My enemies became my companions

Chapter 739 Don't You Know? (Part 2)

Mount Taihua opens the path to immortality with the dual cultivation method of the Golden Boy and Jade Girl. This dual cultivation is not like the external and demonic sects that extract essence and replenish it, but rather the fusion of their souls and the common enlightenment. However, the Jade Girl's soul is more transparent, so it is easier for her to ascend to immortality.

Even on New Year's Eve in the capital, after tormenting her, Tingxue, and Consort Dong, Chen Yi's abilities were still not enough. Recalling these events, Yin Weiying's face flushed slightly, but she quickly calmed down by reciting the Supreme Forgetfulness Technique.

Zhuangzi once said that the Dao is in excrement and urine, so how could it not be in the realm of physical appearance? Therefore, Yin Weiying did not feel that there was anything wrong with it. In the past, being a concubine was considered a disgrace to her reputation. Now that they are husband and wife, they should not avoid taboos about matters in the bedroom and should strive to cultivate together.

With this thought in mind,

Yin Weiying could no longer suppress her emotions and began to moan softly.
"Okay, okay! Be gentle! Ah!"

………………

The wedding lanterns were not taken down, and although the warm light of the lanterns did not seem so cozy in the daytime, the lanterns still shone faintly within them.

These two close friends, who had been walking together all along, were now silent.

The shadows of the lanterns in the Prince's Mansion's long corridor were torn apart by the wind. Qin Qingluo and Min Ning walked side by side, neither looking at the other, only pausing half a step at the same point on the same staircase.

They both glanced at each other sideways.

Finally, Qin Qingluo spoke first: "After leaving the Southern Frontier, where will you go next?"

Min Ning did not stop walking. Her gaze was fixed on the scenery of the courtyard outside the corridor. Upon hearing this, her right hand subconsciously touched the hilt of the sword on her back. With a clear "clang", she drew the sword half a foot out of its sheath. A cold light flashed, the blade was simple and unadorned, with flowing cloud patterns and a distant aura.

“This sword is named Fengyun,” Min Ning said calmly. “I went to Shu before, and by chance, I not only obtained this sword, but also a piece of… the inheritance of the ancient Shu Mountain.”

With a flick of her wrist, the longsword was fully drawn, twirled in the air, and then clattered back into its sheath—a clean and swift movement.

"The matter of slaying the dragon is over. After leaving the Southern Frontier," she paused, her tone carrying the detachment and decisiveness of a martial artist, "I will head to the Western Jin Dynasty to visit the renowned swordsmanship families in the North and meet the sixth-ranked swordsman in the world, the Broken Swordsman."

The Western Jin Dynasty was a more remote and chaotic region than Shu, with rugged mountains and rivers, spanning the ancient Western Xia Kingdom, the northern grasslands, and the Bohai Sea region.

Qin Qingluo listened intently, then turned her head slightly to look at Min Ning's sharply defined profile, as if she could see a wider world through her.

"Western Jin..." Qin Qingluo repeated softly, his tone carrying a hint of melancholy, "I have been trapped in the southern border for too long. When I was young and learning to use the spear, I also thought... to pick up my spear, ride a horse, and fly far away to see what this world is really like."

Her voice, unusually, lacked some of the majesty of a vassal king.

Upon hearing this, Min Ning almost immediately replied with her usual chivalrous and directness: "Then I will go and take a look for you."

These words came out naturally, as if they were just the most ordinary promise between friends.

Upon hearing this, Qin Qingluo was taken aback, a hint of surprise flashing across his handsome brows.

She hadn't expected Min Ning to respond like that. Looking into Min Ning's clear and frank eyes, she saw no scheming, no probing, only the straightforwardness of someone who had traveled the world.

After a moment of silence, Qin Qingluo's lips curved upwards almost imperceptibly, and she nodded, saying, "Okay."

The two walked silently for a while longer, and the atmosphere became much more relaxed than before.

Qin Qingluo suddenly spoke again, this time with a hint of inquiry in her tone as she looked at Min Ning: "I believe... you still harbor some resentment about what happened last night."

Mentioning last night, Min Ning's handsome brows immediately furrowed. She snorted coldly, turned her face away, and her tone was clearly annoyed:

“I know the culprit isn’t you, Your Highness.” Her words were crisp and clear, always distinguishing right from wrong. “It’s that scoundrel Chen Yi… insatiable and utterly shameless!”

She pointed the finger directly at Chen Yi, her tone indignant.

Qin Qingluo listened to her rude rebuke of Chen Yi, but instead of being displeased, a faint smile flashed in her eyes.

She didn't say anything more about what happened last night, but simply turned her gaze back to the distant sky outside the corridor, as if that absurdity had gradually faded away with the morning light, and everyone had their own future ahead.

The two walked in silence for a while longer. Min Ning's thought resurfaced. She stopped, turned to Qin Qingluo, and her expression became slightly more serious.

“Your Highness,” she began, her tone tentative, “I observe that your daughter, Qin Yue, is intelligent and graceful, a promising talent for martial arts.”

She paused, hesitating whether her words were too abrupt.

She wasn't sure if Qin Qingluo would agree, after all, she was only a fourth-rank official now. In the martial arts world, she might be able to open a martial arts sect, but in the eyes of a local vassal king, she was not good enough.

Min Ning felt a little uneasy, wondering how this powerful and influential queen would react.

After all, given Qin Qingluo's status, the master she would seek for her daughter should at least be a renowned master in the martial arts world. Moreover, the Ming An Divine Cult, which has close ties with the Wang Mansion, also has a master ranked seventh in the world.

However, Qin Qingluo's reaction was beyond her expectations.

The Queen looked at her almost without hesitation and said directly, "Why not?"

Min Ning was slightly surprised and looked up at Qin Qingluo.

Qin Qingluo remained calm and continued, "I can see that you are upright and have a pure heart. Whether that little thing can learn profound martial arts from you is secondary. If she can learn some of your character, that will be her good fortune."

Min Ning's heart trembled slightly. Even though she knew that this might be an attempt to win people's hearts, she looked at Qin Qingluo and nodded solemnly: "Thank you for your trust, Your Highness. I will teach you everything I know and live up to your expectations."

With the matter settled, Min Ning felt as if a weight had been lifted from her heart. She pretended to look at the sky, cupped her hands, and said, "Since that's the case, I'll be leaving now and won't stay any longer."

She shouldn't stay here too long, otherwise, if Qingli asks, how will she explain that she, as the master, went to have an affair?

Zhuo Yu: "."

Seeing that Min Ning was about to leave, Qin Qinglu raised an eyebrow: "No need to see me off?"

Min Ning shook her head, her tone decisive: "No need."

"Heroes of the martial world come and go like the wind," Qin Qingluo thought to herself, "she is so decisive and straightforward, and her word is her bond, which suits my taste perfectly."

She didn't insist anymore, simply saying, "Whatever you say."

She personally accompanied Min Ning, walking through corridors and courtyards until she was seen off at the gate of the Prince's Mansion.

The morning light was just right outside the door, and pedestrians were already starting to appear on the street.

Qin Qingluo stood on the stone steps in front of the Prince's Mansion, looking at Min Ning, who was dressed in a close-fitting outfit and carrying a long sword, and said, "In such a hurry, I have no farewell gift. I hope... you will take good care of yourself."

At this moment, a servant from the Prince's mansion brought over a magnificent black horse, which Qin Qingluo had prepared in advance. She took the reins from the servant and then told him to step back.

Seeing this, Min Ning didn't refuse. He nimbly mounted his horse, his movements fluid and graceful, and said to Qin Qingluo, "Of course."

She pulled on the reins, settled herself firmly on the horse, but her gaze unconsciously drifted again towards the towering pavilions deep within the Prince's mansion. After a moment's hesitation, she finally spoke, her voice lowered.

"The world is about to descend into chaos, and the winds of change are already blowing. Your Highness... do not be in a hurry to have more children." These words were clearly directed at Chen Yi.

How could Qin Qingluo not understand the implication? She was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter, her laughter hearty and unrestrained, carrying a hint of understanding.

She looked up at Min Ning on horseback, the sunlight outlining her heroic and radiant features, and said:

“Min Yuechi, Min Yuechi, if I were a man, I would definitely be extremely fond of you, not Chen Yi.”

Upon hearing this, Min Ning laughed heartily from her horseback. Bathed in sunlight, her brows relaxed, displaying the boldness and openness of a woman from the martial world, and replied:
"Haha, even if Your Highness were a man, I would not be interested in you."

Qin Qinglu raised an eyebrow, asking with considerable interest, "Oh? Why?"

Min Ning's smile faded, her gaze fixed on the distance. Her voice was clear and firm, without the slightest hesitation:

"Because the person I like happens to be... Chen Yi."

Before Qin Qinglu could respond, she spurred her horse and whipped it into action.

"drive!"

With a neigh, the horse reared up and quickly disappeared into the distance.

Standing alone in front of the Prince's mansion, Qin Qingluo gazed in the direction where she had disappeared. After a long while, a complex and unreadable smile slowly appeared on his lips, which eventually turned into a barely audible sigh.

My dear friend, we are now parting ways.

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

Feeling refreshed, Chen Yi hadn't expected that Min Ning had already left. When he learned from Zhu E that Min Ning had left so abruptly, he wasn't too surprised.

Min Ning was always like this, often leaving without saying goodbye, coming and going swiftly, never showing any reluctance or lingering affection. Chen Yi sometimes felt uncomfortable with this, as he often preferred to be inseparable from women, but he gradually accepted her temperament.

Having just given Yin Weiying a profound awakening, Chen Yi's mind was now calm. The image of the red-clad swordswoman seemed to still linger in his thoughts, and he wondered when they would meet again.

"Ah... mmm."

As Chen Yi was pondering, Zhu E slapped her lips and yawned. Chen Yi looked up at her, and Zhu E lowered her eyes slightly, embarrassed, and said softly:

"I hope I was tired last night..."

Chen Yi paused, remembering that she and Qin Qingluo had a blood pact, sharing each other's senses, and their fates were almost intertwined. Thinking of this, he gave an awkward smile.

Having a rare opportunity to have three women in one night, Chen Yi naturally indulged himself to the fullest, tirelessly. Not to mention Qin Qingluo, who had endured the most trials, even Lin Wanguan was in a terrible state last night. This morning, Chen Yi had to carry her back to the guest courtyard while she was unconscious. It was only natural that Zhu E was exhausted after a night of passion.

Thinking of this, he felt a little remorseful and reached out to gently put his arm around Zhu E's shoulder, pulling her closer to him.

Zhu E nestled close to him. After last night, Qin Qingluo had let go of much of her resentment. So, at this moment, as a princess, she could finally walk confidently toward her husband.

Chen Yi lowered his head and kissed her smooth forehead.

Zhu E was slightly taken aback by his sudden act of tenderness. Then, warmth welled up in her eyes, and she obediently snuggled up to him, gently rubbing her cheek against his chest. She didn't say anything, but simply enjoyed this moment of peace and tenderness.

Just then, a series of slightly steady footsteps approached.

The two looked up and saw Qin Qingluo walking in from outside the door. She had changed out of the outer robe she wore when they saw each other off, and was only wearing a light black casual dress. Her tall figure paused at the door, and her gaze fell on Chen Yi and Zhu E, who were leaning on each other.

Zhu E came to her senses, feeling slightly embarrassed. Just as she was about to leave, Chen Yi pressed her hand down and held her tightly.

Chen Yi looked at Qin Qingluo, his eyes filled with questioning and a hint of barely perceptible expectation.

His eyes seemed to be saying: You've come at the perfect time.

Qin Qingluo didn't look at him, her gaze was straight ahead, but her body slowly leaned towards Chen Yi.

Chen Yi's breathing quickened for a moment.

boom!
Qin Qingluo suddenly raised her hand, used a little skill to flick Chen Yi's forehead with her finger, neither too lightly nor too heavily.

There was a muffled sound.

Caught off guard, Chen Yi was pushed back several steps by the force before he regained his balance. He covered his slightly reddened forehead and stared at Qin Qingluo in astonishment.

The Queen's serpentine eyes narrowed slightly, conveying an undeniable air of authority as she warned:
"Chen Yi, don't be so presumptuous."

Her tone was calm, yet it carried an air of authority, as if reminding him that even with the intimacy of last night and this morning, she was still the mistress of the An'nan Prince's Mansion and the vassal king who ruled the southern border.

Upon seeing this, Zhu E was first stunned, then a look of understanding flashed in her eyes. Instead of stepping forward, she quietly took a few steps back and lowered her head slightly to show respect to Qin Qingluo.

Qin Qingluo stopped looking at Chen Yi and turned to Zhu E, her tone regaining its usual composure as she began to instruct, "Aunt Zhu, now that the wedding ceremony is complete, you will need to take care of the follow-up matters. The congratulatory gifts from each family should be recorded and stored according to custom. After you have drafted the list of return gifts, I will review it. Especially for the imperial family, the return gifts need to be carefully considered; they should reflect the grandeur of our royal residence, but not be too ostentatious..."

She explained everything in great detail, as if the little incident had never happened.

Listening from the side, Chen Yi couldn't help but feel a little puzzled: Zhu E had always managed the internal affairs and social interactions of the Prince's residence, and Qin Qingluo had never bothered with the details. Why had she come specifically to give instructions today? And at a time like this...?

However, upon further reflection, it was understandable that he felt a little strange at this moment, considering the great concessions and sacrifices Qin Qingluo had made last night, tacitly approving and even facilitating that absurd situation.

He felt he had gotten a huge advantage, so he couldn't very well pretend to be innocent and question anything further. He just stood silently to the side.

After Qin Qingluo finished giving his instructions, Zhu E respectfully replied, "Zhu E understands, Your Highness, please rest assured."

Qin Qingluo nodded slightly, her gaze finally sweeping over Chen Yi again. She didn't say much, only glancing at him sideways with a slightly warning look before turning away, leaving behind a single sentence:
"I shall go and see Yue'er."

After saying that, she left with steady steps, her tall figure quickly disappearing around the corner of the corridor.

Chen Yi scratched his head, somewhat confused. He turned to Zhu E and asked, "Are you going to get busy now?"

Zhu E nodded, her tone gentle: "I dare not disobey Your Highness's orders."

Chen Yi hesitated for a moment, but still asked the question that had been bothering him: "You've always handled these things, so why did Qingluo... come to give you special instructions today?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu E was slightly taken aback, then seemed to realize something and couldn't help but chuckle, covering her mouth and laughing.

She looked up at Chen Yi, her eyes crinkling, and said softly:

"My lord, don't you know?"
Even a prince can get jealous.

(Note: The next volume is a side story about Chen Yi and Zhou Yitang's past lives, and the volume after that is the main story. If you want to read the main story, you can skip directly to the volume after that.)
(End of this chapter)