Chapter 674: Chapter 674: Overly Concerned

As her voice fell, a rhythmic clapping suddenly came from outside the door.

A man’s voice, tinged with amusement, followed. "They all say King Yan Nan’s only daughter, Princess Qingyang, is spoiled, willful, and domineering. But from what I’ve seen today, those are nothing but baseless rumors."

Princess Qingyang started, immediately turning to look back.

"Who!?"

’Just a moment ago, she’d specifically checked that no one else was around before speaking so freely. To think she was still overheard!’

’And she hadn’t sensed even a trace of the person’s presence!’

As she spoke, Princess Qingyang drew the long whip from her waist. She rose and stood protectively in front of Ye Chutang and her two siblings, staring warily at the closed door.

’The man... he’s right outside the door!’

"What kind of skill is eavesdropping? If you have any nerve, come on out! We’ll have a proper fight!"

The man outside, however, let out a low laugh, as if he’d just heard something interesting.

Princess Qingyang grew more incensed. "What are you laughing at!?"

After a moment, the laughter finally stopped.

"Miss Ye, if you don’t speak up soon, I’m afraid Princess Qingyang is really going to strike."

Hm?

Princess Qingyang froze, baffled. She subconsciously glanced back at Ye Chutang.

"Y-You know him?"

Ye Chutang took a sip of tea and sighed softly. "It’s been a few years, and you’ve certainly put on airs. Are you now expecting the esteemed Princess Qingyang to personally invite you in?"

Princess Qingyang’s eyes widened in an instant. "You two really know each other!?"

The next moment, with a CREAK, the door was pushed open from the outside.

Princess Qingyang instinctively looked back.

A man in pale lilac brocade was sitting quietly in a wheelchair, a faint smile on his lips as he gazed in their direction.

His features weren’t strikingly handsome, but they were well-defined and open, giving him a natural air of broad-mindedness and clarity.

His presence was like a refreshing spring breeze.

Princess Qingyang paused, only then noticing the thin blanket covering his legs.

Behind him stood a slender man dressed in a simple tunic and trousers, apparently his attendant.

"You..."

Princess Qingyang started to speak, but then she remembered he was apparently a friend of Ye Chutang’s. She quickly turned her head and whispered, "Who is this? Why didn’t you tell me you had a friend coming?"

’This is so sudden!’

Ye Chutang smiled. "Actually, you know him in a way. His name is Xun Cheng, from Louyang. Oh, and to be precise, he’s just returned to the Capital City from Long City."

’Long City?’

’Doesn’t that mean he’s the friend Ye Chutang messaged for help!?’

Princess Qingyang instantly realized she had made a huge mistake and was mortified. She quickly put away her whip.

"Oh, um, my deepest apologies! I-I didn’t realize it was you! Please, come in!"

As she spoke, she quickly stepped aside, a rare look of embarrassment on her face.

’If it had been anyone else, she wouldn’t have batted an eye. But this man was different—he was the one who saved her father!’

Long Jiu wheeled him into the room, then turned and went back outside to stand guard.

Xun Cheng, for his part, remained perfectly at ease. He couldn’t help but smile at Princess Qingyang’s reaction.

"Princess Qingyang, please don’t trouble yourself over it. It was simply a misunderstanding. Besides, the Commandery Princess only drew her whip out of concern for Miss Ye’s safety. Such a sincere and loyal heart is never at fault. If anything, it is I who have been rude, arriving unannounced and disturbing everyone. I hope you will forgive me."

Princess Qingyang still felt terribly embarrassed.

"No, no! You’ve done a great service for my father and me! I haven’t even had a chance to thank you properly!"

Xun Cheng looked a little lost, casting a pleading glance at Ye Chutang.

’He’d never been good at handling such... over-the-top enthusiasm.’

"Besides, with your legs... this journey must have been far more arduous for you than for most. I truly don’t know how I can ever thank you for going to such lengths to help!"

Princess Qingyang was utterly sincere, her face a mixture of earnest gratitude and apology.

Xun Cheng: "..."

’All right, that’s enough. Please, no more thanks...’

Suppressing a smile, Ye Chutang said, "Alright, Commandery Princess, please don’t dwell on it. Since Xun Cheng agreed to help, he did so with a sincere heart. King Yan Nan has returned safely, so you can finally be at ease. If you truly wish to thank him, then paying for today’s tea will suffice."

’How many Silver Taels could tea possibly cost?’

Princess Qingyang knew Ye Chutang was giving her an easy way out of an awkward situation, and she was both grateful and touched.

"No problem!"

She then turned to Xun Cheng, vowing, "Now that you’re in the Capital City, if there’s anything at all I can do to help, you need only say the word!"

From her tone, it sounded as if she intended to take him under her protection.

Xun Cheng chuckled and, rather than refuse, said, "Well then, I must thank the Commandery Princess in advance."

’Now he understood why Ye Chutang was not only on good terms with Princess Qingyang, but was even willing to lend her a hand.’

’The rumors painted her as spoiled and willful, but meeting her today, he found her to be frank and forthright—a person of rare and genuine character.’

Xun Cheng’s expression grew more serious. "King Yan Nan stands guard over the Southwest and his military achievements are tremendous. When a man like that is in peril, it is only right that we do everything in our power to save him."

At his words, Princess Qingyang’s eyes welled up again.

’In truth, she wasn’t without her resentments.’

’During all their years apart, she had always wondered: what was her father fighting for?’

’He charged into battle, fighting and bleeding for the realm, yet he was still held in deep suspicion—so much so that she and her father couldn’t reunite, unable to even see each other for years at a time.’

’She was left here in the Capital City, and everyone assumed she spent her days in carefree revelry, perfectly happy. But in truth, she hated living like this!’

’Now, hearing Xun Cheng’s words, she finally seemed to have her answer.’

’He wasn’t doing it for himself, or even for His Majesty. He was doing it for the good of the realm, for its people!’

’He would face death without regret!’

Xun Cheng never expected one sentence to provoke such a strong reaction from Princess Qingyang, and for once, he was stunned speechless.

’How is this Princess Qingyang so different from the rumors?’

He shot another questioning glance at Ye Chutang. ’Does she cry this easily?’

Ye Chutang explained calmly, "She just saw King Yan Nan."

Oh.

’So that’s why.’

After a moment’s thought, Xun Cheng offered a word of comfort. "Commandery Princess, please rest assured. King Yan Nan should be staying in the capital for quite some time on this visit. You’ll be able to have a proper reu—"

Princess Qingyang looked at him, her eyes still red. "Though you are disabled in body, your heart is filled with great righteousness! Chutang once told me a saying: ’The fate of the nation is the duty of every person.’ You truly embody those words!"

Xun Cheng: "..."

’He suddenly felt he might have been overthinking things...’

Suddenly, a flash of red zipped past his eyes.

His hand twitched instinctively.

But in the next instant, he remembered where he was and forced the movement to a halt.

In the span of a breath, Princess Qingyang was in front of him, barely half an arm’s length away.

Her almond-shaped eyes were wide with eagerness and joy. Still tinged with a rosy flush, they looked exceptionally clear and captivating.

Caught off guard, Xun Cheng instinctively turned his head slightly to the side.

Princess Qingyang asked urgently, "You said just now that my father will be staying in the capital for a long time? Is it true?"

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