Looking at the delicate, radiant Li Yuer beside him, her brows and eyes sparkling with life, then glancing at the sly, somewhat amused expression on Qian Zhongyi’s face, Xu Ping’an couldn’t help but feel like he was caught in some unexpected misfortune.
The two of them—one old, one young—both foxes. Judging from their conversation just now, it seemed they had already guessed each other’s thoughts.
I mean, when it comes to talking about Liaozhai, these are thousand-year-old foxes—who’s fooling whom?
But when you two foxes are battling wits, why drag me into it?
Yet as he lowered his gaze to the arm that Li Yuer had wrapped around him, feeling that subtle, almost imperceptible softness and resilience, Xu Ping’an found himself at a loss for how to refuse. He could only give a vague reply.
“Heh~ How to put it… the mundane worldly dust and that pure, elegant breeze—both are but strands in this mortal world, indispensable, each perfect in its own way.”
“Indeed, my husband is truly learned and farsighted. This world can’t lack the dust of mortal life, nor the pure and elegant air. Old Master Qian, has my husband’s answer satisfied your doubts?”
“Hahaha~ You young people have your own answers. As for me, I’m old now—my body can’t keep up. Just recently, a bout of illness nearly did me in.”
“That’s not necessarily so~ I think Old Master Qian is still a spirited steed in his old age, his ambitions reaching a thousand miles.”
“You girl, such sharp tongue! At my age, what use am I now?”
Qian Zhongyi laughed heartily.
Though his words carried a hint of probing, he was naturally a stubborn man who hated to lose.
Now that someone praised him for still having lofty ambitions, even a stern man like him couldn’t help but let out a genuine smile.
“Old Master Qian was after all a minister in the former dynasty, an elder of three reigns. If Old Master Qian were to speak, the entire Southern Prefecture would surely tremble.”
Xu Ping’an watched the pair of foxes—one big, one small—with an expressionless face.
Though their conversation seemed casual, every word was laden with meaning.
He wasn’t incapable of understanding; he simply didn’t want to listen, because such dialogue always harbored trouble.
“Where in Southern Prefecture would I have the authority to speak? The Zhennan King guards Southern Prefecture. The Emperor places such trust in him. With the Zhennan King here, there’s no need for me to open my mouth,” Xu Ping’an said, a twitch at the corner of his mouth.
This exchange clearly showed Li Yuer had the upper hand, but Qian Zhongyi was no fool.
His words were perfectly balanced—like water poured over stone, or a needle that couldn’t be pierced through.
Their conversation initially revolved around him.
Qian Zhongyi’s “worldly dust is good” was really asking if Li Yuer intended to drag Xu Ping’an into the vortex.
Li Yuer countered by asking if the world was unsettled, how could Xu Ping’an live a good life.
Qian Zhongyi didn’t answer but threw the question back at Xu Ping’an.
His reply wasn’t flawless, but it was passable.
Repeatedly, it seemed Li Yuer wanted Old Master Qian to come out of retirement, but Qian Zhongyi evaded the invitation. He praised the Zhennan King while politely declining.
These two foxes, always hiding traps behind their words, really…
“All right, Yuer, Old Master Qian is old now, his health poor, and the night is late. It’s time for the old man to rest.”
With this, Xu Ping’an gave Qian Zhongyi an out and stopped Li Yuer’s continued persuasion.
“Ah~ It’s that late already. Old Master Qian should rest. Yuer was rude.”
“No harm done, no harm done. Come, come, Xu boy, escort the old man.”
“Old Master Qian, isn’t there someone to carry you?”
“What? The old man wants to get closer to you. Have you forgotten your old friend now that you have a wife?”
“That’s a fine thing for you to say! How could I forget? Fine, I’ll see you off.”
“Wife, you rest first. I’ll chat with Old Master Qian for a bit, then return. If I’m late, don’t keep a room for me—rest early.”
“Go ahead, husband. I will wait for you,” Li Yuer smiled gently, said nothing further, gave a slight bow to Old Master Qian, and turned back to her room.
Watching her retreating figure, Xu Ping’an sighed and then turned to meet Qian Zhongyi’s thoughtful gaze.
“Old Master Qian?”
“Ah? Oh… right, right. Let’s go, come walk with the old man.”
He had no choice but to follow.
With two sedan chair bearers, one in front and one behind, carrying the bamboo poles, Xu Ping’an walked alongside.
Their pace was nearly matched.
“To the Rear Garden.”
“Yes!”
The two carriers responded and headed straight to the Rear Garden. Throughout the journey, Qian Zhongyi kept his eyes closed, silently resting.
Seeing this, Xu Ping’an could only follow quietly, eventually arriving at the garden pavilion.
It must be said—Qian Zhongyi truly was a Three Dynasties Elder.
Though he held no official post now, having retired, the lavishness of his household still spoke of its former glory.
At the rear pavilion, dusk had fallen.
Servants swiftly hung eight-cornered lanterns with ram’s horn patterns, lit incense to ward off mosquitoes and add fragrance, and arranged fruits—melons, pears, peaches—along with snacks and tea, then withdrew.
Qian Zhongyi sat on the small sedan chair. Xu Ping’an lifted the teapot, poured a cup for him, then one for himself, and tentatively asked:
“Old Master Qian? You brought me here because…”
“That girl is still a Perfect Chastity, right?”
Hmm… hmm? Hmm!!
Wait, how can an old man like you tell?
Sensing Xu Ping’an’s surprise, Qian Zhongyi suddenly burst out laughing.
“Hahaha~ Though I’m not a physician, I’ve spent decades in court. I may not be skilled in everything, but I do have a good eye for people. That girl adores you deeply but tries hard to hide her shyness. If you two were truly husband and wife, she wouldn’t be this shy. Am I right?”
Xu Ping’an smiled softly after a long moment.
“Heh~ It seems nothing can be hidden from Old Master Qian.”
“You boy, still trying to hide things from me? When I was fighting in court, you were still an infant drinking milk!”
Pausing, Qian Zhongyi’s gaze suddenly sharpened and fixed on Xu Ping’an.
“Do you know that girl’s identity?”
Xu Ping’an fell silent for a moment, and Qian Zhongyi nodded.
“Seems you already know. Since you know… why step into this whirlpool? With chaos sure to arise, did you lie to me before when you said you didn’t want to get involved in worldly affairs?”
“Old Master Qian, some matters I wish not to take part in, but others I cannot avoid.”
Xu Ping’an was silent for a moment.
“Though Li Yuer and I are neither married in name nor deed, I do have a wife. But my wife’s background is somewhat… mysterious. Regarding this, I’d like to ask Old Master Qian’s advice.”
“Oh? Which family is your wife from? Tell me, what mystery does she hold?”
The old man before him was one of the few who treated him with genuine sincerity. Xu Ping’an didn’t want to deceive him.
“Old Master Qian, have you ever heard the name Pei Qingxuan?”
Qian Zhongyi’s eyes widened.
“Where did you hear that name!?”
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