Liu Yan completely ignored Duan Wang’s dark expression and forced his way through the crowd.
Trailing behind him was a young girl in a light green dress. She had a delicate and charming face, but her expression carried a mix of frustration and anger. When her gaze landed on Mingxi, it was filled with unmistakable hostility.
“Cousin, who is she?” Xiao Yan immediately grabbed Liu Yan’s sleeve and demanded.
Liu Yan quickly freed his sleeve from her grasp and darted behind Mingxi, poking his head out to say, “Don’t tug at me! What if you ruin my reputation?”
The crowd: …
Xiao Yan, hearing this, looked at Mingxi with an even more complicated expression. Embarrassed and angry, the young girl’s eyes were driven to tears.
Mingxi cast a sidelong glance at Liu Yan.
Liu Yan instinctively stood up straight, swallowed hard, and turned to Xiao Yan with a warning tone, “This is the eldest daughter of the Dingyuan Marquis Household and my lifesaver. Show her some respect and don’t throw a tantrum.”
Before Liu Yan could finish his rambling, Xiao Yan’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Duan Mingxi. “So you’re Older Sister Duan! You’re truly a hero. I’ve admired you for so long but never had the chance to meet you. Finally, today, I get to see you!”
“Sister Duan, you’re as beautiful as you are kindhearted.”
“Sister Duan, how can you be so amazing?”
“Sister Duan…”
Duan Mingxi felt overwhelmed with Xiao Yan’s repeated cries of “Sister Duan,” her head spinning from the enthusiastic barrage.
Xiao Muchen pulled Mingxi to his side and glared coldly at Xiao Yan.
Startled by his intimidating gaze, Xiao Yan shrank back and shuffled behind Liu Yan. “Cousin, Duan Wang is so scary.”
Liu Yan snapped, “You also know how to be scared?”
Among Xiao Yan’s cousins, the one she feared most was Duan Wang. He always wore a stern expression and likely didn’t even know how to smile, resembling a wooden block.
Yet, in front of Duan Wang, Xiao Yan smiled as sweetly as sugar and cheerfully said, “Brother Duan Wang, you and Older Sister Duan are truly a match made in heaven—talented and beautiful.”
Xiao Muchen raised an eyebrow slightly. Compared to Liu Yan, he found Xiao Yan much more pleasant, and the tension on his face eased a little.
Xiao Yan nudged her cousin toward Duan Wang and said, “Cousin, go chat with Brother Duan Wang. I’m going to hang out with Sister Duan.”
With that, Xiao Yan took Duan Mingxi away from Duan Wang. She cheerfully linked arms with Mingxi and said, “Sister Duan, let me tell you, there’s something really fun and tasty near the archway ahead. Shall we go take a look?”
Duan Mingxi had already pieced together who Xiao Yan was—the youngest daughter of Ning Wang. In her previous life, after Liu Yan was gravely injured and died at Yuguan Mountain, Xiao Yan had never married.
In that lifetime, Mingxi only met Xiao Yan once, long after she had become a nun and retreated to a monastery. Her face had been withered, and she was near the end of her life—completely different from the lively, adorable girl before her now.
The contrast was so stark that Mingxi hadn’t recognized her at first.
So Xiao Yan was this kind of spirited personality.
Watching Liu Yan avoid Xiao Yan as if she were a venomous snake and recalling her past life’s desolate appearance, Mingxi couldn’t help but feel a bit more forgiving toward this young girl.
“Alright,” Duan Mingxi agreed with a nod.
Xiao Yan beamed with joy. Linking arms with Mingxi, she led the way ahead, completely unafraid of Duan Wang’s dark expression. What’s he going to do—eat her?
The streets were bustling with people, lively and crowded. Vendors on both sides shouted to attract customers. Xiao Yan led Mingxi along, stopping to enjoy snacks and treats.
They tried everything: lychee jelly, fried sausage rolls, roasted pig’s pancreas pastries, sugar cakes, sticky rice cakes. Xiao Yan also collected trinkets—a pheasant feather ornament, a wobbly tumbler toy, and even a large catfish-shaped kite.
In the distance, near the banks of Longhu, colorful lanterns, floral arches, and ornate pavilions were already illuminated. Street vendors had spilled into the roads, making the pathways narrow and forcing people to bump into one another as they moved.
Xiao Muchen took the items from Mingxi’s hands and extended an arm to shield her as they walked.
Qi He, ever vigilant, grabbed the items from the Wangye and followed closely, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings.
Liu Yan hesitated as he watched Duan Wang’s protective actions but eventually reached out to take the pile of things from Xiao Yan’s hands.
Xiao Yan was startled for a moment, but in the blink of an eye, everything she had been holding was now hanging off Liu Yan.
Her eyes darted mischievously, and she turned back to Mingxi, saying, “Sister Duan, next time we must go shopping together again.”
Liu Yan: …
Don’t think I didn’t hear that!
“Of course.”
Hearing her easy agreement, Liu Yan’s face drooped even further. He didn’t yield to anyone, but in front of Mingxi, his lifesaving benefactor, he was utterly subdued.
“Sister Duan, there’s a puppet show over there. Let’s go watch—it’s really good!” Xiao Yan exclaimed, pulling Mingxi eagerly into the crowd.
Qi He didn’t dare look at Wangye’s face. After all, Xiao Yan was the most cherished daughter of Ning Wang, and Ning Wang was the emperor’s younger brother. The emperor was very fond of this sibling.
Even Duan Wang had to observe proper formalities when meeting Ning Wang.
Before they could make their way through the crowd, Xiao Yan had already dragged Mingxi through another exit, leading her straight to Taiping Lane.
The air in Taiping Lane was rich with delicious aromas—vendors selling musk-scented candies, honey cakes, and all sorts of delicacies. The variety far surpassed the offerings on the main street.
Xiao Yan had heard many rumors about Duan Mingxi, but the person before her didn’t seem to match any of them. Still, she found herself liking this older sister very much. There was an undeniable sincerity in Mingxi’s gaze that made her feel truly cared for.
After walking for a while, Xiao Yan was out of breath. She pointed to a teahouse up ahead and said, “Sister Duan, let’s rest there and have some tea.”
Before Duan Mingxi could respond, Xiao Yan had already dragged her inside.
Mingxi glanced back and saw Xiao Muchen following them with a stoic expression. Liu Yan trailed behind him, looking utterly defeated, while Qi He brought up the rear, carrying an impressive array of items that made him look almost comical.
Standing amidst the bustling crowd, Mingxi was suddenly transported back to her carefree days in Jiangcheng.
In that fleeting moment, it felt as though time had rewound. Her eyes sparkled with a nostalgic glow.
Back then, unaware of her true origins, she had lived freely in Jiangcheng, reveling in lighthearted joy.
“Are you happy?”
Duan Mingxi looked up at Xiao Muchen, who had stepped closer. Her radiant smile was just about to meet his question when her instincts suddenly sharpened.
She grabbed Xiao Muchen’s collar and yanked him toward her, then swiftly lifted a wooden stool with her other hand and smashed it into the air.
“Bang!” An arrow embedded itself squarely in the stool, its fletching trembling faintly.
The crowd erupted into chaos. Duan Mingxi swung the stool toward the source of the attack and quickly pulled Xiao Yan out of the panicked throng.
“Careful!”
At some point, Xiao Muchen had a folding fan in his hand. With a flick, the fan unleashed a dazzling streak of light that landed right in front of Mingxi—intercepting another arrow.
“Hide for now,” Duan Mingxi instructed Xiao Yan, pulling her behind a wooden pillar inside the shop.
“Sister Duan, where are you going?” Xiao Yan asked anxiously, trying to hold onto her.
“I’m going to drag that person out,” Mingxi replied. With a flick of her foot, she pulled over a square table, positioning it as a barrier in front of Xiao Yan and the pillar.
Xiao Muchen’s fan swirled in his hand, while Qi He unsheathed the blade at his waist and lunged toward the attackers.
Duan Mingxi, lacking a weapon, spotted a shop’s flag hanging outside. She yanked it down, skillfully twirling it to form an impenetrable shield, placing herself protectively in front of Xiao Muchen.
Xiao Muchen: …
He had planned to play the hero rescuing the damsel.
Instead, the damsel saved the hero.
