Chapter 199: Unspoken Truths

Because several new doubts had taken root in his heart, Yue Mingxuan’s attitude toward Miaojue was no longer as warm and intimate as before.

He merely kept a faint smile on his face while listening to Miaojue chatter endlessly, all the while recalling every detail since the day he had met Tang Lubao.

The more he thought about it, the more frightened he became.

Everything, absolutely everything, pointed to the fact that that man was far more than merely the leader of a single faction.

Miaojue quickly noticed Yue Mingxuan’s distraction as well. She asked somewhat cautiously, “Brother Yue, are you angry with me because last time I caused you to be captured? I’m sorry. I won’t go watch operas ever again.”

Seeing Miaojue’s careful and slightly ingratiating expression, a trace of guilt surfaced in Yue Mingxuan’s heart.

No matter how Tang Lubao might treat him, at least Miaojue had always been sincere toward him without the slightest hint of falsehood.

“Miaojue,” he said gently, “the imperial palace is not a place for fun. Since you’ve already seen me, you should hurry and leave the palace.”

He himself had already become too conspicuous, and coupled with Miaojue’s simple and straightforward temperament, it would be bad if anything were to happen to her here.

“But I want to stay with Brother Yue…” Miaojue said somewhat aggrieved.

Although her home was very comfortable, there was not a single person who could keep her company and talk with her.

Her elder brother was busy with the organization affairs all day long, and Sister Huayue was nowhere to be seen most of the time.

“Miaojue, be good. I’ll leave the palace tomorrow to come see you,” Yue Mingxuan said patiently in response to her coquettishness and speaking with the utmost care.

Rather than staying here alone and letting his thoughts run wild, it would be better to meet Tang Lubao face to face and ask him everything clearly.

Miaojue looked at Yue Mingxuan with some suspicion. “Really? Brother Yue has said many times that he’d come see me, but you never did.”

As he led Miaojue outward, Yue Mingxuan replied, “This time I will.”

The two of them soon arrived at the city gate.

When the imperial guards saw that it was Yue Mingxuan bringing a maidservant, they did not even check their waist tokens and directly let the two of them pass.

After escorting Miaojue outside the city gate, Yue Mingxuan said, “I’ll only walk you this far. Go home early. After you get back, tell your elder brother that Yue Mingxuan will come to visit tomorrow and ask him to be sure to stay at home.”

Although Miaojue did not know why Yue Mingxuan wanted to see her elder brother, the thought that she would be able to see him again the next day made her happily agree.

After sending Miaojue off, Yue Mingxuan returned to his courtyard.

The table was already filled with Sui He’s signature dishes and Yue Mingxuan naturally enjoyed a hearty meal.

Meanwhile, after Tang Lubao heard the message Miaojue brought back, he turned to Bai Huayue at his side and asked, “Yue Mingxuan is absolutely not someone who would be this polite. Acting like this, is he trying to tell me that he knows something? How much do you think he knows?”

Bai Huayue pondered for a moment before saying, “I didn’t expect Xiaoyin to be so bold, to actually collude with outsiders and detain Yue Mingxuan in Piaoxiang Courtyard.” She paused briefly, then continued, “I also didn’t expect that Piaoxiang Courtyard’s most relied upon mechanisms would be broken by him just like that. I originally thought he was merely a young man with exceptional medical skills, but now I truly have to look at him in a new light.”

Tang Lubao gently tidied the hair at her temples and said, “Then what you mean is that you want to tell him everything and lay it all out plainly? What exactly are you thinking?”

Bai Huayue reached back and clasped Tang Lubao’s hand. “This time, Xiaoyin colluded with outsiders and even I almost fell into her trap. It truly is hateful beyond words. If Yue Mingxuan hadn’t overheard their conversation earlier and startled them into making a premature move, then now… now…”

Thinking of what that person had been plotting, she could not help but shudder violently.

Tang Lubao understood very well what Bai Huayue feared in her heart. He gently pulled her into his arms and said, “Hua’er, none of that happened. We are all fine right now. You must pull yourself together. Everyone in Flying Opera Group is still counting on you.”

Bai Huayue leaned obediently against Tang Lubao’s chest and said, “Brother Lu, Yue Mingxuan’s ordeal this time has a great deal to do with me. It could be said that, to some extent, he suffered this calamity in my stead. Thankfully nothing happened to him. If something had happened to him, I… I…”

At this point, her voice choked with sobs.

The recent successive blows, the turmoil within Flying Opera Group and the betrayal of her closest sister had stretched her nerves to the breaking point.

Now being comforted softly by her beloved all the grievances and unease she had suppressed poured out like a flood.

Tang Lubao did not say anything, he just reaching out his hand to pat Bai Huayue lightly on the back.

After about half an hour, Bai Huayue’s emotions gradually calmed down.

After using the warm water brought by the maid to wipe her face, she said to Tang Lubao, “If Yue Mingxuan trusts me, then from now on I will treat him as my own younger brother. If he does not trust me, I absolutely will not harbor even half a sentence of resentment.”

…

Time passed quickly.

Early the next morning, Yue Mingxuan arrived at Tang Lubao’s residence as agreed.

After being led by a maid into the side hall, he discovered that Bai Huayue was also present.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep