Chapter 154 - 153: Emperor Chengtian, Public Enemy of the Officials! Picking Up Cui Jinghan
Chapter 154: Chapter 153: Emperor Chengtian, Public Enemy of the Officials! Picking Up Cui Jinghan
Qingyuan narrowed her eyes. "Sister Xu, what do you think?"
Sister Xu coughed and said, "A Yuan, you’ve never bowed to anyone either. But ever since you met Miss Shi... And Mr. Xie Lin, he’s practically at her beck and call."
Shi Changying seemed to possess some kind of magic that made people involuntarily believe in her.
Qingyuan was silent for three seconds before bursting into sudden laughter. She laughed so hard her shoulders shook and she doubled over, tears streaming from her eyes.
Sister Xu was startled. "What... what’s wrong with you? Don’t scare me."
Her artist’s temperament was truly eccentric, so mysterious as to be unpredictable. But it was exactly this mystique that had garnered her a group of die-hard fans.
It took quite a while for Qingyuan to stop laughing. Wiping her tears, she said, "I’m laughing because sometimes outsiders see things more clearly than those involved."
Even an outsider like Sister Xu could sense it, yet Pei Xuan was completely oblivious. On the contrary, he accurately recognized her and Xie Qingshi every single time.
Sister Xu looked slightly bewildered. "What do you mean?"
Qingyuan raised her hands to cup her manager’s face. "My dear Madam Manager, you must never let Sister Ying’s existence slip in front of Pei Xuan."
She laughed again and went off to prepare for shooting her night scene.
Sister Xu rubbed her face, complaining, "Exploiting her beauty to get away with murder. It’s really too much." Having worked with Lu Qingyuan for so long, she was still not immune to that face.
"Thank goodness it wasn’t Miss Shi doing that to me, or I really wouldn’t be able to handle it..." Sister Xu patted her chest, breathing a sigh of relief.
Meanwhile, at the Qi Sha Jianghuai Branch.
When he saw Ning Liuyu walk in with Shi Changying, Wuxian was momentarily stunned. He remembered that Shi Changying was Shaoyuan’s classmate.
Wuxian gathered his thoughts and stepped forward to ask, "Miss Ning, do you need any help?"
"I need a private examination room," Ning Liuyu urged, which was rare for her. "Please hurry."
Wuxian nodded and immediately had someone prepare it.
Ning Liuyu led Shi Changying into the examination room and began to check her physical condition. However, no matter how thoroughly she examined her, she couldn’t find a single problem.
Tears fell from Ning Liuyu’s eyes in her anxiety. "Are you feeling unwell anywhere else?"
Shi Changying turned around to comfort her. "No. Don’t be nervous. It just hurt for a moment."
"How could I not be nervous?" Ning Liuyu’s hands were trembling too. With tears welling in her eyes, she kept her voice very low. "We all thought the Heavenly Thunder that struck you back then was extremely bizarre, and now you’ve developed this strange heart ailment. What... what if..."
After a moment of silence, Shi Changying spoke slowly, "My teacher used to say that we should cross the bridge when we come to it. Since nothing has happened yet, don’t be so pessimistic. I don’t want you all to worry."
Ning Liuyu refused to give up. "If we could find Ming Chu, maybe she’d be able to figure it out!"
Shi Changying paused, then said, "Actually, I was debating whether I should even disturb you. After all, in this second life, the Xuan Dynasty has long since fallen. You have your own path to walk, and I shouldn’t selfishly interfere with your life."
"Your Majesty..." Ning Liuyu was deeply shaken. Her throat choked up as she replied, "You are not selfish. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t even exist."
Shi Changying patted her head and raised an eyebrow. "You’re capable all on your own. Don’t go giving me all the credit."
Outside the examination room.
As the person in charge of the Qi Sha Jianghuai Branch, Wuxian hesitated for a moment after finishing his official report to Shaoyuan before saying, "Your little classmate was brought over by Miss Ning."
To Wuxian’s surprise, Shaoyuan actually asked, "What happened?"
Wuxian froze. He thought to himself that Shaoyuan never pressed for details on such matters, and for a moment, he didn’t answer.
It wasn’t until Shaoyuan spoke again: "What happened?"
Startled, Wuxian immediately replied, "There seems to be something wrong with her heart, but they haven’t been able to detect anything."
Shaoyuan’s gaze instantly darkened.
The last time he accompanied Shi Changying for a full-body checkup at the Jianghuai First Hospital, they hadn’t found any issues either.
Should he take her to the Xuan Sect for a visit?
The Xuan Sect had witch doctors, but it was also extremely dangerous. Without Inner Strength, going to the Xuan Sect was a near-certain death sentence.
Since Shaoyuan remained silent, Wuxian didn’t dare to speak either.
"I understand," Shaoyuan said flatly.
These two words left Wuxian completely bewildered. He had never been able to guess what was on Shaoyuan’s mind.
The call ended just like that. Wuxian breathed a slight sigh of relief and went to handle his other affairs.
By the time Shi Changying and Ning Liuyu came out, it was already eight o’clock in the evening.
The neon lights had just come on, shimmering in a myriad of colors.
Ning Liuyu felt bad that Shi Changying still had to rush back to the Xu family’s home to study. "It’s fine to slow down a bit. You should rest more."
Shi Changying used the same excuse: "I want to be ranked first in my grade."
Ning Liuyu suddenly understood and asked, "So who’s currently ranked first in your grade?"
"Right now, it’s—" Shi Changying’s voice suddenly trailed off because she spotted the person in question. "Why are you here?"
Hearing this, Shaoyuan tilted his head slightly. "Shouldn’t I be the one asking you that, Eldest Miss?"
He was still using the title he had casually thrown out to help her out of a tight spot during their first meeting.
Shi Changying crossed her arms. "You should be reasonable, Eldest Young Master. I was here first."
Shaoyuan seemed to chuckle. "Hmm, I won’t be reasonable, but I can buy you a bubble tea."
Shi Changying only heard the last five words. She stepped forward and said, "Make it two."
The three of them walked to a bubble tea shop around the corner. While Shi Changying perused the menu, Ning Liuyu opened the group chat titled "Pei Xuan’s Mockers Alliance."
[Ning Liuyu]: How much do you guys know about that young master who’s always hanging around Her Majesty?
[Qingyuan]: Oh, not much. But I’ve watched him feed Sister Ying several meals, and she never objected. I feel like he’s not going to be easy to deal with.
[Xie Qingshi]: He’s well-versed in music. To me, he’s a very tricky political rival.
[Qingyuan]: So Lord Xie needs to work hard. You absolutely can’t let a latecomer replace you.
Ning Liuyu fell deep into thought. She wouldn’t be replaced, would she?
Just as she was pondering this, Shaoyuan’s casual voice drifted into her ears: "Choose the five-finger fig or the Japanese raisin tree. They strengthen the spleen, nourish the lungs, soothe the liver, and are good for the body."
Ning Liuyu: "..."
[Ning Liuyu]: He seems to have studied pharmacology too. I feel like I’m in danger of being replaced as well.
A few seconds later, a system notification popped up on the screen.
[The group name has been changed to "Pei Xuan’s Mockers and Shaoyuan’s Crusaders Alliance"]
[Qingyuan]: I think he’s very calculating. We absolutely cannot let Sister Ying be fooled by him.
[Xie Qingshi]: Hmm. Looking forward to our cooperation.
Ning Liuyu also received a cup of bubble tea. In her heart, she was also scheming on how to maintain her position.
Right at that moment, Shaoyuan spoke up again, "Miss Ning, it’s getting late. I’ll take her home first. Be safe."
Shi Changying waved her hand. "See you later."
Ning Liuyu remained silent for a moment before replying in the group chat as well.
[Ning Liuyu]: He really is quite calculating. We must protect Her Majesty well.
After returning to the Old Xu Mansion, Shi Changying carried a plate of fruit into the study.
Yan Sinian had already arrived. Upon seeing her, he immediately stood up. "Miss Shi, I just received Senior Brother’s specific flight information. We need to head to the airport the day after tomorrow at 10:00 AM. After that, let’s all grab a meal together. It’s on me."
Shi Changying once again only heard the last three words: "Okay."
"Miss Shi, you are truly my savior!" Yan Sinian said, then sent a message in his group chat.
[Yan Sinian]: @Senior Brother, I’ll bring my student over. We’ll have a meal together then.