My enemies became my companions

Chapter 659 The World of Ignorance (Part 2)

As the Queen walked by, a mocking smile flickered across her lips. Although it vanished quickly, Yin Weiying still noticed it.

It was one thing before, but what's so funny now? Yin Weiying has only lost power temporarily, but she is still Chen Yi's lawfully wedded first wife. This Queen not only doesn't have this title, but she also has to keep her meetings with him a secret from the outside world. She's been stealing chickens and dogs. Does she forget herself just because she's gained power now?
The thought crossed Yin Weiying's mind, and she found it laughable. This queen thought she could always be on top of her. Fine, she would just have to be patient for now, and there would be plenty of time in the future to repay her in kind.

The vermilion gate closed heavily behind them, shutting out the wind and rain outside. Inside the palace, the lights were bright, the corridors were deep, and the eaves were upturned, exuding the majesty and prestige of the Southern Frontier Prince.

Raindrops slid down the tiles, forming streams in the courtyard. Yin Weiying's waist and hips still ached slightly, but she maintained a graceful demeanor as she followed behind Chen Yi and Qin Qingluo.

Her gaze swept calmly across the scene of the Prince's mansion. The exquisite carvings and painted beams far surpassed those of ordinary wealthy households. The courtyard layout was spacious and grand, with artificial hills and ponds dotting the landscape. She couldn't help but secretly compare the Prince's mansion of An'nan with that of the Prince's mansion of Jing. Although the Prince's mansion of Jing was located in the capital region and had a high standard, it was more restrained and subtle in its architectural style to avoid suspicion. It emphasized the elegance of changing scenery with every step. On the other hand, the mansion of the Prince of the Southern Frontier exuded the grandeur and unruliness of a frontier town. The pillars of the corridors were thicker, the stone carvings were more rugged, and even the trees planted in the courtyard were mostly ancient trees with gnarled branches and imposing presence, carrying a wild vitality.

Furthermore, there are many instances where it transgresses the established rules of etiquette.

In terms of elegance and grace, the Prince Jing's Mansion might be slightly better; but in terms of overwhelming power and the majesty of a lord of a territory, the Prince An'nan's Mansion is indeed... not to be underestimated, possessing a profound sense of the ultimate glory and wealth accumulated in the world.

Chen Yi walked at the front, his steps steady, seemingly oblivious to the scenery of the Prince's Mansion. He showed no intention of introducing it to Yin Weiying or lingering there, as if the person following behind him was not his wife, but an insignificant stranger.

He didn't even glance back to see if Yin Weiying was following.

Yin Weiying opened her mouth several times, wanting to call out "husband" or ask where they were going, but she gave up, not wanting to offend him. Instead, she turned her gaze to Qin Qingluo, who was walking beside her.

Qin Qingluo seemed to have returned to her home turf, walking with ease. She took off the black python robe that was soaked by rain and bloodstains, casually draped it over her arm, revealing the soft armor and clothing underneath, which made her figure appear even more upright.

She slightly turned her head and whispered a few words to the steward of the Prince's mansion who had rushed over beside her. Her voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable authority. The steward bowed and accepted the order, and quickly withdrew to make arrangements. She naturally exuded a sense of control when handling affairs.

Yin Weiying watched this scene with a slight chill, but then appeared even more composed, as if his home was where his heart was.

After passing through several courtyards, Qin Qingluo stopped in front of a brightly lit hall.

She turned around, her snake-like eyes appearing exceptionally deep under the palace lights. She glanced indifferently at Yin Weiying, finally settling on Chen Yi, her tone flat:

"We've arrived. Rest here for now. I'll go change my clothes and we'll discuss matters later." With that, he didn't wait for a reply and started walking towards a corridor leading to the inner quarters. His shadow stretched long in the lamplight.

Yin Weiying's gaze involuntarily fell on Qin Qingluo's long legs.

The curves are full and firm, connecting to the hips and thighs, making them appear even more voluptuous. These are thighs that can only be developed through years of riding horses, full of heavy vitality that could break a saddle.

Perhaps because she had been outshone by Qin Qingluo before, Yin Weiying harbored resentment and thought sarcastically: "She is indeed a good mother. If she were to leave a child for Chen Yi, what a disgrace it would be for this unruly female prince."

I fear I will be unable to live, nor will I be able to die.

When the time comes, they might even send someone to ask her, the First Madam, to say a few words of slander and whisper sweet nothings in her ear.

Yin Weiying felt a secret thrill at the thought of the Queen, with whom he had both old and new grudges, being humble and submissive. However, after careful consideration, she decided that given Chen Yi's temperament, it was best not to have a child.

If he had a child, his mind would definitely be divided among the child, which would be bad. Previously, Yin Weiying had thought about getting Lin Wanguan pregnant, actually because he saw that his feelings for Lin's concubine were not too deep. Having a child wouldn't be a problem, especially since he could take the child into his own family. In the end, his heart was still on her. But if he had a child with the Queen, with his eager and eager manner, that would be the real danger.

Thinking of this, Yin Weiying turned her head and saw Chen Yi waiting expressionlessly. After thinking for a moment, she tried to start a conversation, but he seemed to be avoiding her and left the hall, saying that he also needed to change his clothes.

She was left alone in the hall, waiting in solitude.

Chen Yi casually changed his clothes. The time he spent in that world was not very long, but it was enough to make him exhausted. The most troublesome thing was Yin Weiying.

Chen Yi was always on guard against her secret thoughts and tricks, even during tender moments.

Even so, he had trusted Yin Weiying too much before. To be honest, among the many women he had entangled with, there was none he didn't completely distrust. It was as if as long as they had slept together and shared pleasure, they could entrust their innermost thoughts to each other. He had entrusted many, many, many things to Yin Weiying. But... Yin Weiying, Yin Weiying... Sometimes, whispering these three names would make him restless and unable to eat or sleep.

Who knows if she'll use his weakness as a weapon?
Once this female Taoist priest gained power, she became arrogant and reckless, capable of doing anything that crossed the line. She always tried to manipulate others. To be honest, Yin Weiying was nothing more than an incompetent Empress An.

Although this matter ended there, what about next time? Will she succeed next time? This serves as a reminder to Chen Yi that it is never wise to be wholeheartedly devoted to a woman who is so clueless.

"Have you changed your clothes?"

Suddenly, he heard the Queen's voice. Chen Yi turned around and saw Qin Qingluo walking over with her hands behind her back, scrutinizing his clothes from head to toe.

Chen Yi changed into a set of casual clothes provided by the Prince's Mansion. The fabric was the finest brocade, and the color was a calm indigo. The elaborate decorations and waist-cinching were removed, but the style... was obviously too loose.

The clothes were a bit loose on his shoulders and a little loose around his waist and abdomen. The cuffs and trouser legs were a little too long. Although they looked clean and tidy, they were awkwardly ill-fitting, reminding Chen Yi of the clothes he wore when he was a child.

Qin Qingluo walked closer and even reached out her fingers to pinch the loose fabric on Chen Yi's shoulder.

“It doesn’t fit.” She withdrew her hand, stating the fact in a flat tone. Chen Yi lowered his head and tugged at the collar that was a little too tight around his neck, smiling indifferently: “It’s fine, as long as it covers my body, it’s acceptable.”

"No." Qin Qinglu shook her head decisively, her gaze sweeping over his clothes, her brows furrowing almost imperceptibly. "Tomorrow, I will have the tailoring bureau take your measurements and make you a suit. The climate in the southern border is hot and humid, so you need to use light and breathable materials, and the style also needs to fit well and be neat."

To prevent him from refusing, Qin Qingluo added, "You don't need to concern yourself with this matter."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yi sensed the queen's consistent domineering nature.

She then followed up by asking, "Aside from the clothing, has the food at the Prince's residence been alright these days?"

"It's mostly good, but it would be even better if there was more mutton, preferably fatty..."

After he finished speaking, Chen Yi was slightly taken aback. He inexplicably felt that it was not just domineering, but also made him feel like he was being pampered.

Qin Qingluo only touched on the point and did not continue.

When the two returned to the brightly lit hall, Yin Weiying was already sitting upright in a rosewood chair on one side, her back straight, her hands folded on her knees, trying her best to maintain the demeanor of the Goddess of Taihua. However, her eyes were staring blankly at the candlelight on the table, as if she were lost in thought. When she saw them enter, she immediately composed herself, lowered her gaze, and did not look directly at them.

Chen Yi and Qin Qingluo took their seats on either side of the main seat, and the maids of the Prince's Mansion silently served them hot tea.

Chen Yi picked up the teacup but did not drink. He ran his fingertips along the warm porcelain wall and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, the world just now seemed to be frozen... I suspect that was the so-called world of ignorance."

Qin Qingluo's snake-like eyes narrowed slightly: "Oh? What's the basis for that?"

"Firstly, it's a place of deathly stillness and stagnation, where everything seems to be plunged into eternal night, which aligns with the cult's concept of 'the darkness of ignorance.' Secondly, and more importantly," Chen Yi's gaze sharpened, "that realm can distort and amplify thoughts, turning the illusory into the real, and granting wishes..."

He had heard the old saintess talk about the world of ignorance. She had said that ancient people such as Zhuanxu and Gun had died and been reborn in the world of ignorance. Although he did not know whether it was true or not, the old saintess's words were consistent with these.

"How similar this is to the heretical concept of 'light and darkness originating from the same source'? Light illuminating the earth is 'brightness,' while stagnation in the heavens and earth is 'darkness.' The two compete and give rise to each other, and both can make one's wishes come true. This is the embodiment of the heretical concept of light and darkness originating from the same source?"

He paused, lowered his voice, and added a hint of coldness.
"What is even more concerning is that the leader of the sect, Gongsun Guan, seemed to be completely unprepared for this, and even... there was a suspicion of him turning a blind eye."

Upon hearing this, Qin Qingluo's brows furrowed instantly, and a cold glint flashed in her snake-like eyes.

She slowly put down her teacup, her knuckles tapping lightly twice on the smooth tabletop, producing a dull sound.

"This matter..." Qin Qingluo's voice carried a hint of cold solemnity, "Let's investigate this privately. The Demonic Sect... In short, let's keep a close eye on things for now, and we don't need to let Aunt Zhu know."

She didn't say anything more, her thoughts clearly written on her face. After this incident, they had to reassess Gongsun Guan.

After discussing the follow-up arrangements for a few more minutes, Qin Qingluo rubbed her temples, looking slightly tired: "You've all had a long day, so go back and rest first. Once you've had enough rest, we can discuss the rest of the matter later."

Chen Yi stood up, and Yin Weiying immediately stood up as well, instinctively wanting to follow Chen Yi away, as if it were a matter of course, since they were husband and wife and should naturally live together.

"Fairy Yin." The Queen's voice rang out behind her.

Yin Weiying paused, his heart skipped a beat, and he slowly turned around.

Qin Qingluo sat upright in the main seat, looking at her calmly, her tone leaving no room for argument, "The manor has arranged a quiet and elegant guest courtyard for you, Fairy. The environment there is serene and far from the hustle and bustle, which is perfect for you to cultivate and recuperate. A maid will lead you there later."

Yin Weiying frowned, glanced at Chen Yi, and looked into his long, clear eyes with a hint of anticipation.

However, Chen Yi only paused slightly, turned his head to look at her, his eyes were devoid of any emotion or warmth, only a kind of indifferent calm.

He said nothing, not even a hint in his eyes. He simply nodded slightly to Qin Qingluo, then turned and walked straight towards the corridor leading to his own residence outside the hall. His figure quickly disappeared into the dim light.

Yin Weiying felt a chill run through her body again. She looked in the direction where Chen Yi had disappeared, and then at the Prince of Annan who controlled everything with just a few words on the main seat. A huge sense of humiliation and loss overwhelmed her like a tide.

She could only silently recite the Supreme Method of Forgetting Emotions.

She struggled to conceal the turbulent emotions in her eyes and replied in a dry voice, "May the Heavenly Venerable grant you boundless blessings, thank you for the arrangements, Your Highness."

She tried her best to maintain her composure, telling herself: this is only temporary, he's still angry, once he calms down, once I recover... everything will be alright.

By then, what will this guest quarters of the Prince of Annam's mansion be worth?
Although he was in the guest quarters, he acted as if he were the host.

She took a deep breath, straightened her back, and performed an impeccable Taoist kowtow to Qin Qingluo.

(End of this chapter)