Chu Yunge let go of Master Qingchen’s hand and got off the carriage. At first glance, she spotted Pei Ji on the rooftop.
The sun set in the west. Pei Ji crouched on the roof, looking both handsome and cool. The golden sunset bathed him, making even his hair strands radiate charm. The foxtail grass in his hand seemed noble.
For a moment, Chu Yunge could not bear to look away.
It was another day of envying the Chu Emperor.
What virtue or ability did he have to possess so many top-tier handsome men? Could he not share one or two with her?
Master Qingchen noticed the appreciative yet regretful look in Chu Yunge’s eyes. He smiled faintly and spoke.
“Little Marquis.”
“What?” Pei Ji replied impatiently.
“Isn’t the sunset up there beautiful? Why don’t you take Her Highness up to see it?”
Chu Yunge looked at Master Qingchen. He smiled faintly. “Her Highness wants to see the sunset, right?”
He had given her face.
Chu Yunge could not deny it. Watching the sunset from the rooftop—or flying up to see it—did stir the heart.
“What does her wanting to see it have to do with me?” Pei Ji muttered. But he glanced down and noticed they were no longer holding hands. Though his mouth refused, his face showed reluctance, yet his body was honest. He scooped Chu Yunge up in one go.
Chu Yunge had not reacted yet when her waist was already encircled by Pei Ji’s arm.
After a short yelp of surprise, she stood on the rooftop.
“Stand steady and hold on. If you fall, I’m not catching you.” Pei Ji’s gruff voice came from beside her.
Chu Yunge nearly laughed out loud. She stood steady and held on. Those who didn’t know might think she was on a bus.
She glanced down and immediately gripped Pei Ji’s arm tightly.
Pei Ji looked at her clutching him so tightly. “Coward.”
Chu Yunge rolled her eyes at him. For the sake of his handsomeness and actually bringing her to see the sunset, she forgave him.
“Flying whenever you want must feel amazing every day, right? No wonder you didn’t want to come back and get married.”
“That’s right.” Pei Ji reacted after speaking. “I just want to break through to the 10th layer. Besides, didn’t you find someone else to marry?”
As he said this, he moved to sit down. Chu Yunge grabbed him nervously. “Why are you still moving around?”
Pei Ji hissed as his arm was pinched. “Why are you pinching? I just want to sit. Aren’t you tired standing?”
“I want to sit too, but I’m scared. You have to let me sit first, then you sit.”
“You’re so picky.” Pei Ji muttered, but he still let Chu Yunge sit first before sitting down himself.
After sitting, Chu Yunge tugged his sleeve. “Keep nagging, and do you still want the antidote?”
“You’re threatening me!”
The two bickered endlessly without stopping.
Master Qingchen watched for a moment from below and was about to leave when Xie Wangze’s voice came from beside him.
“Does Master Qingchen enjoy playing matchmaker?”
Master Qingchen turned. “Young Master Xie.”
He could not discern Xie Wangze’s emotions for a moment and paused. “Young Master Xie misunderstands. This poor monk only spoke up after seeing that Her Highness wanted to go up and see the sunset. I have no intention of disrupting Her Highness and the Prince Consort.”
Xie Wangze stared fixedly at Master Qingchen, a half-smile on his face. “There’s nothing between me and Her Highness worth disrupting anyway.”
Without feelings, how could there be disruption?
Master Qingchen glanced at Xie Wangze but did not linger. He walked straight outward and asked in confusion, “Where is Young Master Xie headed?”
“To handle matters at Caifeng Courtyard.” Earlier, Chu Yunge had suddenly taken an interest in the mute Li Guangi and ordered many custom clothes for him, which provoked the others’ anger and caused trouble.
Master Qingchen fell silent upon hearing this. Caifeng Courtyard was where Chu Yunge’s other male favorites resided. With so many people, conflicts often arose. As the Prince Consort, Xie Wangze still had to handle such trifles.
Chu Yunge on the rooftop did not notice Xie Wangze. She watched the egg-like sun disappear completely and felt thoroughly satisfied.
“Let’s go down.”
Pei Ji grabbed Chu Yunge’s hand and flew straight downward.
Chu Yunge was caught off guard. She yelped and hugged his waist in return, clinging tightly.
If they had not landed quickly, her feet might have gone up too.
Pei Ji was caught off guard by the full embrace and nearly tumbled from midair.
Chu Yunge only hugged tighter.
Pei Ji staggered to the ground. Since learning to fly at six, he had never been so disheveled. If others saw, it would become the laughingstock of the world.
“What are you doing!” The moment he landed, he shook off Chu Yunge’s hand. His face flushed red, like a bullied little wife, short of slapping this lecherous Chu Yunge.
“I thought you’d changed, but you’re still the same. You take any chance to grope and hug!” A total female rogue!
Chu Yunge’s legs went soft, her heart nearly jumping out of her chest. Seeing Pei Ji like this, she first covered her face.
Only when he did not swing did she react and speak. “Don’t you know about flight safety? You just plunged down. I was scared to death. I was about to say you did it on purpose, just to make me hug you.”
Master Qingchen, who had seen everything, stepped forward and supported Chu Yunge. “Little Marquis, Her Highness was truly frightened by you this time. Please don’t scare her like that next time.”
Chu Yunge looked at Master Qingchen. Master Qingchen was still the best.
Pei Ji saw Chu Yunge’s pale face and realized she might have been genuinely scared, not doing it on purpose. He awkwardly stepped forward to support her but was beaten to it by Master Qingchen.
Seeing their joined hands and hearing Master Qingchen say a few more words, he felt both aggrieved and annoyed.
“It was her who always wanted to strip my clothes before.” Once bitten by a snake, afraid of ropes for ten years. He had not done it on purpose.
The foxtail grass was long gone. He turned aggrievedly to leave.
An image flashed in Chu Yunge’s mind of the Princess intending to tie up Pei Ji and strip his clothes. She patted her forehead and apologized.
“It’s partly my fault too. I apologize. I won’t hug you casually anymore.”
Pei Ji paused and turned. He looked at Chu Yunge in disbelief. The Princess actually apologized… No, she had been off before.
If not for her change relaxing him, he would not have bantered with the Princess unknowingly.
His gaze fell on Master Qingchen. “Your Highness, have you truly been influenced by Master Qingchen?”
Chu Yunge coughed. “That’s right. Master Qingchen’s kindness has influenced me.”
This was indeed a good excuse for her change.
Pei Ji’s gaze fell on their hands again. “Master Qingchen truly is a master. I suppose you two were out all day today, and the poison is mostly cleared, right?”
Master Qingchen was still an ordained monk, yet he kept pulling and tugging with the Princess. It was an eyesore.
Master Qingchen released Chu Yunge’s hand but fell silent. For some reason, though they had played chess today and spent enough time together, the medicinal effect was limited.
He could not truly share a bed either. Just as he was about to say yes, Chu Yunge spoke.
“It’s cleared some, but for safety, let’s clear a bit more to reinforce it.”
Chu Yunge knew clearly that the time with Master Qingchen was limited. “Master Qingchen, would you accompany me for a meal?”
Eating together would clear the poison. Holding hands while eating worked too.
Master Qingchen’s heart stirred at Chu Yunge’s expression. It seemed the Princess knew his concerns and deliberately suggested dining together.
The Princess had truly become understanding…
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Pei Ji watched them talk, as if excluding him. Without thinking, he blurted out.
“I want to join too.”