The Min family's villa was located north of Jinling City, with a not-too-tall hill behind it. As it was private Min family land, no one ever came to hunt there, and the animals on the mountain had gradually increased.
The clear waterway Xiao Tingyi had mentioned was at the foot of the mountain, a vast expanse as far as the eye could see.
It was early June, the peak season for lotus flowers and leaves.
Several small rowing boats were moored by the lotus lake, too small for more than two people.
When Feng Jinlin saw the boats, he understood Xiao Tingyi's intentions and complained with a hint of helplessness.
"Your Highness, these boats are too small. How are we supposed to fit?"
Xiao Tingyi glanced at him, and Yang Zhao immediately stepped forward.
"This has nothing to do with His Highness. Large boats can't go deep into the lotus lake. You can take one boat with Miss Xu, and His Highness can take another with the Third Miss, and that solves the problem!"
As he spoke, he nudged them towards the boats. Feng Jinlin wanted to protest, but Xu Mingyue spoke up first.
"Second Young Master, I have something to say to you privately."
She then directly boarded the small boat. Seeing this, Feng Jinlin could only follow, his romantic inclinations overriding his annoyance.
"Let's go."
Xiao Tingyi smiled and stepped onto the small boat. The boat, previously calm and still, swayed slightly under the sudden weight.
Feng Jinyao stumbled, nearly falling. Xiao Tingyi's hand shot out, grabbing her arm and helping her sit on the brocade cushion.
"Sit tight. I'm going to row us further in."
Feng Jinyao was surprised. She hadn't expected Xiao Tingyi, a prince, to perform such a task, yet he handled it with practiced ease.
"When I was campaigning in the southwest, I led men in small boats to sneak attack the Southern Yue army. So, this is not difficult to handle."
He seemed to sense her confusion and offered the explanation.
"Your Highness truly has great skill."
Beyond this, Feng Jinyao didn't know how else to praise Xiao Tingyi.
However, she was soon captivated by the cool beauty surrounding them.
Being in the midst of the lotus lake felt entirely different from looking at it from the shore.
Despite the scorching sun, the air within was refreshingly cool.
The broad lotus leaves held fresh dewdrops, like tiny mirrors reflecting myriad scenes.
The lotus flowers were elegant and ethereal. Plucking one and smelling it released a faint, sweet fragrance that was incredibly refreshing.
Surrounded by such beauty, Feng Jinyao's worries seemed to dissipate with the wind.
This was the first time Xiao Tingyi had seen her smile, radiant and carefree, a sight that stirred affection in his heart.
For some reason, ever since he first met her, he felt Feng Jinyao didn't live like a young girl, always with a worried expression and a mind full of calculations.
Seeing her so carefree, he wished he could protect her forever.
As the two of them rowed towards the depths of the lotus lake, Feng Jinlin and Xu Mingyue found a cool spot and stopped.
Xu Mingyue took a deep breath before revealing her true feelings.
"Second Young Master, I've made up my mind. If it's you, I'm willing to try."
This simple sentence stunned Feng Jinlin.
While their implicit understanding was one thing, a direct confession was another.
He had expected to hear these words much later, but Xu Mingyue had been so decisive, figuring it out in just one night.
"Mingyue, do you speak the truth?"
"Of course. However, let me be clear first: if we find we are not compatible after spending time together, it's best to be honest early on. A lifetime is too long, and I don't wish to settle, nor do I wish for you to settle!"
Feng Jinlin laughed heartily. "I cannot interfere with your thoughts, but I can say this today: Feng Jinlin will never regret what he said yesterday. I will protect you for life and death."
Hearing this, Xu Mingyue also smiled.
After the broken engagement, and then traveling a thousand miles to be a tutor, people said it was like meeting an old friend in a foreign land. Their destiny hadn't materialized in Dongdu City, but it had progressed in Jinling City.
She was very happy now, happy for Feng Jinlin, and happy that she could take this step.
Laughter, occasionally ringing out, drifted across the lotus lake from the two of them.
Feng Jinyao listened, her happiness growing with every sound.
Her second brother and Sister Xu's matter must have been settled, so she said happily, "If Mother knew about this, she would immediately go to the Grand Tutor's house to propose!"
Speaking of the Grand Tutor, Feng Jinyao remembered what Xu Mingyue had told her last night.
With no one else around, she asked directly and frankly.
"Your Highness, was that life-saving ginseng and the Purple Jade Dew your gift?"
Xiao Tingyi was taken aback by her sudden question. After a moment's pause, he asked, "Did Xu Mingyue tell you?"
"Yes."
Xiao Tingyi smiled and nodded. "That was a thank-you gift for you saving my wet nurse. Given the circumstances, it was inconvenient to let too many people in Dongdu City know the wet nurse was still in the capital, so I used Grand Tutor Xu's name to send it to you. As for the Purple Jade Dew, it was my apology."
"Apology?"
Feng Jinyao was surprised to hear these words.
Her mind raced, and then, with a face ashen, she looked at Xiao Tingyi and asked.
"So, you sent people to assassinate my father?"
"Yes!"
"Why?"
"To prevent Uncle Feng from getting involved in this mess! I had already begun my actions, but the Wei family was relentlessly pursuing the Feng family. I had no choice but to have someone act. The injury looked severe, but it was deliberately inflicted to appear so. That's why Uncle Shou was able to arrive so promptly afterward."
Xiao Tingyi didn't actually need to explain all this. Feng Jinyao could have understood with a little thought, but he felt it was better to explain himself, lest he face repercussions later.
Feng Jinyao pursed her lips, looking at Xiao Tingyi. Although she knew he meant well, seeing her father suffer for so many days made him particularly irritating to her at that moment.
"Does Second Brother know about this?"
"He already stabbed Yang Zhao."
That was more like it. If her second brother knew their father had been injured by them and remained indifferent, he wouldn't be the brother she knew.
Her anger subsided somewhat.
However, when she looked at Xiao Tingyi, she was still impatient.
"Your Highness, please take me back. I'm tired."
"Alright."
Xiao Tingyi hadn't expected this matter to come to light today, but he had no regrets about his actions. If he hadn't done so, Feng Hai would have been the one taking up the post today.
Then, it was highly likely that the Feng family would have incurred the wrath of the Zhu family.
The chain of events was too complex, so it was better to take precautions early!
The speed of their rowing back slowed considerably, and Feng Jinyao could sense it.
The cheerful atmosphere of their arrival was gone, replaced by a tense silence on their return. Especially when Feng Jinyao saw Yang Zhao, she shot him a fierce glare. Yang Zhao, bewildered, glanced at Xiao Tingyi.