249.2 – Gong Tianqing’s Change

“Oh, oh…”

Gong Tianqing, who still seems like she can’t feel relieved, gazed at Xue Qilin with a half suspicious and half expectant look in her eyes, as if asking, “are you really not lying?”

Xue Qilin realized the meaning behind the expression and looked at the other party askance.

“It’s true!” Xue Qilin caressed Gong Tianqing’s head, and then scratched her own head, helpless, “What are you imagining! I’m not like you, I won’t disappear without saying a word!”

Seeing Xue Qilin plaster a sarcastic smile on her face, Gong Tianqing’s cheeks turned red, her shoulders, and she muttered “I… I…” stutteringly.

Her reaction is a common occurrence.

In the next moment, however, Xue Qilin saw that she doesn’t dare to look her in the eyes and that her yes have started to distort slowly. It seems that the teasing has gone too far. Realizing this, Xue Qilin immediately panicked.

“Ah, ah! No, no, no! Little Qing, don’t cry! If Little Seven learns that I made you cry, I will be in big trouble!”

Anxious, Xue Qilin circled around Gong Tianqing and waved her hands at random.

Maybe because her discomposed expression is funny, Gong Tianqing suddenly spurted out a laugh, and tears finally into a smile.

As she wiped the tears from her eyes, she said apologetically, “I’m, I’m really sorry, Young Ancestor…” She sniffled, a bitter expression on her face, “I just thought about Little Yang and momentarily couldn’t restrain myself…”

Gong Tianyang was drawn into a conspiracy and was poisoned to death.

Although a month has already passed, but the scars left by his death won’t easily heal. Even though she hasn’t know Gong Tianyang for a long time, but Xue Qilin still needs some time to heal the wounds in her heart, let alone Gong Tianqing.

Xue Qilin assumed a melancholic expression and issued a long sigh from her nose.

“How is your family doing? Did they send you a letter?”

Xue Qilin widened her eyes for a split second.

Gong Tianqing’s face, which is always rippling with the shades of uneasiness and timidity, is now radiating an amazing brilliance.

— she smiled.

It is a rare, heartfelt smile full of satisfaction and joy, as if she gained a most precious treasure. For Gong Tianqing, this must be something to be happy about.

“Yes, grandfather wrote to me.”

She must have never received a letter from home before. Otherwise, she would not be so happy. Thinking this, Xue Qilin is happy for Gong Tianqing. Yet she also feels a little bitter.

Xue Qilin has no blood related family — not in this world at least.

Even though she regards the people in the Merak Temple as her family, but in the end, she still lacks a sense of consanguinity, still cannot fully fill the empty gap in her heart. She understands that there’s no way about this and that “blood” is not the most important element that makes two people family.

However, although she understands this, but she still can’t fully feel relieved.

People are clumsy and easily influenced by emotions. Therefore, emotions are not only the source of their most formidable strength, but also the fetters that shackle them.

Xue Qilin pondered these things. Trying not to let the melancholy show on her face, she plastered a smile and said, “Oh, isn’t that great?”

Gong Tianqing lowered her head and issued a “mhm” sound, feeling a little embarrassed.

Next, her face suddenly darkened. Seeing this, Xue Qilin asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Um… it seems that grandfather will soon be transferred back to the northern border.”

“Ah! So fast?” Xue Qilin couldn’t conceal her surprise.

As far as she knows, Gong Jing just returned from the northern border. Only a little over a month passed, yet he is already being transferred back to the northern border.

Could it be that old man Emperor specially transferred old man Gong back as a countermeasure against the Merak Temple? Xue Qilin suspects this.

In the end, Gong Tianqing said, “Yes, because autumn is coming.”

Autumn? Xue Qilin tilted her head. She doesn’t understand why Gong Jing’s transfer back to the northern border has anything to do with the coming of autumn.

Probably aware of Xue Qilin’s confusion, Gong Tianqing explained in a low voice, “The Northern Kingdom is a kingdom of nomads. They aren’t good at production and are in short supply of land and resources. Every winter, they suffer from a shortage of resources. Therefore…”

Although Gong Tianqing didn’t finish her explanation, but Xue Qilin already understood what she meant.

Since the domestic resources are insufficient, they have to go plunder — it’s both a simple and cruel reason.

In this way, the Hua Dynasty, which borders with their country, is their best choice, not to mention the the Hua Dynasty boasts a vast territory and abundant resources.

War is an act of plundering resources and is often a necessary means for the survival of some nations and states.

After winter comes, the Hua Dynasty’s norther border and the Northern Kingdom will be blanketed by thick snow and the weather will be quite fickle. By then, the sky can be clear at one moment, but then it may become cloudy in the next moment, and it may even devolve into a snowstorm.

Under such extreme weather conditions, let alone launching a war, even ordinary people will find it hard to move forward. In view of this, if the Northern Kingdom wants to launch a war and plunder resources, the most optimal time is before winter comes and snow fall — that is to say, autumn.

From this, it’s similar to the history I’ve read before… Xue Qilin gently stroked her chin and clicked her tongue.

All of a sudden, Gong Tianqing, who seems to want to cheer herself up, pressed her chest and whispered “okay”. Wondering what’s wrong with her, Xue Qilin gazed at her firmly.

Gong Tianqing took a breath, and then summoned her courage and uttered, “Young Ancestor, I want to go back and see grandfather. He’s going back to the northern border soon. I don’t know how long he’s going to stay there… ”

“Hmm?” Xue Qilin blinked, “You can go if you want! Why are you telling me this?”

“I left without saying anything last time. Weren’t you angry… so I thought that I’ll tell you this time.”

Ah, I see… Xue Qilin smiled bitterly.

“When are you going?”

“Sh, should be in a few days. I still haven’t told Older Sister Teacher! I don’t know if she’ll approve!”

“Rest assured! Little Seven is a typical case of firm in speech but soft in heart.” Xue Qilin wagged her head and paced back and forth, “In my opinion, at most, she’ll nag you to be careful and so on, and then send you off with a reluctant expression on her face.”

Xue Qilin winked mischievously at Gong Tianqing with her left eye.

“What do you thing, Little Qing?”

“Young Ancestor… you… you’re really…”

Gong Tianqing’s shoulders trembled and her lips quivered.

She isn’t angry or sad. Instead, she is on the verge of laughter. In the end, she couldn’t help but cover her mouth, and bright laughter leaked out from between her lips.

Xue Qilin puffed out her chest and snorted twice, a proud look on her face. Seeing the lass’s childish behavior, Gong Tianqing’s laughter became even more uncontrollable.

“Little Qing, this sort of expression really suits you!”

Xue Qilin glanced at Gong Tianqing and spoke in a soft voice, a mild smile on her face.