Chapter 232: Where Is My Heart?

In the East Courtyard of the Estate’s back residence.

Lin Hansu, who was ‘not concerned with others’ affairs and was purely helping Ruan Ruan’ out, tried hard to maintain an official and calm demeanor. ‘Duke of Chu County, do you have nothing to explain to Zhao Yan and Ruan Ruan regarding today’s events?’

‘Reporting to the Princess Consort, this matter…’ Ding Suian looked awkward and instinctively lowered his voice. ‘I have nothing to say about this matter. If you wish to know the details, you had better ask Lord Lin.’

He looked as if he had something he couldn’t say.

Was there a hidden story?

There was no damn hidden story. It was just that Ding Suian had been caught red-handed by the eldest sister, and he really couldn’t think of an excuse.

He could only let his big brother take the fall. After all, he was the one who received Old Man and Zhao Ning, and there must be some shady secrets between the two parties.

Ding Suian still didn’t know Lin Dafu’s true intentions.

Following normal logic, if Ding Suian threw the blame onto Lin Dafu, the latter would need an excuse to fool Lin Hansu, right?

‘Sorry, Big Brother!’

Hearing this, Lin Hansu immediately realized the unusual nature of the situation. That Ding Suian and Zhao Ning had been caught in the act was a certainty.

But how could they be at his private Estate?

Could the two countries be secretly plotting something major? And was Old Lin playing an important role in it?

Lin Hansu frowned, her face gradually becoming serious.

Seeing this, Ding Suian sighed and comforted her,’Since it has come to this, shall we have a barbecue tonight?’

‘Huh?’

7 PM.

Twilight fell.

The Estate’s manager must have received Lin Dafu’s instructions to’serve the VIPs carefully.’ Ding Suian had only said, ‘I want to roast meat in the garden tonight,’ and within two hours, a freshly slaughtered lamb, fresh beef ribs, and deer jerky had been brought over.

Charcoal, seasonings, and an iron grill were all prepared.

If Ding Suian hadn’t wanted to avoid having outsiders present, the manager would have even intended to grill it himself.

The charcoal crackled softly, and the aroma of fat gradually filled the air.

He sat in front of the grill, flipping the sizzling pieces of meat, and said, ‘…Li Yunlong, the guerrilla general of the Independent Regiment, gritted his steel teeth, his tiger eyes turning red, and suddenly shouted, “Second Battalion Commander, bring me my Italian artillery!”‘

No matter how warm the scene was, it could not dispel the subtle and slightly awkward atmosphere among the few people in the courtyard.

Lin Hansu sat on a stone stool nearby, her back straight, her beautiful face devoid of sadness or joy.

Zhao Ning sat not far from Ding Suian, looking equally aloof, her lips pressed together, remaining silent.

Both were proud and solitary.

So much so that the ‘Legend of the Dragon Kingdom Heroes’ that Ding Suian began to tell to liven up the mood (and distract them) did not get any reaction, and his exceptionally passionate and loud voice seemed a bit noisy.

Seeing this, he simply shut up.

He didn’t look at either of them, but leaned forward slightly, staring at the fatty kidney on the charcoal fire.

It was as if it were the most beautiful thing in the world.

He had organized this family barbecue tonight naturally hoping to let everyone get familiar with each other; after all, everyone might end up in the same bed in the future.

But at the moment, it seemed that neither Lin Hansu nor Zhao Ning appreciated it much.

‘Brother Yuanxi, what is an Italian artillery?’

Ruan Ruan squatted opposite him, resting her hands on her shoulders, her round eyes blinking.

Good Ruan Ruan!

Only you support my stories!

‘Italian artillery? That is a very powerful Magical Artifact of your Daoist sect. Haven’t you heard of it, Ruan Ruan?’

‘No. Then what about Xiuqin? What happened to Xiuqin?’

‘Xiuqin, she…’

Ding Suian clamped some grilled mutton onto a plate and handed it to Zhao Ning. The latter only silently made eye contact with him, and understood that he wanted her to take this food to Old Man.

Neither of them spoke. Zhao Ning took it and walked out slowly.

Just as her slender figure disappeared outside the moon gate, Lin Hansu slowly turned her head.

She did not speak, but cast her pair of calm Phoenix eyes toward Ding Suian, her gaze filled with inquiry, seemingly silently urging Ding Suian to say something during the brief interval while Zhao Ning was away.

Ding Suian naturally noticed her gaze, but leaned over and rummaged through the tray full of fresh meat, somewhat deliberately.

He muttered to himself, ‘Where is my heart? Why can’t I find my heart?’

Lin Hansu remained seated, her posture unchanged, but a very faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips. There was a hint of interest, like an adult catching a child doing something bad and the child trying hard to cover it up. She opened her lips slightly and said in a calm tone, ‘Duke of Chu County, do you actually have a heart?’

‘…’

That was sharp!

Just then, Zhao Yan, who had been missing for a while, hopped over from a shadow in the courtyard.

Ding Suian noticed some clues from her satisfied expression and exceptionally rosy lips, ‘Zhao Yan! Did you steal my lamb heart!’

Zhao Yan stood at attention, hurriedly waving her hands that were still stained with little specks of red, ‘I didn’t eat it!’

Well, case closed.

But through this little episode, Lin Hansu’s gaze was diverted.

She was a bit annoyed; she had never stopped Zhao Yan or Ruan Ruan before, but now that it was like this, Young Master, you were still stealing hearts!

But she wasn’t that annoyed. Fortunately, it wasn’t Xu Jiuxi.

While thinking, she saw Zhao Ning returning with the plate of grilled mutton.

Ding Suian saw it and looked at Zhao Ning with confusion. The latter shook her head slightly at him.

‘Not there?’

‘Yeah, not there.’

One question, one answer, obscure and unclear.

Old Man hadn’t returned to Central Heaven in decades, he shouldn’t have many acquaintances left. Where did he go?

Beside them, Lin Hansu watched their tacit conversation, feeling a bit sour in her heart, but also curious. Who were they talking about?

Meanwhile, Yongxing Ward.

Prince Yinyang resided in Hongzhou with his family, so he only left a few old servants at his residence in Central Heaven, and the house was cold and quiet.

But tonight, the mansion was brightly lit, unlike previous days.

Around 9 PM.

Lady Zhang and the Yu siblings walked out of the mansion gate.

Lady Zhang and Yu Ruiyan had red eyes, with traces of tears still lingering in the corners of their eyes. The tall, cold-faced man in brocade robes who was seeing them off bowed to Lady Zhang and said respectfully, ‘Heir Apparent apologizes to Aunt on behalf of the Jiang family.’

Lady Zhang hurriedly raised her hand to hold his hand and said, ‘Heir Apparent is honest and filial, how can this be blamed on you?’

The man in brocade robes looked guilty and sighed, ‘Father is usually not in Central Heaven, and that Lin family failed to discipline the children, causing Waner and Xuaner’s rude behavior and disrespect toward Aunt. Now that I have returned to the capital, I must fulfill my duty as an elder brother! I will enforce family law, discipline them properly, and will certainly give Aunt an explanation.’

On the side, Yu Ruiyan wiped the corner of her eye with a handkerchief and said softly, ‘Cousin, do not be angry. Cousin Waner and Cousin Xuaner are still young; perhaps it was just a childish Heart-Nature for a moment, not an intentional offense~’

Her voice trembled slightly, with a bit of shy sobbing, ‘Mother and I… are fine. Cousin Waner and Cousin Xuaner are, after all, Uncle’s own Bloodline.’

Yu Ruiyan shouldn’t have mentioned this. As soon as she did, the man’s face turned even colder. He said, ‘Waner is a year older than Yaner, and she is still young? If they dare to be disrespectful to Aunt now, they will dare to be rude to Mother in the future! Yaner, do not worry about this. Even if it is not for Aunt, for the family reputation of Prince Yinyang’s Estate, I must punish them severely!’

Yu Ruiyan raised her teary eyes, seemingly wanting to plead for Jiang Yuan, but the man raised his hand first to stop her, ‘Yaner, say no more. If Waner were half as sensible as you, it wouldn’t have come to this!’

One hundred paces away.

A carriage was parked in the shadows against the light.

A middle-aged beautiful woman in Daoist robes lifted a slit of the carriage curtain and whispered, ‘Ah Ji, did you see clearly?’

‘Yes, that is Jiang Jing, the Heir Apparent of Prince Yinyang who just returned to the capital today?’

‘Yes.’