My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion

The two women were waiting for him to give an explanation.

Chen Yi glanced at Qin Qingluo, then Min Ning, opened his mouth but stopped, hesitated and then wanted to speak again, unsure of what explanation to provide...

How did things come full circle to end up here again?

Chen Yi felt his head pounding, thinking Min Ning would eventually step back and resolutely leave, but didn’t expect her to stay.

Not only did she stay, but she emerged from behind the screen in an almost confrontational manner, laying the paused dispute bare before him once again.

This was almost more nerve-wracking than directly facing the Purity Saintess holding Bright Hall.

Qin Qingluo’s gaze was now like icy spikes, increasingly cold, piercing his skin with chill, he could sense the brewing in those snake-like eyes, which if not for a shred of reason, might have already resorted to thunderous means rather than cold words.

And Min Ning... Chen Yi looked at her, she stood straight like a pine tree unwilling to bend, yet her slightly trembling fingertips and fleeting vulnerability deep in her eyes betrayed she was not as calm as she appeared.

She was gambling, undoubtedly using all her pride and affection as a stake, betting Chen Yi would give her a different answer.

Sweat poured down Chen Yi’s forehead, now truly feeling roasted on a fire.

Reflexively, he glanced at the wedding wine in his hand, the clear liquid now seemed like a hot potato.

Who should he give the wine to? Give it to Qin Qingluo, and it would be pushing Min Ning away in her presence; not giving or giving it to Min Ning... that would be akin to slapping Qin Qingluo’s face, and this night at the Nanjiang Royal Mansion might indeed bring tumult.

Who is causing trouble?

Yin Weiyin?!

Chen Yi nearly clenched his teeth in his mind, muttering the name.

He knew, he knew that whenever the Great Yin got involved, nothing good ever came out! What helping hand, what pleasing acts, all nonsense, this foolish woman clearly exploited Min Ning’s nature, planted a thorn in her heart, and then lurked in the shadows to watch the tigers fight from the mountain, awaiting the spectacle of mutual destruction!

"Hah."

A cold sneer broke the suffocating silence.

Qin Qingluo stepped forward slowly, her tall figure bringing stronger pressure, without a glance at Chen Yi, her deep snake-like eyes directly locked onto Min Ning.

"Heroine Min," her voice was calm, "performing the wedding ritual with him, witnessed by heaven and earth, ordained by parents, all has come to the final step, you were supposed to leave, yet now hindered here, are you trying to cause trouble at the last moment, or do you think... the lonely is too easy to talk to?"

With the last word, the temperature in the bridal room seemed to drop again, and the flames of the red candles seemed to shrink in fear.

Min Ning slightly raised her chin, meeting her gaze unyieldingly: "Prince, you exaggerate, rituals are dead, but hearts are alive, I don’t dispute your marriage, nor do I contend over a cup of wine, but over an attitude, a stance... what Chen Yi truly considers me to be!"

Her gaze ablaze, she turned to Chen Yi again, each word seeming to squeeze from between clenched teeth: "Chen Zunming, tell me! In your heart, what do I, Min Ning, mean to you?"

The two women’s gazes were like two red-hot irons, branding Chen Yi on either side.

He felt as if he were stripped naked and thrown into a marketplace, all his calculations, hesitations, and greed exposed.

Explanation...

What explanation could he possibly give?

Say I sincerely care for both of you?—Hypocrisy!

Say I can only choose one?—Who the hell can he bear to lose!

Say all three of us together...—likely that words wouldn’t even be finished before faces were torn apart on the spot.

Sweat beaded on Chen Yi’s temples, and though his hand holding the wine cup remained steady like a rock, his heart was a turbulent mess, a chaotic stew.

Now truly... caught between a rock and a hard place.

In the bridal room, the candle flames flickered as if shrinking, yet the chill increasingly spread between the two women, like a sudden winter’s arrival overnight.

The female Prince’s gaze grew increasingly hidden with anger, both incensed at Chen Yi, who turned out to be a disappointing "bitch", always greedy yet indecisive, and angry at Min Ning, who originally generously conceded the night, yet now reciprocated, negotiating back and forth as if toying with people like monkeys.

She was originally the master of this Southern Border, and tonight was the rightful groom, Min Ning’s action seemed to her as a blatant insult.

The female Prince took a deep breath, her chest heaving fiercely inside the Python Robe, slowly stepping forward, ultimately having to handle this mess herself.

Since that "bitch" cannot make a decision, she shall make one.

"Attitude?" Qin Qingluo’s voice suddenly rose, "Min Ning, what attitude do you want? For him to break his wedding vows, or for me to hand over the Princess’s position to you? Do you think the word affection can override all rituals and rules?"

With each word she spoke, she stepped closer,

The candlelight cast a giant shadow behind her, seeming as if wanting to engulf the stubborn streak of red entirely.

"Min Yuechi, you were supposed to leave, why then go back on your word?"

Min Ning’s inherent pride supported her remaining firm,

"Prince, I’m not asking you for an explanation, I’m asking him for one."

"Asking him is asking me." Qin Qingluo stated word by word.

Min Ning didn’t engage in quarrel, still focusing on Chen Yi, her voice clear: "Rituals and rules? Prince, please ask him yourself! When has he ever truly valued those so-called rules? If he truly cared about rules, today wouldn’t have turned out like this! I contend not for your Princess position, I contend for his genuine heart! I want him to tell me clearly and plainly, in his heart, what place do I, Min Ning, hold! Whether I’m worthy of having him give an explanation!"