My enemies became my companions

Chapter 672 Within Reach (Part 2)

The image flashed by so quickly it was almost an illusion.

It was enveloped and deeply buried by Qin Qingluo's vast and heavy martial intent, like a pearl in the ocean, so small that it could be ignored, yet so resilient that it could not be erased.

The radiant look on Min Ning's face froze for a moment before slowly fading away.

"The prince's martial spirit... after being reborn from the ashes, has reached a new level."

She spoke slowly, expressionless, her tone exceptionally soft.

After saying that, Min Ning gave a slight shake, and his martial arts attire also shook, as if he had shaken off his martial intent. The unrestrained and flowing martial intent around him dissipated like birds returning to their nests.

Chen Yi keenly sensed Min Ningwu's sudden pause and violent emotional fluctuations, as well as the indescribable complexity in her eyes when she looked at Qin Qingluo.

His gaze shifted between the two women before finally settling on Qin Qingluo. She remained seated, her snake-like eyes lowered, watching the wine swirling slightly in her glass, as if the fleeting glimpse of her earlier had never happened.

Inside the Hanhai Tower, only the cool fragrance of autumn dew was all the more refreshing and penetrating.

Min Ning fell silent, all traces of the anger she had shown earlier. She simply sat down and began to sip her drink slowly.

Chen Yi tried to approach silently to ease Min Ning's suddenly somewhat dejected mood, but she also silently avoided him.

Although the Queen sitting opposite her noticed some changes in Min Ning, as if a sharp sword had been sheathed and all its edge had been temporarily concealed, she still did not understand why Min Ning had changed like this.

However, since that's the case, it's best not to provoke them.

Qin Qingluo glanced at Chen Yi, who was silently trying to approach Min Ning, and felt slightly dissatisfied, but she still held back for the time being.

The drinking in the latter half of the night was rather dull.

The wine cups were raised and lowered, occasionally clinking together, but it was mostly Min Ning who was drinking.

She kept drinking, as silent as a stone at the bottom of a river.

The heated argument that had raged in the first half of the night had vanished without a trace.

Occasionally, perhaps feeling the atmosphere was too lifeless, she would force herself to chat about her experiences in the martial arts world, the clash of swords, and the strange and unusual people and events. But this enthusiasm came quickly and went even faster. The conversation would often end after only a few sentences, plunging into a deeper silence, and then she would pick up her cup again.

Finally, a heavy intoxication completely permeated Hanhai Tower.

Min Ning was the most intoxicated. His body went limp, and he collapsed onto the table, his cheek pressed against the cold surface, his breathing heavy.

Although Qin Qingluo had also drunk quite a bit, her face was flushed, but her eyes were still clear.

To say that the female knight-errant was drunk was quite heroic. Her long sword was slung across her shoulder, her single blade hung low as if about to fall, and the layers of wrinkles in her clothes resembled the face of an old man. In ordinary street taverns, you could often see such wandering swordsmen who were heartbroken by love.

Qin Qinglu noticed that Min Ning's condition was not right. It wasn't just that he was drunk; it was more like a weariness and dejection that came from his very bones.

She frowned, but finally said to Chen Yi, "She's very drunk. You should take her back to the guest house to settle her in."

Surprisingly, perhaps because Min Ning was too drunk, she didn't wave her hand to try and stay upright.

Chen Yi nodded and got up to help Min Ning.

His body was soft yet heavy, reeking of hot alcohol. He half-supported, half-carried her as he carried her down the stairs step by step.

Stepping outside, a night breeze seemed to clear Min Ning's head for a moment. She managed to steady herself and shakily pushed Chen Yi away.

"...I don't need you to take me." Her voice was muffled, with a heavy nasal tone. She tried to open her eyes a crack, but refused to look at him. "Just...just have a maid take me back."

Chen Yi insisted, "I'll see you to the door."

"I said I don't need it!"

Min Ning suddenly raised her voice, though weak, it carried a stubborn resistance.

Chen Yi's hair trembled slightly, and for some reason, he trembled as if he were somewhat stunned.

She swayed slightly, grabbed a pillar beside her, caught her breath, and repeated, "I don't want you to take me."

Seeing her like this, Chen Yi understood. He guessed that she must have caught a glimpse of Qin Qingluo's martial intent and was hurt and touched, which caused her to feel depressed.

Ultimately, it all boils down to her being jealous of him and hurting her feelings.

He sighed inwardly, feeling guilty, but also vaguely sensing that the matter was not unsolvable. He always knew how to make up for a woman who was jealous of him, no matter who it was. Over the years, no matter how jealous someone was, Chen Yi always made amends.

Since she insists on this now, we will comply with her for the time being.

Helpless, he could only call over two maids to carefully support him, watching them carry Min Ning as they stumbled and disappeared at the end of the corridor leading to the guest courtyard.

Back upstairs, the smell of alcohol was still strong.

Qin Qinglu remained seated, one hand supporting her cheek. Perhaps due to the effects of the alcohol, her usually dignified eyes began to dart around, and she appeared even more energetic than before.

"Did you send them away?" she asked.

"Yes, she wouldn't let me see her off; she had a maid help her back." Chen Yi sat down and rubbed his temples.

Upon hearing this, a hint of understanding flashed in Qin Qingluo's snake-like eyes. After thinking for a moment, the corners of her lips curved into an almost imperceptible smile.

She also felt that Min Ning's behavior was nothing more than jealousy and resentment.

In this light, it seems that my invisible confrontation today has temporarily forced this formidable enemy to retreat.

She felt a great weight lifted from her shoulders, as if the road ahead had suddenly become clear. No one could stop her from taking Chen Yi into her household as a concubine, and no one could stop Chen Yi from marrying her.

Thinking this, a surge of pride mixed with the smell of alcohol welled up in her heart. She suddenly stood up, wanting to say something, perhaps to declare victory, or perhaps to tease Chen Yi.

However, the effects of the alcohol kicked in, and his body swayed suddenly, staggering as if he were about to fall forward.

Upon seeing this, Chen Yi instinctively stood up and rushed forward, reaching out to help him.

But Qin Qingluo steadied herself in an instant. Instead of falling, she took advantage of Chen Yi's approach, grabbed his arm tightly, and used the momentum to lunge forward.
Warm, wine-scented lips pressed against Chen Yi's without warning. Even Chen Yi, a veteran of countless battles, was taken aback by the Queen's sudden and domineering kiss, his body stiffening for a moment.

But he reacted extremely quickly. He was stunned for only a moment before taking the initiative, wrapping his arms around her waist and deepening the kiss, savoring the unique aura of the Queen.

Qin Qingluo seemed not to have expected his reaction to be so swift and intense, and his original dominant position was instantly reversed.

Not long after he had completely taken the initiative, she seemed unable to resist and suddenly pushed him away forcefully, separating them quickly.

Her lips parted, revealing a strand of silver.

Qin Qingluo's breathing was slightly rapid, her cheeks were flushed, but her snake eyes were surprisingly bright, flashing with a dangerous light in the candlelight.

Chen Yi wiped his mouth, and facing the sudden kiss, asked with a smile, "Is Your Highness pretending to be drunk?"

She was slightly out of breath, and before Chen Yi could ask any more questions, she stretched out her fingers, with a touch of drunken arrogance, and hooked Chen Yi's chin with her cold fingertips, forcing him to look up slightly.

She looked down at him, a cold and smug smile playing on her lips, and sneered:
"Bitch, are you the only one who can pretend?"

Chen Yi was momentarily stunned, but fortunately, he was thick-skinned and didn't get stage fright. Instead, he smiled and said:
"My sincerity towards Your Highness is as clear as day."

What he was referring to was, of course, his sword intent and world.

Because of his boundless love, his affection for every woman he cares for is evident to heaven and earth.

Chen Yi rubbed his hands together and asked, "Your Highness, it's late. Would you like me to escort you home?"

The night was quiet, and a cool breeze blew through the corridors, causing a few stray strands of Qin Qingluo's hair to flutter gently. She heard Chen Yi's question about taking her back to her room, but she didn't answer. Instead, she glanced at him sideways, the cold, aloof smile on her lips unchanged.

Chen Yi's face revealed a perfectly timed hint of disappointment, as if his genuine hopes had been dashed.

Seeing his expression, Qin Qingluo did not soften her heart. Instead, she did something even more unexpected in front of him. She hooked her fingers around the collar of her black python robe and slowly pulled it to the side, revealing the plain undergarment and a small patch of her collarbone.

Then, she bent down, casually picked up the empty wine cup that Min Ning had just used on the table, picked up the wine jar, and casually poured in a little bit of the clear autumn dew wine.

She brought the wine cup to her nose, took a gentle sniff, and a complex and unfathomable meaning flashed across her majestic snake eyes before she smiled and said, "It has the scent of Min Ning."

Chen Yi was puzzled, wondering what she intended to do.

The next instant, Qin Qinglu tilted her wrist and poured the remaining wine in the cup directly onto her already slightly exposed chest!
The icy wine instantly soaked through the front of the python robe, the dark fabric clinging tightly to it, outlining a breathtakingly full silhouette. The soaked silk shimmered with an ambiguous, moist sheen under the candlelight, and the undulating hills glistened with water. A cool fragrance mixed with the aroma of wine and the intense scent emanating from the woman's body heat permeated the air.

Chen Yi was stunned, completely unexpected that this queen would act so wildly.

But then Qin Qingluo pressed closer, almost touching him.

The smell of alcohol mixed with her unique, cool fragrance, like a battle-hardened warrior thirsting for blood, carrying a strong sense of aggression.

Perhaps it was the pent-up desire for revenge from his sharp confrontation with Min Ning, or perhaps he was truly drunk, but all the barriers that had existed since they first met seemed to vanish in an instant at this moment.

The candlelight outlined her skin, flushed from intoxication and excitement; her wet clothes clung to her body, highlighting her voluptuous and healthy figure, every curve exuding strength and beauty.

Chen Yi's throat bobbed slightly, his eyes darkened, and he reached out to slowly lift the soaked python robe to explore what lay beneath.

Just as he was about to act, Qin Qingluo grabbed his hand, her snake-like eyes burning, and with an undeniable commanding tone, she whispered breathlessly:
"After all these years, today... I want to oppress you."

Chen Yi paused, looked up and met her gaze, and suddenly thought of the nightmare in the dungeon.

How could a grown man end up like that?

So Chen Yi grabbed her wrist with a firm grip and said with a smile, "I've endured this for so many days, how can I let the prince bully me?"

These words were half true and half false, tinged with mockery. Upon hearing them, Qin Qingluo immediately sensed a wolfish ambition within them, a reluctance to remain subservient to others.

Good heavens, the treacherous minister has already shown himself. This guy is now clearly exposed and unwilling to be just a subservient subordinate.

A fierce glint flashed in Qin Qingluo's eyes. With her other hand, she pointed her fingers like a sword and aimed at the acupoints on Chen Yi's wrist. How could Chen Yi give in so easily? He flipped his wrist, turning his palm into a grappling move, and grabbed her pulse point.

Inside the Hanhai Tower, amidst the lingering aroma of alcohol, the two exchanged a few blows, seemingly fighting but not actually fighting.

The movements were slow, yet a hidden force was at play. The cups and plates trembled slightly, and the fluttering of clothes revealed a probing and tug-of-war. It was less a fight and more a silent struggle for dominance between superiors and subordinates.

After a long while, Qin Qingluo's breathing became slightly erratic. Ultimately, she was weak from being drunk, and Chen Yi skillfully restrained her arms. She struggled but failed to break free, and cursed angrily, "Bitch!" Then, panting, she asked, "What do you want?"

Chen Yi smiled even more like a treacherous villain, leaned close to her ear, and whispered, "Naturally, I don't want to just be a low-ranking official."

What he wanted to stir up was a storm that would shake the heavens and the earth.

Qin Qingluo narrowed her snake-like eyes and retorted sarcastically, "What if I... still wish to be a prince?"

Chen Yi, however, did not respond to this blunt question. Instead, he easily tossed the difficult problem back to him and said with a smile, "Then Your Highness can come up with a solution that satisfies both sides?"

They immediately passed the buck back, patiently waiting to see what outrageous plan this drunken queen would come up with.

Chen Yi was waiting with great interest for Qin Qingluo's "brilliant plan".

Qin Qingluo was half-restrained by him. She pushed his hand away and took a half step back. She slowly raised her head, her face flushed with a mixture of drunkenness and majesty. A hint of almost mischievous provocation flashed in her snake eyes.

Immediately afterwards, she exerted force with her waist, and one of her long and powerful legs suddenly rose with incredible flexibility and angle, supporting herself with the other foot, forming an extremely standard and powerful... split.

The hem of the python robe slipped down due to the violent movement, revealing a section of smooth and firm thigh with incredibly smooth lines that gleamed in the candlelight.

When this usually dignified and dignified queen made this gesture, Chen Yi was stunned and his mind went blank for a moment.

Qin Qingluo took in his shock. She was slightly out of breath, her cheeks flushed as if from intoxication, but she forced herself to stand tall and asked him condescendingly, her voice carrying a hint of hoarse provocation:

"Can you...reach it?"

Chen Yi swallowed.
What a majestic and dignified queen she is...

(End of this chapter)