Une aura glaçante

Chapitre 8

After speaking, he looked at Xiaoyue, their eyes met, and Shen Xinghai inexplicably felt a little unsure of himself. Xiaoyue hesitated for a moment, and finally nodded gently.

Xiao Dao stood with his hands behind his back, watching without saying a word.

The maidservant beside Liu Ruyue reached out and held up the watermelon lantern, smiling as she said to Xiaoyue, "Thank you for parting with it, Miss Xiaoyue."

Xiaoyue's gaze remained fixed on the lamp.

Upon seeing this, Liu Ruyue quickly said, "Miss Xiaoyue, how about I bring you a beautiful palace lantern tomorrow in exchange?"

Xiaoyue didn't say anything; she preferred the watermelon lantern that Xiaodao had made by hand.

Shen Xinghai stood to the side, subconsciously avoiding looking at Xiaoyue, but noticed Xiaodao smiling at him meaningfully.

Shen Xinghai felt a little uncomfortable at her laughter. This girl was very cunning and seemed to be able to see through his thoughts at a glance, which made him uneasy.

Suddenly, the maid exclaimed "Oh dear!"

Then, with a "crack," the watermelon lantern fell to the ground and shattered. The maid shook her hand, saying, "It's so hot!" while pleading with Liu Ruyue, "Princess, I didn't mean to."

Liu Ruyue glared at her, "How could you be so careless!"

"That lamp was scalding hot," the maid muttered. "Luckily, the princess didn't hold it."

Xiao Dao turned to look at Xiao Yue and saw her staring at the broken watermelon lantern on the ground, looking particularly captivating. Xiao Dao couldn't help but smile, drawing Liu Ruyue's gaze to Shen Xinghai.

Shen Xinghai was looking at Xiaoyue with a furrowed brow and a complicated expression, filled with guilt and some indescribable emotions.

Liu Ruyue withdrew her gaze and scolded the maid, "Aren't you going to apologize to Miss Xiaoyue?!"

The maidservant, looking distressed, came to Xiaoyue's side. "Miss Xiaoyue, I burned my hand on purpose. I saw you holding it too, but I didn't expect it to be so hot... Oh, I see, you have calluses on your hands, right? It's a good thing the princess wasn't holding it."

"Sigh, so I see, the watermelon lantern really isn't suitable for the princess." At this moment, Xue Beifan walked in from outside, followed by Chonghua.

Seeing that Xiaoyue didn't answer, the maid ran to Liu Ruyue's side, "Princess, Miss Xiaoyue is angry, am I going to be punished?"

"Sigh." Shen Xinghai came back to his senses and waved his hand. "It's just a watermelon lantern." As he spoke, he looked at Xiaoyue.

Xiaoyue nodded, hummed in agreement, and went to pick up the melon lantern.

Xue Beifan mouthed something to Xiaodao, as if to say—Xiaoyue isn't stupid after all!

Xiao Dao rolled his eyes at him—you're the idiot.

Xue Beifan felt wronged after receiving an innocent glare—wasn't I also on Xiaoyue's side?

Xiao Dao turned his face away, clearly taking his anger out on that stinky man!

Chonghua went over to help Xiaoyue pick them up, teasing her as he said, "There's a melon patch in the back. We'll bring a whole cartload over in a bit so Xiaodao can carve them all. Can you carve all twelve zodiac animals?"

Xiaoyue smiled slightly.

Shen Xinghai's expression became even more gloomy than before.

Seeing that Xiaodao still didn't speak, Xue Beifan gently nudged her with his elbow and pouted—not fighting back? That's not like you!

Xiao Dao suddenly smiled and said to Shen Xinghai, "Master Shen."

Shen Xinghai turned to look at her, seemingly prepared. He guessed that Xiao Dao would have to say a few harsh words to calm Xiao Yue down, which was fine.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Dao said, "We might not have enough manpower for this long trip. How about we ask Miss Xiaoyue to lend a hand?"

As he spoke, he looked at Xue Beifan.

Shen Xinghai was completely dumbfounded.

Before Xue Beifan could speak, Xiao Dao secretly pinched him, making him wince in pain. He quickly nodded, "Yes, Brother Shen, Xiaoyue is skilled in martial arts. I have some things to take care of and would like to ask her for help."

"Does Master Shen not mind?" Xiao Dao asked Shen Xinghai.

Shen Xinghai frowned. Seeing his hesitation, Xiao Dao raised an eyebrow at Liu Ruyue in a provocative manner. Liu Ruyue remained silent. The maid said, "So Miss Xiaoyue is so capable. No wonder Master Shen can't do without her."

Shen Xinghai looked at Xiaoyue, "Why don't you come with me?"

Xiaoyue stood there holding half a melon lantern, nodded, her expression still indifferent, looking at the lantern.

Xiao Dao thought to himself, "Oh, silly girl, a short pain is worse than a long one! This princess is no pushover. If I leave you here alone, you might get tortured to death." Shen Xinghai just watched the show from the sidelines.

Afterwards, Shen Xinghai accompanied Liu Ruyue, who had a smile on her face, out the door. Before leaving, he glanced back at Xiaoyue, as if he had something to say, but Xiaoyue, holding the lamp, went back inside.

After everyone left, Xue Beifan gave Xiaodao a thumbs up, "That was really good! One fatal blow. Shen Xinghai probably won't be able to sleep tonight."

Xiao Dao reached out and slapped him on the back. "Get moving immediately!"

"What?" Xue Beifan stared at her, his eyes wide. "You're leaving tomorrow morning? No rush!"

"Strike while the iron is hot; maybe I'll change my mind by tomorrow morning." Little Knife shrugged irresponsibly, drawing out his words, "You decide~"

Xue Beifan opened his mouth, and Chonghua turned and walked out, "I'll go pack my things and inform Hao Jinfeng that we'll take a boat."

Xue Beifan shook his head and asked Xiaoyue, "Aren't you just messing with Shen Xinghai? He hasn't seen Xiaoyue since he came back from accompanying the princess. He should at least let her say goodbye."

"Dream on!" Yan Xiaodao snorted. "If you stab someone, you have to be prepared to be stabbed twice in return."

"You're amazing, girl," Xue Beifan exclaimed. "Anyone who messes with you in the future is going to suffer a terrible fate."

Yan Xiaodao raised an eyebrow. "Of course! My mother always said that we should know how to be magnanimous, but also how to repay double!"

Eavesdropping

Xiao Dao went to the kitchen to get a piece of cake to fill his stomach, and when he came back, he couldn't find Xiao Yue. He bumped into Xue Beifan as he went outside, "Are you ready? The ship is docked!"

Xiao Dao frowned. "Where did Xiao Yue go?"

“Uh…” Xue Beifan scratched his head, trying to change the subject.

"Oh! She went to see Shen Xinghai, didn't she?" Xiao Dao stamped her foot. "Really, men can't be spoiled! Otherwise, they won't know they're wrong!"

"Hey, don't get so worked up," Xue Beifan waved his hand at her. "We've grown up together for over ten years, and you've only known Xiaoyue for a few days? You're already making decisions for her?"

Xiao Dao was indignant.

"It's just saying goodbye. You go and wait on the boat," Xue Beifan said, pulling her along.

Xiao Dao was reluctantly dragged away, and when they arrived at the door, they ran into Shen Xinghai bringing Xiao Yue out.

Shen Xinghai held Xiaoyue's bundle in his hand, whispering something in her ear. Xiaoyue seemed to be completely coaxed by him and nodded obediently.

Xiao Dao stomped her foot—whatever, one is willing to hit and the other is willing to be hit, why should she go out of her way to stir things up? The so-called pity for her misfortune and anger at her lack of resistance, Xiao Dao felt both aggrieved for Xiao Yue and somewhat resentful of Xiao Yue's submissive attitude.

After taking her bundle, Xiaoyue went out and, together with Xiaodao and the others, said goodbye to Shen Xinghai and boarded the ship.

Xiao Dao glanced back and saw Shen Xinghai staring intently at Xiao Yue, looking incredibly awkward... The desired effect was achieved, but Xiao Yue looked as if a loving couple had been separated, clearly not wanting to leave Shen Xinghai. Xiao Dao sighed.

Xue Beifan, standing to the side, sneered, "Trying to stick your neck out."

Xiao Dao glared at him, huffed and puffed as she boarded the boat. She found a room to stay in, and a little while later, Xiao Yue came in.

There were only two rooms and one dormitory on the ship. The dormitory was where the servants lived. Xiaoyue and Xiaodao shared one room, and Xue Beifan, Chonghua, and Hao Jinfeng shared the other.

Seeing Xiaodao with a stern face, Xiaoyue came in, sat down, and started packing her things. Noticing that Xiaodao's bundle was still tied up, she helped her pack it too.

Xiao Dao snatched the bundle away, saying, "You're not a maid, why do you always act inferior to others?"

Xiaoyue stared at Xiaodao for a while, then smiled and said, "Xiaodao, you have such a kind heart."

Xiao Dao glared at her, but then lost her strength. "Are you planning to keep giving in to Shen Xinghai like this? If he keeps dragging you along, are you going to keep going like that? Women age very easily!"

Xiaoyue nodded. "It won't be long. The young master will be engaged to the princess at the end of the year. I'll stay with him for the last few days and want to do something for him."

"You..." Xiao Dao patted his chest to catch his breath.

Xiaoyue was amused by her. "It's alright. If it weren't for the young master saving me back then, I might be hiding in a dark cave as an assassin, or I might already be dead, or I might be in a brothel. The young master has been kind to me, and I would give my life to repay him. This is nothing. I don't want him to be sad."

Xiao Dao sighed and looked at her with admiration. So it really exists. The special situation that Mother was talking about, where someone wants to kill themselves and you can't stop them. What a tragedy!

Ultimately, everyone's situation is different, and it's not good to force anyone. Xiao Dao patted her shoulder, "If you feel good about it, then that's fine. Don't feel too wronged."

Xiaoyue nodded and smiled, then silently packed her things.

In the next room, Hao Jinfeng was a straightforward person who fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow, remaining completely still and snoring.

Xue Beifan sat by the wall, listening with great interest. Chonghua leaned against the couch and looked at him, saying, "Aren't you shameless? Listening to a girl talk."

Xue Beifan turned around and saw that although he appeared calm on the surface, he couldn't hide the disappointment in his eyes. He smiled and said, "You dare to say you didn't listen?"

Chonghua turned over, his face pale, whether from illness or exhaustion, it was hard to tell.

“You don’t need to get so worked up.” Xue Beifan pulled up a chair and sat down in front of him. “Xiaoyue also said that Shen Xinghai will marry that princess at the end of the year. I’ll help you propose to him and marry Xiaoyue.”

Chonghua, seemingly uninterested, casually flipped a folding fan in her hand. "In her heart, she always had Shen Xinghai in her mind."

Seeing his expression, Xue Beifan leaned closer and asked, "You, Chonghua, are a man of both literary and martial talents, with a large and prosperous family. So many beautiful women float around in front of you, yet you don't even glance at them. Why do you have your eye on Lou Xiaoyue?"

Chonghua seemed to recall something from the past, and said calmly, "When I first met her, she happened to take an arrow for Shen Xinghai."

Xue Beifan frowned. "That damned Shen Xinghai, why did he have to hire a beautiful woman as his bodyguard?"

"In this world, when it comes to love between men and women, do women give more or men give more?" Chonghua asked Xue Beifan with great interest.

Xue Beifan pondered for a moment, "That's a matter of opinion. Generally speaking, the deeper the feelings, the more one suffers, right?"

“I’ve met many women who say they would do anything for the one they love, but I’ve never seen one.” Chonghua casually placed his folding fan on the table. “Beautiful women are all smart, and smart women are all calculating. It’s understandable for women to think of themselves… But I’ve always wanted to see if there really is such a woman who is beautiful, smart, and willing to do anything for someone. Lou Xiaoyue not only has all of these qualities but also has no regrets. If you’re so capable, can you find me another one like her?”

Xue Beifan's lips twitched. "You're supposed to be the master of Chonghua Tower and a member of the martial arts world, so stop acting like some kind of genius who's obsessed with you all the time. Shen Xinghai is the complete opposite of you. You care too much, he doesn't care at all. If you really like him, just tell him. Brothers are brothers, he's just sitting there doing nothing, so you're not stealing his woman."

"What latrine?" Chonghua rolled her eyes at him. "What's mine is mine, and what's not mine, don't force it." After saying that, she went to wash up and prepare for bed.

Xue Beifan shook his head. How could he have become brothers with this half-dead guy in the first place? After thinking for a moment, he walked to the wall, tapped it with two fingers, and asked, "Have you heard enough? Was it good?"

In the next room, Xiaoyue was combing her hair when she saw Xiaodao suddenly jump down from the wall, cover her ears, and kick the wall, yelling, "You lecherous scoundrel!"

Xue Beifan chuckled; Yan Xiaodao was indeed listening.

Xiao Dao returned to the bedside, hugged his pillow, and pleaded with Xiao Yue, "Xiao Yue, when we get to Nine Pearl Dragon Pool, can I borrow your mask?"

Xiaoyue asked in confusion, "What are you going to do?"

"I have a rival at Nine Pearl Dragon Pool, and I don't want him to see what I look like!" Xiao Dao put the mask on his face. "Can I borrow it?"

"Oh." Xiaoyue nodded. Lending a mask was a small matter, but speaking of adversaries...

"Isn't Jiuzhulongtan Wang Bibo's territory?" Xiaoyue asked. "Do you have a grudge against Wang Bibo?"

Xiao Dao removed his mask, looking dejected, and said in a low voice, "If I tell you, you'll have to keep it a secret!"