"Since that's the case, we won't go fishing today," Hang Qingming considerately said, "Would you like me to play the qin, Ms. Yang, so you can take the opportunity to rest well?"

Yang Mengchen lightly nodded her head.

The little girl loved listening to his qin playing the most. Even though they had agreed to go fishing by the river today, Hang Qingming still had his attendants bring along the qin. Now, he took the qin handed to him by an attendant and placed it on the stone table.

Soon, the clear sounds of the qin poured out from Hang Qingming's fingertips, like a gentle flowing stream, silent and serene, like pearls dropping onto a jade tray, each note distinct and resounding, like a fleeting spring when flowers suddenly bloom and wither, yet still emanating a hidden fragrance.

The tender feelings within the music moved everyone who heard it, their anxieties gradually dissipating.

Yang Mengchen closed her eyes. Guided by the music, she saw mountains and rivers, the sky and the earth, the vast grasslands, the boundless ocean, the dazzling and colorful sunrises and sunsets. Gradually, she lay down on the stone table and fell into a peaceful sleep, her lips slightly curled in a contented, fond smile.

Approaching noon, Yang Mengchen awoke from her sweet dreams to see Hang Qingming sitting opposite her, quietly flipping through a book. His eyebrows resembled distant mountains, and his eyes were as deep as the sea. The smile on his lips was light but filled with warmth. The noonday sun cast a hazy halo on him, making the man appear as handsome as a deity.

Feeling Yang Mengchen's gaze, Hang Qingming put down the book, "You're awake."

Yang Mengchen nodded, instructed the servants to prepare lunch, excused herself briefly to Hang Qingming, went to her room to freshen up, then returned to have lunch with him.

In the afternoon, Yang Mengchen and Hang Qingming played Go. Hang Qingming taught with care, and Yang Mengchen learned earnestly; before they knew it, night had fallen.

After dinner and returning to the inn, Nan Tian, the attendant named, sighed, "Such a great opportunity today, truly a pity."

"Yes, young master, why didn't you take the chance to ask her?" Bei Hai, another attendant, asked with a mix of regret and confusion.

Hang Qingming glanced at the two attendants, "To them, we're just strangers. Do you really think they're without their guards up?"

"What does the young master mean?" The two attendants asked in unison.

"The residence may seem ordinary, but there are no less than twenty masters hidden there," Hang Qingming's deep eyes sparkled with a brightness like that of the stars, "Once we make a move, just the two of you and I may not even stand a chance against those two maids, let alone the hidden masters."

The two attendants were shocked but still a bit unconvinced, "We could take Ms. Yang hostage." After all, the young master was very close to her.

Hang Qingming remained silent, only taking a sip from his teacup.

"Who would have thought that Prince Chen of Dong Chu would care about Ms. Yang to such an extent that he sent twenty masters to secretly protect her," Nan Tian said, his tone carrying a hint of disdain.

Bei Hai inquired, "What does the young master plan to do?"

"Wait!"

"Wait?"

As if oblivious to the astonished and puzzled looks from the two attendants, Hang Qingming stared at the flickering candlelight on the table, his expression serene like mist, his eyes unfathomable.

He had originally thought that the girl approached him out of love for his status and appearance, knowing his identity.

But during the past month together, he realized that wasn't the case. Often, the girl was actually looking past him at someone else. Perhaps, as she said, he resembled someone from her past, which was why she was always so accommodating and eager to please him.

Who could that person be?

Whenever he thought about being someone's substitute, that the girl's kindness toward him was because of someone else, he felt inexplicably uncomfortable, even feeling a vague sense of jealousy and envy.

For the first time in twenty-three years, he experienced this feeling—palpitations, anxiety, joy, distress... An array of complex emotions entangled his heart, leaving him confused, helpless, and even uneasy.

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