When he said those words, Yan Hui was surprised.
Yan Hui had thought about this better. Tian Yao knew some of the people in the nine-tailed fox demon clan from before, so there was a possibility he would meet some old friends here now.
Sure enough, he did meet some friends, but who would've thought Tian Yao's old friend was from the royal family........
"I'm still doing well," lightly responded Tian Yao. He looked at the Third Prince's eyes and fell silent for a moment. "Chang Lan, how have you been?"
"Ah," smiled Chang Lan. "I have enough life to live for now." Done speaking, he patted Zhu Li. "I have some previous matters to talk about with my old friend. A'Li, can you help me bring a letter to the king? It's asking for Tian Yao to have an audience with him tomorrow."
Zhu Li responded favorably to those words: "I'll go tell Royal Grandfather."
Zhu Li withdrew from the room. The other servants also followed suit. The boy the doctor left behind thoughtfully requested Yan Hui to move to another room for her acupuncture treatment. Yan Hui shot Tian Yao a glance, but it didn't look like he wanted her to stay. Thus, she left with the boy.
Everyone has a little mystery in their past.
Zhu Li quickly returned. The king had consented to Chang Lan's request for Tian Yao and Yan Hui to enter the palace the next day. Pushing it back a day was still gaining a day. Yan Hui secretly let how a sigh of relief.
"Then you should come back with me first. Tian Yao and Third Uncle will probably be talking for a while."
It just so happened the boy just finished giving Yan Hui acupuncture. He supported her up and inserted himself in the conversation: "Heir, the doctor said that Miss's wound needs nine days of acupuncture. It's best to stay in Third Uncle's residence for those nine days. It's easier for the doctor to do checkups."
Yan Hui thought about it: "That's right. I get treatment here. Tian Yao reminisces here with his old friend. Living here is also convenient."
Zhu Li opened his mouth, but to his surprised, he couldn't think of any reason to take Yan Hui away. He saw Yan Hui tick off on her fingers which of her things she wanted Zhu Li to order people to bring here. He gritted his teeth and endured for a long time, but in the end, he turned and left in a huff: "Get them yourself. I don't have that many people for you to order around."
"Ah......." Yan Hui watched Zhu Li leave. She pouted and muttered, "That brat isn't tall, and his heart is small, but he has a pretty big temper."
Zhu Li had taken one step out the doorway when Yan Hui's words stabbed him in the knee. He gritted his teeth and resolved to go back and get Yan Hui's shabby things and toss them out.
At dusk, two people from the Seventh Prince's residence moved over Tian Yao's and Yan Hui's scant belongings. Yan Hui weighed the money from her bag in her hand and thought, that brat Zhu Li was a hypocrite, words completely different from his actions.
This entire day, even to dinnertime, Tian Yao didn't come out of that room.
Those two men had been reminiscing in that room the whole day.......Yan Hui, who grew up in the rumor-filled Chen Xing Mountain, couldn't help forming some strange ideas.
She was so enthralled in her own guess that she didn't eat well at dinner. When night fell, Yan Hui got hungry. She thought about it and decided to find her way to the kitchen to steal some mantou to fill her belly.
She had just entered the kitchen and looked around the stove when she heard a rustling noise.
It wasn't mice........
Yan Hui took a few steps closer. When she turned at the sink, Yan Hui caught red-handed a person squatting there, gnawing on a chicken leg with oil all over her face.
Their four eyes locked for a long time.
Yan Hui decided to put down all of her other questions and instead asked only one: "Aren't you the revered doctor? Why have you fallen to such a low state that you have to steal food?"
Pu Fang swallowed the bite of chicken and wiped her mouth: "Aren't you an honored guest? Why are you sneaking around like me? Trying to experience this kind of thrill?"
Yan Hui was left speechless. She was just scared she would stammer then yell out for the entire kitchen staff to cook something for her. Troubling others made her conscience uneasy.
Perhaps the doctor felt the same way as she did..........
With that thought, Yan Hui slightly changed her opinion of that vile-tempered doctor.
"Where's the chicken from?"
Pu Fang didn't even look up: "Inside the innermost pot on the third stove."
Yan Hui followed her words and sure enough found the remaining half of the chicken. It even still had the drumstick!
Thus, Yan Hui had a more favorable view of Pu Fang. The two of them clutched their chicken and sat on the floor eating. They sat in silence eating. Yan Hui had nothing to say. Pu Fang mulled over her thoughts for a long time before speaking up: "Those words I said today........it really didn't come my inner thoughts and heart........."
Yan Hui turned her head to look at Pu Fang: I know."
"You know?"
"When people say things out of anger, they have the same look as you did." Yan Hui wiped her mouth. "But words said in anger that hurt people the most are the ones that aren't easily stopped. Furthermore, they inflict the most damage. I also couldn't listen anymore, so I refuted you."
Pu Fang was silent for a brief moment at what she heard: "What you said today was really reasonable."
"My words are always really reasonable."
"........As expected, I still can't give it up."
Yan Hui was slightly startled. She looked at Pu Fang gritting her teeth. It seemed like Pu Fang made some resolution: "I still like him, still want to find him."
Yan Hui blinked: "What's the circumstances?"
Pu Fang looked at Yan Hui who ate chicken to the point oil was smeared over her face. After being in the same sneaking around situation, she felt a little more trusting towards Yan Hui: "Because you said those really reasonable words today, I'll tell you........" She paused and looked at the ground. She somewhat shyly continued, "I like a xian cultivator who's guarding San Chong Mountain.
Yan Hui froze.
"While I was treating Third Prince today, he lectured me for a long time. He always says xian and demons can't coexist. And he always uses that dragon demon as an example why." Pu Fang stuck out her lip. "He says that every single time, but I still like that xian. There's nothing I can do."
"After I heard your what you said today, I carefully thought about them. I thought it was the same thing. The one who likes him is me. It has no relation on other people. Why should I listen to other people who try to control my own feelings?" Pu Fang's eyes slightly glimmered. "I like him, and it also has nothing to do with him. I just want to fulfill myself."
Yan Hui thought about it. Then she hesitatingly spoke: "It can't be..........because today you wanted to sneak away to San Chong Mountain to see that person, and that's why Third Prince scolded you?"
Pu Fang didn't speak.
Yan Hui deliberated on what to say: "Although I do believe it it isn't important what identity or status the person you like has, but the current circumstance does need to be considered. These past few days, San Chong Mountain has increased in xian sect froces by I don't know how much compared to before. With your poor magic, it's best if you go there less."
Pu Fang's eyes slightly dimmed. After a long moment, she mumbled to herself: "But I miss him."
Yan Hui polished off her half-chicken. She patted Pu Fang's shoulder, conveniently also wiping off her hands: "You still have to endure even if you're in love. Just endure it for now. After all, you have to be alive to love."
Yan Hui had filled her stomach. She bid goodbye to Pu Fang and contentedly returned to her room.
She just walked into the courtyard when she saw a figure standing in the middle, alone in the moonlight.
"Tian Yao?"
Only then did the person who was watching the moon turn his head. He looked at Yan Hui with pitch-black eyes, always so deep and enigmatic. Yan Hu walked forward and slightly tilted her head up to look at him: "Were you guys chatting all this time? No one showed you where your room is?"
Tian Yao didn't respond. He only quietly looked at Yan Hui.
Yan Hui stared blankly at him: "What is it?"
Tian Yao's hand twitched. A breeze stirred up, sending a strong whiff of alcohol to Yan Hui's nose. "Did you and that Third Prince drink alcohol?" She sniffed again and peered at Tian Yao's face, "How much did you drink? Are you drunk.........is the demon clan's alcohol good? Next time leave me some......."
She hadn't finished when Tian Yao wrapped his arm around her back and drew her entire self into his arms.
Yan Hui was startled. For a moment, she forgot to push Tian Yao away.
In the middle of the tranquil courtyard, a light breeze stirred up the scent of alcohol, caressed Yan Hui's nose, and then dispersed. Yan Hui thought she was going to be intoxicated by the scent. Otherwise, why else would she feel slightly dizzy in this hug.........
"Tian.......Tian Yao?"
Yan Hui felt her face heating up and turning red. Her heartbeat quickened. It was the same reaction when she saw Tian Yao under the influence of the fox lust fragrance.
Yan Hui used her rationality to control her hands and pushed against Tian Yao's chest. She tried to push him away: "Let........let go of me! Otherwise I'm going to beat you up!"
"Yan Hui."
A hoarse voice reached her ears, making her cheeks tingle. The hands that were pushing strongly against Tian Yao weakened.
"Uh.........ah?" Yan Hui's voice tightened with false bravado. "What?"
Both of Tian Yao's hands were placed on Yan Hui's back. He hugged her tighter in his embrace, head lightly rubbing against her ear. He was unyielding, but it also unexpectedly had a shameless, spoiled child feeling.
Such an attractive face acting coquettishly..........should be illegal! Yan Hui who had never experienced this before felt her heart soften into a puddle.
"You........."
She didn't have time to say anything else when she felt Tian Yao's breath by her ear again.
"Fortunately, you are here."
Those four words were clearly told to Yan Hui.
Yan Hui stared blankly. She didn't move. But Tian Yao repeated himself again: "Fortunately........"
It really was like rejoice at the chance of a new life kind of feeling. From the quietly spoken four words, Yan Hui could feel the deep dependence and need.
He depended on her. He needed her.
This kind of feeling really made one feel........
So cool!
"Tian Yao." Yan Hui restrained her mood and sternly said: "It good that you're aware of that."
"Hah......." Tian Yao lightly laughed in Yan Hui's ear. "Oh, Yan Hui........" He hadn't finished walking when his head dropped onto Yan Hui's shoulder. Immediately, his entire body went limp.
Yan Hui hurriedly propped him up.
"Finish talking.........then sleep........." Yan Hui gritted her teeth. "So heavy!"
It was the middle of the night, and Yan Hui didn't know where Tian Yao's room was. After thinking about it, she supported Tian Yao with her shoulder and took him to her room. She threw him onto her bed. For her, she pushed together two chairs and resigned to sleep on them for the night.
The next day when Yan Hui woke, she felt a pair of eyes staring at her. She turned to look. It was Tian Yao who had already woken up.
Yan Hui yawned, stretched, and stood up: "What are you looking at. Last night you were drunk, and I didn't know where your room was. I ended up carrying you to my room. I didn't do anything to you."
Tian Yao looked away. He remained silent and didn't say a word.
While Yan Hui put the chairs back, she asked: "What did you and the Third Prince talk about? You talked for so long you got dead drunk."
"I wasn't drunk." Tian Yao lightly said those three words.
Yan Hui blankly looked at him.
She didn't have time to process it when Tian Yao continued: "Chang Lan was one of the demons that I sheltered in the valley in Central Plains. Yesterday he told me about how the xian cultivators suppressed and cleaned-up the demons in the valley." He paused. "That was how he lost his eyesight."
This subject was a little heavy. Yan Hui didn't say a word.
The room remained in silence for a long time. Yan Hui scratched her head: "I'm going to go ask some people to bring water to wash our faces."
She started walking towards the door. Tian Yao called out again at that time: "Yan Hui."
She turned her head. Tian Yao was behind the curtains on the bed. It made his expression hard to see.
"Sometimes, I wonder if 20 years ago the one I met was you, what would've happened........"
Those words..........
What did they mean.
Ynn Hui didn't think about it. She just waved her hand and dismissively said: "20 years ago, I hadn't been born yet."
Saying that, she went ahead and left the room. Tian Yao was left sitting on the bed. His lips curved into a smile:
"Pretending to be dumb."