She held a piece of bread in her hand, a weary smile on her face: "If you don't mind, you can have a piece of bread to stave off your hunger. Once the gates of the Heart Dream Empire open, we will arrange for travelers to stay in hotels. The inner city for sightseeing will not open until tomorrow morning."
Her voice was soft and weak, like a spring breeze rustling a willow branch, so gentle that it seemed as if it would topple over at the slightest touch, yet it didn't come across as affected; she was a very gentle older sister.
Quan Ji looked at the woman in front of her and felt a strange sense of goodwill towards her. She immediately took out a gold coin and handed it over: "I'll buy the bread."
The woman shook her head repeatedly: "No... no need. You are honored guests of my Xinmeng Empire. It is our fault that you went hungry. There is no need to accept gold coins... Moreover, there will be many places in the Xinmeng Empire where you will need gold coins. You should keep them."
After listening, Quan Ji nodded, took back the gold coins, accepted the bread, took a bite, and gave him a happy smile in return.
It's not that she's stingy, but using gold coins to refuse would only be an insult to the friendliness of the Xinmeng Empire.
Quan Ji asked her, "My name is Quan Ji, I'm from the Holy Glory Empire, and what about you?"
The woman nodded slightly, a gesture of friendliness, and said, "My name is Ruoqiu, a resident of the Xinmeng Empire."
Quan Ji really liked this young lady named Ruo Qiu; her temperament was extremely comfortable to be around.
She looked so haggard, like she could break at any moment.
Ruoqiu saw that Quanji's bread was almost finished, so she quickly took out a small lotus cake from her own pocket and handed it to her.
"If that's not enough, here's some more."
Quan Ji was too embarrassed to accept it this time and shook her head repeatedly: "No need, thank you, Sister Qiu."
When Ruoqiu heard the address "Sister Qiu", she was taken aback at first, then smiled and nodded.
She made every movement gently, as if with utmost care.
But Quan Ji didn't think much of it and continued to ask, "Sister Qiu, since you are a native of the Xinmeng Empire, do you know what's going on here at Xinmeng Lake, and why the Xinmeng fish have all turned into this?"
Upon hearing this, Ruoqiu's eyes lit up instinctively. She wanted to speak, but then paused and said, "These fish were fine half a year ago, but five months ago, after Her Majesty the Empress fell ill and woke up, the Heart Dream Fish changed drastically. It used to be very lively here, but now it's much quieter."
"Perhaps the fish changed their appearance because they were saddened by Her Majesty the Empress's serious illness."
Quan Ji listened without much suspicion, but she still harbored some doubts.
Subconsciously, she doesn't completely trust anyone.
Quan Ji sighed regretfully, gazing at the moon: "And the moon? Did it transform together with the Dream Fish?"
Ruoqiu nodded after hearing this: "Mm."
Quan Ji wondered what was wrong with this Empress Xinmeng. A serious illness could even change the moon. If what Qiu Jie said was true, then there was absolutely no problem.
Her gaze fell on Sister Qiu: "Even Cupid can't restore her to her original state?"
When Ruoqiu heard "Cupid," she subconsciously made a one-handed prayer gesture, pursed her lips, and said, "Cupid is injured and cannot use his divine power."
Quan Ji frowned: "Cupid is injured? When did this happen?"
Ruoqiu said, "At...the same time."
Quan Ji was startled and immediately turned to look at Jun Chenlan.
Jun Chenlan was also looking at her.
They were on the same page.
At the same time, that is, five months ago, before they were at Azure Academy.
They had met Cupid at the Azure Academy, and Cupid had blessed them both in front of everyone, seemingly without any apparent abnormality.
Therefore, the only possibility is that Ruoqiu is lying.
Why did Sister Qiu lie?
She had no reason.
Looking at the bread crumbs in her hand, Quan Ji was certain that Qiu Jie's kindness was genuine.
So what exactly happened?
Quan Ji pursed her lips, about to speak.
Ruoqiu hurriedly stood up, dusted off her clothes, and smiled at Quan Ji.
"It's almost time for the city gates to open, you should hurry over... We people inside the city must enter through the side gate before the main gates open."
She smiled, a smile that held a hint of innocence, yet she looked haggard and contradictory.
After taking several steps, she immediately turned around, her eyes showing some hesitation before she spoke.
—Author's Note—
This chapter is 3,000 words long, Sister Qiu is a good person.
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