her a chance to catch her breath: "Say that again and see what happens."
Yi Qing glared at Xiao Jinghan angrily and directly bit his lips. Did he really think she was a doll just because she didn't show her claws?
Xiao Jinghan felt a twinge of pain. His tongue tried to pry open her teeth. Yi Qing bit down hard. A coppery taste spread in her mouth, and she immediately let go.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Xiao Jinghan invaded further. This girl really needed to be disciplined.
The coppery taste mixed with the softness. Xiao Jinghan almost forgot that they were in a busy market: "I'll deal with you when we get back." Reluctantly, he separated from Yi Qing.
Yi Qing looked at the bleeding wound on Xiao Jinghan's lips: "Are you okay?"
Seeing her look of guilt, Xiao Jinghan said, "It hurts."
Yi Qing felt that it must be painful just to look at it: "Wounds on the lips heal quickly. Just bear with it for a while. There's no way to apply medicine here."
"Why not?" Xiao Jinghan leaned closer to Yi Qing again.
Yi Qing felt doomed: "Let's focus on the main thing." She immediately lifted the carriage curtain.
The timing was perfect. As soon as Yi Qing lifted the curtain, she saw Bai Yutang slip and almost bump into Yuan Hecong. Yuan Hecong immediately stepped back politely, and Bai Yutang fell hard.
"Pfft..." Yi Qing couldn't help laughing. It seemed that the young master of the Yuan family was also a straight man.
Xiao Jinghan also saw it. Remembering what Yi Qing had said about Bai Yutang running into a young master of the Yuan family, his eyes darkened. Yi Qing had been right. Did that mean she knew Bai Yutang's intentions?
"Who's that?" Yi Qing pointed at the person Bai Yutang had bumped into.
"The second young master of the Yuan family, Yuan Hecong." Xiao Jinghan explained.
"Oh. According to seniority, shouldn't Bai Yutang call you uncle?" Yi Qing teased.
The age difference among those adopted by Duke Di was quite large. With Bai Yutang suddenly inserted, the relationships became a bit awkward.
Xiao Jinghan glanced at Yi Qing from the corner of his eye and forced himself not to look anymore. If he looked a few more times, he might just "commit a crime" right in the busy market.
Bai Yutang was lying on the ground, not knowing what to do. Everyone said that the young masters of the Yuan family were gentle and refined. Why were they so heartless?
"Are you okay, miss?" Yuan Hecong took two more steps back and then bowed as he asked.
"I accidentally fell just now. I'm sorry to have disturbed you two." Bai Yutang endured the pain and got up from the ground. She gritted her teeth and rubbed against the ground. Her palm was scraped, and with a pained look on her face, she looked even more delicate.
"A play for sympathy?" Yi Qing saw Bai Yutang's little move clearly. She tilted her head slightly, not believing that Xiao Jinghan hadn't seen it. "Your niece is quite resilient."
"Since she likes the second young master of the Yuan family so much, I'll definitely help her achieve her wish when we get back." Xiao Jinghan said seriously.
Yi Qing was almost furious with Xiao Jinghan. How narcissistic could this man be to think that a woman's feelings for a man were only out of love?
"Don't drag the Yuan family into this." Yi Qing said angrily.
Over there, Yuan Hecong was really straight-laced: "It's okay. But there should be a proper distance between men and women. It's not convenient for me to help you up, miss. Since your hand is injured, you should go to the medical clinic quickly. By the way, are those pearls on the ground yours? They're quite valuable. Hurry up and pick them up." After saying that, he walked around and left.
If it were someone else, they would surely be criticized for being heartless. But coming from the mouths of the Yuan brothers, it was perfectly normal. The two of them adhered strictly to the rules and never overstepped the line.
"They..." Xiao Jinghan was angry and was about to get out of the carriage to stand up for Bai Yutang.
Yi Qing quickly grabbed Xiao Jinghan: "Haven't you noticed anything wrong with Bai Yutang?" She decided to be straightforward.
After Yuan Hecong and the others left, Bai Yutang turned to look back. She felt as if someone was watching her. Although there was no ill will, when she turned back, she saw nothing.