"You..."

Yu Qingyan's face turned red, somewhat embarrassed and angry, not expecting Chen Yuan to rely on his profound cultivation to play tricks on her, catching her off guard.

"Cousin."

"You... you still remember I'm your cousin?"

Seeing she couldn't break free, Yu Qingyan let out a soft snort.

"The matters of Goddess Palace must be handled; otherwise, it's impossible to win over the crowd. We can't let go of minor issues, or everyone will follow suit someday.

Moreover, with Su Qing as a friend, as long as the Goddess Palace remains loyal to me, there will naturally come a day of liberation in the future. You are calm and peaceful by nature, not fit for daily laments."

Chen Yuan's magnetic voice echoed in Yu Qingyan's ear, coupled with a faint heat, giving her goosebumps. After a moment of silence, she said:

"It's not because of that."

"If not that, then what is it?"

Chen Yuan raised an eyebrow, seeming somewhat surprised.

"Does what you say count for anything..."

Yu Qingyan asked.

"Of course, everyone in the world knows that I, Chen Yuan, always keep my promises."

Keeping promises as Chen Yuan, what does that do with him?

"Then the promise you made to my father... why has it been delayed..." Yu Qingyan's voice suddenly shifted to a soft whisper, only audible to Chen Yuan due to his strong cultivation.

"A promise to your father?"

Chen Yuan was taken aback, immediately recalling the matter his uncle Chen Huaiyi entrusted to him to match Yu Qingyan with him, fulfilling a wish.

"You weren't willing..."

"Didn't Ziyue sister tell you, when a woman says no, she means yes?" Yu Qingyan shot Chen Yuan a glare, thinking him an old hand among flowers in secret.

Yet after her indirect refusal, he truly stopped paying attention to her!

Did he know how she felt listening to her sisters talk about such matters recently? Initially, she resisted, but not deeply.

If he had been more forceful, wouldn't she have agreed?

Chen Yuan shook his head and chuckled, realizing why Yu Qingyan was acting unusually today, thinking it was because of matters related to the Goddess Palace.

"Alright, you said it."

Afterwards, Chen Yuan scooped her up by the waist and headed to the room.

"You... you stop, put me down quickly!"

Chen Yuan's sudden change took Yu Qingyan by surprise, quickly patting his back.

"When a woman says no, she means yes."

.....

"You, you bastard, how can you eat this thing... I don't want it...."

"When a woman says no, she means yes; this is what you said."

.....

"Not there, you...."

"No means yes."

...

...

Approximately two hours later, both Chen Yuan and Yu Qingyan relaxed after a bout of intimacy. After the tenderness, Chen Yuan left the room, stretching, as if truly getting out of seclusion now.

And after he left the Prince Mansion, Shen Yanshu, Shangguan Hong, and a few others quickly ran to Yu Qingyan's room and knocked on the door.

"Senior Sister."

"Sister Yu...."

"I'm not here."

After speaking, Yu Qingyan quickly covered her face, feeling ashamed to face her sisters, thinking of how Chen Yuan mistreated her, leaving her uncomfortable.

Shuzhou City had become even more prosperous compared to before, as the flames of war burned through Qing, Yang, Yun, and other State Cites, making Shuzhou under Chen Yuan's governance the safest area in the Thirteen States now.

Many people moved their entire families here, naturally leading to greater prosperity due to the influx of population.

Chen Yuan without guards blended into the vast crowd, few would suspect that the grand King Yan would venture out without attendants.

To be honest, attendants and guards are merely for show now; if genuine danger were encountered, they wouldn't be much help.

Better to enjoy leisure himself.

Of course, he wasn't purely wandering; one aim was to lure out Xiang Qianqiu, the other was to prepare to deal with Zhou Zhong.

Regarding Zhou Zhong, Chen Yuan had suspicions from their first meeting but was preoccupied with dealing whole-heartedly with Xiang Qianqiu back then, without starting another issue.

After all, a force daring to plot against him must be powerful.

Hence, he had the Fish Sea Gang and Jinyi Guards closely monitor his movements after the matter, especially after he returned from the Western Regions.

During Su Ziyue's report, she mentioned that the Fish Sea Gang Leader mysteriously disappeared, even the Jinyi Guards couldn't trace the disappearance.

This only indicates one thing; they seemed impatient, wanting to force him out.

Unfortunately, Chen Yuan was occupied with breakthroughs and consolidating cultivation, only now having spare time to engage with the force.

To see who has dared such audacity on his turf, also evidently well-informed about his past, even thoroughly investigating Zhou Fang and his daughter.

Soon, Chen Yuan arrived at Zhou's Bun Shop, its business booming due to population influx, with many forming long queues to make purchases.

As for those envious or stirring trouble....

After the last incident, everyone in the area knew Zhou's Bun Shop was backed by officials above, unwise to incite strong foes for a mere bun shop.

Thus, it's considered quite safe here.

Chen Yuan's arrival attracted no attention, the bustling atmosphere maintained; he queued patiently, taking half an hour before his turn.

"Two baskets of meat buns, please."

"Alright, are you packing or taking out?"

"Hm?"

The worker responded and quickly slapped his own mouth, smiling apologetically:

"Pardon me, my business is booming recently, muddled up."

"Eating here. Oh, tell Uncle Zhou that Yuan is here." Chen Yuan said calmly.

The worker scrutinized the graceful man before him, realizing he wasn't an ordinary person, quickly nodded in acknowledgment:

"Alright, you take a seat; I'll call someone immediately."

"Mm."

Picking a small seat by the side, Chen Yuan quietly awaited Zhou Zhong's arrival. He didn't have to wait long; after about ten breaths, the worker brought two baskets of buns, guiding Zhou Zhong over to gesture.

Afterwards, Zhou Zhong took the buns and cheerfully placed them on Chen Yuan's table, saying:

"Got some free time today?"

"Indeed, didn't expect Uncle Zhou's bun shop business to be thriving after a while." Chen Yuan took a huge bite, its aroma filled with the scent of meat, juicy and rich, yet something felt off.

"All thanks to your help; if you hadn't driven away the Fish Sea Gang last time, I'm not sure if the shop could continue back then. Knew Yuan wasn't ordinary from the start, it's true now."

"Haha, heard the Fish Sea Gang Leader disappeared?" Chen Yuan asked casually.

"Is that so, indeed good news." Zhou Zhong seemed to just learn this, appearing quite thrilled, while Chen Yuan ate the buns silently watching him.

The atmosphere between them congealed; Zhou Zhong's smile began to freeze, touching his face puzzledly asking:

"What's wrong, Yuan, is there something on Uncle Zhou's face?"

"Nothing on your face but in your heart."

"What?"

"Uncle Zhou, coming to Shuzhou City...." Chen Yuan was about to speak plainly when suddenly he noticed a faint silhouette appearing over Shuzhou City's sky, smirking as it gazed at him.

Xiang Qianqiu, here!!!

Chen Yuan's expression instantly shifted, serious and weighty.

"What's wrong, Yuan, what did you mean earlier?" Zhou Zhong pressed.

Chen Yuan ignored him, stood up, saying offhand:

"Nothing, I'll speak when I return, okay, Uncle Zhou?"

"Of course, of course, if you're busy, don't worry about me," Zhou Zhong chuckled.

Chen Yuan glanced at him, nodded; the next moment, he slowly vanished, hidden among the void unnoticed by surrounding people, while Zhou Zhong faintly smiled, taking a bite of the bun, exclaiming:

"Tut... human meat buns, truly aromatic!"

————

Apologies, apologies, truly busy today, imagining a new book painstakingly, couldn't write tonight's update, sorry.