Chapter 202: Chapter 202

The next day, there were still cases in the Imperial Prison, and the Stargazing Tower project was still at a standstill.

Too many matters needed Xie Jiuxiao to handle, and he was forced to attend to official business first.

Before leaving, Xie Jiuxiao pressed Yu Nianzhao against the doorframe with a backhand, his deep phoenix eyes gazing at her, reminding repeatedly, "The people of Nanwang Country are inherently cunning. Don’t be fooled by the appearance of the Sixth Prince, Nan Guili. Deep down, he could very well be a black sheep. Zhaozhao, keep your distance from him."

Yu Nianzhao replied languidly, "I know, I know!"

"Once I’m done with work, I’ll come over. If anything happens, seek out Mu Hongxuan."

After Xie Jiuxiao left, Nan Guili’s carriage arrived immediately after.

A slender hand lifted the curtain of the carriage, and a gentle smile appeared on Nan Guili’s handsome face. "Miss Yu, I’ll need to trouble you today. Please get on the carriage."

Before Yu Nianzhao could speak, Mu Hongxuan jumped in.

He furrowed his brows tightly, delivering a message, "Prince said that it’s not appropriate for a man and a woman to be alone in the same carriage."

This was his tactful way of saying it, if translated directly from the Prince’s words!

—Giving them private space will cost you your head!

Mu Hongxuan shrunk his neck; he still preferred his head on his shoulders.

Nan Guili chuckled lightly, "What does Miss Yu think?"

Yu Nianzhao leaned her cheek on her hand and pondered, "It depends on where the Sixth Prince wants to wander. There aren’t many fun places in Shangjing. If it’s to the lakeside, we can just walk there."

Nan Guili gracefully stepped down from the carriage, his tall figure approaching Yu Nianzhao, "That’s fine. In the fireworks of March, boating to the lakeside is also nice. Let’s walk over together."

Yu Nianzhao was accompanied by Zhixi and Mu Hongxuan, while Nan Guili was only with two young servants, traveling light.

Handsome men and beautiful women walking down the long street were undeniably an eye-catching and delightful sight.

"Is Miss Yu a native of Shangjing? Have you lived here since childhood?" Nan Guili inquired seemingly casually.

"Then where did Miss Yu live before?"

"In the countryside!"

"I heard that Miss Yu only returned to Shangjing six years ago?"

"Did the Sixth Prince investigate me?"

Yu Nianzhao paused her steps, tilting her head to look at him, "For what reason?"

Nan Guili lowered his gaze with a slight smile, "Because Miss Yu looks extremely familiar, resembling an acquaintance I had in my youth tremendously. Coincidentally, her nickname was also Zhaozhao."

Yu Nianzhao’s eyes flickered, playful and charming, "But I’ve never been to Nanwang Country!"

Nan Guili stated, "I was sent out of the palace as a child and grew up in a small border country before being called back to the palace."

"That’s really a coincidence, the Sixth Prince’s experiences are very similar to mine."

"Yes, indeed a coincidence..."

The group reached the lakeside, where small boats were already floating, and many noble youths were enjoying themselves on the water.

They found a boat and sat down to sip tea.

Not far away, a larger and more luxurious ship was slowly approaching, with several familiar figures on the mast waving at them.

Song Caiwei spotted that the person sitting in the small boat was Yu Nianzhao and her eyes lit up, waving at her enthusiastically.

"Caiwei, are you also boating?"

Standing at the bow, Yu Nianzhao realized there were quite a few familiar faces on this ship.

Not only Song Caiwei but also the brothers Luu Shaochen and Luu Shaoqi, Xie Yunzhe and his sister, and the county princess Muyan whom she’d met once before. Even Pei Yunzhi was there, looking quite displeased.

"Zhaozhao, come up and join us! It’s livelier with more people." Song Caiwei and Xie Jiarou were both very enthusiastic.

Yu Nianzhao felt it was hard to refuse and once aboard, she discovered that besides them, there were noble youths from banquets whom she couldn’t even name.

Isn’t this a matchmaking boat party?

She must have stumbled into it by accident.

Once Yu Nianzhao was on the ship, Nan Guili naturally wasn’t an exception, and as soon as he boarded, a cluster of blushing ladies surrounded him.

It seems handsome men are always in demand wherever they go.

"I feel like I don’t belong here." Yu Nianzhao shook her head, feeling out of place.

Does she look like someone who needs a matchmaking session?

Song Caiwei gently offered her a small snack and fed her by hand, smiling sweetly, "It’s not about belonging or not. Just think of it as accompanying me on an outing. Actually, this boat ride was organized by Princess Zhaohua, intending to match Mr. Xie and county princess Muyan. Previously, Mr. Xie was engaged, so she couldn’t intervene. Now that the engagement is dissolved, the hottest man in Shangjing is sure to become her son-in-law."

"Aren’t Princess Zhaohua and Prince An Nan siblings? So isn’t Mr. Xie also like a brother to County Princess Muyan?" Yu Nianzhao’s expression was nuanced.

Xie Jiarou blinked, whispering secretly, "That’s right, so my mother won’t agree. Besides, my brother only sees County Princess Muyan as a sister; there’s no chemistry between them. But out of respect for Princess Zhaohua, he had to reluctantly join in to make it lively."

No wonder Pei Yunzhi looked so envious; her former fiancé had turned into a highly sought-after catch for others, yet she couldn’t have him. How could her heart be at peace?

Nan Guili broke free from the crowd of women, his handsome face glistening with a sheen of sweat, "I’ve seen enough of the lake’s beauty, how about we go somewhere else?"

Yu Nianzhao said, "Alright, just have the boatman take us to the shore first."

Xie Yunzhe’s gaze was already fixed on Yu Nianzhao. Seeing her about to leave, he quickly came over, warmly saying, "I’ve already booked a banquet at Pinxiang Building, we could invite the Sixth Prince as well, to fulfill the duties of a host."

"There’s no need to disturb everyone’s enjoyment." Nan Guili politely declined.

"How could it be a disturbance? Miss Yu, come along, the more the merrier!"

Luu Shaoqi leaned in with a fawning attitude towards Yu Nianzhao.

"Are you two close?" Read complete versıon only at novel⟡fire.net

Luu Shaochen raised an eyebrow, noticing Luu Shaoqi’s attentiveness towards Yu Nianzhao, and he was a bit curious.

Luu Shaoqi did not want to recall the haunted experiences, trembling a bit, smiling awkwardly.

Just as Yu Nianzhao was troubled by the enthusiastic faces around her, the sound of someone falling into the water reached her ears.

"Oh no, Oh no, County Princess Muyan and a lady from the Marquis’s household have fallen into the lake!"

"Someone quick, rescue, come save them!"

The people on the ship poured out, crowding around the mast to watch the commotion. No one actually dived into the water to save them.

"Mr. Xie, save me, glug glug..."

Pei Yunzhi, submerged in the water, showed half her face, looking at Xie Yunzhe with pleading eyes.

In such a crisis, Xie Yunzhe frowned, hesitating only for a few seconds, then jumped into the water without a second thought to save them.