Fairy, you call this repaying a debt of gratitude?

Chapter 113 Beauty

The two rode their swords at a gallop, and in less than half an incense stick's time, the majestic and magnificent capital city was completely spread out before their eyes.

Red walls and golden tiles stretch for miles, the moat glistens, and the spring breeze carries the fragrance of flowers throughout the city.

The two sheathed their swords and landed by the imperial road outside the palace gate. They presented their invitations and, with the respectful guidance of the eunuchs, entered Princess Zhaoyang's private garden.

The banquet was held deep within the royal gardens. In late spring, fallen petals filled the air, green willows brushed the banks, and winding stone paths meandered among the lush flowers and trees. The flowing water and the scattered pavilions added to the elegant atmosphere.

At this moment, the garden is filled with guests, and the invited guests are all distinguished individuals.

Shen Wei accompanied Chu Yaoxi quietly, following her side the whole way.

Chu Yaoxi greeted and returned the greetings to those she knew well along the way. During this time, many people also turned their attention to Shen Wei. Occasionally, someone would ask about his identity out of curiosity, but Chu Yaoxi would always brush them off.

Shen Wei had told her before that he didn't really want to show off if he could.

The first activity of this late spring gathering was to stroll through the garden and enjoy the spring scenery.

It means exactly what it says, that is, guests can move freely in the garden, chat casually and make friends at will.

Young people visiting for the first time can also take this opportunity to get to know each other, exchange names, and share their experiences of cultivating immortality.

This was not Chu Yaoxi's first time attending such an event. After exchanging pleasantries with a group of familiar people, she led Shen Wei to a secluded and quiet corridor to sit down.

Seeing that no one was around and the atmosphere was quiet, Shen Wei asked softly with a hint of curiosity, "It seems this isn't your first time here. In previous years, when I wasn't around, who did you attend banquets with?"

"In previous years, I came with a senior sister from Han Qiufeng. However, she has been seriously ill recently and is not feeling well, so she will not be able to attend this year."

As Chu Yaoxi spoke, her tone was unusually melancholic. It seemed that Senior Sister Hanqiufeng was someone extremely close to her.

So Shen Wei tactfully steered the conversation elsewhere, saying, "I must say, the scenery here is quite beautiful."

His gaze silently swept over the magnificent garden scene, and he praised it from the bottom of his heart.

"No matter how beautiful the scenery, it's useless; most of the people who come to this banquet are either just pretending to be cultured or harboring ulterior motives."

Seeing that he didn't respond for a long time, Chu Yaoxi turned her head to look and saw that he was staring at a certain place in a daze.

She followed his gaze and saw a beautiful woman standing under the eaves of a corridor. She was beautiful without any makeup, and her moist eyes were looking into the distance without focus. Under the bright spring sunshine, she looked so cold and melancholy.

Chu Yaoxi frowned, feeling inexplicably displeased. "You've only just arrived for the banquet, and you've already spotted a beauty you like?"

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""

Shen Wei nodded and gave a vague reply, then turned to the side and said, "I won't keep you company for now. I'll come back to find you later."

"Hmph, who needs your company?" Chu Yaoxi turned her eyes away, letting out a cold snort. "A guy who values ​​women over friends—"

However, Shen Wei did not hear the second half of her sentence. If he had listened carefully, he would have inevitably teased her by saying, "So, in the heart of the high and mighty Young Master Yuheng, I am already considered your friend."

He walked through the winding corridors toward the eaves where the pink figure was.

"Young Master Shen?" The maidservant serving nearby was the first to see Shen Wei and couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

Qin Yunshang turned her head upon hearing this, and was stunned for a moment when she saw Shen Weishi dressed in brocade robes.

"Brother Lu—what are you doing here?"

Her previous melancholy vanished in an instant, leaving only joy on her fair cheeks.

"Yeah, I suddenly missed you, so I thought I'd come and see you."

"You're good at making me happy," Qin Yunshang said playfully, giving him a light pat on the shoulder, but still appearing very well-mannered.

Shen Wei smiled and told her what had happened after she left Qingyun City, but omitted the parts related to Gu Lengyue and Ji Lengyuan.

"I really didn't expect to run into you here."

"I was reluctant to come to this kind of social banquet." Qin Yunshang lowered her eyes gently, her voice soft. "But Anhe kept urging me to come because there were many important people present, so I reluctantly agreed to come."

"Looking back now, coming here was definitely the right thing to do; I really did meet the most important person in my life."

After saying that, Qin Yunshang smiled faintly, and Shen Wei smiled from the bottom of his heart when he saw her like this.

Not far away, Chu Yaoxi silently observed this scene.

She had never seen Shen Wei like this before.

If she hadn't witnessed it with her own eyes, she truly wouldn't have believed that this man could have such a gentle side.

In the past, he was always so confrontational with me, always trying to argue with me.

But at this moment, he was smiling gently and speaking in a relaxed tone to another woman.

So this is the kind of gentle and quiet woman he prefers—thinking of this, Chu Yaoxi felt inexplicably uneasy.

How dare he leave me, the young master, aside to frolick with a strange woman, laughing so happily—I must make my mother punish him when we get back.

Just as she was feeling down, a noisy sound came from the other end of the veranda.

"The Third Prince is truly well-read; he has profound insights into these matters."

A man dressed in a dark brocade robe stood in the center of the crowd. He had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, a tall and straight figure, and exuded an aura of majesty that made people dare not approach him easily.

It was none other than the Third Prince—Xiao Qian.

He was surrounded by a group of scions of prominent families, his gaze indifferent, casually ignoring the flattery around him, and walking straight toward himself.

Chu Yaoxi sneered inwardly. These people were always just sycophants. It was just a casual remark, yet they were all fawning over each other. It was really boring and laughable.

Thinking of this, she wanted to get up and leave, to get away from this person she disliked, but Xiao Qian locked his gaze on her first.

"Young Master Chu, why are you here alone? Did you come to this gathering by yourself?"

She sighed, realizing she couldn't avoid it, and had no choice but to steel herself and reply coldly, "Third Prince, I did not come alone."

Xiao Qian glanced at the empty spot next to her, a faint smile playing on his lips, and said, "Oh? Where is the person accompanying the young master? If not, how about I accompany you during this garden tour, so you won't feel bored and resentful of the banquet hosted by my elder sister, and then never come again?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Yaoxi subconsciously looked up in the direction Shen Wei had left. In that instant, that tall and straight figure returned, standing directly in front of her, drawing the attention of the enemy.

"I believe that the Third Prince is of noble status, and with so many guests at this grand event, there are undoubtedly more important matters and people awaiting His Highness. It is sufficient for the Young Master to have me by his side."

Xiao Qian calmly sized up the stranger standing in front of him who was refuting him. "Who are you?" Xiao Qian asked slowly, his tone flat but with a hint of scrutiny.

Shen Wei did not flinch at all, but met Xiao Qian's gaze directly, and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "I am Shen Wei, a disciple of the Jade Balance Sect."

"Shen Wei—" Xiao Qian repeated the name in a low voice, "A good name, I will remember it."

After speaking, he turned his gaze back to Chu Yaoxi, his shallow smile unchanged: "Since Young Master Chu already has someone accompanying him, then this prince will not disturb him any longer."

After saying that, Xiao Qian didn't linger for a moment, turned around and calmly left, re-entering the noisy crowd.