Chapter 70 The Consort Xi Returns to the Palace After Her Affair

Ye Tanzhou froze on the spot, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly, unable to utter a single word.

The Burning Love Gu and the Longing Gu are both recorded in ancient texts as the four major love Gu, and their appearances are almost identical, often leading to confusion among the world. However, the most insidious aspect of the Burning Love Gu is its ability to forcibly suppress emotions, burning all feelings and desires to ashes. This method has been lost for thousands of years, and even he had only seen a few vague records of it in a fragmented ancient scroll.

I witnessed it with my own eyes at this moment, but under these circumstances.

He stared at Xiao Bumian's eyes, which showed panic for the first time, and finally fell silent.

—

The cloud boat slowly entered the territory of the Hehuan Sect.

The mountains on both sides are verdant and shrouded in mist, with pavilions and towers faintly visible among them. The sounds of string and wind instruments drift on the wind, a stark contrast to the cold and solemn atmosphere of Jianming Immortal Mountain.

Mingjian didn't know what was wrong with him. Maybe it was seasickness, or something else. A few days ago, he had a high fever for a whole night for no reason, and he was still feeling weak and listless.

"Knock knock—"

A soft knock sounded on the door.

Seeing the heavy nasal tone, he replied in a hoarse voice, "Please come in."

He peeked out from under the covers and saw Yun Hanyi enter through the door. He quickly propped himself up and sat up.

"Miss Yun, what brings you here?" He was somewhat surprised.

Yun Hanyi gently placed the food box she was carrying on the table, a gentle smile curving her lips. "Young Master Ming, I heard you're not feeling well. This is pear soup that I had someone make. It's excellent for moisturizing the lungs and relieving coughs, and it can soothe your throat."

"Thank you for your concern, Miss Yun," Mingjian said sincerely.

Yun Hanyi gently shook her head, "Young Master Ming, there's no need to be so polite. I also sent a gift to Young Master Gu." She paused, then asked with a hint of concern, "I wonder what happened the other day, that you and Young Master Gu both caught a cold."

In fact, Gu Zhi recovered faster. Ming Jian didn't know the specifics, but he heard that when Gu Zhi woke up that day, he found himself standing on the deck, exposed to the cool breeze all night. After taking a few Qi-nourishing pills, he was fine.

However, Mingjian had a high fever for a full day and night, and his consciousness was constantly blurred. Even after taking medicine, his condition did not improve, and the high fever gradually subsided the next day.

“Young Master Ming,” Yun Hanyi lowered her eyes, her long, thick eyelashes curling slightly upwards like two small fans. While gracefully pouring Ming Jian a bowl of pear soup, she asked seemingly casually, “We’re almost at the Hehuan Sect. Has that Young Master Xie who was with you not returned yet?”

Mingjian was stunned for a moment when he heard this, and then realized that Yun Hanyi was asking about Xiao Bumian.

Speaking of Xiao Bumian, he must have been very angry that day. Five days have passed since he left, and he still hasn't seen him.

Mingjian sighed and shook his head, saying, "I won't be back for the next few days."

Given Xiao Bumian's stubborn nature, it will probably be some time before he stops obsessing over things and comes back.

However, upon further reflection, Mingjian realized that Xiao Bumian hadn't intended to kill Yun Hanyi after he spoke that day; he had merely left to sulk. Compared to his previous behavior, this was already a significant improvement.

However, his ideas are rather strange, and it seems that it will take a few more days to fully understand them.

Yun Hanyi's lips curved into a meaningful smile. Her tone remained gentle, but her words were somewhat intriguing. "Ah... no wonder I didn't see Young Master Xie taking care of you. He didn't even bring you a bowl of pear soup."

Mingjian: "..."

He couldn't help but think that Yun Hanyi's words sounded a bit strange and sarcastic.

Mingjian coughed awkwardly, then drank the rest of the pear soup in his bowl to cover up his embarrassment before saying, "We don't care about these things."

"Oh, oh." Yun Hanyi lowered her eyes and responded lightly twice, then stopped talking and showed no intention of leaving. Instead, she sat down on the edge of Mingjian's bed.

Ming blinked, thinking to himself that Yun Hanyi was probably about to get to the point and mention the jade pendant and the life-saving grace.

Sure enough, the next moment, he saw Yun Hanyi raise her eyes, her red lips part slightly, her voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible shyness, and she said softly, "Young Master Ming, I wonder if you still remember that about a year ago, you saved my life in the Yunlai Immortal Mansion?"

They've arrived.

Mingjian immediately got into character, his face showing a moment of blankness as if he were really trying to remember.

Under Yun Hanyi's expectant gaze, he hesitated for a long time before nodding uncertainly and tentatively asking, "I seem to have some recollection of it. Is it in the misty forest of Yunlai Immortal Mansion?"

Yun Hanyi's eyes suddenly lit up, and two excited blushes instantly appeared on her cheeks. Her eyes were filled with affection and admiration. "It really is you."

Having confirmed her benefactor's identity, Yun Hanyi suddenly became more talkative, and her tone became much lighter. She hadn't expected that Ming Jian would still remember her; this was completely beyond her expectations.

"I... I was ambushed and poisoned that day. All my spiritual power was dissipated, and I collapsed in the misty forest. I thought I was really going to die silently in the Yunlai Immortal Mansion. If it weren't for Young Master Ming's righteous rescue, I'm afraid Han Yi would no longer exist in this world."

Hearing these sincere words of gratitude, Mingjian felt so embarrassed that his toes almost curled up under the quilt.

He truly felt unworthy of this credit, as it was clearly Xie Linzhao's doing.

A strong urge made him want to tell Yun Hanyi the truth, "Miss Yun, actually I..."

Unexpectedly, after he had only uttered three words, a sharp, intense pain suddenly shot through the depths of his brain, as if countless needles were piercing him at the same time.

System: [Warning! A tendency to leak information about the system's existence and mission details has been detected, a serious violation. Please stop immediately and advance the Substitute Bride storyline as soon as possible, otherwise, enforcement measures will be taken.]

Mingjian: "..."

Damn it!

Mingjian almost vomited blood.

When Yun Hanyi heard Ming Jian call her, she stopped talking and looked at him in confusion, "Young Master Ming, is there something else you need?"

Ming forced a smile that looked more like a grimace, his forehead still damp with cold sweat from the intense pain. "N-nothing..."

He now has only one thought: one day he will tear the system out and beat it up.

Besides, he was too much of a cannon fodder character in the original story!

To fulfill his so-called "white moonlight" and his beloved's wishes, he was willing to be a substitute and enter into a fake marriage with someone else. Not only that, but he even blatantly claimed credit and deceived Yun Hanyi's feelings?! Is this even human behavior?!

System: [Host, please watch your words before you speak, or 051 might give you an electric shock.]

Mingjian twitched the corner of his lips.

hehe.

A scholar can be killed...

It can also be an insult.

Mingjian coughed lightly, quickly adjusted his expression, and said in a gentle voice, "I never expected that the person I saved that day would be Her Highness the Holy Maiden. It is truly an honor to meet you."

“Young Master Ming,” Yun Hanyi suddenly changed the subject, her eyes sparkling, and asked directly, “Do you think I’m good-looking?”

Mingjian was just about to pick up his bowl and drink some more pear soup to calm his nerves when he heard this. He choked and spat out the soup in his mouth, bursting into a violent cough.

He coughed as he raised his watery eyes and looked at Yun Hanyi with disbelief.

Yun Hanyi felt a little embarrassed by his reaction. She gently bit her lower lip, her eyes looking at Mingjian timidly with a hint of expectation.

Mingjian finally caught his breath, blinked, and his mind was on high alert. Was Yun Hanyi about to get straight to the point and bring up marriage?!

After thinking for a moment, Mingjian said, "Miss Yun is indeed exceptionally beautiful."

Yun Hanyi breathed a sigh of relief, lifted the veil that always concealed her face, revealing her stunningly beautiful features, and asked with bright, sparkling eyes:

"That's good! Then... Young Master Ming, who do you think is more handsome, me or Young Master Xie?"

Ming saw a pause.

He looked at Yun Hanyi, and after a long while, said with difficulty, "Each has its own merits."

Yun Hanyi is indeed very beautiful, but she likes men!

Mingjian silently repented in his heart again.

For some reason, he felt a chill down his back, as if he were being watched by something dangerous.

Yun Hanyi seemed satisfied with his answer and nodded. "Young Master Ming, are you willing to marry me?"

Mingjian: "..."

Isn't this progress a bit too fast?! Are all the people in the Hehuan Sect this direct?

Moreover, Yun Hanyi didn't even bother to verify whether it was really him who saved her that day! She just believed him so easily?!

But then I thought about it again, and it made sense. If they really went to verify it and found out it was Xie Linzhao, what would become of him? How would the story proceed? It seems that apart from Yun Hanyi, who was in a daze at the time, and Xie Linzhao, who probably didn't care at all, no one else knows the inside story.

Mingjian felt like coughing again, this time out of guilt.

Yun Hanyi misunderstood his reaction as a sign that he was bothered by her previous proposal to marry Xie Linzhao, and quickly explained, "Young Master Ming, you don't need to worry. When I said I wanted to marry Xie Linzhao, it was only because I mistakenly thought that Xie Linzhao had saved me."

"I should repay your life-saving grace with my body. Now that I know that you were the one who saved me from danger that day, you should naturally be the one to marry me."

She paused, her tone becoming more earnest, even carrying a hint of consideration for him, "Having spent these past few days together, I've come to know to some extent about Young Master Ming's situation at Sword Bright Immortal Mountain. It seems he's not much better off than Xie Linzhao, and he's facing many difficulties."

"If Young Master Ming marries me, you will become my consort, enjoying a prestigious status within the sect and endless spirit stones and rare herbs. I've heard that Young Master Ming has been searching for marrow-cleansing herbs lately? As you know, Young Master Ming, my Hehuan Sect has a profound foundation and numerous treasures. Marrying me would be a mutually beneficial deal for you."

Ming was secretly alarmed upon hearing Yun Hanyi's words. Yun Hanyi had clearly investigated him thoroughly, even knowing about his recent search for marrow cleansing pills, a relatively private matter.

Judging from Yun Hanyi's demeanor, she was rational and decisive, not the type to pester him relentlessly. If he hesitated and refused now, this plot point would likely end in failure.

Mingjian seemed to have gone through a long internal struggle. Finally, he took a deep breath, met Yun Hanyi's expectant gaze, and slowly nodded, his tone solemn: "I will seriously consider Miss Yun's suggestion."

A pleasant smile finally appeared on Yun Hanyi's lips. She curtsied to Ming Jianying and said in a light voice, "Then Hanyi will await good news from Young Master Ming."

After saying that, she turned around and left the room with light steps.

Mingjian listened to her footsteps gradually fade away until they disappeared, then he breathed a long sigh of relief. All the tense muscles in his body relaxed, and he just wanted to collapse back into bed.

Just as he was about to lie down again, a figure approached silently from behind like a ghost, its icy breath instantly washing over his ears and neck, sending a shiver down his spine. A cool, bony hand gently covered his eyes, robbing him of his vision.

His voice came from behind, close to my ear, slowly rising.

Xiao Bumian chuckled softly, then suddenly asked:

"Since you're going to marry her, what we're doing now... wouldn't that be considered having an affair?"

-----------------------

Author's Note: Is it angst-inducing? (Very quietly...)

I actually think it's alright, why are all the kids saying it's angsty?

Don't you guys think Xiao Bumian is hilarious? [Sunglasses] He thinks he doesn't love her, but he really does. [Dog emoji]