Chapter 63: If I wanted to take you away right now, could I do it?

Chapter 63: Chapter 63: If I wanted to take you away right now, could I do it?

"Please, come with me," he said.

"Yaoyao?" Shen Hanyue’s brow furrowed. "Why don’t I go with you?"

Before Cui Lingyao could reply, Li Yong spoke first. "My apologies, Miss Shen. The bet was between Miss Pei and His Highness the Prince, so she must go alone."

’It’s just the answer to one question.’

’She has to face it eventually.’

"In that case, I’ll go."

Cui Lingyao stood and said to Shen Hanyue, "Cousin, when you get to the Nine Bends Pavilion, if you see my cousin, please do me a favor and let him know."

Shen Hanyue looked worried.

Even though she admired Xie Jinbai, viewing him as an indomitable and righteous man...

...he was, after all, still a man.

What sort of widower would insist on meeting a young lady in private?

Cui Lingyao had no sisters of her own, so she was already touched by Shen Hanyue’s earlier defense of her at the feast. Seeing her worry now moved her even more.

She said reassuringly, "Don’t worry, Cousin. A bet’s a bet. The Prince probably just has a question he needs me to answer. I’ll be right back."

With that, she turned to Li Yong. "Lead the way."

...

Xie Jinbai was in the front courtyard.

As the most distinguished guest of the day, the Duke Zhao Mansion had set aside a private courtyard for him to rest in.

Li Yong was very discreet, deliberately leading Cui Lingyao along a secluded path.

They didn’t encounter a single guest along the way.

Soon, they arrived outside a secluded little courtyard.

The courtyard gate was closed.

Li Yong went up the steps in a few strides, pushed open the door, and gestured with his arm. "Miss Pei, please."

’So he isn’t planning on going in with me.’

’—Xie Jinbai was inside, alone.’

At this realization, Cui Lingyao’s heart suddenly began to pound.

But she was already here. There was no turning back. She could only brace herself and walk in.

The courtyard was a modest size, dotted with a few common green plants.

The only distinctive feature was a small rockery in the corner, feeding a man-made pool with fresh, flowing water.

By the murmuring water stood a familiar figure. Tall and slender, he stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze lowered to the pool.

The moment Cui Lingyao stepped through the gate, she heard it click softly shut behind her. An instant later, the man by the pool turned his gaze toward her.

Their eyes met.

Cui Lingyao’s body went rigid.

They had just seen each other this morning, but then they had been surrounded by people.

Now, just one meal later, they were meeting again, this time in a secluded courtyard.

And they were all alone.

Cui Lingyao grew visibly tense.

Xie Jinbai stared at her, his gaze unwavering.

She was still in the same clothes from that morning. She must have been drinking, for her cheeks were flushed, and the porcelain-white skin of her chest was tinged with a delicate pink.

She looked so delicate, so tender.

But her expression was strained.

Like a deer that had almost escaped, only to be recaptured by the hunter.

The very picture of fragile helplessness.

He thought of her ’engagement.’

Of her hand clasped in that man’s.

Of them meeting under the moon, sitting shoulder to shoulder, their heads nestled together.

Xie Jinbai’s eyes narrowed. He fought to suppress the manic, destructive urge rising within him and said flatly, "Come here."

His voice was low and raspy.

Resistance flared within Cui Lingyao. She pressed her lips together and walked stiffly toward him.

She stopped three paces away from him.

Xie Jinbai had already reined in the dark storm swirling in his eyes. He looked down at the pool at his feet. "Recognize him?"

A turtle the size of a man’s palm was poking its head out from inside, its beady little eyes staring at her.

Cui Lingyao froze, then stiffly, slowly, shook her head.

Xie Jinbai glanced at her. "This is a Washing Ink Turtle. I used to keep it in my study. There were two of them, and my wife cared for them. Three years ago, one of them died. The other was sent to the Zhao Mansion."

’So she hadn’t been mistaken.’

’Is this Little Black or Big Black?’

’...How could one of them have died?’

’He even managed to kill a turtle!’

Cui Lingyao was surprisingly furious.

Cui Mingrui had given her the pair of Washing Ink Turtles as a gift when she was ten.

She had raised them like treasures. After marrying him, he had taken them, insisting on keeping them in his study.

It was a way to force her to visit his study every few days to check on them. ℯℯ𝘭.

’She’d raised them for ten years!’

’And now one was dead?’

As if he could see the gloom in her eyes, a self-deprecating look crossed Xie Jinbai’s face. "It’s true I didn’t take good care of them," he said wryly. "But Yaoyao, that winter... I almost died myself."

’Yaoyao...’

The long-unheard name made Cui Lingyao’s breath catch in her throat.

She responded instinctively, "Your Highness, please be careful with your words. A lady’s intimate name is not for just anyone to use."

’Still so stubborn.’

’He’d all but laid his cards on the table, yet she still refused to admit her identity.’

’But a thin sheen of sweat was already beading on her forehead.’

’Her whole body was rigid, braced for an attack.’

’Even her bright, almond-shaped eyes were filled with apprehension.’

’Poor little thing.’

Xie Jinbai’s heart softened completely. "Don’t be nervous. I won’t pressure you. I just wanted to talk. I won’t force you to admit anything you don’t want to."

He took a step forward and stared at her.

His expression was intense.

The greedy, obsessive look in his eyes could no longer be hidden.

His pupils trembled erratically, making him look like a wolf that had starved for days and nights.

He was terrifying to behold.

A chill ran down Cui Lingyao’s spine. The sight of him was horrifying.

She instinctively took a step back.

Xie Jinbai didn’t stop her. He let her move away, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. He forced his gaze to soften and offered her a slight smile. "Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you."

His smile was a ghastly sight.

With his eyes bloodshot, he looked more like he was about to cry.

Cui Lingyao couldn’t bear it any longer. She didn’t want to look at his strange, unsettling expression. She pursed her lips. "If Your Highness has something to ask, then please ask it."

’On the way here, she had already prepared herself.’

’He surely just wanted to clarify her identity.’

’Whether she was truly Cui Lingyao.’

’If she was, then when had she been reborn?’

’Why hadn’t she come to find him?’

’Why did she refuse to acknowledge him, even after they met?’

’Why did she agree to an engagement with Shen Tingyu?’

’She was prepared for all of it.’

’Right now, she just wanted to fulfill the bet and leave.’

Xie Jinbai lowered his eyelids, hiding the darkness churning within them. He gestured to a small tea table beside them. "No rush. Sit and talk."

Cui Lingyao said nothing.

She refused to sit.

Xie Jinbai didn’t force her. He sat down, poured a cup of warm tea, and pushed it toward her. "Drink some tea. It will help clear your head from the wine."

Cui Lingyao remained motionless, her face a stony mask. "If you have something to say, just say it."

’Completely impenetrable.’

’So guarded against him!’

Xie Jinbai set down the teacup. He lifted his gaze to her and suddenly smiled. "Do you really like Shen Tingyu?"

The smile was sinister.

But Cui Lingyao felt no fear. Her expression didn’t change as she asked, "Is that question your winnings from our bet?"

According to their bet, she only had to answer one of his questions.

’Very good.’

’She’s gotten bolder.’

’It looks like she really plans to draw a clear line between them, to have nothing more to do with him.’

Xie Jinbai took a deep breath, tamping down the vicious anger inside him. He smiled as he asked her, "Tell me, if I wanted to take you away right now, do you think I could?"