Chapter 21: The Anomaly of the Paper Kite

Xu Lan had left!

She had been driven away in a fit of anger once again. Before departing, she had even vowed to sever all ties with Lin Jiangnian, swearing that they would never see each other again as long as they lived.

Lin Jiangnian, naturally, was delighted to agree—it was a double blessing!

After she left, Lin Jiangnian remained seated quietly in the courtyard. The altercation he had initiated with Li Qianlin at the teahouse today was a move he had carefully considered. Of course, it might have been slightly impulsive, and certainly involved a degree of risk. However, the Heir of the Prince of Lin was, by nature, an impulsive man; beating people in public was merely business as usual for him.

As a playboy heir with a notorious reputation, any outrageous act he committed was seen as perfectly normal in the eyes of others. At the very least, Xu Lan had not harbored any suspicions today!

Of course, there might have been other reasons for that as well...

Collecting his thoughts, Lin Jiangnian shook his head slightly. Just as he prepared to stand up and leave, footsteps sounded behind him.

Lin Jiangnian turned around, and a figure in green robes came into view.

Ziyuan, dressed in her signature green, appeared under the eaves not far away, walking slowly toward him.

One step, two steps...

Her movements were slow and elegant. Her graceful figure was wrapped in a long green dress, the hem fluttering in the wind. As the head maid to the Heir of the Prince of Lin, she possessed both the budding maturity of a woman and the lingering innocence of a young girl. When these two contrasting styles converged, they were further disrupted by her exquisitely beautiful, yet utterly expressionless face.

It was quite jarring.

Such a fine young woman, yet it was a pity she wore a cold mask day in and day out.

When Ziyuan reached him, Lin Jiangnian withdrew his gaze.

Ziyuan’s beautiful eyes swept over Lin Jiangnian, and only after confirming that His Highness had not been injured did she speak: "Did Your Highness strike someone in the city today?"

"That’s right!"

It was no surprise to him that Ziyuan knew; the city of Linjiang was filled with the Prince of Lin’s eyes and ears. News of Lin Jiangnian hitting someone in public naturally could not be hidden.

Nor was there any need to hide it.

Lin Jiangnian nodded and glanced at her. "Is there a problem?"

Ziyuan’s eyes turned cold. After a moment of silence, she said, "Li Qianlin's father is the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice and holds considerable influence at court. Li Qianlin himself is close to the Third Prince. His sudden appearance in Linjiang City is not without purpose. As for that Song Jue, the Song family holds some power in Zhongzhou and has always been at odds with our Prince’s Mansion..."

Upon learning that His Highness had struck someone in the city, Ziyuan had rushed back immediately. After grasping the details of the incident, she quickly realized the ulterior motives of Li Qianlin and Song Jue.

Lin Jiangnian was not concerned about this; rather, he was surprised by Ziyuan's attitude. He looked at her. "I thought you would reproach me?"

Ziyuan looked slightly puzzled. "Why would this servant reproach Your Highness?"

"I struck Li Qianlin and Song Jue in public and caused trouble. By rights, shouldn't you be scolding me for stirring up trouble?"

Disciplining the Heir of the Prince of Lin to prevent him from causing trouble—wasn't that this cold, beautiful maid’s favorite thing to do?

Ziyuan’s gaze turned icy. "Li Qianlin and Song Jue were courting death; they provoked and insulted Your Highness. They deserved to be taught a lesson."

"You finally said something sensible!" Lin Jiangnian remarked with a sigh.

Ziyuan ignored the sarcasm in his tone, having grown accustomed to it over the years. After a moment of silence, she added, "I will investigate their motives and provide Your Highness with an answer."

Li Qianlin and Song Jue were unimportant; what mattered was who was behind them... who had instigated this?

She already had an answer in her heart.

"Fine, then."

Lin Jiangnian nodded and yawned. "I’m getting a bit tired. I’m going to go rest."

Ziyuan watched as Lin Jiangnian stood up to leave. She hesitated, then suddenly spoke up.

"Your Highness, wait a moment."

Lin Jiangnian paused and looked back at her. "Something else?"

Ziyuan’s expression remained cold, yet in her usually calm eyes, perhaps triggered by some thought, there was a flash of hesitation and emotion.

With an unusual gleam in her eyes, she studied Lin Jiangnian for a moment before lowering her gaze and saying softly, "If Your Highness encounters such matters again, there is no need to do it yourself..."

Her voice was very soft, tinged with an indescribable emotion.

Lin Jiangnian was stunned. He looked at Ziyuan, his own eyes reflecting a complex expression.

Understanding her meaning perfectly, he asked with profound implication, "Why?"

Ziyuan replied calmly, "Your Highness is of noble birth, and such people are beneath notice. There is no need to dirty your hands; there will be others to handle them."

"I'll decide based on my mood."

Lin Jiangnian waved a hand and turned to leave.

Ziyuan stood where she was, watching his retreating figure for a long time.

Only after gathering her thoughts did she turn to leave the courtyard, saying expressionlessly, "Lin Kong."

Outside the courtyard, the figure of Lin Kong appeared, bowing respectfully. "What are your orders?"

Ziyuan’s expression was as cold as frost. With her hands behind her back, she looked ahead.

On that peerlessly beautiful face, there was no expression, only a pervasive aura of killing intent.

"It seems that since our Prince’s Mansion has been patient and retreating for so long, some people have become impatient to jump out!"

"Since that is the case, then we shall grant their wish!"

...

The Prince of Lin's mansion was vast, and one could easily get lost if not careful. Following the route he had memorized in his mind earlier, Lin Jiangnian finally managed to return to his room.

The room was cold and empty. Lin Jiangnian felt no sleepiness and, sitting at the table, suddenly felt a bit bored.

Recalling something, he raised his eyes and glanced toward the door.

"Someone come here."

Soon, a timid figure appeared at the doorway.

"Yo, Your Highness?"

It was Xiao Zhu.

Lin Jiangnian glanced at her. "Come here."

"Oh..."

Xiao Zhu took small, hesitant steps until she stood beside Lin Jiangnian. "Your Highness, what are your orders for this servant?"

"Nothing much. I just wanted to chat with you."

Lin Jiangnian looked at the nervous young maid and said with interest, "Sit."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhu’s face was filled with panic. She hurriedly waved her hands and shook her head. "No, no, I can't..."

How could a mere maid dare to sit with His Highness?

Lin Jiangnian put on a stern face, expressionless. "If I tell you to sit, then sit immediately. If you don't listen, do you believe I'll drag you to warm my bed?"

At the mention of "warming the bed," Xiao Zhu’s face turned deathly pale. Trembling, she sat down obediently. Only half of her bottom touched the edge of the stool, her head bowed in tension, her face filled with the grievance of being coerced.

Fearful, aggrieved, and yet not daring to resist.

Seeing this, Lin Jiangnian found it somewhat amusing.

This little maid was far too afraid of him.

Presumably, this was the lingering terror left behind by the previous Heir of the Prince of Lin.

However, Lin Jiangnian still hoped to extract some intelligence from this little maid, and her being this terrified wouldn't do.

"Don't worry, don't be nervous. As long as you are obedient, I won't drag you to warm my bed right now." Lin Jiangnian’s tone softened slightly.

But in Xiao Zhu's ears, this sounded like... not right now?

Does that mean... in, in the future, he will?

Xiao Zhu’s face turned sheet-white!

It was over. It seemed she couldn't escape this fate after all!