After parting ways and boarding their respective carriages, Si Zhan eagerly tied the knee guards on, his hands lingering over them. At the mansion, he wore the knee guards constantly, except when bathing. That night, it felt like warm hands were covering his knees, and he finally sensed some warmth.
The next day, Ning Wanwan asked him to meet at the Ying Yue Pavilion after class. Si Zhan, full of smiles and unconsciously touching the knee guards on his knees, felt the day was passing too slowly.
Si Zhan, unaware of any ulterior motives, smiled and nodded while drinking warming soup. Yuan Bi stood outside, tense as if facing a great enemy. After Si Zhan put down the empty bowl, Ning Wan Wan asked, “Uncle, do you feel warmer after drinking?” Si Zhan smiled softly, “Yes, it’s a bit warmer.” Ning Wan Wan instinctively reached out to check his temperature by touching the back of his hand on the table.
Unexpectedly, when her hand touched Si Zhan, he jerked back as if stung by a scorpion.
Ning Wan Wan froze, and Si Zhan’s expression turned unnatural. “I’m sorry, I…” he began, but Ning Wan Wan quickly withdrew her hand and laughed. “Uncle, no need to explain. It was my impropriety, forgetting the boundaries between men and women…”
“No, it’s not you…” Si Zhan attempted to explain but abruptly changed his demeanor. Standing up hastily, he said, “I have urgent matters at the Fu Ning Palace and need to leave first.”
The Fu Ning Palace was where the Emperor held private discussions.
Ning Wan Wan nodded, “Yes, Uncle, take care.” Before leaving, Si Zhan added, “Thank you for the warming soup. This is the most delicious soup I’ve ever had.”
Ning Wan Wan’s dejected face brightened at his words.
Fu Yi watched Si Zhan depart and hesitated before speaking up. “Miss, I might be out of line, but I need to express my thoughts…”
Ning Wan Wan interrupted, “You think I’m too good to the Duke of Yi, right?”
Fu Yi’s eyes widened, “Not just good, but excessively so.”
