Chapter 22: The Reason She Liked Him

Page 1 of 3

“Whoa...” The sound of reins being pulled came from behind. Shangguan Ning turned around and saw a simple yet elegant silver-white carriage coming to a stop. A servant lifted the curtain. Before Shangguan Ning had begun pretending to be insane, she had known Wanqu Haoyu because of her mother, and naturally recognized the man as his servant.

A moment later, a handsome, refined man stepped down from the carriage. His ink-black hair was bound beneath a white lotus crown, and he wore a pure-white crescent robe that accentuated his tall, slender figure. Three white ribbons encircled his waist, while a blue gauze robe draped over his shoulders. Snow-white vines were embroidered along its sleeves and hem.

Most captivating of all was his face, graceful as a startled swan in flight—so handsome that it inspired awe. His complexion was as flawless as jade, his appearance reminiscent of Pan An, and the corners of his thin lips curved faintly upward. Yet an aura that warned others to keep their distance seemed to surround him. He was cold and aloof, pale and detached.

The man in crimson took a glass bottle from the rear compartment. His crystal-clear fingertips, as flawless as jade, brushed over the delicate patterns along its rim. Tilting his head like a curious child, he said, “Little Fire Moon, why did the princess give me so many things? I clearly haven’t done anything.”

He asked the question casually, as though it had only just occurred to him. Wanqu Haoyu’s mother was the Minister of War and had always been a bitter rival of Shangguan Ning’s mother. He had heard that Wanqu Haoyu had recently taken quite an interest in that woman. He would see just how much she truly meant to him.

Wanqu Haoyu halted. His cool, indifferent gaze swept over the spoils belonging to Shangguan Ning in the carriage, and his heart filled with conflicting emotions. The princess... Could it be that she really had feelings for Shangguan Ning?

Damn it. The more he thought about it, the more his usually tranquil heart became tangled, like strands of hair that could never be cut apart. Had the princess truly become so indiscriminate that she would make a move on an idiot?

Although his heart was churning like stormy waves, his excellent upbringing told him there was no need to quarrel with a man whose mind had already regressed. He took his servant and continued inside.

His features were so breathtaking that they seemed almost unreal, and his eyes were so clear, cold, and free of desire that Shangguan Ning even began to wonder whether Wanqu Haoyu truly cared all that much about the princess.

While Green Bamboo was bribing the jailer guarding the prison entrance, Wanqu Haoyu lowered his head and straightened his sleeves, all the while listening attentively to the sounds behind him.

He heard Fire Moon carefully take the glass bottle from Shangguan Ning’s hands and coax him like a child. “Young Master, the princess bestowed all these things upon you because Her Highness likes you. That’s why she sent so many gifts to win your favor. Be a good boy and let Little Fire Moon put everything away properly. Don’t let anything fall to the ground. These antiques, calligraphy, and paintings are worth a fortune.”

Wanqu Haoyu’s brows drew together. A decorative green-leaf button on his pale-blue sleeve fell off pitifully.

Seeing what her master was doing, Green Bamboo wiped the cold sweat from her forehead. Master, are you straightening your sleeve or destroying your clothes?

“But Little Fire Moon, why would the princess like me? Ning’er is clearly very stupid and can’t do anything right.” Shangguan Ning blinked his beautiful eyes and asked in confusion.

When Wanqu Haoyu noticed that he had wrinkled his sleeve, he began straightening it again. He listened even more intently for Fire Moon’s answer. He, too, was curious as to why that woman would fall for someone with an impaired mind.

“Of course it’s because Young Master is the cutest man in the whole world—cute as...” Fire Moon replied somewhat guiltily.

Cute? Whenever his master became wicked, he was practically a demon from the underworld. The description could not have been further from the truth.

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Dear readers, Wanqu Haoyu: Si, pronounced with the fourth tone, homophonous with the word for “similar.”

Page 1 of 3

“Whoa...” The sound of reins being pulled came from behind. Shangguan Ning turned around and saw a simple yet elegant silver-white carriage coming to a stop. A servant lifted the curtain. Before Shangguan Ning had begun pretending to be insane, she had known Wanqu Haoyu because of her mother, and naturally recognized the man as his servant.

A moment later, a handsome, refined man stepped down from the carriage. His ink-black hair was bound beneath a white lotus crown, and he wore a pure-white crescent robe that accentuated his tall, slender figure. Three white ribbons encircled his waist, while a blue gauze robe draped over his shoulders. Snow-white vines were embroidered along its sleeves and hem.

Most captivating of all was his face, graceful as a startled swan in flight—so handsome that it inspired awe. His complexion was as flawless as jade, his appearance reminiscent of Pan An, and the corners of his thin lips curved faintly upward. Yet an aura that warned others to keep their distance seemed to surround him. He was cold and aloof, pale and detached.

The man in crimson took a glass bottle from the rear compartment. His crystal-clear fingertips, as flawless as jade, brushed over the delicate patterns along its rim. Tilting his head like a curious child, he said, “Little Fire Moon, why did the princess give me so many things? I clearly haven’t done anything.”

He asked the question casually, as though it had only just occurred to him. Wanqu Haoyu’s mother was the Minister of War and had always been a bitter rival of Shangguan Ning’s mother. He had heard that Wanqu Haoyu had recently taken quite an interest in that woman. He would see just how much she truly meant to him.

Wanqu Haoyu halted. His cool, indifferent gaze swept over the spoils belonging to Shangguan Ning in the carriage, and his heart filled with conflicting emotions. The princess... Could it be that she really had feelings for Shangguan Ning?

Damn it. The more he thought about it, the more his usually tranquil heart became tangled, like strands of hair that could never be cut apart. Had the princess truly become so indiscriminate that she would make a move on an idiot?

Although his heart was churning like stormy waves, his excellent upbringing told him there was no need to quarrel with a man whose mind had already regressed. He took his servant and continued inside.

His features were so breathtaking that they seemed almost unreal, and his eyes were so clear, cold, and free of desire that Shangguan Ning even began to wonder whether Wanqu Haoyu truly cared all that much about the princess.

Page 2 of 3

“Whoa...” The sound of reins being pulled came from behind. Shangguan Ning turned around and saw a simple yet elegant silver-white carriage coming to a stop. A servant lifted the curtain. Before Shangguan Ning had begun pretending to be insane, she had known Wanqu Haoyu because of her mother, and naturally recognized the man as his servant.

A moment later, a handsome, refined man stepped down from the carriage. His ink-black hair was bound beneath a white lotus crown, and he wore a pure-white crescent robe that accentuated his tall, slender figure. Three white ribbons encircled his waist, while a blue gauze robe draped over his shoulders. Snow-white vines were embroidered along its sleeves and hem.

Most captivating of all was his face, graceful as a startled swan in flight—so handsome that it inspired awe. His complexion was as flawless as jade, his appearance reminiscent of Pan An, and the corners of his thin lips curved faintly upward. Yet an aura that warned others to keep their distance seemed to surround him. He was cold and aloof, pale and detached.

The man in crimson took a glass bottle from the rear compartment. His crystal-clear fingertips, as flawless as jade, brushed over the delicate patterns along its rim. Tilting his head like a curious child, he said, “Little Fire Moon, why did the princess give me so many things? I clearly haven’t done anything.”

He asked the question casually, as though it had only just occurred to him. Wanqu Haoyu’s mother was the Minister of War and had always been a bitter rival of Shangguan Ning’s mother. He had heard that Wanqu Haoyu had recently taken quite an interest in that woman. He would see just how much she truly meant to him.

Wanqu Haoyu halted. His cool, indifferent gaze swept over the spoils belonging to Shangguan Ning in the carriage, and his heart filled with conflicting emotions. The princess... Could it be that she really had feelings for Shangguan Ning?

Damn it. The more he thought about it, the more his usually tranquil heart became tangled, like strands of hair that could never be cut apart. Had the princess truly become so indiscriminate that she would make a move on an idiot?

Although his heart was churning like stormy waves, his excellent upbringing told him there was no need to quarrel with a man whose mind had already regressed. He took his servant and continued inside.

Page 3 of 3

While Green Bamboo was bribing the jailer guarding the prison entrance, Wanqu Haoyu lowered his head and straightened his sleeves, all the while listening attentively to the sounds behind him.

He heard Fire Moon carefully take the glass bottle from Shangguan Ning’s hands and coax him like a child. “Young Master, the princess bestowed all these things upon you because Her Highness likes you. That’s why she sent so many gifts to win your favor. Be a good boy and let Little Fire Moon put everything away properly. Don’t let anything fall to the ground. These antiques, calligraphy, and paintings are worth a fortune.”

Wanqu Haoyu’s brows drew together. A decorative green-leaf button on his pale-blue sleeve fell off pitifully.

Seeing what her master was doing, Green Bamboo wiped the cold sweat from her forehead. Master, are you straightening your sleeve or destroying your clothes?

“But Little Fire Moon, why would the princess like me? Ning’er is clearly very stupid and can’t do anything right.” Shangguan Ning blinked his beautiful eyes and asked in confusion.

When Wanqu Haoyu noticed that he had wrinkled his sleeve, he began straightening it again. He listened even more intently for Fire Moon’s answer. He, too, was curious as to why that woman would fall for someone with an impaired mind.

“Of course it’s because Young Master is the cutest man in the whole world—cute as...” Fire Moon replied somewhat guiltily.

Cute? Whenever his master became wicked, he was practically a demon from the underworld. The description could not have been further from the truth.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear readers, Wanqu Haoyu: Si, pronounced with the fourth tone, homophonous with the word for “similar.”