Yun Qi was unconcerned, “I don’t need to overthink. As long as it’s good for Bing Zhi, I don’t need much consideration.”
Xiao Jin nodded approvingly, “Very well. Rest assured, she hasn’t met Dian and doesn’t know he’s my subordinate, so you can be at ease.”
“I’ll discuss this with Bing Zhi first. Excuse me,” Yun Qi cupped his hands in farewell.
Xiao Jin returned the gesture and left.
Bing Zhi was observing Yun Qi’s changing expression, which seemed unnatural and evasive, as if carrying a heavy burden.
“How are you? Can you bear the long journey?” Yun Qi saw Dian open his eyes, remove his fingers, and hurriedly asked. When Dian finally finished taking his pulse, he inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
Chapter 7 Friend (2)
Dian nodded, “I think there’s no major problem. As long as you don’t travel day and night and get enough rest, you’ll be fine.
Bing Zhi was well cared for by Yun Qi, and Dian saw that his pulse was steady and his complexion good, apparently having been well nourished.
“That’s good, that’s good.” Yun Qi smiled, delighted that Bing Zhi was in good health.
At this moment, someone knocked on the door.
“Come in,” Yun Qi called out.
Yi Mu’er walked in, “Brother Yun, Mother wants you to come over, she has something to discuss.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Yun Qi glanced at Dian, thinking Dian was smart enough not to be tricked into revealing anything, “Alright, I’ll go now. Bing Zhi, please entertain our guest.”
“Okay, go quickly,” Bing Zhi happened to have something to ask this person who claimed to be surnamed Dian.
Yun Qi left with Yi Mu’er, leaving only Bing Zhi and Dian in the room.
Bing Zhi looked Dian up and down, with white hair and a silver robe, elegant and seemingly always smiling, “Are you truly Yun Qi’s friend?”
“Naturally,” Dian answered, having already anticipated Bing Zhi’s suspicions.
Bing Zhi shook her head as if in regret, “Why help them deceive me? I think you’re not surnamed Dian, but simply named Dian – one of the Four Guards.”
“Since you already have the answer in your mind, why ask me?” Dian was not surprised by Bing Zhi’s insight, having long recognized her as exceptionally intelligent.
Bing Zhi seemed to realize something, “Indeed! People can be quite stubborn.”
Dian smiled tolerantly, saying nothing.
“Dian, I hope if your master asks, you’ll tell him I noticed nothing unusual,” Bing Zhi pleaded.
Dian remained noncommittal, never easily making promises, acting only according to his principles.
“Never mind, say what you will. I overestimated myself, thinking I could influence others,” Bing Zhi said with a forced smile after waiting for Dian’s response.
Dian consoled her, “You each have your own fate, which cannot be changed by an outsider like me. I’m simply going with the flow.”
Bing Zhi laughed, “You’re right. There might be predestination, so why force things?”
“Actually, the master cares deeply about you, every day…”
“Would you like some tea? Let me pour it for you,” Bing Zhi interrupted.
Dian understood and stopped, saying he would go bid farewell to the Young Palace Master and then leave.
After passing through the backyard, Dian spoke to say goodbye: “Young Palace Master, there’s no need to see me off further, please stay.”
He could see that Yun Qi was preoccupied.
If he continued to be seen off, he might not even know where he was going.
“Very well, take care.” Yun Qi mustered his spirits and cupped his fists.
Dian nodded, then turned and left with a burst of energy.
Yun Qi muttered to himself: “Is everything really going to be settled?” Although he had comforted Xun Luoxia not to worry, he himself was beginning to feel anxious. He knew that his mother would not say such words casually, but after careful consideration.
Inexplicably, Yun Qi felt a huge unease, overwhelming and impossible to suppress.
“Big brother, what’s wrong? Sitting alone here with a gloomy expression. Is something wrong with sister-in-law?” Yi Mu’er, having prepared lunch and unable to find Yun Qi anywhere, came to the backyard on a hunch. Unexpectedly, Yun Qi was indeed wandering here with a serious expression.
Yun Qi repeatedly calmed his emotions, careful not to get angry at Yi Mu’er, “No, she’s fine. I was just seeing a guest off.”
“Seeing a guest off?” Is this a place for seeing guests off? What’s the front door for?
Yun Qi also seemed to notice something was amiss, “He had an urgent matter, so…”
“No need to explain. I came to tell you it’s time for lunch. Sister-in-law insists on waiting for you.” Yi Mu’er saw through Yun Qi’s lie, “I’m just impatient and couldn’t wait, so I came to urge you.”
Yun Qi heard it was Bing Zhi and quickly stepped forward, “Let’s go then, I’m hungry too.” He absolutely couldn’t let Bing Zhi become suspicious or see through any gaps.
Yun Qi suddenly turned back, smiling apologetically at Yi Mu’er, “Sorry, you’ve been troubling me these days. You must be hungry too? I just heard your stomach complaining.” Yun Qi’s words were half-true and half-false. Yi Mu’er just laughed foolishly, lowered her head, and said nothing more, following Yun Qi.
Yun Qi had indeed heard Yi Mu’er’s words but could only pretend not to, not pointing it out. Since hurt was unavoidable, it was better to hide it. If one didn’t pay too much attention to the wound, the pain would often feel less obvious.
“Bing Zhi, we’ll be setting out in a couple of days. Do you need anything? I’m going out tomorrow, want me to help you pick something up?” Yun Qi and Yi Mu’er arrived in the main hall, where Bing Zhi was already waiting by the dining table.
Three days later.
“The maple leaves were fiery red, and withered leaves rustled down. Unknowingly, it was already late autumn.
“Is everything ready? Are there any oversights?
The horse-drawn carriage was waiting outside, and Yun Qi was confirming with Bing Zhi in the room once again.
Chapter 8: Departure (2)
“Everything is ready, but…” Bing Zhi hesitated, seeming to want to say something but unsure how.
Yun Qi looked at her with an inquiring gaze, as Bing Zhi rarely left her words half-spoken.
Meeting Yun Qi's gaze, Bing Zhi finally spoke: "Mu'er, isn't she coming with us?"
Yun Qi lowered his head and pondered for a moment before slowly saying, "She can't come. I already spoke with her yesterday, and she agreed."
"Is it that simple just because she agreed? Can't you see how much Yi Mu'er wants to come along?"
"Bing Zhi, please don't look at me like that. It's making me very sad. I know you've long had sympathy for Mu'er, and I do too! But what can we do? Keep her in this ambiguous position, living with our family as a so-called sister? As time goes on, what will others think? I'm just doing what's best for her. In a couple of years, she should be of marriageable age. She can't waste her youth here."
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have questioned you. Qi, the longer time passes, the less I can face Mu'er..."
Yun Qi gently put his arm around Bing Zhi’s shoulder. “Perhaps everything is fate. Losing me doesn’t mean Mu’er has lost everything. Once she passes through this phase, perhaps it will be over.” He felt remorse towards Yi Mu’er.
“Come, let’s go. Mother must be waiting.”
Bing Zhi followed Yun Qi out of the room, feeling that Yi Mu’er was hiding nearby, silently watching them.
This was precisely what Xuan Liu hated about him – not getting angry or speaking harshly as if nothing in the world could wipe the smile off his face. She was determined to provoke him.
“I’m truly sorry, I must leave first; she doesn’t know the way,” Dian apologized and hurriedly chased after her.
Bing Zhi watched Dian’s figure and smiled knowingly; it seemed Dian was not as slow-paced as usual.
“Let’s go,” Yun Qi vaguely sensed Xiao Jin hidden somewhere, detecting her because Xiao Jin’s emotions were somewhat turbulent.
