Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 321 - Two Hundred and Thirty-Three: Extortion

Chapter 321: Chapter Two Hundred and Thirty-Three: Extortion

The graceful curves, in the dim light of the snowy day, revealed her pale skin.

Xu Yuan found he could not see through the woman named Li Qingyan in front of him, just as he could not make out the thickness of the cloth wrapped around her chest.

After a month of traveling together, he knew she was very smart, smart enough to see through many things at a glance.

Therefore, Xu Yuan was not very surprised by her earlier suspicions of him.

The image of a wastrel son of the nobility who hides his abilities is almost clichéd in the popular illustrated stories and plays of this world.

His choice to stay in Northern Border City, her verbal inquiries, they were just fair probes.

What Xu Yuan could not understand was Li Qingyan’s attitude toward him.

From the surprising things she said at their first meeting to the almost candid composure she displayed today.

If the two of them had some emotional foundation, Xu Yuan would not be surprised at all. However, he could not see any hint of affection for him in her.

If Xu Yuan was not so proficient in handling such matters, even a quite astute noble would likely have been bewildered by this woman, Li Qingyan.

Her high level of cultivation allowed her to dictate many things in his presence, yet she would also show importance on minor matters that made you feel valued.

The inadvertent tenderness displayed by a domineering person, coupled with her stunning beauty, was really not something most people could withstand.

When you were resting, she would gently cover you with a blanket, prepare warm fur outerwear for you as naturally as when you entered the city, and let you feel the difference in the way she treated you versus others.

If it were in his past life, Xu Yuan would definitely have retreated by now.

One can only be compelled by their own heart.

In matters of strength, there is always someone stronger; you can aim to catch fish, but you need to be sure it’s not a shark you’re up against.

He simply could not understand why Li Qingyan would do this.

Their marriage was only a political union to foster temporary trust between the Prime Minister’s Mansion and the Imperial Family. Although both sides spoke of their inability to disobey and followed the flow, whether the wedding would take place as scheduled was still unknown.

Currently, the Yan Dynasty’s Imperial Court was basically equivalent to having two Emperors ruling together.

The conflict between imperial power and the Prime Minister’s authority was on the verge of overshadowing the disputes between the Sects and the Imperial Court as Li Yaoxuan’s time was nearing its end.

Given the awareness Li Qingyan had shown, Xu Yuan did not believe she was blind to this.

And yet, she still proceeded with her actions.

Is she betting that Xu Yuan is lovestruck?

Xu Yuan had seen some instances in past life video materials of national policies being swayed by love, but those were anomalies.

Moreover, his current public identity was that of a wastrel; if he dared to do anything underhanded, Xu Changge could break his legs.

"...."

With thoughts whirling in his head, the private room was filled only with the "click-click" of armor being donned.

Xu Yuan watched as Li Qingyan calmly armored herself before him.

Piece by piece, armor components were methodically put on, and her skin, which had been exposed to the cold air, was completely covered by the heavy armor.

Li Qingyan suddenly turned her eyes back to him, the gold glinting on bright red with golden-edged dragon armor making her gaze piercingly sharp:

"You... what are you thinking?"

Xu Yuan gathered his thoughts, not wanting to ponder on things he couldn’t make sense of, and anyway, he wouldn’t fall for it. He smiled and said:

"I was wondering if you don’t feel suffocated, wrapping your chest all day."

"Suffocated?"

Li Qingyan arched an eyebrow, looking at Xu Yuan calmly, and countered, "It seems like some of your beauties also need to bind their chest like Her Highness does."

"..." Xu Yuan did not respond.

Li Qingyan pondered for a moment, then smiled slightly, "Won’t you tell? Then let me guess, it must be that Commandery Princess from the Marquis of Zhenxi’s household, right?"

"..." Xu Yuan.

After a moment of silence, Xu Yuan casually waved his hand without any concern:

"The Princess is too suspicious, Jun Wu likes women, and she and I are like siblings, nothing more."

"Mojing?"

Li Qingyan showed a trace of surprise in her phoenix eyes, then quickly composed herself: "The Marquis of Zhenxi has only her as an heir; that Commandery Princess indeed seems quite interesting."

Xu Yuan eyed Li Qingyan, changing the subject:

"As for me, I suggest that Your Highness not bind it every day. Doesn’t it feel uncomfortable?"

After donning her armguard, Li Qingyan casually replied as she tied her sword at her waist:

"I have grown accustomed to it. In the military, if you don’t bind, it can easily affect the morale of the troops."

A stunned Xu Yuan flickered in his gaze.

Understood.

It seems quite tumultuous.

After a moment, Xu Yuan smiled and waved his hand:

"That’s not what I meant. Binding your chest all the time might deform it and then it wouldn’t be beautiful anymore."

"....."

The air was quiet for a moment.

Li Qingyan’s actions in adjusting her armguard stilled slightly as she glanced at the smiling Xu Yuan, her phoenix eyes narrowing in scrutiny.

Seeing that look, Xu Yuan immediately wanted to speak in his defense, but Li Qingyan’s thin lips curved slightly:

"Rest assured, Prince Consort. I’m not like those frail commoners, and I’m well aware of my own body. On our wedding night, if you do not disappoint me, I naturally will not let you down."

"..." Xu Yuan.

Darn, his ribald remark seemed to have backfired, leaving him feeling teased instead.

Li Qingyan secured the last shoulder guard, and spoke earnestly:

"I won’t waste words. You have one night to prepare. Come to the Southern City’s Feathered Forest Army camp tomorrow at the hour of si, I will be waiting for you there."

With that,

The woman, garbed in martial attire, swiftly exited the private room and disappeared into the whirling snow in an instant...

...

...

...

Night fell, the wind and snow whistled in the ears, wailing mournfully.

Although the style of the fireworks in the Northern Frontier differed from that of the central Yan Dynasty, they were largely similar.