Ye Siheng was momentarily stunned, but then he understood the meaning behind her words and couldn’t help but smile. His eyes were as gentle as if they might overflow with water. A few strands of fine hair fell down, giving him an even more youthful appearance. The sunlight was just right, illuminating his delicate, rosy skin, which radiated an air of noble elegance.
"Yes, I’m a fox spirit specially here to seduce you," Ye Siheng said, leaning closer until his chest was nearly against hers. For some reason, hearing her heartbeat made him feel at ease, as if he had witnessed a scene where her heart no longer beat.
Similarly, Nanli felt a wave of panic wash over her and found herself feeling an inexplicable sense of resentment towards Ye Siheng. Instinctively, she pushed him away. Her reaction startled even herself, leaving her expression stiff.
Ye Siheng looked up, thinking she must be unwell, and his face filled with concern as he quickly asked, "What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
As he spoke, he began to channel his spiritual energy to sense her body’s meridians.
The panic in Nanli’s heart quickly subsided, and when she looked at Ye Siheng’s handsome face, the feelings of resentment faded away. If Ye Siheng asked for it, she would even willingly offer him her heart. Ah, beauty is indeed misleading!
"I’m fine," Nanli said, finding the sudden feeling quite baffling. She glanced at him a few more times, her expression curious. The feeling did not return.
Ye Siheng could not detect any issues with her body, but her strange gaze made him a bit apprehensive. "A’Li?"
Nanli touched her chest and smiled, "I guess I’m just a bit tired." How else could she explain the earlier sensation?
Ye Siheng felt a little guilty, gently massaging her right hand. "It’s my fault; I promise I won’t be reckless again."
Nanli couldn’t help but laugh. "What’s your fault? After all, I’m not the one making the bed; that’s you!"
Ye Siheng chuckled, "Right, that’s what I’m here for."
Then he recounted recent events. Upon hearing about the chaos in Qi Nation and Qi Hong’s trusted aide claiming kingship, Nanli laughed, "Qi Hong has chosen some good spies or personal guards, but the civil officials aren’t up to par."
"Spies and personal guards can be one-track minded, without too many thoughts," Ye Siheng remarked. "Take Qing Feng, for instance; he’s similar."
That rascal had knelt on the ice for three days, nearly freezing his knees, yet hadn’t comprehended anything.
As his master, Ye Siheng felt like he had to point out the obvious to Qing Feng, as if he were the latter’s own father.
Nanli set aside her book and asked, "Has Xuanyuan Che made any decisions yet?"
Ye Siheng replied, "We can call him over now to ask."
After sending a guard to summon him from the Supervisory Office, Xuanyuan Che arrived, braving the wind and snow within a quarter of an hour.
Ye Siheng had already changed into different clothes, sitting upright in a grand chair. Incense burned from a gilded censer, with fragrant wisps rising.
Nanli, dressed in a pink skirt, had fitted sleeves and a cinched waist. Ye Siheng knew she disliked complicated attire, so he had put a lot of effort into the embroidery and details.
The small begonia flowers embroidered on her skirt shimmered like flowing clouds due to the gold thread, appearing exquisite yet spirited.
Seeing them, Xuanyuan Che immediately knelt and saluted.
Nanli pursed her lips, glancing at his knees. "You don’t need to kneel to greet us anymore; the rules between me and the prince aren’t that strict."
Xuanyuan Che, with a look of loyalty, sat up straight. "As a subordinate, it’s my duty! It reflects my loyalty!"
Nanli’s lips twitched slightly. Why did his tone remind her of Qing Feng?
She responded, "Loyalty should be reflected in how you handle matters, not just by kneeling."
Xuanyuan Che clasped his fists, looking teachable. "You’re right, Ruler! So over the past half month, I’ve gone through the archives of the Supervisory Office, met all the Black Armor Guards, learned their strengths and weaknesses, and reformed the Supervisory Office. Now it’s organized with clear rewards and punishments, and each Black Armor Guard can utilize their strengths!"
Nanli was momentarily stunned. It sounded impressive.
She turned to Ye Siheng for confirmation, who nodded slightly.
Even her elder brother was quite surprised, remarking that Xuanyuan Che had sharp insight. After lying low in Mu Nation for many years, he had skillfully handled the Seven Hearts Leaf and Poisonous Enchanting Bug scheme, proving he could manage the Supervisory Office well. Xuanyuan Che’s intelligence was extraordinary.
Moreover, he was well-versed in the Enchanting Bugs Technique and had considerable knowledge of poisons. If any food in the Supervisory Office were tampered with, he would be able to detect it.
Nanli realized that Xuanyuan Che had likely worked himself to the bone to read all those files in just half a month.
Sometimes loyalty is relative; he was doing such a good job because he had his own agenda.
So Nanli directly asked, "Have you two siblings made a choice?"
Xuanyuan Che stared at her blankly, hesitating for a moment before saying, "I’d like to ask the Ruler, how long can A’Lan remain in the mortal realm before her soul dissipates? When will she be unable to cross the Bridge of Helplessness?"
Nanli raised an eyebrow, quickly guessing his intention. "You’re quite clever; you know there’s a time limit for souls in the mortal realm."
Hearing the compliment, Xuanyuan Che felt elated. "Thank you, Ruler! Actually, while reviewing the files, I also took the time to read many texts on the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams, consulting with the Taoists at Xuanzheng Temple..."
"Stop..." Nanli rubbed her forehead. "Don’t you ever sleep?"
Xuanyuan Che blinked. "I do; I’ve slept for two hours today."
Nanli looked at his bright eyes, devoid of any dark circles, unsure of what to say for a moment. Indeed, a person’s soul strength directly influences their vitality.
Some people have strong souls and thus abundant energy, requiring only a bit of rest to feel rejuvenated. Others with weaker souls feel exhausted even after sleeping for seven or eight hours, appearing pale and lacking luster.
Xuanyuan Che was indeed a talented worker, able to work ten hours a day without feeling tired!
"Then, Ruler..." Xuanyuan Che’s gaze was earnest and pleading. "I’d like A’Lan to stay in the mortal realm a while longer, and when she can no longer remain, then send her for reincarnation. Is that possible?"
Ye Siheng felt a bit helpless. People like Qing Feng, who were too single-minded, could sometimes be unreliable. But then, Xuanyuan Che, being too clever, would try to bargain.
"A’Li, if this is difficult for you, there’s no need to agree with him."
Nanli regarded Xuanyuan Che with a hint of admiration. "It’s not like I’m being asked to go against fate; I’m not in a bind. He’s smart enough to figure out the rules."
After all, she was not one to strictly adhere to rules either.