Chapter 4648 — Playing Along
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
"Good. To show such magnanimity at such a young age is truly rare!" Yan Xinlan could not help but regard Wei Zhao more highly. She turned to the guards and instructed, "Take her away. Give her a warning, then let her go."
Yan Xinlan had no intention of digging deeper. She could tell the woman was most likely a fallen woman of the streets—otherwise she would never have come to do such a thing.
Women of that trade were pitiable to begin with, and on the West Island they were looked down upon by other women more than anywhere; no one would take up such work unless driven to the very end. Yan Xinlan did not wish to make things hard for her.
Kang Jingming heaved a sigh of relief at the sight. Since Yan Xinlan had no mind to probe further, he was naturally off the hook—he had escaped disaster after all. In any case, without evidence, Wei Zhao could hardly move against him on mere suspicion.
Thus the farce came to an end. Kang Jingming, rattled and relieved in equal measure, slunk back to Xu Lingchong's side with a sheepish look, head down, not daring to meet anyone's eyes.
Xu Lingchong, by contrast, was thoroughly glum. Today's failure was not Kang Jingming's fault; as he saw it, the plan had been all but flawless, and the effect had been within a hair's breadth of complete. If not for Ning Xuefei suddenly sticking her oar in, that wretch Wei Zhao would by now be cursed by all and sundry, branded a true scoundrel and faithless lover!
This Ning Xuefei was far too partial! To go to such lengths to clear Wei Zhao's name—that would never do. He must think of another way at once; he absolutely could not let her grow close to Wei Zhao. At this rate, the whole West Island would before long become the Wei family's property...
Xu Lingchong wore a look of helpless resignation, while Kang Jingming was speechless. Even Yan Xinlan, the deputy island lord, had flown into a rage just now, and yet Ning Xuefei had reversed it all with a few words. What rotten luck!
"Young Master Xu, your subordinate has failed in his duty and disappointed you," Kang Jingming could only lower his voice and beg forgiveness. He had boasted too confidently before, and now he truly had no face left to meet Xu Lingchong's eyes.
"This time it is not your fault. The fault lies only in our failing to anticipate how partial Ning Xuefei would be to Wei Zhao. If she really were involved with him, shouldn't her first reaction to such a thing be to demand an accounting? At the very least she should have asked some questions first—how could she protect Wei Zhao without asking a single one?" Xu Lingchong stroked his chin and smiled bitterly.
"A woman's mind is too hard to fathom. Young Master Xu, what do we do now? Should we hurry and think up another scheme?" Kang Jingming asked.
"Yes. This matter cannot be dragged out too long. Once Wei Zhao and Ning Xuefei truly get together, it will be too late." Xu Lingchong nodded, then went on, "But not today. After an incident like this they will surely be on their guard, and a second attempt would easily betray its flaws. We will think of something once we are back—and next time there must be no slip-ups whatsoever."
"Indeed. For now that is all we can do." Kang Jingming nodded helplessly, even as fresh wicked schemes began to brew in his belly...
After such a farce, the atmosphere of the welcome banquet remained strange throughout, never recovering its former warmth. It came to a hasty close shortly afterward, and everyone returned to their rooms to rest.
Wei Zhao would have liked to linger a while longer with Han Jingyi, but seeing how late it had grown, it would be rather unseemly for a man like him to remain in the island lord's palace. He had no choice but to return to the envoy's residence first, and wait until broad daylight the next day to seek out Han Jingyi and the others. (To be continued.) xh118R1052