Feng Qingyi took out the token, "Xuanyuan Yan said I could use this to enter the palace and find him directly."
Xu Linghe was shocked when she saw the token, as it was a symbol of imperial identity.
"Qingyi, where did you get this token?"
Feng Qingyi replied: "Xuanyuan Yan gave it to me when I was in the palace before. Is there a problem?"
"...No, no, let's go!"
Although she hadn't seen this token before, she recognized the characters and patterns on it.
Thanks to the token, Xu Linghe smoothly entered the imperial palace with Feng Qingyi and was led to Yangxin Hall.
In the hall, Xu Linghe stood obediently behind Feng Qingyi, not daring to say a word.
Xuanyuan Yan was somewhat surprised that Feng Qingyi had come to see him on her own initiative, "Miss Feng, your visit today makes me feel quite honored!"
Feng Qingyi got straight to the point, "I've come today to ask for a favor."
"Please, go ahead," Xuanyuan Yan said.
Feng Qingyi pulled Xu Linghe forward, "This is Xu Linghe, my friend. Due to her family background, she's been included in the list for the imperial selection, but she doesn't want to enter the palace, so..."
Xuanyuan Yan: "Now that the list has been released, removing her name would damage Miss Xu's reputation. I can only ensure she doesn't get selected during the process. Would that be acceptable?"
Feng Qingyi looked at Xuanyuan Yan gratefully, "Of course, thank you so much!"
Xu Linghe also hurriedly expressed her gratitude, "This humble subject thanks Your Majesty!"
Xuanyuan Yan glanced at Xu Linghe, "Miss Xu, would you mind telling me why you don't wish to enter the palace?"
"This humble subject... already has someone she admires," Xu Linghe responded with her head lowered.
Xuanyuan Yan: "I see."
Although Feng Qingyi wondered how she had found someone to admire so quickly, this wasn't the right time or place to discuss such matters.
The two stayed in Yangxin Hall for a while longer before leaving together.
"Linghe, you just said you already have someone you admire. Is it Zhao Yiqing?" Feng Qingyi inquired.
Xu Linghe blushed, "Qingyi, don't be ridiculous. I was just making something up earlier."
"Making it up? Lying to him would be considered deceiving the emperor," Feng Qingyi said.
Xu Linghe hurried ahead, "I... might have a little bit of feelings."
Feng Qingyi: "I'm not making fun of you. How did you two suddenly get together?"
Xu Linghe: "After the poetry gathering last time, he escorted me home. On the way, we talked about some childhood memories, and I realized that we had actually met when we were young."
"Back then, he was thin and weak, always being bullied. I couldn't stand it, so I helped him. I didn't expect that he would remember all these years."
"So, he's been thinking about you all this time because you saved him when you were children?" Feng Qingyi said with a smile.
Xu Linghe held Feng Qingyi's hand, "He didn't say it directly, but I think that's what he meant."
"Looks like good news is on the horizon for you!" Feng Qingyi was genuinely happy for Xu Linghe.
Xu Linghe: "Because of this imperial selection, I haven't seen him for several days."
"I'm really grateful to you today. If it weren't for you, he and I might not have had a chance."
"As for what happens next, we'll have to wait until after the selection to discuss it, otherwise it might cause some trouble."
Feng Qingyi nodded, "Now that the matter is resolved, help me pick out some tables and chairs. I've got some capital now, so I can replace all the furniture in the tea house."
"Alright, I'll take you to find a carpenter."
Feng Qingyi was confused, "Why do we need to find a carpenter? Can't we just buy them from a store?"
Xu Linghe: "...We don't have furniture stores here. If you want to make furniture, you have to hire craftsmen. As long as you have the money, they can make whatever you want."
"I see," Feng Qingyi suddenly understood.
The process of making furniture in ancient times was quite lengthy. Plus, since Feng Qingyi wanted to replace all the tables and chairs in the entire tea house, it would take at least three months at the shortest.
After discussing the style and materials of the furniture with the carpenter, the two of them left.
...
Tianqi Military Camp.
Qin Yuchuan looked at the message that had just arrived: Rong Sheng had returned to the army.
The people dispatched to Ying City, Nanwu, and the surrounding mountains had not seen any trace of him.
Qin Yuchuan placed the letter on the candlelight and set it on fire. In a moment, it turned to ashes.
Yan Chi: "General, according to the investigation, it seems that Murong Yan has also returned to the Southern Border."
Qin Yuchuan: "Mm, I already know. You may go now."
Rong Sheng's return was within his expectations. Since he could leave the military camp silently and run to Tianqi, it wasn't surprising that he could return smoothly.
He seemed to know the terrain like the back of his hand. The previous few battles had already shown signs of this, and the upcoming battles would likely not be easy.
When Rong Sheng returned to the Southern Border military camp, he received a warm welcome from everyone in the army.
Since his departure, the Southern Border had suffered heavy losses, and Murong Yi was not one to listen to others' advice.
Although he sought victory, he didn't possess the capabilities a qualified commander should have.
Many in the army had already sent messages back to Shengjing, and the Crown Prince had made a decision that once Rong Sheng returned to the camp, he would have the highest authority.
Although Murong Yi's position as commander-in-chief hadn't been revoked, anyone with eyes could see that he had lost power.
As soon as Rong Sheng returned, he gathered everyone in the main tent for a meeting.
When Murong Yi heard the news, he also went to the main tent, but he found himself ignored by everyone.
The usually arrogant Murong Yi had long been dissatisfied with Rong Sheng. Now, seeing everyone's behavior, he instinctively felt it was Rong Sheng's doing, so he started arguing with him.
"Rong Sheng, you disobeyed military orders and abandoned your post. Now you return and immediately summon all the commanders for a meeting. What's the meaning of this?"
Rong Sheng: "Please pass this letter to His Highness."
Murong Yi took the letter and skimmed through it, "Regardless, I am still the commander-in-chief. Rong Sheng, don't you think you're overstepping your bounds?"
This Murong Cheng wasn't a good person either. Wasn't this publicly slapping him in the face?
With a perfectly good commander-in-chief, he sent a message informing everyone that the military advisor had the highest authority. How was this any different from changing commanders on the battlefield?
Rong Sheng: "If Your Highness wishes to participate in the discussion, we all welcome it. But I think Your Highness should have some self-awareness."
"...You, are you saying I'm incompetent?" Murong Yi was furious.
Rong Sheng: "I didn't mean that."
Murong Yi looked around at everyone in the main tent, then chose to leave.
He had no one in the army. These old fellows were all confidants of Crown Prince Murong Cheng, so it was inevitable that they would support Rong Sheng. However, if they thought they could replace him so easily, they were mistaken.
Since they wouldn't let him off easily, they couldn't blame him for being disloyal.
...
Jing University.
As soon as Feng Qingyi entered the classroom, she heard a familiar female classmate calling her from the doorway.
"Qingyi, your cousin is here. She said she's looking for you. She couldn't find you, so I brought her over."
Feng Qingyi looked at Nan Yue behind her. Although she wasn't too happy, she still thanked her classmate.
"Nan Yue, what are you doing here?"
Nan Yue was wearing a black leather jacket with a pair of fringed pants. Her hair was tied up and clipped with various colored hair clips, making her look a bit strange.
"My dad told me to have you show me around Jing University. I had nothing to do, so I came."
Feng Qingyi: "I'm about to start class. You should leave!"
"I'll join you," Nan Yue pushed past Feng Qingyi and walked into the classroom.
Because of her peculiar style, she attracted the attention of everyone in the class.
"Hello, everyone! I'm Feng Qingyi's cousin, Nan Yue. Nice to meet you all!"
"..."
For a moment, the classroom was silent. It wasn't clear if they were shocked or stunned.
"Qingyi, is that really your cousin?" Shen Hanyue asked.
Although Feng Qingyi didn't want to admit it, she nodded.
Nan Yue looked at Feng Qingyi's seat and saw that there were no empty seats around her, so she randomly found a seat and sat down.
Shen Hanyue whispered, "Qingyi, your cousin doesn't look anything like you. That style is really non-mainstream."
"And her clothes, although expensive, the combination is really bizarre."
Feng Qingyi patted her shoulder, "Don't talk about her anymore. Class starts in two minutes. Just let her be!"
After class started, the teacher walked in and immediately noticed Nan Yue with her peculiar style. "Do we have a new student in our class?"
"That's Feng Qingyi's sister!" several students sitting in the front row said.
The teacher glanced at Nan Yue once more before starting the class.
During the lesson, Feng Qingyi didn't pay attention to what was happening in Nan Yue's direction.
After class, several classmates who had been sitting close to Nan Yue inexplicably passed by Feng Qingyi's desk multiple times.
Shen Hanyue grabbed one of the female classmates: "Zhang Xiao, why are you staring at Qingyi like that?"
Zhang Xiao replied, "Her cousin just said that she used to be very ugly, but suddenly became pretty when she started high school. Apparently, she got plastic surgery right after graduating from middle school. I came to take a look."
"But now she looks quite natural. Feng Qingyi, which hospital did you go to for your surgery? Could you recommend it to me too?"
Hearing this, Shen Hanyue reached out and pinched Feng Qingyi's face. "It feels completely normal to me. I don't see any signs of plastic surgery!"
"She said I had plastic surgery?" Feng Qingyi thought to herself. She used to be as dark as coal when she was little, and Nan Yue had the nerve to call her ugly.
Zhang Xiao asked, "You didn't have surgery?"
Feng Qingyi retorted, "How old were you after graduating from middle school? Which plastic surgery clinic would agree to operate on you? Zhang Xiao, you're our class's academic representative. Can't you think this through?"
Zhang Xiao scratched her head, "I suppose you do have to be an adult for that."
Feng Qingyi asked, "What else did she tell you?"
"...Nothing else. I'm going back to my seat now."
She had thought there might actually be such an amazing plastic surgery company and was considering consulting them!
Shen Hanyue said, "Qingyi, why is your cousin making up stories about you?"
Feng Qingyi replied, "She's been like this since we were kids. I'm used to it by now. Everyone in that family is stranger than the next."
"Aren't you worried she'll spread rumors and damage your reputation?" Shen Hanyue expressed concern.
Feng Qingyi stood up and walked towards Nan Yue's desk.
"When she was in middle school, she used to hang out with some delinquents and even dated several of them! My mom even saw her hugging and kissing them on the street."
