Volume 3, Chapter 398 – I Never Needed You to Do This for Me

“Noble Consort.” Chi Xiyan stepped forward, shielding Lu Zhuxin behind her.

“This lowly woman’s sister was framed by a wicked person and suffered quite a shock. Her current state is also not fit for her to continue with the consort selection.”

“This lowly woman begs the Noble Consort’s permission to take her back to rest.”

Wei Ziqing glanced at Chi Xiyan, then at the small girl hiding behind her.

The bond between these two sisters really was close.

He wondered where Cheng Yinyin had ever gotten the confidence to think she could drive a wedge between these two sisters.

Wei Ziqing smiled faintly. “Cheng Lixia, you have already passed this round of the selection. Naturally you may go rest now.”

In truth, the officials of the Huayue Court had never said that those who passed had to remain and watch the others’ performances.

It was only that with Wei Ziqing still present, no one dared to leave ahead of him.

“As for your sister.”

Wei Ziqing paused for a moment, his gaze turning thoughtful as he looked past Chi Xiyan.

Chi Xiyan’s heart tightened, and she immediately bowed, saying, “Noble Consort… my sister is still young and lacking in proper guidance. She is truly not fit to continue with the selection.”

“This incident, for her, will also serve as a lesson.”

Wei Ziqing raised an eyebrow.

That Cheng Lixia did not want Cheng Lixue to continue with the selection was rather unexpected to him.

He looked once more at Cheng Lixue behind Cheng Lixia.

He saw that the petite girl had lowered her head, letting out a soft sigh.

So that was how it was.

Rеαd οn KatReaԁіngСαfе

Wei Ziqing more or less understood what these two young ladies meant.

Cheng Lixue clearly wished to continue with the selection, but Cheng Lixia was unwilling to let her take any more risks.

Cheng Lixia was being somewhat overprotective of Cheng Lixue.

“Actually.” Wei Ziqing said with a smile on his face, “What I wanted to say is, although Cheng Lixue’s performance was forced to a halt, the sword dance she used yesterday to pass the first round is more than enough to pass the second round of selection.”

Chi Xiyan’s eyes widened in shock.

“Today’s incident was an accident.” Wei Ziqing said, “His Majesty had me preside over this selection, and for such a filthy affair to occur under my watch, I bear some responsibility for it as well.”

“So, I can grant Cheng Lixue special permission to pass this round of the selection.”

“If Miss Cheng Lixue is willing to continue with the selection, then tomorrow she may come directly for the third round of testing.”

“If she is not willing, she may also stay and rest at the Huayue Court tonight, and there is no need to rush. She may leave once the selection concludes.”

Chi Xiyan understood.

Wei Ziqing was giving her and Muxue one night to carefully consider whether to stay or leave.

But this also revealed something.

Muxue’s performance had already caught Wei Ziqing’s attention.

Chi Xiyan was not naive enough to think Wei Ziqing was acting out of simple kindness.

Wei Ziqing was the chief judge of this selection. Whether Chi Muxue stayed or left could be decided by a single word from him. There was truly no need for him to make a point of saying it here at all.

The true meaning behind Wei Ziqing’s words was, give me one night to think it through clearly, and let Muxue stay to continue with the selection.

If she still chose to have Muxue leave, that would mean turning down his offer to his face.

Rеаԁ оn KаtRеaⅾіոɡCαfе

Thinking of this, a chill rose in Chi Xiyan’s heart.

This could be said to be the worst outcome she could have imagined.

“Thank you for your kindness, Noble Consort.” Chi Xiyan took a deep breath and said, “This lowly woman and my sister will think it over carefully.”

Chi Xiyan led Lu Zhuxin away.

After a brief pause, Wei Ziqing resumed presiding over the selection.

However, after the earlier dazzling performances by a few individuals, none of those remaining could catch Wei Ziqing’s eye anymore.

“Immortal elder sister, do you think those two sisters will choose to stay?”

The voice of the person in the ring came through, “How would I know? Though, I would advise you to get your hands on that Dragon Phoenix Scarlet Sun Pill sooner rather than later.”

“That pill has just finished being refined. Right now is when its properties are at their most potent.”

“I understand.” Wei Ziqing thought of the Dragon Phoenix Scarlet Sun Pill in Cheng Lixia’s hand.

A pill capable of letting him break through to the fifth realm immediately, how could he possibly not want it?

However, there were still a few things he had not quite figured out.

As he was thinking this over, Wei Ziqing turned his gaze toward a certain young lady down on the stage below.

“There is also that one, Bu Ruyan. Would she have any connection to those two young ladies?”

Bu Lianshuang felt rather restless.

She had come here to take part in the selection in the first place just to see the fox young lady.

After seeing Chi Xiyan lead the fox young lady away, Bu Lianshuang had already wanted to leave.

Reαⅾ оո КatRеαԁiոɡСаfе

But she could not, not right now.

Among all these people, only two had left so far.

If she tried to be the third to leave, she would surely draw far too much attention.

It might even bring trouble to the fox young lady.

So, Bu Lianshuang could not leave yet.

She had to stay here obediently and wait until the selection concluded before she could go.

Suddenly, Bu Lianshuang shivered. She looked up, and her eyes met a pair looking right back at her.

Wei Ziqing was sitting up on the high platform, gazing at her with an expression that was almost a smile, yet not quite.

“ Hiss …” Bu Lianshuang immediately straightened her back and sat up perfectly upright.

She began muttering under her breath.

“Ugly monster, do not look at me. Ugly monster, do not look at me. Ugly monster, do not look at me.”

“Demons and monsters, evil spirits and ghouls, all of you begone.”

“I have not provoked any of you.”

“…” Wei Ziqing could not hear what Bu Lianshuang was muttering, but he had the vague feeling he had just been insulted somehow.

Meanwhile, elsewhere, Chi Xiyan led Lu Zhuxin along, walking in silence the whole way.

Only once she was certain no one was around to disturb them did Chi Xiyan finally stop.

She turned around and looked at Lu Zhuxin, who was likewise staying silent with her head lowered.

Rеαԁ οո ΚatReαⅾiոɡСαfe

Chi Xiyan sighed softly, “I think we need to talk.”

Lu Zhuxin pressed her lips together and said, “Does sister think there is some misunderstanding between us that needs clearing up?”

Chi Xiyan’s expression paused slightly, and she said, “There has never been any misunderstanding between us.”

Lu Zhuxin’s voice was as faint as a mosquito’s hum, “Did sister not suspect me earlier…”

“I did not suspect you.” Chi Xiyan cut in, interrupting Lu Zhuxin’s words.

Seeing Lu Zhuxin’s expression freeze slightly, she thought she had frightened her, and her tone softened somewhat.

“I just… was not sure what you were planning to do…”

“Like… you should have discussed how you were going to deal with Cheng Yinyin sooner.”

“If you had discussed it with me sooner, we would not have been placed in such a passive position today.”

Chi Xiyan sighed, “Little Xue’er, have you thought about what would have happened to you if I had not made it up onto the stage in time to save you today.”

“If I were not a fourth realm sword cultivator, if those officials had not been able to stop me, I truly do not dare imagine…”

“Muxue…” Chi Xiyan bit her lower lip lightly. “I have already been through something like this once before.”

“I truly… do not want to go through anything like that again.”

Lu Zhuxin’s expression froze slightly, “Sister… I am sorry, I only wanted to help you… And besides, I did succeed in getting proof of Cheng Yinyin’s crime, did I not?”

“No. You do not understand.” Chi Xiyan said, “Muxue, I am grateful that you wanted to help me.”

“But I never needed you to take such a risk for my sake!”

“Do you understand?!”