Chapter 771

「……」

Li Piaoqing lifted her head as she washed the tea set, meeting Li Xizhou’s faint gaze.

“What do you mean by that, Your Highness?”

“Did I not speak clearly?”

“Piaoqing didn’t quite catch it.”

“Hold your position, fulfill your duty.” Li Xizhou lowered his head, tracing his fingers.

“Oh… I think Your Highness should avoid thinking too much about Ming Jianzhu.” Li Piaoqing said, “lest…”

“Lest what?”

Li Piaoqing smiled faintly and fell silent.

“Lest you invite humiliation upon yourself?”

“Piaoqing dares not.”

“Didn’t your former sweetheart come running to me half a year ago, even more so than now?”

Li Piaoqing’s smile froze: “Piaoqing naturally cannot compare to Your Highness.”

Li Xizhou ignored her phrasing: “Don’t you secretly think that if you hadn’t let go, I’d have had no chance?”

Li Piaoqing lowered her eyes: “Since I’ve chosen to remain in Long territory, and we each bear heavy responsibilities, there’s no need to be entangled by fragile emotional ties.”

“Seven days of emotional ties?”

“… ” Li Piaoqing pressed her lips together. “Your Highness knows quite a lot.”

“Guess who told me.” Li Xizhou smiled.

“… ” Li Piaoqing took a deep breath and turned her head away.

“No doubt you’d look heartbreakingly lovely when you cry.”

Li Piaoqing lowered her head, rinsed the tea set clean, and tucked away her small brocade pouch.

“No one usually discusses Pei Ye with me, let alone bicker—yet it’s rather amusing. How long does Master Li intend to stay in the Divine Capital?”

Li Piaoqing said: “Thank Your Highness’s favor. Piaoqing plans to leave the capital before May, though I might suggest a good place for you.”

“Oh?”

“There’s a Pei Ye enthusiasts’ club in the Divine Capital. Your Highness could fill this void there.”

“That one organized by Cui Zhaoye? You should join it, Master Li.”

“I’m already vice-chair.”

Li Xizhou smiled: “Tell me about Qitian.”

“Ming Jianzhu is someone Piaoqing sincerely admires; half of Pei Ye’s admiration, I’ve felt firsthand.” Li Piaoqing said. “As for the other half, I suppose it’s everything.”

“What do you mean by ‘everything’?”

“It means everything—I feel everything toward Ming Jianzhu too.” Li Piaoqing smiled.

“Huh.”

The night breeze rustled; the terrace fell quiet for a moment.

“The night in the Divine Capital holds another kind of beauty. Alone in a cold palace, best to gaze at the starry sea; atop a high pavilion, best to survey the river of lanterns.” Li Xizhou said. “At this moment, it seems as if all the myriad tides of the Divine Capital have taken tangible form here.”

Li Piaoqing followed his gaze, stared for a while, then slowly nodded: “Indeed so.”

She added: “Your Highness is a true person. Before coming, Piaoqing never imagined you’d be so approachable.”

Li Xizhou gazed at the vast, gradually brightening city: “I said it—I like you. Like a little bird full of vitality.”

Li Piaoqing smiled faintly: “Your Highness’s heart is as deep as the ocean—it can surely hold a tiny blue bird. Yet I wonder why you’re so fixated on Ming Jianzhu.”

“Master Li needn’t trouble herself with that anymore.”

“I never troubled myself with it before.”

“Didn’t you have the chance?”

“Of course I did. Back then, we’d row on the river and stroll the streets, always talking about Ming Jianzhu—he loved chatting with me too.”

“You were one of his admirers, so it’s no surprise.” Li Xizhou said. “He’d look at you with sparkling eyes, calling you ‘Miss Ming’ as if you were the most beautiful woman in the world—I can’t imagine how you endured it.”

“Is that so?” Li Piaoqing opened her eyes in mild surprise. “I thought he’d say Your Highness was more handsome than Ming Jianzhu.”

“… ” Li Xizhou slowly turned his head. “What?”

“...” Li Xizhou slowly turned his head. “What?”

Pei Ye sat on a cold stone beside the night lake, holding the black cat and his sword.

The wind stirred his loose bangs and stiff face, making him look like soft silk and fur wrapped around a wooden statue.

“I can’t sit here anymore.” He repeated this for the fifth time.

The black cat nodded: “Mm.”

But neither moved; the night breeze drifted past in threads.

“Why didn’t you stay back then?”

“Why didn’t you stay back then?”

Pei Ye fell silent for a moment: “You know, Xiao Mao, I just now wished I’d gone back to the enthusiasts’ club.”

“It would’ve been safer.”

“I can’t sit here anymore.” Pei Ye stared at the lake and spoke again.

“I can’t sit here any longer,” Pei Ye said, gazing at the lake.

“I need to go up and check. Piaoqing just arrived—she shouldn’t be left alone up there.”

“I need to go up and check. Piaoqing is new here; she shouldn’t be left alone up there.”

“… ”

“Move.”

“It’s about time. I should go up and ask if it’s over—it’d be natural to escort Piaoqing back to her guesthouse.”

The black cat ignored him.

Pei Ye looked down at those emerald-green pupils, then raised his head and stood, turning to pick up his sword and climb the stairs.

His footsteps on the familiar staircase rang out clearly; he climbed quickly, as if afraid his hesitation would catch up. Moments later, he returned to the top floor—his heart clenched at the sight of leftover dishes on the table, but then he saw two figures on the terrace: one in green, one in yellow.

The woman leaned against the railing, the girl stood beside her, each holding a teacup, their faces still smiling as they turned to look.

The woman leaned against the railing, the girl standing beside her, each holding a teacup; as they turned their heads, smiles still on their faces, tea talk lingering.

Pei Ye walked up to them, keeping a respectful distance: “Have you… finished talking?”

The night breeze rustled; the terrace felt serene. Li Xizhou glanced at him: “Why the rush? Do you have an appointment with Master Li?”

Li Piaoqing smiled: “I was telling Your Highness about your time in Bowang and the Divine Capital—we were just getting to the good part.”

“… About me? I have nothing worth talking about.”

Li Piaoqing said: “Your Highness mentioned the two little clay pigs you gave her for the New Year—they were clumsy and adorable… How could someone as stunningly beautiful as Your Highness give two clay pigs?”

“...What about me? I have nothing worth talking about.”

Li Xizhou said: “It was already New Year’s time—tight on hours. Had there been more time, perhaps I’d have carved a few small jade swords instead.”

Pei Ye began regretting he hadn’t let his hesitation catch him.

“… I’ll carve you one too.” He mumbled evasively.

“No need—I don’t use swords.”

Li Piaoqing leaned on the railing and smiled: “Once Your Highness’s Dragon Blood test is done, you must think of a thoughtful gift—he’ll be delighted.”

“Is he very obedient to Master Li?”

“Not at all—I’m the one who obeys him.”

“Since you have an appointment, I won’t keep Master Li any longer. There’s still a month until May—I’ll invite you to the palace again when I’m free.”

Li Piaoqing bowed: “Piaoqing awaits Your Highness’s call at all times.”

Pei Ye stood still. Li Xizhou glanced at him: “Where will you sleep tonight?”

Pei Ye instinctively wanted to say “anywhere,” but suddenly tensed: “I’ll return to the Sword Cultivation Academy… after escorting Piaoqing back to her guesthouse.”

Li Xizhou nodded warmly: “If it’s too late, the two of you may rest at the Scholar’s Pavilion—there are rooms right here in this pavilion.”

Li Piaoqing bowed again: “Thank Your Highness’s kindness—I’ll remember it. Won’t Your Highness take a bit of Xiao Ye Rong?”

Li Xizhou nodded gently. “If it’s too late, the two of you may return to Xiuwenguan to rest—there are lodging rooms right here in this small tower.”

Pei Ye also bowed: “Thank Your Highness’s kindness.”

Li Xizhou ignored him: “Turn around.”

Pei Ye stiffly turned. Li Xizhou stepped forward and smoothed out the wrinkles in his robe.

Li Xizhou ignored him and said, “Turn around.”

Pei Ye turned stiffly, and Li Xizhou stepped forward to smooth out the wrinkles in his robe from sitting.