My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion

Qin Qingluo was indeed unhappy about Chen Yi being in her Prince Mansion and openly flirting, but she didn’t cut off his women despite saying as much, and tonight she sent over a sumptuous dinner.

Soon, a line of maids and servants came carrying delicately carved multi-layered food boxes, filing in to set up the table with dishes on the large rosewood round table in the side hall.

Heat accompanied by tempting aromas immediately spread, dispelling the slight chill of the winter night.

The food in the Prince Mansion always had a certain standard and attention to detail. Although this wasn’t a formal banquet, there was no negligence at all. The dishes were balanced between meat and vegetables, focusing on seasonal and nourishing components. Just the few appetizers served first—the red and bright rouge goose breast, the crisp pickled small cucumber, and a dish of crispy fried whitebait—were exceedingly exquisite.

Once the dishes were all served, the maids slowly withdrew from the side hall. Chen Yi sat down first, looking at the steaming delicacies on the table, about to urge everyone, when he heard Yin Weiyin speak: "Everyone sit, it’s just family here, no need for formalities."

Qin Yue turned her head, blinking as she looked at Yin Weiyin.

Yin Weiyin’s demeanor was calm; she was the First Lady, so it was natural for her to say this, especially since Qin Qingluo was one of Chen Yi’s women and ranked fourth among the ladies.

Seniority and social hierarchy, propriety and music had their order.

Lin Wanxiao glanced at the lavish table, feeling a bit restrained. Although she was a legitimate daughter in the Lin Family, she never indulged daily like this. The grandeur of the Prince Mansion was indeed extraordinary, but she ultimately preferred simple meals. Nevertheless, she did not want to disrupt the current atmosphere and slowly took her seat.

Qin Yue’s appetite had long been roused by the aroma, but she was sitting at a small table on a low stool, held by Xiuhe, looking at the dishes eagerly, mumbling: "Eat... Yue’er wants to eat..."

Xiuhe, who had experience with child-rearing among the old maidservants in the Cui Family, now brought meat porridge to Qin Yue, coaxing: "This tastes much better than what the First Lady and Master are having."

Chen Yi was the first to use his chopsticks, picking up a plump piece of duck and placing it on the plate in front of Lin Wanxiao, casually saying: "Try this, the chef’s skills in the Prince Mansion are quite passable."

Lin Wanxiao hesitated slightly, looking at the piece of duck soaked in wine sauce on her plate, hesitated a moment, and eventually whispered: "Th-thank you."

Chen Yi didn’t respond but wasn’t partial either, placing a piece for Yin Weiyin as well.

Yin Weiyin was not as restrained as Lin Wanxiao, accepting it calmly.

Outside, the night deepened while the inside was warm with lights.

For a moment, only the light clinking of dishes and soft chewing sounds remained in the side hall, the atmosphere unexpectedly warm and harmonious.

Warm, yet silent.

Compared to the petty jealousy at the annual banquet in Jingren Palace years ago, Yin Weiyin and Lin Wanxiao seemed harmonious at this moment.

The two women no longer confronted each other. Although Chen Yi enjoyed the peace, he felt it was somewhat peculiar, not understanding since when Miss Lin became so compliant with his family’s Great Yin.

The issue of seniority among women was something Chen Yi could not meddle in, quietly picking dishes, sheep marrow with deer tendon, wine-steamed duck, crab meat with asparagus... a few dishes not common in the Southern Border but had a taste of the Capital City, likely at Qin Qingluo’s specific instruction.

Beside the small table, Yue’er finished the meat porridge and began sipping pigeon soup, taking a large, echoing swallow after finishing, just about to stand up, her eyes inadvertently glanced out the window.

Mellow light by the lattice window wavered past a shadow.

Qin Yue’s tiny heart skipped a beat in fear.

Even though it was a brief glimpse, she seemed to see that the shadow had Grandma.

It’s Grandma ghost!

Qin Yue suddenly trembled, stood up, her hands and feet quivering, saying: "...Ghost, ghost, ghost! It’s back!"

Chen Yi’s eyes shot open as he quickly glanced outside, realizing something, he hurriedly went to Qin Yue’s side, holding her in his arms, comforting her thoroughly.

"Yue’er, don’t be afraid, Daddy’s here, Yue’er, don’t be afraid."

"Yue-Yue’er... I’m not afraid, not scared..." Qin Yue paused, speaking somewhat unclearly: "Yue’er... is brave, Yue’er... can cast spells."

Qin Yue saying this surprised Chen Yi, but he didn’t think much about it, gently putting Qin Yue down as he walked outside, thus missing Yin Weiyin’s composed tea sip.

Her hand holding the teacup paused almost imperceptibly, her eyelids lowered, continuing to savor the tea leisurely, appearing indifferent.

The courtyard lantern’s glow was limited, outlining the hazy contours of the rockery and bamboo, casting scattered shadows.

Chen Yi’s gaze was sharp, scanning around, indeed, in the shadow near the corner by a clump of half-withered banana trees, he spotted a figure incongruous with the surroundings.

He frowned, striding quickly towards the shadow, using the faint light from under the corridor to make out the person crouching on the ground. Who else could it be if not Donggong Ruoshu?

"Miss Donggong? Why are you hiding here?"

Hadn’t he told her to try not appearing in front of Qin Yue, why then near the dining courtyard? And to be seen by Qin Yue, causing the child to be frightened.

If this matter were exposed, Qin Qingluo might come to settle scores with him again.

Donggong Ruoshu lifted her head at the sound, her mouth pouting pitifully:

"I-I was hungry... you didn’t call me for dinner."

Looking at her current expression, Chen Yi’s questions choked in his throat, feeling both exasperated and amused, saying:

"Wasn’t there dinner delivered to your guest courtyard?"

The place in the Prince Mansion where Miss Donggong stayed was arranged by Chen Yi, Qin Qingluo, knowing he had many women, assumed Miss Donggong was among them and did not ask further.

Donggong Ruoshu quickly replied: "Yin...because...I feel it didn’t taste good, not as fragrant as yours, and looking at it was indeed so."