Chapter 330: Still pleased and unrestrained? (2/2)

“Why should I be afraid?” he asked, not understanding.

Han Yunxi grew amused before she dove into gossip. “Your Highness, didn’t you notice how His Majesty was interested in Chu Qingge?”

Long Feiye was very intelligent–or rather, he possessed both wisdom and insight. But sometimes, he really had trouble understanding women and their train of thought. “What does this have to do with whether you win or lose?” he asked.

If Aunt Ru was here, she’d be amazed that Long Feiye was actually talking so much today.

“Your Highness, if I let Chu Qingge lose wretchedly, Emperor Tianhui wouldn’t be as interested in her!” Actually, leaving aside all the hefty conflicts involved in the mess, Han Yunxi would rather Chu Qingge marry Emperor Tianhui anyways! Still, she kept her reason. If Chu Qingge really married into Tianning’s imperial family, she’d be a Noble Consort at the very least. Wouldn’t she cause Han Yunxi trouble everyday, then? Moreover, Chu Qingge had the backing of a Great General’s family in Western Zhou!

Chu Qingge was different from Duanmu Yao. Although the latter possessed a higher rank, it was only an empty title. Otherwise, Emperor Tianhui wouldn’t have tried his best to pair her up with Long Feiye. Chu Qingge possessed both exceptional skills in archery and an impressive family background! When it came to power struggles, nothing could beat the practical possession of military might. Once Chu Qingge married Emperor Tianhui, the man would have more chips to counter Long Feiye. In short, her marriage was a disadvantage to them in every way!

Han Yunxi laid out all the points while Long Feiye drank his tea. When she was finally done, he said, “Even if you lose, it’s nothing serious. However…your lordship likes it when you win.”

Han Yunxi was stunned. She felt like she’d taken too much pains to worry about the entire thing. Does this fellow not see Western Zhou’s Chu Clan as a threat? How strong is he? How much more power is he hiding away?

Long Feiye finished his cup of tea and rose to his feet. “Do you want to go back?” Actually, they’d been sitting and chatting for a long time, but Han Yunxi felt like things had passed in a flash! She wanted to ask him about many more things, but when she really thought it over, she didn’t know what to say.

She reluctantly got to her feet. “I’d like to take a trip to General Baili’s estate.” It’d been some days since she last saw Baili Mingxiang, so she didn’t know how the woman was faring. Since she was taking poisons frequently now, their effects would act up more often, too.

“Let’s go, then. Your lordship wants to make a visit as well,” Long Feiye replied.

Han Yunxi thought that Long Feiye was going to see Baili Mingxiang, but once they arrived, he went to talk with General Baili in private instead. When Han Yunxi went to Baili Mingxiang’s rooms, the woman had just recovered from another bout of poison. She washed and cleaned herself before lying down to rest on the bed, her pale face devoid of all color.

The two of them chatted for awhile before Baili Mingxiang asked, “I heard the servants say that His Highness came as well?”

“Mm, he’s in your father’s study,” Han Yunxi replied while checking Baili Mingxiang’s pulse.

Baili Mingxiang had only glimpsed His Highness once this entire year, and that was at the empress dowager’s birthday banquet. How she wished the palace held more banquets! Still, she hid everything in her heart without asking for any more details. In the end, it was Han Yunxi who ended up posing the question.

“Baili Mingxiang, was His Highness’s personality like this when he was younger, too?”

“Mingxiang rarely had a chance to see His Highness, but I’ve heard it was more or less the same,” Baili Mingxiang’s answer was very prudent.

“I feel like he’s a bit depressed.” Han Yunxi would probably only say such words to Baili Mingxiang. She hadn’t even raised the thought to Zhao mama. Heaven knows whether the old servant would pass them on to Long Feiye’s ears instead. As she saw it, Baili Mingxiang was simply one of Long Feiye’s subordinates, just like one of his guards. She was a woman who respected him and utterly obedient to his orders.

As it turned out, that was Baili Mingxiang to a tee.

“Depressed…” Baili Mingxiang muttered to herself. She never thought Han Yunxi could see that part of Long Feiye as well. She very much wanted to say she didn’t know, but she couldn’t help but recall the sight of the boy by the lotus pond all those years ago. He had a cold, cheerless gaze, and his eyebrows were always furrowed deep in thought.

Baili Mingxiang sighed softly. “Esteemed wangfei, could a man who holds the entire world in his heart be free to act pleased and unrestrained?”

That’s right. Long Feiye’s striving after the entire world. The world in his heart is bigger than I could ever imagine!

Han Yunxi smiled. “Miss Baili, you understand him quite well.” It was a careless remark on her heart, but it gave Baili Mingxiang the jitters.

She hastily made to say, “Esteemed wangfei, Mingxiang doesn’t deserve your words. It’s impossible for anyone to carelessly guess His Highness’s thoughts.”

Baili Mingxiang, ah, Baili Mingxiang. She was someone who loved Long Feiye down to her very blood, so much that even Han Yunxi couldn’t see the signs. In the midst of Baili Mingxiang’s anxiety, a servant girl spoke up from outside the door.

“Esteemed wangfei, His Highness is waiting for you in the guest hall. He asks that you go over when you’re ready.”