Where prosperity ends, flowers never end

Chapter 138: End of Suspension

When he was at a loss, he happened to meet Xu Yuanchao who was walking towards him steadily.

“Puff, puff…”

Xu Yuanchao walked closer when he heard the voice, and his face was full of smiles when he saw Ran Qianxi.

"Xi'er."

Ran Qianxi waved again.

"You come, you come."

Xu Yuan walked over and looked around. The gap in the wall could barely accommodate two people.

"Why hide?"

"I'm telling you, the Queen Mother asked me to get the painting, but the Emperor is here, so please help me get it."

"What painting?"

Ran Qianxi adjusted her posture, and the two of them immediately stuck together.

"Just talk about the Empress Dowager's Changchun Painting."

Xu Yuanzhao smiled faintly, lifted her chin and kissed her.

"Okay, I'll get it."

After a while, Xu Yuanchao came back with the painting, but Ran Qianxi was still hiding.

"Did you bring it?"

"Ah."

Ran Qianxi smiled and stealthily pulled him away from Si Hua Mansion.

The Queen Mother was getting anxious, so she sent a eunuch to check.

"How's it going? Are you back?"

"I'm back, but... I'm back with Yu Anhou..."

"what?"

The Queen Mother and Fu Shuang were both surprised.

Hearing the words "Yu An Hou", Luo Yi perked up.

Ran Qianxi: "Queen Mother, the painting you wanted."

The Queen Mother sighed impatiently, thinking that she had not met Baili Yong either.

"Okay, take your seat. You can take this painting back to the Jibei Palace."

"Ok."

"Someone, bring some tables, chairs, bowls and chopsticks to Marquis Yu'an."

Xu Yuanchao bowed to the Queen Mother.

"Thank you, Queen Mother. I have important matters to attend to. Please forgive me for not disturbing you."

"Well, that's fine. Let's get busy while meeting Marquis An."

"As ordered."

As soon as Xu Yuanchao turned around, Ran Qianxi packed a few snacks.

"Wait, no matter how busy you are, you have to eat. Here you go~"

Xu Yuanchao smiled with relief. Judging from her tone and expression, she was no different from his wife.

"Thank you, Second Miss."

Watching the two people come into close contact, Lady Luoyi clenched her fists.

"This Xi girl...could it be that she likes Xu Yuanchao?"

Fu Shuang also felt strange.

"Marquis Yu'an is outstanding in both family background and appearance, and all the girls in the city are attracted to him. Maybe Miss Ran just thinks he's good-looking?"

"This Xu Yuanchao has achieved great success and is trusted by the emperor. Although he is a good husband... he is... a man with a broken heart after all."

The more the Queen Mother thought about it, the more complicated it became, so she stopped thinking about it.

"Just keep an eye on it..."

"The servant understands."

Noon -

Listening to the young ladies from aristocratic families talking about men and good marriage places, Ran Qianxi was obviously about to fall asleep.

The topic either revolves around Xu Yuanchao, Tan Qianhuan, Qian Youren and Shang Zijun.

When Shang Zijun was mentioned, the ladies all looked at Ran Qianxi.

Not only that, Wei Jiguo and Ran Qiongxi did not escape the clutches of the devil.

"Tsk, how many men are there in the Imperial City? Read them all."

Liu Xun and Xie Ying did not escape either.

"Hey, what else can these people think about all day except who to marry? There's nothing to talk about..."

The young eunuch served awkwardly by the side. He looked handsome and elegant, and Ran Qianxi took a liking to him at first sight.

"Come on, come on, have some quail."

"Thank you, Second Miss. I am not hungry."

Ran Qianxi took his hand and put the quail in.

"Eat it. I can't eat so much. Don't waste it."

Wei Zhong was obviously flattered.

"Thank...thank you, Second Miss."

Ran Qianxi handed him a few more cakes.

"eat more."

Wei Zhong glanced at her unexpectedly. Ran Qianxi really didn't even let the eunuchs go.

"Look at you, you've eaten it all."

After she finished speaking, Ran Qianxi raised her hand to wipe it for him, and he was so scared that he immediately knelt on the ground.

"What are you kneeling for? Come on, get up and eat two more cakes."

"Minion...minion..."

Ran Qianxi put down the pastry and helped him up.

"Eat quickly."

"Yes."

Ran Qianxi stood up only after Wei Zhong finished eating.

"I'm leaving now. If the Queen Mother asks you about it, just say I went home because of a toothache."

"The slave knows."

Jibei Palace

Tan Qianhuan was sipping tea in the pavilion, smoke was rising from the incense burner, and the smell of musk and powder was intoxicating.

He was dressed in a white robe that fluttered like snow, which was more alluring than the fragrance.

"Godfather, Godfather."

Tan Qianhuan paused, looked back gently, and a smile instantly appeared on his face.

"Xi'er?"

Ran Qianxi walked over holding the Changchuntu.

"This is the painting that the Queen Mother gave you. It is said that... uh... it was painted by Li Zhengzhong himself? Yes, yes, yes."

Tan Qianhuan smiled faintly and poured her another cup of tea. Only they understood the trick of the deep affection between the monarch and his subject.

"Thank the Queen Mother for me."

"Okay~"

"You will be going back to school in five days. Have you finished copying the law code?"

Hearing the word "Law Code", Ran Qianxi felt so ashamed that she had been copying slower and slower these past few days under Xu Yuanchao's control.

"Not yet, I don't want to copy..."

Tan Qianhuan smiled.

"Why don't you bring it to me and I'll copy it for you."

"No, no, no, forget it. Xu Yuanchao is hard to fool."

Ran Qianxi stood up helplessly, having not moved a penny today.

"I'm going to copy some books. Godfather, remember to eat."

After returning to Yu'an Marquis' Mansion, Xu Yuanchao had a gloomy face, as if Ran Qianxi owed him eight hundred coins.

"Come back without eating?"

Ran Qianxi walked forward without knowing why, and Xu Mingxuan stood beside him with a smug look on his face.

"You're asking even though you already know the answer. Didn't I give you some snacks?"

"I say, King Jibei, why didn't you keep your adopted daughter and come back after dinner?!"

Ran Qianxi looked at the two of them and finally understood where his gloomy face and Xu Mingxuan's smug look came from.

"Didn't I come back to copy books? Otherwise, my godfather would definitely ask me to stay for dinner."

"No need to copy, go eat!"

Ran Qianxi reluctantly rode on his legs. He leaned back and put his arms around his slender waist with a false attitude.

"Why are you acting like a young wife? I'm like a husband who's out fooling around."

"Tan Qianhuan doesn't look like a young wife, so just go find him."

Ran Qianxi raised her eyebrows.

"The prince does not look like that."

"It's really unreasonable."

"Haha, I haven't heard you scold me in a long time."

She looked back at Xu Mingxuan, and the child was so scared that he immediately jumped out of the hall.

"My Lord, do you miss me?"

Xu Yuanchao pulled away her hand that was lifting his chin, but he was still angry.

"Please ask the second young lady to go and copy the books, so that she won't be in my bed every day while her heart is in the Jibei Palace."

Ran Qianxi lifted his chin again.

"No way~ My heart is with you~"

The atmosphere was tense and the fire was burning immediately. Xu Yuanchao put his arms around her head and kissed her fiercely. Before going to bed, he had already taken off Ran Qianxi's dress.

Five days later—

Ran Qianxi returned to the academy, but stayed at Yu'an Hou's mansion every day.

Today happened to be Liu Xun's morning class, Qian Jingyang and Shang Zilai surrounded her tightly.

"Master Xi, you are back. I can't even enjoy my meals without you."

Ran Qianxi closed her brows and smiled happily.

"Haha, has the cafeteria changed its cook?"

"No..."

Ran Qianxi patted him.

"No wonder you don't enjoy the food."

While they were joking and talking, Liu Xun walked in with a textbook, and the atmosphere suddenly became serious.

"Morning, Master."

Liu Xun's eyes turned slightly. All the students in the classroom said good morning together, but he set his eyes on Ran Qianxi.

"I saw Miss Ran Er in the classroom today. I guess the March deadline has arrived."

"Yes, Master."

Liu Xun smiled faintly.

"Good, come to the study after class."

Ran Qianxi bowed respectfully.

"Yes."

When the bell rang to announce the end of get out of class, Ran Qianxi hid himself early. Only a fool would go to his study to get scolded.

"I still don't believe you can wait for me for a day."

She tiptoed to hide, but unexpectedly stepped on Liu Xun behind her!

"Where are you hiding?"

Her hair stood on end, and her heart beat wildly due to nervousness and fear.

"Hahaha... isn't this my uncle-in-law..."

Liu Xun turned her around and his eyes told her that there was no escape.

Ran Qianxi: "Haha... tell me... how to punish..."

Liu Xun frowned, as if he didn't know what she was talking about.

"What's the penalty?"

"It's a private fight, only using fists and violence to solve the problem."

"You also know that this is inappropriate?"

Ran Qianxi pulled her wrist away awkwardly.

"There's nothing we can do about it. Xu Mingxuan is just a jerk."

Liu Xun's face was full of worry. She didn't know what to do if Xu Yuanchao refused to give in.

"Pay attention next time."

Ran Qianxi came up to him with a smile and put her arms around his waist. He swallowed helplessly.

"Master, what did you ask me to do in your study?"

She was very bold and kissed Liu Xun's mouth as she spoke. After a moment, Liu Xun slowly put his arms around her slender waist and cooperated.

"Ah~"

The bell rang for class, and Ran Qianxi hurriedly pushed him away and ran towards the classroom, with a trace of bright red lipstick still on her lips.