Chapter 117
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On that evening, Lin Qingyang had arranged for people to decorate the paintings and had prepared some gifts. Chu Lishu continued to accompany Tagan, and Xinyue did not come to find Lin Qingyang. However, Lin Qingyang was called over by his mother.
After listening to his mother and Lin Qinglan talk for a long time, it finally dawned on him. Lin Qingyang smiled and waved his hand, saying, “I was just entertaining guests. After they return to their hometown, I don’t know if there will be another chance for them to come. It’s really not what you guys are thinking.”
Surprisingly, County Princess Yawen and Lin Qinglan were trying to match him with Xinyue. They didn’t know Xinyue’s identity, but seeing that Xinyue’s brother had also come, they thought that if possible, they would take this opportunity to mention it.
Lin Qingyang was truly amused by their ability to randomly pair people up. How could he be with Xinyue? Not to mention that he only saw Xinyue as a sister, let alone her originally intended identity. Lin Qingyang would absolutely not take any risks. Even in the future, if he were to marry, he wouldn’t consider choosing a wife from the harem of the original male lead in the story. Wouldn’t that be equivalent to poaching someone else’s territory?
Lin Qingyang reassured them, but they wore expressions of concern. Clearly, they were worried that Lin Qingyang might eventually bend to their suggestions. Lin Qingyang couldn’t explain, so he could only tacitly accept it.
After returning from his mother’s courtyard, hearing that Chu Lishu was going to have a late-night talk with Tagan, Lin Qingyang thought that Chu Lishu wouldn’t come back. So, he went to bed early. However, as he drifted off to sleep, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being embraced. The embrace was so comfortable and warm that Lin Qingyang didn’t have the heart to struggle against it.
Chu Lishu lowered his head and looked at Lin Qingyang, who was peacefully lying in his arms. His heart felt full and warm.
Everything was going smoothly; the layout of the Western Moon Country had already begun. Soon, he would have the support of the Western Moon Country, and he was overjoyed. Unable to resist the urge to share his happiness, even though he couldn’t say anything, Chu Lishu wanted to be by Lin Qingyang’s side when he was happy.
Clearly, one more hour and it would be dawn, clearly Tagan was not sleeping and already tidying up on the other side, Chu Lishu should have come to wake Lin Qingyang.
However, looking at the peaceful sleeping figure of Lin Qingyang in bed, Chu Lishu couldn’t resist getting onto the bed as well, embracing Lin Qingyang. His heart rested for a moment, slowing down despite the fact that dawn was approaching.
An hour later, Shuncai came to wake them.
Lin Qingyang woke up in a daze and saw Chu Lishu sitting at the bedside, organizing clothes. He turned around, beaming at Lin Qingyang. The orange light of the morning sun slipped through the window, shining on Chu Lishu. It was ethereal and beautiful, with a hint of mist in his eyes, as if the softest water in the world was gently rippling.
For a moment, Lin Qingyang was captivated. Suddenly, inspiration struck, and he knew how to paint Chu Lishu’s eyes.
“Are you awake? Cousin, it’s time to see off the guests,” Chu Lishu said with a faint smile.
Lin Qingyang nodded absentmindedly. As soon as Chu Lishu left the room, he immediately jumped out of bed without bothering to put on clothes. He pulled out a scroll and began to paint, not stopping until he captured the tender gaze in those eyes, making the character come to life.
The phoenix-shaped eyes, naturally curved from the eyelids down, with distinct black and white pupils, exuded extraordinary charm. At first glance, they seemed clear and harmless, inviting people in without any defenses, and generating a fondness in the heart. However, upon closer inspection, the upturned corners of the eyes seemed like hooks that could captivate the heart, making it difficult to look away.
Lin Qingyang stared at the portrait, lost in thought. He believed that someone with such eyes would never become the tyrant Emperor Zhoulu from his memories.
After finishing breakfast, it was time to set off.
Lin Qingyang and Chu Lishu were very polite, escorting the guests all the way to the city gate.
When it was time to say goodbye, Lin Qingyang approached the carriage and knocked on the window. Xinyue hadn’t spoken a word throughout the journey, and Lin Qingyang was genuinely concerned for her. Seeing her open the carriage window, looking at him with a melancholic expression, he thought she might still not want to go home. He smiled and handed over the painting, along with some snacks Lin Qinglan had made, for her to eat on the way.
Xinyue’s heart was already tormented by the parting, and now it softened even more. “Thank you for taking care of me during this time,” she said.
Lin Qingyang smiled gently, exchanged a few words, and then went to bid farewell to Tagan.
Xinyue gazed at the gifts for a while, but ultimately didn’t say anything. The convoy started moving slowly, and to prevent his sister from feeling sad, Tagan got on the carriage and kept her company.
“We’ll have a chance to meet again in the future. But Fifth Brother suggests that you should try to shift your focus and find someone else. Young Master Lin already has someone in his heart; he only sees you as a sister.”
“I… I know. I just… think he’s really good, so I like him a lot…”
Tagan patted Xinyue’s head, comforting her. “I think Chu Lishu is not bad either. You can consider him.”
Xinyue cast a disdainful glance at Tagan. Apparently, her brother was still unaware that those two were a couple. But it made sense; they wouldn’t openly disclose that information. Lin Qingyang had vehemently denied any romantic involvement, yet in the blink of an eye, he was behaving intimately with Chu Lishu. If the first kiss could be excused as unconscious, the second time and the various signs afterward left no room for excuses.
As her brother continued to speak favorably of Chu Lishu, Xinyue felt a headache coming on.
“Look at him, even though he’s feeling unwell due to allergies, he still insisted on coming to see us. What a nice person.”
“Allergies?” Xinyue asked in confusion.
“Exactly! Yesterday, I saw so many red marks on his neck. When I asked, he said it was from allergies. I even gave him the prescription for treating allergies from our Western Moon Country. I wonder if he’s feeling better today.”
Xinyue retorted, “Brother, you’re really foolish. That’s not allergies. Allergies wouldn’t make someone move awkwardly, walk unsteadily, and feel sore all over.”
Tagan puzzledly said, “What are you talking about? Don’t curse him. He was perfectly fine yesterday, no issues at all. He didn’t get hurt when he saved us. If it were that serious, would I let them send us off? Didn’t you see how confidently he rode the horse today? Such a heroic figure.”
Xinyue’s face changed dramatically, her eyes darting around. She grabbed Tagan’s arm urgently and asked, “Brother, you just said Lin Qingyang has someone he loves. Who told you that?”
Tagan was momentarily stunned, feeling a bit embarrassed and shy. “Wasn’t it all because of you. That night when I encountered Chu Lishu, I unintentionally heard it from him…”
“They’re gone,” Lin Qingyang, on horseback, watched the departing carriage and sighed, “I don’t know when we’ll meet again. I hope everything goes well for them.”
“Yeah, it will,” Chu Lishu smiled.
“By the way, in the future, when we have the chance, how about traveling to the Western Moon Country together?” Lin Qingyang suddenly suggested.
Chu Lishu looked at Lin Qingyang with some confusion. Lin Qingyang, however, was incredibly serious. “I heard from Xinyue that it’s a very beautiful place. I want to go and see it.”
Chu Lishu thought for a moment and nodded, saying, “Sure.”
A wave of excitement surged through Lin Qingyang. He wondered if this agreement represented a promise that he wouldn’t bring disaster to the Western Moon Country.
As he was contemplating this, suddenly, from a distance, came the furious shouts of a woman, startling the horse beneath him.
Lin Qingyang looked in astonishment at the continuing carriage. It seemed as though a red figure had emerged from the carriage window, yelling loudly in their direction. However, it looked like only half of the person had made it out; something inside seemed to be holding them back.
Intermittent shouts drifted through the wind.
“Chu Lishu… liar… scoundrel… bastard… I curse you… just you wait!” The curses continued endlessly until they faded away completely.
Lin Qingyang stared in disbelief. “Why does it sound like Xinyue was cursing you? What happened? She seemed fine when she left just now.” In fact, Lin Qingyang felt that their relationship had improved significantly.
“Maybe she found something out,” Chu Lishu said, a slight smile forming on his lips.
“Found out about what?”
“I just told a few harmless lies to tease her, to make her leave without worries,” Chu Lishu said with a smile.
“Huh?”
Meanwhile, two messages echoed in Lin Qingyang’s mind.
【Side Quest: Assist the male lead in gaining Prince Tagan’s trust. Quest successful. Reward: 30 points. Total points: 131. Story progress: 35%.】
【Side Quest: Assist the male lead in making Princess Xinye have a favorable impression. Quest failed. Deducting 30 points. Total points: 101. Keep trying.】
Lin Qingyang: … What did he hear? Plus thirty and minus thirty? He went around busily for nothing?
Lin Qingyang covered his pounding heart, feeling like he was going to cough up blood.
Thirty points! Thirty! He could have gained sixty in total.
What kind of tricky maneuver did the male lead pull off?
Stimulated by the shock, Lin Qingyang looked at Chu Lishu. “What on earth did you do to her?”
“It’s nothing important. Anyway, she’s already gone,” Chu Lishu’s smile grew wider.
Lin Qingyang: !!! What are you smiling for?! Do you know your wife is gone?
Chu Lishu, however, grabbed Lin Qingyang’s horse reins and turned him around. In a very good mood, he swayed towards the city.
…
The next few days were relatively leisurely. On the day before entering the palace, Marquis An Nan brought Lin Qingwei to the other courtyard.
Since Lin Qingyang had been staying in the other courtyard and showed no intention of returning to the Marquis’s residence, Chu Lishu had also been led over by him. It wouldn’t do to have the palace carriage pick them up at the other courtyard tomorrow. It would be embarrassing to not even stop at the gate of the Marquis’s residence.
So Marquis An Nan didn’t send a message; he came directly to pick them up, bringing Lin Qingwei along to visit County Princess Yawen.
Lin Qingwei had been sulking on her own, refusing to visit since everyone moved to the other courtyard. It had been a long time since she last saw County Princess Yawen.
Lin Qingyang didn’t know whether his daughter truly wanted to see her mother or not. However, when he saw her eyes turn red at the sight of her mother still bedridden, he felt a bit relieved.
First, the three women inside caught up on things.
Outside, Lin Qingyang chatted with Marquis An Nan.
At first, Marquis An Nan, like a father, inquired about Lin Qingyang’s recent situation. However, the conversation soon shifted.
“In the palace, it’s different from the outside. Speak less and observe more. Don’t be overly competitive or assertive. Sometimes, a casual remark can cost someone their head,” Marquis An Nan advised.
Lin Qingyang found the advice reasonable and nodded in agreement.
“The Fourth Prince is still young. Spend time playing and studying with him. If you have a chance to showcase yourself in front of the Emperor, be cautious. Winning the Emperor’s favor is not a simple matter. Also, keep an eye on the situations of the three princes. Understand the changing dynamics in the palace and, if you get any crucial information, make sure to inform me promptly,” Marquis An Nan continued.
Hearing this, Lin Qingyang directly asked, “Father, whose side are you really on? Tell me first, so I have a clear understanding.”
“Of course, I’m on the Emperor’s side. However, we must also consider the future, so I only want you to observe and not take any action. If you want long-term development, you must be patient,” Marquis An Nan advised his son in this way for the first time. “Before, your mental state was not stable, and I didn’t teach you properly. But now, you must understand that you’re not alone. You represent our Marquis An Nan’s residence. Our fortunes and losses are tied together, so be cautious in your words and actions in the palace.”
Lin Qingyang didn’t refute. Despite Marquis An Nan’s shortcomings as a husband and father, Lin Qingyang admired his cautious and careful approach in this matter.
“As for Chu Lishu… his talents are indeed rare. He can be considered half a member of Marquis An Nan’s residence. However, all of his close relatives have died, and he doesn’t have much emotional connection with us. In the future, he may not be easy to control. If you are getting close to him now, you should also be cautious. If you want to fully utilize him, unless…” Marquis An Nan paused.
Lin Qingyang listened with curiosity, and then Marquis An Nan continued, “Add more personal ties.”
Lin Qingyang was momentarily stunned, not immediately grasping the meaning.
Marquis An Nan was actually scrutinizing his expression, and seeing that he didn’t show any signs of anger, he continued, “You still have two sisters… If Chu Lishu performs well in the palace, with limitless potential in the future, both of your sisters could be considered as potential wives for him. Strengthening the personal ties, he will become entirely part of our Marquis An Nan’s residence.”
Lin Qingyang nearly sprayed tea all over Marquis An Nan’s face. He thought that his father indeed had some bold ideas, but it was also reasonable. There must be many people trying to win Chu Lishu over, and there would be those seeking marital alliances. Marquis An Nan was probably acting in response to the situation.
However, he couldn’t help but wonder if the original Marquis An Nan had similar thoughts about Chu Lishu.
Thinking about Chu Lishu’s true identity and then considering Marquis An Nan’s plans, he found it somewhat amusing. It was like dreaming of making a future king his son-in-law, a daydream that would never come true.
“Father, cousin is a very determined person. As you mentioned, he has no close relatives left, so no one in this world can influence his marriage. Whether my two sisters can marry him or not depends on whether Chu Lishu agrees.”
Marquis An Nan frowned slightly. He was uncertain about the relationship between the two. He had just wanted to test the waters. His family couldn’t tolerate such scandals, but he also wanted to keep Chu Lishu. Marrying off his daughters seemed to be the best solution.
In Marquis An Nan’s view, his son was a tough character, not easy to handle. However, Chu Lishu had always behaved well. As an uncle, he felt that if he proposed the idea, the chances of success would be high. The biggest obstacle here was the relationship between Lin Qingyang and Chu Lishu.
However, Marquis An Nan was not in a hurry. By bringing up the topic now, he was giving Lin Qingyang a warning, making him aware that Chu Lishu might be his future brother-in-law. Therefore, he should not cross any boundaries and avoid leaving any scandals.
“I will naturally respect his wishes, so when you have the chance, drop him a hint. Strengthening personal ties is a good thing, and he probably won’t refuse,” Marquis An Nan advised. “You must understand the principle of not letting the fertile water flow into others’ fields. Don’t let him become someone else’s pawn and be used against us.”
Lin Qingyang gave a dry laugh. He couldn’t be bothered to respond.
However, taking this opportunity, Lin Qingyang wanted to inquire more about Concubine Liu from Marquis An Nan. He was afraid that discussing Concubine Liu with County Princess Yawen might upset her, so Lin Qingyang had only been able to gather some information from Nanny Ding.
Lin Qingyang was well aware that his partner’s lineage was not favored by the Emperor. In case of any trouble or incident, he needed to understand the Emperor’s current sentiments towards Concubine Liu.
However, Marquis An Nan’s expression became somewhat subtle. “Try not to mention the deceased, and don’t use Concubine Liu’s weight in the Emperor’s heart as leverage. Be cautious, or it might backfire. You must understand the principle of accompanying the monarch is like accompanying a tiger. Who can guess what the Emperor is thinking at any given moment?”
Lin Qingyang found this strange. Could it be that the Emperor’s feelings ran so deep that even mentioning Concubine Liu’s name after her death would disturb him? Was it because she was the sole favorite, and any reference to her would make the Emperor uncomfortable?
This could complicate matters.
At this moment, there was a messenger outside, reporting that Chu Lishu had returned. Chu Lishu had been out on business, which was why he hadn’t been present earlier. Marquis An Nan checked the time and thought it was time to leave. He entered the inner room to have a talk with County Princess Yawen.
Their previous farewell was equivalent to cutting off emotional ties, so Yawen hadn’t thought much about him. She was merely maintaining formal courtesy in front of their children.
“You look in good spirits. Has there been an improvement in your condition?” Marquis An Nan inquired with concern.
Yawen replied, “Thank you for your concern, Marquis. After coming here, I have indeed improved a lot.”
Actually, the effects of the ginseng pills had been ongoing, and Lin Qingyang couldn’t help but marvel at the efficacy of the medicine that cost him fifty points. However, he knew that his condition would eventually deteriorate, so he needed to accumulate more points and wait for the appearance of the male lead’s master.
“That puts my mind at ease. I’ll gather some more tonics for you later. If there’s anything else you need here, I’ll make sure to procure it for you,” Marquis An Nan said. While speaking, he glanced around the room, and his gaze lingered briefly on the Buddha painting on the wall before quickly moving away.
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