Spring arrives and the land smiles

In the past few days, Qingyan has been completely conquered by the pastries of Immortal Doctor Valley. She naturally did not miss the steamed cakes and glutinous rice balls on the table, while Yunxuan, who does not like sweets, simply accompanied her to drink some fragrant osmanthus tea.

The two haven't shared a room since that night they counted the stars. Qingyan cherishes the little romance in the attic, while Yunxuan watches over her on the soft couch downstairs.

It was getting late. After eating and freshening up, Qingyan went upstairs to count the stars. Yunxuan, afraid that he would be reluctant to come down once he went up, could only hold a book and count words downstairs.

As Qingyan counted the stars, she grew tired. She closed her eyes and drowsiness washed over her, but suddenly she heard a loud bang downstairs. The sound was not loud, but the starry night was quiet, and it instantly swept away Qingyan's sleepiness.

Qingyan quickly ran downstairs and saw Yunxuan curled up on the ground in pain, with overturned tables and chairs around him.

"Yunxuan." Qingyan hurriedly helped him up, only to find that he was burning hot and unconscious.

"Yan...er..." The moment Qingyan got close, the girl's fragrance immediately entered Yunxuan's senses. As if stimulated, Yunxuan suddenly turned over and pressed Qingyan down on his body.

"Yunxuan, what's wrong with you?" Yunxuan was very strong, and his pressure made her shoulders ache.

"Don't move..." Yun Xuan endured it, struggling to control his movements, his face contorted with pain.

After a long struggle, Yunxuan finally released Qingyan, panting heavily: "Go find... the Ghost Doctor."

"Okay." Qingyan immediately got up from the ground and rushed out the door.

Qingyan was in such a hurry that she made a big fuss, and the Ghost Doctor and Granny Yun arrived together.

At this moment, Yunxuan had calmed down and was sitting cross-legged on the soft couch, circulating his qi.

Qingyan hurriedly ran over, and the Ghost Doctor and Granny Yun exchanged a glance before taking Yunxuan's pulse.

"This amount is quite generous," the Ghost Doctor chuckled, looking at Granny Yun as he spoke.

"I did it on purpose," Granny Yun said with a smug smile.

"Old rascal, grandma, what's going on?" Qingyan was very worried because Yunxuan's body was still burning up even though he had stabilized.

"It's nothing serious, just a case of being poisoned by a drug," the Ghost Doctor said calmly.

"W-what? Drunk?" Qingyan felt as if she had been struck by lightning. "Old rascal, why is this?"

Qingyan remembered that "Drunkenness" was a unique aphrodisiac recently developed by the Ghost Doctor, and its effects were extremely potent. One had to become intimate with a woman under the influence of "Drunkenness" within an hour, otherwise…

"Senior Ghost Doctor, you..." Yun Xuan clenched his fists and pressed them against his chest, coughing violently a few times.

"Enjoy it." The Ghost Doctor squinted and patted Yunxuan's shoulder.

"It's up to you." Granny Yun placed a pill in Qingyan's hand.

The two left the small bamboo house, considerately closing the door behind them.

Unlike other aphrodisiacs that cause loss of mind, "Dieqing" and "Hanzui" only cause a brief period of madness at first, after which the person becomes no different from an ordinary person.

Therefore, it is entirely up to her to decide; Yunxuan will never lose his temper and force her.

Qingyan looked at the dark red pill in her hand, then at Yunxuan whose flushed face was fading, and swallowed the pill without hesitation.

"Yan'er!" Yunxuan stopped her.

Qingyan's mind went blank for a moment, and she deliberately said, "I was already prepared when we were looking at the stars in the attic that day. I didn't expect you to be so clueless. Well, I'm a girl, you..." Then, blushing, she reached out to take his hand.

"Yan'er!" Upon hearing this, Yunxuan was overjoyed and pulled Qingyan into his arms.

Qingyan hugged Yunxuan back, burying her head in the crook of his shoulder, her eyes filled with determination:

Yunxuan, what I owed you before, I'll repay today.

Yunxuan kissed her forehead, eyebrows, and the corners of her eyes, his carefulness heartbreaking. Qingyan simply tiptoed, climbed onto his neck, and kissed his lips fiercely, their kisses lingering and tender, as if they would continue like this until the end of the world, endless kisses being the beginning.

A kiss completely broke the taboo between the two.

Qingyan was lifted up and carried to the pavilion, gently placed on the couch, her hair loosened, her long, dark hair spreading across half the bed.

Yunxuan undressed her and casually tossed her clothes off the bed. He stopped when he saw the modified little bodice, his hand gently caressing it. Touching Qingyan's sensitive spot, she trembled slightly.

"Yunxuan..." Qingyan's voice had a touch of allure, like a ripple spreading across water.

"Jiaojiao, this name suits you so well. Your face is flushed with shyness, your waist is slender and graceful, your beauty is so lovely." Yunxuan was captivated by her.

"You use your talent for romantic musings, aren't you ashamed?" Qingyan said coquettishly.

"What use is fame and talent if you treat me like this every day? I don't want anything else."

Yunxuan's words were so explicit that Qingyan was so embarrassed that she burrowed into his arms.

The starry sky remains the same, the fragrance of flowers remains the same, and the scenery is just right.

The next day, Qingyan woke up at three-quarters past Chen Shi (7:45 AM). Surprisingly, she wasn't awakened by the morning sunlight streaming in through the skylight; she must have been sleeping very soundly.

"Hmm..." Qingyan murmured softly, slowly reaching out from under the covers to cover her eyes.

Suddenly, a warm body pressed against her, and burning lips pressed down.

"Hmm..." Again? He was up until the early hours of last night, isn't he tired?

"Yan'er..." Yunxuan was clearly moved.

Well, he's always been pampered by Yunxuan, so let's indulge him this once we have the chance.

"Yan'er, who am I?" Yunxuan's question struck Qingyan's soul.

“You are Yunxuan…my Yunxuan.”

When the two woke up again, it was already noon.

Qingyan struggled to stay upright and quickly grabbed her clothes from under the bed to put them on, but Yunxuan kept staring at her, making her blush.

"Close your eyes, turn around, and do not look at what is improper."

“It’s not about not looking at what is improper, I’m looking rightfully.” Yunxuan reached out to help her put on her clothes, and casually touched her through her undergarment.

"Lust is a knife above one's head." Qingyan slapped his hand away.

"Such a beauty, I should offer my neck for slaughter." Yunxuan had a thick skin.

Qingyan glared at him, picked up the clothes from the ground and threw them at Yunxuan: "Hurry up and put them on, I'll wait for you downstairs."

The two men, concerned about the messenger at the post station, packed their things and then bid farewell to everyone.

"It's done?" The Ghost Doctor smiled ambiguously at Chao Yunxuan.

"Thank you, senior." Yunxuan bowed deeply.

Granny Yun handed Qingyan a small porcelain bottle: "Now you have no more unspeakable troubles, right? This medicine can come in handy."

"Thank you, Mother-in-law." Qingyan bowed deeply as well.

"Young Master Luo, thank you for saving Yan'er. Farewell." Yun Xuan said goodbye to Luo Qing, who was standing next to Granny Yun.

"You're too kind, Lord Fu. Farewell." Luo Qing returned the greeting, but her eyes dimmed when she looked at Qing Yan.

It takes about half a day to travel from Immortal Doctor Valley to the post station. Yunxuan accompanied Qingyan in the carriage, but in Qingyan's eyes, it was clearly an attempt to take advantage of her.

Upon hearing that the two great deities had returned, the messenger hurriedly requested an audience. Qingyan straightened his clothes and told him to wait in the front hall.

The messenger presented the letter and withdrew.

The seal on the clay is the private seal of Prince Rui, Qing Huan.

I have always corresponded with my brother through the guards of Lingfeng Pavilion, so why is the official post station being used this time?

Qingyan was puzzled, so she quickly opened it to take a look.

A moment later, Qingyan was greatly surprised.

Yunxuan noticed Qingyan's unusual behavior, took the letter from her hand to examine it, and was also greatly surprised.

"Go and call Sicheng in," Qingyan instructed Zhui'er, who was waiting nearby.

"Sicheng, has something happened to Lingfeng Pavilion?"

"Your Highness, after the assassination attempt that day, I tried to contact the Lingfeng Pavilion's branch in Yushan, but unfortunately, I couldn't reach them no matter what method I used. Yesterday, I risked going to the branch and found that it had been completely destroyed and deserted."

"What?" Qingyan had not expected the situation to be so serious.

"Do you know who did this?" Yunxuan asked.

"I don't know, the Yushan branch didn't leave any clues," Si Cheng replied truthfully.

"Can you contact the other branches?" Qingyan asked.

"I have already sent someone to contact the Fancheng branch, and we will have news soon."

Qingyan nodded.

“Princess,” Si Cheng hesitated for a moment before speaking, “Now that the Yushan branch has been destroyed, I have recalled Si You and Si Wu to strengthen our defenses.”

Shortly after the assassination attempt, the Yushan branch was destroyed. Sicheng was indeed worried, and Qingyan also felt that Sicheng's actions were justified.

Siyou and Siwu stayed in Xianghuai, Yinghua's fiefdom, for a long time, enough time to complete the task she was given.

"Yunxuan, tell me, who did this?" Qingyan slammed the letter on the table.

"The only clue right now is Seven Colors, who is trying to assassinate you, and behind them is the Sea Chart," Yunxuan analyzed.

“Impossible. When the Seven Colors assassins arrived, Si Cheng hadn’t had time to call the Listening Wind Pavilion’s guards to help, so there was no direct conflict.” Qing Yan tapped the table with her finger. “Besides, the Listening Wind Pavilion’s branches are very well hidden. The Seven Colors don’t have money and can’t do things, and Hai Tu doesn’t have the ability to find the Listening Wind Pavilion.”

If he had that ability, he would have clashed with the Listening Wind Pavilion and taken Ina away during the Ina incident.

"Perhaps the people who took down the Yushan branch and the people behind it are not the same group; it might be a hired murder," Yunxuan guessed.

Yes, that's possible. Then who are the people who did it, and who's behind it? Qingyan frowned.

"I'll send someone to investigate first. If Sicheng can contact other branches, perhaps there will be some clues." Yunxuan wiped Qingyan's brow.

"Ah."

"It's time for dinner, let's eat first." Yunxuan cupped Qingyan's face and kissed her tenderly.

Qingyan nodded obediently.

As night fell, Yunxuan lingered in Qingyan's room, refusing to leave. Afraid that he would notice something amiss, Qingyan coaxed him away after much persuasion. Exhausted, Qingyan quickly fell asleep.

When she woke up the next day, the summer heat had already arrived, which meant that Qingyan had overslept again.

Opening her eyes, the person in front of her instantly brought Qingyan to her senses.

"Ningyuan! Yunxuan!"

When the two appeared at the same time, Qingyan's expression was not one of surprise but of shock.

“Ning Yuan arrived at midnight last night, but you were sound asleep and I didn’t wake you.” Yun Xuan sat down naturally by Qing Yan’s bedside.

Qingyan looked at Ningyuan and unconsciously distanced herself from Yunxuan.

"Yan'er." Ning Yuan hugged her tightly.

"You guys chat, I'll head out first." Yunxuan patted Ningyuan on the shoulder, giving him a look that Qingyan couldn't understand but could guess.

"Ning Yuan!" Qing Yan called out softly, her voice filled with conflict, but she didn't turn around and hug him.

Ning Yuan also sensed Qing Yan's unusual behavior. Looking in the direction Yun Xuan had left, and recalling what Yun Xuan had said to him last night, he felt helpless yet sighed.

"Have the arrangements for the Qiu Rong garrison been made?" Qingyan tried to find a topic to ease the awkwardness.

"Yes, everything is in order, Yan'er, don't worry." Yunxuan then explained the arrangements to Qingyan in detail.

"So good."

"Yan'er, did you miss me?" Ning Yuan kissed her forehead.

Qingyan jolted and resisted as if by conditioned reflex.

But she immediately regretted it.

"I'm still a little sleepy," Qingyan said, feigning fatigue.

Ning Yuan smiled, his eyebrows gleaming with a dazzling color: "Yan'er, I know everything."

"What do you know?" Qingyan's eyes widened.

“He knows everything. Yunxuan told us everything.” Ning Yuan paused, “Ghost Doctor, Immortal Doctor, Pure Soul, Drunkenness, and Overlapping Affection.”

Qingyan sighed dejectedly. Yunxuan had indeed told her everything.

There's a term, what's it again? Right, fickle and promiscuous, that's exactly what describes her.

"Ning Yuan, you don't want me anymore, do you?"

Seeing her conflicted and distressed expression, Ning Yuan smiled inwardly and hugged her even tighter: "We haven't seen each other for over two months. You're mine for the next few days. Yun Xuan, don't even think about taking you away."

"Ning Yuan, you don't blame me?" Qing Yan stared at him with wide eyes.

Ning Yuan shook his head.

How could this be? How could it be so calm?

"Ningyuan—" Qingyan hugged him and wailed, "Please don't abandon me! Punish me however you want, just please don't abandon me—"

Ning Yuan was completely bewildered. What was wrong with his Yan'er? Why was she wailing and howling like a little rascal?

"Ning Yuan—" Qing Yan cried and snotted, rubbing against Ning Yuan's waist and holding him tightly. "Don't leave me. I'll accept any punishment, just don't leave me."

"Yan'er!" Ning Yuan shouted, lifting her head to look at him. "Who said I don't want you anymore?"

“But, Yunxuan…” Qingyan dared not look at him.

“From now on, I’ll celebrate odd-numbered days and he’ll celebrate even-numbered days. On holidays and our birthdays, he won’t get any, regardless of whether it’s an odd or even day.” Ning Yuan patted her head. “It’s settled then. Get up quickly, I’ll go to the outer room to wait for you for breakfast.” Ning Yuan clenched his fists at his sides. As he turned around, pain, regret, and helplessness welled up uncontrollably.

"What?" Qingyan stared at Ning Yuan's back, her eyes almost popping out of their sockets.

Qingyan regretted her earlier act of deliberately throwing a tantrum. She had wanted to minimize the damage, but now it seemed to have backfired.

Odd or even day? Qingyan smiled bitterly. If Yunxuan knew her true thoughts, she would feel like she had a fishbone stuck in her throat no matter what day it was.

Qingyan was helped by Zhuier to get dressed slowly.

Outside, Ning Yuan and Yun Xuan were already waiting at the table where breakfast had been prepared. The two chatted and laughed as if nothing had happened, just like before.

"Yan'er." The two greeted Qingyan upon seeing her.

Qingyan subconsciously moved closer to Ningyuan and was helped to sit down.

"Yan'er, I'm your new favorite, how can you ignore me and pay attention to him?" Yunxuan pretended to be pitiful.

Huh? Qingyan was stunned and quickly stole a glance at Ning Yuan.

“Yan’er and I are like newlyweds after a short separation, so you can go cool off somewhere else,” Ning Yuan retorted.

What? Qingyan was stunned again and quickly looked at Yunxuan.

"Yan'er, tell me, do you like him or me?" Yunxuan put a spring roll on Qingyan's plate.

“Yes, Yan’er, you say it.” Ning Yuan picked up a piece of flower cake for Qing Yan.

"You two..." On the left was Yun Xuan, and on the right was Ning Yuan. Qing Yan was so shocked that she couldn't speak.

I ate the meal with trepidation.

Qingyan suddenly remembered her mother and Consort Xi. These two sisters, born of the same mother, shared both good fortune and hardship. Whenever one of them was favored by the emperor, they would think of the other, to the point that the emperor thought they were as close as one person.

Are these two planning to become one person?!

No, please!

After dinner, Qingyan pulled the two aside to discuss serious matters, so as not to be overwhelmed by their antics.

"The newly opened iron ore area in Yushan is said to have very rich reserves. Have you reported this to Father Emperor?" Qingyan asked Yunxuan.

Yunxuan nodded.

"Ningyuan, the matter of Qiu Rong's garrison has just been settled. Don't you need to return to the capital to report? Why have you come to Yushan?" He even had Cheng Liang bring a message in advance.

“I received a secret report that there was unusual activity in the Yushan area of ​​Sichuan. The Emperor sent me to investigate. As for the Qiu Rong garrison, my father is in charge, and they have not announced that I am not in the camp,” Ning Yuan replied.

No wonder Ning Yuan came under the cover of darkness, and only brought the Cheng brothers, Cheng Ming and Cheng Liang, with him as his attendants.

"What unusual activity is happening in Sichuan? Could it be related to the iron mine?" Qingyan's expression changed slightly.

"There is no definite news yet, but scouts in the army have discovered that Sichuan is reinforcing its troops at Yushan," Ning Yuan said.

"Reinforcing troops? Does he want to start a war with our Great Qi? Yushan is a strategically important and easily defensible area, and Great Qi occupies a natural stronghold. Since the border was demarcated, there has never been a war here. The emperor of Sichuan is practically courting death." Qingyan couldn't understand.

"Perhaps the reinforcements aren't for starting a war. Let's wait and see," Yunxuan interjected.

Since the other party's intentions are unclear, we can only wait and see.

“Let’s go check out the newly opened iron ore mine; maybe it will give us some inspiration,” Qingyan suggested.

"Okay," the two agreed.