Cooperation? Qin Yunuan raised her eyebrows, her jade eyes slightly slanted, and his tone was a lot weaker, “I don’t seem to understand, Your Highness. I am just a daughter of a concubine. I don’t have the qualification to work with you.”
Though he knew that Qin Yunuan was only flattering, Sima Ray seemed to be extremely satisfied. He leaned closer, “If the second boss of the Golden Butterfly Embroidery House weren’t qualified, then nobody else in the world would have been able to catch my eye.”
Qin Yunuan was not surprised. Instead, she responded very indifferently, “Your Highness has eyes everywhere. But it is a pity that I don’t intend to cooperate with you.”
“I know,” Sima Ray raised his neck with a bit of arrogance, “I’m indeed not economically powerful now. But soon, I have the confidence that I will take over the East Qin’s affairs within three months.”
Sima Ray’s ambitions had never been small. Qin Yunuan was just wondering why he showed it so obviously in front of her. According to his temper, Sima Ray liked to hide it deeply and strike a blow when the enemy lost defense.
Qin Yunuan gave him a casual smile, “You want to seize East Qin’s jurisdiction from General Leng?”
Sima Ray turned sideways, and his tone sounded full of confidence, “In terms of fighting for things, I don’t think I will lose. Whether it’s power or anything else,” Sima Ray paused and glanced at Qin Yunuan with an obscure look. Then he continued, “or women.”
“Is that so?” Qin Yunuan’s black eyebrows shook slightly like willow leaves, and her clear pupils zoomed into the distance. Suddenly she became bright, and the corners of her cherry red lips were glowing. She smiled, “Your Highness, the person you need to find is here. Please speak for yourself.”
Sima Ray froze and looked back again. He discovered that Leng Changxi, who was supposed to be in the outer palace, appeared suddenly in the backyard garden. His lilac clothes with silver linings rang with the wind. He was wearing the signature bat-shaped mask. A fierce and cold light shot out from his eyes, which seemed to be able to penetrate the red cherry and green willow in the early summer and hit the position of Sima Ray’s heart directly.
What Sima Ray cared about was not his eyes, but he felt uncomfortable and unacceptable that Leng Changxi’s appearance was the reason why Qin Yunuan suddenly smiled sincerely.
Qin Yunuan had never shown this kind of smile in front of others.
As Leng Changxi approached, Qin Yunuan realized that he was not alone. He was accompanied by a middle-aged eunuch head. The man saluted towards Qin Yunuan and Sima Ray, then he nodded and bowed to Leng Changxi, “Since this is the case, I will leave it to General Leng. Recently, Imperial Concubine Lu didn’t want to eat or drink, and she couldn’t sleep comfortably. I had to rush back to Yuhua Palace. She is still waiting.”
Talking about Imperial Concubine Lu, this eunuch was honey-lipped when flattering.
Leng Changxi just nodded slightly, “Take care.” Watching the eunuch turned and left the veranda, he slowly raised his eyes and looked at the Qin Yunuan and Sima Ray in front. The crocheted purple collar turned up slightly, and his eyes were as deep as midnight.
Sima Ray was not willing to be outdone. He smiled and greeted, nodding, “It is rare to see General Leng in the inner court. I don’t know which noble person could invite General Leng.”
The eunuch said the name “Lu.” It was nothing more than showing it in front of Qin Yunuan that Sima Ray asked.
“I work for the Emperor.” Leng Changxi didn’t seem to look at Sima Ray. His eyes only lingered on Qin Yunuan ‘s body. He saw the two alone from a long distance. He felt uncomfortable as if he had eaten spoiled honey, and it stuck in his heart. As an official, he should normally leave the harem as soon as possible. But something led him here. He hadn’t seen his little hedgehog for a while.
Leng Changxi raised his eyebrows again, and continued impolitely to Sima Ray, “It’s like how you work for the Empress.”
After all, Sima Ray was a dog who did things according to the Empress’s expression.
Sima Ray frowned slightly. At the end of the winding corridor, there suddenly appeared an unfamiliar eunuch. He hurried over and said to Sima Ray, “Prince Ray, the Empress has something urgent. She is waiting in the painting hall.”
Leng Changxi couldn’t help but sneer.
Sima Ray waved to the eunuch, “Okay, I’ll go right away.” After that, he held back the tides rising in his heart, performed a humble salute towards Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi, and turned away.
After Sima Ray left, Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi were left alone. Under the wisteria trellis, next to the lotus pond, and between the flowing fragrance, Leng Changxi’s eyes softened. He stared at Qin Yunuan, who also stared into his eyes. His shadow guards had scattered around to prevent others from coming, so he approached boldly to look at Qin Yunuan’s slightly grunted mouth. His heart was filled with unspeakable joy.
“What’s wrong? You miss me too much?” Years of living in the military camp made Leng Changxi’s expression bold and straightforward.
Crimson clouds rolled up on Qin Yunuan’s cheeks. She turned her head and looked away, “We just said about the Empress, and then she sent someone. General Leng’s premeditation was too meticulous.”
“I didn’t do it,” Leng Changxi shrugged, “Do you think I would be happy to deal with those snobbish eunuchs?”
Yeah, people like Leng Changxi always disdained these little details.
Surprised, Qin Yunuan saw Shangguan Yee on the other side of the pond, gesturing while tipping winks to her. She intended to tell her that the plan was proceeding as originally planned.
Qin Yunuan took the signal and didn’t care much. Leng Changxi, who stood aside, said leisurely, “When did you get involved with the young lady of Shangguan Family?”
Qin Yunuan hesitated. She thought that in others’ eyes, she seemed to be the loser with Shangguan Yee. But Leng Changxi then said, “I kind of sympathizing with her. Don’t work too hard on calculation. Shangguan Yuan just lost his son.”
“I didn’t,” Qin Yunuan argued, “In General Leng’s mind, am I such a woman?”
Leng Changxi smiled and stepped closer. The distance between the two was as close as the length of two fists. Qin Yunuan seemed to feel Leng Changxi’s steady and powerful heartbeat which intertwined with her own thumping heartbeat.
“You are,” Leng Changxi joked, “otherwise you won’t come to this poetry fiesta for choosing princess after stealing my heart.”
“I don’t have to be selected when I come. And besides, I have never thought of being in a royal family.” Qin Yunuan’s tone was eager, and she seemed to want to explain to Leng Changxi desperately. She was afraid that there might be any misunderstanding.
After the words, she realized how impatient she was.
Leng Changxi smiled, “Okay. Since you are so anxious to explain to me, I should believe you have me in your heart.”
She didn’t mean that. Okay, she did behave like that just now.
“Actually,” Qin Yunuan stretched her voice. Her slender, white index finger circled around the ancient wood-colored column on the winding corridor. “I think the Fourth Prince is not bad. He is a bit stupid but honest.”
“He?” Leng Changxi raised an eyebrow, “There are already seven or eight maidens in Han’s palace. You would be the ninth once if you were in.”
“Then First Prince would also be good,” Qin Yunuan said like she was counting treasures, “Humble, and he has a good appearance. It is even rarer to have filial piety and ambition.”
“The most terrible thing is to have filial piety,” Leng Changxi contained his laughter. He knew what Qin Yunuan meant, but he was willing to talk her down slowly, “Are you sure that you could get Imperial Concubine Yun to like you? Besides, how good-looking is he?” Leng Changxi lowered his voice, “You have seen my face. When it comes to good-looking, he is not as good as me.”
She had never seen such a confident person. Though Leng Changxi was telling the truth.
Qin Yunuan smiled, “However bad it is, there is still Third Prince.”
Leng Changxi turned his face and only tossed a sentence, “No way!”
“In your words, I wouldn’t have anything to do with the royals,” Qin Yunuan was talking from spite.
Leng Changxi touched the smooth edge of his mask and said slowly, “Although Prince Ning doesn’t have the same family name as the royal princes’, my grandmother was born in the mansion of Duke Jingguo. I should be considered that as relations to the royals.”
The conversation went back and forth and finally landed on the spot that Leng Changxi wanted. Qin Yunuan knew, but she couldn’t misbehave in the inner court of the palace. She turned her head and said, “General Leng, do you also speak to other girls in the same manner?”
Leng Changxi said, “I don’t talk to other girls.”
…
Qin Yunuan moved her eyes away awkwardly. Then she saw Shangguan Yee on the other side of the pond suddenly fell by the rockery. Her movements were stiff, and people with sharp eyes could see it through that she was faking at a glance. But those girls who were traveling together were anxious. All of them crowded up and asked if she was painful and needed an imperial doctor.
“No need,” Shangguan Yee said with tears in her eyes, “It’s just my ankle. By the way, isn’t there a painting hall nearby? I’ll just go and rest.”
Seeing the group of people heading towards the painting hall on the east side, Qin Yunuan knew that Shangguan Yee’s plan was coming to an end.
Leng Changxi also saw it through. Firstly, he had no interest in these little fights between girls. Secondly, he was aware of his little hedgehog’s ability. He didn’t need to worry about this kind of trivial matter.
“I can’t stay too long,” Leng Changxi ‘s words were reluctant. He was unsure how long the two would wait for such a private talk again.
Qin Yunuan was slightly startled. She simply saluted to Leng Changxi. Watching him leave, there seemed to be a feeling of nostalgia in her heart. She sighed, turned his head, and followed the crowd to the painting hall.
Although she didn’t like to use dirty tricks to harm others, she wouldn’t want to miss the excitement.
