C26 Itchy Hand

After leaving the palace, Tiange instructed the carriage to head back home while she and Yueya took a detour around the long corridor, heading towards Black Tortoise Street. The wind was cold, but it couldn't match the chill in her heart.

Ever since her rebirth, she often recalled the tragic demise of the Thirteen Sects' leader. Beiming Yuan had hung them on the city tower for all to see, merely to provoke Silver Mask into action. The theft was just an excuse for him to order a city-wide search. Tiange didn't believe anyone would risk their life to steal those bodies on her behalf. It was all just Beiming Yuan's ploy!

"Miss, it seems like that's Prince Rong ahead," Yueya's voice snapped Tiange back to reality. She looked up to see Rong Qi approaching with a group of well-dressed young men, laughing and chatting. Without waiting for Yueya to react, Tiange quickly pulled her into an alley.

She never thought that in this life, she would encounter someone she wanted to avoid, despite her fearless nature in the past.

On Black Tortoise Street, Rong Qi was firmly held by Wei Zixuan, who was dressed in a black fox fur coat. "Don't leave. When will you fulfill your promise to me?" Zixuan demanded.

Rong Qi's gaze drifted back from the alley entrance, looking puzzled. "Did you forget? The mandarin duck handkerchief for Miss Xueyao!" Wei Zixuan, much like Rong Qi, was a prince sent by Qi Country to foster relations between the two nations.

Wei Zixuan was the most favored son of King Wei, and his country was the strongest ally of Qi. This gave him a higher status than Rong Qi in Qi, even allowing him to converse with some of the court ministers.

"Don't you already have one?" Rong Qi asked, his gaze never straying from the alleyway.

"Good things come in pairs, so get me another one!" Wei Zixuan casually draped his arm over Rong Qi's shoulder. "If you can get me another one, I'll do whatever you say!"

Rong Qi glanced sideways, a gentle smile playing on his lips. "You really like the second daughter of the Feng family?"

"Ahem... A fair lady is a gentleman's desire. Just tell me if you'll help or not!" Wei Zixuan, though not as striking as Rong Qi, still had the refined appearance of a young gentleman.

"As a friend, I should warn you: Commander Dugu Jin is deeply in love with the second Miss Feng," Rong Qi said, lowering his voice. "He's got quite the temper, so I suggest you keep your distance from her, just to be safe..."

"Pfft! He's just a lackey under Beiming Yuan, and the lowest of them at that. As the prince and King Wei's favorite son, I'm not afraid of him!" Wei Zixuan, with his royal lineage, had always understood the dynamics of power and authority.

Someone smiled without saying a word, but as they turned, Wei Zixuan caught their arm. "Where are you going?"

"To get you a handkerchief," Rong Qi replied, giving Wei Zixuan a reassuring pat on the shoulder and a confident look before nodding to a few nearby friends and heading down the alley.

Avoiding me? Trying to be invisible? Well, I'm not going to let you have your way...

The architecture of the royal city was meticulously organized, with streets and alleys crisscrossing in every direction. No matter which alley you entered, you could navigate through without any obstacles, though the distance varied.

Deep in the alley, Crescent Moon pondered for a long time, unable to understand why her lady was avoiding Rong Qi. Unable to hold back, she asked, "Do you dislike Prince Rong?"

"I don't dislike him," she replied, though she certainly didn't like him either! To be fair, Feng Tiange should be grateful to Rong Qi. Whether it was at the Silk Garden or during registration at the Imperial Academy, that nearby Yulu pill had been a great help.

Yet, she just couldn't muster any gratitude. The urge to punch Rong Qi every time she saw him was overwhelming, a never-ending cycle. The reason, aside from a bad first impression in Chu City, was that the journey back to the royal city with him had been a near nightmare.

It wasn't his fault he was so strikingly handsome, but using his looks to attract attention everywhere was absolutely unforgivable. Trying to have a heart-to-heart with her—did he think she looked like Buddha or something?

As Feng Tiange was silently grumbling, a figure suddenly flashed before her eyes.

Moon Crescent paused, "It looked like the First Lady."

A noblewoman appearing in a secluded alley, looking hurried, was bound to stir curiosity.

"Let's follow and see," Feng Tiange signaled to Moon Crescent with her eyes.

In the past, when she was with Silver Mask, he rarely spoke of the second household, and even then, without any complaints. Now, it seemed Silver Mask was truly too kind...

After Moon Crescent followed, Feng Tiange continued forward. Just a couple more turns and she could bypass Black Tortoise Street.

Unexpectedly, while she managed to avoid Black Tortoise Street, she couldn't avoid Rong Qi.

"What a coincidence!" The person opposite her was draped in a snow-white fox fur, standing tall and straight like a pine tree. His high nose bridge added to his natural grace, truly captivating.

"..."

Feng Tiange couldn't fathom how Rong Qi had the audacity to say such things, so she chose to ignore him.

"Miss Feng, you're out without a carriage? Why are you coming from here? Do you know someone here? Where are you heading..."

Seeing Feng Tiange not stopping, Rong Qi gracefully kept pace beside her, wearing a gentle smile, as refreshing as a spring breeze.

Unable to bear it any longer, Feng Tiange suddenly turned around, glaring coldly, "Why are you following me?"

"Just on the way," Rong Qi replied without a second thought.

"Do you really expect me to believe that?" Tiange gritted her teeth, the sound clearly audible even through her veil.

"I think you can believe it," Rong Qi's smile grew even brighter, the sunlight casting a soft glow on his face. "Honestly, I'm heading to the South Suppressing Marquis Mansion to see Miss Feng."

Tiange said nothing, just stared at him intensely. After a moment, she turned away. The road wasn't hers to control, so he could walk wherever he pleased.

To be honest, Rong Qi couldn't understand why Tiange disliked him so much. Was she blind?

Seeing the alley ahead where she could take a different path, Tiange quickened her pace. No matter which way Rong Qi turned, she'd go the opposite.

Her hands itched with impatience!

Just as she reached the crossroads, Tiange suddenly stopped!

Caught off guard, Rong Qi bumped into her. He looked up to see Tiange glaring daggers at him, instantly falling silent.

"I'm sorry, I'm not good enough for you." The voice was calm but carried an undeniable sadness. At the alley entrance stood a man in a deep blue robe, speaking softly, unable to meet her eyes.

"I didn't come to hear that," the woman said, clutching his arm desperately. "Grandfather called me over last night, saying they're asking the prince to approve my marriage to Dugu Jin in a few days. I don't want that! I don't want to marry him!" Her voice was filled with anguish. "Brother Yu, take me away, please?"

Soong Yu, an Undersecretary of the Ministry of War, was a standout among scholars from humble beginnings. However, due to his background, no matter how hard he worked over the years, he hadn't advanced further.

"You have an engagement with him, and marrying him is just a matter of time..." Soong Yu's voice was so low that even he could barely hear it.

But Qin Luoyi heard it. She abruptly let go, looking at the man in disbelief. His once youthful and handsome face now bore the marks of experience and wear from the political arena. Qin Luoyi knew Soong Yu had proposed to her grandfather, only to be harshly rejected with some unpleasant words.

Soon after, the Crown Prince arranged a marriage for her, and Soong Yu began to deliberately distance himself. Even though she repeatedly expressed her feelings, declaring she would marry no one but him, it didn't bring their relationship back to what it once was.

"A matter of time? You know I don't want to marry him. The one I love is you!" Qin Luoyi lifted her head, her bright eyes misty, yet she held back her tears.