My Little Girl (58)

At Sheng Courtyard.

Sheng Qianmo sat at the table, going through Shu Nuan's books. He leafed through the pages until he reached the end, then looked out the window, thinking about how Shu Nuan hadn't returned yet.

He put down the book and took a sip of tea before getting up to go rest.

The next day, Sheng Qianmo woke up bright and early. He changed his clothes and went out. As usual, Li Yuan was already waiting outside the manor. All of a sudden, the prince muttered in a dull tone, “Go and call up the students from Cla.s.s 10 who gathered yesterday to go out.”

Li Yuan was in a daze for a moment. “Right now?”

Sheng Qianmo bowed his head and adjusted his yijin[1]. He replied in a calm voice, “Now.”

After Li Yuan left, Sheng Gu came to give her greetings to her uncle. She whispered, “Fourth Uncle, I'm leaving for the academy.”

“Okay”-Sheng Qianmo paused-“Take Li Ming with you.”

Not long after, Li Yuan called all of Shu Nuan's cla.s.smates including Su Hai and questioned them one by one. Most people claimed to have left for home before dark the day before. However, one of the cla.s.smates told the servant, “Shu Nuan left with Jing Fei yesterday.”

Sheng Qianmo raised his brows and waved his hand. They were all led away.

Li Yuan could not fathom his master's thoughts for a moment, and asked in speculation, “Your Highness, do you want your subordinate to send someone to look for Jing Fei's house?”

Sheng Qianmo rose from his seat and said with indifference, “Find her and bring her to the library.”

After giving the order, Sheng Qianmo turned and went to the library.

In the morning, Jing Fei's aunt found some neighbors to help open the door nailed shut.

Shu Nuan was in a hurry to return to the Shenghe Manor. She didn't talk to Jing Fei except for the goodbye she bid him in an affable way. She hastened her steps as she left the courtyard and promptly saw Li Yuan coming over.

She stopped at place and watched as the prince's servant walked over, clenching her hands.

Li Yuan didn't seem to be surprised seeing her here, and glanced towards the courtyard before asking, "Miss Shu, is this your cla.s.smate Jing Fei's home?”

Shu Nuan nodded with agitation.

“His Highness asked you to go to the library to find him, so let's go, quick.” Li Yuan didn't say much and instead opted to relay the order.

“Yes.” Shu Nuan rushed back to the manor with Li Yuan.

At once she went to the library and knocked on the door. After waiting for a while, she heard Sheng Qianmo's dull response. “Come in.”

Shu Nuan walked in with her head down and heard him say, “Close the door.”

Shu Nuan nervously did as she was told and stepped forward.

Sheng Qianmo was sitting at the table reading memorials. Without lifting his head, he spat out a few words from his thin lips. "Take off your clothes."

Shu Nuan's eyelids quivered, and she couldn't help but mumble, “Your Highness, could you please listen to this slave's explanation…”

Sheng Qianmo was silent for a moment. He put down the doc.u.ments in his hand and gazed at her with indifferent eyes. This time his tone was even colder. “This Prince doesn't want to repeat my words again.”

Shu Nuan sealed her lips and bowed her head. She started to strip her clothes. Taking its time, her skirt slipped down from her body. In the end, there was only a pair of inner clothing left. She hesitated and looked at Sheng Qianmo with anxiousness, but his eyes were still cold and indifferent, which made her feel like a boat amidst an ocean storm.

Shu Nuan clenched her lips tight and braced herself as she pulled off everything.

She stood there naked, with her head down, afraid to look at him, as she twisted her little feet. Under her feet was the skirt that had come off her body.

“Come here,” Sheng Qianmo gave a cold order.

[1] Yijin – Chinese jacket or outer robe.