Chapter 1406 - 763: Asura Rises Again (Triple Bonus Combo 2)

But in the heart of this man with no great ambitions, what more could he possibly want?

"Interesting." Qin Qingluo let out a hum through her nose, unclear whether she was mocking his arrogance or suppressing some kind of excitement.

She tilted her head back and drained the wine in her cup; the burning taste rolled down her throat, as if it also stoked that little flame in her heart.

"What do you want?" She asked bluntly, her gaze like a blade. "You, Chen Yi, never do a losing trade. To penetrate Western Jin and take on such a perilous task—what is it you want?"

After all, the two were already husband and wife; there was no need for formalities.

Even that Chrysanthemum Tea which the female crown feared as though it were viper and scorpion—if he were willing to risk his life, it would not be out of the question.

Thinking of this seemed to brush against some long-buried disgrace; from the tailbone upward, the tall body of the Princess tensed with a faint constriction.

Only to see Chen Yi say calmly, "Qing Luo, I don't want anything. I just want to do my part for our family."

"...Playing dumb."

Qin Qingluo snorted coldly and took a sip of wine.

Not far away, by the small side table, Qin Yue looked left and right, but still didn't see where any garlic was.

Thinking again, "playing dumb" seemed to be two words.

Maybe Papa was putting it on right now.

"If you need a reward, just say so. I have always been clear in rewards and punishments, but I have no use for those who feign politeness while scheming. You know who I mean, don't you?"

She spoke thus, yet Chen Yi noticed that this time she did not refuse to call him by his given name; in the past she had always found it cloying.

It was another step forward…

"That's certainly not me; I act chivalrously and never ask for anything in return." As he spoke, Chen Yi's hand was already stroking her thigh under the table.

Qin Qingluo did not rebuke him. She silently set down her wine cup and moved her hand under the table to press down on the back of his.

For a moment, there was no need for words; only the mood quietly brewed.

Zhu E noticed the small movements between the two and silently picked up a piece of fish for Chen Yi, so that he would turn back to his food.

After who knew how long, it wouldn't do to leave Zhu E hanging, so Chen Yi gently drew his hand back, turned his head, and ate a bit of food. Since he wanted to share the night with both, he couldn't favor one too heavily over the other; he had to take Zhu E into account as well.

By now Qin Qingluo was already somewhat stirred; Chen Yi felt that if he brewed Chrysanthemum Tea tonight, chances were the Princess would just scoff and then consent.

Only what he sought was not just this; he still wanted to go a step further, to make her lay down those grudges.

This was undoubtedly asking for Shu after getting Long; Chen Yi knew this himself. He couldn't help thinking of Yin Weiyin, who was repeatedly punished for overreaching. But in truth, he did not dislike overreaching; precisely because he himself was someone who always pushed his luck, he took issue with Yin Weiyin's pushing his luck.

"Do you understand the risks involved?" Qin Qingluo's voice sank, shedding its usual cold hardness and revealing rare concern. "The Emperor Jin is not Empress An, that woman cloistered in the inner palace. Western Jin is crawling with experts, its spy network dense as a net. If your identity is exposed, even at Second Rank cultivation, it will be near impossible to retreat unscathed."

"I know." Chen Yi answered crisply, even with a small smile. "So before I leave, I want to wring a few more benefits out of the Prince. If I don't make it back, at least it won't feel like too much of a loss."

Qin Qingluo shot him a glare, her eyes shimmering like water under the candlelight, tinged with a fleeting anger.

"Nonsense," she rebuked in a low voice, yet still drained the remaining wine in her cup.

Chen Yi's gaze burned. "Qing Luo, you know I don't often spout nonsense."

Having already taken one step, he needed only one more, to press his advantage.

Seize the initiative…

Just then, a short, derisive laugh came from across the table.

Qin Qingluo set down her cup with a sharp little tap and lifted her eyes. In her snake-like pupils, reflecting the candlelight, a fleeting thread of emotion and softness flitted past.

"Enough, Chen Yi." She spoke, voice not loud. "You've gone in such a wide circle—Western Jin, pruning branches, asking for benefits… Did you really think your little schemes could escape the eyes of the Lone One?"

Chen Yi froze, the initiative he had just captured suddenly knocked off rhythm.

"What?"

Qin Qingluo lifted her eyes, the light in her snake pupils flowing, complex beyond words. In the end, as if after making some great decision, her gaze settled. She did not respond to Chen Yi directly, but turned to Zhu E at her side and, in a voice devoid of discernible emotion, said, "Aunt Zhu, once Yue'er finishes eating she'll surely get sleepy. One wet nurse alone may not be steady enough. You take her back, will you?"

As the words fell, Chen Yi's eyes widened.

The hand holding chopsticks in Zhu E's grasp paused ever so slightly.

She turned her face to Qin Qingluo, smiling gently. "The Prince is considerate, but Yue'er looks quite spirited. These sweet rice dumplings in milk soup are her favorite, and it's New Year's Eve—we're keeping vigil. Letting her play a bit longer won't hurt…"

Her words were watertight.

Qin Yue indeed was not sleepy, her two eyes round and bright.

If it were on an ordinary day, Zhu E would not have said such things. Qin Qingluo was her closest kin; she was always willing to yield. Since Chen Yi entered the Prince Mansion, she had never made demands—only yielded and yielded… perhaps for too long.

Just because she was always willing to yield, must she yield forever?

All the more when tonight her husband clearly wanted… to spend more time with her. Qing Luo was only one person.

And in her sleeve, there were… three pieces of candy.

Qin Qingluo's brows knit ever so slightly, barely noticeable, as she read the unwillingness in Zhu E's stance. The woman clearly had no intention of leaving just yet—did she perhaps still want to do things behind her back…? If it were somewhere a thousand miles away, she could turn a blind eye. But here, in this Annan Royal Mansion, how could she tolerate such filth?

She set down her cup and tapped the table lightly with her fingertips, her voice a shade heavier. "Children only know play, not fatigue. The wet nurse is careless; Aunt Zhu, you are meticulous. Take her back and settle her in, only then can the Lone One be at ease. You can also rest a little before the firecrackers; I know you've labored hard managing everything."

At these words, the smile on Zhu E's face faded a fraction.

The air in the hall grew slowly stagnant with the mounting standoff between aunt and niece.

Seated between them, Chen Yi clearly felt the pressure from both sides. Both are flesh of his flesh—he'd best smooth things over before they locked horns like before, stepping in early to round off the edges and calm the situation.