Smiling In Anger

"That was a good meal now, wasn't it?" Qingxiao commented, satisfaction written all over her face as she wiped her lips with her embroidered handkerchief.

"Indeed." Even He Qilin felt as if the embarrassment was worth the hearty meal. 

"Say, where did cousin brother disappear?" Qilin wondered, as she looked around, trying to find him. 

Jiao Qingxiao frowned too. She was too immersed in the festive air to keep her eyes on him. He shouldn't be working under the fourth prince this soon. Not to mention…if she had been the one to stray away, she would have encountered him. In that case, could her rebirth have changed fate? Leading cousin brother 

In that case where could he go? 

"Sister, maybe he lost his way?"He Qilin spoke up again, twisting the corner of her sachet.

"The carriage is not here either." Qingxiao wondered out loud.

A sense of panic rose in her mind. She wanted to get back home as soon as possible. The last thing she would want would be to encounter that man again. 

"Miss"

A man's voice from behind interrupted the two worried girls, as they looked at him in sync.

Tang Lao wandered his eyes over both of them, before bowing politely, "My master heard you conversation. If you both don't mind you can join our sedan. It is spacious enough."

He Qilin was about to say no, but how could Qingxiao miss this opportunity? She was too anxious to even spend a second more in this festival. 

"Thank your master on our behalf, please!" Pressing on He Qilin's wrist as hard as possible, she grabbed her to follow her footsteps. 

Following the man they finally stopped in front of a luxurious carriage. Smiling at the man, Qingxiao lifted the curtain to get inside, when a hand covered in pitch black sleeves was extended out. Not giving it much thought, she held onto it for support before getting inside. 

She raised her eyes, to finally have a look at the man who appeared at such a right time like a messiah. 

Scary yet attractive, the term had probably been reserved for this man. His eyes devoid of any emotion resembled that of a snake. His slender yet firm stature was donned in a black robe. 

Qingxiao blinked her eyes a few times. This man…isn't he the third prince? In her last life, she had seen him only once. He had supported the fourth prince all his life. Tch tch, it was a pity that he gained such a loyal capable supporter, who even helped him subdue the army and the rebels, stabilising his throne in the process. 

"Thanks for the ride." She finally said after some hesitation.

The man didn't react much. His demeanour remained the same. Nodding to acknowledge her, he leaned back, not saying anything. 

Surprised that He Qilin was yet to get in, Qingxiao raised the curtain again, only to be greeted by the sight of the man from earlier. 

"Miss, your sister might feel cramped sharing this carriage. She is taking another one. You can rest assured." Tang Lao said, pointing at He Qilin getting up another sedan with the help of the coachman. 

Albeit taken aback at her cousin sister being so agreeable, she nodded, unwilling to create a ruckus. 

As the coachman started the ride, she continued staring at the man. Such a handsome face, tch, if only, if only he wasn't working for that Tang Fanhgua. They were meant to be enemies. Looking at his empty eyes, a suspicion arose in her heart. 

She leaned forward, waving her hand in front of him. 

As a familiar delicate smell wafted to his nose, Tang Yunxiao stiffened up. Grabbing the soft hand, he put it down.

Qingxiao gulped nervously, noticing his tightened jaw.

'Oh no…did she anger him? Get reborn and die again? No way this is fair!"

"I can sense movement." 

After a brief pause Yunxiao spoke up. A sense of realisation dawned upon Jiao Qingxiao. And almost instantaneously a red tint of embarrassment also crept along her cheek.

But…how could he be in the military if he was blind? In her last life, she had heard his name so many times from the maids, that there was no way she would remember him wrongly. Before entering the cold palace, somehow every news of his achievement in the army always entered her ears. 

She was still naive then and naturally happy to learn that such an impressive man worked under him. Well…if he was truly lacking in sight and still reached such a pinnacle, impressive would be an understatement to describe him. 

Biting her lips, she remained silent. Her heart was uneasy. Since she has been reborn, maybe he is also yet to join hands with Tang Fanghua?

"May I ask something?" Hesitantly, she spoke, her usual high pitched voice now barely audible. 

She looked away immediately. Despite being aware of him not being able to see her, she couldn't look into his eyes. They were too cold. Almost as if they could pierce through her soul and read her mind. 

Yunxiao nodded curtly. 

"How is your relation with Tang Fang…

Noticing the his furrowing brows, Jiao QIngxiao immediately bit on her tongue and changed her words,

"My bad, my bad, I meant to ask, how is your relation with the fourth prince?"

Afraid of him defending Tang Fanghua, without even waiting for his reply, she blurted out almost immediately, "He is actually a selfish man. You shouldn't work under him. He will cause you much trouble..and.." She struggled to find more words.

Tang Yunxiao's furrowed brows relaxed. Hearing his name from her mouth, for a second, a sense of furry took over him. He thought that despite everything, she might still be in love with him.

He couldn't help but smile.

Staring at the raised corner of his thin lips, Qingxiao panicked. 

Is that what people say about smiling in anger? Should she jump out? But she would surely injure herself given the speed of the carriage.