Hui An blinked slightly, and it wasn't until the wind blowing into the room caressed her shoulder that she belatedly realized her outer garment was gone, and her inner lining seemed ready to slip off at any moment. "Ah," she gasped softly, clutching her collar, her face flushed a deep crimson as if about to bleed.
She vaguely remembered that she herself had taken off her clothes!
Hui An dressed and walked out of the room, her expression having returned to normal. Upon seeing Mu Baiyu, she showed no shyness. She bowed to him, "Benefactor Mu, Hui An is eternally grateful for your great kindness. Should there be any time in the future when Benefactor Mu requires Hui An's assistance, Hui An will surely repay you by moving heaven and earth!"
"Your Highness is too kind. Even if something like this happened to anyone else, I would not stand idly by. Rather than saving Your Highness, I was merely satisfying my heroic sentiment!"
Mu Baiyu did not need Hui An to move heaven and earth, nor did he need her to remember him forever. To him, it was a small matter, and he did not feel his actions required any reward.
Moreover... Mu Baiyu pursed his lips. He felt he had a selfish motive. Even if he couldn't say he liked or admired Hui An, he did not wish to see her defiled by others.
Hui An looked at Mu Baiyu, her gaze rippling with emotions that seemed to manifest in countless ways before settling into calm the next moment. She smiled, a smile from the heart, "Benefactor Mu, I have remembered you. As I said before, if there is ever anything I can do to help, I will do my utmost."
Mu Baiyu shook his head and said no more. With a fleeting glance, he spotted Zhang Silang, who had collapsed on the floor.
Ah... he had to move Zhang Silang elsewhere.
Hui An followed Mu Baiyu's gaze and saw Zhang Silang, lying at the foot of the stairs, whether alive or dead unknown. A glint of killing intent flashed in her eyes.
Mu Baiyu was slightly startled and instinctively pulled Hui An back, "No!"
She could not kill someone in Lin Yuan.
And the descendant of a high-ranking official at that!
Hui An glanced at Mu Baiyu's hand. Mu Baiyu quickly released her wrist, his expression a little flustered, "I just, I just..."
"Benefactor Mu, there's no need to worry, I understand!"
"Rest assured, I will not act!"
Hui An certainly wouldn't kill Zhang Silang. But for some people, death was the ultimate release. Of course, there was no rush; she had a long time to stay in Lin Yuan.
"In that case, I'll take him away first. You... be careful and leave here as soon as possible!" Mu Baiyu thought for a moment. Since the Nan family had orchestrated this scene, they would naturally not let it conclude quietly. They would surely make it widely known. Therefore, in a while, people from the Nan family or young masters and ladies attending the banquet would be incited to come. If they saw Zhang Silang lying there, unresponsive, who knew what kind of speculations would arise.
Hui An nodded, "Alright, I understand!"
Mu Baiyu nodded, walked down the stairs, picked up Zhang Silang, and headed outside.
Xuan Yi flashed into the room and stood beside Hui An, "Princess Hui An, my mistress asks if you plan to play along with their scheme or find another way?"
Hui An's eyes flickered. Her gaze fell on the spot where Mu Baiyu had just stood. After a moment of silence, she slightly lowered her eyelids, "Play along with the scheme!"
Xuan Yi found Princess Hui An's reaction somewhat strange, but he didn't dwell on it much and nodded, "Understood!"
...
"Lan'er, I heard that viewing the scenery from Sui Hua Pavilion allows one to take in all the beautiful sights of the Nan family estate." Wang Qiancheng sidled up to Liu Lan, intending to take the young lady's hand, but then hesitated and didn't dare.
Although the two were already engaged and the wedding date was set, they had not yet officially married. Wang Qiancheng might have a poor reputation outside, but he was very respectful towards Liu Lan. And despite the young lady appearing as serene as a chrysanthemum, she was actually quite cold-hearted deep down. If he were to grab her, she might not dodge, but he could guarantee that she would curse him in her heart and raise her emotional barriers even higher.
"Oh," Liu Lan responded noncommittally. Liu Ling'er's eyes immediately lit up. She grabbed Liu Lan's hand, "Let's go, Lan'er, let's go and take a look."
With that, she pulled Liu Lan's hand and headed towards Sui Hua Pavilion, giving Liu Lan no chance to refuse.
Liu Lan opened her mouth and turned to glare fiercely at Wang Qiancheng.
Wang Qiancheng pretended not to see, pulling Liu Cheng and Qin Mo along towards Sui Hua Pavilion. Midway, they encountered Nan Yuan'er, who was alone.
Liu Lan's gaze flickered. Wasn't Nan Yuan'er with the Great Li princess? Why was she alone now?
Nan Yuan'er's eyes flashed with delight upon seeing the Liu siblings, Wang Qiancheng, and Qin Mo. She had initially planned to lure some people to Sui Hua Pavilion, but now, she didn't need to make any extra effort.
Under normal circumstances, she would not deign to look at Liu Cheng and the others, but now, she stopped and exchanged pleasantries with them, "Are you all also heading to Sui Hua Pavilion?"
"No..."
"Yes!"
Liu Lan was about to flatly deny it, but she was preempted by the outspoken Liu Ling'er.
Liu Lan took a deep breath. Her previously rounded cheeks now revealed her jawline from the side, clearly indicating she was gritting her teeth in secret.
Wang Qiancheng wanted to laugh but was struggling to suppress it, feeling a tightness in his chest.
"In that case, let's go together!" Nan Yuan'er invited.
Upon hearing Nan Yuan'er's invitation, Liu Cheng and Qin Mo instinctively took a step back, looking as if they were avoiding a poisonous snake. This made the smile on Nan Yuan'er's face stiffen slightly, nearly causing her to lose her composure and reveal her anger.
Even someone like Zhang Silang would show delight when faced with her invitation. What was the meaning of these two wastrels? It was simply outrageous!
"We..."
"Alright!"
This time, it wasn't Liu Ling'er, but Wang Qiancheng.
Before Liu Cheng and Qin Mo could refuse, he readily accepted Nan Yuan'er's invitation.
Liu Lan looked up, her gaze seemingly like two knives, thrown at Wang Qiancheng. Wang Qiancheng rubbed his nose. Well, he had already tried to hold her hand earlier, and he was going to be disliked anyway.
For the first time, Nan Yuan'er found Wang Qiancheng quite pleasing to the eye. She nodded at him and walked ahead towards Sui Hua Pavilion.
She didn't want to spend another moment with these people.
Upon reaching the entrance of Sui Hua Pavilion, Wang Qiancheng suddenly asked, "Miss Nan, you didn't leave Princess Hui An alone in Sui Hua Pavilion, did you?"
Nan Yuan'er's expression froze, then she turned and replied, "How could I? I asked my maids to attend to her."
As she spoke, she pushed open the door to Sui Hua Pavilion and quickly walked towards the second floor.
Liu Ling'er was about to head upstairs when Liu Lan grabbed her arm. Before she could speak, Nan Yuan'er's call came from above, "Princess, Princess, where are you? Cai Huan?"
Liu Lan's expression stiffened. She was about to drag Liu Ling'er out when she heard a scream from the upper floor, "Ah, you..."
Well, this was trouble!