The Trick to Teasing a Noble Family's Son - Chapter 26.2

The spring hunt lasted three days.

Though the Crown Prince’s assassination attempt shortened it, various matters delayed their departure until the second day. Xie Zichen slept through, undisturbed. Waking at midnight, he saw Wei Lan sleeping beside him, one hand under her head, the other at her side, perfectly proper. He, however, had sidled close, one hand on her shoulder, a leg over hers.

Xie Zichen: “…”

He never thought he’d be so unruly in his sleep.

Her face was inches away, breathtakingly beautiful. His heart raced. He didn’t dare move, staring until he calmed, then quietly, nervously slipped out of bed and left.

As he exited, Wei Lan opened her eyes, a smile tugging at her lips, tinged with regret.

For a moment, she thought he might kiss her…

But alas.

She had pretended to sleep twice, yet no kiss. Was her charm fading?

No way.

Wei Lan lay in bed, pondering her allure.

She shifted to where Xie Zichen had slept, his warmth and scent lingering. Sniffing the blanket, she relaxed.

Ah, the scent of a beauty.

Both slept with their own thoughts. The next afternoon, they broke camp. Xie Zichen, injured, was invited to the Crown Prince’s carriage to recuperate. In reality, it was to align their stories.

“Your family will investigate this,” Wang Xi brewed the tea, Xie Zichen accepted it respectfully, listening to the Crown prince’s words, “My men know the details. Your sixth brother set you up, but it ended up ensnaring himself.”

“I wonder,” Xie Zichen looked worried, “if Miss Wang is safe.”

“Miss Wang?” The Crown Prince frowned, looking at Wang Xi, who paused, then realized, “Zichen means my cousin Wanqing? What about her?”

“She…” Xie Zichen looked troubled, “Yesterday, my sixth brother said Miss Wang was at the ruined temple, violated…so I rushed to save her.”

He looked up, pale. “Miss Wang my fiancée. I’ll fulfil my duty no matter what happened. I only ask Your Highness and Young Master not to spread this…”

“Nonsense!” Wang Xi, stunned, slammed the table. “My cousin is safe in the rear convoy. How could she be at the ruined temple? Xie Jie, to deceive you, slandered our Wang family’s name. Damn him!”

Though Wang Wanqing was a concubine’s daughter, she bore the Wang name. Any harm to her reputation would tarnish the family’s honour, infuriating Wang Xi.

Xie Zichen feigned shock. “Miss Wang…”

“She’s fine,” Wang Xi reassured him seeing his expression. Knowing Wanqing’s parents wanted to end the engagement, having ties with the Third Prince, he felt guilty. Seeing Xie Zichen’s concern, he softened, “Zichen, you’re too caught up in romantic sentiments. A great man shouldn’t be so tethered to women.”

Xie Zichen nodded, “If she doesn’t betray me, I won’t betray her. As my future wife, I must protect her.”

The Crown Prince felt comforted. If Xie Zichen was so devoted to a woman, he’d be loyal as a minister.

Smiling, he changed the topic. “Xie Jie schemed against you and got what he deserved. He’s at Black Wind Fortress now. When you return, don’t mention my guards’ inaction. Say they arrived but were too few to act rashly. Later, Young Master Wei arrived, and together they saved you. This way, my guards can testify for you. Understood?”

“I understand,” Xie Zichen replied, aligning details with the Prince. The Prince then recalled, “If Xie Jie is done, the Xie companion role falls to you, yes?”

Xie Zichen grasped the Crown Prince’s offer. He nodded gratefully.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Even without the Prince’s aid, Wei Lan or he could’ve handled it. Stopping the Xie messenger and letting Black Wind Fortress “tear the ticket” was simple.

But the Crown Prince’s willingness was a gesture. Not showing gratitude would be too ignorant.

Escorted to the Xie household by the Crown Prince, Xie Zichen was soon summoned by the family head, Xie Ying. After recounting everything, Xie Ying nodded, “I’ll investigate. You go rest.”

Xie Zichen complied. That night, his father, Xie Cheng, visited. After hearing the story, Xie Cheng gritted his teeth. “Too much!” He stormed out.

Over the next days, Xie Zichen focused on recovery. The Xie household was in chaos; Third Branch members were punished to kneel in the ancestral hall, and plans were made to attack Black Wind Fortress. Xie Zichen stayed uninvolved, having played his part. Even the assassins, hired through Xie Tong posing as a repeat client, couldn’t be traced to him.

As Xie Zichen healed, so did Wei Lan. Having promised to treat Xie Zichen as a brother, she stopped obsessing over gifts or visits. With news of her father’s ambush, she planned ahead.

She considered altering her father’s route but feared her uncles would adapt. Instead, she chose to be the oriole behind the praying mantis catching the cicada, setting an ambush at Yixian Cliff to catch them off guard.

Visiting the cliff, she noted its narrow valley between cliffs, perfect for an ambush. Blocking both ends with boulders and attacking from above with a few archers could wipe out a group. But it assumed the enemy brought no one to the cliff top. Wei Lan guessed they’d bring few men. She’d place her men atop the cliff, ready to throw the enemy down.

Her military mindset favoured simple, brutal tactics.

She set traps, digging deep pits for her men to hide in. Busy with preparations, she didn’t see Xie Zichen until the night of the ninth, when, dressed in combat gear, she led her men out of the capital. At the city gate, Xie Zichen stood with his horse. Scanning her small team, he said, “Not enough.”

“Hm?” Wei Lan grew alert. “How many do they have?”

“The cliff is easy to hide in, over a hundred men, half archers.” Recalling past-life intelligence, he glanced at her team of under thirty. “The Crown Prince sent me with men to aid you.”

“You didn’t tell me earlier to let the Prince owe me a favour, right?” Wei Lan, on horseback, smirked. Xie Zichen replied evenly, “I’m saving your men.”

“True,” Wei Lan acknowledged. “My men are your men, you should take good care of them.”

Seeing his speechless expression, she laughed, leading the charge out of the city. Xie Zichen and his men followed, and they reached Yixian Cliff, hiding in the prepared pits, covered with dry grass.