My enemies became my companions

Chapter 661 Min Ning (Two Chapters Combined)

Chen Yi looked at Yin Weiying calmly. He had temporarily placed her on Gaoliang Mountain before because he was afraid that she would cause any more trouble. Given this female Taoist priest's muddle-headed nature, she would definitely not be able to accept Qin Yue's existence for a while.

I don’t know if it’s something to be thankful for, but after that incident at the Immortal Palace, I became much colder and more ruthless towards her. Otherwise, if I had been soft-hearted, I would have made many concessions for Qin Yue. Even so, it would have been difficult to stop her from taking advantage of me.

But no matter what, she has to face it.

"...Wait...whose child is this?"

Yin Weiying's astonishment suddenly turned into horror, and his heart seemed to be in turmoil.

"Oh, I see. You mean..."

The female Taoist priest paused for a moment, but quickly recovered. She chuckled twice and said, "I understand."

"So, Tingxue came along too?"

Even though Chen Yi had prepared himself to be hard-hearted, he almost couldn't hold back at this moment.

Yin Weiying took two steps forward, her clear and beautiful eyes scrutinizing Qin Yue in his arms. She was about two or three years old, and her eyebrows and eyes... were indeed somewhat similar to Chen Yi's, especially her pert nose and pursed lips. Just now, she was far away, and her mind was entirely focused on how to strike up a conversation with Chen Yi, so she hadn't taken a closer look.

She clicked her tongue in amazement and said, "I never imagined that Tingxue's Taoist magic was so profound, enough to fool even the most skilled in disguise."

Chen Yi remained silent for a while, and Qin Yue was also a little confused. She subconsciously tugged at Chen Yi's collar. Silently, she felt a little reliance on this father who was neither real nor fake.

After a long pause, Chen Yi said, word by word, "This is my child, Yin Weiying."

"Yes, I know. Tingxue secretly regards you as her mother. I've heard her say that."

"...She wasn't Tingxue in disguise."

"Impossible," Yin Weiying denied directly.

"...Her name is Qin Yue."

“No, Qin…” Yin Weiying suddenly looked up, the gentle smile on his face freezing instantly, like a thin layer of ice shattered by a heavy hammer, “Her surname is Qin?”

Her voice was very soft, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor, as if she hadn't heard clearly, or as if she had heard clearly but couldn't understand the meaning.

If the surname is Qin...

Yin Weiying felt a chill instantly rise from the soles of her feet to the top of her head, and her limbs and bones stiffened. She looked at the girl in Chen Yi's arms, that little face, the familiar outline between her eyebrows, especially those eyes... now filled with tears, they looked even more like her.

A name, a figure, crashed into her mind with the force of a thunderbolt: a figure in a black python robe, tall and upright.
Qin Qingluo!
The magnificent grandeur of the Prince's mansion last night, Qin Qingluo's composed control in handling affairs, and those snake-like eyes that seemed particularly deep under the lamplight... all these images flooded back like fragments, ultimately converging on the child in Chen Yi's arms, clinging to his neck in dependence...

Yin Weiying stopped completely in place, a few steps away from Chen Yi and the child. The morning light fell on her pale face, revealing no color, only a blank and astonished expression.

Chen Yi held Qin Yue in his arms. The child's small body was still slightly sobbing from the chase, and tears were hanging on her long eyelashes. He lowered his head and used his fingertips to wipe away the tear stains on Qin Yue's cheeks with an extremely natural touch. The action was an almost clumsy tenderness that Yin Weiying had never seen before.

Yin Weiying was stunned for a long time before stiffly asking, "Are you kidding me?" She paused, then forced a smile and said, "Please don't try to annoy me, okay?"

Chen Yi looked up at Yin Weiying again, his eyes calm and unwavering.

“This is my child,” he repeated, his words clear and unquestionable.

Time seemed to stand still in the courtyard. The rustling of the leaves in the wind and the heavy breathing of the old woman in the distance, both sounded unusually clear and yet seemed unusually distant.

Yin Weiying's breath seemed to stop; she hadn't felt so helpless in a long time.

No wonder Qin Qingluo looked at her like a joke last night! No wonder Chen Yi ignored her pleas and simply left her in the guest courtyard! No wonder he was so familiar with this Prince's mansion and so compliant with Qin Qingluo's arrangements!

They had a child together! A living, breathing child who could already run and jump!

The enormous impact left Yin Weiying's mind buzzing, and his vision even went black for a moment.

Chen Yi didn't seem to intend to explain further. He simply hugged Qin Yue and gently patted her back: "It's alright, don't be afraid anymore. See, it's not chasing you anymore."

The Thai-Slaying Sword had long since hovered quietly beside him, its sharpness concealed.

He looked up, his gaze sweeping over Yin Weiying's distraught and complex face, his tone as calm as if he were stating something unrelated to himself: "Her mother... must be getting impatient, I'll take her back."

The word "Mother" pierced Yin Weiying's eardrums. She opened her mouth, but her throat seemed to be blocked by something, and she could not make a sound. She could only watch helplessly as Chen Yi, holding the child, turned around and walked steadily towards the inner courtyard of the Prince's Mansion.

This time...

She was utterly defeated.

Yin Weiying stood rooted to the spot, unable to move an inch.

The old woman glanced nervously at Yin Weiying, who stood frozen in place, then at the departing father and daughter, before finally jogging after them, leaving behind a trail of silence.

........................

Qin Qingluo was unaware that she had silently defeated the proud and aloof Princess Jing so thoroughly for the first time. She only knew that after resting for a while, she felt refreshed again.

Warriors are physically strong, and it is not impossible for them to go without sleep for several days and nights or even months. Besides, although they expend a lot of energy, it is only for one day and night.

Qin Qinglu glanced at the hourglass and knew that only two or three hours had passed. The daylight was just right, so she didn't rush to have a meal. After tidying her clothes, she was about to go to the study to handle some official business, but then she thought that he was probably there.

Then I'd better not go.

Qin Qingluo pushed open the door and went out. After thinking for a moment, she got up and turned to the tailor shop.

Although I had thought he might come before, my mind was complicated at the time. The two of us had a deep-seated hatred for each other, and we were enemies, not friends. I wished I could tear him to pieces.

Looking at it now, I realize that the Prince's Mansion doesn't actually have any clothes that fit him. Her clothes are too big, Aunt Zhu's clothes are too small, and there haven't been any male members in the inner courtyard of the Prince's Mansion for a long time, so there are no men's clothes that fit his height.

Qin Qinglu walked steadily through the corridors of the Prince's Mansion and headed straight for the outer courtyard where the tailoring bureau was located. Sunlight streamed through the carved window lattices, casting interplay of light and shadow on her dark everyday clothes.

Inside the tailor shop, several skilled old tailors were busy at their desks. Upon seeing the prince's arrival, the manager led everyone to quickly put down their work and bow in respect.

"No need." Qin Qingluo said calmly, her gaze sweeping over the various brocades and silks on display. "A few days ago, a new person came to Zhige Division. He's quite capable. You can make him a few new outfits."

Broad shoulders, cinched waist, a sleek and easy-to-move style, the fabric should be top-quality ice silk or brocade, lightweight and breathable, the color…” She paused for a moment, “Indigo, black, or moon white are all acceptable, no need for complicated patterns.”

She disliked excessive ornamentation, firstly because it was too eye-catching, and secondly, she figured he probably didn't like it either.

Qin Qinglu walked to the fabric rack herself, her fingertips brushing over several pieces of fine-textured, subtly lustrous fabric. She wasn't very familiar with this kind of fabric selection; Zhu E usually handled it. The thought crossed her mind: finding a few common fabrics similar to her own clothes should be good.

Finally, they selected a piece of dark brocade as deep as midnight and a piece of moon-white ice silk as clear as the sky after rain. "Use these two pieces, and make sure the measurements are accurate. We'll send the measurements over today."

"Yes, Your Highness." The head tailor respectfully replied and noted down the request.

Just as Qin Qingluo was about to turn and leave, a maidservant hurried in from outside the courtyard, carrying a lacquered tray with a well-sealed secret letter lying quietly on it. The seal had a hidden mark on it, indicating that it came from the servants' quarters.

Qin Qingluo's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly. She reached out, took the letter, unfolded it, and quickly scanned the tiny, still-wet characters on it. It was Zhu E's own handwriting.

The contents of the letter caused Qin Qingluo's handsome brows to furrow slightly. It was because she saw a familiar name within it, a name she knew from the past.
Min Ning.

Her fingertips unconsciously traced the edge of the letter. Min Ning… the other end of the thread seemed to be tied to the person in the study.

Qin Qinglu remained unmoved. After a moment of contemplation, she folded the letter again, tucked it into her sleeve, and turned her head towards the study.

Inside the study, light streamed through the high window, and dust motes floated in the beams of light.

Chen Yi was indeed there, sitting in the same spot she had been in the previous night, intently flipping through the thick tomes she had prepared about the World of No Light and the Divine Cult. On one corner of the table, there were several pieces of tortoise shells engraved with strange runes.

Hearing footsteps, Chen Yi looked up.

Without any further pleasantries, Qin Qingluo went straight to the desk, took out the secret letter from her sleeve, and handed it over, saying, "Take a look at this."

Chen Yi took the letter and unfolded it.

When his gaze fell on the name "Min Ning," the calm on his face instantly creased, his pupils contracted sharply, and the fingers gripping the letter tightened unconsciously, his knuckles turning slightly white.

He quickly lowered his head, as if to reread every word of the letter, his brows furrowed as if he were trying to digest an extremely unexpected message.

Qin Qingluo stood opposite the desk, taking in every subtle change in his expression.

Those forcibly furrowed brows, those deliberately lowered eyelids trying to hide something, and that extremely faint curve at the corner of the mouth that was forcibly pursed... where is the worry?

Her incredibly perceptive snake eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of understanding and a faint mockery appearing in them.

She leaned forward slightly, her hands resting on the edge of the desk, looking down at him. Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried a penetrating coldness that pierced straight to his core.

"What?" A barely perceptible smile appeared on her lips. "Are you worried... that I'll be jealous?"

Chen Yi's fingers tightened around the letter again. He looked up, opened his mouth as if to explain, but found himself speechless.

He even lost his composure slightly.

Qin Qingluo was extremely pleased with his loss of composure.

Seeing his speechless expression, she still smiled faintly, a smile that was hard to decipher—whether it was mockery or something else entirely.
"Is this matter to be handled by you?"

Chen Yi's eyes lit up at just the right moment, as if he were pleasantly surprised by his lucky escape, and he nodded without thinking.

The queen straightened up, no longer looking at him, turned and walked towards the door, the hem of her dark robe tracing a clean arc, leaving behind only a single, emotionless sentence:
"I have a long-standing friendship with Min Ning. We haven't seen each other for many years, and I still miss her a bit. If you meet her, you can invite her to the palace."

His back was still upright, but when he walked out the door, his steps seemed to be a little faster than when he came in.

Chen Yi gripped the note and averted his gaze.

Min Ning...

Invite them to the Prince's residence...

How can it be? !
Qin Qingluo's words were indeed true. When they were still in the capital, she and Min Ning had a very pleasant conversation and considered each other close friends. They were both strong-willed and heroic. If the two women were to meet, they would surely be drinking and singing together.

However, even if heroes share similar views, they cannot work together if their paths diverge.

Moreover, Chen Yi is caught between these two paths. If the two women meet, he will not have the strength to suppress them both at the same time, and it will be difficult to treat them equally. In that case, I'm afraid... I'm afraid it will end up in a mess.

As his thoughts raced, Chen Yi realized that he absolutely could not allow the two women to meet in the Southern Frontier. After briefly recalling his brief encounter with Min Ning, his resolve was strengthened.

"Things about the cult don't seem so urgent right now," Chen Yi muttered to himself with a self-deprecating smile.

But how can we keep Min Ning in check and prevent her from having a direct conflict with Qin Qingluo?

Can he do it all by himself?

The thought crossed his mind, and Chen Yi frowned slightly. The next moment, he immediately thought of the figure he didn't want to think about at this time.

Yin Weiying.

...........................

Yin Weiying didn't know how he got back to the guest courtyard.

The blinding morning light in the courtyard, Chen Yi's departing figure carrying the child, and that cry of "Mother" all seemed to be etched into my heart...

The guesthouse, once quiet and elegant, now resembles a cold desert.

She dismissed the maids who were standing by, and the door slammed shut behind her. The ethereal beauty she had maintained all the way collapsed instantly. Her back pressed against the cold door panel, and she slowly slid down, finally collapsing onto the cold bed.

We lost...completely and utterly.

It wasn't because of scheming, it wasn't because of the methods used, and it wasn't even because of Chen Yi's indifference.

She lost because of something she never expected: he... had a child, a child carrying his and that woman's blood...

She huddled behind the door, her forehead pressed against her knees, silently reciting the mantra of the Supreme Forgetfulness Technique in her heart, but it was like a mud ox sinking into the sea, unable to stir up even the slightest ripple; instead, she was swallowed up by the immense loneliness.

Feeling lost, helpless, and utterly exhausted.

She didn't even know what to do next. Should she stay in the An'nan Prince's mansion and watch the family of three live happily together? Or... slink away?

She didn't know how much time had passed, but she felt cold all over and her limbs were numb.

Just as this deathly silence was about to engulf her, a maid's deliberately soft voice came from outside the door:

"Fairy Maiden, Young Master Chen... has come to see you."

As if pricked by a cold needle, Yin Weiying suddenly sat up from the couch.

His eyes, which had been lifeless just moments before, were instantly brightened, and his chaotic thoughts were abruptly and forcibly brought back together.

Astonishment, panic, a glimmer of disbelief and hope... a variety of emotions flashed quickly across his eyes, but were ultimately covered by an almost instinctive calmness.

She practically jumped out of bed.

Her fingertips swiftly brushed across the slightly wrinkled hem of her skirt, gathered her somewhat disheveled hair, looked in the bronze mirror, took a deep breath, and tried her best to suppress all the dejection on her face, restoring her usual cool and calm expression, with even a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips.

The door was pushed open gently.

Chen Yi's figure appeared at the doorway, his face somewhat blurred by the light from the corridor.

Yin Weiying was already standing in the room, her posture as upright as a lone snow-covered pine tree, her face carrying a just-right aloofness and displeasure at being disturbed from her meditation, as if the person who had just collapsed on the bed in a daze was not her at all.

"Husband?" She turned her head slightly, her tone carrying a hint of cool surprise, as if his arrival was quite unexpected. "You... weren't you with that child? What brings you to my guest house?"

(End of this chapter)