Chapter 564: Second Brother Can Read Palms

Chapter 564: Chapter 564: Second Brother Can Read Palms

After seeing Lu Shaoyuan off, Shen Ningning returned to her room to pack her bags.

Several of the Xie family men stood in the doorway, watching the calm Shen Ningning with some worry.

The more unfazed she appeared, the more Xie Suzhi’s heart ached for her.

"Ningning, if you don’t truly want to go, Father will help you refuse."

This Imperial Decree was surely the Crown Prince’s own idea. For his daughter’s sake, Xie Suzhi was willing to risk angering the Emperor and bring a complaint before the imperial court.

His daughter was about to be engaged, yet the Crown Prince was summoning her to the palace in the name of a blessed girl praying for blessings. It was truly absurd.

Shen Ningning lifted her lovely, limpid eyes. "Father, I can’t refuse, nor should I. Besides, don’t worry. I know how to protect myself."

Moreover, she felt an inexplicable sense of trust toward Mo Lingwei.

’I know he won’t truly hurt me.’

Remembering that sudden kiss from last time, a complicated look filled Shen Ningning’s eyes.

But fearing her father and brothers would notice, she did her best to hide it.

Xie Suzhi was at a loss. He called Xie Mingxu and Second Master Xie away, likely to discuss a plan.

When it came to his daughter, he never liked to be passive.

As Shen Ningning was packing her hairpins and rings, she caught sight of someone still standing in the doorway out of the corner of her eye.

She looked up, a little surprised. "Second Brother, why haven’t you left yet?"

Xie Ming’an stood leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, his sharp, clear eyes studying her quietly.

Perhaps because of Xie Ming’an’s official duties, Shen Ningning felt an inexplicable emptiness in her heart being scrutinized by his gaze.

She couldn’t help but use a smile to dispel her confusion. "What is it?"

Xie Ming’an said, "You’re acting a little strange. Ever since you returned from the bamboo garden after your meeting with the Crown Prince, it feels like you’ve been hiding something from me."

As he spoke, he stepped inside and moved closer to Shen Ningning, examining the subtle emotions hidden deep in his sister’s eyes.

"Ningning, I’ve interrogated at least three thousand criminals. If they lie, sometimes I don’t even need to force a confession. I can tell just by looking at their faces."

Shen Ningning let out an exasperated laugh and pretended to scowl, her pretty face showing false anger.

"Second Brother, what are you trying to say? Are you going to interrogate me like a criminal?"

"I wouldn’t dare, and I couldn’t bear to treat you that way. But I have a special trick up my sleeve. Here, give me your hand."

Shen Ningning was a little wary. "What for?"

’This second brother of mine is exceptionally gifted when it comes to solving cases.’

Shen Ningning was genuinely afraid he would see through her.

Xie Ming’an smiled. "Just hold it out. Let me read your palm."

Shen Ningning eyed him suspiciously, extending her small hand with a mix of doubt and belief.

She had never heard that Xie Ming’an could read palms before.

’Could he really discover my secret through my palm lines?’

Shen Ningning didn’t believe it.

Xie Ming’an sat down beside her, looking all serious as he took her small hand and examined it carefully from all angles.

He asked, as if making small talk, "Are you truly going to the palace voluntarily this time to pray for the Emperor’s blessings?"

"Mhm," Shen Ningning nodded.

Xie Ming’an continued, "As for the Crown Prince, are you planning to use this trip to make him give up on you for good?"

This time, Shen Ningning didn’t answer. Her long, lowered lashes concealed the expression in her beautiful eyes.

Xie Ming’an didn’t press the issue. Suddenly, he changed the subject.

He asked, "Speaking of which, the two maids Father gave you, Muchun and Wanchun, should be at your side at all times. Why have I only seen Muchun recently, and not Wanchun?"

Shen Ningning’s thick lashes trembled for a moment.

It was an extremely subtle reaction, but Xie Ming’an caught it instantly.

He raised an eyebrow slightly. "Oh? So, this is what you’re hiding."

Shen Ningning hurriedly tried to argue her way out of it. "Second Brother, don’t be ridiculous. I just gave Sister Wanchun some time off to relax."

"Why would she need to relax out of the blue? She’s a servant born into this household and is extremely loyal. Unless it was for something important, she would never leave without a word."

After speaking, Xie Ming’an held up Shen Ningning’s small hand. "Also, little sister, your heart beats really fast when you lie."

Shen Ningning’s beautiful eyes flew wide.

Without her noticing, Xie Ming’an’s thumb had pressed against her pulse point.

’Wow! So that’s what he was doing.’

Xie Ming’an’s so-called palm reading was just a trick to secretly monitor her heartbeat.

"Most people, when they lie, will still be nervous on the inside, no matter how calm they appear on the surface."

After saying this, Xie Ming’an raised his eyebrows and stared at Shen Ningning. "You sent Wanchun away, didn’t you, little sister? Why?"

Shen Ningning immediately snatched her hand back. "I already told you! I gave her time off."

"I don’t believe that reason," Xie Ming’an said, his voice low. "Thinking back, Wanchun disappeared after you went to the bamboo garden. What happened? Did you run into some kind of trouble there?"

Shen Ningning remained silent.

She had always known that Xie Ming’an was perceptive and could see through people.

But she never expected him to be this sharp.

Xie Ming’an considered all the possibilities.

’My sister doesn’t have the kind of personality that lets others bully her. If this was about Wanchun, there would be no reason to send her away secretly.’

’So, who exactly did they run into at the bamboo garden?’

"Second Brother," Shen Ningning finally spoke, her expression now calm. A faint, distant look settled on her pretty face. "Please don’t ask any more questions. I don’t want to report every single thing to the family."

Xie Ming’an was taken aback.

"Of course, I will give you my full respect. You’re my sister. I’m just worried that you’ve been wronged and won’t talk about it."

"I haven’t been wronged."

After that, no matter how much more Xie Ming’an asked, he couldn’t get another word out of Shen Ningning.

And so, Xie Ming’an gave up questioning her further.

When he came out of Shen Ningning’s room, Xu Jingxi was waiting for him at a corner of the long corridor.

"Second Brother, did you find out anything?"

"No," Xie Ming’an said, concealing what he had learned about Wanchun. He looked at Xu Jingxi. "But you, on the other hand, you’re my sister’s classmate and are closest to her circle of friends. You don’t know what happened to her either?"

"That’s what I find so strange. I’ve already asked Miss Ye, Princess Lingyi, and Princess Rongshu. None of them understand why Ningning suddenly chose Second Young Master Lu and wants to get engaged to him."

Xie Ming’an felt this was a difficult problem. He stood beneath the corridor pillars, where shadows crisscrossed in the sunlight.

He looked out at the garden, which was blooming profusely, his eyes dark and heavy. "I think we need to find Wanchun. However, since my sister sent her away, she must have made very thorough arrangements. Finding her won’t be easy."

Xu Jingxi fell silent along with him.

Suddenly, Xie Ming’an looked up. "Perhaps Eldest Brother can help with this!"

"Eldest Brother?" Xu Jingxi faltered for a second.

Xie Ming’an eagerly started walking, apparently heading to find Xie Mingxu. Xu Jingxi hurried after him.

As evening fell, dusk spread across the sky like a splash of rouge, painting it in shades of orange-red and making the lintel of the Xie Mansion shimmer and glow.

When Shen Ningning, dressed in an ice-blue gown, was escorted to the gates by her family, the carriage and long line of imperial guards sent from the palace had already been waiting for about half an hour.

Xie Suzhi held his daughter’s wrist and urged in a low voice, "Ningning, don’t worry. For this trip to the palace, Father has made all the arrangements. Just focus on praying for blessings, and don’t be afraid of getting into a conflict with anyone."

Both father and daughter knew exactly who he was talking about.

Shen Ningning, however, wasn’t afraid of Mo Lingwei. She even comforted Xie Suzhi.

"Don’t worry, Father. As I said, I’ll be back in half a month at most."

With that, the young lady turned and walked toward the carriage, and an imperial guard immediately lifted the curtain for her.

Shen Ningning suddenly remembered something and turned back to add, "Father, while I’m in the palace, please help me check on Grandma and Wolf Father often."

"I know, don’t worry. When Xiao Lu left today, I mentioned it to him as well."

With that, Shen Ningning had no more worries. She turned and bent down to enter the carriage.

The curtain fell abruptly. The carriage, adorned with purple Kesi silk, rumbled away under the driver’s command.

The imperial guards clasped their fists in a salute to Xie Suzhi, then departed, escorting the carriage.

What the Xie family didn’t know, however, was that the moment Shen Ningning settled into the carriage, she froze.

Mo Lingwei was already waiting inside, dressed in a vermilion Dragon Robe. One hand was propped against his sharp, dark brow, while the other held a scroll.

He had actually come to pick her up himself.

Shen Ningning instinctively glanced back at the carriage curtain.

Mo Lingwei finally spoke, his voice cold. "Even if you jump out, I have ways to capture you and carry you back to the palace."

Shen Ningning hurriedly calmed her racing heart.

She pressed her pink lips together. "I wasn’t going to jump out. The Crown Prince didn’t say he was coming to meet me. I was just afraid my father and brothers would see and worry."

Mo Lingwei scoffed, his expression unreadable as to whether he believed her or not.

Then, holding the scroll, he tapped the seat beside him.

He was gesturing for Shen Ningning to sit there.