Chapter 75

After Si Yunqin finished playing, Shen Yanxin nodded lightly. “Not bad.”

She casually threw away the leaf. “The food hasn’t arrived yet—I’m starving.”

Shen Yanxin glanced at the door. “It should be here soon.”

Just as the words left her mouth, a female Daoist priest in a Taoist robe appeared, carrying a food box. “You won’t starve.”

Shen Yanxin’s sharp gaze fell on Si Yunqin. “Didn’t you say there were no acquaintances here?”

Si Yunqin rubbed her nose awkwardly. “I didn’t know Senior Sister Zhou was here either.”

Shen Yanxin couldn’t be bothered to listen to her excuses. She just gave a cold snort. Si Yunqin’s Senior Sister Zhou—Shen Yanxin had met her before. Even when her injuries hadn’t fully healed, they would still practice swordplay and drink together. That bond was hardly ordinary.

Zhou Xinglian walked in and froze when she saw Shen Yanxin. She remembered exactly who Si Yunqin had said this person was.

“Commoner greets the Empress Dowager.” Zhou Xinglian bowed respectfully to Shen Yanxin.

Shen Yanxin gave a slight nod but said nothing. Zhou Xinglian found herself in an awkward position until Si Yunqin stepped over and took the food box. “There’s no Empress Dowager here. We’re just a few pilgrims passing through Azure Cloud Abbey on our travels.”

Si Yunqin opened the food box and took out the dishes inside, then shouted into the room, “Come out and eat!”

As she spoke, she laid out the food. “This is your handiwork, Senior Sister? We’re in for a treat.”

“I was on kitchen duty today.” Zhou Xinglian relaxed a little after recovering, casually chatting with Si Yunqin.

Listening from the side, Shen Yanxin noted how familiar the two were.

Si Yunqin handed a pair of chopsticks and a bowl to Shen Yanxin. “Ignore them—we’ll eat first before we starve.”

Shen Yanxin took them and ate quietly. After half a day of travel, she was indeed a bit hungry.

“How come you’re here, Senior Sister Zhou?” Si Yunqin asked curiously.

“Oh, the Temple Abbot of this Azure Cloud Abbey is my Shishu. In half a month, all the temple abbots from under heaven will gather at Yunfu Taoist Temple for the Dao Discourse. My master sent me ahead to help with preparations. I only arrived yesterday.” Zhou Xinglian answered truthfully.

“What a coincidence,” Si Yunqin said as she ate.

As they talked, the others came out, all looking tired and weary. Si Yunqin teased them. “You guys can’t keep up.”

“Only you can,” Ke Lanyue retorted, unconvinced.

After spending a few days with Shen Yanxin, Ke Lanyue felt that although she didn’t talk much, she wasn’t as terrifying or hard to get along with. So she’d gradually opened up.

“Let me introduce you—this is Daoist Zhou, the Great Disciple of the Yunfu Taoist Temple. They’re my friends. We were originally planning to head to Jiangnan, but we happened to pass by Azure Cloud Mountain and wanted to see the Cloud Sea here.”

“Perfect timing. But the Cloud Sea is most spectacular at sunrise. If you want to see it, you’ll have to get up early,” Zhou Xinglian said with a smile.

“We’ve heard that too. Don’t worry, we’re prepared.”

“Then enjoy your meal. I’ll take my leave.” Zhou Xinglian bowed to Shen Yanxin again before withdrawing.

After she left, Si Yunqin reached out and turned Ke Lanyue’s head around. “She’s gone. Stop staring. Even a lecher isn’t as focused as you.”

Ke Lanyue turned her head back and asked Si Yunqin curiously, “Can Daoist priests really look this good?”

“Why not? You’ve never seen the Temple Abbot of Yunfu Taoist Temple, have you? That’s a true immortal visage. Next time I’ll take you to see her.” Si Yunqin wasn’t exaggerating—the Temple Abbot of Yunfu was recognized throughout Heavenly Light City as a celestial being.

“How do you know so many good-looking people?” Ke Lanyue was puzzled.

“Probably because I look good too. Birds of a feather flock together.”

“You’re using ‘birds of a feather flock together’ all wrong. If your language [Yuwen] teacher heard that, she’d give you a zero.” Xi Fengyu laughed mockingly.

Upon hearing this, Yuwen Qiyue asked in confusion, “Does your teacher have the surname Yuwen?” [T/N: “Language” in Chinese is “Yuwen”, which sounds exactly like Yuwen Qiyue’s surname.]

Xi Fengyu and Si Yunqin both froze, then choked with laughter. “No, not that kind of Yuwen.”

“Another inside joke that only the two of you understand,” Ke Lanyue grumbled.

Si Yunqin didn’t say more. She just glanced at Shen Yanxin and asked with some concern, “Not hungry?”

She noticed Shen Yanxin hadn’t eaten much—most of the dishes had been consumed by the others.

“It’s the hot weather,” Shen Yanxin said lightly.

Then she put down her chopsticks. “You all finish up.”

Si Yunqin watched her walk into the room, didn’t ask further, and continued eating.

After a full meal, everyone felt more energetic. The sun was setting now, and the scenery on Azure Cloud Mountain was quite pleasant.

Ke Lanyue perked up and dragged the others out for a stroll. Si Yunqin waved them off. “I’m going to find Senior Sister Zhou.”

“Alright.”

Si Yunqin turned and went to find Zhou Xinglian. She asked an acolyte and learned that Zhou Xinglian was still in the kitchen.

She was reviewing the menu for the upcoming Dao Discourse and checking the preparations, with a young Daoist priest speaking to her.

When she saw Si Yunqin arrive, Zhou Xinglian was a bit surprised. “What are you doing here?”

“Borrowing the kitchen.”

“Didn’t you have enough to eat?” Zhou Xinglian asked with a smile.

“I had enough. But someone probably didn’t.” Si Yunqin shrugged.

Zhou Xinglian dismissed the young Daoist priest and followed Si Yunqin into the kitchen. “How did that one end up with you all? This trip isn’t just for sightseeing, is it?”

Si Yunqin searched through the kitchen for what she needed, chatting as she worked. “It really is just for sightseeing. Maybe she got tired of staying in the Imperial Palace. Who knows?”

“You two seem to be on good terms.” Zhou Xinglian was a bit surprised. She had also heard that Si Yunqin had taken part in this year’s Imperial Examination.

“You don’t strike me as someone who’d get involved in politics,” Zhou Xinglian observed. “Is it for your family? You don’t seem the type to be troubled by mundane affairs.”

Si Yunqin shook her head with a smile. “Senior Sister Zhou, you’re wrong. I’m a commoner through and through. That’s why you’re a Daoist priest, and I’m just a pilgrim.”

She was making cold noodles—two portions, one large and one small. She added some chili pepper to the large one and left the small one plain.

“Senior Sister, are you free tonight? It’s been a while since we drank together. That last sparring match wasn’t satisfying. Want to go again tonight?” Si Yunqin asked.

“How could I not have time for drinking?” Zhou Xinglian sighed softly. “Honestly, I really don’t want to deal with all this stuff.”

Si Yunqin picked up the two bowls of cold noodles. “Senior Sister, get back to work. I’ll head back first.”

Shen Yanxin was sitting in the Bamboo Courtyard, holding letters that Yan Ke had delivered—sent over by Wen Leyou.

There were a few memorials to the throne. Shen Yanxin read them while holding a brush to write comments.

“Busy even while on vacation?” A familiar voice came from behind. Yan Ke hadn’t stopped Si Yunqin from entering.

Shen Yanxin turned to see Si Yunqin carrying a bowl of noodles and looked at her with surprise. “Why didn’t you go out for a walk with the others?”

Si Yunqin set the cold noodles in front of her. “Here. I noticed you didn’t eat much. Probably not to your taste. Senior Sister Zhou’s cooking is a bit bland, and hot dishes in this weather aren’t appetizing. I made cold noodles. They’re not as refined as palace food, but they should be okay.”

Shen Yanxin stared at the bowl of cold noodles, frozen for a moment. Si Yunqin handed her the chopsticks, and Shen Yanxin took them. “Thank you.”

She took a bite—it was actually quite good, and the coolness was indeed refreshing in this heat.

Si Yunqin rested her chin on her hand, watching her. “How is it?”

“Very good.” Shen Yanxin used the other pair of chopsticks to pick up some noodles and offer them to Si Yunqin.

Si Yunqin accepted without hesitation. “I’ve got some skills. I once thought about finding a small town to open a little restaurant—I’d be the chef, hire one or two runners, and just retire like that.”

“Sounds nice.” Shen Yanxin ate the cold noodles slowly, chatting with Si Yunqin.

“I still think that way now. Though it might be even better if I had a madam boss,” Si Yunqin said, the corners of her mouth lifting as if she really looked forward to that life.

Shen Yanxin’s hand paused slightly. “Do you have anyone in mind for the madam boss?”

Si Yunqin shook her head. “That’s not easy to find. Besides, how do you know that just because I like someone, they’d like me back?”

“These things are about fate. Meeting someone is destiny; not meeting them is also destiny—destined to remain alone.” Si Yunqin laughed, unconcerned.

Shen Yanxin chuckled lightly. “You have a good attitude.”

“If you don’t, you can’t survive.” Si Yunqin stretched. She watched as Shen Yanxin slowly finished the cold noodles.

“Mother Empress~” Yuwen Luo shuffled over barefoot from the bed. Si Yunqin watched her rub her eyes and stagger over, still very dependent on Shen Yanxin.

“Awake?” Si Yunqin smiled at her. “I was about to wake you up anyway, or else your Master’s noodles would go to waste.”

Yuwen Luo obediently walked over to Si Yunqin and hugged her arm. “Master, why are you here too?”

The little one didn’t seem fully awake yet, nuzzling against Si Yunqin’s chest.

“Your aunt is a picky eater, so I made her some noodles. You’re not allowed to be picky, you hear?” Si Yunqin rubbed her head.

Shen Yanxin coughed lightly. “Alright, put on your shoes.”

Yuwen Luo looked down at her bare feet and wiggled them. “Okay~”

She wriggled out of Si Yunqin’s arms and ran back to put on her shoes.

Si Yunqin couldn’t stand watching, so she went over and helped her, then handed her the noodles.

Yuwen Luo ate with relish, finishing the entire small bowl.

“Mm, you’re more rewarding to feed than your aunt,” Si Yunqin teased.

Shen Yanxin shook her head, finished approving the remaining memorials, and handed them over to Yan Ke.

Si Yunqin held out her finger to Yuwen Luo. “Want to go for a walk outside?”

Yuwen Luo glanced at Shen Yanxin. Shen Yanxin said flatly, “Go if you want.”

Only after receiving Shen Yanxin’s answer did Yuwen Luo reach out and grab Si Yunqin’s finger, smiling obediently. “Good.”

Si Yunqin didn’t like children, but she made an exception for cute, well-behaved girls.

Then she turned and asked Shen Yanxin, “What about you?”

Shen Yanxin stood up. “Let’s go.”

Yuwen Luo walked over and took Shen Yanxin’s hand as well. With one hand in each, she was quite happy.

When they stepped out of the small courtyard, she even hopped playfully, for once showing a bit of childish mischief in front of Shen Yanxin.