Qi Qian stepped out of the main courtyard, stood in the yard, and gazed at the night sky for a moment before leaving the courtyard.
"Have Doctor Qin and the others retired for the night?" Qi Qian asked with his hands clasped behind his back.
Huo Lang replied, saying, "I did not go to the guest courtyard, but I heard Manager Wan say that they requested some yellow paper, a chicken, and some pastries and alcohol."
Qi Qian paused, turned his head to look at him, and the two exchanged a glance, their expressions somewhat odd.
"Your wife is carrying twins; you don’t need to attend tonight. Tomorrow, return the peace charm to your wife’s side, and let Ying Bei follow me."
Huo Lang said, "Let me stay by your side to serve you."
Huo Lang had no choice but to bow and comply.
At midnight, Qin Liuxi, yawning, accompanied by Chen Pi, walked towards the outside of the manor, Chen Pi carrying two bamboo baskets. One contained some incense candles, yellow paper, and ingots, while the other was covered with yellow paper concealing various items.
"Young Master," Chen Pi gestured with his mouth toward the manor gate.
Qin Liuxi looked up, raised an eyebrow, approached, and said, "Commandery Prince, are you out to enjoy the moon?"
"Doctor Qin was a distinguished guest invited by me; naturally, I should ensure your safety. Let’s go," Qi Qian, with his hands clasped behind his back, noticed she wasn’t wearing a cloak and said, "Didn’t Doctor Qin boast of frailty, yet you ventured out without bringing a cloak?"
Saying so, he took off the black cloak embroidered with orchids from his body and handed it over.
Qin Liuxi glanced at the black cloak, saying, "Commandery Prince’s kindness, I would not decline impolitely."
She took it without hesitation and wrapped it around herself, not minding that it dragged on the ground.
It was not hers, after all.
Qi Qian saw the cloak dragging on the ground, turned his head away, considering this a waste of good fabric.
Ying Bei stepped forward with a smile, took one of the bamboo baskets from Chen Pi, and sneakily lifted a corner to peek inside—there was a chicken, alcohol, and pastries.
Qi Qian, carrying a Wind Lamp, moved closer to Qin Liuxi’s side to provide more light for her.
Seeing this, Qin Liuxi’s lips slightly curled. This man had a considerate side.
They hadn’t walked long before she stopped.
Qi Qian, taken aback, looked back and could still vaguely see the lanterns in front of the manor gate.
"Are we here already?"
Qin Liuxi sniffed and said, "Just find any spot to settle this; walking too far means we’ll need to walk back, tiring our feet."
It sounded like they were looking for a place to relieve themselves.
"Chen Pi, light the incense candles."
"Right away." Chen Pi set down the bamboo basket, blew on the flint, lit the candles first and planted them in the soil, then lit the incense. He then took everything out of Ying Bei’s basket and arranged them one by one.
Qi Qian’s eyelids twitched, his fingers curling, feigning composure.
Is this a roadside sacrifice?
Qi Qian was somewhat uneasy, but his face revealed nothing.
Just as he was lost in wild thoughts, he saw Qin Liuxi patting the Jade Gourd at her waist, "Come out."
Who was she speaking to?
Suddenly, a cold breeze swept by, as if brushing past his ears.
Qi Qian felt a chill up his spine, his arms breaking out in goosebumps.
Even Ying Bei, who was helping light the incense for Chen Pi, sharply sensed that something was off, a chilly, eerie feeling as if something extra was nearby.
Meanwhile, Qin Liuxi took a talisman and burned it into thin air, opened her mouth, and chanted the Feeding Spell, mentioning a name.
Qi Qian heard the name, his lips pursed, nearly ready to turn and run, yet his feet seemed nailed to the spot, unmoving.
Why did he come out, could time turn back, he did not want this experience!