Chapter 13: A Night Market Stroll with the Female Lead
“Although I advised His Majesty against it…”
The next day, when Gong Yiling brought up the matter with the Grand Elder, he said,
“He believes that instead of letting those demonic cultivators scheme in the shadows, it’s better to give them a chance to act openly.”
“This way, they will come to Yanlie City, and we can also use this opportunity to identify any traitors within the palace.”
It seemed the Emperor and Grand Elder weren’t as naive as she thought.
The Fifth Princess being ambushed right after sending her message, and the Emperor’s own poisoning, all pointed to the existence of traitors within the palace walls.
That day, Yan Chuyue continued the Grand Elder’s acupuncture treatment until dusk.
Perhaps from days of continuous work, Yan Chuyue swayed slightly when she stood up after removing the needles, almost falling.
Gong Yiling quickly caught her, then released her awkwardly.
“Thank you…” Yan Chuyue said, regaining her composure.
“My fault,” Gong Yiling said without hesitation. “Acupuncture consumes a lot of energy. I was careless.”
“Actually, it’s not…”
“Grand Elder,” Gong Yiling interrupted, turning to the elder, “Chuyue is exhausted. Let her rest for the next two days.”
Yan Chuyue swallowed her words and chuckled softly.
She appreciated the concern.
“Isn’t that for you to decide?” The Grand Elder stroked his beard, smiling. “This way, I can also witness your acupuncture skills.”
He was curious. If the disciple was this skilled at such a young age, how powerful was the master?
But this made Gong Yiling panic.
—*Damn it, I boasted too much. I forgot Chuyue was my excuse for not treating him directly.*
But her mind raced, quickly coming up with an explanation.
“I’m planning to have my disciples participate in the ancestral worship competition, as a test of their recent progress.”
“I’ll be guiding them in their cultivation these next two days, so I won’t be available.”
The Grand Elder didn’t question her. “I understand. I heard you’re traveling with your disciples for training. Such opportunities are rare for young people.”
“I’ve been feeling much better these past two days. The pain has subsided significantly. I’ll cultivate on my own for the next two days. There’s no need to trouble yourself, Immortal Master.”
His words were exactly what Miss Gong wanted to hear.
She declined his offer to stay for dinner and left the palace with Yan Chuyue.
As soon as they left, Gong Yiling turned to Yan Chuyue and apologized sincerely, “I’m sorry. I promised not to treat you like a tool, but I only realized it today.”
Yan Chuyue paused, then waved her hand dismissively. “It’s fine. I’m just a bit tired. It’s no different from cultivating.”
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
“But,” she continued seriously, “if Miss Lü wants to compensate me, I wouldn’t refuse.”
“Compensate?”
Yan Chuyue raised a finger, smiling. “Like, taking me to the night market.”
“The night market?”
—Was Yan Chuyue’s character actually this sociable?
Gong Yiling still felt something was amiss.
The cold-blooded mercenary from the original story, decisive and ruthless, with no qualms about killing, a pseudo-ice queen with no romantic inclinations towards Jiang Chenmo…
Would actually suggest strolling through a night market?
Were mercenaries this carefree now…?
“Yes, the night market!”
Yan Chuyue seemed excited.
“I’ve heard Yanlie City’s night market is amazing, but I’ve never been there.”
She pointed at the setting sun, her face full of anticipation.
The real Yan Chuyue wouldn’t be interested in a night market, but the current Yan Chuyue wasn’t a mercenary.
She was just a girl who spent all her time cooped up, sacrificing her leisure time for her dreams, secretly longing to enjoy things like shopping, movies, and exhibitions like other girls her age.
Of course, she chose this path herself, so she couldn’t complain. She simply projected her desires onto the world of her novel.
The night market in Yanlie City was based on her imagination of a bustling and lively night market.
She had always wanted to visit one, with a friend.
“Well,”
Looking into her eyes, Gong Yiling suddenly thought of her younger sister.
When they were younger, whenever her sister wanted to go somewhere but was too shy to ask their parents directly, she would tell her, looking at her with the same expectant eyes.
And in the end, Gong Yiling would always ask their parents to take them to the place her sister wanted to go.
That was a long time ago.
“Those three will be attending a hotel opening ceremony with Shangguan Lingyue,”
Gong Yiling smiled. “And I’m hungry. Let’s go to the night market.”
“Yay—” Yan Chuyue almost cheered, then realizing it was childish, quickly changed her tone. “I mean… let’s go.”
“But,”
Gong Yiling looked at her face. “I want to see your real face.”
“Eh…” Yan Chuyue paused. “How did you know this isn’t my real face?”
Come on, you’re the female protagonist! Which protagonist had an unremarkable, average face? That was impossible.
“Disguises are useless before me.” Gong Yiling waved her hand, feigning greatness. “But it’s fine if you don’t want to show me. It was just a whim. I can’t show you my real face either—”
“If it’s you,”
Gong Yiling suddenly heard a soft reply.
“Huh?” she asked uncertainly.
“I mean…” Yan Chuyue mumbled, “If it’s Youyuan, I don’t mind showing you.”
“But wait a moment.”
“It’s fine, I understand. You need to change your disguise, right? Go ahead. Just don’t change so much that I can’t recognize you.”
Yan Chuyue blinked, giving her a reassuring nod.
In reality, if she revealed her true appearance, it would be a shock, even to herself. She almost didn’t recognize herself.
Since this person wanted to see, she would go all out.
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