Chapter 63: Mingtang and Qinghe (Part 6)

“Do you really intend to marry someone else, miss?” Xue Ling asked reluctantly by the bed.
“Yes,” Xu Qianyu replied without even opening her eyes. She was exhausted from pulling an all-nighter recently, intending only to take a short nap in the afternoon, but had instead slept until the evening.

Seeing that she hadn’t woken up, Xie Yuzhen sat beside her, fanning her as she slept, just as he used to when they were at the Shui family estate. But no matter how he asked, Xu Qianyu’s mind was set: “Isn’t it a good thing for me to leave? You’ll be free as well.”

At the Zhao family, Xue Ling was bound to her against his will, and with her departure, he would no longer need to pretend and could carry out his duties freely, which would only benefit him. Xu Qianyu felt his pleas to keep her around were simply him getting too caught up in his role, and it made her increasingly impatient.

As Xue Ling was about to say more, Xu Qianyu commanded, “Close your mouth. Get me an orange.”
In the afternoon, the Zhao family had sent over ceremonial attire, snacks, and auspicious fruits, all placed on the table. The fragrance of the oranges drifted through the room, making her mouth water, but she was too lazy to get up.

Xie Yuzhen picked up one of the fruits and, sitting at her bedside, peeled it while watching Xu Qianyu. He peeled one slice, then another, and his movements paused for a moment.
This felt familiar.
It seemed as though, on many occasions, he had sat on the edge of a bed, absentmindedly peeling fruit while the person in front of him chattered on. The demon lord lacked patience, and back then, peeling fruit like this had been his way of suppressing his irritation.

The girl before him was dressed in white gauze, with her hair styled in two buns and a butterfly ornament at her collar, two more butterflies in her hair. She was bright and lively, like a butterfly herself, fluttering around him. She claimed to be seeking guidance, yet her intense gaze floated over the book she held, boldly and unabashedly focused on him—vulgar, noisy.
He stuffed the peeled orange in her mouth, momentarily silencing her. She pressed the book against her chest, her ears turning red.

How easily she blushed.
With a faint smile, he fed her another slice.
Then he saw Lu You’s face. They were sitting indoors, and he followed her gaze out the window, watching the girl’s retreating figure as the sunset cast a golden glow over her. She seemed in high spirits, her steps light as she walked to a tree, placing a book on a rock, then reaching up to try and touch the green fruit hanging from the branches, causing the leaves to shake.

Lu You’s brows furrowed with sorrow. “Who is she? Are you close with her?”
He withdrew his gaze, his smile cold. “Just someone unimportant.”
Xie Yuzhen frozen in place. Was he seeing the young Miss because he was thinking of her? But the appearance, age, and attire of that person were slightly different from Xu Qianyu.

So, was this the past, the future, or just a daydream?
Distracted, the orange in his hand was suddenly snapped by Xu Qianyu. She ate a slice, frowned, and handed it back. “Too sour.”
Xie Yuzhen finished the rest himself. The unripe mango was indeed sour, though it didn’t sting as sharply as the old wound in his chest. Without a change in expression, he chewed, swallowed, and then searched the basket for a less sour one, his voice unexpectedly hoarse. “Let me peel a sweeter one for you.”

He took each tangerine, carefully peeling and tasting a piece, selecting the sweetest. But by the time he had finished, Xu Qianyu was already asleep, her brows slightly furrowed.

Just then, someone knocked on the door. He didn’t respond, and Zhao Qinghe entered directly, bringing a chill with her. She glanced at him and then softly called, “Mingtang.”
“She’s asleep. Must you wake her?” Xie Yuzhen’s annoyance seeped into his voice. “Why not let her rest here?”
These past few days, Xu Qianyu and this sister had been inseparable, even sleeping together at night. Xie Yuzhen had grown resentful of Zhao Qinghe’s constant presence.

Shen Suwei had returned late today. Surprised to find Xu Qianyu had fallen asleep here while waiting; he would have let her continue resting if she’d been alone, but with Xue Ling there, it wasn’t entirely safe. He said softly, “Could Mr. Xue step outside?”
Xue Ling sneered coldly. “Why should I?”
“Your presence here could damage my younger sister’s reputation.”

“Don’t forget, sister, you were supposed to be the one getting married,” Xue Ling remarked. “If not for you, we wouldn’t be in this situation.”
Zhao Qinghe didn’t respond to his taunt and replied calmly, “With or without me, this would have happened. She agreed to marry Guo Yi on her own. What could you do about it?”
“I don’t care who she marries,” the young man said with dark, amused eyes. “I could just kill them all.”

Shen Suwei heard this, turning to watch him for a moment. Their gazes met—one intense, the other calm.
Zhao Qinghe, saying nothing more, called Zhao Mingtang’s name twice, but she didn’t wake. She sighed, reaching down to lift Zhao Mingtang gently from her side.

Zhao Mingtang was petite, even smaller than fifteen-year-old Xu Qianyu. Her slender wrists looked like they might break with the slightest pressure. Zhao Qinghe, tall and full-figured, held her without much effort and murmured, “Any heavier, and I might not be able to carry you.”
Xie Yuzhen had been watching Zhao Qinghe closely. Seeing her hair damp with sweat, her shallow breaths, and the slight sway of her earrings, he finally looked away.

As Zhao Mingtang was lifted, a small whip hanging from her waist fell to the ground. Zhao Qinghe said, “Young Master Xue, would you mind picking that up?”
Xie Yuzhen bent down to retrieve it. “Why does she sleep with a whip?”
“If it’s missing when she wakes, she’ll make a fuss.”
Xie Yuzhen picked up the whip.

Looking down from above, Shen Suwei observed as the young man leaned forward. A thin red line briefly appeared on the back of his neck.
It was a Penglai artifact’s seal. If anyone other than its rightful owner tried to use it, it would backfire as a protective measure against enemy hands. Xie Yuzhen, hiding his identity, had carefully avoided using Xu Qianyu’s whip when confronting her to avoid exposure. Little did he know about this detail.

Xue Ling’s appearance was also fabricated. He wasn’t human—he was either a cultivator or a demon.
Xie Yuzhen intended to hang the whip back around Xu Qianyu’s waist, but Shen Suwei held out her hand to stop him, accepting it with a slight smile. “Thank you.”
Xie Yuzhen watched them leave with a cold gaze, running his hand over the back of his own.
Zhao Qinghe’s hand had been cool, the sensation lingering long after.
Back at Zhao Qinghe’s quarters, Shen Suwei felt a small stirring in her arms. Suddenly, Xu Qianyu let out a chuckle.

Shen Suwei set her down and stepped back with a faint look of reproach. “You were awake.”
Xu Qianyu had woken on their way home, amused because her senior sister had carried her so steadily but acted frail before Xue Ling, breathless and weak—a complete contrast.
“I was only sleeping, not unconscious. You could have just called me louder instead of tiring yourself.” Xu Qianyu smiled, taking off her accessories. She noticed that her senior sister often feigned weakness but could be unexpectedly strong. There was something subtle there, though she hadn’t yet figured it out.

Shen Suwei shut the window without returning her smile. “Tomorrow is the wedding. You’ll have plenty to do, so get some rest.”
This suited Xu Qianyu, who tiredly opened a few bottles but couldn’t muster the energy to apply any of them and simply pushed them aside.
When Shen Suwei turned back, Xu Qianyu tilted her head up. “Sister, will you apply it for me?”

Shen Suwei: ?

At home, whenever she felt lazy, Xu Qianyu would ask Guan Niang and the maidservants to help her like this. It was a sign of closeness and trust. Her skin was well-cared for and precious; not just anyone could touch it.
Her senior sister was reserved and cold, but after spending several days together, Xu Qianyu felt she was warm-hearted beneath the surface, and they’d built a sense of closeness. Especially after being carried back today, Xu Qianyu had moved her into the close friend category.
Shen Suwei hesitated and said, “I don’t know how.”

Her sister’s lack of makeup skills didn’t surprise Xu Qianyu. She picked up a jar of cream, took a large scoop, and applied it to her sister’s hand with a pout. “Just spread it evenly over my face. How hard can it be?”
Once her senior sister learned, Xu Qianyu thought she might even share her favorite creams, rouges, and accessories with her. “And when you’re tired, I can help you, too.”
“…” Shen Suwei raised her pale, jade-like hand, looking at the cream on it before glancing at Xu Qianyu. She tilted her chin up, her eyes closed.

After a moment, Xu Qianyu felt the faint fragrance approaching. Zhao Qinghe’s hand was cooler than most, spreading the creamy ointment with a refreshing chill.
She didn’t rub firmly; her touch was delicate, like a dragonfly skimming water. The light, gentle strokes tickled a bit.
Xu Qianyu turned her face slightly to help her apply it evenly. Her senior sister, however, gently held her chin, turning it back as if to keep her still.
Shen Suwei held her in place, using her other hand to smooth the cream to her hairline before letting go.

The soft, cool fragrance lingered on her hands, giving her an unfamiliar, disoriented feeling. Xu Qianyu suddenly placed her hands over Shen Suwei’s, spreading the leftover cream on both of them so none would be wasted. She said, “Sister, the late might actually be our younger brother.”
“Really?” Shen Suwei withdrew her hand without expression.
“Yes. I asked Mother to burn paper for him, but she didn’t seem to go.”
Shen Suwei recalled Ruan Zhuqing’s words about “marrying into the master’s family” and had her suspicions.

Xu Qianyu, her thoughts bouncing around, voiced her guess. “Do you think he could still be alive? Only the living don’t need offerings; burning paper and incense would bring bad luck if he were.”
Shen Suwei’s gaze shifted sharply, and Xu Qianyu sensed a sudden surge of tension, rising to check the window. “What’s wrong?”
Shen Suwei stopped her. “Let’s go somewhere farther for a walk today.”
When they touched just now, he’d set a spiritual boundary to keep Xue Ling contained and sealed the room’s doors. No one below the Golden Core level could pass. With Xue Ling trapped, he’d see Xu Qianyu safely wed into the Guo family and then return to handle things—and discover exactly what that creature was.

Around midnight, Xie Yuzhen pushed against the door, only for golden light to burst out, forcing him back several steps. Realizing he was trapped inside, his expression darkened.
Tomorrow, Xu Qianyu is going to be married. He had planned to kill Guo Yi and take the lady away, but Zhao Qinghe, with some cultivation, somehow saw through his disguise and ambushed him.

Xie Yuzhen hesitated a moment, hand resting on the window, then suddenly pushed it open.
Much of his power had been expended in the Flower Realm to assume a false identity, leaving him with little strength to maintain it. Now, in a fit of rage, he broke through the enchantment, his demonic aura surging skyward.
Lu You, in the guise of the Basket Saintess, had been lying on her bed but now opened her eyes in shock. “What is Xie Yuzhen doing?”
The Zhao residence was already steeped in demonic energy, and this disturbance shook the entire estate. Black clouds obscured the moon, rats scurried along the walls, night moths fluttered against the windows, and demons disguised as humans stirred. In the distance, a vicious, raspy howl echoed.

“Dogs barking—I hear dogs barking!” Ruan Zhuqing leapt up, promptly slapping herself across the face.
In a wooden hut, the steward, with a fierce expression, scolded her, “What nonsense are you shouting? There are no dogs on this estate.”
Two young girls frightened and teary-eyed huddled behind Ruan Zhuqing.

“You let two maids go yesterday, and now you’re sending off two more,” the steward accused. “Are you intentionally stirring up trouble?”
“How could I be causing trouble?” Ruan Zhuqing replied, covering her face in grievance, one hand smoothing her hair. She shifted her gaze to the two girls. “Hmph, these plain and ordinary girls—how could they compare to my Xiaoyue’s beauty? Are they even worthy of marrying the young master?”
The steward gave her an odd look.

He hadn’t noticed before, but this girl, once she washed her face, did have a touch of elegance. Her mannerisms, however, were strange, as if she were a hopeless romantic.
The two girls, deceived and frightened, sobbed softly, while only Xiaoyue asked anxiously, “When can I marry the young master? I can’t wait any longer.”

Her constant noise irritated the steward. “You’ll have to wait until the second young lady’s marriage is over!”
“Then can’t you get rid of these two useless ones?” Ruan Zhuqing furrowed her brows. “I don’t want to spend my married days listening to their constant sobbing. Besides, I want to be the young master’s only one, not sharing him with anyone.”

“Who do you think you are? It’s not up to you to decide!” The steward, grinding his teeth, picked up a rope. “Keep quiet, or I’ll tie you up.”
Suddenly, the door opened. “Old Zhao.”

A chill ran down the steward’s spine. He hadn’t expected an outsider to find this place. Turning around, he saw Zhao Mingtang standing listlessly in the doorway. He hurriedly tried to usher her out with a forced smile. “Second Miss, why have you come here? I was just disciplining the servants. Please don’t dirty your skirt by staying here.”
Xu Qianyu insisted on entering, her sharp eyes catching sight of the three girls inside. “Servants? You mean maids? Just in time, I need two maids.”

She pointed at the two crying girls. “Give me those two.”
Ruan Zhuqing blinks. “What about me?”
Xu Qianyu ignored her. “Not the noisy one.”