Chapter 70

Murong Qiufeng followed Shangguan Ye as he twisted and turned through unfamiliar streets. Initially thinking they were heading back to Minghu, he soon noticed something was off.

“Ye, this doesn’t seem like the way to Minghu,” Murong Qiufeng couldn’t help but ask.

Shangguan Ye glanced back, arching an eyebrow with a secretive smile. “I’m taking you somewhere.”

Murong Qiufeng grew curious at Shangguan Ye’s mysterious demeanor, but hesitated. “But what about Senior Brother and Xiaoru?”

“Don’t worry about them; they’re not children. I already sent word for them to head back on their own,” Shangguan Ye said nonchalantly, his pace quickening instead of slowing.

Instinctively, Murong Qiufeng matched his steps, though he frowned hesitantly. “This is—”

“Or is it that you’d prefer to accompany the Seventh Princess on her night market tour?” Shangguan Ye’s teasing smile deepened. “The night market is far livelier than the daytime stalls—perfect for girls who love exploring novel things.”

Hearing this, Murong Qiufeng’s hesitation vanished. He silently apologized to Yun Feiyang in his heart. Having seen his sister’s enthusiasm for such outings, he could easily imagine how Zhao Xiru, new to the city, would find everything exciting. If he stayed, he might be dragged along until morning.

The two moved with casual grace through the bustling crowd, their presence as subtle as shadows, unnoticed by those around them.

Meanwhile, back in the teahouse, Yun Feiyang’s expression darkened after hearing Zhao Xiru’s account. He immediately discarded any plans of going to Minghu. He knew all too well that Shangguan Ye must have taken this chance to whisk Murong Qiufeng away to some other place. Minghu was clearly out of the question, let alone joining them.

Zhao Xiru, sharp as ever, quickly realized they’d been outmaneuvered by Shangguan Ye. Frustrated but resigned, she wandered the night market alone, purchasing a mountain of goods and making a point to put everything on Shangguan Ye’s tab as a small act of revenge.

“This…” Murong Qiufeng looked ahead at the sheer cliffs and dense forest, confusion deepening. “Why bring me to a place like this?”

“Come on, you’ll understand soon. It’s dark here—be careful.” Shangguan Ye, leading the way, reached out naturally to take Murong Qiufeng’s hand, his tone soft with concern.

Murong Qiufeng’s heart skipped a beat. Staring at their joined hands, he felt a sudden warmth creep up his face. His thoughts grew muddled, and he found himself following obediently, letting Shangguan Ye guide him.

Ahead, Shangguan Ye’s lips curled in a satisfied smile as he tightened his grip slightly. The smooth yet firm texture of Murong Qiufeng’s palm, along with its warmth, seemed to travel straight to his chest, wrapping his heart in a comforting glow.

The surroundings were silent, save for the faint rustle of leaves underfoot and the occasional whistle of the wind through the trees. Murong Qiufeng, intrigued by the lush foliage in midwinter, glanced around at the shadowy forest. A moment later, realization struck, and he chuckled softly.

Hearing the laugh, Shangguan Ye raised an eyebrow and glanced back. “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing. Just thinking—if you’d simply asked, you could have come in openly. Why go through all this trouble?”

Shangguan Ye chuckled. “Where’s the fun in that? Too many people would ruin the mood. I didn’t want anyone disturbing us.”

His words, especially the deliberate “us,” carried an ambiguous intimacy that left Murong Qiufeng speechless. His face flushed red, though the dim light concealed it. His bright eyes, however, betrayed a mix of confusion, nervousness, and a faint hint of understanding he wasn’t ready to face.

Shangguan Ye said no more, his smile growing mischievous as they continued their climb.

“We’re here,” Shangguan Ye finally said, his voice breaking the silence.

Startled, Murong Qiufeng snapped out of his daze and shivered slightly at the increasing wind. He looked up, only to freeze in astonishment.

Before him, glowing brightly in the night, were the characters “Tian You Fu Ze”—Blessed by Heaven.

But what truly amazed him wasn’t the words themselves, but the sight they illuminated. From their vantage point on the mountaintop, the entire city of Lu sprawled out below them, including the imperial palace at its heart. The city was alive with light, and countless red lanterns formed a grand display that aligned perfectly to spell out the glowing characters, encircling the palace.

“This is…” Murong Qiufeng started, only to feel something warm drape over his shoulders. It was Shangguan Ye’s cloak.

Still caught in awe, he glanced at Shangguan Ye, his voice tinged with disbelief. “Did you arrange this?”

Shangguan Ye shook his head, hands resting firmly on Murong Qiufeng’s shoulders as he stood behind him. The closeness of their posture made it seem as if Shangguan Ye was embracing him.

“Not me. It’s the work of the Ministry of Rites. Though honestly, it’s a bit unnecessary—who would even notice unless they came here? Still, it makes for a nice view.”

“It’s beautiful,” Murong Qiufeng admitted, nodding in amazement. He hadn’t expected the scattered, seemingly random lanterns around the city to create such a stunning sight.

“Almost time,” Shangguan Ye murmured, his voice low and close, brushing against Murong Qiufeng’s ear.

The warmth of his breath sent an involuntary shiver down Murong Qiufeng’s neck. Realizing just how close Shangguan Ye was—his hands still on his shoulders, their proximity leaving little space—Murong Qiufeng’s face burned. Though flustered, he didn’t push him away, instead pretending not to notice as he stammered, “W-what’s almost time?”

Shangguan Ye lowered his head slightly, his lips curling into a teasing smile as he observed Murong Qiufeng’s glowing, flushed face in the faint light. But instead of answering, he simply tightened his grip, his silence speaking volumes.

Murong Qiufeng’s heart raced uncontrollably in the growing stillness. The only sounds were their breaths and the distant murmur of the wind. Just as the tension became unbearable, Shangguan Ye finally broke it, his lips brushing close to Murong Qiufeng’s ear as he whispered, “Look to the east.”

 

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