“But…” Xiao Yao said, “According to what you said, he should have been with Lin Cheng. How could he…”
“As long as Tian Mei is not dead, escaping from Lin Cheng’s hands would not be difficult.”
“Xie Ying paused before continuing, “Although we are all hall masters, we have never met. Lin Cheng trusted no one and never gave us a chance to meet privately. I was always outside, while Tian Mei was inside. I know Tian Mei had two extremely powerful little demons by his side. Since the rebellion, they have disappeared along with Tian Mei, with no further news.”
“Based on what you’ve said, he likely wants to make a comeback using the ‘Immortal Ice Flower,” Cold Ao Hun said, laughing lightly. “Even the Blue Flame Order cannot investigate all information.”
“Tian Mei has always been invisible. Even within the cult, I have never seen his true face,” Xie Ying said with a sarcastic laugh. “Lin Cheng was cunning, but he made a mistake with Tian Mei. If Lin Cheng didn’t die, it would have been at Tian Mei’s hands. Tian Mei seeks revenge, and Lin Cheng brought it upon himself!”
“This means gathering information about him will be extremely difficult,” Cold Ao Hun said, showing melancholy. “If we want to investigate, we can only start from the rebellion three years ago. It will take time and effort, and we can only wait.”
“Can we stay in Yin Ri without problems?” Xiao Yao’s brow furrowed after hearing Xie Ying’s words.
“No problem!”
Afraid they might suggest returning to Ice Snow Mountain, I said, “Danger is everywhere. Returning to Ice Snow Mountain won’t be much safer. Even if Yin Ri is dangerous, there’s a saying that ‘the most dangerous place is the safest place.’ So staying here is the correct choice.”
“I have a question,” the little rascal said, laughing embarrassedly. “If Tian Mei wants to obtain the ‘Immortal Ice Flower’, why spread this news? What good would it do him?”
Everyone frowned, unable to come up with a reasonable explanation. Finally, Xie Ying said, “Tian Mei always acts differently. He definitely has his own reasons, and it’s beneficial. As for what those reasons are… we’ll know in the future.”
“Ah… this person seems very complicated!” the little rascal sighed, feeling tired, and fell asleep.
“The place you found is good,” Cold Ao Hun remarked as he looked around, nodding.
“This house was found by my brother. He’s familiar with real estate. The owner built it but had to sell it due to some matter. We found a ready-made good house,” Qiao Ruo Feng added, smiling.
“Mm, it’s very good!” even the usually picky little rascal praised, “The house is spacious, and the layout is beautiful.”
“Did you see the small building on the west side?” Huo Ling Yun interjected with a light laugh. “There’s a small platform there, facing a lake outside the city. The scenery is wonderful. If…”
“Brother Huo wants to place a guqin for Ai Ai there,” Xiao Yao finished. “The location is just perfect. The view is open, the mood relaxed. The music played would surely be more moving!”
Looking around, I realized it was indeed a nice new home.
“Xiao Ai, you’re awake.” Nan Gong Mo was the first to see me, smiling and pointing. “How’s that place?”
“It’s great!” I replied, looking up at the small raised corner reflecting in the setting sun. “I want to live right there.”
“That small building doesn’t have a name yet, right?” Xie Ying asked Xiao Yao with a slight smile. “How about asking the scholarly Fourth Prince to name it?”
“…Let’s choose something fitting – ‘Wan Xi Lou’ (Capturing the Sunset Building). How’s that?” Xiao Yao suggested.
“Very appropriate!” Leng Ao Hun said. “What do you think, Ai’er?”
“Yao, you’re amazing! How did you come up with such a beautiful name! ‘Wan Xi’… so beautiful!” I exclaimed, hugging Xiao Yao and giving her a kiss.
“Cough cough…” Without looking, she knew whose cough it was.
“Cloud, a kiss for you!” Jumping to Huo Ling Yun’s side, she noticed the unfriendly expressions of the others and addressed each of them, “Mo, Ruo Feng, Han, Cloud, Yao, Ying, Hun, you’ve worked hard!” After calling out their names, she felt exhausted. They wouldn’t let her call them “husbands,” claiming it wasn’t respectful, so she opted for their names instead.
“Xiao Ai, are you hungry?” Nan Gong Mo knew her well and anticipated her desire to eat.
“Mm, is there food?” Pregnancy had increased her appetite, and she worried about gaining too much weight after giving birth.
“My little love, this time you definitely won’t complain,” the little rascal said confidently.
“Oh? Did you hire a chef? You’re all so happy not having to cook.” Her excitement grew as she spotted the large round table filled with food, “This… all my favorite dishes!”
“My little love, these were prepared by the royal chefs sent by the Second Prince. Do you like them?” The little rascal’s eyes sparkled with delight at not having to deal with cooking.
“Hiring royal chefs – your Second Prince brother is so thoughtful, helping us with practical matters as soon as we arrived.”
Yu Ran was surprisingly considerate.
Seeing the little rascal’s laugh, she understood he had secretly run back to the palace to request chefs. After enduring much, they might as well enjoy the conditions—after all, he was a prince.
Before sleeping, she stood in the small corner pavilion, looking out at the serene grass field and broad lake outside the courtyard, which was clean and devoid of boats.
Big Brother said he wants to come to Yinri to find rare medicine and oversee business here. Except for their ill mother, who could not endure the journey, Yu Ran and her elder sister came to Yinri country, leaving only a younger sister in Chiyan country to manage things.
“Oh, you have an elder sister and a younger sister!”
“Yes!”
“Thank goodness it’s not an elder brother and younger brother…” the little rascal muttered, quickly covering his mouth when he noticed her glare.
“Since we’re here, let’s look around casually.” She guided the three of them to explore the house. It was spacious with many rooms. As she walked, she noticed something strange. “Mo, did you buy some maids?” There were at least twenty maids and servants stationed throughout the large house.
“Not bought…”
“Nan Gong Mo hadn’t finished speaking when the little rascal interrupted.
“They are all palace women from the royal palace. Because the house is large and Little Ai is pregnant, Brother Wang specially assigned them here to serve.” The little rascal smiled sweetly, clearly having arranged this himself.
“Have you named this mansion?” Qiao Ruos asked.
“Usually, we’d use a surname, but with seven husbands of different surnames, it would seem like they’re live-in sons-in-law, which doesn’t feel right.”
“Hehe, you can figure this out,” Qiao Ruos said, noticing the furrowed brows of the seven. He quickly changed the subject. “Liu Li, didn’t you want Little Ai to play a piece? Today is a good opportunity.”
“Yes!” Tang Liu Li smiled. “Little Ai, I’ve heard about you in Chiyan country, known as the ‘White Flower Fairy’, talented and beautiful. I hope you can play a piece for me.”
“Since you want to hear, I’ll definitely play for you!” Everyone went to the Wan Xi Lou, facing the broad lake, and asked Tang Liu Li, “What would you like to hear?”
“I heard you have a piece called ‘Thinking of You, Can’t Sleep’.”
“Great! Originally, I sang this song because of thinking about Nan Gong Mo.”
Looking at the people before me sparked my enthusiasm. I touched my belly and smiled, “It’s very beneficial for the baby to listen to more music.”
