Chapter 201: and translation of chapter title

Ye Qingran glanced at the cabin opposite, feeling suspicious. Is the National Master really asleep? She doubted it! Perhaps the National Master was secretly peeking inside!

Wuhen, let's begin!

Ye Qingran took Wuhen's hand, stood before the guqin, raised her head, gazing at him with loving eyes. That bright gaze, intimate demeanor, looked like that.

If it weren't for his clear understanding, like a bright mirror in his heart, that this woman was acting, he would probably have believed it.

Even knowing it was fake, he still couldn't help but fall for it. He secretly resented his own lack of ambition. This woman, if she acted coquettish toward him, he would have no principles, no limits; if one day she demanded his life, he'd likely give it to her without a second thought.

Damn Ye Qingran, she was born to be his bane!

After a while, Ye Qingran finally released Wuhen's hand, sat before the guqin, and the two began to play in perfect harmony.

The sound of the guqin and xiao rose straight up, drifting with the clear breeze across this expanse of heaven and earth. That melodious tune was none other than "Phoenix Seeking the Phoenix". The passionate, sorrowful love chapter was expressed in the score to the fullest, moving and lingering.

The guqin's melody lingered, the xiao's notes came in waves, echoing over Qingshan Lake; the beautiful melody and artistic conception attracted who knows how many listeners.

On the nearby boat, Meng Yao had already changed into a fresh set of clothes and had recovered. Hearing the music drifting from outside, she couldn't help but come to the window.

Her husband embraced her from behind, saying, "Don't scare me like that again!" While he went to buy her sour plum juice to quench her thirst, an accident occurred; if it weren't for someone coming to her aid, the consequences would be unthinkable…

"My father-in-law and sister have just returned from the northern frontier; if anything happens to you, how am I to answer to them?!"

Meng Yao smiled at him, "All right, don't worry about me, I'm really fine! I've practiced martial arts since childhood, I have a solid foundation, I'm unharmed!"

……

Ye Qingran sat cross-legged, her brows and eyes like a painting, her slender fingers flying, like myriad orchids blooming upon the guqin; Wuhen stood straight, bearing noble, drifting gracefully out of the dust in the wind, as if a deity had descended to earth.

The two occasionally exchanged glances, sharing a faint smile, which softened the passage of time.

Although they knew it was an act, Han Xing Leng Yue and Fu San couldn't help but be stunned by the atmosphere the two created.

Fu San thought, whether it was the National Master or Wuhen, they seemed to be an excellent match for Ye Qingran. It appeared that the future mistress of the pinnacle of their contention would be none other than Ye Qingran.

Han Xing Leng Yue, meanwhile, couldn't help but have a lovely thought: the future son-in-law of the Medicine King Valley, if it were Wuhen, would be quite good.

As the piece ended, a sudden clatter of "ping-ling dang-lang" came from the opposite cabin, clearly something had been smashed.

Ye Qingran startled, then thought, could the National Master be jealous? Her eyes lit up; she wanted to urge Wuhen to press on, to make the National Master lose heart completely, but just as she lifted her face, she saw a shadow press down, and then something pressed against her lips…

Time seemed to freeze in that instant.

Ye Qingran stared, dumbfounded, forgetting to react, allowing a large hand to slip around her from behind, grasp her waist, and then pull her into an embrace…

Warm breath filled the space between their breaths; Ye Qingran felt her mind turn to mush, her thoughts like a tiny boat adrift on a vast sea, sinking and rising without end.

To the side, Han Xing Leng Yue uniformly covered their mouths, eyes widened like bronze bells; Fu San grinned, his smile almost splitting his ear; outside, Fu Qianchen and Mo Xiaohu played, their mouths opened into an 'O' shape.

The young lady was forcibly kissed by Wuhen!

Your Majesty forcibly kissed Miss Ye!

Mommy and Uncle Wuhen are kissing!

"Hehe, we'll soon have a little sister!" Mo Xiaohu laughed, covering their mouth.

Fu Qianchen wasn't very happy, "Why isn't the little sister born from Father Lord and Mommy together?"

"Then why not let Mommy and your Father Lord have another little sister next time?"

Sure!

……

Fu Qianchen and Mo Xiaohu's conversation woke Ye Qingran.

She was like a startled rabbit, violently breaking free of Wuhen's restraint and stepping back three steps.

Her face flushed crimson, her watery autumn eyes brimming with moisture as she looked at Wuhen, filled with accusation, bewilderment, and panic.

Wuhen was still immersed in the sensation from just then.

To be frank, he had wanted to do this for a long time but lacked the courage; today, perhaps because the piece "Phoenix Seeking the Phoenix" was too passionate, or perhaps because his identity as Wuhen bolstered his courage, in any case he did it.

The taste was far better than he had imagined.

"You… you…" Ye Qingran bit her lip, unable to utter a word for a long time.

She never expected Wuhen would suddenly kiss her!

At this moment Wuhen gently shook his head at her, using his gaze to indicate the neighboring boat, trying to tell her not to forget that the National Master was still watching nearby, then he responded with his mouth shape, indicating that his earlier action was merely acting.

Damn it!

She actually couldn't refute it!

Ye Qingran had no outlet for her frustration; a breath caught in her throat, neither swallowed nor released, almost suffocating her.

Fu San, let's go!

From the opposite cabin came the National Master's voice, laden with suppressed anger.

Fu San bowed, accepted the order, and instructed the boatman to turn the prow toward the shore.

Watching the National Master depart, Ye Qingran let out a breath of relief, only to realize she wasn't as happy as she had imagined.

Looking again at the wooden-person-like Wuhen beside her, Ye Qingran felt bewildered for the first time in her life.

Ye Qingran didn't even know how she had returned to the city.

Along the way, she didn't pay attention to what the two children and Han Xing Leng Yue were saying, her mind wholly absorbed in her own thoughts.

Just moments ago, when Wuhen kissed her, she shamefully harbored the thought of betraying the National Master!

Has she gone mad?

She has no relationship whatsoever with the National Master!

How could such strange thoughts arise?

"Ye Qingran, I've been looking for you for a long time—I didn't expect to find you here!" A familiar voice pulled Ye Qingran's senses back.

Before the carriage, a tall, slender figure rode a fine horse, with wheat-colored skin, delicate features, and a spirited bearing.

It was Meng Qian.

Passersby, upon seeing this scene, stopped to watch the spectacle.

What, Miss Meng, you've figured it out, and you've come to apologize to me?

A teasing voice came from inside the carriage.

"An apology?" Meng Qian gave a cold smile. "Ye Qingran, if I hadn't personally gone to the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, I would have almost been deceived by you! Commander Zhou, these years you may have had no merit, but you've certainly endured hardship, right? You actually, for the mere position of new commander, grew dissatisfied and crippled his right arm—utterly unreasonable, ruthless and vicious!"

This time, Meng Qian's tone was full of confidence, and even more incandescent with rage.

Is this the result of your investigation?

"Ye Qingran, as you said, further talk is useless!" Meng Qian drew the black long whip from her waist, swung it, and it cracked sharply against the ground.

Ye Qingran, you boast of your martial strength, don't you? Tomorrow at the si hour, on the Xuanwu Platform, I will stake one arm and match our martial prowess against yours! Will you dare accept?

Meng Qian's voice rose eight notches, full of vigor, also carrying an icy chill, echoing across the heavens and earth; the people around were drawn to the commotion.

Inside the carriage, there was complete silence.

Just when everyone thought Ye Qingran wouldn't dare accept, a clear, confident voice came from inside, tinged with a smile and calm assurance: 'As you wish.'

Good, you have no room for regret! If you don't come tomorrow, I will go to the Ye Residence and take one of your arms!

Having said that, she glanced at Ye Qingran, Meng Qian turned the horse's head, gave a clear shout, and galloped away.