"If not you, then who else could it be?" Evan Xiao's tone was doting, almost like a big brother. "This is part of the dowry I've prepared for you."
Cecilia Chen's surprise instantly turned to shock. She froze, asking, "What? Dowry?"
"Your marriage with the Shen family has already been arranged," Evan Xiao said. "From now on, you should stay in the Moonlit Pavilion and prepare for your wedding. The stables are no place for you anymore."
Cecilia Chen's face went pale, her eyes reddening. She turned and ran off.
Evan Xiao handed the reins to the stable manager and followed her back.
Even though he walked right past Grace, he didn’t spare her a single glance.
He was cold, noble, and strikingly handsome, with a faint fragrance lingering in the air around him.
It was the scent she’d infused into his clothes...
Suddenly, Grace felt a deep ache in her heart.
A longing that was just out of reach.
Evan Xiao was right in front of her.
Her Spirit Root was right within reach.
But what can you do when you just can't have it?
It felt so bittersweet.
As Evan Xiao walked, he suddenly stopped and turned to look at Lily Bai.
Lily Bai had been staring bitterly at his back, and when he suddenly looked at her, her eyes widened in surprise.
He strode over with his long legs, stopping right in front of her.
"General, is there something you need?" Grace asked.
"Just now you said, even though you’re no longer in the Cold Moon Pavilion, your status is still that of a maid from there?" Evan Xiao asked.
Was there something wrong with that statement?
Grace said nervously, "...That's what Steward Qin told me."
"If that's the case, you should pay attention to your appearance. Don't embarrass me!"
"Huh?" Grace was confused.
He suddenly leaned in close and whispered in her ear, "There's horse manure on your butt."
Grace reflexively reached back and, sure enough, felt something sticky.
She looked at her hand—yup, it really was... horse manure!
This was the main path in and out of the stables. Horses often did their business right on the road.
Even though it was usually cleaned up, sometimes a little would get left behind...
And Grace was extra lucky—just now, when Cecilia Chen pushed her down, she landed right on a spot.
She felt like she'd just been struck by lightning, frozen in place.
Seeing her expression, Evan Xiao's lips twitched and he gave a wicked little smile before turning away.
After a few steps, he glanced back.
He caught sight of Lily Bai clutching her backside and sprinting towards her room.
That heavy bitterness faded away.
......
After she’d bathed and changed, Justin Guo really did bring two guards—just to watch over the Silver Dragon Horse.
The Silver Dragon Horse was common in the Vermilion Bird Kingdom, but in Blue Moon, it was a rare breed.
Still, sending two guards just to watch it seemed a bit much...
Justin Guo greeted her with a smile: "Goldie, are you settling in okay here?"
"It's alright," Grace replied.
"Come, let me introduce you. This is Ah Fei, and this is Leng Feng. The general ordered them here to watch the Silver Dragon Horse," Justin Guo said, pointing to the two guards.
Both looked about seventeen or eighteen—Ah Fei was lively, Leng Feng was mature, and both seemed quite strong.
"Goldie, both of them are third-rank Spirit Practitioners. If anyone gives you trouble, just go to them."
Justin Guo added meaningfully, "In the Guard Battalion, we only take orders from the general. We’re not afraid of anyone else."