"Alright, it’s getting late. You should all go back and rest. There are things to be done tomorrow too!"
"Okay!"
The fool replied.
Before leaving, seeing Duobao still somewhat dazed, he frowned slightly, calling out in displeasure, "Aren’t you leaving?"
"..."
Duobao looked at Xie Zhinuan and then back at the fool.
Following the fool’s steps out of the room, he left the courtyard alone, with the gate closing behind him, carrying a bit of heartlessness and finality.
"..."
Duobao stopped in his tracks and looked back.
The door was firmly shut, with footsteps coming from inside, neither light nor heavy, growing more distant until no longer audible.
For the first time, he felt so clearly that the fool’s martial arts had far surpassed his own by a great amount.
He didn’t know what had happened during his absence, but why had there been such a great change in just a few short months?
Duobao returned to his small courtyard and lay on his bed, but he did not sleep at all through the night.
Ye Hang returned to his residence, and his subordinate, seeing that he was injured, was both shocked and astonished, "Pavilion Master..."
"It’s nothing serious," Ye Hang said softly.
The other party had already shown mercy; otherwise, his injuries would have been more than just minor.
"But you..."
Ye Hang gave the subordinate a faint glance and said sternly, "Fetch water to clean the wound and apply medicine to it!"
"Yes!"
The servant hurried off.
The subordinate stood aside, hesitating to speak.
The Pavilion Master’s martial arts were not weak, but now he was injured, "Were you hurt at Xie Residence?" the subordinate couldn’t help but ask.
"Mm!"
Ye Hang responded nonchalantly.
He warned, "Don’t think of sneaking into Xie Residence at night; there is a master there!"
As for how many masters there were, or to what extent their martial arts prowess reached, Ye Hang wasn’t sure.
"Yes!" the subordinate replied.
After all, Ye Hang was young to become the Night Pavilion Master, so they trusted his calculations, plans, and abilities.
When the servant arrived, he began to clean Ye Hang’s wound and apply medicine to it.
"The wound is not deep. It seems that the other party did indeed hold back!" the Night Pavilion physician concluded after examining it.
Ye Hang was naturally relieved; he had gone to Xie Residence to discuss a business deal with Xie Zhinuan.
Of course, initially he had his own ulterior motive, wanting to get to know the beauty through business dealings, but after a few interactions, Ye Hang understood that even though the beauty was beautiful, she was not a brainless wooden beauty but a capable one. It would not be easy to win her over.
Moreover, Xie Zhinuan was someone he couldn’t quite figure out.
Her medical skills were unmatched, and as for martial arts, he couldn’t say without having sparred with her, but her diagnosis for silver was surprising to him.
What kind of family could raise such a generous and magnanimous woman...
"Pavilion Master, shall we continue with the plan as scheduled?"
"Mm, proceed according to the plan!"
Xie Zhinuan had already accepted the silver, so naturally, they would proceed as planned.
"That Mr. Sun has been rather strange these past few days, ceaselessly decorating a mansion, personally overseeing and commanding the work. Pavilion Master, what do you think he’s up to?"
"..."
Sun Yian, huh?
Ye Hang had guessed a bit.
He wanted to create a golden den, a treasure house to hide a beauty.
Or perhaps he intended to win over the lady’s heart with countless treasures, but it seemed Sun Yian had forgotten something. Xie Zhinuan was not any ordinary girl, nor was she short-sighted enough to abandon her dignity for trivial gains.
Besides, those matters unknown to others involving her and the Prince... Having seen so much wealth and luxury with the Prince, how could she fancy the son of a mere county magistrate? Sun Yian was merely making a futile effort.
"No matter what he’s doing, keep a close eye on him!"
"Yes!"