Chapter 283: Ambiguous Probing
Just as Jiang Qingli was wondering about the deeper meaning, 030 in her mind offered its analysis:
[Don’t be nervous. She probably just asked casually. According to the data, her favorability rating of you is quite high.]
Even knowing this, Jiang Qingli still hesitated for a moment before pointing to the ruby necklace.
The Emperor raised an eyebrow. "You guessed correctly."
’If the Emperor prepared the necklace, then this brooch...’
As if reading her mind, the Emperor lowered her gaze to the brooch, her tone slow and deliberate. "This was a gift prepared by Shen Chi."
promptly provided some context: [Shen Chi is the name of Qin Muye’s father.]
The Emperor picked up her teacup and took a sip. "When I had just gotten pregnant, Shen Chi had already chosen a gift for our child’s future female master. He made a bet with me that you would prefer his gift."
"But from the looks of it, it seems I’ve won."
Speaking of the past, a rare hint of nostalgia surfaced in the eyes of the high-ranking female.
Sunlight filtered through the large, broad leaves of the plants in the flower room, casting mottled shadows and creating a dreamy, hazy glow.
...
The trip down memory lane didn’t take up too much of the Emperor’s time. She then asked Jiang Qingli about her plans for the future.
Nearly all the females at the Imperial Royal Academy were nobles. After graduation, most would choose to enter politics or the military, a small portion would opt to experience other jobs, and of course, some would return to their families to enjoy life.
To the Empire, females were precious. As long as they didn’t break the law, they could choose any future they wanted, and the Empire would provide a safety net for them.
The Emperor had no intention of interfering in Jiang Qingli’s life, but this young female’s abilities were quite outstanding. It would be a shame, she felt, if Jiang Qingli didn’t build a career for herself.
Jiang Qingli thought for a moment, then replied earnestly, "Right now, what I want most is to do my best at every single thing I can."
’Like saving the world, for instance.’
The Emperor looked at the girl’s serious expression, the severity in her brow softened, and she nodded in approval.
By the time she left the Platinum Flower Room, it was nearly dusk.
A few minutes later, a message from Qin Muye arrived on her terminal: [???]
Jiang Qingli raised an eyebrow.
’This guy. He acts like he doesn’t care, but he’s more worried about this than anyone.’
’What a tsundere puppy.’
Jiang Qingli typed back a question mark.
Dumbass Puppy (Away Version): [How did it go?]
Jiang Qingli deliberately teased him: [How did what go?]
Dumbass Puppy (Away Version): [You know what I’m talking about [angry]]
He was starting to get genuinely anxious, so Jiang Qingli decided to quit while she was ahead: [Alright, alright, it went very smoothly. You can relax completely.]
He sent back a sticker of a nodding snow leopard, showing that he was relieved.
But his status remained "typing..." for several minutes without a single word coming through.
Jiang Qingli: [His Majesty the Emperor is doing well, and she was very nice to me.]
She took a photo of the welcome gift she had just received and sent it to him.
During their chat today, the Emperor had mentioned Qin Muye several times. Her tone was calm, but if she truly didn’t care, why would she bring him up so many times? She even knew about him getting into fights.
’How could the gossip papers say he and his mother aren’t alike? The way they both "subtly" and "casually" bring things up is practically identical...’
Jiang Qingli complained internally but didn’t say any of this directly. She simply relayed what the Emperor had said about the welcome gift.
On the other side of the screen, Qin Muye fell silent as he read the words the girl had sent.
After a long while, he slowly typed: [I thought she’d forgotten long ago.]
Forgotten about the Snow Leopard Beastman who died in the Lower District twenty years ago protecting his female master.
After all, in all these years, the Emperor had never erected a tombstone for Shen Chi, nor had she ever mentioned him in public, not even once.
It was as if the man had never existed.
When he first returned to the Imperial Family, Qin Muye had actually looked forward to acknowledging the mother he’d never met, to stand by her side like his other brothers and sisters.
But Qin Shiyi had almost never summoned him on her own initiative. Every time they met, it was because his rebellious acts had made the news.
From any angle, the Emperor who was perfect in the eyes of outsiders seemed to utterly despise him and his father.
Qin Muye’s breathing grew heavy. But then, he received another message from Jiang Qingli: [When do you get time off?]
Master: [I want to pet my puppy’s head.]
Seeing those two lines, Qin Muye’s heart instantly softened.
In his peripheral vision, the nuisance Que Feiling in the next hospital bed was reading a book on military theory, turning to stare at him from time to time as if afraid he’d run off.
Qin Muye rolled over, turning his back to the "bird-man," and sweetly replied to his female master: [I have a ten-day break for the New Year.]
Master: [That’s so long from now. Won’t you miss me?]
Qin Muye: [Of course I will.]
’How could I not miss her? When I’m not fighting monsters, I think about her all day, every day.’
’Right now, I just want to reach through the screen and across the distance, pull her into my arms, and do some... indescribable things.’
But he wasn’t the arrogant and domineering Qin Muye anymore. He had been willingly tamed by Jiang Qingli. He wanted to become a better version of himself, to shoulder his responsibilities, and to be worthy of her affection.
-
Jiang Qingli finished her chat with Qin Muye just as she reached the garage.
Yi Nuo had already left. Only a single car was parked in the center of the garage.
A tall, well-built young man stood by the car. His dark eyes watched her from afar, his cold expression softening the moment he saw her.
He looked like he had been waiting for some time, yet he showed no signs of impatience, just like all the many times he had picked her up to take her home before.
Jiang Qingli paused for a second, then quickened her pace as she started walking again.
When she reached him, Xie Youchen opened the car door, letting her get in first.
The inside of the car was no different from usual—a simple interior, with a faint, comforting, and familiar woody scent floating in the air.
But on the seat sat a bouquet of flowers that seemed completely out of place.
Wrapped in layers of misty-blue pearlescent paper, the white roses were exquisite and delicate.
Jiang Qingli averted her gaze and asked casually as she fastened her seatbelt, "Flowers from Sister Shu?"
"Qin Shu and I just have a superior-subordinate relationship, nothing personal," Xie Youchen said. "I bought the flowers."
’He buys flowers now?’
An indescribable, strange feeling washed over Jiang Qingli, as if she had swallowed a whole sour apricot. The words tumbled out before she could think: "Are you going on a date? With who? Do I know them?"
Xie Youchen didn’t speak. Instead, he lowered his head and gazed at her.
Unlike his usual brief, averted glances, his gaze now held an imperceptible tension. It was as if he were observing her emotions, weighing whether he could confess.
Jiang Qingli felt a little uncomfortable under his stare and pursed her lips.
’I probably shouldn’t have asked those questions. We’re not in any kind of relationship right now. What right do I have to ask?’
The girl opened her mouth, about to change the subject, but then she heard him say, "They’re for you."
Jiang Qingli froze, her eyes flying up to meet his.
The young man slowly leaned closer, his scent mingling with the fragrance of the roses, enveloping her senses completely, leaving no escape.
He looked into her eyes and asked softly, "May I?"
"Ah Li."