Lin Hao’s words immediately drew many gazes toward Qin Wenyuan.
A flash of embarrassment crossed Qin Wenyuan’s face, and before he could react, the sound of sharp intakes of breath echoed around them.
Lin Hao covered her mouth, her bright eyes wide: "Are you all good friends of the Marquis of Pingjia’s heir?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the several young men standing beside Qin Wenyuan instantly darted to the side, their movements so swift it was hard to believe they were a group of scholars.
"Second Miss Lin!" Qin Wenyuan enunciated each word, wishing he could tear the young girl before him to pieces.
A soft, sobbing sound suddenly rang out, immediately attracting everyone's attention.
Chen Yi’s face was pale, tears streaming down her cheeks: "So that’s how it is. I was wondering why I, having no prior dealings with Young Master Qin, had incurred his hostility. It turns out Young Master Qin is good friends with the Marquis of Pingjia’s heir."
The young girl’s voice could not hide her panic, and she emphasized the words "good friends" with particular weight.
Qin Wenyuan was so infuriated he nearly keeled over, his fists clenching instinctively.
He had never encountered such thick-skinned, treacherous women—and there were two of them!
Seeing that Qin Wenyuan looked ready to strike, Zhu Jiayu stepped forward to block Chen Yi, suppressing her fear as she asked loudly: "Young Master Qin, are you going to beat us just for the sake of the Marquis of Pingjia’s heir?"
Qin Wenyuan’s hand trembled with rage.
Three!
"Young Master Qin, my friend is innocent. Even if the engagement was broken, it was a decision made by the elders on both sides. How can you vent your anger on someone who has already been hurt, just for the sake of the Marquis of Pingjia’s heir?" Tao Qing’s voice was not as loud as Zhu Jiayu’s, but her soft, gentle tone carried a persuasive edge.
Qin Wenyuan felt as if he were about to vomit blood.
Four!
"Second Miss Lin, is this Young Master Qin causing trouble for you because of the Marquis of Pingjia’s heir?"
"How could he be like this?"
"It’s not surprising; he’s close with the Marquis of Pingjia’s heir, after all."
"The Marquis of Pingjia’s heir, huh—"
A dense crowd of young girls in front of the lantern mountain not far away began chattering all at once, making it impossible to tell who was speaking.
A whole crowd!
Qin Wenyuan swayed, nearly collapsing.
"Brother Qin, let’s go." Someone pulled Qin Wenyuan away.
The two sides that had been at daggers drawn just a moment ago were now reduced to only the top scholar, Yang Zhe, remaining on Qin Wenyuan’s side.
Chen Yi and her two friends let out long sighs of relief, only then feeling the lingering fear.
Lin Hao walked up to Yang Zhe and gave a graceful curtsy: "Many thanks to Top Scholar Yang for speaking up just now."
Yang Zhe smiled warmly: "I deserve no thanks, Second Miss Lin; I merely spoke the truth."
"Honesty is a precious quality in itself, so I must still thank you, Top Scholar Yang."
Perhaps it was the surrounding lantern light, but Yang Zhe’s gaze appeared gentle and lingering: "I should be going."
He paused, lowering his voice: "Second Miss Lin, please take care."
Lin Hao nodded.
Yang Zhe smiled slightly and turned to walk into the sea of people.
The group of girls who had spoken up earlier walked over, led by none other than the little princess, Qi Qiong.
"I wondered why I couldn't get you to agree to an outing; so you were playing with Eldest Miss Chen and the others," Qi Qiong laughed.
Before the Qixi Festival, Lin Hao had indeed received two invitations—one from Chen Yi and one from the little princess.
"Chen Yi invited me first, otherwise I would have been with you, Princess," Lin Hao explained with a smile, then thanked them solemnly, "Thank you, Princess, and everyone else, for speaking up for justice just now."
"What’s there to thank? I was just surprised that there was actually someone willing to vent anger on behalf of the Marquis of Pingjia’s heir," Qi Qiong waved her hand.
Once a person forms a good impression of another, everything they do seems pleasing.
That was exactly how Qi Qiong felt.
Because Lin Hao had saved her cousin, Sun Xiuhua, she felt a sense of gratitude, and seeing Lin Hao defend her friends today made her admire her even more.
"Do you want to walk together?" Qi Qiong invited the four of them.
Chen Yi had actually lost the mood to enjoy the lanterns long ago, but seeing Lin Hao’s inquiring gaze, she nodded anyway.
She could not always run away, especially not while dragging her friends along with her.
Since Chen Yi didn't refuse, the others naturally had no objections, so the two groups merged and began strolling through the lanterns.
"My eldest brother and second brother are here too; I wonder if we’ll run into them later," the little princess Qi Qiong’s voice gradually drifted away on the wind.
The lanterns were brilliant, the crowd like a weaving loom, and the night of Qixi flowed with sweet warmth.
Beside a lantern tree, two young men stood side by side, their features somewhat similar.
"Big Brother, we just ran into Little Sister, why didn't you go over?" The younger of the two spoke, his phoenix eyes shimmering; even when not smiling, he seemed to be, and his casual air was enough to draw admiring glances.
The youth was the second son of the Prince of Jing’s estate, Qi Huan, and beside him was his elder brother, Qi Shuo.
Qi Shuo raised an eyebrow slightly at the question: "If we went over, do you intend to stroll through the lanterns with a group of girls?"
"Better not," Qi Huan hurriedly waved his hand.
There was nothing wrong with strolling through lanterns with a group of girls, but it was one thing if that group included his little sister.
"I didn't expect Second Miss Lin to be so interesting," Qi Huan looked in the direction Lin Hao had left and smiled lightly.
He suddenly felt the wind turn a bit cold and couldn't help but look up: "Is the weather about to change?"
"Perhaps," Qi Shuo said faintly.
Qi Huan twitched his lips helplessly: "Big Brother, this is the Qixi lantern festival, can you not be so serious?"
His brother wasn't usually this serious.
"Second Brother."
"Yes?"
"I also think Second Miss Lin is interesting." After saying this, Qi Shuo patted Qi Huan on the shoulder and strode forward.
He left Qi Huan stunned for a long while.
Big Brother... thinks Second Miss Lin is interesting?
Interesting?
Big Brother is interested in Second Miss Lin!
A flash of inspiration struck Qi Huan, and he discovered the truth.
Now, he had no mood to stroll around, and he took off running.
He had to find Second Miss Lin—oh, no, find his little sister!
Young Master Qi’s gossip fire burned fiercely, while Qin Wenyuan’s rage soared.
"Brother Qin, are you alright?" The person who had pulled Qin Wenyuan away let go and examined his face.
In the flickering lantern light, Qin Wenyuan’s ashen face looked terrifying. He squeezed two words out through his teeth: "I'm fine."
"Let’s continue looking at the lanterns." His friend paused, unable to help but advise, "Brother Qin, there’s no need to bicker with a few little girls."
Besides this person, there was one other friend with them, who also chimed in: "That’s right, little girls crying and acting spoiled—just laugh it off. It wouldn't be good if people started spreading rumors about us."
"Spreading rumors?" Qin Wenyuan’s expression grew even worse.
The two men exchanged a glance and said no more.
With Brother Qin’s intelligence, he couldn't have failed to think of that.
Qin Wenyuan’s heart burned with fury, but he remained rational on the surface: "I know. I’m truly sorry for ruining everyone’s mood today. You all go ahead and enjoy yourselves; I’m heading back first."
After parting ways with his friends, Qin Wenyuan wove through the crowd, stopping where the lantern light grew dim, and called out expressionlessly: "Qingyan."
"At your command, Young Master."
"Do you see those idlers?" Qin Wenyuan tilted his chin toward a certain direction.
Qingyan took a look and instinctively lowered his voice: "I see them, sir."
"Give them five taels of silver each and have them find Second Miss Lin and Eldest Miss Chen to have a word with them."
Qingyan was startled: "Young Master, this... is this really okay?"