My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion

Chapter 1218: Chapter 660: Min Ning (Double-Length) (2)

Then it’s better not to go.

Qin Qingluo pushed the door open and after a moment of thought, got up and turned towards the Clothing Bureau.

Though she had thought he might come before, at that time her mind was complicated, and there was deep enmity between the two, enemies rather than friends, wishing to tear him apart.

Now upon seeing, it was realized that the mansion actually didn’t have suitable clothes for him; her clothes were too large, Aunt Zhu’s clothes too small, and the inner courtyard of the mansion had long been without any men, thus no clothes suitable for his stature.

Qin Qingluo walked steadily through the corridors of the Prince Mansion, heading straight to the outer courtyard where the Clothing Bureau was located. Sunlight passed through the carved window lattice, casting intertwined shadows of light and dark on her dark attire.

Inside the Clothing Bureau, several skilled old tailors were busy at their tables. Seeing the Prince arrive, the housekeeper led the group to quickly put down their work and bow in greeting.

"No need." Qin Qingluo’s voice was calm, surveying the various brocades and silks on display, "Recently, a newcomer joined the Zige Bureau; he is effective in his work. You are to make several new suits for him.

Wide shoulders, narrow waist, need styles that are neat and easy to move in, with top-quality materials like ice silk or cloud brocade, lightweight and breathable, colors..." She pondered briefly, "Indigo, black, moon white are all fine, no need for elaborate patterns."

She disliked excessive adornment; firstly, it was too conspicuous, and secondly, she assumed he wouldn’t like it either.

Qin Qingluo personally walked to the fabric rack, her fingertips gliding over several fabrics of fine texture and restrained luster. She wasn’t familiar with fabric selection, typically handled by Zhu E, a thought flitted by, choosing a few common fabrics similar to her own clothes should be fine.

Ultimately, she selected a piece of cloud brocade as deep as midnight and a piece of moon-white ice silk like a clear sky after rain, "Use these two pieces, measure them accurately, and send the signs for measurement today."

"Yes, Prince." The leading old tailor respectfully replied, noting down the requirements.

Qin Qingluo was about to turn and leave when a maid hurriedly came from outside the courtyard, carrying a lacquer plate with a wax-sealed secret letter lying quietly on top, the seal bearing a secret mark, from the Opportunity Room.

Qin Qingluo’s brow moved imperceptibly, she took it, unfolded the letter, and her eyes quickly scanned the still-wet brushstrokes of small characters, it was Zhu E’s handwriting.

The content of the letter made Qin Qingluo’s heroic brows slightly knit together.

Because she saw a familiar name in it, an old acquaintance,

Min Ning.

Her fingertips unconsciously rubbed the edge of the letter, Min Ning... the threads this name brought up seemed to connect to the person in the study.

Qin Qingluo’s expression remained unmoved, after a moment of deliberation, she folded the letter again, tucked it into her sleeve, and turned her steps towards the study.

In the study, light streamed through the high windows, dust motes floating in the beams.

Chen Yi was indeed there, sitting in the spot she had occupied last night, perusing the thick tomes she had organized about the World of Ignorance and the Divine Sect, his expression concentrated. On a corner of the desk, several pieces of turtle shell engraved with strange runes lay scattered.

Hearing footsteps, Chen Yi looked up.

Qin Qingluo did not waste time with pleasantries, she walked directly to the desk, took out the secret letter from her sleeve, and handed it over, "Take a look at this."

Chen Yi accepted it and unfolded the letter paper.

His gaze fell on the words "Min Ning," and his calm expression instantly creased, his pupils contracted sharply, and the fingers holding the letter paper involuntarily tightened, the knuckles turning slightly white.

He quickly lowered his head, as if trying to chew over every word on the letter again, his brows tightly knit, as though trying to digest an extremely unexpected piece of news.

Qin Qingluo stood across the desk, taking in his subtle changes in an instant.

Those forced furrowed brows, the deliberately lowered gaze trying to hide something, and the faintest hint of a curve at the mouth forcibly pressed flat... what worry is that?

Her serpent-like eyes with incredible insight slightly narrowed, a hint of understanding and mild mockery surfacing at her eyes.

She leaned slightly forward, her hands braced on the desk’s edge, looking down at him, her voice low but with a penetrating coldness, piercing to the core.

"What?" Her lips curled into a smile with almost no curve, "Could it be you’re worried... I would get jealous?"

Chen Yi’s fingers tightened again on the letter paper, he looked up, opened his mouth as if to explain, but had nothing to say.

To the point of slight loss of composure.

Qin Qingluo was extremely satisfied with his loss of composure.

Watching him at a loss for words, she still wore a faint smile, indistinguishable whether it was mockery or something else,

"Shall we leave this matter to you to handle?"

Chen Yi’s eyes brightened at the right moment, like a pleasant surprise from being spared, he nodded without a second thought.

The Princess straightened up, no longer looking at him, turned, and walked towards the door, the hem of her dark garment tracing a neat arc, leaving only a statement bereft of emotion:

"Though I have old comradeship with Min Ning, and it’s been years since we last met, there’s still a measure of longing. If you encounter her, you may invite her to the Prince Mansion."

The silhouette remained upright as ever, but seemed to hasten its pace when leaving compared to upon entry.

Chen Yi held onto the slip of paper, retracting his gaze.

Min Ning...

Invite her to the Prince Mansion...

How is it possible?!

The implication in Qin Qingluo’s words indeed rings true. While in the vicinity of the Capital City, she conversed joyously with Min Ning, both considering each other confidantes. Their personalities were equally strong and heroic; should the two meet, it would surely be a scene of drinking and singing.

However, no matter how similarly heroes may see things, different paths lead to different strategies.

What’s more, Chen Yi is wedged between these two paths. Should they meet, with no ability to quell them simultaneously, it’s difficult to maintain balance; the result might be a chaotic mess.

Thoughts turn over and over; Chen Yi realizes, the two women must never meet on the Southern Border, recalling that brief encounter with Min Ning, only further solidifying his decision.

"At present, it seems like the Divine Sect’s affairs aren’t as urgent," Chen Yi murmured self-deprecatingly.

But if I am to manage Min Ning, to avoid her clashing with Qin Qingluo directly, then what should be done?

Solely relying on himself?

As the thought passed, Chen Yi furrowed his brow slightly, realizing he’s thinking about someone he prefers not to.

Yin Weiyin.

.............

Yin Weiyin didn’t know how she ended up back in the guest courtyard.

The blinding morning light in the courtyard, Chen Yi’s departing figure holding the child, and that cry of "mother" seemed to be etched into her heart...

The guest courtyard was serene and refined, yet now felt like a cold wasteland.

She dismissed the waiting maids, the door closed heavily behind her, that celestial poise which she maintained through her journey collapsed instantly. Her back leaned against the freezing wood, she slowly slid down, ultimately dropping onto the cold bedstead.

She lost... utterly and completely.

Not in schemes or tactics, not even to Chen Yi’s indifference.

But to something entirely unexpected. He... actually has a child, a child with that woman’s bloodline flowing in his veins...

She curled up behind the door, forehead pressed against her knees, silently reciting the Supreme Forget Emotion’s incantation, yet it felt akin to casting a clay ox into the sea, unable to stir even a ripple, instead engulfed by an overwhelming loneliness.

Confusion, helplessness, and a fatigue that penetrated her very bones.

She didn’t even know what to do next. Stay at the Annan Royal Mansion and watch their family of three live harmoniously? Or... leave in disgrace?

She didn’t know how long had passed, only knowing that she felt chilled all over, her limbs somewhat numb.

Amidst this deathly still oblivion about to drown her, the deliberate soft voice of a maid’s report came from outside:

"Immortal Lady, Mr. Chen... has come to see you."

Like being pierced harshly by an ice needle, Yin Weiyin sat up swiftly from the bedstead.

Her once lifeless eyes instantly lit up, chaotic thoughts forcibly gathered.

Astonishment, panic, an unbelieving hope... various emotions flashed rapidly, ultimately being quickly cloaked by an almost instinctual composure.

She nearly leapt out off the bedstead.

Fingers swiftly smoothing her slightly wrinkled hem, adjusting untidy hair, she faced the copper mirror, inhaling deeply, trying her best to suppress all traces of lost spirit from her face, restoring to her usual calm demeanor, even curving a barely-there smile.

The door was gently pushed open.

Chen Yi’s silhouette appeared at the doorway, his features somewhat obscured against the corridor’s light.

Yin Weiyin already stood in the room, her posture upright like a solitary mountain pine, a hint of appropriate detachment on her face, along with the displeasure of her tranquility being disturbed, as though the disheartened woman on the bed moments ago was not her.

"Husband?" she slightly tilted her head, her tone carrying a chill of surprise, as if his visit was quite unexpected, "You... weren’t you accompanying the child? How come you have time to come to my guest courtyard?"