The General Is Calling You

Grace thought for a moment and asked, "Serena Jane, could you have the nun who cleans this guest house come here? I want to ask her a few questions."

Serena Jane always accommodated her requests and immediately called for the cleaning nun to come over.

Grace then took out the silver-white incense and asked her if she remembered which guest had left it.

The nun in charge of cleaning was certain—it was left by the last guest who stayed here, about three months ago, a mysterious masked lady.

She said that after the masked lady left, she noticed the incense because it looked so unique. She even took a second look at it, so she remembered it clearly.

Hearing this, Grace's heart skipped a beat!

This leftover incense was exactly what Evan Xiao's old friend had left behind!

That old friend was a woman. In her previous life, after Evan Xiao met her, he even climbed over the wall into her room...

Even though it was all just her imagination and sounded pretty far-fetched, Grace had no other choice—it was worth a shot!

She took away the finger-length piece of incense, planning to study it carefully when she got back—just what was this thing, anyway...

Grace returned from Moonwater Abbey to the General's Manor, and it was still before lunchtime.

She had thought Evan Xiao definitely wouldn't be back yet.

But as soon as she entered Frostmoon Quarters, she saw Lily Bai and Anna standing on either side of the door, looking like they wished they could disappear.

Grace tiptoed over and mouthed 'What happened?' to Anna.

Anna pointed inside and made a shushing gesture.

Grace listened closely and heard Cecilia Chen's tearful voice: "General, do you really want me to marry into the Shane Family?"

"The Shane Family is quite decent in every way. I even went to see their second son this morning—he's a third-rank Spirit Practitioner—"

"I'm not marrying him!" Cecilia Chen interrupted.

"If you're not satisfied with the Shane Family, I'll ask Mrs. Zhang, the Matchmaker, to find you someone else," Evan Xiao said calmly.

"I don't want to marry anyone!" Cecilia Chen cried out, clearly upset.

"You're not getting any younger. It's time to get married. Wait another couple of years and no one will want you!"

"General, it's been five years. What do you really see me as?" Cecilia Chen's voice trembled with sadness.

"You're Chen Qian's little sister. I promised him I'd take care of you, so of course I treat you like a sister," Evan Xiao replied. "What else could you be?"

There was a moment of silence inside. Then Cecilia Chen said, "General, the person I want to marry is you!"

"No way," Evan Xiao said flatly.

"I know you're the great General of the Blue Moon Kingdom, and I'm not worthy of you. But I could be your concubine," Cecilia Chen pleaded.

"Not even as a concubine," Evan Xiao replied.

"Why?" Cecilia Chen asked, devastated. "Do you really think so little of me?"

Grace perked up her ears, listening. After a long pause, a voice from inside said, "It's just not possible."

"General..." Cecilia Chen lunged toward Evan Xiao, hoping to throw herself into his arms.

But Evan Xiao pushed her away, sending her tumbling to the ground. Then, with a cold expression, he called out, "Lily Bai!"

Lily Bai was still eavesdropping at the door crack.

Anna tugged at her, whispering, "The General's calling you! Why aren't you answering?"

"Oh!" Grace hurried inside, only to see Cecilia Chen sitting on the floor, tears streaming down her face, clutching her chest in heartbreak.

"Help Miss Chen up and take her back to Moonview Pavilion," Evan Xiao ordered.

"Yes, sir," Grace replied, moving to help Cecilia Chen.

But Cecilia Chen shoved her hand away, stood up on her own, and ran off, covering her eyes.

Grace watched Cecilia Chen's retreating figure, then glanced at Evan Xiao, whose face was cold and totally unreadable. She couldn't help but wonder: So, Cecilia Chen isn't his beloved after all?

He's actually planning to marry Cecilia Chen off?