Trip to Jiangnan (3)
Upon hearing this, Rong Xiao first straightened his expression and looked at Yan Qing with great seriousness.
"Government is for the people, not for power."
This was an answer Yan Qing hadn't expected, but after spending two months together, Yan Qing had gained a certain understanding of Rong Xiao, so it wasn't surprising that these words came from Rong Xiao's mouth.
To her surprise, when he mentioned Rong Xuan in the next sentence, he showed a rare smile, and his cold and hard face softened with a touch of warmth.
Is this the legendary tough guy with a soft heart? Who would have thought that the famous King Qi was such a brother-lover?
“Xuan’er is reserved and has always made others guess his thoughts. I think there is a misunderstanding between you. I apologize to Miss Yan on his behalf, but he has no bad intentions. Miss Yan does not need to suspect him.”
Stop! Stop!
Rong Xiao listened calmly to the entire story of the descent of the gods. He didn't even flinch when the storyteller recounted how Rong Xuan had won over so many people with olive branches. He even smiled slightly when the storyteller praised Rong Xuan, showing that he was truly not worried that Rong Xuan would compete with him.
but!
There really wasn't any misunderstanding between her and Rong Xuan.
The person who wanted to kill her the moment they met wasn't malicious; it was just empty talk.
well--
Rong Xiao really can't tell people apart; he's totally biased towards his brother.
When Rong Xuan actually ascends the throne, will Rong Xiao still be waving his cheering stick below? Yan Qing suddenly felt a headache coming on.
But it must be said that Rong Xuan did a really good job. Thanks to him, the happiness level, which hadn't changed for a long time, suddenly rose to 36%.
Yan Qing still finds the concept of happiness too fantastical. So far, her happiness level has increased by 0% due to her direct actions, which makes her feel a little guilty.
After Cat No. 1 announced that its happiness level had reached 35% and it had gained the ability to communicate with other cats without spatial restrictions, Yan Qing humbly asked questions.
[Are you really a legitimate system?]
[Of course! How could the host have such a question? The Cat Savior System was developed by a professional team over decades...]
If this continued, given Cat Number One's talkative nature, it would never end, so Yan Qing stopped it in time.
[This happiness level is skyrocketing! I haven't even started doing anything yet. Wouldn't it be better if I didn't come? Why did you kidnap me, you human trafficker?!]
The trembling mechanical voice explained anxiously, with a hint of grievance in it.
[The Cat System selects people through a rigorous screening process. The host was chosen because of their low sense of belonging to their original world. Furthermore, the host's participation is indeed required to reach the target level of happiness.]
[Let's get to the important points.]
As if sensing Yan Qing's impatience, Cat Number One finally began to tell the truth.
[There was indeed a slight accident when the host entered. The happiness level of this world is at an extremely dangerous level. According to the normal procedure, a specialist would raise it to 35% before handing it over to the host for further improvement. However, due to the operator's error, the host was teleported here prematurely.]
Wait a minute, Yan Qing noticed something was wrong.
[Everyone else only came after 35%, does that mean they can interact with all the kittens without restriction once they arrive?]
[Well, well, well, that's true, but you know, host, you'll get an extra reward!]
At first, Cat Number One was still vague, but after thinking of something, he suddenly gained confidence and his tone became firm.
[Furthermore, to compensate the host, this system has dispatched its best customer service representative, Cat Number One—that is, me!]
[I don't see what's so outstanding about it.]
A makeshift troupe!
[Host, please don't be angry. To express the system's apology, the rewards you receive will be more generous than those of others. Keep up the good work!]
Go for it, you big idiot!
Despite her anger, after experiencing the so-called communication ability without time and space limitations, Yan Qing couldn't help but marvel at how incredibly powerful this cheat was.
Now, without waiting for He Yi's letter, Yan Qing can keep track of every little thing happening in the Cat Tea Garden through her interactions with the cats.
If she had this cheat code from the start, why would she need to travel all the way to Yunzhou? She could have found a thatched hut in the outskirts of the capital, made a name for herself as someone who could know everything happening in the world without ever leaving home, and achieved the same goal.
Ultimately, however, the main reason she left the capital was Rong Xuan.
This person is too uncontrollable. Moreover, Yan Qing could clearly feel that Rong Xuan's gaze on her would occasionally become abnormal, showing the kind of interest he would show when he saw something interesting.
Yan Qing resented, even felt disgusted by, that kind of gaze, as it made her feel controlled by the other person.
What's even more infuriating is that in the capital, Xi Xuan truly possesses the ability to control her.
If he still acts the same way when she returns to the capital, she will show him how to look at her properly.
Speaking of the capital, Yan Qing was pleasantly surprised to find that she could contact the little cat she had met in the inner court.
A little black cat that isn't very reliable but is especially good at being affectionate.
At that time, it nestled in Consort Shu's arms and acted coquettishly. Consort Shu was not in a good mood, and it was trying to find a way to make her laugh.
Yan Qing could more or less guess that this was related to Rong Xuan. The subtle signs of fratricide were enough to worry her.
"It seems like today's trip was in vain. Let's go back first."
Rong Xiao's words brought Yan Qing back to her senses, and she nodded as she left the theater with him.
Two months ago, Yan Qing and Fang Bi had just settled down in Yunzhou. They were preparing for the establishment of Xiyuan Pavilion, an organization that specialized in selling all kinds of information.
They were overwhelmed with work and couldn't keep up. Rong Xiao's scenes were scheduled for much later by Yan Qing, but unexpectedly, he ended up appearing on screen himself.
That day, Yan Qing and Fang Bi were about to recruit people when a woman's voice suddenly came from behind them.
"Qingqing?"
Upon arriving in Yunzhou, Yan Qing removed her veil. Being unfamiliar with the place, no one would recognize her, so there was no need to hide herself anymore.
So who is the person who has clearly called out her name right now?
Qingqing is a very familiar way of addressing someone; it's not meant with malice.
But Yan Qing didn't intend to cause trouble for herself. She only paused for a moment, then took Fang Bi's hand and continued walking forward as if she hadn't heard anything.
But the next voice made her change her mind.
"Perhaps they've mistaken me for someone else."
As soon as he finished speaking, Yan Qing stopped and turned to the two people who were talking.
As expected, it was Rong Xiao!
Beside him was a tall woman whose face bore a striking resemblance to Yan Qing.
Before Yan Qing could speak, the woman abandoned Rong Xiao and strode towards her, then stopped a step away.
Afraid of offending Yan Qing, she couldn't help but get closer.
She spoke hesitantly, her eyes blinking rapidly, "May I ask your name, young lady?"
Yan Qing could clearly sense her nervousness, and very frankly gave her name: "Yan Qing".
The person in front of her clearly had an unusual relationship with her, or more accurately, with Yan Congjin.
Upon hearing the name, the woman immediately stepped forward and grabbed her hand, her excitement no longer concealed. "You really are Qingqing! Qingqing, after all these years, we've finally found you!"
Just as her hand was about to touch Yan Qing's earlobe, Yan Qing took a step back to avoid her touch.
Yan Qing knew that she wanted to touch the mole on her earlobe, but such a touch crossed her boundaries.
Seeing this, Fangbi stepped forward and blocked her way.
Yan Qing reached out and tugged at her sleeve, shook his head in response to her questioning gaze, and then said to the woman, "We have never seen you before. May I ask who you are, young lady?"
The woman realized she had been too emotional, wiped away her tears, and explained, "I am Yan Yang from the Yan family of Yunzhou. You look remarkably like my younger sister who went missing when she was young, which is why I lost my composure for a moment. May I ask how old you are and where you live?"
After listening, Yan Qing looked at Fang Bi, who was also looking at her. They exchanged a glance and both knew what the other was thinking.
The fake identity Rong Xuan gave her!
It only mentioned the Yan family of Jiangnan, but I didn't expect it to be in Yunzhou. This is too much of a coincidence, but I don't have time to think about it now.
How old is he? This question really stumped her. She absolutely couldn't reveal her real age, but she vaguely remembered that the official arrest warrant said he was about twenty years old.
“Twenty, I reside in the capital.” Yan Qing replied.
Before Yan Yang could say anything, Rong Xiao, who had approached, spoke first: "Are you Boss Yan?"
Why did Rong Xiao get involved?
His arrival successfully turned the scene into complete chaos, a mushy mess, much like Yan Qing's head.
Yan Yang was also surprised and asked him why.
"Xuan'er wrote to me, and he asked me to take good care of you."
.
It's Rong Xuan again!!
This ghost is relentless.
But Yan Qing couldn't directly say that she had a grudge against Rong Xuan, so she could only force a smile and say politely, "I do have some dealings with Prince Ning, but I didn't expect him to be so thoughtful."
"It seems we have a deep connection. Why don't we find a place to have a detailed conversation?" Yan Yang seized the opportunity and suggested.
Yan Qing nodded and readily accepted; she also wanted to meet Rong Xiao. As for Yan Yang, it was better to avoid trouble and play dumb if possible.
Yan Yang made no attempt to hide his own selfish motives and took them directly back to the Yan residence.
After a conversation, Yan Qing learned what had happened.
The position of Governor of Yunzhou is currently vacant, so Rong Xiao will temporarily assume this post and handle the administrative affairs of Yunzhou.
Rong Xiao was handling business in Yunzhou and often interacted with the Yan family. He gradually became acquainted with Yan Yang, and the two, sharing similar aspirations, became friends.
The Yan family ran an inn business, initially operating only in Yunzhou. However, after Yan Qing went missing, they began setting up Yan family signs in various places. Running the business was secondary; their main goal was to find Yan Qing, because she recognized the Yan family signs and would return when she saw them.
Gradually, to pray for Yan Qing's well-being, the Yan Family Inn began offering services to help people find their children.
Later, the saying spread that "if you can't find your way home, go to the Yan Family Inn and ask."
Over the years, the Yan family's brand has grown, with hundreds of inns scattered across various regions, and countless families have been reunited with the help of Yan family inns.
For this reason, the Yan family enjoys a great reputation for good deeds in Yunzhou and even throughout the country.
Unfortunately, Yan Qing could not be found for a long time.
After listening to Yan Yang's story, the three of them fell silent. The pain of more than ten years could not be summed up in a few words, but these words were enough to move them deeply.
When Yan Qing realized that the original owner of this body was the lost youngest daughter of the Yan family, she decided to pretend to be ignorant and deny it. But now she feels that she has no right to do so.
These are Yan Congjin's family members, and she is not the original owner of this body. Perhaps it was their daily prayers and longings over the past ten years that gave Yan Congjin the chance to live again.
Yan Qing put down her teacup, lowered her head, and her expression was unreadable.
Yan Qing couldn't explain the current situation to them, so the best way was for her to pretend to be 'Yan Qing' for now and tell them the truth when she returned.
While impersonating 'Yan Qing' might fool the inner court, it would be a considerable challenge in front of her family.
Because the concept of home was too foreign to her.
She unconsciously crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back. Seeing that she remained silent, Fangbi took the initiative to answer Yan Yang's many questions, glossing over them for Yan Qing in a few words.
The sounds of conversation turned into a buzzing noise in her ears, and Yan Qing's thoughts slowly drifted away.
She spent most of her 25 years in an orphanage until she left on her own as an adult.
It wasn't that no one wanted to adopt her; on the contrary, Yan Qing was exceptionally beautiful and stood out among the children, so she was often the first one chosen.
Her passive posture naturally made her feel uneasy.
Was she abandoned, yet chosen?
Will she abandon him again?
She refused any adoption; she didn't need a home that had to be chosen; she wasn't willing to relinquish her decision-making power to others.
Thinking of this, Yan Qing's eyes cleared, clearing away the dilemma in her mind.
Yan Yang continued speaking tirelessly, his gaze frequently falling on Yan Qing.
She knew perfectly well that Yan Yang wasn't looking at her, and that the emotions he was expressing didn't belong to her. Before Yan Yang could steer the conversation toward meeting his parents, she excused herself, saying she had something to attend to.
They left the Yan residence amidst Yan Yang's disappointed and reluctant gaze.
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