Free Web NovelChapter 1144: Chapter 361: Upstairs, Downstairs
For his own safety, Zhao Rucheng had been intentionally avoiding Helian Yunyun these past few days. freёwebnovel.com
He had quietly left the "Shepherd Garden" merely to take a glance at the Qi Pavilion.
Yuwen Ze, stubbornly insisting on following him, he assumed the steppe-brother merely wanted a glimpse of the world, and thinking he didn’t plan to meet with Jiang Wang just yet, he agreed.
This guy lacked any trace of a steppe man’s openness, continuously belittling one and cursing another along the way, which had thoroughly irritated him.
Yet unexpectedly, that turned out to be Yuwen Ze’s distraction tactic!
What a curious affair.
He, Zhao Rucheng, prided himself on his superior cunning, daily provoking Old Tiger Du and mocking Third Brother Jiang, basking in a sense of intellectual superiority. And today, he was sold out by Yuwen Ze, a man who couldn’t hide a thing in his belly?
What infuriated him most was that Helian Yunyun was still pretending this was a chance encounter.
But when he saw her wave her hand with a face full of surprise, "You went out and didn’t even call for me?"
Called for you... Aren’t you already here?
"Princess Yun," Zhao Rucheng’s tone remained very gentle, "We were just strolling around, nothing quite like an excursion. We were actually planning on heading back."
He was polite yet distant. In sum, he blocked the conversation, immediately saying they were about to return, giving Helian Yunyun no chance to join in.
Little did he know, Helian Yunyun was cursing inside.
Yuwen Ze, why the yelling if it was supposed to be a chance encounter on the street? Afraid Zhao Rucheng wouldn’t realize this princess had planned it?
Yet, since they had already bumped into each other and things had unfolded, there was no fixing the situation.
She had to grit her teeth and continue the "chance meeting" charade.
Helian Yunyun, pretending to be unintentional, glanced at Yuwen Ze with her dark blue eyes, her words tinged with regret, "Ah? That’s really not so coincidental."
"There’s nothing of the sort! We’ve only just come out! This exotic charm makes me linger," Yuwen Ze – ever the sycophant – said with a grin, then patted Zhao Rucheng’s shoulder, "Ye Gai, weren’t you quite interested in the ’Qi Pavilion’? Why don’t we go and take a look?"
Zhao Rucheng was indeed intrigued but didn’t let himself appear too eager, simply inquiring softly, "Oh? Is it alright to visit the place where the Qi expeditionary forces are stationed?"
"What’s the harm!" Yuwen Ze waved his hand, "This Qi Pavilion is typically open to all sides, the doors wide open for business, not just for receiving people from Qi. Isn’t our ’Shepherd Garden’ the same? Pretty much the same thing."
Yuwen Ze spoke with full confidence, arranging everything amidst laughs and talks.
Zhao Rucheng felt even more annoyed.
Looking at Yuwen Ze, so familiar with Fengcheng, he must have understood it even without visiting, undoubtedly having accumulated intelligence beforehand.
The endless complaints he had aired before him previously, were indeed a diversion. In the middle, he even twisted a plot to coax him to the Guanhe Platform for a contest.
A big bear turning somersaults – performing tricks!
What angered Zhao Rucheng most was that he hadn’t seen through it!
He was even starting to doubt if his brain had been eroded by the Demonic Qi of the Border Wilderness. Had he really fallen to the same level as Yuwen Ze?
"Fine, let’s go and take a look," he said in a subdued voice.
"Great!" Helian Yunyun smiled joyfully, "I’ve always been curious about the Qi lands’ culture myself! I like it very much and long for it!"
Yuwen Ze: ...
Such a coincidence? You’ve never mentioned this before.
Rather, I’ve heard about someday wanting to ride through the heart of Jing, spur on Eastern Qi...
Zhao Rucheng was left speechless.
The three then set off together toward the Qi Pavilion.
Zhao Rucheng and Yuwen Ze had come out alone, unaware of how Helian Yunyun had shaken off her attendants, yet she was now unencumbered.
"We’re heading to the Qi Pavilion; it wouldn’t be good to reveal our identities," Helian Yunyun very naturally positioned herself between Zhao Rucheng and Yuwen Ze and casually smiled, "Don’t call me Princess Yun anymore, just call me A’Yun!"
Yuwen Ze spoke, "Alright, ah..."
Helian Yunyun fixed her gaze on him, "Just call me Lord Yun."
Yuwen Ze laughed heartily, "Lord Yun, I’ve remembered that; it’s actually quite easy to remember!"
Zhao Rucheng was at a loss for words. Where was the so-called heroic boldness of the steppes? In the face of merely a princess, how could Yuwen Ze act so ingratiatingly? Didn’t he feel ashamed?
"Rucheng?" Helian Yunyun’s bluish-green eyes looked over.
Zhao Rucheng smoothly stepped aside, making a welcoming gesture, "Lord Yun, please enter first."
Helian Yunyun smiled radiantly and took the lead to walk into the "Qi Pavilion."
The Qi Pavilion occupied a vast area. Though named a ’pavilion,’ it was actually a large complex of buildings, including pavilions, platforms, towers, and chambers, with the main pavilion serving as the façade and many buildings lying behind, interconnected by moon gates.
Otherwise, it would not easily accommodate the hundreds in the expedition team.
The main business here, naturally, featured famous specialties from Qi Territory, such as teas, seafood, and even some sea salt.
As the three from the steppes entered, a properly dressed servant approached, "Good sirs, this way please."
The décor within the main hall was, needless to say, exquisite.
Upon entering the main gate, there was an indoor screen with a bas-relief of ’Hundreds of Birds Facing the Phoenix,’ clearly the work of a master.
The servant blocked the way to the right, directing them to the left; clearly, the right was off limits.
It might be assumed that Qi Country’s expedition team was over there.
Zhao Rucheng purposely looked around, curious, and asked, "What’s to the right?"
The servant, facing the man in the bronze mask, was quite polite, "Nobles from our country have reserved that area, and it has been fully booked these days. I apologize, but I cannot guide you there."
To put it simply, the Qi Pavilion was just a place of business; on a grander scale, it represented the face of Qi Country in Fertility Country.
So, even a servant was carefully selected here, not to lose the grand national etiquette.
With the Yellow River Gathering approaching, all sorts of people could appear here. People from Qi did not fear anyone, but there was also no need to provoke anyone without cause.
Zhao Rucheng smiled, "No problem, just asking casually."
"Then please, follow me," the servant led the way.
Helian Yunyun then said, "Yuwen Ze, since you’re more familiar with this place, you’ll have to decide what we eat and drink later."
"Hahaha," Yuwen Ze laughed heartily like a mechanical beast fitted with a Dao Yuan Stone, reacting only after receiving the message from Helian Yunyun. His sudden burst of laughter was robust, "Rest assured, Lord Yun, I’ve got this!"
"Sir," the servant gently reminded, "to avoid disturbing other guests, could you perhaps laugh a bit quieter?"
Yuwen Ze wasn’t unreasonable and immediately apologized, "Sorry, I forgot this isn’t the steppes."
His easygoing manner indeed made it hard to dislike him.
The servant bowed slightly, "Please watch your step."
...
...
On the second floor of the Qi Pavilion,
Having just finished speaking with Cao Jie and heading to his room, Jiang Wang heard the hearty laughter below and offhandedly asked, "What’s happening downstairs?"
"A few people from Shepherd Kingdom have arrived," replied a soldier of the Heavenly Cover Soldiers stationed in the corridor, laughing, "perhaps they’re here to spy on our military information!"
Jiang Wang also joked in response, "Then I better hide well."
He walked into the inner room and casually shut the door.
