As Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin's figures vanished from sight, Li Zhexian closed the courtyard gate and turned back to his small courtyard.
With no outsiders present, Xue Qinghe's posture visibly relaxed.
She lounged lazily in a sandalwood chair, her delicate face brimming with ease.
Li Zhexian smiled as he sat across from her.
"Not busy with state affairs today? You actually had time to come along with them."
"Mmm... not busy," Xue Qinghe replied in a lazy voice, her eyes closed.
Sitting to one side, Porcupinefish Douluo and Snake Lance Douluo exchanged glances and silently curled their lips.
Not busy?
The advisors at the Crown Prince's residence had been worked half to death!
Wasn't it all because she was worried Li Zhexian might make a misstep when facing Ning Fengzhi?
"Is the Young Master being too nice to Li Zhexian...?" the two thought to themselves, but their hands leisurely picked up their teacups and took a sip.
To be fair—
they too enjoyed being here.
The fragrance of plum blossoms drifted through the breeze, the little courtyard was indeed a place that eased one's mind.
After sitting down, Li Zhexian quietly fiddled with the tea set. He occasionally took a light sip, his eyes lowered, and remained silent.
Xue Qinghe secretly opened her eyes, gazing at him.
That handsome face, tilted down—though not exactly sorrowful, it was far too calm.
A trace of ache flickered in the depths of her eyes.
For all his carefree nature, Li Zhexian was still just a youth.
Now that he had seen Ning Fengzhi again, old memories must have surged up inevitably.
A human heart is not stone—how could he be unmoved?
Xue Qinghe stood up.
Without a word she stepped behind him.
Her soft hands gently pressed over the faint crease at his brow.
Li Zhexian had been sunk in thought and hadn't even noticed her approach—only when that tender warmth touched him did he jolt back to awareness.
"Qinghe, you..." He looked up and met a pair of eyes filled with both heartache and gentleness.
"Get some sleep. I'll... I'll stay here with you."
For a moment Li Zhexian seemed dazed, then the corners of his lips softened into a smile.
"Alright."
Under the plum tree, in the clear breeze, Xue Qinghe's fingertips were warm as she massaged Li Zhexian's forehead over and over.
This scene made Porcupinefish grit his teeth. The Young Master is of such a noble status, how can he do a servant's work?!
Snake Lance only gave a wry smile, shaking his head at Porcupinefish—then gestured subtly toward the courtyard wall.
He had already keenly sensed—
a pure, holy radiance of Light was beginning to bloom from Xue Qinghe's body.
With a flash, the two vanished over the wall.
Their Spirit Power surged outward, silently sealing off the courtyard's perimeter.
Within the courtyard—
a single plum petal drifted down onto Xue Qinghe's shoulder.
From the point of that touch, Light Spirit Power spread like flowing water, gradually enveloping her entire form.
When the holy radiance slowly receded—
The crown prince's robes were gone, replaced by a long dress of interwoven platinum lace.
Golden hair cascaded like a waterfall, framing a peerlessly beautiful face that could topple kingdoms.
Xue Qinghe no longer stood there.
Now, beneath the plum tree, was Qian Renxue.
The only thing unchanged—
Was the gaze lingering upon the sleeping youth, still tender and full of yearning.
Li Zhexian slept exceptionally soundly. He stretched his limbs and let out a low, satisfied groan. The soft, gentle touch on his forehead was still there. He smiled and lightly patted the hand. "Thanks, Qinghe. I slept well."
However, the hand beneath his palm seemed a little stiff, and the touch... was too soft and tender. Li Zhexian's heart skipped a beat. He suddenly sat up and looked back.
In the afterglow of the setting sun, a holy and stunningly beautiful figure stood quietly. The radiant light she emitted seemed to dim the setting sun itself.
"You… Qian Renxue?"
Qian Renxue calmly drew back her hand. Her eyes swept over the little courtyard, and she gave a faint nod.
"So this is where you live? Quite elegant, rather refined."
The flash of surprise in Li Zhexian's eyes vanished quickly, replaced with composure.
"And my brother, Xue Qinghe?"
Qian Renxue's sapphire eyes flicked toward him.
"Qinghe… had urgent affairs, so she left first."
"Before she left, she told me…"
Her words trailed off. Behind her back, her slender fingers curled into a tight fist.
"She said you wanted to see me. So—I came."
The phrase 'you wanted to see me' carried a delicate ambiguity. Just speaking it made her heart tremble.
And yet—
it was indeed what Li Zhexian had told her, as Qinghe.
She wanted to see whether he treated her and "Xue Qinghe" with the same sincerity.
"Li Zhexian… if you only say one thing to one person, and another to another… hmph!"
Qian Renxue bit lightly at her lip, but this time she did not shy away from his eyes.
Instead, she bravely lifted her lashes and met his gaze head-on.
Deep within her brilliant eyes lay both tension and anticipation.
Under that luminous stare—
Li Zhexian simply nodded, openly acknowledging it.
"Yes. I did tell Qinghe—I wanted to see you."
"You…"
Her long lashes fluttered like butterfly wings. Her hand clenched tight against her skirt, creasing the fabric.
She bit her lip, but could not stop the dimple blossoming at her smile.
When she saw the warmth in his eyes—
she hastily turned her head away, yet those eyes shone brighter than the starry sky.
"Then perhaps…"
"You haven't really seen much of Heaven Dou City yet, have you?"
"Shall I take you out for a walk?"
Li Zhexian extended his hand toward her.
Qian Renxue felt only the pounding of her own breath in her ears.
Her slender fingers twisted nervously—then, almost in panic, she placed her hand into his warm palm.
Li Zhexian's lips curved into a smile.
With a light step—
he carried her away, leaping gracefully beyond the courtyard.
Golden hair streaming in the wind, Qian Renxue stole a glance at the youth's fine profile.
Her heart fluttered like a fawn, each wild leap sending ripples of sweetness through her chest.
Hidden in the shadows, Porcupinefish and Snake Lance's expressions darkened.
Not only at the sight of their master's hand in his—
but more for fear that her true identity, revealed in public, could spark disaster.
Yet seeing Li Zhexian's chosen path led toward the quiet lotus lake outside the city—
they eased slightly.
Suppressing their aura, they followed at a distance.
Li Zhexian brought Qian Renxue to the lakeside.
The two lay side by side upon the grass, letting the gentle glow of sunset wash over them.
Not until twilight deepened and stars emerged did Qian Renxue finally rise, reluctant to part.
"Li Zhexian…"
Her voice trembled with a hint of nervousness.
She did not know if what she was about to say seemed too forward.
But if she left it unsaid—
she knew she would not sleep tonight.
"If… if you want to see me again…"
"Then… then just tell Xue Qinghe… I will surely come."
The fading sun cast a halo around the golden-haired maiden, holy and gentle.
Li Zhexian's smile was warm as spring. He nodded softly.
"Alright."
The days that followed—
Li Zhexian's life seemed to return to tranquility.
Aside from breaking through to Spirit Power level thirty-four, he also honed his Qinglian Sword Song again and again.
But—
that day—
before the gates of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy—
Bang! Bang!
Bang! Bang!
Yu Feng, Osler, and the Shi brothers lay groaning in pain on the ground.
Yu Tianheng, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling were pinned by an overwhelming pressure, unable to move.
All around, classmates whispered in fearful shock.
Tai Long was on the verge of dropping to his knees before an old man.
"Grandpa, I beg you!"
"If you keep this up, I won't be able to show my face in the Academy anymore!"