Ye Xi froze on the spot, blinking gingerly.
The room fell silent for a moment.
It took a long while for Yi Yuan to calm the surging desire within him. He kissed Ye Xi's blushing cheek with a smile and said,
"Alright, I won't tease you anymore. You've caught a cold. Go to bed early."
"I'll ask Mian Xiao and Lin An to move a small couch over. Otherwise, if I really sleep beside you, I'm not sure I can be as upright as Liu Xiahui."
After chatting sweetly for a while, the two washed up and went to bed separately.
The next day—
Yi Yuan sent a message to Hun Yuan early in the morning but learned that Hun Yuan had left the capital on business during the Palace Banquet last night. However, the message Ye Xi sent to Qiao Yan soon received a reply. Not long after, Qiao Yan came running over with Lian Yi.
[The colors haven't changed.]
Lian Yi widened her eyes seriously and carefully examined the colors around Ye Xi several times.
[It's even a bit brighter. But that pink color has dimmed a bit more.]
"Okay."
Ye Xi gave a gentle smile and asked,
"But what does that pink color mean?"
Lian Yi shook her head and gestured,
[I don't know.]
Ye Xi stroked Lian Yi's little face and stuffed a plate of snacks into her hands.
"Alright, thank you, little Lian Yi. Go and play."
Lian Yi gave a sweet smile, hugged the snacks, and happily ran off with Yi Yaofeng.
Ye Xi glanced at Yi Yuan, who was sitting silently beside her, and said softly,
"Since they've all said there's no problem, it should really be okay. And I only felt something was off for a moment. Maybe it was because I got cold and scared at that time and only realized it when I got into the carriage."
"Let's just leave it at that. The matter of the military pay isn't over yet. You go and attend to your business first. I'll tell you if I feel unwell."
"Um... Alright."
Yi Yuan felt a bit more relieved.
"Then I'll leave first. You can chat with Qiao Yan."
"Okay."
Ye Xi saw Yi Yuan off with a smile and then noticed that Qiao Yan seemed a bit absent - minded.
She never thought that the care - free Qiao Yan could be so evasive and troubled. Ye Xi found it quite strange. She asked a few questions, but seeing that Qiao Yan really didn't want to talk, she changed the topic and asked about the "big gift" Qiao Yan had prepared for her at the Qingyun Competition.
"Alas, don't even mention it,"
Qiao Yan waved her hand in shame.
"At that time, I thought I had misunderstood you and wanted to make it up to you. But I didn't know you well and really didn't know what to give. After much hesitation, I even asked A Zhen for advice."
"A Zhen said she didn't know you well either and couldn't come up with any good ideas. So she asked me what you needed most at that time, saying that I should start with what you lacked the most. But I didn't know either, and I was too embarrassed to ask you."
Qiao Yan playfully stuck out her tongue and continued,
"Finally, after muttering for a while, A Zhen sighed that you were really brave and decisive for breaking away from the Ye family. But because you were favored by the Prince of Yu'an and because of your appearance, you were envied by many narrow - minded people who ridiculed and slandered you everywhere, preventing others from getting to know the real you. At that moment, I had an idea. I thought that if you could show your talents at the Qingyun Competition and let others know that you were truly 'talented', they might not keep harping on about your appearance."
"But who would have thought,"
Qiao Yan glared at Ye Xi angrily and pretended to be dissatisfied.
"You, you, with such a celestial - like appearance, and your horse - riding and archery skills are almost on par with mine. I really underestimated you."
"But you too. You kept such a good thing so secret. If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have come up with such a stupid idea. Tsk, now that I think about it, my brain was really kicked by a donkey at that time."
Ye Xi was amused by Qiao Yan's straightforwardness and burst out laughing. She said sincerely,
"Actually, I have my own difficulties, but it's not convenient to say now. But A Yan, one should always be on guard. I know you're straightforward and kind - hearted. Once you make a friend, you never have any doubts. But for some things, especially those that seem too coincidental, you should think more."
"Don't be someone else's scapegoat and still be foolishly kind - hearted to them."
Seeing Ye Xi's serious face, Qiao Yan couldn't help but straighten her expression.
"Xiao Xi, have you discovered something? You might as well just say it. Don't hesitate. I can't figure out all these round - about words."
"Um..."
Ye Xi thought for a while and then gently expressed her suspicion about Yi Zhen. Looking worriedly at Qiao Yan, who was too shocked to speak, Ye Xi said,
"What I'm telling you might sound like I'm trying to drive a wedge between you two. But since I've said it, I'm not afraid of you turning against me. The main thing is that if you're a bit more on guard, the possibility of being used will be smaller."
Qiao Yan stood up and sat down, sat down and stood up again. It took her a while to calm her emotions.
"Okay, I understand. I need to... I need to go back and think it over carefully."
"Um... You don't have to worry. I don't think you're speaking ill of A Zhen... Um, of her. In the future, if you have anything, you must tell me. Don't be distant from me."
Knowing that Qiao Yan couldn't accept it all at once, Ye Xi smiled and replied "Okay". She gave a few more instructions, saying that the mansion would send Lian Yi back later, and then saw Qiao Yan off.
Just as they reached the door, they met Yun Qi, who had come personally to deliver the wound medicine.
Qiao Yan was in a bad mood. When she saw Yun Qi, she naturally didn't look happy. She rolled her eyes at him and walked straight away without even saying hello.
Yun Qi scratched his head awkwardly. Then he heard Ye Xi kindly trying to smooth things over for him.
"Why did General Yun come here in person? A Yan just heard some very bad news and is in a fit of anger. General Yun, don't take it to heart."
"No, no."
Yun Qi quickly waved his hand and motioned for the guard beside him to hand the wound medicine to Sai Xing.
"I've severely punished Xiao Ying. I definitely didn't go easy on her. Now that her hand is injured, it will probably be some time before she can finish copying the book and send it over."
"I've brought a lot of this wound medicine. It should be enough. If you need more, just come and find me."
Ye Xi thanked him sincerely. Seeing that Yun Qi didn't seem to be leaving and seemed to have something else to say, she asked with a smile,
"Does General Yun have something else to say?"
Nodding, Yun Qi stepped a bit closer and said seriously in a low voice,
"Actually, I came here today for another thing. I need to see the Prince of Yu'an."
"Previously, the Prince of Yu'an asked about the battle in Hengfeng City. I wonder if the young lady still remembers. At that time, I sent a letter to my father..."
"Sure enough, Young Master Yun is the newly - crowned military champion,"
Just as he was speaking, Yi Yuan's displeased voice suddenly rang out.
"I'm sure there were many people toasting you at the Palace Banquet last night. That's why your voice is hoarse and you have to speak so close for others to hear."
Yi Yuan could be really venomous when he was jealous. His simple words made Yun Qi both aggrieved and blush.
"Don't talk nonsense,"
Ye Xi gave Yi Yuan a sideways glance impatiently.
"General Yun is here to see you. He has something important to say."
"This isn't the place to talk. Let's go inside first."
After saying that, without waiting for him, she led Yun Qi into the door first.
Was his Xiao Xi angry with him because of this outsider Yun Qi? Yi Yuan felt a pang in his heart. He quickly followed up and quietly squeezed Yun Qi aside, who was walking behind Ye Xi.
"What does Young Master Yun want to see this prince about?"
Not daring to make Ye Xi angry again, Yi Yuan could only look coldly at Yun Qi.
Yun Qi wasn't a narrow - minded person. In the face of important matters, he temporarily ignored Yi Yuan's previous mockery. He simply said,
"My father wrote back saying that before the King of Chi Xuan died in battle, he sent a letter to him."