Her Entire Court Reborn with Her in the Modern World

Chapter 203: Chapter 202: Pei Xuan Finally Gets to Speak with Your Majesty

At this moment, Xie Qingshi’s body tensed. He let out a soft, inward sigh, knowing that what must come would eventually come. After all, Pei Xuan was familiar with Jianghuai, and since Her Majesty was attending Jianghuai High School, it was inevitable that they would run into each other. They could prevent it once, but there would always be a next time. Since Pei Xuan had legs and was highly skilled in Qinggong, it would be impossible to stop him forever.

Shaoyuan took two cups of milk tea from the shop assistant, pierced one with a straw, and handed it to Shi Changying, while holding the other cup himself. Seeing that he had no intention of moving, Shi Changying asked, "Are you not going to drink?"

Shaoyuan raised an eyebrow and replied unhurriedly, "Mhm. Both cups are yours."

Shi Changying nodded. She had just taken a sip of her milk tea when a voice floated down from above her head, carrying a hint of cynicism, "Aren’t you two supposed to be in evening classes at this hour?"

Even after being reborn into this lifetime, Pei Xuan still possessed an overly conspicuous and striking face. Judging by his appearance, he seemed every bit the flirtatious playboy who could wander through a field of flowers without a single petal clinging to him. Coupled with his naturally arrogant and unbridled talent, he had also written many poems about romantic interludes. When later generations interpreted his poetry, they speculated that he was a highly passionate man.

Pei Xuan scoffed at this. He felt he couldn’t be any more single-minded; from childhood to adulthood, he had never even changed his sword. What he held in his heart was Da Xuan, not petty romance. He wondered on what grounds people made such claims about him when one clearly couldn’t judge a book by its cover.

Shi Changying didn’t even look up, focusing entirely on drinking her milk tea. "We asked for a leave of absence."

"Asked for a leave of absence just to attend a concert? Do you like Xie Lin that much?" Pei Xuan looked thoughtful. He then suddenly turned his gaze to Shaoyuan. "I remember you. The vice principal said you’re the president of the student council. So, how are your grades? What’s your rank in the whole school?"

Shaoyuan didn’t answer Pei Xuan’s question. In fact, Pei Xuan didn’t even seem to exist in his eyes. He slightly lowered his head, reached out again, and straightened a green star-shaped hair accessory on Shi Changying’s hair.

The word "rank" caught Shi Changying’s attention. She said unhurriedly, "He is first, and I am also first, but I will surpass him."

She thought, "First from the bottom is still first, isn’t it? Exactly. I am first, and no one can deny it."

"Tied for first?" Pei Xuan was a little surprised. He raised his eyebrows slightly and bought it. "In that case, you two are quite a good match."

Those last four words finally made Shaoyuan look up, his gaze sweeping over Pei Xuan from top to bottom.

This kind of scrutiny gave Pei Xuan a sense of discomfort. His gaze grew somewhat inscrutable as he began to ponder the identity of this eighteen-year-old boy. He thought that the boy didn’t seem like anyone he knew. If he had to pick someone, he could only think of the young general, Wei He Feng. Wei He Feng had been ennobled as a marquis at sixteen, promoted to Great General at eighteen, and conferred the title of Imperial Heavenly General by Empress Taichu at twenty. In the end, there were no higher titles to bestow and no more rewards to give.

He recalled that although Wei He Feng was also arrogant, he had a frivolous and unbridled temperament. Like the Empress, he did not know how to restrain himself. However, the young man before him possessed an arrogance that seemed to encompass all things, which was a profound contradiction. He mused that if a person was arrogant, they naturally looked down from on high, so how could they also possess a broad and tolerant mind? He who had witnessed the vastness of the universe still cherished the greenness of a blade of grass. It sounded simple, but achieving it was far, far too difficult.

Pei Xuan frowned slightly. He had been suspicious of this young man the last time they met, but after his repeated assessment this time, he was absolutely certain that this boy was no one from the Empress’s previous dynasty. If that was the case, he decided, then there was nothing to be wary of.

Shaoyuan finished adjusting his handiwork before speaking. "It’s time to go in."

Shi Changying reached out her hand.

Shaoyuan handed the other cup of milk tea over, his movements practiced and natural, evidently having done this many times before.

Pei Xuan had only come over to probe Shaoyuan’s background. He had no intention of being an awkward third wheel wedged between a couple, so he said, "As long as it doesn’t affect your studies and doesn’t break the law, there’s no harm in dating."

These words caused Shaoyuan’s eyebrows to twitch slightly. He watched Pei Xuan’s departing back and noted, "He might have misunderstood something."

Shi Changying didn’t care. "It doesn’t matter."

Having read so many history books, it wasn’t as if she didn’t know what future generations said about her. She knew they claimed she was lustful, presiding over a harem of three thousand men and hoarding the beauties of the world...

Xie Qingshi stood silently in place until Pei Xuan returned. In truth, he hadn’t fully processed what had just happened.

"The last time I went to inspect Jianghuai High School, I saw them. They should be a couple indulging in puppy love. They didn’t even restrain themselves during class." Pei Xuan noticed his expression and asked, "Both of them have such outstanding appearances. Didn’t you notice them?"

Before Xie Qingshi could answer, Pei Xuan continued, "Then again, you’ve always been immersed in your own world and never pay attention to the outside. No wonder you couldn’t recognize a single person." He smugly thought that, unlike Xie Qingshi, he could identify anyone with pinpoint accuracy.

Xie Qingshi let out a long breath and said in disbelief, "So, you thought that senior named Shaoyuan might be one of our people?"

He had never imagined that the person who drew Pei Xuan’s attention wasn’t Her Majesty, but Her Majesty’s deskmate.

"Oh? His name is Shaoyuan?" Pei Xuan stood with his hands behind his back. "I didn’t pay attention to that. But I just confirmed that he isn’t one of ours, although I find him highly displeasing to the eye. How truly strange."

The people he found displeasing to the eye were generally from Empress Taichu’s previous dynasty.

Xie Qingshi’s eyes flickered slightly. "But even if he isn’t one of our people, his identity is definitely not simple."

"Every generation produces its own talents. But since he isn’t one of ours, both you and I can breathe a sigh of relief," Pei Xuan said loudly. "Then I’ll look forward to your performance tonight."

He turned around and also entered the International Conference Hall through the VIP channel. Xie Qingshi remained standing where he was.

A few minutes later, Cui Jinghan and Qingyuan also arrived.

To prevent Pei Xuan from discovering them, they had no choice but to endure the pain of sitting apart from Shi Changying. Instead, Ning Liuyu—who had yet to meet Pei Xuan—received the privilege of accompanying Shi Changying.

Qingyuan was still bundled up tightly. After all, if she were recognized, they wouldn’t even need to wait for the next day; in just a few minutes, she and Xie Qingshi would be trending online. Given the tactics of modern paparazzi, she knew the headline would undoubtedly be—

[SHOCKING! Lu Qingyuan Appears at Xie Lin’s Concert! Romance Exposed!]

After all, Her Majesty had merely bumped into Xie Qingshi at the night market by chance and was treated to a midnight snack, yet the paparazzi had already spun it as ’Xie Lin secretly meets his girlfriend.’ She absolutely did not want to trend alongside her political enemy.

At this thought, Qingyuan pressed down the brim of her hat. "Has Sister Ying already gone inside?"

Xie Qingshi nodded. "Pei Xuan just went in as well."

Qingyuan immediately grew alert. "One after the other? Why didn’t you stop him? Have you forgotten our sworn alliance?"

"No, he just came face-to-face with Her Majesty and even spoke with her." Xie Qingshi smiled instead. "Therefore, we can rest easy."

Cui Jinghan couldn’t comprehend the logical connection in his words. "Rest easy?"

Xie Qingshi said airily, "Because he didn’t recognize Her Majesty at all. He even told her that as long as it didn’t affect her studies, there was no harm in dating."