Free Web NovelChapter 601: Chapter 600: Uninvited Guest
Huangfu Jingchen sighed and said, "I also want to tell her, but she doesn’t like people from the Imperial Family. I’m worried that if I tell her, it’ll push her further away!"
Concubine Cheng said, "Silly boy, if you don’t tell her and she finds out on her own later, won’t it be even more troublesome?"
Huangfu Jingchen acknowledged, "I’ll find an appropriate time to tell her!"
Prince Cheng patted his son’s shoulder with understanding and said, "For such matters, it’s better to speak sooner rather than later. The longer you delay, the harder it is to explain. Back when your father..." At this point, his voice trailed off.
Concubine Cheng glared at him with displeasure and snorted, "You have the nerve to say that. If it wasn’t for your lies back then, why would I have married you?"
Prince Cheng scratched his head and chuckled, "Apart from the identity as a Prince, I truly didn’t deceive you about anything else. It was Jian Chenxuan stirring trouble between us out of his malicious intent!"
"Nonsense!" Concubine Cheng rolled her eyes at him again, "Clearly, you deceived me first, and then shamelessly went to fight him. It was you two who wrecked the fourth floor of the Moon Full Building, and that staircase still hasn’t been fixed!"
"How am I talking nonsense? He did have improper intentions towards you. If I hadn’t beaten him, what if he had taken you away?" Prince Cheng suddenly realized, "How do you know the staircase on the fourth floor of the Moon Full Building hasn’t been repaired? Have you met him there again?"
"What, I can’t go?" Concubine Cheng glanced sideways.
Prince Cheng immediately beamed and said, "Of course, you can go, but next time, please let your husband accompany you, the Capital City isn’t very safe. I need to protect you by your side to be at ease!"
Huangfu Jingchen: "..."
How did the topic veer off like this?
However, he knew that the sooner he told Wenjin the truth, the better, or she would find out the truth herself if he delayed any longer.
Conveniently, he had arranged to go to Yan Zui Xuan with Wenjin.
Given Wenjin’s father’s unclear stance, Huangfu Jingchen wanted to visit Wenjin’s home but didn’t want to upset Xia Wanqing.
Huangfu Jingchen had other matters weighing on his mind.
Yesterday, the people he sent to Jinzhou to investigate the Old Blind Man sent back news that someone was investigating him, and there were two groups.
He guessed this person should be Huangfu Yuxuan.
As for the other group, that naturally was Prince Zhuang. His Third Imperial Uncle was still scheming to put him to death.
He hadn’t told his parents about this, as they had rushed day and night to the Capital City from Yunzhou because of a public assassination attempt, which was troubling enough.
Moreover, although he appeared to be an unimportant princely heir indifferent to Capital City’s state of affairs and unfamiliar with Court politics, it didn’t mean he was truly ignorant.
His mother disliked the Capital City for good reason—the bloodline was ruthless, and familial bonds within the Royal Family were weak. There was only a struggle for fame and profit, only cunning plots and schemes.
The forces in the Capital City, including Grandfather, were always suppressing his parents. If his parents stayed longer in the Capital City, those people would certainly find ways to plot against them.
They weren’t afraid, but it was truly repulsive.
Now that they had decided to return to Yunzhou, he didn’t want to involve them because of his issues. Besides, he had grown up, and these matters, he could handle himself!
At the east side of the second floor of Yan Zui Xuan, it wasn’t mealtime yet, when Xia Wenjin finished discussing the restaurant matters with Yan Huanlin, Huangfu Jingchen arrived.
Xia Wenjin smiled and said, "You arrived quite early!"
Huangfu Jingchen smiled and said, "I wanted to see you, so I came early!"
Xia Wenjin smiled shyly; it had been a few days since they’d seen each other, but no need to be so blunt about it.
The young man entered from the doorway, standing tall and graceful, exuding elegance. The light from the door seemed to focus on him alone, making it hard to look away.
Xia Wenjin smilingly sized him up, pointed to the chair, and poured him a freshly brewed cup of tea, pushing it over, "Sit!"
The two sat opposite each other, the aroma of tea lingering around them.
Huangfu Jingchen tentatively asked, "Wenjin, when do you think it would be a good time for me to visit Uncle Xia?"
He knew Xia Wanqing didn’t think well of him.
To avoid putting Wenjin in a difficult position, although he visited Xia Mansion when Xia Wanqing was in prison, he hadn’t been there since.
Xia Wenjin chuckled and said, "No need to hurry, aren’t we waiting for Uncle Hua and Uncle Gu to be released? Once they’re out, I’ll persuade them to return, and then I’ll invite you to visit Haotian Village!"
Huangfu Jingchen readily agreed, "It’s a deal!"
They were originally very familiar with each other, drinking tea, chatting, and reminiscing about past amusing events, thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Actually, during the conversation, Huangfu Jingchen had several times wanted to confess his identity to Xia Wenjin. However, he was genuinely concerned, as the girl’s pure gaze held no impurities, and she had so clearly expressed not wanting any entanglement with members of the Royal Family.
Still, he understood that it was better to speak sooner rather than later.
Having resolved in his heart, he still felt nervous, so he took a sip of tea to steady himself, just as he was about to speak, the door was suddenly pushed open.
The sound was loud, capturing both of their attention. They looked up to see a young man in fine brocade clothes, accompanied by two attendants, striding in. The Shopkeeper followed with an apologetic face, saying to Xia Wenjin, "I’m sorry to both of you. This gentleman insisted on seeing you, and I couldn’t stop him!"
Huangfu Jingchen was meeting Xia Wenjin without any guards, his mind open and straightforward, unlike Huangfu Yuxuan, who was defensive, so there was no one standing guard outside.
Seeing Huangfu Yuxuan entering, Huangfu Jingchen’s expression shifted slightly, an uneasy premonition rising in his heart.
When Xia Wenjin saw the newcomer was Huangfu Yuxuan, her face had already darkened.
She said to the Shopkeeper, "No worries, you can continue with your work!"
The Shopkeeper, wiping his sweat, had recognized her. The boss had mentioned this lady had a special status, not to be slighted in any way. Now, being unable to stop someone, surely she would be angry?
However, he also knew that staying there was no use, so he dejectedly went downstairs.
Xia Wenjin was far less polite to Huangfu Yuxuan, coldly saying, "What are you doing here?"
Huangfu Yuxuan seemed unconcerned with her attitude, instead smiling and saying, "Miss Xia, that’s not fair. After all, regarding Chief Xia’s matter, I did contribute, yet here Miss Xia doesn’t even offer a thank you, but instead scowls upon seeing me?"
Xia Wenjin snorted, "Whether you contributed, or to what end you contributed, you know best in your heart!" Thinking of her father’s unjust imprisonment, her heart seethed with anger.
"It seems Miss Xia has quite the misunderstanding about me!" Huangfu Yuxuan feigned helplessness, staring at Xia Wenjin without blinking, "I am very curious, Miss Xia. We have no real interaction, I have neither offended nor deceived you. Why do you hold such a prejudice against me?"
