038 Unbelievable

Taking the written note in her hand, Feng Xilou carefully folded it and placed it into the wishing lantern.

“That’s all we need. Let’s put them in together,” she said, pulling Yun Xueyan along to the lakeside. Both of them crouched down and set the lanterns afloat.

“Will it really come true this way?” Yun Xueyan asked quietly, staring at the two lanterns drifting on the lake’s surface.

The lanterns trembled, gliding across the water until they reached the center of the lake.

“Of course. It will surely come true.” Even if the lantern cannot grant your wish, I will help you.

Her lips wore the same unwavering smile as always. Watching Yun Xueyan’s spellbound profile, she thought, he can do it…

Yun Xueyan finally snapped out of her daze as she saw the two wishing lanterns merge with the others, turning to meet the gaze filled with tenderness. Flustered, she stammered, “Xilou, we should head back.”

“Mm, I’ll see you home.” Feng Xilou gently helped Yun Xueyan to her feet, chuckling as she turned.

As Yun Xueyan steadied herself and looked up, her body froze in place. In the next moment, she cowered in fear behind Feng Xilou.

Before them stood Duan Nanyu, his face cold and grim, the chill emanating from him unable to mask the fury in his eyes. The dark night shrouded everything, making him appear like a demon from the shadows.

More people gathered behind him, thinking the prince had found a clue and followed him here. Only when they arrived did they discover there was no clue—just two people, and the man was someone they all recognized.

The torches cast a burning light on Duan Nanyu’s dark robes, intensifying his severe presence and radiating an indescribable chill. No one dared utter a word.

All were afraid to anger any one of these people.

“Do you all have nothing better to do? Get out of my sight! Go do whatever you’re supposed to be doing!” With a furious roar, Duan Nanyu unleashed his wrath, as if determined to vent all his anger.

His guards, hearing their master’s rage, hurriedly dispersed, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

Feng Xilou’s handsome face retained its calm, faint smile, the slight curve of his lips betraying nothing of his true thoughts. He subtly shielded Yun Xueyan from Duan Nanyu’s icy glare.

With a graceful tug at his sleeve, he spoke softly, “Prince Xiao, what has provoked such anger in you?”

Duan Nanyu’s appearance had taken him by surprise; he hadn’t expected the prince to be here. The investigation should not have brought him to this place.

“Prime Minister Feng, you have quite the refined taste, floating lanterns on the river here.” Duan Nanyu’s restrained voice was laced with anger, his deep, ink-dark eyes glinting with cold light in the night, sending chills through all who saw him.

Yet his gaze was not directed at Feng Xilou but fixed upon Yun Xueyan behind him.

Prime Minister Feng? Hiding behind Feng Xilou, Yun Xueyan paid no heed to that icy glare. Her mind was consumed by Duan Nanyu’s address to Feng Xilou.

He was the Prime Minister? The man who could respond to anything with gentle elegance, who strategized with unmatched brilliance—Prime Minister Feng?

Why hadn’t she asked his surname sooner?

Stumbling out from behind Feng Xilou, Yun Xueyan’s face was filled with disbelief. She had imagined countless identities for the man before her, but never that he was Prime Minister Feng.

She could never aspire to someone so exalted!

The chasm between their statuses was insurmountable. She should not allow him to lower himself for her sake, to do these things for her—she could not bear it.

“Yan’er…” Sensing the distance growing between them, Feng Xilou turned anxiously. He had never intended to hide the truth from her.

Yet his identity was far too extraordinary…