Blooming Flowers, Silent Sorrow

Translator: Silvery Butterfly PasdBLftnSqKOwzAPVEyZxkMRZSyqq

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“How confident are you in this matter?” Huai En slowly asked after taking a sip of tea.ZnNurEkSaCyhWQKlcWjtpDusoQJVhJ

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“We are almost certain. We have seen that girl no less than three times. She was young then, but it was still clear she was the same person. She bears a strong resemblance to her father. When the Xue family was exterminated, we arrived only to find that the body of the youngest daughter was missing. We had our suspicions then.”ANEfVVZhoIiVtKKVmAiDqZQeovFyCx

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“Investigate this matter first. Don’t mention it to my father yet.”SUZcezagTMcxmUfCUPfZTWiSRQGxHn

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“Yes.”bFnqwnsLuPjHLVESstMRslrZtauSlR

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“How about the item I asked you to find?”ZwixXmNJaXjyTSdWskMiecafWwzRdh

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“As you suspected, we found nothing suspicious in the Jin couple’s bedroom or study.”ZDenXDMUeNmuAOpJxPoJHPODiwDySP

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“Hmm. If they intend to hide it, they certainly won’t leave it where others can find it. We don’t need to search blindly. We’ll act when I know where it is.”yNevadfsxAlIDwkpHTVsFKScPHpsZb

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“Young Master…” You Ying hesitated, “I know you stayed here with this purpose in mind, but who knows when we’ll find it? Are we to wait indefinitely? The Sect Leader instructed you to personally escort the item obtained from Prince Shen back as soon as possible, lest unforeseen complications arise.”mTdNsEZUSkuhWULGfFTqubmTWtGwfi

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“I have my considerations. Zong Zheng Lihan was severely injured last time; we should have some peace for a while. Besides, I am still recovering from my injuries. Traveling recklessly might not be safe. The Jin mansion won’t delay me for too long.” A mysterious gleam flashed in Huai En’s eyes.tWlxLnqCdNICopPjoScBRaYykdjUJU

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“Young Master, do you already have a plan?”CBAUvlLoFUQwDZVcgyAhlFQfrmDhCU

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“Not yet, but…” Huai En didn’t finish his sentence. You Ying, growing impatient, said, “Why go through so much trouble? We could kidnap that profligate young master and force the Jin family to hand over the item. They value their son the most, don’t they?”pxVuEYpxusALBOKNZJjHYuOuQosNUY

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“You Ying!” Zuo Ying reprimanded.TteelxEiLHbqkadckIqkGnBBdhVvaQ

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You Ying realized his mistake and hurriedly knelt to plead for forgiveness.jwwQWQVveQhaBEmVpcvJAueGbOUUgw

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Huai En glanced at him and said calmly, “That Su Yin is not to be underestimated. Before he left, he not only left a few experts behind but also secretly placed shadow guards. In just three days, he has positioned many more people around the Jin mansion and throughout Suzhou. If we act rashly, it will be incredibly difficult to leave here. The worst-case scenario is that it will surely alarm Zong Zheng Lihan.”LeWciefDlpfoFhgVDyBLmbivuMclbH

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After pondering for a moment, Huai En continued, “Su Yin has gone to Yunnan to see his grandfather, Prince Li. He must already know who I am. Prince Li, though distant from the emperor, hasn’t been involved in political affairs for years and had no dealings with my father. But if he intervenes, my father’s chances of success will be even smaller. Has the message been sent to the Sect Leader?”jjMMGiaOExVJFlbJYpXlaNMfOKMssu

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“Yes, it should have arrived by now.”beGqAWtJjkNCnNdhKbZONRgoXJmHQC

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“Good. Then this matter will be his to worry about. You must quickly investigate Jin Xiao Yu. She might be our opportunity.”otFdQEmXpDUNFFLbmzMrNozRplGWfw

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“Yes.”ClbOslPdIMxLmWzRTOYLWHgkzkOIcg

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“Yes.”tlasWtifFbJjRROUkTVqlKYyWlshbl

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As soon as Zuo Ying and You Ying left, the brave and gallant Jin Xiao Bao appeared.fNZGrzbwWuCtQLPpmbvcOaOciIBFgD

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He held a delicate porcelain bottle in his hand and approached Huai En with a wide grin, offering it to him.rxUCvSyfHXTPQppHBUFrzCXitOmTMd

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Huai En glanced at it but did not take it.HHDuKSVmPTjhYCOPlmOfNgYcwTdGFc

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Xiao Bao explained, “Yesterday, when you… uh… threw me into the pond, I saw blood seeping from your sleeve. I remember you were injured there, and it was quite deep.” Xiao Bao gestured at his arm, “Is it not healed yet?”eEnxemWWMbqkTANFlFSLiSBmXSWfta

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Huai En was somewhat surprised, not expecting him to be so observant.qxElQhtTIqikvbkseBzibvXxhKXUKL

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Xiao Bao moved closer, a fawning expression on his face, and said affectionately, “This medicine is really good. Apply it for three days, and it will heal. I understand if you’re embarrassed or angry with me, but seeing you hurt makes me feel worse. Please don’t do this again. Let me help you apply it.”iRTYuBReGeIsvbbUMrjfzZYNaRHcTA

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Huai En felt a surge of disgust. Whatever inexplicable feelings had briefly surfaced vanished immediately. He snatched the medicine and pushed Xiao Bao away.tyQIzeiTwtZIUCsCDvsoGfJuCmVjyn

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Xiao Bao stumbled but was not easily deterred. He moved closer again, “Huai En, don’t be like this. You must have some misunderstanding about me. Why else would you constantly reject my goodwill? I just like you. Can’t I like you?”YxTXvBfRyYkfMTxbAiebIvainOGpnN

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Huai En was so infuriated by his shamelessness that his nose almost went crooked. His calm and composed demeanor was impossible to maintain in the face of such brazen behavior. “Do you have any shame at all? You, a man, being… You… Do you have any shame?”mNOeUDCWiyWGxvYjvnlQieFKRzoiQv

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Xiao Bao’s expression changed, but he held back his anger. Internally, he cursed, you effeminate brat dare to lecture me? I may like you, but you don’t get to treat me like this. If I didn’t have bigger plans, you’d be in for it. Just wait, I’ll make sure you taste your own medicine and remember it for the rest of your life.MlHolKNIVmbWyoLaAjCbPhUKKsQSPg

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Though he was furious and determined to get back at Huai En, he couldn’t bear to truly hurt him. His goal was still to win Huai En’s heart, despite the daily torment of unfulfilled desire that made him feel like his kidneys were on fire. The thought of acting on his earlier impulses scared him. He feared Huai En would hate him and never speak to him again, leaving him without any chance of forming a relationship. Most of all, he feared that Huai En might actually cut him to pieces, especially with Su Yin away, making his plans feel even less secure.FhHmIcYfpsqpGCJMOUnpcGLgXhCsyR

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Xiao Bao was conflicted and hesitant. He was constantly driven by impulse, always wanting to pounce on Huai En when he saw him and fantasizing about him even when he didn’t see him. But with Huai En’s attitude, he feared he would develop kidney stones (urolithiasis) before anything could happen between them.XbPSXhkftTkPfdvVbVAoFsfyoIndFA

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If anyone found out that the esteemed Young Master Jin had been driven to such a state over someone, he’d lose all face.zAmVMUwXdZhuyenpyeaXuKrXbQhAzK

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His desire was becoming increasingly uncontrollable. He really wanted to take a desperate risk…yNmGPtvTagOeuGYubwAvfqkUSpURmN

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Xiao Bao took a deep breath and deliberately provoked him to vent his anger. “You say I have no shame, but that day… you seemed to enjoy it quite a bit yourself.”rDEyMeIrjkdqbvTECCsBArJPttTzHD

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This truly infuriated Huai En. He grabbed Xiao Bao by the collar and slammed him against the wall. “Say that again.”YOhdefqZgFevdexFFQDyxdSKanpQbr

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Huai En was so angry that he forgot to keep his distance, practically pressing against him. Xiao Bao’s nose was filled with Huai En’s faint scent—not exactly fragrant, but fresh and pleasant. The result of fantasizing about Huai En daily was that this small stimulation immediately caused a reaction below. Huai En obviously felt this subtle change as well and, as if electrocuted, immediately flung Xiao Bao away.wLhtxTxlmUBTFFChWXGTuoVgDXEWyg

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For what seemed like the umpteenth time, Xiao Bao hit the ground with his back. This outcome didn’t surprise him, but he still opened his eyes and mouth wide in shock.IVDGvzXANMmzEYWVincbrBjGyBSZil

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There was no mistaking it; he was a man and knew that reaction all too well. He felt Huai En’s…tDAusjnHIWgotaiKayDfIikHFdRWly

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If he got aroused just by being close to Huai En, what was Huai En’s reason?MNAeconfytxFPvnPUcajyPUDCDJMqS

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Sitting up, he was so astonished he forgot to cry out in pain, staring at Huai En.cmBAdaxBqWkQizWYEfFDOrRApXAwlj

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Huai En, seeing his puzzled expression, was both ashamed and angry. He felt as if his head was steaming with fury, not even sure who he was more upset with—this shameless man in front of him or himself for reacting to such shamelessness…iPOOrkqIMaUCrmBZpEEXVYqSqrADxY

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Xiao Bao snapped out of it, realizing the danger. He got up and dashed for the door, ready to shout.nzDQXJOJfhWOVXDyvBJfVowBjxyoin

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Huai En moved like lightning, dragging him back and slamming him into a corner. Seeing escape was impossible, Xiao Bao opened his mouth to call for help. Anticipating this, Huai En quickly sealed his vocal point and placed a foot on his chest, glaring down at him in a rage.LvMEWdYTPUGKfNFpwVjGYZgiIAEhyk

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This time, Xiao Bao was truly dumbfounded. He couldn’t understand why Huai En was so angry. They had just rubbed against each other. Huai En had tormented him for a whole day without his consent, almost killing him. Did he ever hold that against him?GWUvIDryEctRxQKXiDmQTHiPAfLkGb

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But Huai En clearly couldn’t take it as lightly. He pressed his foot hard against Xiao Bao’s sturdy chest, thinking about how to deal with this pervert. If not for his lewd behavior, Huai En wouldn’t have been humiliated like this. Just because he smelled this man’s familiar scent… Huai En, with his lofty pride, now felt humiliated before someone he despised. How could he swallow this humiliation?ViPDNszsBiJOheqDEHKsxLopyfDefa

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He decided that, without killing Xiao Bao, he would teach him such a lesson that he’d never dare to have improper thoughts about him again!SeKHqLLeTiFKbmZzIAZspXDhZXOOZf

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