Chapter 21 Birds and Fish (9) This bitter feeling, Lian Qiang...

Lian Qiang and Chi Xingji were both taken aback by the unexpected direction. The hall was brightly lit, and the person opening the door was so bright that it was hard to make out his face.

As his eyes gradually adjusted to the light, the man's appearance gradually emerged.

It was a woman. She wore a crown of hundreds of mermaid pearls and a magnificent gown, her crimson skirt trailing on the ground. Her features were unremarkable, her complexion unremarkable. The only thing that stuck with her was her skin, whiter than paper.

"Qingji?" Lian Qiang thought of the queen and asked without hesitation.

Chi Xingji still kept his sword raised cautiously. Facing these two uninvited guests, the woman didn't mind and smiled kindly, "Many people recognize me, but you're the first to call me by my name."

Her identity was clear. Suddenly, a voice could be heard from afar. Qing Ji seemed to have known what was happening outside. She turned aside and said to the two of them, "Come in first."

The two remained motionless. If they could gain the Queen's protection, it would be a good thing. However, it was hard for them to tell whether Qingji's intentions were good or bad... Seeing this, Qingji smiled kindly and said, "If I had any ill intentions, I wouldn't have to open this door for you."

She was right. Lian Qiang and Chi Xingji exchanged a glance. Chi Xingji took the lead and entered the hall, followed closely by Lian Qiang. Qingji saw that both of them had entered the hall. With a slight push, the heavy door closed again.

"Please sit wherever you like." Qing Ji waved her hand casually and sat down first.

Contrary to the tight security outside, Qingji remained alone in the vast palace, devoid of any attendants. The furnishings within weren't shabby, but they certainly weren't extravagant either. Lian Qiang calmly scanned the furnishings, vaguely sensing that each item had its own purpose, not just for decoration...

But the origins of these objects were strange, and even if she had an idea in mind, it could not be verified.

The two of them took a step back and sat down. Chi Xingji simply put his grief aside, while Lian Qiang's posture was tense, fearing that something might happen next moment. Qingji saw this but didn't point it out. Compared to Huaixu, she was indeed much more approachable.

"Thank you very much for your help, Your Majesty. But I don't understand. Since you already know that the unusual movement outside is caused by us, why would you help us?" Chi Xingji did not beat around the bush and expressed his attitude directly and neatly.

Qingji said nothing, silently stroking the tassels hanging from her crown. Lian Qiang then saw that she had a pair of beautiful hands, as if sculpted from white jade, unpainted and clean.

The gorgeous clothes and the pearls and jade on her head were so heavy that Qingji, who was of small stature, felt suffocated when wrapped up in them. Even Qiang suspected that she would be unable to breathe. However, her ordinary features revealed a calmness that neutralized the contradiction.

"If you want to help, I'll help you. No need to ask why." As soon as she finished speaking, a mermaid guard came and knocked on the door.

Qingji stood up and went to open the door. Seeing that the person opening the door was the queen, the guards' attitude suddenly became much more humble.

"Excuse me for disturbing you, but I just saw some bad guys heading this way, but we haven't caught them yet. Is the queen alright?" The merman said this with a cold look towards Lian Qiang and Chi Xingji in the room. Lian Qiang tried her best to straighten her back so that he wouldn't see her guilty conscience.

Qingji didn't hide or evade, and even introduced herself to him with a smile: "Of course I'm fine. These two are guests I invited not long ago. They are not bad people. Would you like to come in and take a look?"

As she spoke, she took a step back to leave them room to move forward.

Qingji didn't look like she was being held hostage. The merman guard hesitated for a moment, then quickly made a decision: "As long as the queen is alright, that's all for the best. I'll send more people to inspect later. I'll take my leave now."

Everything returned to calm. Qingji's words and actions were consistent, and the two of them gradually relaxed their worries. Qingji sat back down and picked up the topic that had been interrupted: "This palace is quiet and secluded. I can only enter but not leave. It's very boring to stay here. I'm very happy that someone came to visit."

"You can only go in, but not out?" Lian Qiang keenly caught this word and repeated it.

Qing Ji nodded: "Haven't you learned this before?"

Thinking of the magic circle on the door, Lian Qiang suddenly realized and then shuddered.

The only person who could have set up this formation was Huaixu. Why would he set it up in the Queen's chambers? It was as if he wanted to... trap her to death.

"However, I am somewhat curious as to why the two of you would risk your lives here. I do not believe that a queen with so little power like me is worthy of Xingji Xianjun mobilizing such a large force."

The crisp sound of Chang Jia fiddling with the pearls and jade stopped abruptly. Qing Ji raised her eyes and looked at Chi Xingji, with a serious light in her eyes, different from before.

As she asked this question, Lian Qiang's heart trembled as she watched from the sidelines. However, Chi Xingji, who was being stared at by her, remained calm and instead threw the question back to her: "Does the Queen want to hear the truth or a lie?"

"What is a lie? What is the truth?" Qing Ji tilted her head with interest.

"The lie is that we really want to see the queen's unparalleled beauty." Chi Xingji spoke word by word. Although his tone was plain, it was intriguing when it came out of his mouth.

The folded hands suddenly tightened. Lian Qiang looked down at her own hands and smiled self-deprecatingly.

She knew that Chi Xingji was just speaking casually, and that they had other purposes for this trip - but the moment the words came out of Chi Xingji's lips, a strange ripple still arose in her heart.

Lian Qiang was very clear about this sour emotion. She regarded it as a disaster, but she could not avoid it and could only endure it.

In the past, if Chi Xingji looked at another woman for a second longer, she would yell at him to swear that he would never do that again, so that the emotion would disappear without a trace. Now that she has no name or status, she can only let it suffocate in her heart.

Lian Qiang, oh Lian Qiang, when will you finally be able to get rid of Chi Xingji? She thought sadly on this end, while on the other end, Chi Xingji spoke slowly again: "The truth is, we had a plan, and now we have it."

No matter how much he read into his words, he couldn't quite grasp their true meaning. Qing Ji, hearing this, didn't get angry, but chuckled softly, "Your Excellency, your words are wrong. If anyone else hears, it might damage our reputation."

Chi Xingji didn't know what he was thinking and didn't comment.

Finding nothing from him, Qing Ji turned her gaze to Lian Qiang and said, "You look strange. Are you suddenly feeling unwell?"

The topic suddenly turned to her, and Lian Qiang was somewhat caught off guard. Chi Xingji also looked at her with concern. She lowered her eyes and said, "It's nothing."

No matter what, she wouldn't say she was jealous in front of them. After that, Lian Qiang just pursed her lips silently and said nothing more.

The three of them interacted with each other, but in fact they didn't find out anything from each other.

Qingji politely escorted the two out, promising them a return visit anytime. As she did so, she raised her head as if out of habit, and Lian Qiang sensed a hint of arrogance in her expression.

In a split second, without any time to think, she grabbed Qingji's wrist and whispered, "Have we met somewhere before?"

Qing Ji was not angry at Lian Qiang's action, but instead smiled again.

Seeing her like this, Lian Qiang became more anxious: "I have seen you before, not at the wedding banquet. We met once before, right?"

Qing Ji looked at her meaningfully: "Indeed, you are right."

Her thoughts were confirmed. Lian Qiang held her wrist tightly and said, "You said that when I see you again, you will tell me your name..."

Before she could finish her words, Qing Ji had already grasped her hand, a hint of mockery on her lips: "I dare to speak, but do you dare to listen?"

The answer was on the verge of coming out, but it was far less shocking than the sound of Qingji's lips opening and closing: "My name is Shaoyu, and I am... the youngest daughter of the Feather Emperor of the Feather Clan."

As she spoke, a pair of white wings spread out from behind Qingji, shining brightly!

The light was so bright that it nearly burned Lian Qiang's eyes. When she opened her eyes again, she had been pulled behind Chi Xingji. "Qingji," also known as Shao Yu, had completely lost her previous friendly demeanor, leaving only the majesty of a high-ranking official.

"But... the girl I met before didn't have wings, and her face wasn't the same..." Lian Qiang murmured to Chi Xingji. He listened and thought: "The key is probably related to Huai Xu."

Lian Qiang asked, "Do you have any way to confirm whether she is Shao Yu?"

Chi Xingji shook his head and added, "But I can be sure that no one in the world dares to impersonate Princess Shaoyu."

How did Shao Yu become Qing Ji? And how did she, in such a short time, willingly stay and become the queen of Huai Xu? For a moment, doubts arose. Lian Qiang stared at the woman before him, unable to connect her with that peerless beauty.

But, this innate aura was too similar, otherwise she would not have been able to recognize her based on just a subtle movement.

Shao Yu overheard their conversation and looked at them with interest: "Huh? You actually recognized me?"

Chi Xingji stared at her two-meter-long wings, which shone with brilliance, not seeming fake. "If you are really Princess Shaoyu, then it is you we are looking for."

"You're looking for me?" Shao Yu's lips were filled with sarcasm, as if he had heard a joke. "Why are you looking for me?"

"I'm entrusted by Yu Huang to take you back." She didn't show any hostility, but Chi Xingji felt something was wrong and held her hand tightly.

"Take me back?" Shao Yu laughed loudly. "My Lord, if you have anything to say, it's better not to say it too soon."

Chi Xingji frowned, puzzled. Shao Yu didn't seem to want to go back, but more like... being controlled by someone else. As if to confirm his thoughts, Shao Yu simply flapped her motionless wings lightly and slightly.

Instantly, a violent gust of wind blew up! All the furnishings in the room began to hum, and countless restrictions struck Shao Yu! At this moment, Lian Qiang finally understood their purpose! They... were actually suppressing, or rather, refining Shao Yu. No, it should be Shao Yu's wings!

I'm afraid that the harder Shao Yu struggles, the greater the pressure these restrictions will exert. This is not a palace, it's clearly a cage!

Shao Yu flapped his wings again, and this time, the entire palace trembled!

Lian Qiang steadied herself amidst the turbulence and looked towards Shao Yu. From observing the restraining force and the surrounding movements, she could already imagine Shao Yu's agony. However, Shao Yu merely raised an eyebrow, accustomed to the situation. "I merely revealed my wings, and I'm suffering this backlash. Just guess what the price will be if I take a single step out of this place?"

Shao Yu stroked his wings, which were bound by thousands of crisscrossing magical powers, and said, "My Lord, do you still have the confidence to take me out?"

Chi Xingji didn't say anything, but drew his sword from its sheath. The cold light made his attitude clear!

At this moment, the palace gates opened wide, and a cold voice came: "Let me see who is so bold as to take away my queen!"

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