This perhaps is the true prowess of Tang Qing!
"This young lady, must be..." Tang Qing's words hung mid-sentence as he glanced toward Xia Zheng, with a smile evident in his eyes that didn't need voicing—it seemed news of a beautiful companion by Xia Zheng's side had already spread far and wide.
Unexpectedly, Xia Zheng, who couldn't wait to announce to the world his claim over Lin Yuan, did not take up Tang Qing's cue in an unprecedented manner.
"I need to catch up with Magistrate Tang; if you find it dull here, feel free to take a walk outside," he said.
Lin Yuan narrowed her eyes slightly but still smiled and nodded before standing up to leave: "It so happens that Aunt Chen and the others are also in Yecheng; I promised my mother I would pay them a visit."
Xia Zheng, expected to bristle with jealousy at the mention of Aunt Chen, merely nodded indifferently: "Let Lin Yi accompany you."
This only served to deepen Lin Yuan's suspicions, causing her eyebrows to knit slightly.