In the brief moment he stood there in stunned silence, Xue Zi Ning had already leaped onto the rafters, and the door outside was pushed open at that very instant.
A person entered from outside, "Young Master Yan…"
Yan Jin Chao's entire focus was on the figure on the rafters; he had no mind to concern himself with the person who had just entered.
Only when he saw her leave the place safely did he clearly recognize the person who had arrived: Jiang Yu Li.
"Miss Jiang, why have you come?" He had been splashed with tea by a servant of the Northern Frontier King's manor and brought here to change clothes. If not for this sudden turn of events and meeting her, he might have been undressed by now.
And Jiang Yu Li's entrance at this moment meant she would see him in a disheveled state. Thinking of this, his gaze turned considerably colder.
This was definitely no accident; it was likely the Northern Frontier King’s deliberate doing.
Jiang Yu Li's heart was filled with apprehension. Her elder brother had said that the current Young Master Yan was merely a paper tiger and that she should seize the opportunity.
She did not want to be with Young Master Yan through such means, but she knew very clearly that without using this seemingly base method, she would never be able to be with Young Master Yan.
Jiang Yu Li slowly raised her head, meeting a pair of eyes that seemed to freeze everything. The frost of late autumn was not as chilling as this moment.
She faltered, a sense of inexplicable worry gripping her, fearing it might backfire.
"Miss Jiang?" Yan Jin Chao spoke coldly, his tone exceptionally frigid.
Jiang Yu Li bit her lower lip and said, "Young Master Yan, would you be willing to be with me?"
Yan Jin Chao's expression was as clear and cold as frost. "Miss Jiang, I believe love between a man and a woman is not something shameful to speak of. However, if one forces a union despite clear dislike, it is not a match made in heaven, but a fated misfortune."
Jiang Yu Li trembled all over. She looked up at Yan Jin Chao's expressionless, frost-like face, her heart plunging to the bottom, yet she was still unwilling to give up. "Young Master Yan, how do you know it's a fated misfortune if you haven't even tried?"
"There's no need to try, because I do not like Miss Jiang. It's that simple."
His voice was deep and cold, exuding a profound chill.
Jiang Yu Li involuntarily took a step back. "Why not take one step and try? Tell me what's wrong with me, and I'll change. Isn't that possible?"
"There is nothing wrong with you, Miss Jiang, it's just that I don't like you."
Jiang Yu Li shook her head. "How can that be? If you haven't even tried, how can you know you don't like it? I don't believe it…"
Seeing that persuasion was futile, Yan Jin Chao said indifferently, "Miss Jiang, I have already explained. I bid you farewell!"
With that, he walked towards the exit.
Jiang Yu Li watched him reach the doorway. If he left now, she knew that any hope she had with him would be completely extinguished.
Thinking of this, she took the boldest action of her life.
She took off her outer garment and fell to the ground. "Young Master Yan, after seeing my body, do you intend to just leave?"
Yan Jin Chao's face turned cold upon hearing this. Without looking back, he said, "Miss Jiang, earlier I thought you were a sensible and cultured young lady. Now, it seems I was mistaken. I retract those praises. I bid you farewell!"
"Yan Jin Chao, do you think you can just leave?" Jiang Yu Li hissed.
Yan Jin Chao looked up, seeing the Northern Frontier King slowly approaching in the distance, along with the crowd behind him.
Yan Jin Chao's expression was more piercingly cold than ever before as he looked at the Northern Frontier King walking towards him step by step.
"Yu Li, Jin Chao, what… what is going on here?" the Northern Frontier King asked, feigning surprise.
Servant girls from the manor had already entered the room to help Jiang Yu Li put on her outer garment.
The retainers and officials behind the Northern Frontier King, seeing this, had already understood what was happening.
Everyone knew that Jiang Yu Li was fond of Young Master Yan, yet Young Master Yan seemed to dislike Miss Jiang, even to the point of avoiding her.
Just now, the Northern Frontier King had deliberately brought them here, seemingly by chance, but most people knew that the Northern Frontier King had done this intentionally.
And now, looking at the situation, it was clear the Northern Frontier King had employed some stratagem.
It wasn't surprising that the Northern Frontier King would use such methods. After all, this Young Master Yan was an exceptionally intelligent individual, brave and resourceful.
The Northern Frontier City was improving day by day based on a series of proposals suggested by Young Master Yan. They knew the Northern Frontier King's ambition was focused on the person in the capital.
In the past, they felt the Northern Frontier King's ambitions were too grand but his capabilities insufficient. Now, with Young Master Yan's assistance, his endeavors would likely yield twice the results with half the effort.
This was also the Northern Frontier King's method of keeping Young Master Yan permanently.
"Young Master Yan, have you and Miss Jiang pledged to marry each other?" Lin Yun Nan, a retainer of the Northern Frontier King, asked, glancing at the Northern Frontier King. Others echoed his sentiments.
Yan Jin Chao remained silent, his gaze indifferent as he looked at the Northern Frontier King.
The Northern Frontier King stepped forward and patted his shoulder. "Young Master Yan, if you like my sister, you could have simply told me. There was no need to be so secretive about it, thus damaging my sister's reputation. Now that it has been witnessed by others, Yu Li has no choice but to marry you."
At this moment, Jiang Yu Li was also helped out by a maid. Hearing the Northern Frontier King's words, her heart felt a flicker of joy.
However, Yan Jin Chao's subsequent words caused her heart to plummet to the abyss. "Your Highness, from where did you see me showing affection towards Miss Jiang?"
As these words fell, the Northern Frontier King's expression soured for a moment. His gaze towards Yan Jin Chao grew cold. "Young Master Yan, you have reached this point with my sister, and you still do not admit it?"
"Your Highness, what do you want me to admit?" Yan Jin Chao asked coldly.
"Young Master Yan, we all saw it. Acknowledge what happened between you and Miss Jiang, like a man," Lin Yun Nan quickly interjected.
"Miss Jiang and I have no relationship whatsoever, nor will I take responsibility. I bid you farewell!" Yan Jin Chao cupped his hands and turned to leave.
"Young Master Yan, if you leave, what about Yu Li?" the Northern Frontier King said coldly.
"What has that got to do with me?" Yan Jin Chao replied chillingly.
Jiang Yu Li's body went weak, leaning against her maid. A trace of sinister intent flashed in the Northern Frontier King's eyes. "Young Master Yan, do you think you can just walk away after taking liberties with my sister?"
As the words fell, four guards appeared before Yan Jin Chao, blocking his path.
"Move aside," Yan Jin Chao commanded coldly.
The four guards would not dare to leave without the Northern Frontier King's order. A sharp coldness flashed in Yan Jin Chao's eyes, and the hand beneath his sleeve tightened slightly. However, he ultimately refrained from making a move and turned to face the Northern Frontier King. "Your Highness, what is the meaning of this?"
The Northern Frontier King glanced at Lin Yun Nan, who immediately understood. He stepped forward with a smile and said, "Young Master Yan, this matter cannot be dismissed just like that. Today happens to be Your Highness's birthday. Why not take this opportunity, with this double happiness, to settle the matter between Miss Jiang and Young Master Yan?"
Yan Jin Chao's gaze turned slightly cold, a fleeting shimmer like scattered stars, radiating ice. "I have made myself very clear. I have no relationship with Miss Jiang, nor have I had any physical intimacy with Miss Jiang. All of this is merely wishful thinking on your part, Master Lin."