“Cha Jin, why haven’t you gone to make tea yet?” asked Su Yi. He suddenly realized that Cha Jin seemed to be enjoying the show; she had none of the awareness a servant ought to have. Thus, he couldn’t help but rebuke her.

“Ah? Oh….” Cha Jin instantly tensed up and ran off in a panic.

Su Yi’s gaze then returned to Zhu Guqing. He said calmly, “I trust that you’re not here to cause trouble this time. Come on in and have a cup of tea.”

Zhu Guqing was briefly stunned. Inside, she snorted, He’s right. With my status, why would I make trouble for a teenager like him? It would make me look far too petty.

At the same time, Su Yi smiled and tousled Wen Lingxue’s hair. “Come inside to talk,” he said gently. “Don’t just stand there.”

“Hm!” Wen Lingxue smiled sweetly.

In three short sentences, Su Yi displayed three starkly different attitudes to these three peerlessly exceptional beauties.

He rebuked Cha Jin.

He conceded to Zhu Guqing, and in doing so, advanced. By displaying his magnanimity, he also gave her an opportunity to back down.

And when it came to Wen Lingxue, his thoughts were nowhere near as complex. His affection for her came straight from the heart.

The clever thing was, just like that, he’d eased the ambient tension in the air. For Su Yi, so long as he wanted to, resolving a petty little conflict like this was almost effortless.

Meanwhile, within the courtyard.

When she saw Cha Jin fumbling with the teapot, Wen Lingxue couldn’t help but laugh. “Big Sister, how about you let me do it?”

With that, she deftly got to work.

As Cha Jin watched her boil water, wash the tea leaves, and brew tea with practiced efficiency, she couldn’t help but feel ashamed of herself. Was I really so pathetic before?

Zhu Guqing sat casually on a round stool, her dress outlining the full arc of her hips. 

She said nothing, and her expression was cold and aloof, but in reality, she felt as if she were sitting on a bed of needles.

After all, it was just yesterday that she and Su Yi clashed and argued. Worse, she’d been so angry that she almost coughed up blood. Now, she’d come to his door of her own volition. This feeling…. She felt deeply embarrassed.

If I knew it would be like this, I never would have come!

Only Su Yi sprawled out leisurely in his wicker chair. He thought to himself, When the time comes that I leave the Cloudriver Prefectural Capital, I have to take this wicker chair with me. That way, no matter where I go, I can lie down whenever I want…

Cha Jin lowered her head as she stood off to the sides, not saying a word.

She was a servant, but she couldn’t brew tea for their guests, and Su Yi had only just rebuked her. She felt deeply at ease.

Before long, Wen Lingxue had poured everyone a cup of tea, and she took a seat beside Su Yi. “Brother-in-Law, where are Big Brother Feng and Xiaoran?”

“It’s been dangerous here of late,” said Su Yi. “Although I’m not worried about myself, I have no choice but to consider their safety, so I entrusted them to someone else.”

Wen Lingxue exclaimed, “Dangerous? What happened?”

It was just one sentence, but Cha Jin and Zhu Guqing’s hearts clenched.

It was Cha Jin who led Nan Wenxiang here, resulting in his death. She almost died that night too.

Zhu Guqing had come here with hostile intent too. Then, due to their initial misunderstanding, Su Yi angered her to the point that she almost lost her cool.

In short, both of them had been involved, and not in a good way. If Su Yi told everyone what happened, it would put them in an awkward spot.

“It’s all in the past.” Su Yi, however, couldn’t even be bothered to explain. He just laughed and looked Wen Lingxue up and down thoughtfully. “What about you? What did you get so dressed up and come to see me for?”

“I….” When he brought up their goal, Wen Lingxue’s brow instantly knit together with worry.

The nearby Zhu Guqing answered on her behalf. “Today, Lingxue will accompany me back to Heaven’s Origin Academy, where she will continue her cultivation. She’s here to bid you farewell.”

Su Yi was instantly stunned, and his smile cooled down slightly.

He naturally understood that someone like Zhu Guqing wouldn’t go all the way to the Cloudriver Prefectural Capital just to accept new disciples into the academy. There was only one explanation: Wen Lingzhao had made these arrangements!

Wen Lingxue lowered her pretty head and said softly, “Brother-in-Law, don’t misunderstand; I’m just going there to cultivate, that’s all. Besides, with Senior and Big Sister to look after me, you have nothing to worry about.”

After a moment’s silence, Su Yi burst into laughter. “This works too. When I arrive in the Imperatorial Provincial Capital, I’ll go looking for you.”

Wen Lingxue instantly exhaled. “Mm!”

Su Yi thought for a moment, then said, “Alright. I’ll see you off.”

Zhu Guqing was just about to refuse, but when she considered how utterly infuriating Su Yi was when he put his mind to it, she forced the words back down.

An hour later.

Su Yi stood on the pier just outside the city, watching the passenger ship Wen Lingxue and Zhu Guqing had boarded fade into the distance. He couldn’t help but feel somewhat melancholy. Even Lingxue left… What’s keeping me in the prefectural capital now?

Cha Jin sensed that Su Yi was in low spirits, and despite herself, she was stunned. Don’t tell me this guy’s fallen for his little sister-in-law?

But then, Wen Lingxue really is a rare and exceptional beauty. It’s hard to find someone so radiant.

I just don’t know how good-looking her big sister is…

As she thought to herself, Su Yi turned to leave, and Cha Jin followed hot on his heels.

……

Meanwhile, aboard a passenger ship on the Great Azure, Zhu Guqing hesitated. In the end, she decided to say what was on her mind anyway. “Lingxue, don’t tell your sister about what happened between Su Yi and I. I’m afraid it would stir up numerous waves.”

Wen Lingxue couldn’t help but ask, “Senior, just what happened between you two?”

“That’s not for you to know.” Zhu Guqing shook her head. Inwardly, she sighed.

At first, she thought that Su Yi was just the Wen Family’s live-in son-in-law, someone beneath her notice. She’d even warned Wen Lingxue to interact with him less.

Who’d have thought the Wen Family’s live-in son-in-law and the youth living at Humble Tranquility Cottage were one and the same?

As a result, when she faced Wen Lingxue, Zhu Guqing couldn’t help but feel awkward and a little embarrassed. Is that kid my natural enemy or something? Why is it that every time I see him, I leave suppressing a bellyful of fire?”

“Senior, please rest assured, I won’t say anything to my sister,” said Wen Lingxue gently. “Although I don’t know what exactly happened, I guarantee that my brother-in-law isn’t a bad person.”

Zhu Guqing paused for a moment, then asked out of the blue, “Why would someone like him marry into your family?”

“Uh, I don’t know either.” Wen Lingxue shook her head.

“Someone who lost his cultivation underwent such a thorough metamorphosis and became a mighty expert. It’s really hard to believe.” Zhu Guqing frowned. “Right, you shouldn’t tell your big sister about this, either.”

“Why’s that?” exclaimed Wen Lingxue.

Zhu Guqing sighed. “I’m afraid she couldn’t take the shock. Don’t you know? Your big sister is cold, noble, and aloof by nature, and she’s proud to the bones. She detested this marriage right from the start. If she knew your brother-in-law was nothing like he was in the past, what would she think?” 

Wen Lingxue fell silent for a moment. Then, she couldn’t help but object, “But we can’t keep something like this a secret forever!” 

“Then let’s just keep it a secret as long as we can. Your sister is currently completely focused on her cultivation, and this is the perfect chance for her to grow and break through. We cannot allow these matters to delay her progress,” said Zhu Guqing solemnly.

Before departing for the Cloudriver Prefectural Capital, she helped Wen Lingzhao obtain a spot to enter the trials held at the “Whitecloud Mountain Secret Realm”.

One month from now, the gateway would open. With Wen Lingzhao’s talents, with a little luck, she was highly likely to temper her energy and reach “Astral Manifestation” in one fell swoop.

In doing so, she’d establish incomparably firm foundations for future growth, and she’d step into the Grandmaster Realm with ease!

Wen Lingxue pursed her lips and sighed. “Why is it that the older I get, the more complicated everything seems?”

Zhu Guqing couldn’t help but smile. “That’s what it means to grow up.”

……

A group appeared on the docks outside the city: Zhou Zhili and his companions.

“Prefectural Governor Mu, if everything goes well during our trip to the Imperatorial Province, you’ll take another step up the ladder and become one of the highest-ranked officials outside of the Jade Capital!” 

“Many thanks for your support, Sixth Highness.” The Harmony Prefectural Governor, Mu Zhongting, smiled and clasped his fist.

Zhou Zhili said solemnly, “It’s too early for thanks. In just half a month, the curtain will open on the Imperatorial Province’s ‘Tea Party.' That’s the true crux of the matter. Neither of us can afford to get complacent.”

The Imperatorial Province’s Tea Party!

Mu Zhongting was instantly solemn, and he nodded silently.

“I originally came to the Cloudriver Prefectural Capital to recruit Qin Wenyuan to my cause. Who’d have thought I’d be so unlucky? Young Lord Su actually went and killed him!” Zhou Zhili sighed.

“Qin Wenyuan was already in the second prince’s camp, and he was a capable man. His death isn’t a bad thing at all,” said Mu Zhongting. He paused, then said hesitantly, “Sixth Highness, if you’ll forgive my boldness, might I ask why you haven’t recruited Young Lord Su? His methods are reminiscent of a fallen immortal’s. With his aid, what couldn’t you accomplish?”

“You said it yourself,” Zhou Zhili sighed with exasperation. “He’s like a fallen immortal. How could he possibly consent to work for me?”

Mu Zhongting froze, stunned. “Your Highness, you needn’t lose heart. Remember, you’ve already befriended him, and you’ve helped him clean up his messes twice. I trust that he appreciates the favor. If you truly encounter a thorny adversary or difficult problem, how could Young Lord Su possibly remain uninvolved?”

Zhou Zhili let out a long breath of turbid air. “Perhaps.”

“You done talking yet?” said Qing Jin coldly.

Zhou Zhili hurriedly smiled and approached. “Don’t fret, Martial Aunt. We’ll leave as soon as our ship arrives!”

After Su Yi slapped her last night at the Sand-Scouring Waves, Qing Jin seemed to have become an entirely different person. Her words were icy, and her temper was extremely poor.

This gave Zhou Zhili an awful headache.

Qing Jin fell silent, then said out of nowhere, “My master responded to my letter. Three days from now, the sect will send someone to the Imperatorial Provincial Capital. When the Tea Party rolls around, he’ll help you out.”

Zhou Zhili’s spirits instantly soared, and his face lit up with delight. “Martial Aunt, might I ask just which expert is coming to my aid?”

“You’ll know when you see him, won’t you?” said Qing Jin coldly.

Zhou Zhili fell silent, but inwardly, he was already full of confidence. With an expert from Qing Jin’s sect helping him out, what did he have to be afraid of on this trip to the Imperatorial Province? I've got this in the bag!

Qing Jin glanced at him, then said expressionlessly, “Don’t count your chickens before they’ve hatched. There’s no way Xiang Tianqiu will just obediently offer up his authority on a silver platter. With his shrewdness, I’m afraid he’s long since sensed trouble and made ample preparations.”

Xiang Tianqiu.

The governor of the Imperatorial Province!

He reigned over one of the Great Zhou’s six provinces, making him one of the highest officers of the frontier!