Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 319 - Two Hundred and Thirty-Two: Testing

Chapter 319: Chapter Two Hundred and Thirty-Two: Testing

In the deep palace compound, the solemn and austere architectural style appeared exceedingly beautiful amidst the flurry of heavy snow.

Xu Yuan gazed at the vast expanse of white in the sky, walking alongside the red-clad woman by his side.

She seemed to have a fondness for the vibrant color of flaming red.

Instead of the loose red robe she usually wore, today she was dressed in a tight-fitting red outfit.

Xu Yuan cast a casual glance at her.

Without the bulk of the red robe, her figure finally had some contours.

Acting required immersing oneself in genuine feelings, then ruthlessly withdrawing them—entering and exiting, over and over again.

As a result,

when Li Qingyan noticed his gaze and stared back coldly, Xu Yuan merely chuckled and asked aloud,

"We’ve walked so far, can you tell me now what you wanted to ask?"

Li Qingyan stopped in her tracks, staring at Xu Yuan with slightly parted red lips:

"Chief Lou... has she already left the city?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan immediately started playing dumb:

"Huh? Didn’t you seal the entire city with a formation? How could she have left?"

Li Qingyan stared at Xu Yuan with a flat gaze as if looking at an idiot:

"Xu Changtian, when you say that, do you think I’m witless?"

"Not at all."

Xu Yuan replied seriously, "Don’t make wild accusations."

It’s not that having a bigger chest makes you brainless; of course, you have brains.

Li Qingyan closed her eyes and took a deep breath before speaking directly:

"Personally, I would prefer that she hasn’t left the city since you haven’t gone either. So, if Lou Ji is still here, I hope you can contact her and keep two Cloud Qi Bombs in the Northern Border City for Zong Qingsheng and Uncle Mu."

After listening thoughtfully, Xu Yuan asked:

"And if she has already left?"

Upon hearing this question,

the corners of Li Qingyan’s lips rose slightly, her phoenix eyes narrowed as she stared intently at Xu Yuan:

"If she has left, she would surely have proposed taking you with her. But you’re still here, so now, you can start thinking about how to explain to me why you have chosen to remain in the Northern Border City."

"....." Xu Yuan’s expression was slightly odd.

He had found that these members of the Imperial Family were harder to fool than others.

The one who had Xu Yuan stay in the Northern Border City as a hostage was you, Wu Yuan, and now the one needing an explanation for staying is also you, Wu Yuan.

After a long while,

Xu Yuan suddenly let out a somewhat amused chuckle, "What are you suspecting?"

Li Qingyan smiled slightly, her gaze unchanging, "What do you think I’m suspecting?"

"How would I know what you’re suspecting if you don’t tell me?"

"You know very well what I’m suspecting...

"Enough, enough."

Xu Yuan raised his hand to interrupt the conjecture, "You’re merely suspecting that I, Xu Changtian, have stayed to stir up trouble in the Northern Border City."

Speaking, Xu Yuan paused, pointing to himself:

"Your Highness, do you really think someone as debauched as I am capable of causing trouble in such circumstances?"

"A debauchee?"

Li Qingyan sized up Xu Yuan up and down, and a hint of amusement flashed across her stunning face:

"I never trust mere reputations, only what I see with my own eyes."

"So what have you seen?"

"Xu Changtian, this past month I’ve observed that you’re nothing like a debauchee."

"Do I look like I can beat you in a fight?"

".... "Li Qingyan.

There was a moment of silence,

as the red-clad woman brushed off the snowflakes that had settled on her shoulder:

"It seems Lou Ji has indeed already left."

Xu Yuan didn’t bother to conceal it any longer:

"She has indeed left, and she did suggest taking me along."

"Oh?"

Li Qingyan’s beautiful eyes revealed some confusion, "Why are you suddenly willing to tell me this? Have you thought of an explanation for me?"

Xu Yuan shook his head, speaking earnestly,

"This was my father’s decision."

"....."

Li Qingyan appeared somewhat resigned, as if she had expected Xu Yuan to explain it this way.

Xu Yinhè.

From a young age, she had often heard this name from Uncle Mu.

As a child,

Uncle Mu’s descriptions of Minister Xu were always full of admiration, using phrases like "a premier of a generation" and "a strategist of astounding talents."

But as she grew up, Minister Xu’s image in Uncle Mu’s narrative gradually shifted from praise to being called "a thief of the state," "an old cur that won’t die," and other angry curses like "a bastard who doesn’t follow the way of a subject."

Such a man was indeed suitable to take the blame.

Seeing Li Qingyan’s expression, Xu Yuan knew she didn’t believe him. He sighed and lied smoothly,

"That’s not it, my princess. Do you think I, Xu Changtian, would want to stay in this godforsaken city?"

While speaking, Xu Yuan pointed towards the southern part of the city:

"The city gate there has been blown up. We both know how many days it could withstand an attack from the Barbarian Tribes."

"But my father said we need me, his son, to remain here in Northern Border City as a hostage to assure you that our actions in the Prime Minister’s Mansion will not endanger the Imperial Court’s interests."

Li Qingyan, having listened to his heartfelt speech, thoughtfully looked into his eyes:

"Didn’t you say you’re a debauchee? Do debauchees care about these things?"

Xu Yuan frowned slightly, his eyes taking on a trace of indignation,

"Li Qingyan, it’s true that I, Xu Changtian, used to shirk my duties, but having been influenced from a young age, I can still discern the weight of major affairs."

Li Qingyan gazed at Xu Yuan.

Xu Yuan also stared back at her, his eyes sincere and earnest.

After a moment,

Li Qingyan suddenly curved her eyes and chuckled, "It seems Lou Ji has already prepared an escape route for you."

"....." Xu Yuan’s expression stiffened.

Dammit, trying to pull off some bravado and these women tear it down far more ruthlessly than any other.

Lost in thought,

Li Qingyan slowly raised a hand and gently caressed Xu Yuan’s face, chuckling softly up close, her crimson pupils burning like fire: