Chapter 7: Abounding Spring

rom heaven, giving her the affection she hadn't experienced in her past life as well as the wealth and honor within easy reach. Additionally, there was this body of an idle and unproductive person alo...Chapter 7: Spring Filled with Cheerfulness

Ling Lian and Yi Xue stared in awe at the powdered remains of the zither, immediately praising Yun Qianyue, thinking that their miss was truly impressive.

Ye Qingran looked on in disbelief at the zither turned to powder. He stared with wide eyes for a long time before suddenly erupting into rage and slapping toward Yun Qianyue’s carriage, "Weak beauty, you really dare to destroy this small prince's zither! Don't you want to live"

Ye Qingran's palm wind was incredibly sharp. As soon as he swung his arm, a red thread from Yun Qianyue's sleeve flew out and blocked his palm wind. It warned him, "Ye Qingran, that is my carriage. What will you ride if I don't have it"

Ye Qingran halted his palm wind. His face was filled with anger as he glared fiercely at the carriage, grinding his teeth in frustration, "He's truly despicable!"

"Yes, he is indeed despicable. Didn't you know this long ago" Yun Qianyue gave Ye Qingran a mocking glance and said softly, "Well, since I played for you, let’s call it even."

"Little girl, you really side with him!" Ye Qingran looked at Yun Qianyue discontentedly.

"Does she side with me instead of you" Rong Jing snorted and warned, "Ye Qingran, don’t forget that she is my woman! Today I let you hear her play, but if in the future I see her playing for you again, what gets destroyed won't just be a zither!"

"She’s your woman You have the nerve to say so! Wait until she becomes your woman before you talk," Ye Qingran snapped back, flexing his wrist and grumbling at Yun Qianyue in displeasure, "Little girl, there are countless good men in this world. Are you willing to be tied down by this black-hearted man"

Yun Qianyue withdrew the red thread from her sleeve and smiled at Ye Qingran, saying, "Being tied down isn't so bad."

Ye Qingran sniffed coldly, "You must be poisoned!"

"Yes, it’s called Rong Jing," Yun Qianyue nodded with a smile. She looked towards the city gate and then said without smiling, “The person we’re waiting for is here.”

Ye Qingran also turned to look at the direction of the city gate. He could see faintly that there was an approaching convoy flying flags of Southern Liang in the distance. Pulling his gaze back, he looked at Yun Qianyue and said, "Little girl, Nan Lingrui treats you well."

"Yes." Yun Qianyue’s eyes flickered.

"I once thought that he would end up with Ye Qian after all, but unexpectedly she chose your brother, Yun Muhuan," said Ye Qingran.

“I didn’t expect it either!” Yun Qianyue nodded.

"Is Princess Qingwan the one you killed" Ye Qingran asked.

"Yes." Yun Qianyue admitted without hesitation.

"I guessed as much!" Ye Qingran looked at Yun Qianyue, whose expression was calm. "You were worried she would become a burden on Yun Muhuan, but you never thought it would benefit Ye Qian. With Yun Muhuan going to Southern Frontier, he will definitely be a great asset there. Ye Qian is truly calculating."

Yun Qianyue did not comment either way.

"That woman has such depth and endurance. She chased me for years simply because of that snake," Ye Qingran scoffed suddenly, "With her in charge, the future of Southern Frontier is uncertain, even with Yun Muhuan there."

Yun Qianyue thought back to the Vermilion Crimson Snake Ye Qingran cherished so much. To save Third Young Master, she destroyed it but broke free from the King of Ten Thousand Curses. Would the King of Ten Thousand Curses still be in Rong Jing's possession Had he and Ye Qian reached a deal or not Mo Li had been sent to Southern Frontier by her orders; he should have returned by now.

Seeing that Yun Qianyue did not respond after his long monologue, Ye Qingran also remained silent.

The convoy drew closer and it was clear they were from the Southern Liang contingent. The jade carriage of the King of Southern Liang was still in its usual position at the center of their escort. Only this time, Nan Lingrui rode on horseback when he came and now returned to the city aboard his jade carriage. Behind him was a group of envoys from Southern Frontier, with Ye Qian and Yun Muhuan riding side by side up front, followed by gifts presented by the emperor and by the Yun王府. There were at least ten carriages full.

When they arrived at Song Jun Pavilion, the convoy stopped. The curtains of the jade carriage were lifted from inside, revealing Nan Lingrui's smiling face as he greeted Yun Qianyue and Ye Qingran, "Little girl, Prince Regent Ran, you came early to see me off; this truly moves me."

"You spared no effort in traveling with beauty. Be careful not to exhaust yourself before returning to Southern Liang," Ye Qingran looked at Nan Lingrui and snorted as he glanced over the woman in his arms.

Yun Qianyue also noticed that the woman inside was Su Su from Drunken Fragrance Pavilion. She blinked her long lashes once, knowing that protecting Su Su was best done by allowing her to leave with Nan Lingrui. Glancing at Su Su again, she saw the latter nestled in Nan Lingrui’s arms giving her a flirtatious smile and playfully adjusting her red hairpin before giving Yun Qianyue an assuring look. Yun Qianyue nodded slightly and replied with a smirk to Nan Lingrui, "You should shed two tears if you’re truly moved; I didn't see your tears."

"I am genuinely touched in my heart," Nan Lingrui said while smiling at Yun Qianyue as he tightened his hold on Su Su.

Yun Qianyue understood the implication behind this gesture. It was clearly a reminder about Red Pavilion’s involvement. If she hadn’t given her consent, Su Su would still belong to Red Pavilion and wouldn’t be able to leave with Nan Lingrui. With Red Pavilion escorting them all along, his safety would not be an issue. She rolled her eyes and warned him, "Prince Regent Rui, take care of yourself on your journey back; the Three Thousand Beauties in Southern Liang are waiting for you! Don’t wear yourself out over one Su Su or it will be a case of getting less than what you give." This was clearly an indirect warning to keep his hands off Su Su.

"Yes, I shall proceed carefully," Nan Lingrui said with raised eyebrows. He took out a wine jar from behind him and threw it at Ye Qingran while holding another one in hand. Then he addressed Ye Qingran, "Drink this; since my arrival in Heaven Saint, I haven't had the chance to drink heartily with you."

Ye Qingran weighed the wine jar and raised an eyebrow at Nan Lingrui, saying, "Isn't this jar a little short on alcohol"

"Short Prince Nan Lingrui's brows rose.

Naturally, it is a little short!" Ye Qingran said. "It should have been at least three jars."

Other than that, my jade carriage has nothing but wine and beauties besides the beauty," Nan Lingrui threw the jar of alcohol back to Ye Qingran and reached for another one.

Qian Yun frowned slightly and told Ye Qingran, "If you get drunk, I won't be responsible for carrying you home."

"Little girl, it's none of your business!" Ye Qingran glanced at Qian Yun.

Qian Yun looked at Nan Lingrui. She recalled his drunkenness from the time he drank a jar of Orchid Wine and passed out for half a month due to Zhu Jing's actions. The road ahead was dangerous, and she did not wish for Hong Ge Pavilion to be disrupted because of his drunkenness. As she opened her mouth to speak, Su Su winked at her, so she decided against it.

"Your Highness, if you get drunk, I will not sit in the carriage with you," Su Su said as she grabbed Nan Lingrui's wrist and stopped him from reaching for another jar. "I do not want to share a carriage with an alcoholic."

Nan Lingrui paused momentarily, glancing at Qian Yun who looked disapproving. He then smiled and retracted his hand, saying helplessly to Ye Qingran, "Although this prince desires to drink with you, I have beauty in my arms now. How can I neglect her feelings Let's put it off for today."

Ye Qingran snorted, uncorked the jar, and drank several gulps. He wiped his mouth with his sleeve and said disdainfully, "You will eventually die at a woman’s hand!"

"To die beneath the peony flower is to be a flirt even in death," Nan Lingrui's eyes twinkled slightly as he looked towards a carriage not far away. He raised an eyebrow and asked, "Is Young Noble Zhu also inside"

"Your nose is really sensitive!" Ye Qingran threw a wine jar at the side of the carriage that had not been opened yet. "Weakling beauty, this one’s yours."

The jar was caught by someone in the carriage as it passed through the curtains.

"It's not my nose being sensitive but why would he be here" Nan Lingrui looked at the carriage with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Young Noble Zhu, this prince still has feelings for that little girl of yours. If you ever make her unhappy, I'll take her to South Liang."

"I doubt it," Zhu Jing's voice was calm and relaxed, but also resolute.

“That’s for the best!” Nan Lingrui laughed lazily before turning to Qian Yun. He winked at her and said, "South Liang is a land of beautiful sceneries and talented people. If you ever get tired of Tiansheng one day, why not go there This prince's Prince Manor can make you fresh lake carp that tastes delicious."

"Okay," Qian Yun nodded as she clenched her hand in her sleeve tightly. Her brother was letting her know that if the time came when Tiansheng could no longer be her home, she should go to South Liang. Compared to ten years ago when she did not even know where he had gone, she was content with knowing where he would be going today.

"This prince will set off," Nan Lingrui pulled down the curtains and said indolently, "Let's get started."g Yun Qianyue from a sword. If this were known by the Filial Prince Wang, it might cause some trouble.Both princes, despite their own intentions, agreed to enter the palace together and request the Em...