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There were many people on the road, and they chatted along the way, making the journey seem much faster.
After a day’s travel, the group arrived in Huai’an City.
This time, Su Qingyue was responsible for all the accommodations. She had also taken care of the food and drinks along the way, and now she was responsible for the lodging as well.
Qingli thought to herself, “It’s not good to owe favors, I’ll have to find a way to repay her soon.”
In the evening, after they had dinner together, everyone went to their rooms to rest.
The next morning, as Qingli went downstairs, she saw Su Qingyue talking to someone.
It was a man, dressed in luxurious and elegant attire, who seemed to be very enthusiastic towards Su Qingyue.
However, Su Qingyue kept her distance. Every time the man took a step closer, she would step back two steps. She couldn’t avoid him completely, but she also had to talk to him. Qingli understood the situation.
Qingli descended the stairs and spoke softly, “Qingyue, have you had breakfast yet?”
Upon hearing this, both of them turned to look at her.
Su Qingyue felt a pang of anxiety. She didn’t want Qingli to appear and for Nangong Rong to see her.
She had just been trying to get rid of Nangong Rong, but he was like he couldn’t understand her words. He kept lingering around, even saying he would escort her back to Nanyang City.
She didn’t care about his escort, she just wanted him to disappear.
But she had been caught.
The moment Nangong Rong turned around and saw Qingli, his eyes widened in surprise.
He looked at Su Qingyue beside him, then at Qingli who was walking towards them, his eyes filled with disbelief.
Su Qingyue quickly spoke to Qingli, “A-li, go over there and wait for me, I’ll be right back.”
Seeing Su Qingyue’s apparent panic, the man’s expression also turned strange. Qingli was a little confused, but she didn’t ask any further questions. She went to a table and sat down.
Nangong Rong looked at Su Qingyue in astonishment, “Miss Su, who is she? Why does she look exactly like you?”
Nangong Rong’s questioning made Su Qingyue very uncomfortable. She replied calmly, “Your Highness, I still have some things to attend to, so I won’t be able to talk to you now. I have brought my guards, so safety is not a concern. I appreciate your kindness, but please go about your business.”
After saying this, Su Qingyue looked at him coldly, waiting for him to leave.
Nangong Rong’s gaze kept drifting towards Qingli. Seeing this, Su Qingyue became very unhappy.
“Your Highness, you should leave.” She couldn’t help but speak coldly.
Nangong Rong disliked her attitude. If it weren’t for Su Qingyue’s noble destiny, he wouldn’t have bothered to approach and flatter her.
Although Su Qingyue was beautiful, her personality was cold and rigid, not at all his type.
But for her innate Phoenix destiny, he had to marry her. Now that she was so cold and heartless, he didn’t feel like bothering with her anymore. He immediately turned cold.
“Alright, since Miss Su doesn’t need me, then I was being presumptuous. I won’t disturb you anymore.”
Nangong Rong also had his pride. He had never been rejected like this before. After all, he was the esteemed Prince of the Royal Family, and countless women fawned over him. Su Qingyue, though beautiful, was cold and rigid, not his type at all.
“Your Highness, please go slowly.”
Su Qingyue, however, didn’t care about his expression. She still spoke coldly, politely looking at him, watching him leave.
Nangong Rong was furious, but he couldn’t vent his anger. He could only leave with a cold face.
Only after Nangong Rong’s figure disappeared did Su Qingyue feel relieved. She turned and went to Qingli’s side.
Qingli saw that Su Qingyue seemed to be in a bad mood, so she said, “Is that man pursuing you? You don’t like him, do you?”
Su Qingyue looked at Qingli in surprise, “A-li, why do you think he likes me?”
Qingli shook her head, “I didn’t say he likes you, I said he seems to be pursuing you.”
Su Qingyue smiled, “Isn’t that the same thing?”
Qingli quickly said, “Of course it’s not the same. There’s one kind of pursuit that’s because of liking, so you pursue. But there’s another kind of pursuit, where even if you don’t like someone, you still pursue them.”
Su Qingyue didn’t expect Qingli to understand so clearly with just one glance. She was more intelligent than she thought.
She chuckled lightly, then asked, “If you don’t like someone, why would you still pursue them?”
Qingli stirred the porridge that the waiter had just brought, and continued, “If you don’t like someone, why else? For profit. No pain, no gain. Some people value profit more than feelings. Profit is paramount to them. So Qingyue, you must be careful and not be fooled by those men who pretend to be virtuous.”
Su Qingyue laughed, realizing that Qingli had said all this out of concern for her, afraid that she would choose the wrong person.
“I don’t like that person.” Su Qingyue explained.
Qingli nodded, “I know. I saw it. You were avoiding him, so I interrupted you.”
Su Qingyue felt warmth again. In just these two short days with Qingli, Qingli’s actions had always warmed her heart, like a family member who cared for her.
Su Qingyue now longed for Qingli to truly be her sister.
When she got back home, she would ask her father and mother. Once confirmed, she would immediately bring her home.
She would protect her from then on.
“Only A-li understands me.”
Su Qingyue smiled, her eyes curving into crescents. Qingli thought her eyes were beautiful.
The face under the veil must have been very beautiful too. It was a pity that it was disfigured.
Qingli thought for a moment, then suddenly said, “Qingyue, I know some medical skills. I also have a senior brother who specializes in medicine. He has excellent skills in medicine, especially in skin care. Would you like me to look at your face? Maybe I can cure it. Of course, if you don’t want to, it’s okay. I’m not curious, I just want to help you.”
Qingli’s black eyes were filled with sincerity. Su Qingyue, looking at Qingli who cared for her so much and was so sincere, felt a little guilty. She didn’t dare to look directly at Qingli’s eyes, so she lowered her head.
Qingli thought she had hurt her self-esteem, so she quickly said, “Actually, I think you’re beautiful like this. Only those ordinary and superficial people think that appearance matters. A person’s beauty is not just about their appearance. In my opinion, Qingyue, you’re beautiful, truly!”
Qingli felt she was saying more and more wrong things. She could only close her mouth helplessly and sigh inwardly.
Which girl doesn’t care about her appearance? She really shouldn’t have mentioned it.
Seeing her worried expression, Su Qingyue quickly smiled.
“Yes, you’re right. Actually, I don’t care about my appearance, so I won’t get it treated.”
Su Qingyue had planned to disfigure herself. Only then would those who wanted to marry her give up.
A disfigured woman would have no Phoenix destiny. In this way, she could avoid their entanglement and live her own life.
But she had to arrange this disfigurement properly. Otherwise, if her parents found out it was intentional, they would be furious, maybe even beat her half to death.
After all, in their eyes, profit was above all else. The future Queen’s position could only be hers, so they could gain more power and influence.
This was her family.