A hint of surprise flashed across Xiao Yi's eyes. Usually, Xiao Zhen would follow his lead without question, but today he actually took the lead and offered to accompany Tu Shanli, which was really beyond his expectations.
Actually, it wasn't that he didn't want to invite Tushanli, but rather that he was afraid of being rejected and losing face as the Crown Prince.
He also stepped forward and smiled at Tushanli.
Tu Shanli remained indifferent, seemingly uninterested in either of them.
Yuan Qi had already noticed the faint aura of a ghost cultivator on Xiao Yi's body. She wanted to investigate further, so she gave Tu Shanli a meaningful look.
The next second, Tu Shanli readily agreed: "Alright, I also want to befriend His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Fifth Prince, please."
Jiang Bailu was captivated by Tu Shanli's beauty and followed her without thinking. Walking beside Xiao Yi, she pretended to be poised and said, "I'm accompanying Mr. Tu Shanli with my seventh sister."
Xiao Yi was very dissatisfied with her behavior. It was hard to say whether she was captivated by his good looks and wanted to spend more time with him.
Tu Shan'ang and his other attendants were led by the Jiang family steward to the flower hall to sit down and have tea.
Xiao Yi and Xiao Zhen simultaneously gave their attendants meaningful glances, signaling them to try and get closer to Tu Shan'ang.
As soon as Yuan Qi and the others left, the guests began to discuss the four gifts.
Yuan Qi noticed that Xiangli Youming was following her at a distance, not too close, and seemed a little unhappy. She didn't think much of it and let him follow if he wanted.
Unexpectedly, Xiangli Youming got closer and closer, and soon stood next to Yuan Qi.
Xiao Yi and Xiao Zhen were both busy trying to get closer to Tu Shanli, and Yuan Qi didn't want to steal the limelight from them at this time, so he simply walked behind with Xiangli Youming and chatted casually.
Xiangli Youming felt much better when he saw that Yuan Qi wasn't going to fight with the two men for Tushanli, nor was he keeping a close eye on Tushanli like Jiang Bailu was.
He knew that Yuan Qi wasn't such a superficial person who only looked at a man's face.
"Have you seen my second uncle?" Xiangli Youming asked in a low voice. He deliberately walked slower, keeping a distance from the people in front of him to ensure that their conversation would not be heard by the people in front of him.
Yuan Qi was momentarily confused: "Your second uncle? I don't know him. I've been to your house several times and never seen him. What's wrong?"
Xiangli Youming said in a low voice, "Didn't you remove the curse from me before, and my father found out that it was my second uncle who was behind it?"
Yuan Qi hummed in agreement: "Yes, wasn't it him who orchestrated the later summoning of your nephew's soul?"
Moreover, Xianglimu said that his second brother had suffered a backlash and had become neither human nor ghost.
She recalled what had just happened; among the guests, there didn't seem to be anyone disfigured or heavily disguised. Furthermore, she noticed that besides Xiao Zhen, there was another ghost cultivator present, whose ghostly aura was so strong it was almost impossible to conceal. She didn't recognize that person; could that be Xiangli Youming's second uncle?
So, Xiangli Lin is better now?
Xiangli Youming hummed in agreement: "My second uncle has been secretly treating his illness, and we haven't seen the doctor come or go. Some time ago, he locked himself in his room and didn't leave. Just ten days ago, he suddenly appeared at the family gathering, perfectly fine. He was in even better condition than before the backlash. My father, brother, and I all suspect that he found a master healer. What do you think?"
Yuan Qi shook his head: "This kind of backlash cannot be cured by medicine. To restore his original appearance, only some high-level cultivation techniques can be used, such as reaching the Foundation Establishment stage and using one's own spiritual power to change one's appearance. But I don't think he has reached that level. I also found traces of ghost cultivation on his body, which, combined with pills, can also change his appearance."
Although Xiangli Youming was a cultivator, he had never heard of a human being able to cultivate ghost techniques: "A human cultivating ghost techniques?"
Yuan Qi hummed in agreement: "Yes, there are many kinds of cultivation methods in the world. Taoists have their own methods, Buddhists have their own cultivation methods, and ghosts have their own cultivation methods. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. We can't say that other people's cultivation methods are bad. It's just that Taoist methods and Buddhist cultivation methods have relatively fewer drawbacks, and the replenishment is slower. Some ghost cultivation methods can replenish quickly, but they also cause great harm to themselves."
Yuan Qi told him many details.
Xiangli Youming nodded repeatedly and asked a few questions: "So, according to you, my second uncle is a ghost cultivator?"
“It should be, and the Fifth Prince is also a ghost cultivator.” Yuan Qi whispered in his ear.
Xiangli Youming unconsciously looked at Xiao Zhen. He knew that among the princes, the Crown Prince and the Fifth Prince were both cultivators with spiritual roots, and their cultivation levels were not low. They were also highly valued by the Emperor.
He could hardly believe that the Fifth Prince was actually cultivating the Ghost Path.
He felt that Yuan Qi telling him this news was special to him, and he felt even happier.
Xiangli Youming suddenly remembered the gift he had prepared long ago. He pulled out a slender box from his sleeve: "This is a new hairpin I just got, called the Seven Apertures Exquisite Hairpin. Do you like it?"
Yuan Qi picked up the hairpin and found that it suited him very well. From a distance, it looked like wood, but it was actually amber. It felt very warm and smooth in his hand. The style and color of this hairpin could be worn with both casual clothes and Taoist robes.
"It's really beautiful, I like it very much."
Xiangli Youming felt sweeter than if he had eaten honey.
"I'm glad you like it. I'll bring you more good things next time I see them."
Yuan Qi's eyes narrowed into slits as he smiled and put the hairpin in his hair.
Xiangli Youming was in a good mood and continued to probe: "I found a restaurant in Kyoto. The food there is delicious. Would you like to try it sometime?"
"Okay." Yuan Qi agreed without even thinking.
Xiangli Youming then asked, "Since you said my second uncle is cultivating the ghost path, he must be planning something. Maybe he wants to compete for the position of family head. Do you have anything for self-defense? I can buy it for you."
Yuan Qi tilted his head and thought for a moment: "Not yet, but I can study it later and make a few jade pendants for you to protect yourselves."
Xiangli Youming hummed in agreement: "I'm thirsty. May I come to your Peony Pavilion for a seat and a cup of tea?"
"OK!"
"Brother!" A little girl, about the same height as Yuan Qi, ran over. She was Xiangli Youming's younger sister, Xiangli Baoyu. She pouted and looked unwilling: "I just went to the outhouse, and when I came back you were gone."
She chuckled twice at Yuan Qi: "Can I play with your divine bird a little longer?"
She also took out a small bottle from her sleeve: "Look at the meatballs I had the cook make this morning, the size of a fingernail, one that the divine bird can eat in one bite."
“Okay.” Yuan Qi led the two to Peony Residence.
On the way, I ran into Jiang Jiulu, who was wandering aimlessly in a small garden.
Because of her confession to Xiao Zhen a few days ago, she felt ashamed to face anyone, so she didn't show up today due to the large number of guests.
A maid ran over from a distance: "Miss, I saw the Fifth Prince. He is strolling in the garden with His Highness the Crown Prince and Mr. Tushan."
Jiang Jiulu was very excited. She kept saying, "Second Brother said he would help me get revenge. He can't go back on his word."
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