Grace turned her head to look. Evan Xiao was dressed in a black robe with red embroidery, looking especially handsome. His chiseled jawline and cheekbones were flawless, not to mention those sexy thin lips—every time Grace studied him closely, she couldn't help but want to kiss him...
"Little flirt," Evan Xiao tightened his hold on her.
Grace said, a bit guilty, "Why are you calling me a flirt out of nowhere?"
Evan Xiao's lips curved in a smile. "I know exactly what you're thinking."
"Then guess what I'm thinking right now?" Grace raised her eyebrows, unconvinced.
Evan Xiao gave her a quick, dragonfly-like kiss on the lips. "You want this."
He actually guessed right... cough cough.
Grace: "...That's not it!"
Evan Xiao chuckled, taking her hand. "Let's talk somewhere else."
The two of them went to a grove even more secluded than the Plum Blossom Garden.
Grace asked him, "What did you want to see me about?"
"Do you remember Aiden, the guard at my manor?" Evan Xiao asked.
"Of course! When I was a maid at your manor, I had meals with him and Leon," Grace said. "What happened to him?"
"He went missing a few days ago," Evan Xiao said. "Shannon found him later."
"And then?" Grace felt something was off.
Although she did know Aiden, they weren't exactly close.
It was a little odd for Evan Xiao to come all the way just to tell her this.
"Guess where they found him?"
"Where?"
"In the palace. The Palace Dungeon," Evan Xiao said.
"Huh?" Grace was confused. "Why was he in the Palace Dungeon?"
"It was Colin Gu. He interrogated him about our relationship. Aiden couldn't withstand the torture and confessed," Evan Xiao said.
Grace's heart skipped a beat. She was silent for a while before saying, "It's normal that he couldn't withstand the torture in the Palace Dungeon. Few people can."
Evan Xiao said, "I wanted to rescue him, but he took his own life."
Grace was silent, feeling an indescribable sadness.
"Someone must have told Colin Gu something," Evan Xiao added.
Grace nodded.
"I'm telling you this so you're aware," Evan Xiao said. "Don't worry too much. At this critical moment, he won't act against us."
"Mm, I'm not worried," Grace said.
Evan Xiao: "You should go now."
Grace nodded and quietly returned to the Serenity Pavilion to find Shannon.
Honestly, she wasn't sure how Colin Gu would react if he found out about her and Evan Xiao.
After all, in her previous life, Colin Gu never cared about her...
......
After Evan Xiao returned, he happened to run into Colin Gu, who was coming out of the Grand Ballroom with his two highly skilled imperial guards.
"General," Colin Gu called out with a smile. "Where have you been?"
"Had a bit too much to drink, so I went out to sober up," Evan Xiao said.
"Perfect timing—I have something to discuss with you. Let's talk over there," Colin Gu said.
"Yes, sir." Evan Xiao followed him over.
"General, I remember last time I wanted to grant you Princess Lynne Ling, but you said you were marrying Miss White in July, right?"
"Yes," Evan Xiao replied.
"Is the date set?"
"It's set," Evan Xiao said. "July 27th. It's the auspicious date chosen from our Birth Chart Ceremony."
"July 27th..."
"Yes."
"Ah!" Colin Gu sighed.
"Your Majesty, why the sigh?" Evan Xiao asked.
"I feel I owe you an apology," Colin Gu said.
"What do you mean, Your Majesty?"
"July... I'm afraid the General will have to lead a campaign."