As the night deepened, the pedestrians on the streets thinned out, but Wanchun Pavilion only grew more bustling and lively.
Stepping out of Wanchun Pavilion, Wen Wushuang watched Ye Chang'an's limping figure and finally couldn't help but take half a step forward. “Senior Brother, did nothing really happen back there in Heaven Room Three?”
Ye Chang'an's face was pale, his heart a chaotic mess of emotions.
He wanted nothing more than to tell these two blockheads from the Wen family everything so they could avenge him.
But being beaten half to death by a newly recruited young girl and forced to leak the Wen family's secrets was too humiliating to ever admit.
Furthermore, his father was already growing increasingly dissatisfied with him. If the Wen family filed a complaint against him on top of that, it would only make matters worse.
As he was agonizing over this, his peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a pale green figure catching up from behind, and his face turned stark white again.
Song Yao caught up with them in a few quick strides and gave them a gentle nod. “What a coincidence. Are you all heading back to Beiyao Sect as well?”
Ye Chang'an's shoulders shuddered at her greeting. He instinctively shrank back half a step, nearly bumping into Wen Wumian.
He suddenly felt like crying again.
What was she doing here?
Was she planning to beat him up again?
Wen Wushuang and Wen Wumian were right here!
Yet, he didn't dare ignore her, stammering out, “Y-Yes, that's right...”
Song Yao smiled. “That's perfect. Let's go back together.”
Ye Chang'an: “...”
Song Yao: “What's wrong? Is it inconvenient?”
Ye Chang'an quickly let out a couple of forced laughs. “Inconvenient? Of course not, it's perfectly fine! Let's get going.”
With that, he quickened his pace and took the lead.
The Wen siblings didn't have time to overthink it and hurriedly caught up.
Jiang Jin stood dazed for a moment, sensing that something was off.
Ye Chang'an had always been arrogant and overbearing. How did he return from Heaven Room Three looking like a completely different person?
Didn't he used to despise Lin Mu to the bone, wishing he could torture her to death?
And now, he was actually agreeing to walk back with her so politely?
Frowning, he caught up with Song Yao. “H-How did you end up here? Where did you come from?”
Song Yao was incredibly sleepy. She yawned, her eyes watering. “You talk too much.”
Jiang Jin: “...I only asked two questions.”
Song Yao: “I don't care how many questions you asked.”
Jiang Jin: “...”
She had always been so good-tempered before. Why was she like this tonight...
There was a faint scent of alcohol in the air.
Was it because she had been drinking?
He advised in a low voice, “Don't the sect rules state that those under eighteen are not allowed to drink?”
“Mm.”
Song Yao rubbed her eyes and looked at him. “Are you going to report me?”
Jiang Jin choked slightly under her gaze. “...W-Why would I ever report you?”
“Then there's no problem.”
“...”
...
Upon returning to Beiyao Sect, they found Chen He still sitting in the courtyard.
Seeing Song Yao and Jiang Jin return together, he let out a sigh of relief. “You two are finally back. This is Beiyao Sect's territory after all, and there might be danger. Don't wander off next time. Go get some rest.”
“Okay.”
The two parted ways and headed to their respective bedrooms.
Chen He hurriedly caught up with Song Yao, carrying a cup of tea. “Seventh Senior Sister, you drank quite a bit earlier. This is hangover tea I brewed myself. It's still warm, so remember to drink some.”
“Thank you.”
She had already drunk the hangover tea from her Fourth Junior Brother, but she couldn't bring herself to reject the kindness of her other junior brother.
Song Yao took the cup and walked inside with sluggish steps.
Before she could take more than a few steps, she suddenly heard a faint rustling inside her room.
She paused. Chen He was taken aback. “What is it?”
Song Yao shook her head. “It's nothing.”
“Then I'll head back to rest. Knock on my door if you need anything.”
“Okay.”
Once Chen He left, Song Yao pushed open the door and entered.
The windows at the back were open, and someone was slumped over the desk.
Moonlight filtered through the window frame, spilling over Chen Qingqiu like scattered silver.
She had likely climbed in through the window; the hairpins at her temples were completely askew.
The tear stains on her face had not yet dried. She raised her head, looking at Song Yao with bleary, drunken eyes, her voice trembling and hoarse. “Master said she wants to move up the wedding date. She wants me and Ye Chang'an to get married this year.”
Song Yao blinked in confusion.
If Sect Master Feng wanted them to get married, why did she come to her room to cry?
Besides, how did the grand Saintess turn into such a crybaby?
She paused for a moment, closed the door behind her, and walked over slowly, placing the hangover tea on the table. “Do you want some tea? I'll sell you a cup for five spirit stones.”
Chen Qingqiu stared blankly, clearly not expecting her to try and strike a deal at a time like this.
Haphazardly pulling a jade token from her spatial pouch, Chen Qingqiu placed it on the table and reached out to pour the tea.
She drank the tea as if she were downing alcohol.
She choked twice, her eyes dropping as her tears fell even faster.
Song Yao glanced at the jade token.
There were twenty thousand spirit stones inside.
As long as the money was there, anything was negotiable.
Fighting off her drowsiness, she sat down across the table, adopting the demeanor of a warm, understanding confidante. “Saintess, you and Ye Chang'an have a marriage contract. Isn't getting married just a matter of time?”
Chen Qingqiu bit her lip, her tears sliding down her jawline and dripping onto her collar, leaving a small damp patch. “I sent people to investigate him. I know exactly what kind of character he has and how he behaves. Who would ever want to marry someone like that?”
Song Yao refilled her cup with hot tea. “Then why didn't you reject the betrothal back then?”
“...”
Chen Qingqiu suddenly looked up at her, tears pooling in her eyes. Her voice trembled with a hint of confusion and resentment she hadn't even noticed herself. “It was all because of your senior sister.”
Song Yao: “?”
The girl's knuckles turned white as she gripped the teacup. “Song Yao loved him so much that she didn't hesitate to turn against her own sect for him. There had to be a reason...”
Song Yao: “...”
Wait, what?
To risk the rest of her life just to find a reason...
Was Chen Qingqiu out of her mind too?
Song Yao choked up, completely at a loss for words. She silently stood up and went to close the window.
Chen Qingqiu slumped back over the desk, muttering drunkenly, “It wasn't entirely because of your Third Senior Sister either. My marriage to Ye Chang'an benefits both Taiqing Pavilion and Beiyao Sect. Besides, besides, I don't dare disobey Master's orders...”
“...Tell me, she was around my age, so how did she have the courage to commit so many outrageous acts?”
“If she were still here, maybe she could have shown me a clear path.”
After closing the window, Song Yao returned and refilled her cup again. Her voice was slightly raspy, carrying a hint of a cold. “She's dead. What kind of path can she show you? Why don't you let me show you instead?”
Chen Qingqiu froze, looking up at her. “You?”
The girl pulled her cloak around herself, her eyes curving into crescents as she spoke with mock seriousness. “How about this? Tell your master to go through with the marriage alliance herself. Who knows, maybe she and Ye Chang'an will hit it off? Or she could hit it off with Ye Chang'an's father instead.”
“Whoever benefits the most should be the one to marry. It's only fair.”
Chen Qingqiu: “...”
Letting... letting Master go through with the marriage alliance?
Isn't that just seeking death?
But why did it sound so reasonable...
While she was struggling to process this, Song Yao was already pushing the door to head out.
In a moment of sheer bewilderment, Chen Qingqiu stammered, “B-But doesn't Ye Chang'an's father already have a wife?”
Song Yao: “Oh, then let your master marry Ye Chang'an's mother instead.”
Chen Qingqiu: “?”
Rate on N.U.
