Ma femme escalade le mur

Chapitre 3

Not far away, two women were slowly descending the mountain. The woman, supported by her young maid, seemed a little stiff in her legs. Although her face was well-preserved, she was, after all, getting on in years. The man turned around, expressionless, and waited quietly, using his umbrella to prop himself up on the ground.

"Oh! Madam!" the maid exclaimed. The man turned around quickly and hurried up the steps. Sure enough, the woman was sitting on the twenty-odd steps, her pale purple embroidered dress stained with water, her stray hairs clinging messily to her cheeks, her delicate brows furrowed, and one hand gently rubbing her ankle. The man sighed inwardly; it seemed she had twisted her ankle.

"Madam, do you need any help?" The man's voice remained cool and aloof, a hint of worry flickering in his handsome features. The woman looked up, scrutinized the man for a moment, then smiled slightly: "Thank you for your trouble, young master."

The man nodded, handing one of the two umbrellas to the woman and the other to the somewhat stunned maid beside him. Then he turned and squatted down. As he carried the woman on his back, his legs trembled slightly. He took a deep breath, steadied himself, and walked down step by step.

"Young master, just take us to the west end of the street. We can call a carriage to go back from there." The woman held the man's shoulder with one hand and held an umbrella with the other. A rosy-cheeked maidservant followed closely behind, secretly observing the young man in blue. This young master is a bit cold, but he has a kind heart and is quite handsome. The young master usually has a cold demeanor, but his appearance is very masculine, with deep features that subtly exude domineering power. This young master, though also cold, has a refined and delicate appearance. Looking closely at his eyebrows and eyes, although they are always cold and expressionless, they are wet and glistening from the rain. His long, curled eyelashes flutter like butterfly wings, revealing a slightly alluring charm. The maidservant couldn't help but tremble. Could it be that the rain had made him silly while walking on the mountain path? How could a man think of the word "charming"?

"It's alright. It's hard to call a taxi in the rain. If you don't mind, Madam, I'll take you directly to your doorstep." The man's cool and clear voice was quite pleasant, like the tinkling sound of a cold mountain spring.

The woman smiled slightly, "Then I'll trouble you, young master." This child, clearly a girl, why is he dressed as a boy? Judging from his appearance and demeanor, he seems like a child from a wealthy family, yet his clothes and shoes make him look like a poor scholar. However, she's an old woman who's lived for decades, and she's quite good at judging people. This child has a clear and upright air about him, and his brows exude a sense of righteousness; he's not a wicked person. But the timing of his appearance is too coincidental, and so coincidentally, he's carrying two umbrellas…

The man didn't speak again. Fine beads of sweat covered his forehead, his temples were slightly damp, and his legs were trembling slightly. The maid led the way, and the man tried his best to control his somewhat disordered breathing and appear relaxed.

"Mother! Bizhu, what's going on?" The man in black recognized the maid walking ahead as Bizhu from afar, while his mother was leaning on the shoulder of a strange man. As they drew closer, the man in black turned his gaze to the young man carrying his mother and was taken aback. The man in white following behind was also somewhat surprised, lightly tapping his palm with his white jade fan. Meeting twice in three days—could it be said they were destined to meet?

The man in blue robes bent low and carefully placed the woman on the steps of the palace gate. On the other side, Zhao Ting supported the princess's waist, shifting all the weight onto himself. The man slowly exhaled, turned around, and looked straight ahead at the woman in the light purple dress: "So you are the Seventh Princess. I was very rude just now, please forgive me."

At this moment, a man dressed in a silver-white long gown walked out quickly. Although he was over forty, he was still handsome and dashing. His dark, deep eyes, like Zhao Ting's, swept over the woman leaning against her son's chest with some concern.

The woman gently took the man in blue's hand and patted the back of his hand: "This child, you've clearly helped me a lot, why are you being so polite?" Then she turned her head to look at the middle-aged man who had already stood beside her, "Ruilang, I'm so grateful to this young master today, otherwise, with the rain and my sprained ankle, and only Bizhu by my side, I really wouldn't know what to do."

The Seventh Prince nodded, his deep, eagle-like eyes fixed on the indifferent young man before him. He was neither humble nor arrogant, but calm and composed—quite a composure! "Thank you for your help, young master. We have prepared a meal at our residence. Would you be so kind as to join us for a simple meal to express our gratitude?"

The man's usually aloof phoenix eyes seemed to well up with tears, making his already striking black and white eyes appear even brighter. His dark eyes seemed to be suppressing some emotion. After a moment of silence, his pink lips parted slightly: "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness and Your Highness. I have some matters to attend to, so I must go now." He turned to leave, but the woman's hand, which she had been holding, tightened. The Seventh Princess's delicate brows furrowed slightly, and she said softly, "The rain is getting heavier. What matter must be done so urgently now? Come in with us for a simple meal first. You can leave when the rain subsides a bit."

Zhao Ting and Zhan Yun remained silent, observing the man's expression. Zhan Yun smiled faintly, while Zhao Ting's face darkened, his heart filled with displeasure. What kind of person was this! Last time at the restaurant, they were seated diagonally across from each other, just one table away. The waiter had even pointed out his seat, saying that Gao Lei wine was the strongest, yet the boy hadn't even glanced at him, not even glancing at him while looking at the wine jar! And just now, from the moment they met, Zhao Ting had been watching him intently. The boy carefully placed his mother on the steps and then greeted his parents, but hadn't even glanced at him. No matter how cold and composed Zhao Ting was, he still retained some of his princely temperament. Furthermore, as a renowned young hero, he had never experienced being so thoroughly ignored. A feeling of oppression settled over him, and he felt deeply uncomfortable.

Just as he was pondering this, the man suddenly turned his head slightly, glancing at Zhao Ting and Zhan Yun. His cool, phoenix eyes swept over them, revealing a subtle, alluring charm. Zhao Ting felt his breath catch in his throat, and his heart skipped a beat. While Zhao Ting was secretly gritting his teeth, wondering if he had lost his mind, the man parted his pink lips slightly, looked at the Seventh Princess who was still holding his hand, and softly replied, "Alright." He then withdrew his hand, cupped his hands in a respectful bow to the prince, and said, "Then I shall respectfully comply."

Five people sat down around a round table. The Seventh Prince sat in the center, with the Princess and Zhao Ting on his left and right respectively. Zhan Yun sat next to Zhao Ting, and a young man sat next to the Princess. With the food and wine prepared, the Seventh Princess placed her hands on her lap and smiled at the man beside her: "May I ask how this gentleman is addressed?"

The man glanced at Zhan Yun and Zhao Ting sitting opposite him, paused for a moment, and then said softly, "My surname is Duan." Zhan Yun smiled, while Zhao Ting frowned. Judging from this, he knows us!

Zhan Yun put down her chopsticks and smiled slightly at the man: "I wonder if Young Master Duan still remembers us? We met at Zhuangyuanlou a few days ago."

To their surprise, the man readily nodded and continued, "Zhao Ting, the young prince who led troops to a great victory against the Liao people at the age of sixteen, and Zhan Yun, the grandson of the former Vice Minister Zhan, are known as 'the gentleman as jade-like and cloud-like as a wanderer.'" The two were dumbfounded. This guy was reciting something like a memorized text! These were the kinds of compliments people used in casual conversation, not something said to someone's face.

Although Zhan Yun had a wide circle of friends and had dealt with all sorts of people, he was at a loss for words when faced with someone like Xiao Duan. He could only smile awkwardly and glance at the prince and princess who were exchanging glances: "Seventh Prince, Princess, this young master Duan is the famous young master of Liangzhe Road that Yiran and I often mentioned recently."

“Just call me Xiao Duan,” the man interjected softly. Zhan Yun choked for a moment, then nodded and chuckled, continuing to uphold his virtue of readily accepting kindness: “Xiao Duan.”

"Young Master Duan..." The princess was clearly not used to being addressed like that. Seeing the man nod, indicating that it was alright for her to address him that way, she smiled and continued, "Young Master Duan, Ruilang and I have often heard Ping'er and the others mention you these past few days. We never imagined that the capable person who solved three major cases in a row would be such a handsome young man!"

Xiao Duan raised the corners of his mouth slightly: "Your Highness is too kind."

The Seventh Princess couldn't help but sigh inwardly. What's wrong with children these days? They're all so quiet! Her own son always had a cold face and couldn't utter a word for ages. He was even better at pretending than his father. This girl was clearly a girl, so why was her face so tense? Her phoenix eyes were always aloof, and her pink, moist lips were always pursed so tightly. She was clearly born with a beautiful face, but she seemed to be wrapped in a layer of ice, making people afraid to get close to her.

Author's Note: Hmm, there will be another chapter tomorrow, and then we'll move on to the first case!

Oh dear, this seemingly aloof little prince is secretly quite restless! Lalala, I admit I'm a prince enthusiast!

However, I didn't say who the male lead is. I'm a staunch advocate of free love and absolutely refuse to arrange marriages! ╭(╯^╰)╮

5

Chapter Four: The Seventh Princess's Unfailing Friendship...

The Seventh Prince barely touched his chopsticks, holding his wine cup in one hand, quietly observing the man before him. Xiao Duan also barely ate anything, his phoenix eyes half-closed, his pink lips tightly pursed. He picked up his wine cup with his left hand and drank it all in one gulp, his pale pink lips slightly dampened by the wine, gradually turning a rosy hue. "This child, why does he only drink and not eat..." The Seventh Princess put down her chopsticks, picked up the serving chopsticks, and placed a piece of tender fish belly meat in Xiao Duan's bowl.

Xiao Duan paused, his delicate Adam's apple bobbing slightly. His half-closed phoenix eyes slowly lifted, and a slight smile curved his lips. "Thank you, Your Highness." He put down his wine cup, picked up his chopsticks (which he hadn't touched for a while), and quietly began to eat the fish. The fish belly was tender, with few bones, and was drizzled with a sweet and sour, slightly salty broth, topped with finely shredded ginger and a few sprigs of bright green cilantro. Xiao Duan deftly removed a few of the main bones with his chopsticks, the fish meat slightly loosening. He picked up a piece and put it in his mouth, chewing it carefully, then picked up a mouthful of rice. Although his expression remained blank, a closer look revealed that his eyes were much gentler than usual.

"Is it delicious?" the Seventh Princess asked softly, while scooping a spoonful of the tender winter melon from the stewed pork ribs into Xiao Duan's bowl.

Xiao Duan looked up, pursed her lips, and her cool, phoenix eyes sparkled: "Delicious."

"Eat more if you like it." Upon hearing Xiao Duan say "it's delicious," the Seventh Princess's face lit up. She picked up her chopsticks and piled food onto every plate on the table for him. She could tell that this boy was a quiet type, not one for empty flattery, so his reply that it was delicious meant he genuinely enjoyed it. Xiao Duan didn't refuse. The Seventh Princess continued to pile food onto his plate, thanking her softly with each dish before slowly and deliberately eating. Meanwhile, the wine never stopped flowing. Soon, a maidservant carrying a wine pot went to refill his cup.

At this moment, the Seventh Prince, who had been silently drinking, spoke up: "Is Young Master Duan from Bianliang?"

Xiao Duan put down his chopsticks, swallowed the food in his mouth, and looked up to meet the Seventh Prince's gaze: "No."

"First time here?" The Seventh Prince's expression was somewhat cold.

"I've been here twice before, but that was many years ago," Xiao Duan replied casually.

"Judging from Young Master Duan's accent, he doesn't seem to be from the Liangzhe region." The Seventh Prince took a sip of wine, his eyes filled with even deeper probing. On the other side, Zhao Ting and Zhan Yun also turned their gazes to Young Master Duan. In fact, they had been quite interested in this Young Master Duan ever since they first heard of him in the Liangzhe region last year. After being defeated by him three times in a row without even seeing what he looked like, their curiosity only intensified.

When inquiring about this man's background with several prefects, they all gave vague and ambiguous answers, only saying that everyone called him Xiao Duan. As for where he originally came from, his family background, or anything like that, no one could say. When pressed further, they became somewhat exasperated, saying that since the man had come to them voluntarily to help, it wasn't appropriate to keep pressing him if he didn't want to talk about it. Besides, many people in the martial arts world don't use their real names; it's quite normal to give someone a nickname or something similar.

At this moment, the Seventh Prince spoke up, which was exactly what the two of them were thinking. While quietly eating, they both listened intently, afraid of missing any important information.

Xiao Duan paused for a moment, his face calm and composed, and said lightly, "I lost both my parents when I was young and traveled around with others. Later, I met my master and followed her around the Jiangnan region. My accent is inevitably mixed with other accents. If I have unintentionally offended you, I hope Your Highness and Your Highness will forgive me."

Having said that, he loosened his grip on the wine cup in his left hand, turned to look at the Seventh Princess sitting beside him, and was about to speak when the Seventh Princess interrupted him. The princess lightly patted Xiao Duan's arm, glancing sideways at her husband, "Why are you asking so many questions while we're enjoying a meal? You really need to change this inquisitive habit! It's not easy for that young man to be out there all this time. I finally managed to get him to stay for a meal, and your questions have scared him away!" She then glared at the Seventh Prince, before turning back to Xiao Duan, "Young Master Duan, that's just how he is. Don't mind him, let's eat."

Despite being scolded by his wife in front of three juniors and a room full of maids and servants, the Seventh Prince wasn't angry. He simply looked at Xiao Duan again with thoughtful furrowing of his brow. Having heard the Princess's words, Xiao Duan naturally couldn't leave. He simply nodded, picked up his wine cup, and silently drank.

The two on the other side hadn't expected such an unpleasant answer. Zhao Tingjian frowned slightly, and a hint of apology crept into his eyes as he looked at Xiao Duan. Zhan Yun, on the other hand, spoke directly: "Young Master Duan is a promising young man who has solved many remarkable cases, not only relieving the government's worries but also bringing benefits to the local people. I imagine that if Young Master Duan's parents were alive, they would be very pleased."

Originally, these words were carefully chosen and every sentence made sense. To the average person, they would not have been wrong at all, and they were quite comforting. But when Xiao Duan heard these words, his expression suddenly changed. His delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, as if he was slightly angry. His pink lips parted slightly, and his eyes showed a struggle and change in expression. He pursed his lips and swallowed the words that were about to come out.

These subtle changes in expression happened in an instant, but those present were all observant and noticed them clearly. Even the usually gentle and refined Young Master Xingzhi couldn't help but frown, feeling quite annoyed. He was usually very measured and appropriate in his words and actions, so why did everything he said seem wrong today? He didn't know what he had said that was inappropriate, but he had managed to offend someone.

Seeing Xiao Duan's expression, the Seventh Princess's heart softened even more. She had always gotten along very well with this child; his speech and manners were natural and unpretentious, and the more she looked at him, the more she liked him. Then she thought of a young girl carrying her on her back through the rain for that long distance. Regardless of what secrets she might have had that led her to disguise herself as a man, regardless of whether her background was as she claimed, the thought of a young woman venturing out alone for so long, solving cases and chasing criminals, was truly heartbreaking.