207: Chapter 205 Night Talks in the Boudoir

She looked up,

only to collide with Yun Ming's eyes, which were filled with wariness.

In those eyes, there was no admiration, no desire, and no pity—only the vigilance of 'what schemes is this woman cooking up now?'

Xue Ji rolled her eyes and cursed inwardly.

Forget it.

Counting on this man was less likely than a sow climbing a tree.

She let out a faint sigh, picked up her wine cup, and drained it in one gulp.

The wine entered her sorrowful gut, turning into even deeper melancholy.

She set down the cup, her gaze falling upon Qin Zhao.

Qin Zhao was gnawing on a chicken leg with great gusto, her mouth covered in grease. She had removed her gauntlets and rolled her sleeves up to her elbows, revealing a section of sturdy forearm.

Looking at Qin Zhao, Xue Ji suddenly thought that perhaps this woman before her could provide some answers.

She wasn't a demon, a fox, or one of those women who only knew how to seduce men.

She was a general, a warrior, an iron-blooded female commander who fought her way in and out of battlefields.

She should know what true feelings were.

Xue Ji set down her chopsticks and looked at Qin Zhao. "General Qin, I have some things I want to ask you."

Qin Zhao was tearing the last piece of meat off the chicken bone. Hearing this, she looked up, still chewing, and said unclearly, "What question?"

Xue Ji glanced at Yun Ming and then waved him away as if shooing a fly.

"You, go away. This is late-night girl talk; men aren't allowed to listen."

Yun Ming was just bringing his wine cup to his lips. Hearing this, his hand paused, and a few drops of wine spilled.

He set down the cup and looked at Xue Ji, the expression on his face quite a sight.

"What did you say?" His voice rose half an octave. "This is my house. If you two want to share secrets, why should I be the one to leave?"

Xue Ji didn't waste words with him.

She pulled an object from her sleeve and slapped it onto the stone table with a 'pa' sound.

It was a small white jade cup, its body exquisite and translucent, carved with fine patterns that shimmered with a warm luster under the moonlight.

The Lianxiang Cup.

Without even looking at it, she pushed it directly in front of Yun Ming.

"Giving you one. Go play somewhere else."

Yun Ming's gaze fell on the small white jade cup and lingered for a moment. The corner of his mouth twitched slightly, then he gave a cold snort and took another sip of his wine.

"You think a single Lianxiang Cup is enough to make me leave?" He set down the cup, a hint of disdain in his voice. "What kind of person do you take me for?"

Xue Ji looked at him and said nothing.

Yun Ming glanced at the small white jade cup again, reached out to pick it up, weighed it in his hand, and then swiftly stuffed it into his sleeve.

"I'll go into seclusion for a bit at most."

He picked up his rice bowl, hastily shoveled a few bites of food, stood up, and walked into the house with his wine cup without looking back.

The door closed behind him with a moderate thud.

Xue Ji and Qin Zhao sat in the courtyard and exchanged a look.

Qin Zhao still had unswallowed meat in her mouth, her cheeks bulging and her eyes wide and round.

She looked in the direction Yun Ming had disappeared, then back at Xue Ji, swallowed the meat, and whispered, "He sure is easy to deal with."

Xue Ji didn't speak.

She looked at the closed door, the corner of her mouth curling up slightly before quickly pulling back.

She turned her head to look at Qin Zhao, her face taking on a serious, even solemn expression.

"General Qin," she said, "do you have a gentleman you've taken a fancy to?"

Qin Zhao was stunned.

She hadn't expected Xue Ji to ask this question.

She opened her mouth as if to say something, then closed it again.

Her face reddened slightly, but she quickly suppressed it.

She picked up the wine cup on the table, drained it, set it down, and shook her head.

"No," she said, her voice blunt.

Xue Ji didn't believe her.

She looked at Qin Zhao's face, at her hand unconsciously tightening around the wine cup, and at her slightly reddening earlobes.

She pressed further, "Is there really not a single man who can catch the General's Dharma Eye?"

Qin Zhao fell silent.

She looked at the food on the table, at the scattered plates and dishes, and at the greasy sheen still on her hands.

She was silent for a long time, so long that Xue Ji thought she wouldn't answer.

"Actually," Qin Zhao spoke, her voice very low, "there is one."

Xue Ji's eyes lit up.

She leaned forward, hands propped on the table, staring at Qin Zhao without blinking. "Who is it?"

Qin Zhao didn't look at her.

She picked up the wine cup, took another sip, and set it down.

Her gaze fell on an unknown small tree in the courtyard. Moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting mottled shadows on the ground.

"Shen Yizhi," she said. Her voice was very soft, as if afraid it might be overheard by the wind.

Xue Ji's eyes grew even brighter.

Shen Yizhi.

She had heard this name before.

The foremost strategist under the Third Prince, peerless in intellect and calculation, capable of reading human hearts completely.

On the Second Prince's side, this name was also like a thunderclap to the ears.

It was said his face was like fine jade and his eyes like bright stars; when still, he was elegant and upright, and when in motion, he was full of brilliant strategies. It was said he never grew angry, never lost his composure, and always maintained a calm and unhurried demeanor. It was said his calculations were infallible; Shen Yizhi was a major reason why the Third Prince could grow from one among many princes into a power capable of rivaling the Second Prince over the years.

Xue Ji began to press for details, her voice carrying an irrepressible excitement.

"What kind of person is he? How did you two meet? Does he know you like him? Have you made any progress? Have you made any private vows or anything?"

Qin Zhao shook her head, looking as if she wanted to speak but stopped herself.

Her lips moved a few times, then closed again.

Her brow furrowed slightly, as if she were torn or hesitant.

Seeing her like this, Xue Ji was incredibly anxious.

"Just say it!" Xue Ji urged. "I've already asked this much, and you're still being secretive?"

Qin Zhao looked at her, her lips moving again.

Her gaze swept over Xue Ji's face, then moved to the closed door behind her, before returning to her face.

She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

"You are the Second Prince's trusted favorite concubine," Qin Zhao said, her voice a bit colder than before. "I am talking about the Third Prince's strategist. Do you think I should be telling you these things?"

Xue Ji was taken aback for a moment.

She looked into Qin Zhao's eyes; there was no malice or mockery in them, only a calm, sober scrutiny.

She suddenly understood.

It wasn't that Qin Zhao didn't want to say it, but that she couldn't.

She belonged to the Second Prince, while Qin Zhao belonged to the Third Prince.

The two sides were in opposing camps.

Telling someone from the enemy camp about one's own strategist was not just a risk; it was practically betrayal.

Xue Ji fell silent.

She lowered her head and looked at her fingers, her nails painted with bright red balsam that shimmered with a dark red glow under the moonlight.

She was silent for a long time, so long that Qin Zhao thought she wouldn't speak again.

Xue Ji looked up at Qin Zhao.

The look in her eyes had changed; it was no longer charming or calculating, but serious, even carrying a hint of entreaty.

She raised her right hand, pressing her index and middle fingers together, pointing toward the heavens.

"I, Xue Ji, swear in the name of the Heavenly Dao," her voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear and powerful, "that what is said today with General Qin Zhao shall be known only by heaven, earth, you, and me. If I reveal even half a word, let my Divine Soul be extinguished, and may I never be reborn through all eternity."

An invisible ripple spread from her fingertips, connecting with some formless power between heaven and earth.

A Heavenly Dao Oath.

It could not be violated or regretted.

Those who violated it would surely face heavenly punishment.

Qin Zhao looked at Xue Ji and was stunned for a long time.

She hadn't expected Xue Ji to swear a Heavenly Dao Oath for the sake of someone else's romance.

Xue Ji withdrew her hand and looked at Qin Zhao, the corner of her mouth curling slightly.

"Can you talk now?"

Qin Zhao looked at her, remained silent for a moment, then picked up her wine cup and drained it.

She set down the cup, took a deep breath, and slowly began to speak.