My enemies became my companions

Chapter 677 A Fleeting Glimpse (Part 2)

"Well... congratulations."

Looking at her profile, which was trying to appear calm, Chen Yi suddenly felt that something in this bumpy carriage was heavier than when they arrived.

Lin's young mistress was caught in a tangled mess of emotions. Chen Yi could tell that she was always like this, hesitant and unable to face her own feelings. It was difficult to get a single honest word out of her. Even on the bed, she would resolutely remain silent, unable to get over her own inner turmoil. In the past, she had turned pale at the mention of children from Yin Weiying, but now that she had already conceived, she felt a sense of loss.

As Chen Yi thought about it, he tightened his arms around her waist. Feeling the man's pressure on her waist, Lin Wan's chaotic thoughts were somewhat halted. Her breathing became rapid, and she couldn't help but feel uneasy.

"What are you thinking about? What's on your mind? Why don't you tell me?" Chen Yi asked bluntly.

Unexpectedly, he was so direct. Lin Wanquan was caught off guard and shook her head, saying, "No, nothing... just congratulations."

"Congratulations? You've been born for so long, what's there to congratulate?"

As he spoke, Chen Yi's large hand covered Lin Wan's slender abdomen. The young woman shrank back in fright, trying to pull away, but his hand pressed down heavily.

"If your belly is more fertile in the future, you can congratulate yourself."

Lin Wanquan shuddered at these lewd words, her cheeks flushed red, and she wanted to say something in rebuttal, but couldn't find the words.

Chen Yi ignored the Lin family's young lady, who was always complaining about herself. This woman was already completely twisted and confused. If he got entangled in her, he might get deeply involved and become distraught. Although the young lady had her good points, Chen Yi preferred physical intimacy to spiritual connection.

It is Lin Wanguan who needs to adapt to him, not the other way around.

Lin Wanguan nestled in Chen Yi's arms, feeling the rhythm of the carriage's bumps. The initial panic and disappointment were gradually replaced by a more complex emotion.

She remained silent for a while before, seemingly casually, her fingertips gently tugging at Chen Yi's hem, and she spoke softly, trying to steer the conversation away from herself:
"Have you...have you been doing well in the Prince's residence these past few days?"

She asked tactfully, her gaze darting around, not daring to look him directly in the eye.

"That's fine," Chen Yi replied casually. "Eat when you're hungry, drink when you're thirsty."

Lin Wanguan pursed her lips, as if considering her words, and said in a softer voice, "Then...what does that child look like? Does he look more like you, or...more like her?"

She finally couldn't help but ask.

"Her eyes are like hers, her nose and mouth are like hers too, but her personality is somewhat like mine." Chen Yi glanced down at her. "When she's being noisy, she's like a little firecracker, but when she's quiet, she's fast asleep."

"...Really?" Lin Wanquan imagined the scene, feeling a mix of emotions. After a moment of silence, she mustered her courage and asked, "Then...does she still recognize you? You haven't seen her for two or three years...does the child still love you?"

She asked cautiously, her fingertips unconsciously tightening, betraying her inner nervousness.

In some hidden corner of her heart, she secretly hoped to hear a negative answer, hoped that the child would separate from Chen Yisheng, as if this would prove something and give her unspeakable jealousy a foothold.

Chen Yi could easily see through her scheming thoughts. He chuckled and gently pinched the back of her neck with his large hand.

"Admit it? Of course we'll admit it!"

Chen Yi's words were direct, shattering her last shred of hope.

“Even if bones are broken, they are still connected by tendons. She is my child and doesn’t know how much she recognizes me as her father. In just a few days, she started calling me ‘Dad’, ‘Dad’, and she became incredibly clingy. From now on, you just need to behave yourself and keep an eye on her. You will get what you deserve.”

His tone grew a bit more serious, and he immediately warned, "Don't be like Yin Weiying, who spends all day thinking about things he shouldn't be doing, which only annoys people."

Lin Wanquan's cheeks burned with embarrassment when he so bluntly exposed her thoughts.

She suddenly lowered her head, wishing she could bury her face in his clothes and hide. An awkward silence fell over the carriage, with only the sound of the wheels rolling.

After a long while, she spat out a very soft, almost inaudible sound, a sound tinged with grievance and resentment.

"If she can have it, why can't I?"

Chen Yi looked out the car window at the rapidly passing tree shadows, seemingly ignoring the muttered remark and offering no response.

...............

When the carriage entered the Prince's mansion, the mansion was already decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and the festive atmosphere grew stronger day by day. New red silks hung under the corridors, and the servants hurried along, but their faces were full of busy smiles.

With the betrothal date approaching, although it was known that this was merely a formality, the grandeur of the Prince's mansion was extraordinary, exuding magnificence and solemnity in every aspect. One could easily imagine the bustling and lively scene that would unfold on the wedding day.

Chen Yi led Lin Wanguan into the mansion and took her directly to his secluded guest courtyard to settle her in. The courtyard was clean and tidy.

"You can stay here for now," Chen Yi instructed.

Lin Wanquan nodded silently, carefully examining the residence she might live in for a long time. Her gaze swept over the simple yet elegant furnishings, and finally involuntarily fell back on Chen Yi.

Chen Yi was also looking at her, his eyes deep and his desire undisguised. He had neglected her for so long, and it was neither reasonable nor emotional for him to leave her alone in the room tonight.

Lin Wanquan keenly caught the meaning in his gaze, and her body subconsciously shrank back. She felt her legs go weak, and for a moment she even had a slight fear of running away.

She subconsciously reached out and touched her still flat stomach, which was completely flat. Thinking of this, she took a deep breath and straightened her back slightly. Although her fingertips were still trembling slightly, she did not back down.

Chen Yi turned his gaze back and decided to be patient and let her adjust and rest for a while before discussing it later.

...............

Ugh……

I couldn't resist.
He indulged in pleasure for a short while.

Lin Wanquan's panting breath hit Chen Yi's shoulder. Chen Yi chuckled, lowered his head, and pecked her. Lin Wanquan turned her face away, closed her eyes, and refused to look at him.

But when she sensed that Chen Yi had also turned his face away, she opened the door a crack to see if Chen Yi was looking at her.

Chen Yi glanced back at the opportune moment, and Lin Wanguan immediately closed her eyes again.

Chen Yi chuckled. The young lady was so shy, yet so charming. Before he got up, he pinched her nipples. Lin Wanguan trembled and quickly opened her eyes to glare at him.

He didn't offer any kind words of advice, but instead got up to change his clothes. Lin Wanquan lowered her head, struggled to gather her clothes, and also got up, intending to call Xiuhe to wash up.

Chen Yi straightened his robes and glanced at Lin Wanguan, whose cheeks were still flushed. He still had plenty of energy, and there was still plenty of time in the day.

"I'm going to see my daughter."

Lin Wan hesitated for a moment, touched her lower abdomen, and then said, "Go, go ahead, I won't stop you..."

Just as Chen Yi pushed open the door and stepped out, a series of slightly hurried footsteps and a childish voice urging him on came from outside the courtyard.

"Faster, faster!"

An impatient little girl's voice came from afar.

"Oh my girl, slow down, watch your step, we're almost there, almost there..." came the panting reply from the old woman following closely behind. Chen Yi paused, a hint of surprise flashing across his face.

That voice... is it Qin Yue? She actually came to this secluded courtyard on her own initiative?
It seems this little girl is becoming more and more attached to her father.

A smile unconsciously crept onto Chen Yi's lips, the lazy and casual demeanor he had displayed while entangled with Lin Wanguan vanishing instantly.

He walked quickly to the door, but instead of opening it immediately, he looked out through the crack in the door.

Little Qin Yue was seen pulling her mother's hand, running towards them. She ran like a lively flame, her little head bobbing back and forth, constantly urging her mother on.

"Daddy, where's Daddy? Someone, someone said... Daddy's here!" She looked up at her mother with pleading eyes.

"Yes, yes, it's right here, young lady, don't worry..."

Chen Yi smiled inwardly. This girl certainly knew how to pick people. He straightened his clothes, which had been slightly wrinkled by Lin Wanguan's tugging, cleared his throat, and then opened the door.

The sudden appearance of the door startled Qin Yue outside.

Qin Yue blinked her bright eyes, and when she saw that it was Chen Yi, a big smile immediately bloomed on her face. She let go of her mother's hand and rushed over like a little bird, hugging Chen Yi's leg.

"father!"

Chen Yi bent down and easily scooped the little dumpling into his arms, weighing him in his hands: "Why did you come here? Do you need something from Daddy?"

Qin Yue wrapped her arms around his neck and rubbed against him. She had come here today with a purpose, so she tried to be as affectionate as possible. Children don't know the meaning of "no one visits a temple without a reason," but they know how to seek advantage and avoid harm.

As she continued to rub against him, she noticed that there was another person inside the room.

Her gaze passed over Chen Yi's shoulder and landed on Lin Wanguan, who was hurriedly tying her sash.

"Why is there an auntie? Auntie, it's so embarrassing, can't you wear... can't you put on your clothes properly?"

Lin Wan-guan's face flushed red and then turned pale.

Fortunately, Qin Yue wasn't focused on Lin Wanguan, but instead hugged Chen Yi very affectionately. Her soft little body was like a ball of cotton, and Chen Yi was very happy, walking around with her in his arms.

Several times, Chen Yi tried to put her down, but she refused, insisting on clinging to him. Chen Yi was helpless against this little girl, but it was always good that Yue'er liked to stick to him.

Seeing this scene, Lin Wanguan's expression became even more dejected.

Qin Yue swayed for a while, grabbing Chen Yi's collar and trying to pull it open several times, but she couldn't get a chance no matter how much she swayed, and she was feeling a little dizzy.

As Chen Yi gradually calmed down, Qin Yue's mind cleared up a bit, and she was about to forcefully peel it off.

"Chen Yi".

Suddenly, a voice called out to her father. Qin Yue was startled and quickly stopped what she was doing. When she turned around, oh, it turned out to be a woman with no breasts.

Qin Yue frowned, looking a little unhappy, while Chen Yi felt somewhat awkward. He slowly put Qin Yue down, and Qin Yue pouted, looking even more unhappy.

She hasn't had her milk yet.

However, Qin Yue had never seen the woman without breasts before; she was a stranger. Feeling a little timid, she hesitated to speak.

Chen Yi went to greet him, and the person who called out to him was none other than Min Ning. He looked Min Ning up and down.

"You...you're leaving already?"

Min Ning stood at the courtyard gate, dressed in a neat martial arts outfit. Her long hair was tied up high, a single sword was slung across her shoulder, a sword was on her back, and a small bag was hanging on her shoulder.

She looked at Chen Yi with little expression on her face, neither the dejected state of yesterday's drunkenness nor the sharpness of her previous sword-wielding confrontation with her heart; only a calm indifference remained.

"Okay, I'm leaving now. I just came to let you know."

She answered decisively, her gaze sweeping over Qin Yue, who was tugging at Chen Yi's clothes and tilting her head to look at her, then over Lin Wanguan, who was hurriedly turning her back to straighten her clothes inside the room, before finally settling back on Chen Yi's face.
"The Prince's mansion is nice, but it's not a place to stay for long. The world is vast, and Qingli is still waiting for me. That's where I belong."

Chen Yi's throat moved, and for a moment he didn't know what to say.

Trying to persuade her to stay? By what right would she, as a soon-to-be princess or prince consort, try to persuade her to stay? He only knew that her mind was made up.

He looked at her carefree and decisive demeanor, so different from the woman who had been drunk and hunched over her desk last night and who had been practicing her sword in the courtyard this morning. This was the real Min Ning, the free-spirited and unrestrained female knight who roamed the martial world.

Whether it was the splendor and prosperity of the Prince's mansion or the entanglements and entanglements around Chen Yi, they were ultimately just temporary stops for her.

A complex feeling welled up inside him, a mixture of melancholy and relief. He opened his mouth, but ultimately only managed to ask, "...Where to?"

“The world is vast, where can’t I go?” Min Ning’s lips curled up slightly, forming a familiar arc, as if he had transformed back into that chivalrous knight. “Perhaps I’ll go north to see the snow, or perhaps I’ll go south to get some rain. I’ll go wherever I end up. Anyway, I don’t want to stay here anymore… Let me be frank, I don’t want to see you get married.”

She paused, her gaze sweeping over Qin Yue again. Qin Yue gave her a wary look, and she said to Chen Yi, "Take good care of your daughter, and... live your life well. I'll come back to you later."

These words were spoken plainly, yet they were like a fine needle, gently pricking Chen Yi, and he could hear the meaning behind them.

Chen Yi was silent for a moment, then finally nodded: "...Take care, see you later."

"nature."

Min Ning readily agreed, raising her hand and casually lifting the wine jug—the one he had bought for her.

I will keep it forever.

It can still be used to hold wedding wine until the day I marry you.

You must wait for me.

After she finished speaking, she stopped looking at Chen Yi, turned around decisively, and strode out of the courtyard.

The female knight-errant vanished almost in a flash, without the slightest hesitation or lingering, quickly disappearing at the end of the winding corridor, leaving only the echoing sound of her receding footsteps.

Chen Yi stood there, the courtyard still seemed to hold the lingering scent of her cool and free spirit, but she was gone.

He suddenly felt a void in his heart, and the wind felt chilly as it passed by.

Qin Yue looked up at her father's complex and indescribable expression, then glanced in the direction where the strange woman had disappeared. She tugged at his sleeve, seemingly understanding but not quite.

"Dad, isn't that sister... coming back?"

Chen Yi snapped out of his reverie, looked down into his daughter's innocent eyes, and let out a long, silent breath.

"Yes, she's gone." He bent down and picked up his daughter again, saying in a muffled voice, "We'll talk about it later...."

(End of this chapter)