The next day, the sunlight upon the capital was warm and cozy. The streets were filled with people hustling and bustling about, a prosperous scene indeed.
Ling Chuxi did not take to heart the matters of the changes in the palace. She considered them family matters of the emperor that were unrelated to her. Just like how all the other citizens think that as long as the country is at peace and they are living in amity, able to keep themselves warm and eat well, wasn’t it all the same? Who cared which of the Fu family was the emperor?
Peaceful days passed just like this. For three days in a row, Ling Chuxi passed time like a rice bug, eating and sleeping to her heart’s content…
The morning sun was shining warmly on her skin but it did not feel very comfortable. In Fu Chengyu’s quaint little courtyard, Ling Chuxi was half sprawled on a bamboo chair, picking at a few peony cakes and putting them into her mouth, squinting her eyes in satisfaction as she did so.
“Hey, Chuxi, come on, let’s spar,” called out Ling Yichen as he walked over holding his sword with a smile on his face.
“All right, fome onf!” responded Ling Chuxi enthusiastically and unclearly as she chewed her peony cake.
Ling Yichen looked at Ling Chuxi who was in a good mood and felt joy in his heart at the sight. Every time he saw Chuxi smile, he felt an incomparable sense of steadfastness and satisfaction in his heart. This, this was what he wished for. To be by her side. This thought became even clearer in his mind and the intentions in his heart became even more determined.
Ling Chuxi drew her sword and flew upwards as a dazzling white light errupted. Ling Yichen did not dare be careless as he welcomed her attack with a serious expression. The two of them became mere afterimages in the courtyard as they clashed against one another with such speed it caused one to be dizzy at the sight. Two strong auras spiraled outwards from them, causing the surrounding trees and flowers to be blown back by strong gusts of wind.
Fu Chengyu stood at the walkway of the loft, observing the two of them sparring down there till sand and pebbles were flying all around his courtyard. Seeing Ling Yichen being lively and happy like this, a smile slowly appeared on Fu Chengyu’s face. If things stayed like this, it would be very, very good…
After having an invigorating and comfortable match, Ling Chuxi happily said, “Yichen, I feel that your cultivation has improved yet again. Furthermore, your perception seemed to have broadened. Could it be that you have had some kind of fortuitous encounter?”
Ling Yichen smiled but did not reply. Fortuitous encounter? Where would such an encounter have come from? It was just that he himself had come to understand what his heart wanted the most. Therefore, his emotional state had become different and more expansive.
“What shall we eat for lunch today?” Ling Chuxi squinted as she asked this profound question.
Ling Yichen and Fu Chengyu were both left speechless.
“Can you try asking a different question on at least some days? Every day at this time, you always ask the same question…” said Ling Yichen a little helplessly.
“All right then, let’s switch it up. What do you guys think about having a whole roasted goat for lunch today?” Ling Chuxi asked happily.
Before Ling Yichen and Fu Chengyu could reply, an unknown object came flying over from beyond the manor’s walls, then the sounds of someone wailing and running away.
“Master, not good. This is not good, Master…” The unknown object turned out to be the fifth princess. Soon enough, she came rolling over aggressively. They weren’t surprised by the fifth princess’ current state. She was a foodie indeed, but unlike Ling Chuxi who could eat without getting fat, the fifth princess would gain weight once she ate a lot. Currently, her figure was much rounder than it had been in the past.
“You’re the one who is not good right now,” said Ling Chuxi as she glared at the fifth princess. “I, your Master, have been eating well and sleeping well. Yet, which part of me is not good exactly? You on the other hand. If you continue to gain weight like this, be careful. Zhuoyi might now want you anymore.”
“Master. You’re being hateful.” The fifth princess angrily stomped her foot as her face flushed red and instead of discussing the proper matters she had come to discuss, she declared angrily, “If he dares not want me just because of this, I will get Imperial Father to arrest him!”
“Tsk tsk tsk, even if people want you, they won’t be able to afford to. Just look, if you continue to gain weight like this, do you think Zhuoyi would be able to carry you at all?” teased Ling Chuxi.