This so-called feast made Qin Yi feel uncomfortable at first.
Across from him, Mang Zhan was staring at him with fierce eyes, looking like he wanted to eat him. Anyone being glared at like that while trying to eat would lose their appetite. On top of that, Dong Huazi would occasionally glance over, making Qin Yi feel even more uneasy.
Liu Su sneered, "Fool."
Qin Yi couldn't respond, so he discreetly flicked the stick in protest.
Liu Su said, "What good is it to just flick me? Go flick that wild man instead."
Qin Yi rolled his eyes. He wanted to drag Dong Huazi out and beat him up, but it had to be the right moment.
Liu Su seemed to hear his thoughts and continued to mock him, "Socializing with mortals is boring and hypocritical. If he glares at you, won't you glare back? If he hasn’t provoked you, won't you provoke him first? Even if you want to follow the rules, you can think about how to use them to your advantage. The mortal world is just a game. You’re not like those ordinary people with families to worry about. You have nothing holding you back, yet you don't seek a carefree mindset. What’s the point of living?"
Qin Yi felt a stir in his heart. He thought he had handled Dong Huazi well, but after Liu Su's words, he felt his previous actions were dull.
If one really lived as Liu Su said, treating the mortal world like a game... well, either you end up in prison or become an immortal.
But the temptation was strong... Qin Yi admitted that something inside him was ignited. Who wouldn’t yearn for that kind of carefree attitude in life?
At that moment, Li Qingjun leaned in and whispered, "I feel like something’s off..."
"Huh?" Qin Yi didn’t catch on immediately. "What’s off?"
"It seems..." Li Qingjun's cheeks slowly turned red. "It seems they think you’re my, um, that."
My silly girl, you’re only realizing this now? That wild man rival has probably imagined killing me a thousand times! Qin Yi was both amused and helpless. He knew that his relationship with Li Qingjun wasn’t at that level yet. It was normal for her to be bothered by it, but he didn’t want to provoke this reckless girl to the point where she lost all her friends. So he quietly replied, "I’ll deal with Mang Zhan for now, and later I’ll find a way to explain to your father."
Li Qingjun moved away a little, her eyes showing some anger. "Is it embarrassing for you that they misunderstand and think we’re together?"
Uh? Did I say something wrong again? Qin Yi quickly tried to fix it. "To be honest, I’m quite pleased... I just didn’t want to hurt your reputation."
"Pleased?" Li Qingjun moved away a bit more, her gaze turning suspicious. "What are you planning?"
Qin Yi felt like he was about to spit blood. Weren’t you the one who used to be so reasonable? Did your period come or something?
But Li Qingjun’s gaze didn’t stay angry for long. It soon turned a bit dazed, and she lowered her voice. "You... you’re calm and don’t like fighting. I thought you would just live peacefully in my brother’s guest house, and we could come to you when we needed something... But today, because of me... you can’t avoid this worldly trouble anymore."
Qin Yi felt a spark of inspiration and answered directly, "I’m willing."
Li Qingjun’s eyes became even more dreamy as she gazed into his eyes, saying nothing.
Maybe their feelings hadn’t reached the point of mutual love yet, but after today, their connection had started to intertwine, no longer just simple admiration or mild liking.
Liu Su sighed softly in the stick.
Qin Yi heard it and felt it was like when his parents sighed while watching a soap opera at home.
With a loud "crack," Qin Yi thought the director had called cut, but when he turned to look, it was Mang Zhan crushing his wine cup, his eyes wide with rage.
Qin Yi was taken aback. He had thought Mang Zhan wanted to marry Li Qingjun for political reasons, but now it seemed there was something more genuine behind it.
Li Qingjun also glanced at Mang Zhan, snorting coldly, her eyes full of disdain and anger. She not only didn’t want to marry him; in her heart, Mang Zhan was the enemy who had killed her brother.
Qin Yi remembered Liu Su’s advice and felt a stir in his heart. He whispered, "Isn’t it good to see him angry?"
Li Qingjun turned to look at him, seeming to understand his meaning, and with a half-smile said, "What are you planning?"
"I want to..." Qin Yi tentatively reached out his hand.
Li Qingjun bit her lip and obediently placed her hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze.
It was strange; she had been in his arms several times before, even in the cave where things were more intimate, but this time, just holding hands sent a jolt of electricity through her, making her cheeks burn. She couldn’t maintain eye contact anymore, slightly turning her head, and the pink spread from her cheeks to her neck, turning it completely red.
"Bang!" Mang Zhan slammed the wine jug down on the table.
The loud noise drew everyone’s attention. The king, who had been chatting with Mang Zhan’s entourage about local customs, turned around, his expression darkening. "I know about the customs of the Western Wilderness."
Mang Zhan was shaking with rage, and Qin Yi wondered if a weak person would have fainted from anger.
"Indeed, it’s important to have a clear mind," Qin Yi sighed contentedly to himself.
Li Qingjun felt relaxed too, tightening her grip on Qin Yi’s hand a bit more.
Only Liu Su knew that Qin Yi’s "self-talk" was meant for it. It smiled slightly but didn’t say much.
...
"Brother Qin." At the end of the banquet, Li Qinglin blocked Li Qingjun and Qin Yi, who were trying to sneak out through the side door.
Li Qingjun quickly pulled her hand away from Qin Yi’s, looking down and rubbing the tip of her shoe on the floor.
Qin Yi awkwardly rubbed his hands together. "Uh, I was just trying to annoy Mang Zhan."
But Li Qinglin wasn’t there to discuss that. He looked serious and said, "I’m here to take you back to the manor. If you go alone or sneak off somewhere with my sister, I fear you won’t see tomorrow’s sun."
Qin Yi felt a chill and replied solemnly, "Thank you, I lost my composure."
Li Qinglin called over a group of guards. "You’ll escort the princess back. If anything happens, signal with arrows."
Li Qingjun looked at Qin Yi, feeling a sudden sense of reluctance. Even though they saw each other every day, why did she feel this way?
She wasn’t a clingy person, so she didn’t express her feelings. Instead, she took a deep breath and softly said, "See you tomorrow," before turning to leave.
Watching the guards escort Li Qingjun away, Li Qinglin led a group of people and walked alongside Qin Yi back to the manor.
"Father usually rests early. If it were a normal day, you’d probably be meeting him now." After walking for a while, Li Qinglin slowly started the conversation. "He will definitely summon you tomorrow morning, so be prepared."
"I understand." Qin Yi asked, "Is there anything special I should know?"
"Don’t directly advise him to stop alchemy; that will only irritate him. The rest you can handle on your own; after all, I’m not familiar with the ways of Dao and arts." Li Qinglin suddenly smiled. "I saw you today dealing with Dong Huazi; you seemed quite politically aware. I don’t need to remind you much."
"What political awareness do I have..." Qin Yi felt helpless. "You pushed me into a corner, suddenly making me face Dong Huazi. I was on high alert, thinking for a long time before I dared to say anything!"
Li Qinglin chuckled. "Isn’t it precisely because you were pushed that your relationship with Qingjun has gotten closer?"
"Uh..." Qin Yi paused and sighed. "Actually, Brother Li, while I should thank you, I want to say that Qingjun didn’t consider what bringing a man into the palace might lead to. If I wasn’t her good match, wouldn’t that be a trap for her?"
"As long as she doesn’t marry into the Western Wilderness, that’s the most important thing. As for the rest, I don’t have the energy to think about it."
"So you’re not thinking about Qingjun’s happiness, but just about the Western Wilderness?"
"To be precise, I’m thinking about Nan Li." Li Qinglin said lightly. "For some matters, Brother Qin should be clear-headed and not ask such naive questions like a child."
Qin Yi sighed. "Because I know some things, I want to confirm if you truly care for Qingjun or if it’s just a superficial sibling bond. Now that I’ve confirmed it, it’s fine."
Li Qinglin looked puzzled. "What do you mean by superficial?"
"Um..." Qin Yi thought for a moment and explained, "It’s like those fake flowers made of silk."
"Fake flowers made of silk?" Li Qinglin looked up at the sky, lost in thought for a while, then suddenly smiled. "That’s not bad. Such flowers are still beautiful and not easy to wilt."
(End of Chapter)