Li Xi then realized that their actions had been somewhat inappropriate, and quickly let go of his hand, explaining, "Third Madam, please don't misunderstand, we were just discussing internal energy."
Before the big things are accomplished, she still has to proceed with caution.
Unexpectedly, Qin Xiaolin didn't seem to care. "Didn't Mother accompany Grandmother to the temple to offer incense today? Why did she suddenly come to my courtyard?"
Although he was polite on the surface, his tone was somewhat cold.
“I…I…your grandmother wanted you to go to the temple with her, saying she wanted to pray for a good marriage for you.” The Third Madam’s eyes darted around.
Qin Xiaolin frowned. "I don't need my mother to worry about my marriage."
He glanced at Li Xi, a hint of tenderness in his eyes.
Seeing this, the third wife quickly said, "This is the old lady's kind intention. Besides, you're of marriageable age, and you can't stay single forever."
"I know what I'm doing. Please tell my mother and grandmother that General Li and I have important business to attend to and need to go out."
After saying that, he took Li Xi out.
After they went outside, Li Xi asked, "What urgent matter is it?"
Qin Xiaolin's lips curled up slightly. "It's just an excuse."
The two arrived at a quiet place in the city.
"Where am I?" She tried to search her memory, but to no avail.
"This is Youranju. Come on, let's go in and have a drink." He took her hand and led her through the carved wooden door.
The interior of You Ran Ju is decorated elegantly yet warmly.
The shopkeepers, a middle-aged couple, greeted him warmly with smiles. "Oh, it's Young Master Qin! Long time no see! And this is..."
He looked at Li Xi and said, "This is my friend. I brought her here today to try your signature dishes."
"Alright, alright, please come in, both of you."
The middle-aged couple led the two to a table by the window, where a meticulously maintained little garden stretched out, with various flowers vying for attention and the occasional chirping of birds adding to the tranquility and harmony.
Qin Xiaolin gently patted the corner of the table, gesturing for Li Xi to sit down. He then said to the shopkeeper, "The usual, first bring a pot of fine Longjing tea, then order your signature dishes, especially the 'Misty Clouds' dish, don't forget it."
"Don't worry, Young Master Qin, I won't forget." The shopkeeper replied with a smile and left with light steps.
Every detail here reveals the owner's ingenuity, from the elegant ink paintings hanging on the wall to the exquisite porcelain on the table, all showcasing a leisurely and contented lifestyle.
He turned to look at Li Xi: "How is it?"
Li Xi looked around, her expression unchanged. "It's alright, it has a unique charm."
As they were talking, the shopkeeper brought over steaming hot Longjing tea, its aroma rising and instantly filling the entire space.
Qin Xiaolin personally poured Li Xi a cup and said softly, "Try it. The tea here is unique, with the sweetness of mountain spring water and the freshness of morning dew."
Li Xi took the teacup, took a small sip, and said, "It's alright."
It was past lunchtime, and there weren't many customers, so the dishes were served quickly.
Qin Xiaolin smiled and said, "The restaurant owner is from Nanzhou. His excellent cooking skills are famous far and wide, especially these few specialty dishes, which I guarantee will leave you wanting more."
Looking at the table laden with delicacies, Li Xi simply said, "Looks like we're in for a treat today."
After saying that, she picked up her chopsticks, tasted each dish, put down her chopsticks, and started drinking.
"What, is it not tasty?" He couldn't help but feel a little doubtful.
"Very well." She hesitated for a moment, then added, "It's just that I have some things on my mind, and I can't eat anything."
Upon hearing this, Qin Xiaolin's expression slightly changed. He put down his chopsticks and asked softly, "Have you been troubled by recent affairs in court? Or... is there some unpleasantness between you and His Majesty?"
“No.” She sighed, then continued, “Lately, I’ve been plagued by nightmares. I’m frequently tormented by them, unable to find peace every night. A few days ago, I overheard Master Xu mentioning that, according to ancient texts, there’s a mysterious ancient site in Yunyin City, a place that gathers the essence of the sun and moon and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth—the perfect place to eliminate nightmares. However, to successfully perform this method, one needs to find someone with profound inner strength to assist…”
Before she could finish speaking, Qin Xiaolin hurriedly said, "I'll go with you."
Upon hearing this, Li Xi was somewhat taken aback, not expecting things to go so smoothly. "Thank you very much, Brother Qin."
"When did you become so polite? It's you not contacting me that bothers me the most." He smiled slightly.
His eyes held a hint of tenderness. "When have I ever neglected your affairs? Besides, it's my honor to be able to help you solve your problems."
"good."
A few days later, the three met outside the city.
"Headmaster Xu, we'd be grateful if you could come with us." Qin Xiaolin cupped his hands in greeting.
He gently stroked his long beard, a solemn look flashing in his eyes: "Young Master Qin, you are too kind. It is my honor to be able to help General Li with his troubles. General Li is a pillar of the nation, and his well-being is a great blessing. However, although the ancient books record details, we still need to be extremely careful when exploring the actual site."
Li Xi, who had been standing silently to the side, nodded and replied, "I will follow your arrangements, Headmaster."
Yunyin City is located at the junction of the three kingdoms of Jingyuan, Xuanyue, and Xiyue. It is an ancient and mysterious city.
Nestled against mountains and beside water, shrouded in mist, it seems to be a paradise specially sculpted by nature.
It does not belong to any country, exists independently in the world, forms its own school of thought, and possesses its own unique culture and history.
They are not prejudiced against outsiders, and they are also keen to trade with people from all countries.
It is worth mentioning that Cloud Hidden City benefits from its unique geographical location, possessing a naturally strong defensive line.
The steep, towering mountains and turbulent rivers served as a powerful barrier against foreign invasion, allowing the city to stand unscathed throughout its long history.
Outsiders who wish to enter Cloud Hidden City must register their identity information at the city gate.
After Li Xi and his two companions presented their merchant passes, travel permits, and identification documents to the city gate guards, the guards carefully checked and registered them before politely nodding to indicate that they could pass.
Once inside, they went to the embassy, went through a series of procedures to obtain a permit, and were then able to move freely within the embassy.
The three of them weaved through the bustling crowd, stopping from time to time.
After carefully observing the shops on both sides of the street, they rented a small house on the busiest street.
Over the next two days, the three of them purchased a considerable amount of raw stones.
"Gentlemen, all these raw stones in my shop are naturally formed, making them perfect for crafting jewelry," the shopkeeper of Zhenbaoxuan said with a beaming smile, pointing to rows of colorful raw stones on the counter.
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