Chapter 963: A New Relationship?

No one knew what horrifying gift the desperate emperor might have sent Long Qingyue. With that in mind, Ye Wenxin got up early and had breakfast with everyone else.

They were shocked to see her and cautiously brought up everyday topics, afraid of making her feel worse. Ye Wenxin continued her heartbroken act as she ate two bowls of rice. Not long after, the steward reported that someone was here to see her.

“Could it be Priest Wang?” Sister Hong was the first to voice her suspicion. Seeing the steward still waiting, she had him bring the visitor in so everyone could help screen them on Ye Wenxin’s behalf.

Ye Wenxin didn’t refuse. She knew Long Qingyue would send a trustworthy Secret Guard to escort her to the palace. Feigning curiosity, she waited for the Secret Guard’s arrival.

The steward soon brought in a woman.

Ye Wenxin’s pupils shrank, and she nearly let out a bitter smile. The woman was Xiao Zhang, Commander of the Secret Guards. Maybe Long Qingyue thought that having Sister Hong and Han Shanxue around wasn’t chaotic enough for Ye Wenxin, so she sent Xiao Zhang over, too.

“I am Miss Yue’s steward,” Xiao Zhang respectfully introduced herself. “By her order, I’ve come to invite Celestial Master Ye to her residence for a consultation.”

“Miss Yue’s residence?” someone asked confusedly.

“Yes.” Xiao Zhang nodded, keeping her head lowered and avoiding eye contact. “She has already arranged an appointment with Celestial Master Ye.”

It was hard to say whether it was part of the act or she feared losing control of her expression if she looked at Ye Wenxin directly.

“Celestial Master Ye, is this true? Why didn’t you mention it before?” Sister Hong felt that the whole thing was too abrupt.

“Yes, Miss Yue came to find me yesterday.” Ye Wenxin followed along with the story. “There’s something unclean in her residence, so she asked me to take a look.”

Sister Hong’s expression grew even more complicated. Eventually, she swallowed all the worried words she wanted to say, unwilling to broach the likelihood of Ghost Mother being dead.

“Well, it’s good to get out of the house and clear your mind, Celestial Master Ye.”

Ye Wenxin nodded. As she got up to leave, Han Shanxue also stood up to follow.

“Miss Yue instructed that only Celestial Master Ye may go this time,” Xiao Zhang said evenly, lifting her head to meet Han Shanxue’s gaze.

Han Shanxue sensed the aura Xiao Zhang radiated and immediately realized this woman was different. A mere steward, yet she possessed Nascent Soul stage cultivation. No matter how skilled Ye Wenxin was, she was only at the Golden Core stage.

Although Han Shanxue could fight using secret techniques, she had already exhausted too much strength when she went all out to kill “Gu Qingcheng.” She wouldn’t have ended up stuck here if not for that.

Most importantly, Han Shanxue quickly realized the Phoenix Feather Robe had chosen the wrong person. A single strike couldn’t have killed someone as powerful as Immortal Lord Taohua.

Therefore, Han Shanxue stayed behind.

Firstly, since she had inherited Han Shanxue’s emotions and memories, she wanted to help Fei Chai become independent first.

Secondly, believing the dead “Gu Qingcheng” was Ghost Mother, she truly felt guilty for accidentally killing Ye Wenxin’s beloved.

Now, seeing the steward Miss Yue had sent, Han Shanxue couldn’t help but be on guard.

“Don’t worry, I’m just going to check the feng shui,” Ye Wenxin reassured Han Shanxue and Sister Hong.

Compared to them, the men seemed far less worried. She understood the reason but still found it ridiculous.

“Please be careful, Celestial Master Ye.”

“Yes, take the chance to relax, Junior Sister Ye. The best way to forget an old romance is to start a new one.” The storyteller, who had feelings for Sister Hong, added fuel to the fire.

Ye Wenxin put on a sad expression, and the group immediately shut up, afraid of making the atmosphere even more awkward.

Han Shanxue ultimately did not follow. Xiao Zhang’s cultivation was high enough that she would easily detect her presence. Besides, Han Shanxue planned to use the spirit stones she had just received from Young Master Lü to increase her strength in case she ever had to face Immortal Lord Taohua and Fairy Zhuling.

Ye Wenxin didn’t even bother making excuses. She got on the carriage with Xiao Zhang and headed toward the secret passage.

……

This was their first time meeting again since parting ways in Mo Clan Village. Long Qingyue had arranged it with her usual twisted sense of humor. However, it also showed that she still deeply trusted Xiao Zhang.

Unfortunately, Xiao Zhang and Ye Wenxin weren’t meant to be together.

“Wenxin, you’ve grown a lot.”

“It has been nearly a year. But Xiao Zhang, your cultivation has improved, too.” Ye Wenxin slipped into small talk mode, and the two felt like the most familiar strangers.

Xiao Zhang gradually unwound, and soon they were chatting and laughing.

They carefully avoided taboo topics, such as whether Xiao Zhang still wanted to repay the life debt she owed Ye Wenxin or Ye Wenxin’s current view of Xiao Zhang.

Ye Wenxin eventually closed her eyes and pretended to nap. As considerate as ever, Xiao Zhang pulled down the curtains around them and sat quietly nearby.

Her gaze never left Ye Wenxin. Perhaps she was reminiscing or feeling sentimental.

Ye Wenxin silently cursed Long Qingyue. This move was wicked and underhanded. However, since Long Qingyue used Xiao Zhang to tease her, she could use Xiao Zhang to provoke Long Qingyue in return.

Ye Wenxin’s mood brightened considerably, and a scheme began to form in her mind.

……

About an hour of meandering later, the carriage finally arrived at the secret passage leading to the imperial palace. Besides the Secret Guards, only Long Qingyue knew of its existence.

The last time Ye Wenxin met Long Qingyue as Gu Qingcheng, she also took this passage. Not a single Secret Guard noticed anything amiss.

Feeling it wasn’t thrilling enough, Long Qingyue then rigged many traps to counter Ye Wenxin and train the Secret Guards.

None of them worked as intended, though. Ye Wenxin had even jokingly called Long Qingyue’s secret passage a “chicken rib project” because she refused to give it up despite its dubious worth.

Looking at the passage now, it would probably be tricky to access it if Ye Wenxin weren’t sitting in a carriage warded with talismans.

“Cultivator Ye, we’ve arrived. You may get out now,” Xiao Zhang informed.

Ye Wenxin acted as if she’d just realized this. She opened her eyes, stretched lazily, and followed Xiao Zhang down from the carriage.

The imperial palace appeared even more opulent, almost like a celestial paradise. Ye Wenxin could see how comfortably Long Qingyue had been living lately. Lush and unfamiliar flowers and plants occupied the landscape, and in the distance were eunuchs with rosy lips and white teeth.

Long Qingyue had several major hobbies: deceiving people, collecting beautiful clothes, and male-male romance.

Ye Wenxin reckoned no one else knew about Long Qingyue’s interest in boy’s love. While others might think she kept those eunuchs around because she had a taste for handsome men, the truth was that she enjoyed watching them fall in love.

But now, after over two years, Long Qingyue had become part of a drama herself. It all seemed rather ironic.