Pin Shanhe

Once you step inside, the mystery in your heart will be solved.

Besides the excitement of about to unravel the mystery, there was also a hint of trepidation and unease.

But she suppressed her chaotic thoughts and went inside without hesitation.

"Your Highness, His Highness the Crown Prince is currently receiving guests. Please wait in the front hall for a moment."

Shen Fu nodded and sat down.

The stove inside was burning brightly, and a maid brought in tea.

She opened the lid, and a fragrant aroma of red dates wafted out, exactly the same as last time.

After waiting for a while, Chu Lingyu did not appear.

She had just asked the maid who served tea, and she was told that His Highness the Crown Prince was receiving guests in the backyard.

Logically speaking, shouldn't this be the place to entertain guests?

Could it be that the person he met was someone whose identity was shady and he was worried about being exposed?

Curiosity killed the cat, and Shen Fu couldn't sit still any longer.

Since we're already here, we should at least find out the truth before we leave!

Taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, she got up and went outside.

She had visited the East Suburb Inn once before, but only in the front yard; she had never set foot in the backyard.

But she found the way immediately, because the scene here was exactly the same as in her dream.

After passing through the winding corridor, around the lakeside pavilion, and through a large plum grove, you will finally see an elegant pavilion in front of you.

Winter had arrived.

Snowflakes drifted down from the sky, covering the frozen lake with a thin layer of white fluff.

Inside a pavilion not far away, two figures in white sat facing each other, playing chess.

The stone chessboard was laid out, with black and white pieces arranged in a staggered pattern, clearly distinct, and the move itself was already poised for a fierce battle.

Both of them were dressed in snow-white robes.

The man on the left, with his jade crown tied high, possessed a noble and dignified air; he was none other than Chu Lingyu, the Crown Prince of Dongyue.

As for the other one, her face was not visible because her back was turned to her.

Three thousand strands of ink-black hair cascaded over his shoulders like flowing clouds and waterfalls. He wore a wide-sleeved, lotus-white brocade robe, exuding a cool and aloof aura, untouched by worldly dust, like a banished immortal untouched by earthly concerns.

Why does this figure look so familiar?

The man was pouring tea with his head down when suddenly a leaf drifted down and landed right on his sleeve.

He reached out and gently brushed it away; even such a simple gesture was elegant and pleasing to the eye.

When he turned his head slightly, Shen Fu saw his profile.

With delicate features, a high nose bridge, and a perfect profile, he even looked somewhat familiar.

That stunning profile, and that ethereal, untouched beauty.

There is no one else in this world but him!

Shen Fu felt as if she had been struck hard by a boulder in the chest, and her mind exploded.

Before coming here, she had always suspected that Chu Lingyu and he were the same person.

Even in her restless dreams, she saw Chu Lingyu after he removed his human skin mask.

Seeing the two of them together now, I realize how absurd and ridiculous all my previous guesses were.

At this moment, Shen Fu was undoubtedly shocked.

After leaving the funeral hall that night, he kept his promise and never appeared in front of her again.

Later, Chu Lingyu appeared. The sense of familiarity he brought her, along with his inexplicable care, gradually led her thoughts astray.

It wasn't until this moment that she realized she had really made a mistake.

Just when we finally accepted the fact that they had no connection, new problems arose.

Why did these two people get together?

They seemed to be having a very pleasant conversation.

They didn't notice her presence because they were at a distance that wasn't too far, and because the branches of the trees provided some cover.

However, she also couldn't hear what they were talking about.

Driven by curiosity, she cautiously took a few steps forward.

The wind and snow fell softly, covering the "rustling" sound of footsteps.

Unexpectedly, she stepped on a dead branch.

A "snap" sound rang out, instantly startling the two of them.

They turned around at the same time, their eyes meeting Shen Fu's.

Oops!

After an eerie silence, Shen Fu forced herself to speak: "If I said I just got lost and ended up here, would you believe me?"

Even though she herself didn't believe it, she still had to find a way to back down!

Chu Lingyu slowly curved his lips into a smile: "The path from the front hall to here is incredibly winding and circuitous, making it extremely easy to lose one's way. It's quite a coincidence that Princess Xuan managed to avoid all the forks in the road and find this place so accurately!"

Shen Fu could easily tell that there was a teasing undertone in the conversation, so she could only give an awkward laugh.

"Your Highness is in high spirits, playing chess in the midst of a snowstorm. I'm worried you might catch a cold."

"Before the game started, the snow hadn't fallen and the wind hadn't risen. Later, as the game got more interesting, we didn't pay much attention to anything else."

Her gaze involuntarily drifted to the man beside her.

He sat there, holding a black piece between his fingers and placing it on the chessboard.

Aside from the initial eye contact after she "startled" him, he didn't even glance at her again, focusing only on the intricate chessboard before him, his expression calm, indifferent, and aloof.

At the last moment, the black piece fell, and a voice as clear as an icy jade pillar rang out: "Your Highness, you have lost."

Chu Lingyu was taken aback and stared intently at the chessboard.

Unbeknownst to the player, Black had already laid a solid trap, encircling the entire group of White stones, leaving no room for a comeback.

He couldn't help but chuckle wryly, exclaiming, "Your chess skills are truly divine. I'm willing to accept defeat; ask whatever you wish!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Fu, who was standing nearby, couldn't help but prick up her ears.

He came here specifically to ask the Crown Prince of Dongyue for a favor, which is why he decided to use each game of chess as a bargaining chip in the negotiations.

Just as she was trying to figure out the other party's purpose, she saw Chu Lingyu's look, telling her to go back and wait.

Shen Fu suddenly realized that he didn't know about their relationship, and as a stranger, it was indeed inappropriate for him to stay here and pry into the other person's privacy.

In fact, she didn't want anyone to know about this.

Anyway, she has already resolved her biggest inner conflict, so let her go!

Just as I was about to turn around, I heard that voice, as clear as an icicle: "No need, it's nothing shameful."

Chu Lingyu was somewhat surprised. He glanced at Shen Fu, then his gaze fell on the man in front of him, and he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

His intuition told him that the two people seemed to have some connection.

Since the other party doesn't mind, I don't care either.

"What exactly do you want to know?"

"The bloodlines of the Dongyue royal family, regardless of gender, are meticulously recorded, and only the emperor and the crown prince are authorized to view them. Am I correct?"

This was no secret, and Chu Lingyu quickly nodded in agreement.

Because of his confidence in his chess skills, he did make a promise that he would answer one question if his opponent could beat him.

The premise is that it cannot harm the interests of Dongyue, nor can it violate moral ethics.

I'm a man of my word, and I'll keep my promise!

He was also very curious about what the other party's purpose was.

"Twenty-five years ago, did the Dongyue royal family have a missing woman who, by seniority, should be considered your aunt?"

Chu Lingyu's heart skipped a beat. Could he be talking about...?

This matter has been kept completely secret, how could he have known?

Who exactly is this person?