The morning light first filtered through, and the thin mist had not yet dispersed.
Inside the Main Hall, Gu Han sat on the Cloud Bed. Thinking of what happened last night, her expression was complex to the extreme.
"Master Mother!"
A crisp voice came from outside the hall, and a small figure came hopping and skipping in, holding a plate of exquisite Spirit Cakes.
"Ah Yao specially prepared this for Master Mother!"
Gu Han snapped back to her senses, her heart softening slightly as she rubbed the little girl's head.
"Has Ah Yao eaten yet?"
"I've eaten! Just now, Third Junior Sister took me to the Spirit Cuisine Hall, and I ate so many delicious things!"
Ah Yao said happily, her big eyes suddenly blinking.
"Oh right, Master Mother, when I was coming over just now, I saw those two newly arrived sisters over at the East Courtyard!"
Gu Han's fingers paused slightly.
"They... are together?"
"Mm-hmm!"
Ah Yao nodded vigorously.
"They seemed to be talking, but their expressions were so serious! Ah Yao didn't even dare to get close!"
Gu Han's heart tightened upon hearing this.
Qing Xuan and Ling Shuang were together? And in the East Courtyard guest house?
Given their antagonistic stance... this was the Jade Pool Immortal Palace; if those two really started fighting, the entire Immortal Palace would likely suffer!
She set down the Spirit Cakes and said gently to Ah Yao,
"Be a good girl, Ah Yao. Go find your Second Junior Sister to play with first. Master has some matters to handle."
"Oh... okay then..."
Although Ah Yao was somewhat reluctant, she obediently left.
After Ah Yao left, Gu Han sighed softly, stood up, and headed toward the East Courtyard.
In the courtyard of the East Courtyard guest house.
Empress Qingxuan was still in her purple long dress, leaning lazily against a stone chair in the pavilion, fiddling with a jade pendant with her fingertips.
Empress Ling Shuang stood not far away, her blue palace attire making the cold aura around her even more intense.
"Ling Shuang, you really aren't being polite at all."
Empress Qingxuan spoke first, her voice carrying its usual laziness, yet her gaze was as sharp as a blade.
"Loitering here at Sister Gu's place—aren't you afraid word will get out and ruin your reputation as the Empress of the Northern Region?"
"Why should I care about others' opinions on how I conduct myself?"
Empress Ling Shuang snorted coldly, her gaze sweeping over Qing Xuan.
"As for you, the dignified Lord of the Eastern Territory, running off to a private meeting dressed like that in the middle of the night—if that gets out, it would truly be damaging to your reputation."
The corners of Empress Qingxuan's lips curled slightly, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.
"Sister Gu and I are not strangers; what's wrong with being a bit close?"
"On the other hand, you staying here all day... anyone who didn't know better would think you had some improper designs on Sister Gu."
"You—!"
Empress Ling Shuang's breath hitched, and the coldness around her grew several degrees stronger.
"Qing Xuan, stop talking nonsense!"
"Oh dear, why are you getting angry?"
Empress Qingxuan chuckled, covering her mouth, though her eyes held no mirth.
"I was just speaking casually; why must you be so agitated?"
"Could it be... that I've hit upon your true feelings?"
She slowly stood up, her purple skirt falling like water. She walked to within three steps of Empress Ling Shuang and stopped, tilting her head slightly with an expression of concern.
"Actually, I can understand."
"A person as peerless and elegant as Sister Gu would naturally inspire affection in anyone who meets her. However..."
She paused, her tone suddenly becoming earnest and meaningful.
"Your personality is too blunt, and you don't know how to speak properly; I'm afraid you'll end up scaring Sister Gu."
"Unlike me, who knows best how to be considerate and how to make her happy."
On the surface, these words were ones of concern and advice, but in reality, every sentence belittled Empress Ling Shuang while elevating herself.
How could Empress Ling Shuang not hear the meaning in her words? Her face instantly darkened.
"Qing Xuan, stop your hypocritical posturing!"
"I act in an open and upright manner, unlike some people who say one thing to someone's face and do another behind their back!"
"Open and upright?"
Empress Qingxuan blinked, feigning surprise.
"But how did I hear that a few days ago, you insisted on giving Sister Gu a gift?"
As she spoke, she lightly stroked the Concentric Bracelet on her wrist, a flash of triumph in her eyes.
"If word of that got out, those who didn't know better would think you were forcing yourself on her."
"You're talking nonsense!"
Empress Ling Shuang was furious, the phantom of the frost heaven sword flickering faintly behind her.
"Fellow Daoist Gu and I gained insights from discussing the Dao, and I simply wanted to give her a gift. How is that forcing her?!"
"Does discussing the Dao require giving gifts?"
Empress Qingxuan did not retreat but instead took a small step forward, lowering her voice with an intimate tone as if sharing a secret.
"Ling Shuang, take a sister's advice: it's better if you return to your Northern Territory."
She shook her head gently with a "this is all for your own good" expression.
"With Sister Gu's personality, what she needs most is someone gentle, considerate, and who knows their place."
"Just like your elder sister here..."
Empress Qingxuan suddenly sensed something and turned toward the entrance of the courtyard.
A gentle smile instantly blossomed on her face, and her voice rose slightly with just the right amount of pleasant surprise.
"Sister Gu? Why have you come?"
As soon as Gu Han stepped into the East Courtyard, she saw this scene—
Empress Qingxuan's face was beaming like a flower, while Empress Ling Shuang's face was ashen, her body radiating cold Qi.
The air was thick with the heavy scent of gunpowder.
"Fellow Daoists..."
Gu Han's brow furrowed slightly, and she was about to speak.
Empress Qingxuan had already walked to her side and naturally took her arm, the movement intimate yet not appearing abrupt.
She tilted her head slightly to look at Gu Han, her eyes full of tenderness and a perfectly measured amount of worry.
"Was Sister Gu worried because she heard a commotion?"
"Oh, it's all your elder sister's fault. I was just chatting with Younger Sister Ling Shuang, and I might have been a bit too direct, making her unhappy."
As she spoke, she gently shook Gu Han's arm, her tone carrying a hint of coquettish apology.
"Sister won't blame me for being talkative, will she?"
"I only spoke up because I saw Younger Sister Ling Shuang's personality is too blunt and was afraid she wouldn't know her place and would annoy you."
This series of actions and words flowed like water, demonstrating the essence of being a "Green Tea" Master to the fullest.
First, she offered a preemptive explanation (though it distorted the facts).
Then, she took the opportunity to establish physical contact with Gu Han to show intimacy, and under the guise of "it's for your own good," she lightly shifted the responsibility away.
Finally, she counterattacked by implying that Ling Shuang didn't know her place.
Seeing her posture, Empress Ling Shuang felt a surge of blood and Qi.
"Qing Xuan! Stop your act!"
Empress Ling Shuang gritted her teeth, fury burning in her eyes.
"My business with Fellow Daoist Gu does not require your interference!"
"Younger Sister Ling Shuang, don't be angry."
Empress Qingxuan turned around, still holding Gu Han's arm, and gave Ling Shuang a tolerant and helpless smile.
"Sister knows you have a blunt personality; I don't mind."
As she spoke, she gently patted the back of Gu Han's hand and comforted her in a low voice.
"Sister Gu, don't take it to heart either. Younger Sister Ling Shuang just has that kind of temper; she doesn't actually mean any harm."
Gu Han: "..."
She was a bit dazed by Qing Xuan's series of maneuvers.
"Fellow Daoists,"
Gu Han composed herself and tried to pull her arm out of Qing Xuan's embrace, her tone as steady as possible.
"Since you are here, I hope you will prioritize harmony. Do not let the palace Disciples see this and make a joke of it."
Empress Qingxuan felt Gu Han's slight struggle, but far from letting go...
...she instead held on tighter, her soft form pressing against Gu Han's arm as an innocent expression appeared on her face.
"Sister is right; it was my lack of consideration. I was just so worried..."
She released one hand but instead gently tucked a strand of hair behind Gu Han's ear, her movements tender and meticulous, as if she had done it a thousand times before.
"Sister came here so early; surely there are no other important matters."
"If you have time, why not come sit at my place?"
"I specifically brought some Spirit Tea and snacks from the Eastern Territory before I came."
Gu Han clearly felt Qing Xuan's deliberate pressing and that startlingly soft sensation.
Her arm felt as if it were submerged in a pool of warm, fragrant softness.
Even more critically, Qing Xuan's fingertips brushed unintentionally against the shell of her ear, bringing a wave of numbing itchiness.
The tips of Gu Han's ears turned a faint shade of red uncontrollably.
She could even clearly feel the difference in their body curves.
Qing Xuan's figure was mature and full, and while her own was also quite good, certain parts were clearly... As soon as this thought surfaced, Gu Han startled herself!
Why would she suddenly care about such a comparison?!
------------------------
I've posted 70+ chapters in advance on Patreon.
Webnovel updates will still be daily, as usual.
It might not seem tempting right now but who knows what the future holds?
[email protected]/DaoistRoeoNQ
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"