Chapter 715
Invitation and Visiting Card
Under the bright sunshine, the enchanting golden tree stands quietly, its gnarled branches faintly revealing the mottled marks of time. It is like a silent observer, witnessing the changing years and the comings and goings of people in the square.
Young couples who were deeply in love once vowed to grow old together under the tree and never be apart. Toddlers who were just learning to walk passed by, and years later, with graying temples, they returned to the tree and remained silent for a long time. An elderly man with a stooped back left and never appeared again.
The slightly concave jade slabs surrounding the big tree have seen countless people linger here year after year. As it stands here, the number of tourists under the tree has never stopped, only changing batch after batch. Just like many years ago, on a sunny afternoon, tourists thronged the area. Now, only different people have come and gone. It seems as if nothing has changed, yet it also seems as if everything has changed.
A slightly scorching summer breeze swept by, and the colorful jade leaves made a melodious sound, clearing the mind and making the sweltering heat seem to disappear.
"What is Yu'er looking at?" Sun Qingzhu turned her gaze away from the golden branch and jade leaf she had seen countless times and looked at Qin Ruyu, who was always watching her, and asked curiously.
Dressed in a long blue dress, she stood tall and proud, like a pine or bamboo standing proudly, her brows exuding a free and unrestrained spirit, like a solitary peak that no one could reach.
Her usually haughty and beautiful eyes transformed into a gentle, flowing stream when she looked at Qin Ruyu. It was the deep concern that always accompanied her as a childhood sweetheart, only with a hint of exploration.
"It's nothing," Qin Ruyu gently shook her head. Her jade-like cheeks were pale with a hint of illness, and her brows were slightly furrowed, making one want to reach out and smooth them out. Her dim, beautiful eyes seemed to carry a sense of brokenness, making one feel inexplicably sorry for her at first glance.
The phrase "I feel pity for her" is embodied in Qin Ruyu, who seems so fragile that she would break at the slightest touch, making one want to cherish her.
Even though Qin Ruyu had already looked away, Sun Qingzhu sensed something and looked in that direction. A mischievous glint flashed in her eyes as she turned back to the frail Qin Ruyu and whispered teasingly, "What a handsome young man! I've never seen anyone like him before. Could it be that Sister Yu'er has taken a liking to him at first sight? Countless talented young men are like fish crossing a river, yet none of them catch Sister Yu'er's eye. Is this the reason you're out today?"
"Sister~!" Qin Ruyu glared at Sun Qingzhu with a hint of annoyance, but her delicate appearance was enough to melt anyone's heart.
Taking her arm, Sun Qingzhu smiled, a rare sight for her, and said, "Alright, alright, I'm not joking anymore. Don't be angry, little sister. That gentleman already has beautiful women by his side; how could he possibly be worthy of your attention?"
She pursed her lips, a hint of unconcealed bitterness flashing in Qin Ruyu's dim eyes. Her delicate brows furrowed further, and a few beads of sweat appeared on her jade-like forehead, but she stubbornly maintained her composure, protesting, "If you say that again, I won't talk to you anymore."
Seeing this, a hint of jealousy flashed in Sun Qingzhu's eyes, wishing she could take her place. She put away her smile and said with heartache, "You've been out for so long today, Yu'er, let's go back and rest."
The fact that her childhood sweethearts were now suffering from illness was a deep sorrow in Sun Qingzhu's heart. She had only been out for a short time, and her younger sister was already on the verge of collapse. Why was God treating her so cruelly?
Stubbornly shaking her head, Qin Ruyu's lips curled into a mocking smile as she said softly, "What's the point of going back? To see those hypocritical faces trying to climb the social ladder? Or that feigned concern with ulterior motives? Or the endless fawning and sycophancy? Sister, come with me for a while longer; at least we won't have to face those masked faces."
"Yes, your sister will always be here for you," Sun Qingzhu said, supporting her as she nodded earnestly, her words carrying a strange weight.
With a smile, Qin Ruyu's stunningly beautiful face, like a petal falling onto a calm pond, radiated the full beauty of spring. Her eyes sparkled with joy as she said, "You said it yourself, sister!"
"When has your sister ever lied to you?" This simple sentence is the most powerful promise.
Without another word, the two women strolled hand in hand, both possessing stunning beauty, yet no one dared to glance at them more than once.
After a long silence, seemingly unable to bear the heavy burden of unconcealed emotions beneath her sisters' calm exteriors, Sun Qingzhu, who was about to speak, tried to keep her tone light: "Sister Yu'er, you'll be alright. Do you remember the grotto-heaven beneath Wanku Mountain in the southeast of Jing Kingdom? Ancient records say that there lives a race of incredibly large giants there. They have a long and ancient tradition, and may possess ancient shamanistic medicine methods. Master has already sent people there. If they find the giants, they will surely invite a skilled physician to relieve your pain."
Perhaps she had long since grown accustomed to repeated disappointments, Qin Ruyu had come to terms with it all. Her voice was as calm as an ancient well as she shook her head, saying, "It's useless. I don't care anymore. Just being born into this world is enough. Grandpa has seen him, His Highness has seen him, thousands upon thousands of renowned doctors have been consulted, but all are helpless. This is my fate."
All words of comfort had been offered, but the calmer Qin Ruyu remained, the more heartbroken Sun Qingzhu felt. She opened her mouth and said firmly, "Sister, you shouldn't be like this. What talk of fate? You were perfectly fine a few years ago; you just couldn't find the reason. If you had found the reason, this minor discomfort would have disappeared in an instant. Sister, you can't be so despondent. We'll be sisters for life."
Qin Ruyu simply smiled and nodded, without saying anything more.
Sun Qingzhu felt a pang of sorrow seeing her childhood best friend suffering from illness. Suddenly, a thought struck her, and her eyes blazed with renewed warmth as she said, "By the way, Sister Yu'er, I heard Master mention yesterday that the Prince Consort of Jing Kingdom has arrived in Yu City. He is a prodigy, having reached the Grandmaster realm at the age of eighteen—an achievement unprecedented in history. He must possess extraordinary abilities. Master already sent an invitation. If he accepts, Sister Yu'er, please go to the banquet with him. Even at the risk of offending him, I will ask Master to ask him to take a look at you. What if he has a solution? Then you won't have to suffer like this."
Sun Qingzhu seemed to have grasped at a straw, but Qin Ruyu showed no reaction whatsoever, shaking her head and saying, "No need, sister. I know you care about me, but I really don't want to talk about this anymore. I'm usually locked up at home, and it's rare for me to get out. Just come with me for a walk."
"Alright, alright, I won't say anything more," Sun Qingzhu nodded, thinking to herself that if the other party agreed to attend the banquet, then she wouldn't have a choice. She would tie her up and beg him to help her.
Then she heard Qin Ruyu suddenly say, "Sister, you're wrong. That man isn't the prince consort of Jing Kingdom, but the son-in-law of the Jing Kingdom's royal family."
Leaving aside the unhappy things, Sun Qingzhu spoke almost like she was coaxing a child: "Yes, yes, I was wrong, but little sister, haven't you found a suitable husband yet? You're not getting any younger, and you haven't experienced the taste of love yet. Life shouldn't have any regrets."
"My sister knows my situation. I'm destined to die young. What right do I have to harm others?" Qin Ruyu said almost indifferently. But as she said this, her dull and beautiful eyes deepened for a moment, which Sun Qingzhu, who was at the Innate Realm beside her, did not notice.
Sun Qingzhu immediately put on a stern face and said, "Sister, you're not allowed to say that!"
Tears welled in her eyes, and her voice trembled slightly. With a calm smile, Qin Ruyu said, "Sister, don't talk about me. What about you? You're three months older than me, and you're still single, aren't you? Haven't you found a suitable husband?"
“I am different from you, my sister. I will spend my life with a gun. All the men in the world are nothing but mediocre people to me, and they will only affect my speed of drawing the gun,” Sun Qingzhu said proudly.
Qin Ruyu covered her mouth and chuckled, her delicate beauty instantly transforming into something breathtaking. She teased, "Sister, how many men have you even met? Just keep pretending. You just haven't met one yet. Once you do, with your personality, you'll probably be hopelessly infatuated."
"Absolutely impossible," Sun Qingzhu said confidently. There was no man in the world she could fancy, including that young master from Jing Kingdom, who was already married and no longer within her consideration.
The two strolled and chatted softly. The frail Qin Ruyu's dim eyes occasionally swept across the square, but she no longer saw the figures from before. Her slightly pale lips pursed as she recalled those figures in her mind: the twins, the graceful little girl, the proud and aloof woman in black, and the noble woman in palace attire with a happy smile. They were all excellent training material!
But the man among them was too dangerous. One look from him chilled me to the bone. He must be Chen Xuan, the royal son-in-law of Jing Kingdom. Why is he so an eyesore?
'But you are indeed quite handsome. If I take all the women around you away, you'll be heartbroken, won't you? Heh, a young grandmaster, huh? Let me see if you're really as powerful as the rumors say. There's no reason to let prey that comes to my door go unpunished.'
As these thoughts crossed her mind, an unnatural flush appeared on Qin Ruyu's sickly, pale face...
Jinyu Square was quite large and the scenery was beautiful, but after an hour or two, Chen Xuan and his group had seen most of it. They planned to visit other places in the city, but the little princess suddenly felt nauseous and uncomfortable, so they lost their mood for sightseeing and decided to head back home.
As he left, Chen Xuan glanced in the direction of the square, his subtle malice seeming to deepen, as if a pair of eyes were silently watching him from behind, like those watching prey.
'As expected, places with many people are never peaceful. Even if you don't go looking for trouble, trouble will come to you. I trust my intuition. Do I look like an easy target? Or am I just too weak to wield a knife?' Chen Xuan thought to himself with a sigh. He really didn't like fighting and killing. The world was so beautiful. Wasn't it more comfortable to just lie down, relax, and enjoy life?
Back at their lodgings, after a flurry of activity, the little princess's discomfort was finally eased, and she lost all interest in going out for fun. With her pregnancy, the little princess was the center of everyone's attention.
"My lord, it's all my fault for making everyone worry," the little princess said apologetically in the garden. She really didn't want to spoil the fun. They had originally planned to go to the foot of a tall tower for a closer look, but they had to turn back because of her discomfort.
Chen Xuan said with concern, "They won't run away again. My wife's health is the most important thing. We'll go again when we have time."
Just then, a servant hurried to the garden gate. Xia Mei went to speak to him quietly and quickly came back with a gold-inlaid and jade-embroidered invitation card, saying, "Master, the Grand Princess of Yuhua Kingdom has learned of our arrival and sent someone to deliver an invitation, inviting you and your wife to a banquet at the palace tomorrow afternoon. I wonder what your opinion is?"
As expected, Chen Xuan had barely recovered when his wife started to calm down, so he had no time to deal with this. He smiled and said, "I'm not interested. Let's go back. Be polite and just say that my wife is feeling unwell due to the change in environment and shouldn't go out. Please understand."
“Yes, sir, I will reply right away,” Xia Mei nodded.
The little princess smiled and said, "Wasn't this my idea? Husband, you couldn't even be bothered to come up with a reason? I want to eat that stinky durian preserve, husband, feed me!"
"I'm too lazy to think about what's readily available. Why do you still like this, my wife? Luckily we have plenty. Would you like some fresh ones? I'll go pick some for you right away," Chen Xuan said, picking up a piece of durian preserves as if to offer it to her. But he pulled it away just as she opened her mouth. After that, the little princess punched him a few times, which he deserved.
They didn't go anywhere in the afternoon either, and the same thing happened on the second and third days. It was like they went on a trip but ended up staying in the hotel.
As for the reaction to his rejection of the Grand Princess of Yuhua Kingdom's invitation, he didn't care at all, and there was no follow-up from there.
It wasn't that Chen Xuan was wary of going out because of the malice she sensed, but rather because her increasingly pregnant little princess was experiencing morning sickness from time to time, often feeling very uncomfortable. Chen Xuan felt sorry for her and had no mood to go out and play.
Out of concern, Chen Xuan spent all his time doting on the little princess, so she didn't have time to secretly arrange for Yunlan and Yunxin to have their wedding night with him.
That afternoon, Chen Xuan was lounging around in the pavilion, fiddling with the base of the concealment array, but making no progress. The little princess was sewing baby shoes beside him, occasionally glancing up at him happily. She had made more than ten pairs recently and was still enjoying it. Chen Xuan had no doubt that the shoes would be more than enough for his child to wear until his first birthday.
Just when everyone thought it would be another peaceful and warm day, the little maid came skipping and hopping, waving a visiting card and looking at Chen Xuan curiously, saying, "Master, someone has come to visit."
"Who is it? To be honest, we don't know anyone in Yuhua Kingdom," Chen Xuan said with a sigh. He casually took the invitation card from the little girl's hand, and a thought suddenly struck him. Could it be that Liu Yuyuan, who had disappeared for a few days, was about to come and fulfill his promise?
The young maid, with a curious expression, said, "I don't know her. She's a girl, very pretty. She specifically asked to visit the master, and she looked very pleading."
Upon hearing her words, the little princess, who was making baby shoes, suddenly brightened up. Her eyes seemed to say, "Husband, when did you go out and have affairs behind my back? You didn't even tell me!"
Seeing her expression, Chen Xuan knew what she wanted to say and spoke first: "We've been together these past few days, practically inseparable. Roujia even said she didn't recognize her. How would I know where she came from?"
The little princess thought it made sense, but she was also curious about who would come to visit.
Upon opening the visiting card, Chen Xuan found that the signature was not Liu Yuyuan as he had expected, but rather a person named Sun Qingzhu, whom he had no recollection of. Just as Chen Xuan was about to refuse, he saw the contents of the card, raised an eyebrow, and said with a hint of amusement, "Please invite him to the living room. I'll be there shortly."
...(End of this chapter)