CH 47

Chapter 47: They’re Predetermined To Part Ways And Then Meet Again.

Qi Ci followed Yu Muyao all the way to the Residence of the King of Bei’an County, feeling somewhat apprehensive. He even felt that he was being too reckless, but at the same time, he felt that he should strike first.

The bustling streets were crowded with people, and it took a long time for the palanquin to reach the Residence.

Once they arrived, the palanquin was carried into the Residence, only stopping when it reached the courtyard. When Qi Ci stepped down the palanquin, Yu Muyao jumped over in three steps. Since she was no longer restrained and was finally home, she proudly spread open her hands, raised her chin high, and smiled at Qi Ci: “This is the Residence of the King of Bei’an County!”

Even though it was called a Residence, it was more like a small Palace, with vermilion doors and blue tiles, as well as eaves corners decorated with Phoenixes, and exquisite corridors everywhere. There was even a finely carved Water Pavilion1 singing platform that looked so elegant it was truly admirable.

Before Qi Ci could recover from the luxury of the Residence, a person suddenly came running from afar, shouting as they ran: “Miss! Miss! You’re finally back! Everyone’s waiting for you to eat dinner!”

“A-Lian!” Yu Muyao shouted with a smile and opened her arms. Right the next instant, the two of them bumped into each other and hugged tightly. Yu Muyao shook the girl’s shoulder as her smile grew bigger.

The girl who ran over was dressed as a maid. She was wearing plain garments and her hair was fixed in a bun.

The maid was very clever, so when she saw Qi Ci standing beside Yu Muyao, she didn’t ask any questions. She simply saluted him.

Yu Muyao quickly introduced Qi Ci: “This is Prince Chongfeng! I’ve invited him here!”

A-Lian was so shocked that she immediately knelt down: “Greetings Your Highness!”

“You don’t have to kneel, get up,” Qi Ci hurried to say to A-Lian.

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A-Lian got up with proper etiquette and said: “His Highness can go with the young Miss to the main hall, I’ll inform the Lord and Madam right away!”

In a short while, the King of Bei’an County appeared with his wife and bowed to Qi Ci: “I didn’t know that His Highness would visit us. I’m sorry I couldn’t welcome His Highness properly! I beg His Highness for forgiveness!”

The King of Bei’an County had a kind face, but his wife had a more gentler expression as she treated Qi Ci with warmth and courtesy.

Qi Ci, who came with the mentality of ‘how will you catch a tiger’s cub if you don’t enter the tiger’s den?2’, was a bit confused for a while.

‘What happened to the fighting and scheming? What about the mutual deception and distrust3? And where’s the fighting both with open and secret means?’

Qi Ci was well received. First, he went to the courtyard with the King of Bei’an County, and then ate dinner full of delicacies with the King, the Queen consort4, and the County Princess of Bei’an. During the dinner, the Bei’an County King didn’t mention a word of political affairs, instead, he talked with Qi Ci about classical books.

In the twinkle of an eye, night arrived. Before parting, the Bei’an County King sent Qi Ci several presents as a farewell gift. He also politely escorted Qi Ci out of the Residence.

Only when there were no more outsiders in the Residence did the Bei’an County King put away his smile. As he looked at the Queen consort, he heard her say: “I didn’t expect Yao’er would invite the Prince to the Residence. Husband, you see….”

The King of Bei’an County gently shook his head and said: “Over the years, the Empress Dowager has been using ruthless tactics in order to stabilize the Imperial power. Just look at what happened to those Princes. But I do want to win over this Prince with a low-class background. After all, the Crown Prince is sick and no one really knows how much he will last. However, we still have to be afraid of the Empress Dowager and not act rashly.”

The Queen consort smiled and said: “Yao’er doesn’t know about the infight in the Imperial Court. Maybe I should go to Empress Dowager tomorrow and propose a marriage.”

“Hum,” The King of Bei’an County snorted with disdain.

The Queen consort covered her lips and smiled: “I know you don’t want to let her go, but Yao’er will grow up eventually.”

The King of Bei’an County knitted his brows and said angrily: “Stop, don’t talk about these falsehoods. By the way, where’s Yao’er?”

At this time, A-Lian was also looking for Yu Muyao. Just now, Yu Muyao drank wine and ran to the courtyard to play. A-Lian felt that the night was cold, so she went to the Princess’ wing room to get a cloak for her. In the end, when A-Lian came back, Yu Muyao was no longer in the courtyard.

A-Lian’s heart felt anxious as she called for her everywhere until she walked over a fake small mountain. All of a sudden, someone covered her eyes from behind.

“Hey, hey! Guess who I am!”

A-Lian laughed softly: “Miss!”

“Hehehe, you guessed it!” Yu Muyao withdrew her hands, and A-Lian could see that her face was completely blushed. It was pretty obvious that she was drunk.

A-Lian then covered Yu Muyao with a stand-up collar embroidered peony cloak5 and said: “Miss, let me take you back to the wing room. The night is cold, Miss should beware of getting cold.”

“Alright.” Yu Muyao nodded, but then she suddenly remembered something. As she looked around, she asked: “Right, where’s that Prince?!”

“Prince Chongfeng? Miss, you’re really drunk! Prince Chongfeng has already gone back to his Residence long ago.” A-Lian giggled. “But Miss, why did you suddenly decide to invite the Prince over?”

Yu Muyao wrinkled her pretty nose and said: “Because the other day I overheard Father and Mother discussing that they wanted to be friends with Prince Chongfeng!”

A-Lian thought, ‘That really seems to be the case.’

The King and Queen consort of Bei’an County had only one child, so there were often rumors going around that because Yu Muyao was a woman, she couldn’t be the head of the family in the future. Yu Muyao had a strong personality, so when she heard these rumors, she wanted to prove to the King and Queen consort that she was not inferior to men.

So naive and straightforward.

“Right, A-Lian, let’s go to the Prince’s Residence tomorrow!” Yu Muyao suddenly grabbed A-Lian’s arm and said: “You must accompany me this time. I was called into the Imperial Palace by the Empress Dowager today and you didn’t come! I’m flustered when you’re not by my side!”

A-Lian’s heart softened.

A-Lian was chosen as Yu Muyao’s personal maid when she was a child, and it had been more than 10 years since that. Although A-Lian and Yu Muyao had always been master and servant, Yu Muyao had never looked down on her, and their relationship could be regarded as good as sworn sisters.

“Alright, I’ll accompany you, Miss.” A-Lian agreed softly.

When Qi Ci left the Residence, it was almost dusk, and dozens of Imperial guards and servants came to pick him up all the way from the Prince’s Residence. Even though there was a group of people waiting outside the Bei’an County King’s Residence with their heads lowered, when Qi Ci looked around, he couldn’t find Bian Zhonghua.

At that moment, Qi Ci couldn’t help but feel flustered. As he raised the curtain of the palanquin, he asked A-Jia: “Why did Bian Zhonghua not come?”

A-Jia replied respectfully: “Replying to His Highness, according to the Steward, Lord Bian felt unwell all of a sudden, so he had to return to the Secret Servant Residence. Before that, he appointed us to come pick His Highness.”

Qi Ci abruptly raised his head: “Not feeling well?!”

“Why do you look so surprised? Do I look like I’m made of iron so I can’t get sick?” The cheerful voice came from afar, and when Qi Ci followed the direction of the voice, he saw a man. The man was dressed in black clothes, with bamboo dark patterns embroidered in gold, while his black hair was tied up in a ponytail with a black ribbon. It was Bian Zhonghua, whose mouth was curled up in a reckless smile. No matter how you looked at him, he didn’t look sick at all.