Chapter 38 There are always people better than you

"Hey, that Chen Yan, how good are his martial arts?" Qing Yi asked with curiosity. After all, it was rumored that there were many masters hidden in the palace. Could Chen Yan be one of them?

Ye Qingyu glanced at him with a calm expression: "Just don't provoke him."

But Qing Yi refused to give up, clearly dissatisfied with this answer. He deliberately slowed down his pace, turned his head to look at Qing Feng behind him, and asked, "Qing Feng, if you two were to compete, who would be more powerful?"

Qingfeng answered concisely: "Him."

Upon hearing this, Qing Yi's eyes widened in disbelief. Just admitting it so readily? Chen Yan's martial arts skills were even higher than Qing Feng's. Could he also be stronger than him? This moment piqued Qing Yi's curiosity and competitive spirit.

"So powerful? When I get the chance, I must meet him." Qing Yi pondered in his heart. His intuition has always been very accurate. Just now, because of his words, Chen Yan seemed to have the urge to draw his weapon for a moment.

"Qing Yi, stop messing around. Chen Yan is the commander of the guards in the imperial palace. He is the emperor's man. Anyone who attacks him is a traitor." Seeing that Qing Yi didn't say anything, Ye Qingyu guessed what Qing Yi was thinking and couldn't help but speak out to stop him.

"Ah? So serious? It's just a martial arts competition." Qing Yi was puzzled. It wasn't like they were going to fight to the death, so how could a martial arts competition be considered treason? Xiao Ye must be trying to scare him!

Ye Qingyu frowned slightly and asked again: "Do you remember what I said? You are not allowed to fight with Shen Yan!"

"Oh, Xiao Ye, I remember it, I remember it! Do you think I'm a three-year-old child? What's that tone?" Qing Yi always spoke very obediently in front of Ye Qingyu.

"Where are we going?" Qing Yi asked again. He followed Ye Qingyu in many twists and turns, completely unaware of where he was going.

"You'll know when you get there." Obviously, Ye Qingyu had no intention of telling him in advance.

After walking for a while, Qing Yi saw a palace. A plaque hung at the entrance, with the three large characters "Luohua Palace" standing out prominently. In the courtyard, two young eunuchs were diligently sweeping, while two young palace maids were meticulously watering the flowers. As soon as they saw Ye Qingyu, they immediately dropped their work, knelt in unison, and shouted in unison, "Young Prince, long live the prince!"

"Get up!" Ye Qingyu said calmly, and then walked into the palace. Qingyi and Qingfeng hurriedly followed. After a while, a little palace maid came in with tea. She knew Qingfeng, but she didn't recognize Qingyi in the blue shirt.

"The prince has been staying here for the past few days," Ye Qingyu said slowly. This Luohua Palace was his bedroom within the palace, usually guarded by two young eunuchs and two young palace maids. Upon hearing that the young prince was staying, they were naturally overjoyed. The huge palace seemed empty without its master. And given the young prince's special status, he rarely stayed in the capital, let alone lived in the palace.

Qing Yi was delighted to hear this. Was he really going to live in the palace? It turned out Xiao Ye had been planning this for a long time, but had kept it a secret from him. This morning, as they were cuddling in bed, Qing Yi had vowed to sleep in every one of Xiao Ye's beds. He had thought the palace would be the hardest place to live, but he hadn't expected it to be so easy.

"Young Prince, can I have a look around?" Qing Yi asked politely. After two days in the palace, he understood that when outsiders were present, he had to keep some distance from Xiao Ye to avoid causing trouble for him.

"Well, just don't leave the yard. Qingfeng, take him for a walk." Ye Qingyu ordered.

After Qingfeng led Qingyi away, Ye Qingyu called a young eunuch and said, "Xiao Xizi, go and tell the kitchen to prepare some spicy dishes and meat dishes."

"Yes, Master," the young eunuch replied quickly. They all knew the young prince had a light palate, so why did he suddenly want spicy food? Although they were full of doubts, they had to obey the master's order.

Ye Qingyu dismissed the servants and began to think about how to investigate the missing jade. This matter must not be leaked, and the investigation could only be carried out in secret. This was also the reason why he stayed in the palace. He had left a deposit of 1,000 taels at the jade shop in order to lure the person behind this to the palace to make some move.

Qing Yi followed Qing Feng as they wandered around Luo Hua Palace. While the palace wasn't large, it was incredibly luxurious. Only during his visit to the capital did Qing Yi truly realize that Xiao Ye was truly a person of noble status, completely different from himself.

Why was Xiaoye so devoted to him? During their last heartfelt conversation, Xiaoye had clearly stated that she wasn't committed to him out of gratitude, but rather because she understood the bond between them. Qingyi naturally believed that Xiaoye wouldn't lie to him, and that he wasn't completely worthless.

Yet, now within the palace, Qing Yi felt a surge of unease. The young prince of the Northwest was a true son of an aristocratic family, exceptional and a child of destiny. And what about himself? Qing Yi couldn't help but feel a little depressed, his excitement having vanished without a trace.

"Master Qingyi, this is the young prince's study." Qingfeng saw Qingyi suddenly silent, but he didn't understand what was wrong with him.

"Oh, he's read so many books!" Qing Yi looked at the room full of books, feeling increasingly depressed. He recalled how he didn't even have a decent book in his room in the Demon Cult. He wondered if Xiao Ye was such a book lover. He walked over and casually flipped through the pages, only to find poems, songs, military tactics, and musical instruments.

"You haven't seen the study in Xibei Wangcheng. There are so many books there! The master has loved reading since he was a child. If the King of the Northwest hadn't forced him to practice martial arts, I'm afraid he would just want to be a scholar." Qingfeng's tone softened, and he seemed to be lost in memories, remembering the scene of the ten-year-old prince sitting in the study, and refused to move no matter how the King of the Northwest coaxed him.

"From music, chess, calligraphy and painting, what doesn't your master know?" Qing Yi asked unwillingly, thinking of finding some time to secretly learn something that Ye Qingyu was not good at, so that he could show off in front of him.

"No?" Qingfeng was stunned for a moment. He had never seen anyone ask a question like that before. Then, he said with a hint of pride, "Master is proficient in everything."

"Ah, I know everything!" The goal that Qing Yi had just set was ruthlessly crushed.

"Qingfeng, what are you good at?" Qingyi wanted to find an ally, so that he would not seem so ignorant in Xiaoye's eyes. Seeing Qingfeng's boring look, he probably didn't like these things, right?

"I am not very talented and well-educated. I can only play a few songs. I am far inferior to my master." Qingfeng said.

"Ah, you can play the piano?" Qing Yi's eyes widened, his face full of disbelief. How could Qing Feng play the piano? How could this be possible!

"Huh? Master Qingyi?" Qingfeng looked puzzled. He just said that he could play the piano and didn't say anything earth-shattering. Was he making such a fuss?

"You, you can actually play the piano, what kind of world is this!" Qing Yi couldn't help but wail.

"..." Qingfeng was speechless for a moment. He really didn't understand why Qingyi had such a big reaction.

"Let's go, let's go, let's go back." Qingyi was full of frustration. What kind of monsters were around Xiaoye? Qingfeng, such a taciturn person, could actually play the piano. Would Qingqing be good at dancing?

Just when Qingyi and Qingfeng came back to find Ye Qingyu, they saw someone in the room. It was none other than Eunuch Chang, who came and was talking to Ye Qingyu.

"Young prince, these two jars of agarwood were sent by the emperor." Eunuch Chang brought two young eunuchs, each holding a jar of wine, and said respectfully.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Ye Qingyu hurriedly bowed and stood up to express his gratitude to the emperor.

"Young Prince, this is what the Emperor asked me to give you." Eunuch Chang took out another brocade box, the contents of which were unknown. Ye Qingyu let the young palace maid take it, but did not open it in front of him.

"Thank you for your help, eunuch." Ye Qingyu asked the little palace maid to bring a silver ingot as a reward to Eunuch Chang.

"Oh my, thank you, young prince." Eunuch Chang smiled until his eyes narrowed into slits. The young prince's reward was a huge honor for him. Even if he didn't give him any money, he would still be happy to run this errand. Everyone knew that the young prince was the most favored person in front of the emperor.

After delivering the things, Eunuch Chang said goodbye happily and left.

When Qing Yi heard that the emperor had sent agarwood, his previous depression was immediately swept away and his mood instantly became high. Qing Feng saw his mood change so quickly and really couldn't understand why this kid was so different from moment to moment?

"Someone, serve the meal." Ye Qingyu naturally noticed that Qing Yi was staring at the two jars of agarwood wine with shining eyes. He must be craving for alcohol.

After a while, two palace maids came in carrying food boxes filled with dishes carefully prepared in the small kitchen. The food in the palace not only tasted excellent, but the presentation was also extremely exquisite.

"Qingfeng, sit down and eat too," Ye Qingyu ordered. This was in the palace, and if Qingyi was the only one sitting down to eat, it would surely cause the servants to speculate. Qingfeng had been with him all year round, so if he joined him, it would only be seen as the young prince being considerate of his subordinates.

"Yes, master." Qingfeng replied. He naturally understood his master's intention.

The three of them sat together and began to eat. A young palace maid poured wine beside them. Qing Yi ate to his heart's content. The palace food was indeed delicious, and the agarwood wine lived up to its reputation, truly one of the three most famous wines of the Great Chu State.

Qing Yi drank quite a bit, and if Ye Qingyu hadn't stopped him, he would have drunk both jars of wine. Ye Qingyu only took a sip, while Qing Feng didn't drink a drop.