Chapter 519: Night Excursion to the State Preceptor’s Residence

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

That afternoon when it was time for lunch, Qi Qingyao brought the children to the dining hall. She was shocked by the large array of dishes. The extra-large round table being laden with hot, steaming dishes made it seem like more than twenty people were being served altogether. Qi Qingyao thought to herself that those with short arms would have trouble getting the dishes in the center.

When Li Ruoxuan came over, he was also shocked by the assortment of dishes. Qi Qingyao had already taken her seat alongside the children. She waved at him excitedly. “It’s just a ceremony to honor you as the master. Why are you being so courteous, State Preceptor? You prepared such a sumptuous meal.”

“…”

Li Ruoxuan turned back and glanced at Zhu Shen.

Zhu Shen stood behind him, looking down at his feet silently.

Pang Juan and Gongsun She had mentioned before that Erniu possessed the potential for cultivation. Zhu Shen knew this. Now, His Excellency had become a grand master and taken in a genius as his disciple! All those things put together were worth a celebration.

However, His Excellency had always been a lone wolf and did not enjoy doing things like this.

However, this time, he had seized the opportunity.

Hence, Zhu Shen had requested the kitchen to prepare a large table of dishes!

If his Excellency was alone, he would obviously not be able to finish all of it—but Lady Qi was here, along with her three children. It was also livelier with more people.

Li Ruoxuan really wanted to scold Zhu Shen, but upon seeing Qi Qingyao and the three children all looking at him with bright eyes, he sat down without saying a word.

Now that everyone was here, dinner naturally began.

Qi Qingyao and the children had not eaten or slept well recently. Although she had had to deal with some upsetting things upon her arrival in the capital, she could not help but feel happy upon seeing this meal.

Erniu was already four years old and could use chopsticks on her own.

Due to the hardships of the past few years, the children had long adapted to other people’s dispositions. Therefore, when sitting at such a large table to eat, they did not pick up the food greedily. They were all polite, sitting obediently and eating earnestly.

As she ate, Qi Qingyao thought about how ever since she had come to Capital City, she had stayed in the house of someone she hated and eaten his food. He had even taken her daughter in as his disciple.

He had not been too annoying in the palace either, even saving her life at a critical moment.

These facts gave her mixed emotions. Qi Qingyao poured two glasses of wine and brought one to the man wearing an eyepatch across from her. “State Preceptor, I propose a toast to you.”

“…” Li Ruoxuan took the glass of wine, clinked glasses with her, then drank it with a mixed expression.

Qi Qingyao returned to her seat and continued eating and drinking. When she was almost full, she asked Li Ruoxuan curiously, “Why have you been so quiet?”

“I don’t know what to say,” Li Ruoxuan pursed his lips and answered.

Qi Qingyao smiled and asked, “Do you want to go out tonight?”

“Didn’t you cause enough trouble last night?” Li Ruoxuan raised his eyelids and responded.

Qi Qingyao pouted and said, “Last night I went to Nanfeng Pavilion and ended up in trouble, so I didn’t get to go anywhere else. Today I was almost strangled to death—I am already traumatized!”

Li Ruoxuan thought for a while and suggested, “Have a good rest tonight. If you want to go out tomorrow, I’ll take you and your children out.”

“You promise?!” Qi Qingyao’s eyes lit up instantly.

Li Ruoxuan, “I promise.”

Qi Qingyao turned to the triplets and said, “You all heard the State Preceptor. Sleep well tonight, tomorrow morning we’ll go out and go sightseeing around the capital.”

She wanted to bring the children out, but she would not be able to protect them herself. If something were to happen and they offended some aristocrats in the capital, trouble would follow. Hence, Qi Qingyao had felt relieved when she heard Li Ruoxuan’s assurance. After all, Li Ruoxuan was not just the State Preceptor now, he was also one of the three grand masters in Northern Liang!

As soon as she thought of this, Qi Qingyao became upset. If Si Jin was here, would she need to be so aggrieved?

“Yay!”

The three children who were obediently eating held up their chopsticks happily.

After the meal.

Qi Qingyao brought the three children out to the garden in the State Preceptor’s residence.

Li Ruoxuan sat on the roof alone and meditated. He glanced and spotted them playing in the courtyard.

His eyes narrowed involuntarily.

There were indeed some differences… after the addition of a woman in his house.

The atmosphere seemed a little livelier.

That night.

Just after midnight.

The entire capital was silent.

The guards at the State Preceptor’s residence protected the residence.

Not far outside of the back wall, Zhao Xin followed behind Jiang Yeqian—looking at Jiang Yeqian dressed in all black. Zhao Xin asked him a question, worried.

“Your Excellency, do you really want to break into the State Preceptor’s residence at night?”

Jiang Yeqian said very casually, “I just want to go see her.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to see her during the day? Why does it have to be at night?” Zhao Xin did not understand why he wanted to break into the State Preceptor’s residence in the middle of the night. He had heard from His Excellency that the State Preceptor was already a grand master now. How embarrassing would it be if they got caught?!

“You don’t understand,” Jiang Yeqian said.

Zhao Xin, “…”

…

Li Ruoxuan was still meditating on the roof at night.

Ever since he ascended to the rank of a grand master, Li Ruoxuan’s perception had expanded by a lot. Whenever he perceived intentionally, no surrounding movements could escape his perception.

Something had already happened in the imperial palace earlier that day.

Therefore, on this night, Li Ruoxuan kept releasing his perception. Waiting.

Waiting for a certain someone to show up.

If that certain someone did not show up tonight, he would have to overturn all his previous guesses.

He waited till midnight.

Li Ruoxuan suddenly opened his eyes and glanced in a certain direction.

He narrowed his eyes in the darkness.

Then, he slowly got up and walked along the roof, leaping toward the back wall.

As soon as Jiang Yeqian and Zhao Xin set foot into the State Preceptor’s residence, a man dressed all in white and wearing a black eyepatch landed on the ground right in front of them with a smile. He straightened up.

Jiang Yeqian, “…” As expected of a grand master! His perception was so powerful.

Li Ruoxuan said unhurriedly, “I wonder why the Head Grand Secretariat is breaking into my residence in the middle of the night?”

“I just came to see you, State Preceptor,” Jiang Yeqian said impassively.

“To see me?”

Li Ruoxuan said with a half-smile, “Your words make me want to vomit.”

Jiang Yeqian said, “Once you’re done vomiting, I’d like to enter your house.”

Li Ruoxuan said calmly, “If the Head Grand Secretariat wants to see me, then you’re already looking at me now. There’s no need to enter my house.”

“I…” Jiang Yeqian pursed his lips, looking a little hesitant.

Li Ruoxuan purposely confronted him and said, “It’s rare to see the Head Grand Secretariat stammer, very rare. Could it be that you want to confess to me, but are too embarrassed to confess?”

Jiang Yeqian said with a straight face, “You might look ugly, but your fantasies are fascinating.”

Li Ruoxuan replied, “Since I look ugly, if you would like to vomit, just do so.”

Jiang Yeqian took a deep breath. Suddenly, he exclaimed seriously, “I like Qi Qingyao!!”

“…” Li Ruoxuan raised his brows slightly. Indeed!

Jiang Yeqian repeated himself. “I like Qi Qingyao.”

Li Ruoxuan responded offhandedly, “So?”

Jiang Yeqian answered firmly, “I want to go in and see her.”

“If you like her, then hold your head up high and come look for her during the day.”

Li Ruoxuan suddenly mocked him and said, “However, with the attitude you’ve displayed today, I’m afraid you have no chance.”

Jiang Yeqian said, “I know.”

Li Ruoxuan asked, “Since you know you have no chance, why have you come here?”

“…”

Jiang Yeqian did not know how to respond.