Feng Jinyue was about to speak when she heard the young emperor’s voice continue.
“Previously, I hadn’t seen her in person. Now that I have, those people outside are simply spouting nonsense, spreading unfounded rumors. The Empress Dowager and uncle were right—one must never judge others based on superficial impressions.”
Qi Shuwan said firmly, “It’s good that Your Majesty remembers this.”
At this moment, Feng Jinyue felt quite awkward. Staying silent seemed strange, yet speaking up didn’t feel entirely appropriate either.
Fortunately, just then, a palace maid approached and reported, “Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager, the midday meal is ready.”
Qi Shuwan glanced at Qi Beihan and Feng Jinyue, smiling faintly as she said, “Let’s go have our meal first.”
Subsequently, Feng Jinyue followed behind them. Arriving at the dining table, she waited for the other three to take their seats before settling into her own place.
Palace maids stood by to serve dishes and attend to the meal. Though many attendants filled the hall, not a single sound could be heard—everyone moved with cautious precision, fearing the slightest misstep.
As the saying goes, “no talking during meals, no speaking during rest,” but palace etiquette was even more stringent.
Feng Jinyue initially thought nothing of it, until she suddenly noticed Qi Beihan’s gaze fixed upon her from beside her. Their eyes intertwined and drifted apart, inexplicably casting an odd hue over the deathly quiet atmosphere. How absurd—why was he staring at her instead of focusing on his meal?
She paid it no mind, shifting her attention away and concentrating on eating.
Soon, the meal concluded. Palace maids stepped forward to assist with rinsing mouths and serve post-meal tea. Once everything was properly arranged, the table was cleared, and they returned to the inner hall as usual.
When the time was right, Qi Shuwan looked at Qi Beihan and asked, “Will you be leaving the palace directly afterward?”
“Yes, all matters at the imperial study have been dealt with today. This afternoon, the Grand Tutor will be instructing His Majesty on his studies.”
“Since you were the one who personally brought Miss Feng into the palace from the General’s estate, you should properly escort her back as well.”
Qi Beihan agreed without hesitation.
Feng Jinyue had no objections to the Empress Dowager’s arrangements and refrained from commenting further.
Shortly after, without further delay, Feng Jinyue followed Qi Beihan as they withdrew from Ningshou Palace.
Watching the figures of the Regent and Miss Feng recede into the distance, Lan Ruo, standing beside the Empress Dowager, whispered, “Your Majesty, regarding the matter between the Regent and Miss Feng—is everything alright?”
Qi Shuwan didn’t answer directly but instead turned to Jun Yan and asked, “What does the Emperor think?”
Seated nearby, Jun Yan replied, “Mother, I think she is excellent and very well-suited for uncle. If I may say so, none of the noble young ladies in the capital can compare to her. Moreover, when I look at her, it’s as if she’s veiled in mist—she is truly beyond ordinary people. Most importantly, uncle treats her differently.”
“Mm, well said.” Qi Shuwan smiled slightly before adding, “Very well, the Emperor should prepare for this afternoon’s studies. You may go now.”
“Yes, I take my leave.”
After the Emperor departed, Lan Ruo quietly attended to the Empress Dowager without another word.
…
Meanwhile, Feng Jinyue and Qi Beihan were escorted out of the palace by eunuchs.
The Regent’s carriage was already waiting there, and the two stepped directly inside.
Inside the carriage.
Feng Jin Yue said to Qi Bei Han, “Your Highness personally escorted me into the palace to meet the Empress Dowager, and after having lunch at the Empress Dowager’s palace, you will see me out of the palace and back to my residence. In this way, with the Empress Dowager’s bestowed marriage, our union will be seen by outsiders as settled. How satisfied are you with this first step of our cooperation?”
“Passable.”
Passable? Feng Jin Yue’s lips twitched slightly. If it weren’t for the sake of avoiding future troubles and sparing her parents from worry and exertion, she wouldn’t be cooperating at all.
As Feng Jin Yue inwardly complained, she noticed Qi Bei Han’s gaze on her. What’s wrong with this guy? Why is he looking at her with such a sticky, ambiguous expression? What does he mean by that?
Logically speaking, in her previous life, she had encountered countless handsome men, from ordinary mortals to cultivators. No matter how exceptionally handsome or ethereal they were, in her eyes, they were just passable. What kind of handsome man could compare to the importance of her cultivation? Yet, it was this very guy—the first time at Tianshan, with his severely injured and pitiful state paired with that face—that nearly made her lose her composure.
Qi Bei Han, realizing his impropriety, flusteredly averted his gaze from Feng Jin Yue.
Feng Jin Yue observed Qi Bei Han’s reaction. One moment he was staring at her brazenly, and the next, he was full of bashfulness. Why such a drastic change all of a sudden!
She couldn’t be bothered to overthink it. After all, she and Qi Bei Han had an agreement beforehand: their relationship was limited to a political marriage, with no unnecessary entanglements. Next, she should focus her mind on refining that Millennial Fire Spirit Mushroom.
“Now that today’s audience with the Empress Dowager is over, I assume there won’t be anything requiring my involvement for a long time, right?”
Upon hearing Feng Jin Yue’s words, Qi Bei Han asked, “Where are you planning to go?”
Feng Jin Yue replied, “Has Your Highness forgotten our agreement?”
“Indeed, this prince did promise that you may go wherever you wish. This prince will grant you ample freedom and will not interfere. However, the necessary cooperation between us in public must not fail, and this prince has the right to know your whereabouts.”
“I will not leave Dongling City, so Your Highness need not worry.” Feng Jin Yue pondered for a moment, then added, “In the future, if I need to leave Dongling City, I will inform Your Highness.”
“Mm.” Qi Bei Han acknowledged. He was well aware that when she saved his life in Tianshan, it wasn’t just her remarkable medical skills that stood out—her ability to move freely in and out of Tianshan was the key point. That place was not somewhere ordinary people could casually enter and exit. How many more secrets did she hold that were unknown to others?
Abruptly, he pushed these thoughts aside. So, he too could be like this toward a woman—drawn to her, filled with curiosity.
Feng Jin Yue couldn’t see through what Qi Bei Han was thinking.
For a while, the two of them simply sat in silence.
After a long while, the carriage gradually came to a halt, and the voice of an attendant from outside broke the silence: “Your Highness, we have arrived at the General’s Manor.”
Feng Jin Yue stood up as she spoke, “Your Highness, I shall return to the manor now.”
Unexpectedly, the stationary carriage suddenly jolted. Feng Jin Yue, who had just risen to her feet, was caught completely off guard. With a thud, she fell solidly into Qi Bei Han’s embrace.
Qi Bei Han, about to respond to her, found the person who had thrown herself into his arms. Instinctively, his arm went around her waist to steady her. A faint scent of green lotus drifted into his senses, elegant and refreshing, exactly like the feeling she had given him that time at Tianshan. But now, enveloped in his embrace, it struck his heart even more directly.
He had always disliked others getting close to him, and physical contact was particularly taboo. Yet she was exceptionally different—he even wished to hold her close indefinitely…
But the next moment, the person in his arms swiftly moved away, as if unwilling to linger against him for even a moment.
Qi Bei Han couldn’t help but frown. Do I have thorns growing on me? Does leaning against me cause itching and discomfort?