Feng Qingyi felt that things were becoming increasingly complicated. First, there was Master Guang'an, and now Qian Jue had appeared, both seemingly connected to her phone.
"Miss Qingyi, would you like to walk around here some more?" Bai Wei asked.
Feng Qingyi shook her head, "Let's go back!"
It was getting late, and if she didn't return soon, she might truly vanish into thin air.
In the carriage, Bai Wei said, "Miss Qingyi, the Princess's birthday is approaching."
"The Princess has just recovered from a serious illness this year, so the mansion is planning a grand celebration. If you have time to attend, the Princess would be delighted."
Feng Qingyi asked, "When is Auntie's birthday?"
"The tenth of May," Bai Wei replied.
"I'll remember that. If I'm free, I'll certainly come."
The carriage stopped at the entrance of the General's Mansion. Feng Qingyi entered, said goodbye to Xuanyuan Xi, and shortly after returned to her villa.
In Yangxin Hall, Xuanyuan Yan received several ministers before the hall fell silent again.
Ming Qi casually mentioned, "This servant heard from Princess Xianhe's maid, Bai Wei, that when General Qin returns from the frontier, he will marry Miss Feng. This servant thinks they make a fine match. What does Your Majesty think?"
Xuanyuan Yan looked up at him, "If you have something to say, be direct. No need to beat around the bush."
"Then I'll speak plainly, Your Majesty. You haven't taken a fancy to Miss Feng, have you?" Ming Qi said.
Xuanyuan Yan glanced at him coldly, "What makes you say that?"
Ming Qi replied, "You gave her that token, which is a symbol of status. Aren't you worried she might harbor ill intentions?"
Xuanyuan Yan said, "I gave her the token because she is Yuchuan's beloved. Bringing her into the palace was merely to thank her for her previous assistance. I didn't realize you had such an active imagination."
Ming Qi smiled sheepishly, "This servant is just concerned and confused, fearing that a woman might cause a rift between you and General Qin."
"You may leave!" Xuanyuan Yan waved his hand, dismissing Ming Qi.
He did indeed have feelings for her, as she was different from the other women in Shengjing.
When he had pretended to still be blind, she hadn't looked down on him. Now that he was in a position of power, she still showed no fear.
If she and Yuchuan weren't already in love, he would certainly have pursued her himself.
Given the circumstances, how could he possibly disrupt their relationship?
He was now the King of Tianqi, and some things were beyond his control. Why involve them in such matters?
...
Back at the villa, Feng Qingyi received a video call from Qin Yuchuan.
"Qingyi, did you see your house today?" Qin Yuchuan asked.
At the mention of the house, Feng Qingyi sighed.
"That house is truly beyond words. It's incredibly dusty inside, overgrown with weeds, and covered in cobwebs. Apparently, it's an abandoned old house that hasn't been lived in for over a decade."
"I felt a bit upset thinking about how I exchanged ten thousand points for a rundown house, but Auntie said she'd have people from your mansion help clean it up."
"The next time I go, I should see a completely renovated house. I'm actually looking forward to it!"
Qin Yuchuan said, "I see. Did you do anything else today?"
"Not much, I just met Xuanyuan Yan. He treated me to a meal and gave me a token." Feng Qingyi took out the token and waved it.
Qin Yuchuan looked at it and said, "Keep that token safe. Don't lose it."
"Is this token really that powerful?" Feng Qingyi asked.
"Seeing the token is like seeing the Emperor himself. It's indeed very powerful."
He wondered what Yan's intentions were in giving Qingyi this token.
"He just said that with this token, I could freely enter and exit the palace gates, and if I encountered any trouble, I could use it to assert authority."
"He also said that because you're at the frontlines, he's helping you take care of me, so that's why I accepted it. Should I return it?"
She felt that holding onto this item was a bit uncomfortable.
Qin Yuchuan thought for a moment, "Since he's already given it to you, you should keep it safe. It might come in handy in the future."
Feng Qingyi suddenly remembered what Xuanyuan Yan had said about Master Guang'an, "Do you know Master Guang'an from Guanyuan Temple?"
"Yes, why do you ask about him suddenly?" Qin Yuchuan said.
Feng Qingyi replied, "I heard from Xuanyuan Yan that Master Guang'an came specifically to fetch him that day. He has a stone that can teleport through space."
"So I was thinking, that stone might be similar to a space transmission array."
Qin Yuchuan said, "Master Guang'an does indeed know about our situation."
"He once said he wanted me to bring you to Guanyuan Temple to meet him, but I didn't have the chance before the war broke out."
"Once this war is over, I'll take you to Guanyuan Temple to investigate."
Feng Qingyi continued, "There's one more thing I need to tell you. Earlier, I met a shop owner at my phone repair shop."
"But that owner was very strange. I think he might know about the origin of this phone."
"Then today, I met someone in the suburbs who looked exactly like that shop owner. He's said to be Tianqi's top painter, Qian Jue."
"But when I asked if he had seen me before, he denied it. He even oddly wanted to take me as his disciple, saying I should visit him at Wenyuan Pavilion when I have time."
"Qian Jue?" He didn't seem to have heard of this person before. Perhaps he could ask Muqi about it.
Feng Qingyi asked, "Do you know him?"
Qin Yuchuan shook his head, "I've never heard of him, but I'll look into it."
Feng Qingyi said, "I'm just mentioning it casually. Maybe I mistook him for someone else."
"Bai Wei said Auntie's birthday is on the tenth of May. How about you send me there to celebrate with Auntie then?"
Qin Yuchuan was silent for a moment, "Qingyi, if you don't want to go, you don't have to. Don't force yourself for my sake."
"It's not that I don't want to go. I just don't know what gift to prepare."
"In our time, we're more practical with gifts. We just give red envelopes. But in your era, I'm sure you need to prepare actual gifts, which is a bit worrying."
Choosing birthday gifts was indeed a very troublesome task, especially for elders.
Understanding Feng Qingyi's concerns, Qin Yuchuan said, "Even if you don't prepare a gift, Mother will still like you very much."
"That won't do. It would be so awkward if everyone else brings gifts and I come empty-handed. Do you know what Auntie likes?"
Qin Yuchuan fell into deep thought. After a while, he said, "Mother has always paid attention to health and wellness. Perhaps you could prepare something along those lines for her."
"I understand. Bai Wei told me some things today, but I don't quite agree. I think we should have a good talk about it when you have time."
"But there's no rush now, as it's about future matters. You should focus on your work for now!"
She felt that some things should be discussed clearly with him, to find a solution that satisfies both of them.
In the future, she definitely wouldn't live in Shengjing permanently, at most staying there occasionally for short periods.