Chaotic World Book-Chapter 251 - 246 Just Me and You

Previously, I had always thought that I was teasing a little snake, but now I have realized that it was a thousand-year-old snake demon all along, and it was I who was being played with between claps.

Seeing her playful, child-like demeanor, Zhao Changhe finally sighed, "Miss Piggy..."

"What?" Huangfu Qing replied languidly.

She had actually stopped objecting to the name.

Zhao Changhe found it amusing and said, "You said earlier that the Venerable was not sending a woman to me because it was impossible to use the role of an Imperial Concubine for such trivial matters, right?"

"Right."

"But you’ve also been explaining to me that, in fact, your role as an Imperial Concubine doesn’t really count... Sister, does that mean we shouldn’t care what the Venerable thinks, and that this identity is insignificant, depending only on how we see it?"

Huangfu Qing blinked her eyes playfully, "Your reasoning seems to make some sense."

More than just a little...

Why did she explain the intricacies of being an Imperial Concubine to him? He hadn’t even joined the Sect yet; that was supposed to be a major secret within the Sect... If not for the fact that she was the Vermilion Bird, if she had been a mere Winged Fire Snake, she wouldn’t have even had the right to decide to share that secret without first consulting higher authority...

Her rushed explanation, could it really be out of fear that he would keep his distance, never again to enjoy the cute exchange between the two of them as pigs?

Huangfu Qing knew that the happiest and most unrestrained period of her life was when she wore the pig mask, and she probably had never been so relaxed in her life. She didn’t want it to end this way, transitioning into a relationship like walking on thin ice.

What a pity that would be.

Yet she heard Zhao Changhe sigh, "Now I understand why an Imperial Concubine can leave the palace for so long... I used to think you were eager to return because you worried people couldn’t find you, but now it seems no one in the palace really controls you; your presence or absence doesn’t matter. It’s just that you don’t want to be away too long because there are important matters for you inside the palace, losing two months of observation might have made you miss much that was crucial..."

Huangfu Qing paused. How did it suddenly come to this? "True. Although I can leave at any time, it’s indeed not suitable to be absent for too long."

"But I will be leaving soon, are you sure you want to continue following me?"

Huangfu Qing fell silent.

Observing palace affairs was important. But evaluating Zhao Changhe’s bizarre star chart was equally crucial, and in some ways, perhaps more so...

Zhao Changhe said, "You followed me originally to figure out the secret of my star chart, right?"

"Yes..."

"I feel that following me isn’t really helpful; I don’t understand it myself, and you might just be wasting your time if you stay for a year or so. I promise you if I figure it out, I will tell you without reservation. Is that okay?"

Though it seemed like well-intended advice, Huangfu Qing’s eyes once again hinted at the distinct vicious energy of the Vermilion Bird, "Are you tired of me?"

"No, I just don’t want you following me for that reason... As I don’t want to keep feeling restless because I think the Venerable gave you to me," Zhao Changhe earnestly said, "Imagine it’s just Zhao Changhe and Huangfu Qing..."

Huangfu Qing interrupted, "Naive."

Many things require an excuse, a pretext to convince oneself.

But removing that pretext does not lead to a more genuine peace of mind; on the contrary, it only leads to severance.

Just like the unrestrained laughter she could unleash while wearing the pig mask, even though she was still the same person.

"Naive, is it?" Zhao Changhe walked to the balcony, leaning on the railing, looking out at the rain falling into the lake, and spoke softly, "Actually, there’s not much difference; I can always find another excuse for you to stay."

Huangfu Qing found this a bit interesting, "Oh?"

"For instance, with your political standing as an Imperial Concubine, you could openly support me as the Prince, contesting publicly with the Empress. This kind of relationship would be more upright and open. You could openly admit it to your brother, and I to Tang Wanju; I wouldn’t even have to stay at the secret location of the Four Symbols Sect, but could openly live in the Huangfu Family."

Huangfu Qing smiled faintly, "But the premise for this is that this Prince belongs to the Four Symbols Sect."

"A partnership, then?"

"That’s unacceptable."

"I don’t believe it. You can ask the Vermilion Bird Venerable."

Huangfu Qing felt no need to ask and closed his mouth again, just smiling.

"I am not opposed to joining the Four Symbols Sect," he said, "it’s just that right now, the Vermilion Bird Venerable herself is in a bit of a bind to decide on her own. She still needs to consult the Xuanwu Venerable, after all, a sect is not like a sect, and my situation is quite special."

"Right."

"Do you think," he continued, "if the Xuanwu Venerable also agrees and I join the sect, taking on a role like the Room Fire Pig or something, and then we’d just strut around together openly, do you see any problem with that?"

Huangfu Qing was stunned for a while but saw no problem.

The only issue might be that the White Tiger Saintess would beat you to death.

Zhao Changhe turned his head and grinned brightly, "See, reasons to be together are everywhere, aren’t they?"

By now, Huangfu Qing wasn’t angry anymore and asked curiously, "Why be so trivial? Does the reason even matter?"

"Because I came to the Capital merely to figure out the Emperor’s condition, and now it’s pretty much clear to me. I think delving deeper isn’t something I can grasp right now. I’ve put on quite an act at the restaurant and since there has been no response from all sides till now, it’s likely there’ll be one soon, and I should make my getaway before they make a move. Especially the Empress, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to handle her schemes."

Huangfu Qing’s lips twitched, thinking others believe you’re stirring trouble, but it turns out your plan is to flee after the act!

Zhao Changhe continued, "So I’m leaving. Will you come with me right away, or is it a bit difficult for you? Actually, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Compared to investigating the star chart and all, I’d rather you keep investigating the Emperor’s situation."

Huangfu Qing burst into laughter, "The way you put it, you sound like the Vermilion Bird Venerable giving me an assignment."

"Just do what you want to do, don’t get yourself tied down by ’investigating the star chart’; I’ll figure it out myself and tell you about it, so why waste your energy?" Zhao Changhe winked, "Saying I’m giving you an assignment is less accurate than saying I care about you..."

"Please, spare me those words. Use them to deceive Tang Wanju, she’s the one who needs care."

Zhao Changhe didn’t play along and added, "There’s another reason, do you want to hear it?"

Huangfu Qing laughed, "Go on."

"Because that way, there’s no Vermilion Bird mission between us, just you and me. This way, I can be sure whether you flirt with me because the Venerable told you to, or if it’s your own intention. You call me childish, but I think it’s important!"

Huangfu Qing blinked rapidly.

And you say it’s not childish.

Some things need the right atmosphere, and by laying it out like this, you’ve killed the mood completely. What flirting are you talking about!

With your attitude, how do you even stir up so many romantic rumors? Clearly, you haven’t figured it out yet.

The two looked into each other’s eyes, the atmosphere suddenly awkward, both expressionless.

Zhao Changhe then realized, not only was the other person not flirting anymore, but even he found himself unable to utter any flirtatious words; the natural atmosphere had completely vanished.

Indeed, some things just can’t be spelled out so openly.

Huangfu Qing sighed, shook his head, and turned to go inside, "Thinking you’re so clever, turns out you’re just a fool..."

Before he finished, a breeze stirred up across the lake.

A Fairy gliding over the waves, stepping on the moonlight.

Seeing Zhao Changhe standing on the balcony, leaning over the rail to gaze at the lake, Tang Wanju sighed from afar, "This woman is full of secrets, whatever promises she has made to you, do not take lightly..."

Before she finished, she saw Huangfu Qing, who was about to turn and leave, suddenly stop and instead closed in, embracing Zhao Changhe’s neck, pretending to go for a kiss.

Tang Wanju’s eyes widened, "Enchantress, let him go!"

"Whoosh!" The Qiushui Sword Light shot straight towards them.

Huangfu Qing was just making a gesture and not actually kissing. Seeing this, he skillfully dodged and said with a light laugh, "Ah, the icy and pure Chief Tang, are you here to snatch a man?" freёweɓnovel_com

Zhao Changhe’s face twitched, unable to speak for a long time.

So the atmosphere was gone, to recreate it didn’t need brainstorming; just a scene-setting was enough...

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