Living in such a dilapidated courtyard, he remained a modest gentleman, gentle and refined as jade.
Just as the Celestial Beast had said, this person was filled with righteous energy, harbored no resentment, and was kind-hearted—truly a worthy and good man.
A gentle breeze passed by, and Gu Xi seemed to be choked by it. She coughed several times, taking a long while to recover, her pale complexion gradually returning to normal.
Tao Yao, standing beside her, was extremely worried and continuously patted Gu Xi’s back to help her breathe. “Are you alright, Your Highness?”
Gu Xi shook her head. “It’s nothing.”
As she spoke, Gu Xi’s gaze slowly turned to Jun Qi. “But Young Master Qi, how are your injuries? Have they improved?”
Jun Qi slightly raised his head, and their eyes met.
“Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. They are much better now.”
One was as delicate as a willow swaying in the wind, the other gentle and courteous. Both wore faint, graceful smiles, appearing surprisingly similar in some ways.
The Celestial Beast shuddered at its own inexplicable thought. Impossible, impossible! Its male lead, bathed in the Light of the Heavenly Dao, was kind-hearted and cared for the world—how could he resemble Gu Xi, the great demon king? They simply could not be compared.
After an unknown length of time, in the courtyard, Gu Xi finally withdrew her smiling gaze from Jun Qi.
She instructed Tao Yao beside her, “Send some people to thoroughly clean Young Master Qi’s courtyard and arrange it according to the standards of the Moon Embracing Palace.”
Tao Yao was momentarily stunned but quickly nodded upon regaining her composure. “Understood.”
As she spoke, Gu Xi looked toward the direction of the palace hall.
Tao Yao immediately understood her intention and stepped forward to push open the palace door.
Everything inside the hall came into Gu Xi’s view.
Compared to the palaces of others in the imperial palace, it was vastly inferior. The interior was pitifully simple: the bed had only a mat and an exceptionally thin quilt, the table was old and worn, and even the windows creaked under the cold wind.
This scene was even worse than the dwellings of the lowest-ranking servants in the imperial palace.
Gu Xi glanced at Jun Qi behind her.
He did not seem to think his life was difficult, merely standing there with gentle, lowered eyes.
Gu Xi asked, “Were the other items in the palace taken away by others?”
The soft smile on Jun Qi’s face remained unchanged, and his voice was still as warm as ever. “The Second Prince and Third Prince liked them, so they sent people to take them away. It’s alright, Your Highness. These are enough.”
Gu Xi then looked at the patch of grain in the corner of the courtyard. “And no one delivers meals to you daily either?”
Jun Qi shook his head.
At this moment, not to mention the Celestial Beast, even Tao Yao felt some sympathy for this hostage prince.
Gu Xi pretended to be weak and coughed heavily several times before speaking.
“Issue the order: not only must the courtyard be cleaned, but from today onward, send people to completely redecorate this entire palace. All furnishings inside must be identical to those in the Moon Embracing Palace. Additionally, assign a few eunuchs from the Moon Embracing Palace to serve Young Master Qi. Daily meals from the Moon Embracing Palace must also be delivered to Young Master Qi.”
“If the Second Prince or Third Prince send people again, tell them it is my order and have them come to the Moon Embracing Palace to find me.”
Tao Yao understood. “Yes, I am aware.”
Gu Xi signaled to her. “Go now. Send people to do it immediately.”
Tao Yao worried, “But Your Highness, if you are alone here, I fear for your health…”
Gu Xi waved her hand. “It’s fine. Young Master Qi is here, so nothing will happen.”
Tao Yao: “Understood.”
After Tao Yao withdrew, aside from the group guarding the sedan outside the distant palace, only Jun Qi and Gu Xi remained in the vast courtyard nearby.
Of course, there was also the Celestial Beast within the Void Space.
Another gentle breeze swept through the area as Jun Qi slowly approached Gu Xi. His white robes fluttered like graceful bamboo in the wind, and he bowed softly, saying, “Jun Qi thanks Your Highness.”
He looked into Gu Xi’s eyes, a warm smile curving his lips. “I have only met Your Highness once. Why are you so kind to me?”
Perhaps wanting to discern every nuance in Gu Xi’s expression, he drew even closer.
Their eyes met, mere inches apart.
It was too close. Another intense surge of Divine Soul energy rippled through, and Gu Xi’s heartbeat quickened.
As their gazes locked, she met Jun Qi’s eyes with a gentle, curved smile.
Her eyes were too clear and transparent, clearly not those of someone with ulterior motives.
Only then did Jun Qi avert his gaze, answering his own question in a lowered voice with a soft laugh. “Indeed, Your Highness is kind-hearted and treats everyone with great generosity.”
Just as Jun Qi was about to step back, Gu Xi suddenly leaned in even closer, their noses almost touching.
Inside the Void Space, the Celestial Beast held its breath.
As the Divine Soul fluctuations grew even more intense.
Gu Xi coughed lightly, her curved eyes sparkling brighter than stars with amusement.
After a moment of thoughtful consideration, she answered Jun Qi’s earlier question.
“This princess, perhaps, is fond of you.”
As these words fell.
The rustling leaves stirred by the wind seemed to fall silent, leaving only this sentence lingering in the air, echoing in one’s ears.
The Celestial Beast was utterly stunned.
[What the hell are you doing! Who confesses their feelings right off the bat!]