Chapter 327: Chapter 323: First Official Date

“Why not?” Tang Xiaobai was a bit nervous.

Tao Fen scratched his head and said, “I didn’t notice anyone seeing me.”

“Even if someone saw you, it doesn’t mean you’d notice them, right?” Tang Xiaobai found his words a bit strange, “Besides, how would Luo Xiong know which tree you were on if he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes?”

The person who stood up to provide Tao Fen an alibi was Luo Xiong.

Tao Fen didn’t insist anymore: “What you said… makes sense… Suddenly his eyes flickered, and he asked sneakily, “Do you think… it might be… the Crown Prince… hmm?”

Tang Xiaobai felt a bit suspicious as well.

Yongxing Village is adjacent to the Imperial City and the Imperial Palace, ordinary people generally don’t go there.

If Luo Xiong didn’t really see it himself, then someone must have told him.

The location where Tao Fen was at the time of the incident was only mentioned once at the Ministry of Justice. Is it possible that it was information leaked by someone from the Crown Prince’s side?

Soon, Tang Xiaobai dismissed this suspicion: “If the Crown Prince was looking, he wouldn’t find Luo Xiong.”

Firstly, they weren’t very familiar with Luo Xiong;

Secondly, even though they weren’t familiar with Luo Xiong, since Luo Xiong was always a student of the academy, it would appear too close from the outside, and would look like a cover-up.

When Luo Xiong came forward to testify, he was also questioned, but Luo Xiong withstood various detailed interrogations, and with the involvement of Eastern Palace officials, Tao Fen was acquitted smoothly.

If it were her, she’d definitely find someone unrelated to testify.

When Tao Fen heard her mention the Crown Prince, he revealed an aunt-like smile: “Second Miss knows the Crown Prince so well, hehehehe…”

Tang Xiaobai held her forehead: “Alright, Brother Tao, hurry up to the banquet!”

Tao Fen had just been released.

He has a wide circle of friends. When he came out of the Ministry of Justice, he was surrounded by people comforting him, clamoring to drag him off to celebrate with drinks.

Tang Xiaobai originally just came to see, and upon seeing him surrounded, she planned to leave.

Unexpectedly, Tao Fen said a few words to dismiss his friends waiting on the side, and squeezed over specifically to share his doubts with her.

After their conversation, there was nothing more to be said.

Tao Fen nodded with a smile, then remembered something, looked around and asked: “How is Chuchu these days? Was she scared?”

Tang Xiaobai suddenly realized that Tao Fen didn’t really understand his fiancée: “I met her a couple of days ago, and she’s been asking about you and is quite worried.”

She shouldn’t be scared, but it’s unclear why she didn’t come today.

Tao Fen immediately called over a young lad from the crowd and instructed him to report his safety to Zhong Chuchu.

The drinking buddies around Tao Fen heard and laughed, asking: “When is Brother Tao going to treat us to the wedding banquet?”

Tao Fen smiled and didn’t want to answer, but upon seeing Tang Xiaobai also eagerly anticipating, he replied: “I’ll wait until after the spring exams next year, earn a title, and then marry Chuchu.”

As a young girl in love, Tang Xiaobai looked at his expression and felt something was a bit off.

Tao Fen initially wanted to marry Zhong Chuchu purely out of guilt and responsibility.

Because he accidentally hurt a stranger girl, he vowed to take care of her for a lifetime.

Over the years, he indeed cherished Zhong Chuchu, mentioning the betrothal with a sense of unavoidable duty.

But how can marriage be treated with unavoidable duty?

Tang Xiaobai sighed inwardly.

After parting with Tao Fen, the carriage turned to leave.

“Second Miss, back to the residence?” the servant asked.

Tang Xiaobai pondered for a moment and said: “To Huntian Academy.”

…

Tang Xiaobai hadn’t been to Huntian Academy for more than a year.

It seemed like a long time had passed, yet every plant and tree still looked the same as before.

Only there were more unfamiliar faces.

Tang Xiaobai discreetly walked through a side door and had someone bring Luo Xiong out for a private conversation.

“Did you really see Brother Tao that day?” Tang Xiaobai asked straight away.

Luo Xiong was first startled, then immediately replied: “Why does Second Miss ask this?”

Tang Xiaobai slightly furrowed her brow.

The counter-question made him seem a little guilty.

“First of all, I thank you on behalf of Brother Tao for your righteous rescue. I’m merely seeking the truth, you know I’m also from Huntian Academy and wouldn’t do anything to harm the academy, much less harm Brother Tao with whom I share a close bond,” Tang Xiaobai reassured.

“Of course, I trust Second Miss—” Luo Xiong hesitated for a moment, “I didn’t see him…”

Tang Xiaobai’s heart sank instantly.

“After Brother Tao was imprisoned, I was desperately trying to gather information and happened to overhear something from a prison guard at the Ministry of Justice, so I thought—” Luo Xiong saw Tang Xiaobai’s face didn’t look good, and suddenly panicked, “Did I overreach?”

Tang Xiaobai glanced at him.

Luo Xiong was nineteen, not young.

Gu Hui and Zhu Qi were already composed and steady at twelve or thirteen years old.

But those without notable family backgrounds often lack some confidence and thoroughness.

“Telling one lie might need countless lies to cover it up. You were a bit rash to tell me everything today, remember not to mention it to anyone else, not even Brother Tao.”

But Luo Xiong shook his head and said: “If Cheng Zi asks, I will still tell the truth—”

“I’m telling the truth to Second Miss because she will surely tell you the truth as well.”

…

“This time I really owe it to Cheng Zi—” Tang Xiaobai said with a playful smile.

The person in front of her appeared quite aloof and disdainful: “Just being extra.”

Tang Xiaobai nudged him with her shoulder: “Always with good intentions.”

The two of them sat side by side in the pavilion on the back mountain of Wulou Temple.

With her nudge, he turned his face and lowered his eyes to look at her, with a slight upward curve at the corner of his lips.

This morning a light rain had just fallen, wetting the osmanthus tree outside the pavilion, the fragrance blended with the autumn chill, mellowing the sweetness of the osmanthus, cool and moist, beautiful and enchanting.

Tang Xiaobai lightly inhaled, her heart filled with uncontainable joy, she glanced at the gentle and quiet handsome young man beside her, feeling a bit shy.

This seemed to be her first official date.

She had been to the back mountain of Wulou Temple before, but never knew how romantic it could be after an autumn rain.

What should she say now?

Tang Xiaobai glanced at him again.

The last words were hers, now it should be his turn, right?

Ah, this little guy is good in many ways, but he isn’t much of a talker.

It couldn’t always be her speaking, could it?

Tang Xiaobai thought this wouldn’t do, so she urged him: “Say something!”

Li Mu hadn’t seen her for several days and wanted to watch her for a bit longer, but seeing her urging, he thought she was worried about the matter with Tao Fen and Luo Xiong, so he comforted her: “Although it was unnecessary, it doesn’t affect the situation. Even if it’s uncovered later, it won’t cause any major trouble.”

“Oh?” Tang Xiaobai signaled him to elaborate.

Li Mu smiled slightly and said: “Anything kept as a backup must have sufficient power, and the matter with Luo Xiong doesn’t even qualify as a backup plan. Moreover, even the biggest case won’t be pursued for more than a year. The latest deadline for Wang Maozhao’s case in Taiji Palace is one month, meaning after one month, no one will pay attention to this case anymore.”

Tang Xiaobai understood.

It meant that once interest wanes, any minor scandals wouldn’t draw much attention anymore.

Li Mu gazed at her intently, thinking she looked even more beautiful in the past few days.

Today she wore a goose-yellow top, pretty and delicate like a flower bud, making him want to take a bite.

Thinking so, he decided to act.

Li Mu saw the girl bowing her head in thought, and quietly moved closer—

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep