Blooming Flowers, Silent Sorrow

Translator: Silvery Butterfly AJmHAiJMDKSXaKCjNDntYaxtCorTXM

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Xiao Bao didn’t know what he had done to offend him that day. For several days, Huai En remained silent and shut in his room.LrVDNumEbRUUDXRywCmRJkniOdtlUy

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Xiao Bao knew Huai En had a peculiar temper and somewhat childish nature. He didn’t hold his harsh words against him. Besides, Xiao Bao had been preoccupied with matters concerning his father and had no time to seek him out.nkygYbgcSatAJEgzNJXfNHyFByuIgv

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Finally, he managed to intimidate and entice the most renowned doctor in Suzhou to move his entire family to the Jin mansion. Xiao Bao also instructed people to purchase numerous precious medicinal herbs. But this wasn’t enough. He decided to personally visit Yu Xia to seek out Doctor Zhang for some excellent prescriptions for his father. If he could invite the doctor back, it would be even better.YkfSWJzUYoFnKpqSJRzShNEGzNubhI

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Xiao Bao shared his plan with Madam Jin, who fully supported it. She advised Xiao Bao to take several maidservants and attendants with him. The round trip to Yu Xia would take half a month, and even with non-stop travel, it would take seven to eight days. Xiao Bao firmly refused to take along any extra burdens, considering it a waste of time. Madam Jin couldn’t persuade him otherwise and had to relent. She felt a deep sense of relief, thinking her son had grown up and become more sensible.erfaNTTUiACCnoDaACykAmgyFnSQBE

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Initially, Xiao Bao planned to take only Zhao Cai and Jin Bao with him. But then he thought about how he had just begun to warm up to Huai En. If he left for ten days or half a month now, the budding connection might cool off by the time he returned. This gave him an idea: he wanted to invite Huai En to accompany him.JckRlbNwpxFxJdATHbmZWLTxPPvQQs

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Huai En was highly skilled in martial arts and efficient in handling matters. They could surely save time together. Most importantly, they would have several days alone together. The shortcut to Yu Xia led through remote and wild regions, and Doctor Zhang lived deep in the mountains. They would spend much of the journey alone, surrounded by nature, providing ample opportunity for romantic tension to build. If he didn’t strike while the iron was hot, he feared the chance would be lost.mVOZEOuDvVUuStebdJiprqcORjGYHI

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Xiao Bao thought this plan was truly killing two birds with one stone. If he took Zhao Cai and Jin Bao, they would be endlessly nagging about when to eat, when to sleep, where to eat, where to sleep, not to overexert themselves on the road, not to leave too early, never to trust strangers, and never to approach women. In prosperous and peaceful places, they always let Xiao Bao have his way, but in remote places like Yu Xia, he had to follow their lead. The last trip to Yu Xia had been exactly like that, annoying and time-consuming.BePyfHsnLpwiCjBwZZSzQnuHSjaaBq

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Xiao Bao thought himself extremely clever for coming up with this idea.jbTsKWYkUFJkcQXMsdPxnjZgqYOSwh

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But given Huai En’s reclusive behavior over the past few days, who knew if he would even listen to him?BoHhVKxOBjiFxMFwkpjXuUZyzlWSCV

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So, he first shared his plan with Zhao Cai and Jin Bao, only to encounter the fiercest opposition he had ever faced.RnHZteWONwRYLJxRTaMgKHdvRWhhGM

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“No way! Young Master! Absolutely not! That man’s origins are unknown. Unless you cripple us, as long as we can move, Jin Bao and I will never let you two go on a long trip alone. In fact, you can’t even go out alone with him.”HunVakPVXDGFRsGofEqhpnaOxzVTRc

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This infuriated Xiao Bao. “Why are you so stubborn? Huai En and I are on good terms now. He must have his reasons for not revealing his past. If he intended to harm me, I’d be dead many times over by now.”JRtGyiDjNtTFVJGmENCYtiOhrXGNUZ

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Jin Bao shook his head vigorously. He knew his young master was always headstrong and would insist on achieving whatever he set his mind to. So, he became truly anxious. “Young Master, it’s absolutely impossible. Young Master Su said that Huai En isn’t a good person…”fVcIeihPWhAIOxVNWmdVrQdriFfoeB

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Zhao Cai shouted, “Jin Bao!”KhoExMbuPSAyLzoPcxfrWSncRqxguW

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Jin Bao realized he had misspoken and felt deeply regretful. Why did he always make mistakes whenever he opened his mouth?fmNKrRolMBqGhOQYmzZbdzNEoCfyPq

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Xiao Bao frowned, “What do you know?”CHUrIANxXCXnUteBllpkiTdZygwHyK

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Zhao Cai quickly replied, “Young Master Su told us Huai En isn’t a good person. We don’t know anything else.”dFKVODokwxkcdkAQRorFfOUwhxPfAA

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Xiao Bao became angry. “Nonsense! Have your wings hardened? Are you siding with outsiders? Conspiring with Su Yin to deceive your young master? Tell me what’s really going on!”GoWwfIVfXHvQlGlLlUaorCnmzDxRgx

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Zhao Cai was on the verge of tears. “Young Master, we’re not deceiving you. We really don’t know Huai En’s background. Young Master Su might know, but he didn’t tell us and instructed us not to tell you. He said you can’t keep secrets, and if you knew anything, you’d mess things up. He only said that Huai En isn’t a good person and has a purpose for getting close to you. He told us to be very cautious of him.”DVGcwLEbKSCFEQVOLHIypIWsTXPuVy

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Xiao Bao felt a tightness in his chest. Su Yin was always measured and wouldn’t speak recklessly. He had always suspected why Huai En suddenly wanted to stay at the Jin mansion. But he liked Huai En. He really didn’t want to doubt him. Even the slightest suspicion, he couldn’t help but suppress. He preferred to believe that Huai En had developed an interest in him after their initial encounter, at least attracted to him as a person. Otherwise, if Huai En had ulterior motives, there were too many things in the Jin family that could tempt an outsider.jwLQgLPitonzOlyYrYikMmtCxQPCio

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However, Huai En’s demeanor was so pristine and untouched that he didn’t seem like someone who would be greedy for money. Even if he were, money was something Xiao Bao had in abundance and could easily provide. Besides that, Xiao Bao couldn’t think of any reason why Huai En would want to harm him.fvcumYnQZlVlQqRTJipkXdrSCYOTyv

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Xiao Bao didn’t want to dwell on these thoughts any longer. He firmly believed that Huai En wouldn’t harm him. If he wanted to, he could have killed him at any time. Right now, Xiao Bao just wanted to go to Yu Xia with Huai En to seek medicine for his father. He decided he would ask Su Yin for a thorough explanation when he returned.TeyYcCqQzoeSQKFetlILQCsPUADdPJ

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Xiao Bao sighed, realizing that his loyal servants would never allow him to go with Huai En alone. He stopped arguing and instead told Zhao Cai and Jin Bao to prepare light luggage for the journey.dmRCQuLWnAgYPUZLwnUHWDoxKIFadP

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After much hesitation, Xiao Bao stood up and went to find Huai En.fFguaTuJevFJJRAoCxKFrRNWgcXACG

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“Young Master, we have news.”GlcnwpwelYlfhtSWSVSeOGVtyzzdwf

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“Speak.”QSzIxzfGHhAJGGLOUKerwSvsdoFVIx

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“Young Master, Jin Xiao Yu, Jin Xiao Bao’s sister, is indeed Xue Lianqing, the sole survivor of the Xue family massacre. On the night the Xue family was annihilated, Jin Xiao Bao rushed to the Xue mansion. It’s likely that only Xue Lianqing survived. We don’t know how she was hidden, but Xue Lianqing’s older brother, the eldest son of the Xue family, Xue Minyu, was very close to Jin Xiao Bao. This was largely unknown to outsiders. The two were not alike at all. Xue Minyu was upright and conservative, and ordinarily wouldn’t associate with someone like Jin Xiao Bao. However, it’s said that a few years ago, Jin Xiao Bao had a conflict at the Yicui Pavilion, and it was Xue Minyu who saved him.”dHejqzAiVIAqCUaYrejPdAFpByoKCO

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“Yicui Pavilion?”xpJNahCaxWlirogNclJvocgUJgSnTb

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“A brothel,” Zuo Ying explained.UaCHTZCaYWimyFWjqxrMkgCjynVqQi

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Huai En snorted coldly. “Continue.”ojJXBtRdpNivadcsNVwYrsYkKBvJcl

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“Somehow, Jin Xiao Bao got the news faster than we did, arrived at the Xue mansion, and took Xue Lianqing back to the Jin mansion, where he has been protecting her.”JmCJJTmocZgwJMwYpmyZwKOHthSuBv

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“If Jin Xiao Bao took her away, how did Zong Zheng Lihan not find out?”svvBZzrfyQGYHUyaXwiDkyGAhwSkty

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“Reports indicate that someone intentionally cut off all leads. It took a lot of effort for us to find out. If we hadn’t recognized Xue Lianqing’s appearance, we wouldn’t have discovered anything. Given the capability and willingness to do this, I suspect…”sMyrVeyyETDgZGTmFgvkEvfNrxzBrC

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Huai En mused, “Su Yin.” This man was truly remarkable. Even when being absent here, he managed to make Huai En’s actions cautious and restrained. The past few nights, he had been moving around the Jin mansion, expending significant effort to avoid the hidden guards Su Yin had placed. Unfortunately, Despite Su Yin’s remarkable abilities, the fate of the Jin family was now in his hands.wMEHXrduMMnByNQplamTUFJwFSbVpW

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“Send the message to my father, telling him I’ll have what he needs soon. Tell him to inform Li Gongxiang to prepare in advance. We owe the Xue family too much; he should understand this well. I’ll give him everything he deserves, but the plan has changed. As long as Li Gongxiang shows up on time, I’ll handle the rest. He should not interfere.”IYgtCHlrliUXFdUWagQiFJYPWGgncV

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“Yes, Young Master. Do you already know where the item is?”IAeHiZzPxEpJnhceblKRIaOUERVjHa

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Huai En, confident, replied, “I don’t know its exact location yet, but it must be somewhere in the Jin mansion. They will bring it out themselves.”jgdPSHRmMjWkTBYRLABXHNkGupkbbg

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“I don’t understand.”NoudGmbpcNEtTjpzvjhLLLuZaVyFUr

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“I discovered something peculiar over the past few days. Every three months, on the third day of the month, the chief stewards of the Jin family’s industries across Jiangnan gather in Suzhou to compile the accounts.”ZBFVYwbLuTRwSKNQSQwDPjaSTbLhvh

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“Accounts are sent to the Jin mansion regularly each month. Why gather every three months to compile them?”iHyyNROlxuOPmcqrOeQhUBxaWSmFAu

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“Yes, the accounts are genuine, but they are compiling the secret accounts,” Huai En continued. “Such an important task is never entrusted to others, so the chief stewards must come in person. Monthly meetings would be too frequent, and to avoid suspicion, even if someone knew, they would just think the Jin family had a unique way of managing accounts.”qJbuUieDjOyTvmiJWxXIdHgmPqwyJN

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“Then the third day of next month is the best opportunity, Young Master. There’s only half a month left. We need to prepare in advance.”nSuoiQGzOMfeZUTdUrXeybxiMaEWMJ

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Huai En frowned, “This matter isn’t urgent yet. Don’t tell my father. Let me think about it further.”NrHVvrGvWUvRuOUNuqKpwlMxkymdzN

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“Young Master?” Zuo Ying was very surprised. They had been planning and deploying for over a year in Jiangnan. Now was the time to close the net. How could it not be urgent? If they missed this opportunity, they would have to wait another three months. Delaying the sect leader’s plans would have unimaginable consequences.JitinPvwUeQfVPzZIFgHnqbSWRcQOb

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Huai En felt a bit agitated. How could he not know the urgency of time? His father had been pressing him to bring back the items obtained from Prince Shen to the sect. Once they retrieved the item from the Jin mansion, they would have to leave immediately. The subsequent events would unfold as planned… and then… Huai En’s mind flashed with an image of Xiao Bao’s round face and crescent-moon eyes when he smiled.QCUZNjJRkvIkHfHfUGuZDckfHxnMib

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You Ying pursed his lips, bowed, and said, “Young Master, forgive my intrusion…”XdGgKHfzkdgAeOmGiuZTUMGEHMydBk

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Huai En glanced at him, “Speak.”rYPDomvOxzUNTGLInfrOGDzWaYyUyM

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“Is it because of Jin Xiao Bao…”bJTPuprExjGKOUpPeRskRervdDbavG

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Huai En narrowed his eyes, “What are you trying to say?”rNYcigxJiaEhvpeMDJcRWDUGQsOPJO

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“You and Jin Xiao Bao…”ETFSIQueKccFgGIHLOJIRICVWlRMbI

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“Correct.” Huai En knew exactly what he was implying and admitted it without a change in his expression.AmkiubIdPlOsOZJCFscLaDDIkOMxlS

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“Young Master! How could you be involved with such a vulgar person… and he is…” You Ying swallowed the last words “a man,” unable to bring himself to say them.IEpVsJMGPxUrapKoKiMNXBFzwssvGY

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They had admired their young master since childhood. Although he was younger than them, his martial skills were profound, and he was brave, wise, calm, and decisive—qualities of a great leader. The sect leader was engaged in the grand task of overthrowing the world, and their young master was naturally held in the highest regard, almost divine in their eyes. To learn that he had willingly engaged in such a sordid affair with a common rogue, and not under duress, was something they couldn’t accept.xqaNVWRBaJuAxiaLjfnPjXNZPIyibq

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Huai En felt uncomfortable with their tone. “Am I not a man? Can I not indulge in a bit of pleasure?” You Ying had been quite out of line today. Under normal circumstances, Huai En would have made sure he couldn’t get up for half a month. But today, seeing You Ying’s attitude towards his relationship with Xiao Bao—and noticing that Zuo Ying didn’t stop his foolish brother which showed they shared the same thought—he couldn’t help but feel the need to argue.uLpKsDrNHQGDvlTUbcrIlnktIDCoLM

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What if he is a man? It hardly matters for the ordinary people either. Huai En had never had any expectations of Xiao Bao; he only wanted to feel comfortable with him.sHYOlEaurycrwWnvSzBMxIzdKBojug

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“Young Master, You Ying did not mean to offend. It’s just… you’ve been delaying your actions, isn’t it because of him? You used to dislike anyone getting close to you, but now with Jin Xiao Bao… We are just worried… Also, the sect leader has already arranged a marriage for you.”hcmDePezQNlqgDiEGtzNpvtNACOczi

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Huai En slapped You Ying across the face a few times from a distance, leaving his cheeks swollen and blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. You Ying immediately bowed his head, “You Ying acknowledges his mistake.”pudwDzMWpTIPKTPtlrpLYLPcagPcgT

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Huai En, furious, said, “I have my own plans. Since when is it your place to speak up? Do you think I’m going to marry Jin Xiao Bao? How dare you say such foolish things? Even if I’m just amusing myself here, what of it? Do you dare use my father against me? If it weren’t for the fact that you’ve been with me for so many years, you’d have died several times over by now!”MVxrCUAbpdtlRnZLpXharWJERducHP

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Zuo Ying hurriedly kowtowed, “Young Master, please calm down. You Ying spoke out of turn because he was worried about you. He meant no harm.”ZRZXFyHWAMsaRjRtzHXTVxtHgYpUYr

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Huai En stood up and kicked You Ying to the ground, “If you ever mention the marriage again, I’ll make sure you never speak another word in this lifetime.” With a sweep of his long sleeves, the door flew open with a bang. “Get out!”KbDicgGtPKbzMHBCLjVuJxnubvsJtz

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