Chapter 246: Just Me and You

Chapter 246: Just You and Me

I used to think I was the one teasing the little snake, but now I realize this is clearly a thousand-year-old serpent demon, and I’ve been the one toyed with all along.

Watching her laugh and play like a child, Zhao Changhe finally sighed. “Zhuzhu Jie…”

“What?” Huangfu Qing replied lazily.

She no longer objected to that nickname.

Zhao Changhe found it amusing and said, “You said before that the Venerable wouldn’t give me a woman, because it’s impossible to hand over such an important role as an imperial consort for someone to toy with, right?”

“Right.”

“But you’ve also been explaining to me that your status as imperial consort doesn’t really count… Sister, does that mean, regardless of what the Venerable thinks, this identity doesn’t matter at all, and it’s only about how you and I see it?”

Huangfu Qing blinked, her smile growing more enchanting. “That reasoning of yours does seem to have some merit.”

More than just some merit…

Why did she have to explain the inside story of the imperial consort? He hadn’t even joined the sect yet; this was supposed to be a major secret within the sect. If not for the fact that she herself was the Vermilion Bird, even if she were just a Winged Fire Snake, she wouldn’t have the authority to reveal such a secret—she’d have to report and seek approval first…

Rushing to explain—was she really afraid he would keep his distance from now on, and there would never again be that adorable pig-to-pig gaze?

Huangfu Qing knew that the period when she laughed most freely and joyfully was when she wore the pig mask. It might have been the most relaxed time in her life, and she didn’t want it to end, turning into a relationship as fragile as walking on thin ice.

What a pity that would be.

But Zhao Changhe sighed. “Now I understand why an imperial consort can leave the palace for so long. I thought you were rushing back because you were afraid others couldn’t find you, but it seems no one in the palace can control you anyway. Whether you’re there or not doesn’t matter. You just don’t want to stay away too long because you have important matters in the palace. Losing these two months of observation probably means missing many key things…”

Huangfu Qing was startled. Why had he suddenly brought this up? “True. Although I can leave anytime, I really shouldn’t stay away for too long.”

“But I’ll be leaving soon. Are you sure you want to keep following me?”

Huangfu Qing fell silent.

Observing matters in the palace was important. But observing Zhao Changhe’s strange astral sign was no less significant—in a way, perhaps even more so…

Zhao Changhe said, “You’ve been following me to figure out the secret of my astral sign, right?”

“Mm…”

“I think following me won’t help much. I don’t understand it myself either. You’d probably just waste half a year or more. I promise you, if I ever figure it out, I’ll tell you everything, okay?”

Though it seemed like well-intentioned advice, Huangfu Qing’s eyes once again flared with the Vermilion Bird’s fierceness. “Are you tired of me?”

“No. I just don’t want you to follow me for this reason… just like I don’t want to keep feeling tempted because I think the Venerable gave you to me…” Zhao Changhe said seriously. “When I’m just Zhao Changhe, and you’re just Huangfu Qing…”

Huangfu Qing interrupted, “Naive.”

Many things need an excuse, a step to convince oneself.

When you take that step away, you don’t get a more genuine heart; instead, you only cause a rift.

Just like she could only laugh freely when wearing the pig mask, even though she was still the same person.

“Naive?” Zhao Changhe walked to the balcony, leaned against the railing, and gazed at the rain falling into the lake. He said softly, “There’s not much difference, really. If you need an excuse to be together, I can find another anytime.”

Huangfu Qing found it intriguing. “Oh?”

“For example, as an imperial consort with political stance, you support me, a prince, openly contending with Empress Wang. This relationship is more aboveboard. You can tell your brother plainly, and I can tell Chief Tang plainly. I don’t even need to stay in the Four Symbols Sect’s secret location; I can openly live in the Huangfu residence.”

Huangfu Qing smiled faintly. “The premise for that is that this prince belongs to the Four Symbols Sect.”

“Can’t it be an alliance?”

“No.”

“I don’t believe that. You can ask the Vermilion Bird Venerable.”

Huangfu Qing wanted to say there was no need to ask, but she closed her mouth and just smiled.

“As for joining the Four Symbols Sect, I’m not opposed to it. But right now, the Vermilion Bird Venerable can’t make that decision herself. She needs to discuss it with the Black Tortoise Venerable. After all, a sect is different from a school; my situation is too special.”

“True.”

“What do you think? If the Black Tortoise Venerable also agrees, and I join the sect as something like a Chamber Fire Pig, we could openly appear together. Would there be any problem?”

Huangfu Qing was stunned for a moment and realized there was no problem.

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

Zhao Changhe turned around and grinned. “See? Reasons to be together are everywhere.”

Huangfu Qing was no longer angry. She asked curiously, “Why be so boring? Does it matter what the reason is?”

“Because my purpose in coming to the capital was just to figure out the emperor’s situation. Now I’ve basically got it. I think the deeper matters are beyond my ability to uncover right now. I made a big show at the tavern earlier, and all sides haven’t reacted yet, but they will soon. I should run before they make a move. Especially the empress—if she pulls any tricks, I’m afraid I can’t handle it.”

Huangfu Qing twitched her lips. Others thought you were here to stir up trouble, but your real plan was to show off and then flee!

Zhao Changhe continued, “So I’m leaving. Will you come with me right away? Isn’t that a bit difficult? Actually, there’s nothing to worry about. Compared to the astral sign, I’d rather you keep investigating the emperor’s situation.”

Huangfu Qing couldn’t help but laugh. “That sounds like you’re the Vermilion Bird Venerable, assigning me a task.”

“Do what you want. Don’t tie yourself down with the reason of ‘figuring out the astral sign.’ I’ll tell you when I understand it myself. Why waste your energy?” Zhao Changhe winked. “Calling it assigning a task is less like that than saying I care about you…”

“Pfft. Save that line for Tang Wanzhuang. She’s the one who needs someone to care about her.”

Zhao Changhe didn’t take the bait. He added, “There’s another reason, if you want to hear it.”

Huangfu Qing smiled. “Go ahead.”

“Because then, between you and me, there’s no Vermilion Bird mission involved. It’s just you and me. That way, I can be sure—when you tease me, is it because the Venerable instructed you to seduce me, or is it your own intention? You say I’m naive, but I think this is very important!”

Huangfu Qing blinked three or four times in a second.

Still saying it’s not naive.

Some things need an atmosphere. Laying it out like this, one-two-three-four, kills any atmosphere. What’s there to tease?

With a record like yours, how do you have so many romantic rumors? You clearly haven’t woken up yet, have you?

They stared at each other, the atmosphere awkward, both expressionless.

Zhao Changhe finally realized that not only had she stopped teasing, but now he couldn’t even say anything teasing himself. The natural vibe from before was completely gone.

Indeed, some things really shouldn’t be laid out so plainly.

Huangfu Qing sighed, shook her head, and turned to go inside. “I thought you were clever, but you’re just a fool…”

Before she finished, the lake surface stirred.

A fairy stepped on the waves, walking on the moon.

Seeing Zhao Changhe standing on the balcony, leaning against the railing and gazing at the lake, Tang Wanzhuang breathed a sigh of relief and transmitted her voice from afar: “That woman is full of secrets. Whatever promises she made you, don’t take them lightly—”

Before she finished, she saw Huangfu Qing, who had been about to leave, suddenly stop. Instead, she gracefully wrapped her arms around Zhao Changhe’s neck, pretending to kiss him.

Tang Wanzhuang’s eyes widened. “Demoness! Let him go!”

“Swoosh!” The autumn-water sword light shot straight toward them.

Huangfu Qing had only made a gesture, not intending to actually kiss. She dodged nimbly and laughed sweetly. “Oh my, the ice-pure and jade-clean Chief Tang has come to snatch a man?”

Zhao Changhe’s face twitched, and for a long time, he couldn’t say a word.

So if the atmosphere was lost and needed to be rebuilt, you didn’t have to rack your brains—just bring in a mood-setter.