“It looks like you two have already met,” Sister Qing Zu said as she walked over to them.
“Not exactly met.
I just saw this Little Fellow practicing hard on his own with many incorrect movements, so I came over to correct him.” As Keqing spoke, she reached out and raised Yanqing’s sword slightly higher.
“Is that so?
I didn’t expect you to be such a warm-hearted child, Keqing,” Sister Qing Zu said, covering her mouth as she let out a light chuckle.
“It’s not about being warm-hearted; it’s just that the way he was practicing swordplay all by himself looked a bit too pitiful,” Keqing shrugged.
“Anyway, Sister Qing Zu, did you come looking for me for something?” Keqing withdrew her hand and stood beside Sister Qing Zu, watching Yanqing swing his sword.
“I came to take you and this child to eat.
It’s a good chance for you to get to know him.
For now, let’s just go grab a meal,” Sister Qing Zu said, waving her hand toward Yanqing.
Yanqing stopped at the appropriate time.
“Lady Qingque,” Yanqing said, walking up to her and lowering his head.
“Haven’t I told you?
Just call me Sister Qing Zu,” Sister Qing Zu gave a helpless laugh.
“Let’s go.
Jing Yuan has things to attend to lately, so he entrusted me to look after you.” “Yes,” Yanqing replied, his head still lowered.
Sister Qing Zu could only let out a silent sigh at this.
Facing Keqing’s questioning gaze, she simply shook her head.
“Come on, let’s go eat first.” Sister Qing Zu took Yanqing’s hand directly and led the way toward the dining area.
On the way, Sister Qing Zu introduced Yanqing to Keqing.
“This child is Yanqing, whom Jing Yuan recently adopted.” “But because of all the trouble lately, Jing Yuan hasn’t been able to look after him meticulously, so he had this Little Fellow stay at the Seat of Divine Foresight for now.” “However, I didn’t expect that you, Keqing, being a civil servant, would actually know swordsmanship.” Sister Qing Zu looked at Keqing with a hint of surprise in her eyes.
“It’s just a family sword style, nothing worth mentioning,” Keqing said calmly.
“A family sword style?
I recall in your files, it should…” Sister Qing Zu paused there.
“The sword techniques have always been in my Remembrance.
As for my family, I don’t know where they are either.” “No one has looked for me for all these years.
Perhaps they are no longer in this world.” Keqing’s words caused Yanqing to look at her as well.
He was adopted by the General because he lost his parents…
Keqing seemed to be the same as him.
No, his current situation was actually better than Keqing’s; at least the General had adopted him.
Looking at how Keqing was with Sister Qing Zu, Keqing had clearly passed her Adulthood Certificate long ago and even had a stable job at the Seat of Divine Foresight.
“At least I don’t care about them now.
I just need to live my own life well.” “Like now, going to work every day and then practicing the sword—that’s enough.” “Your requirements are truly low,” Sister Qing Zu remarked.
“However, the kind of life you’re talking about is already what most people hope for.” “If only things could stay peaceful like this forever,” Sister Qing Zu said with a sigh.
“Is she…
the same as me?” Yanqing finally spoke his first words since they started walking.
Sister Qing Zu immediately looked down at Yanqing and said after a few seconds, “Her experiences are probably similar to yours.” “So there’s no need to close yourself off every day.
Interacting more with others will only do you good.” “I understand, Auntie…
Qingque…” Hearing what Yanqing called her, Sister Qing Zu stopped in her tracks immediately.
Yanqing looked up at Sister Qing Zu with some confusion, seemingly wondering why they had stopped walking.
Sister Qing Zu squatted down, placed her hands on Yanqing’s shoulders, and said to him with a smile, “I’m not that old yet.
Just call me Sister Qing Zu.” “Sister…
Qing Zhu.” Seeing the serious look in her eyes, Yanqing corrected himself.
“Mhm, good boy.” Sister Qing Zu patted Yanqing’s head, stood up, and continued walking toward the dining area.
“I think it wouldn’t matter even if you were called ‘Auntie’,” Keqing said at that moment.
“That’s because you’re still young.
If we really compare ages, you’re not that much older than this Little Fellow,” Sister Qing Zu said, looking at Keqing with some helplessness.
Geniuses, it seemed, were always a bit different.
After a moment of silence among the three, they arrived at the dining area of the Seat of Divine Foresight.
Being with two ‘bottled-up’ types along the way made Sister Qing Zu feel like she was becoming one herself.
“You two…
oh well.
What do you want to eat?
It’s my treat today.” Sister Qing Zu said helplessly as she led them to an empty table.
“You choose, Sister Qing Zu.
It’s my first time here, so I’m not sure what’s available,” Keqing shook her head and sat directly in an empty seat.
Yanqing also sat down directly next to Keqing.
Ever since Sister Qing Zu said Keqing’s experiences were similar to his, he had felt a bit more favorable toward her.
Children were just like that.
“Alright then, I’ll order according to my own habits.” While Sister Qing Zu went to the chef to order, Yanqing looked at Keqing beside him.
He watched her for a good while, not knowing how to start a conversation.
Keqing felt a bit uncomfortable being watched by Yanqing.
“What is it?
If you want to say something, you can just say it.
There’s no need to hold it in.” “I…
was what you said on the way true?” Yanqing asked in a low voice.
“Which part?
About me being an orphan?
If it’s that, then yes, it’s true,” Keqing said nonchalantly.
After Keqing finished speaking, Yanqing fell silent again.
Looking at Yanqing, Keqing knew that his little head was probably wandering off into some thoughts again.
“I don’t really care about it.
Basically everyone working in the Seat of Divine Foresight knows.” “Besides, even without them, I have people I live with now.” “It’s no different from any ordinary person of the Xianzhou.” “You’re still young.
Just live properly with the General.
If you think too much with that little brain of yours, be careful or you won’t grow tall,” Keqing said, reaching out to poke Yanqing’s forehead firmly with her finger.
“But you’re not that much older than me,” Yanqing said, rubbing his forehead.
“In any aspect, I am much older than you.” “At the very least, I am already an adult, while you, little friend, are not yet of age.” “I will definitely study hard and take the Adulthood Certificate exam early!” Yanqing said defiantly.
“Then good luck with that,” Keqing said.
The Adulthood Certificate—honestly, if she hadn’t been raised under ‘duck-feeding’ style education, she might not have finished those exams even if she were given another dozen years, let alone a few.
“In the time it took to order, you two have already started chatting,” Sister Qing Zu said as she walked back after ordering.