Feng Jinyue listened to Qi Beihan’s words and couldn’t be bothered to decline further. She said, “Then I’ll trouble the Regent.”
Seeing this, Feng Lingze knew he couldn’t interfere. He leaned close to his younger sister’s ear and whispered, “Little sister, if the Regent asks about your extravagant spending tonight and you haven’t thought of an explanation yet, just say all the money came from Mother. He likely won’t press further.”
“Alright.” Feng Jinyue agreed, thinking to herself that Qi Beihan wasn’t actually concerned about such matters. If not for this ‘little brat’ blocking their way, she and her second brother would have left long ago, avoiding this encounter with Qi Beihan. The excuse they made before the auction hadn’t fully settled things yet. How annoying.
Ji Ying saw Feng Jinyue preparing to follow Qi Beihan into the carriage and recalled earlier mentions of ‘future Consort.’ He called out to her, “You… you’re his future Regent Consort? Then why did you outbid me on two items I wanted at the auction? Was it intentional…”
“What you wanted was also what I desired. At an auction, the highest bidder wins. This… Fourth Prince? Don’t flatter…”
“Hmph, I’m not being presumptuous!” Ji Ying interrupted Feng Jinyue with a haughty tone. “What a pity someone who looks like a fairy from a painting is actually engaged to this ice block. You must be equally dull. You certainly haven’t caught my attention—I already admire someone else. I came to Tianquan, to Dongling City specifically to find her and seek her help.”
His words caused everyone nearby to fall silent. Was this really appropriate to say?
The middle-aged man accompanying Ji Ying noticed the chilling coldness in Qi Beihan’s eyes and immediately stepped forward with a respectful bow. “Our Fourth Prince has always been straightforward with his words. He means no offense. We beg the Regent’s forgiveness.”
Qi Beihan’s voice was icy. “This is Dongling City. Tianquan and Chu State have established diplomatic relations. I won’t interfere with your search for someone or request for assistance in Tianquan, but you’d better behave appropriately and not overstep boundaries!”
The middle-aged man felt the overwhelming pressure radiating from Qi Beihan. Seeing Ji Ying about to speak again, he quickly stopped him and responded, “Yes, the Regent already sent warnings earlier. Now that you’ve personally reminded us, we shall naturally comply.”
Feng Jinyue observed this Chu State Fourth Prince. He appeared to be about sixteen or seventeen, similar to her current age in this life. She had no patience to waste words on a ‘little brat,’ but as she glanced at Qi Beihan, she faintly sensed something peculiar.
Subsequently, Feng Jinyue followed Qi Beihan into the Regent’s carriage, while Feng Lingze boarded their family carriage. The two vehicles departed from the Drunken Immortal Pavilion one after another.
After the carriages left, the middle-aged man beside Ji Ying whispered, “Your Highness, before we came to Tianquan, the Crown Prince repeatedly instructed us to maintain a low profile. Moreover, our top priority is to find that ‘Medicine Immortal’ senior.”
“I know. I want to find her as soon as possible too. As for earlier, I was just frustrated. No one in Chu State has ever accused me of being presumptuous.”
The middle-aged man sighed softly. “Your Highness, let’s return to our lodgings first.”
After Ji Ying and his party also departed by carriage, people outside the Drunken Immortal Pavilion commented, “So that young gentleman was actually the Fourth Prince of Chu State. No wonder he acted so fearlessly.”
“What do you mean by acting without fear? In front of the Regent, one still has to behave meekly.”
“That’s true. I heard that the State of Chu has sent an envoy to Dongling City, seeking to establish friendly relations with our Tianquan.”
“That was initiated by Chu, so the initiative naturally lies with our Tianquan.”
“Exactly. By the way, have you heard? The Fourth Prince of Chu came to Dongling City apparently to seek someone’s help. Although Chu cannot compare to our Tianquan, it’s still a major power. Who could this person be, that even a prince would come begging for assistance?”
“Such matters of status are beyond our concern. Better not meddle in others’ affairs.”
…
Meanwhile, inside the Regent’s carriage, Feng Jin Yue sat beside Qi Bei Han in silence. The atmosphere in the carriage was strangely quiet.
Suddenly, Feng Jin Yue was caught off guard by Qi Bei Han’s words.
“Ji Ying admires you.”
“Who?” Feng Jin Yue instinctively asked, but then connected the dots. “Your Highness means that person from earlier, the Fourth Prince of Chu?”
“Correct. He came to Tianquan seeking someone’s help – specifically, the ‘Saintly Hand Physician Immortal’ who has gained fame throughout the world in recent years. Hearing that this person recently appeared in Dongling City, he specially came searching. I knew all about their entry from Chu into Tianquan, but I only just learned of his admiration for you.”
“…” Feng Jin Yue was utterly speechless. So that was what felt off – he was bothered by this. “I don’t know him, nor was I aware he sought my help. As for his so-called ‘admiration,’ there’s absolutely no possibility between us. I have no interest in little boys.”
“What about me? Do you feel nothing for me at all?”
As expected, Feng Jin Yue had long suspected that Qi Bei Han’s offer to escort her home wasn’t really about the auction, but about what happened earlier. She definitely raised her eyes to meet Qi Bei Han’s gaze directly and said, “Your Highness, we agreed between us not to interfere in each other’s affairs.”
“Indeed, I would never go back on our agreement. But I never said that after we marry and become husband and wife, we shouldn’t cultivate marital feelings.”
“…” Hearing Qi Bei Han’s words, Feng Jin Yue wondered if she had been tricked. She stared fixedly at Qi Bei Han, recalling her conversation with Qian Zhu. Truthfully, she didn’t resist being with Qi Bei Han. Indeed, in both her previous life and this one, Qi Bei Han was the first man whose presence she didn’t find unpleasant.
As she pondered this, she suddenly snapped back to reality and met Qi Bei Han’s eyes. Your Highness, this is completely inconsistent with your publicly known image as an icy, abstinent, and aloof figure! The way he looked at her was like some primordial pure yang flame born between heaven and earth, intensely blazing, as if wanting to devour her. She suddenly remembered what Qian Zhu said – that her life-saving grace had deeply impressed Qi Bei Han. Had this guy been determined from the moment he recognized her?
In their current atmosphere, Feng Jin Yue just wanted to change the subject and inexplicably said, “Your Highness also attended today’s auction at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. Why didn’t I see you make any bids? Not even for the final lot – a piece of Iron Essence? Something capable of forging weapons ranking among the world’s top ten – didn’t Your Highness want to secure it for yourself?”
“Whether the person who obtains this item has the skill to forge it is another matter. Even if forged, in Tianquan, a single weapon alone is useless. Moreover, this item is already in your hands.” After answering, Qi Bei Han shifted the topic, saying, “Earlier, to divert my attention, you treated me like a child, coaxing me with candy. Now you won’t even coax me at all. Fine, I won’t ask anymore. But you are to become my princess consort—no matter who it is, this matter is absolutely unchangeable.”
Damn, Feng Jin Yue twitched her mouth, making it seem as if she had wronged him. She simply went along with Qi Bei Han, slipping her hand into her sleeve and taking the opportunity to retrieve a small white porcelain bottle from the Spirit Ring space. Inside was the same type of ‘candy’ she had fed Qi Bei Han earlier.
“Since Your Highness enjoys eating it, I happen to have a bottle on me and would like to present it to you.”
Qi Bei Han’s gaze fell on the white jade bottle in Feng Jin Yue’s hand. “This ‘candy’ tastes quite good. Then, feed another piece to… me.”
“Feed…?”