It Was A Fake Marriage, But Jiu Qian Sui Took It Seriously - Chapter 31

The envoy from the Western Jin Dynasty noticed that the situation was getting tense and quickly stepped in to mediate. It was one thing for family members to fight among themselves, but letting outsiders watch and laugh at them would be unacceptable.

Out of respect for the envoy, the Grand Princess relented and ordered everyone to disperse, allowing them to roam freely within the residence.

Since the Grand Princess had lost her husband early, there was no male master in the household. Previously, male guests had been accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Rites. But now that the infamous “Jiu Qian Sui” had arrived, he naturally became the highest-ranking figure among them.

The male guests followed him to the front courtyard.

Princess An Ning understood the situation as well. She shot a fierce glare at Xuan Yuan Zhe before turning away to chat with the Grand Princess.

“This chicken-bl00d stone is truly one of a kind. It looks absolutely stunning on you, Your Highness,” she said with admiration.

The Grand Princess gently touched the ornament on her head, smiling with satisfaction. “I must thank Princess An Ning for her generosity. I adore this headpiece.”

Meanwhile, Shen Qing Li quietly left the banquet table, feeling a sense of relief. The subtle yet lingering gaze from Princess An Ning had made her uneasy.

She wandered to the rear garden of the princess’s residence, where many other guests were also strolling. Standing by the long corridor, she gazed at the vibrant spring scenery.

Once she moved into her own residence, she decided she wouldn’t plant flowers. Instead, she would fill her courtyard with vegetables…

A clear, gentle voice interrupted her thoughts.

“Miss Shen, why are you standing here alone?”

Turning around, she saw Miss Liu, who had changed into a fresh set of clothing, standing behind her.

Shen Qing Li smiled politely and greeted her, “Miss Liu.”

She had a favorable impression of Miss Liu. However, recalling the moment earlier when Jun Mo Ran had shielded her, Shen Qing Li now looked at Miss Liu with a hint of complexity.

“Thank you for your help earlier. Would you like to come to my guest room for a while?”

She was referring to the moment when Shen Qing Li had deflected Princess An Ning’s sword strike. Shen Qing Li understood.

She nodded. “Alright.”

The two entered the guest room. The interior was simply furnished, with only a bed, a table with chairs, and a large bookshelf. Guests of their status were provided rooms to rest during the banquet.

Shen Qing Li did not look around and quietly sat down to sip her tea.

Liu Yuyan’s eyes carried a slight mist, though she maintained a faint smile. “I didn’t expect Miss Shen to be so skilled in martial arts. No wonder…”

“…No wonder what?” Shen Qing Li instinctively pressed for an answer, sensing that it had something to do with him.

Seeing her urgency, Liu Yuyan’s smile deepened, tinged with a hint of sorrow.

“No wonder he sees you differently. Even when he was injured, he still made a special effort to attend the banquet and asked me to assist you.”

“He’s injured?” Shen Qing Li’s hand froze mid-air, her heart skipping a beat.

“He’s almost fully recovered. My skills are limited, so I couldn’t avenge him. But you, you definitely can. He admires strong women—you two would make a perfect match.”

Shen Qing Li was stunned. She didn’t understand why Liu Yuyan was saying this. Clearly, Liu Yuyan and he were the ones who truly matched each other.

Just as she was about to comfort her, a playful voice sounded from behind the bookshelf.

“She has nothing to do with me.”

Startled, both women instinctively took two steps back. When they finally saw who it was, they let out a small sigh of relief.

Xuan Yuan Zhe walked forward, but unlike his usual carefree demeanor, he seemed more serious than ever. His gaze remained fixed on Liu Yuyan, deep and unwavering.

Liu Yuyan’s eyes widened in shock. “You—how are you here?”

Xuan Yuan Zhe looked her up and down, ignoring her question. Instead, he asked in a calm yet concerned voice,

“Were you hurt just now?”

His tone was different too—no longer teasing, no longer guarded. It was full of genuine care and affection.

Liu Yuyan’s expression darkened, and she turned to leave.

Xuan Yuan Zhe strode forward and grabbed her arm, pulling her in front of him.

As if scalded, Liu Yuyan struggled to free herself. “Let go of me! Qing Li, hit him—”

Shen Qing Li was so shocked that she didn’t dare move. These two…

Xuan Yuan Zhe turned to her and said, “Mo Ran is waiting for you next door.”

She glanced at Liu Yuyan, then at Xuan Yuan Zhe, before lowering her head and running out.

So they really were a pair.

No wonder the name “Yuyan” had felt so familiar—she had heard of it back at the wooden house.

Just as she closed the door, she caught a glimpse of Xuan Yuan Zhe forcefully pulling Liu Yuyan into his arms. Her hands trembled as she hurriedly shut the door tightly.

Looking around, she made sure no one was paying attention before swiftly slipping into the next room. Once she secured the door behind her, she finally let out a breath of relief.

“Heh, it’s not like you’ve done anything wrong—why are you so nervous?”

A crisp and melodious voice, as refreshing as a mountain spring, broke the silence.

Shen Qing Li snapped back to her senses, remembering what Xuan Yuan Zhe had said—someone was waiting for her next door…

That voice—it was him. And there was a teasing tone to it.

Jun Mo Ran sat there, now dressed in an elegant white robe. He gracefully brewed tea, his pale fingers skillfully maneuvering the porcelain teapot.

A cup of tea was placed on the table. Jun Mo Ran slowly looked up and smiled.

“Have some tea.”

Shen Qing Li was momentarily dazed by that smile. She sat down in a trance, holding the warm cup in her hands and taking a small sip.

Not many in this world had the privilege of drinking his tea.

Jun Mo Ran poured himself a cup and glanced at her. “Why is your face so red?”

She lifted her eyes to meet his, feeling like he was deliberately teasing her.

He didn’t press further and instead asked gently, “…Are you afraid of me?”

Not at all.

No matter what the outside world said about him, he had always been kind to her. She wasn’t someone who repaid kindness with suspicion.

Shen Qing Li quickly responded, “No, and I must thank Your Highness for your guidance today.”

She lowered her head and took another sip of tea, trying to hide her nervousness.

After a brief pause, she carefully chose her words and asked, “Miss Liu and the Third Prince… have known each other for a long time?”

As soon as she spoke, she felt she shouldn’t have asked.

She was just about to take back her words when Jun Mo Ran swallowed his tea and gave a light “Mmm” in response.

So he answered…

She twisted the corner of her handkerchief and couldn’t help but continue, “Is Great Zhou planning a marriage alliance with Western Jin? Miss Liu is the legitimate daughter of the Duke’s family. I doubt the Duke would be willing to send his daughter away for a political marriage.”

“They do want an alliance, but…” Jun Mo Ran’s gaze flickered toward her. “It’s not about sending someone away—it’s about bringing someone in. As for whether the Duke is willing… people can always be persuaded.”

The words “bringing someone in” immediately made her realize—Princess An Ning must have come for the marriage alliance.

Her expression dimmed slightly. Not wanting to continue this topic, she shifted the conversation.

“I noticed that Miss Liu seemed to misunderstand me today. So it was Your Highness who asked the Third Prince to have her help me?”

“Mm. Too many eyes are watching me. If I approached you directly, it might have brought you unnecessary trouble.”

His words were like fireworks bursting in her heart.

He cared about her. He had always cared about her.

Jun Mo Ran saw how her emotions fluctuated because of him—sometimes happy, sometimes troubled. And that realization pleased him.

“Why don’t you ask me why I came today?”

Shen Qing Li’s face instantly turned red, the blush creeping all the way to her ears.

The way he asked… the implication was too obvious.

She was still so easy to tease.

Seeing her reaction, Jun Mo Ran, not wanting to embarrass her too much, added,

“After all, it’s a banquet for foreign envoys. The Grand Princess might not be able to handle everything alone.”

The fireworks in her heart dimmed, and her rationality slowly returned.

She had almost let her thoughts run wild again.

What was she thinking? She had already decided to stand on her own. What nonsense was she imagining?