Misty Rain of the Old Times

Under the scrutinizing gaze of the little princess, Guo Qingxue felt a little uneasy and guilty. After all, she had been eyeing the other woman's husband. Although this was not a secret to the group, she had been clinging tightly to Chen Xuan's arm the whole way. Being looked at by the little princess now gave her a feeling of being caught in the act, but why did she feel a little excited?

I remember reading a line in one of Tingfeng Jushi's books that went something like this: "Women are right in front of you..." What an inappropriate metaphor!
Quickly clearing her head of all the jumbled thoughts, Guo Qingxue nervously wondered if anyone would notice anything and get angry.

She immediately bowed gracefully with impeccable ladylike manners and said, "This commoner, Guo Qingxue, greets Your Highness. May Your Highness be well."

She didn't have the carefree and unrestrained air of someone from the martial arts world; she was more like a girl from a modest family. However, Guo Qingxue wasn't from a scholarly family, so she lacked that quality.

How could Guo Qingxue not be obedient at this moment? The person in front of her was Princess Chen, and also Brother Chen's wife. No matter how much she liked Brother Chen, she would still have to get past her if she wanted to enter this family. In fact, if Brother Chen took her as a concubine and Princess Chen disagreed and forced her into the family, she would definitely be bullied in the future and her life would not be easy. Therefore, she had to make a good impression on her.

The little princess, whom he was very pleased with, was completely unpretentious and dignified. She personally helped Guo Qingxue up and said with a smile, "Little Xue, there's no need for formalities. We don't stand on ceremony in our family. Just be casual and call me Sister Qianning. Although you call my husband Brother Chen, I'll ask you to call me sister-in-law."

Call me sister-in-law? No way! I still want to marry Brother Chen and be his wife.

Facing the little princess's gaze, Guo Qingxue vaguely sensed a hidden meaning. Her heart skipped a beat, and she felt both excited and flattered. She subconsciously glanced at Chen Xuan, and with his smiling nod, she mustered her courage and cautiously looked at the little princess, saying, "Xiaoxue greets Sister Qianning."

"That's more like it. Don't just stand here. Come on, come inside and sit down," the little princess said happily, patting her hand. She had been racking her brains to find a concubine for her husband to have more children, and today the girl had actually brought her home. It seemed like things were going well. How could she not be happy?

Guo Qingxue felt no pressure at all; on the contrary, the little princess made her feel incredibly close to her. She felt as if she had lost several pounds, and subconsciously let the little princess lead her, making her walk a little unsteady.

Her head was spinning with joy, but she quickly remembered what Chen Xuan had just said. Looking at the little princess with a mixture of surprise and envy, she said, "Sister Qianning is pregnant? That's truly wonderful news!"

Upon hearing this, the little princess subconsciously touched her lower abdomen, her beautiful face flashing with maternal tenderness. She nodded happily and said, "Yes, it's only been a few months, but I'm already being tormented by the little one in my belly."

Pregnancy reactions are not something you can simply refuse to endure, and besides, the little princess isn't a martial artist, so her ability to tolerate physical discomfort is no different from that of an ordinary woman.

"This is of utmost importance. Sister Qianning, you should take care of your health and get plenty of rest," Guo Qingxue said with concern.

With a smile, the little princess shook her head and said, "Little Xue, you don't understand. Actually, appropriate exercise is better for the baby's development, that's what the doctor said."

As she spoke, she glanced at Guo Qingxue's slender waist without leaving a trace, wondering to herself what her husband was thinking at the moment. If he was interested in her, how many children could they have in the future?

Du Juan, who followed silently, lowered her head slightly, her cheeks flushed, and she dared not look at anyone. Her husband, who was also her master, had made such an intimate gesture in public. Even though she was an assassin, she was extremely embarrassed. But he was the master who occupied her heart and soul. What could she do? Of course, she let him do whatever he wanted, as long as he was happy.

During their conversation, the group arrived at the dining room, where the food was already laid out. Yunlan and Yunxin, who were setting the table, looked towards the door and exclaimed happily, "Master is back!"

As they spoke, they came to Chen Xuan's side. One of them used a silk handkerchief to wipe away the non-existent dust on his shoulders, while the other used a wet wipe to clean his hands. They were even more attentive than if they were taking care of a baby.

Having long been accustomed to this decadent lifestyle and letting them do as they pleased, Chen Xuan said, "Sit down and eat, everyone. You too, since I wasn't back, just eat first. Why wait for me on an empty stomach? People who don't know better will think I'm mistreating you."

“I’m not hungry. Don’t we usually eat dinner around this time? Would you like some wine, my husband?” the little princess asked as she sat down to Chen Xuan’s left.

Nodding, Chen Xuan chuckled and said, "Have a drink. I went out for a bit, had some fun, saw some interesting things, and also put my mind at ease. A drink will make me even happier. I didn't really do much, so just consider it tiring."

"Master, the wine is warmed up. I added some green plums, which is a local way of drinking it that I learned after arriving in Yucheng. Please try it and see how it tastes," the maid said expectantly as she poured him the wine.

The little princess shook her head and laughed, "Husband, when will you ever settle down? You're acting like a child, and you're getting tired of it." Then she looked at Guo Qingxue and said, "Your brother Chen is just like that; he's always spouting nonsense. Most people can't keep up with him, but you'll get used to it. Don't be shy here, relax. I don't know if the food suits your taste, but just tell me what you want to eat, and the kitchen can make it right away. If I'd known Little Xue was coming, I would have prepared a few more dishes."

Looking at the nearly twenty dishes piled high on the table, Guo Qingxue was slightly taken aback. Although she came from a prestigious sect and was the apple of the eye of the sect leader of Hanshan Sword Sect, she was not usually so extravagant. She would only eat like this during festivals. This was just an ordinary meal at Brother Chen's house, and she had never seen the ingredients of some of the dishes before.

Already somewhat flattered, she nodded obediently and said, "Then I'll accept it without hesitation. It's already quite generous; I don't need anything else."

As she spoke, she was even more surprised to see everyone seated. She thought to herself, "This is too harmonious!" Even in her sect, there were many rules about meals, and servants and maids were not allowed to sit at the table. But there were none of these rules here with Brother Chen. It was so warm and harmonious. She felt so envious and wanted to join in. After all, she was just an outsider.

Picking up his chopsticks, Chen Xuan slapped his forehead and looked at Guo Qingxue apologetically, saying, "Look at me, I'm usually so carefree. Little Xue, would you like some wine? Don't be shy, and all of you, drink as you like. We're all family, no need for so many formalities."

"I won't drink. If you ladies want to drink, I'll pour you some wine," Guo Qingxue said, shaking her head. She could drink, but she wasn't craving it. Since she hadn't gotten her wish yet, she naturally wanted to act well-behaved. Boys probably didn't like girls drinking, right? If a girl smelled of alcohol, she would be unpleasant. Of course, a girl who smelled sweet was more appealing.

Chen Xuan didn't mind and nodded, saying, "Alright then, just don't be shy."

The little maid, Su Roujia, blinked her adorable big eyes and asked eagerly, "Master, may I have some too?"

"You should wait a few more years, little brat. Do you even understand what you're drinking?" Chen Xuan said with a smile, tapping her head playfully.

Shrinking her neck, the little girl muttered, "It was you who asked, Master. If I don't want to drink, I won't." "It's not that I don't want you to drink, but you're still young. Drinking is bad for you when you're growing. Just like me... well, it seems like I was drinking with the young master and the others when I was a teenager. I really miss those days. But I digress. Can we be the same when we've been practicing martial arts since we were little?" Chen Xuan shook his head and smiled.

The little princess casually served food to Guo Qingxue, seemingly subtly helping her husband. She never tired of finding concubines for her husband. Her movements were natural and smooth as she changed the subject, saying, "Since this morning, there's been quite a commotion outside. I can feel the oppressive and tense atmosphere even at home. By the way, it seems someone tried to break into our house earlier with malicious intent. Does my husband know what happened when he went out?"

Sipping wine and enjoying delicious food, Chen Xuan thought to himself that he knew all too well and had nothing to hide from his wife. He ate as he spoke, "My wife, what's going on outside? That's a long story. I'll go out as soon as possible..."

His family didn't have the rule of not talking while eating or sleeping. For Chen Xuan, chatting while eating was a very normal thing. He ate and talked, and the others would occasionally ask questions. He described the specific situation over the course of eating and drinking.

During the process, Guo Qingxue rarely interrupted, not because she was reserved, but because she was quietly observing how the family interacted, trying to understand in advance, since she herself would strive to become a part of it in the future.

After Chen Xuan finished speaking and understood the various reasons behind it, the little princess said with surprise and a touch of melancholy, "So my husband went through so much on his trip, and there are so many things involved. It seems that from today onwards, the entire Yuhua Kingdom will be reshuffled and the world will change. In the past, the power in the Yuhua Kingdom's court was in the hands of Qin Yan. This person is quite powerful, as can be seen from the fact that he went to war with the Shuangyue Kingdom over a gold mine and refused to give an inch. If the power returns to the Yuhua Kingdom's royal family, I wonder if it will be good or bad for our Jing Kingdom."

As she spoke, she realized what she meant and smiled, adding, "Oh dear, why should a weak woman like me worry about so much? Isn't it more comfortable to just laze around and enjoy life, just like my husband advocates? Speaking of which, that Qin Ruyu is really that kind of person. I've met her a few times, and I couldn't tell at all. It's true that you can know a person's face but not their heart. I was even thinking of having my husband marry her. Luckily, my husband has sharp eyes. She almost brought disaster upon our family by committing so many heinous crimes. It would be too lenient for my husband to just slap her to death. In the future, I'll have to be more discerning when choosing a woman for my husband."

Before she knew the truth, she had indeed considered having Qin Ruyu as a potential match for her husband. A good family background and beautiful looks were not a problem, and her husband could even get his hands on the Youth-Preserving Fruit, so it wouldn't be difficult to treat her. But after finding out the truth, she was somewhat frightened. If such a person were to come into the family, it would be terrible. She would be a pure jinx. Not to mention peace, the whole family would probably be destroyed.

Chen Xuan was already immune to his wife's constant nagging about arranging a concubine for him. He waved his hand dismissively and said, "Who cares? It's all in the past. Even if the whole Yuhua Kingdom is turned upside down, it won't affect us."

As he spoke, Chen Xuan suddenly chuckled and said, "Speaking of which, there's someone who's probably already dumbfounded, but I wonder if they'll be implicated."

"Husband, what are you grinning about? Who are you talking about?" the little princess asked curiously.

Shrugging, Chen Xuan continued cheerfully, "Wei Ziyan, my wife, do you remember? Even a blind man could see his desire to marry Qin Ruyu to climb the social ladder and take a shortcut. He put in so much effort, and now that the Qin family is doomed, not only have all his efforts been wasted, but he's also highly likely to be implicated. No wonder he's dumbfounded."

Hearing this, the little princess seemed to remember something and said thoughtfully, "What my husband says is true. Oh, right, I forgot when I heard someone mention that the Wei family settled down in Yuhua Kingdom because Qin Yan previously held absolute power in the court, so they had been trying to curry favor with him. Now that the Qin family has fallen, it's certain they'll be implicated. As for the extent of the implicatedness, we don't know. Most likely, this branch of the Wei family will never have a chance to rise again."

The Wei family was once the most prominent family in the Jing Kingdom. The fact that Wei Wuyai was killed by Chen Xuan and the family branched out into different places naturally attracted much attention. Chen Xuan wasn't surprised that the little princess mentioned this, shaking his head dismissively and saying, "As the saying goes, even a starved camel is bigger than a horse. If this branch of the Wei family falls, there are others. It's not so easy for them to completely collapse. After all, they have a history spanning hundreds of years, and who knows when they might rise again, although the hope is extremely slim."

"How can it not be hopeless? No one wants to see the Wei family rise again. Countless people are suppressing them, both openly and secretly. They only refrain from taking direct and violent action to eliminate them out of consideration for so-called face," the little princess chuckled. Having grown up in the royal family, she understood the cruelty between powerful forces all too well, even better than Chen Xuan, who was only half-baked.

Ignoring all this, Chen Xuan paused in his drinking, then suddenly said with some concern, "This is getting complicated."

Everyone present, except Guo Qingxue, was already used to his unconventional thinking. Du Juan wiped his mouth with a handkerchief and asked curiously, "What's troubling you, sir?"

Waving his hand, Chen Xuan stroked his chin and said, "It's nothing. I was just thinking that with Qin Yan dead, Yuhua Kingdom is bound to be in chaos for a while, and the impact could be far-reaching, possibly affecting the entire kingdom. In that case, there will probably be very few safe places in the whole kingdom, which wouldn't be fun."

When he said "play," he really meant playing.

The women immediately realized what was happening, and the little princess wholeheartedly agreed, saying, "My husband is right. Take Jade City for example; the atmosphere is tense and oppressive right now, it's completely under martial law, and everyone's panicking. I doubt many people would dare to go out, so there really isn't anything fun to do."

Chen Xuan shrugged, looking frustrated, and said, "Yeah, what are we going to do? Everyone's shouting and fighting. If we go out for a trip, no one will bother us, but it's too much to be out of place with the atmosphere."

He had originally planned to go on his honeymoon with his wife, but this incident has really affected his mood. It's not fun anymore, and he can't just stay at home waiting for things to calm down; that would take forever.

The little princess didn't care and asked, "Now that things have come to this, what are your plans, husband?"

“We can’t stay in Jade City anymore. If we go out and wander around, we’ll feel out of place wherever we go. Why don’t we just leave and travel south to go home, just like we did when we passed through Rong Kingdom before? We’ll try not to go into the city and ruin our mood. What do you think?” Chen Xuan asked, seeking their opinions.

The little princess had no objection; after all, home was wherever her husband was, and she didn't care about anyone else. So, that's how it was decided.

Then the little princess said with great interest, "If we're heading south and don't want to take a detour, if we don't go through the Rong and Shuangyue routes, we'll have to cross the vast desert between Yuhua and our Jing Kingdom. I've never seen a desert before."

“Then let’s travel together and experience the desolation and vastness of the desert,” Chen Xuan nodded.

The subsequent formation was determined, and Xia Mei and her team would handle the specific route preparation.

After discussing the matter, Chen Xuan looked at Guo Qingxue and asked, "Xiaoxue, what are your plans for the future?"

Hearing their conversation, Guo Qingxue was reminded of her first encounter with Chen Xuan in the desert years ago. The thought of revisiting that place immediately popped into her head, and she was instantly tempted. Faced with Chen Xuan's question, she hesitated for a moment, then mustered her courage and said, "Brother Chen, can I come with you? I won't be a problem, don't misunderstand. I just... well, once we cross the desert, we won't be far from our Cold Mountain Sword Sect, um, that's it."

...(End of this chapter)