Chapter 142: Does This Count as an Affair?
The victory banquet continued, but it had become the Sentinels’ stage.
Sen Ji and Hong Que were granted formal titles of nobility by the Emperor. Cang Jiu was granted a position within the palace, becoming the Emperor’s Vice-Aide. All three were rewarded with luxurious villas in the Imperial Capital to live in.
As for Jiang Qingwan, the Emperor arranged for her to be a consultant for the palace’s Guide department, officially becoming an Imperial official.
Following the rewards was a free ball. After Emperor Xie found an excuse to leave, Xie Kong could finally no longer restrain himself. He stood up and walked down from the dais.
Seeing this, the noble ministers swarmed up to flatter the only Prince who currently held inheritance rights. Even the Chairperson of the Xinghu Medical Group raised a glass to Xie Kong, subtly expressing her stance.
Xie Qiang let out a yawn. She didn’t want to linger here any longer, so she stood up and led Sen Ji and the others out of the Imperial hall.
The Princess’s Palace had already packed all her things. The butler said respectfully, “Guide, these items will be bundled and sent to Commander Sen’s estate. You only need to sign for them”.
“Thank you.” Xie Qiang glanced at the packed luggage. “Was the optical computer that was confiscated before included?”
There were a lot of Star Credits in there; it should be enough for her to use for a while.
“Of course.” The butler took a Star Credit card from his pocket. “This is something His Majesty specially prepared for you”.
“At least he has a conscience.” Xie Qiang took it and tucked it into her blouse.
After leaving the palace, Xie Qiang arrived at the residence the Emperor had rewarded to Sen Ji.
Hong Que toured the place very critically before choosing the room on the far east side of the second floor. “I’m staying here”.
Mo Yin looked at the vast kitchen, blinked, and then pointed at the guest room next to the kitchen. “I’m staying here”.
“Why are you guys living in my house?” Sen Ji frowned, displeased with their lack of self-awareness.
“Well, should we stay at my place instead?” Hong Que shot back. “I’m not as petty as you. When the time comes, you can stay wherever you want. I wouldn’t even stop you from sleeping in the toilet”.
Sen Ji glanced at him. “I can’t be bothered to argue with a newly initiated Sentinel”.
Hong Que was instantly struck in his sore spot. He leaped up. “You!”
“You guys pack your bags. I’m going to rest first.” Xie Qiang quickly fled the scene, running up to a room on the second floor.
Hong Que glared at Sen Ji. “So what if you’ve slept together? Xie Qiang and I are gene-compatible partners. You’ll never understand the feeling between the two of us”.
Sen Ji let out a chuckle and also began walking upstairs. “Talk to me again after you’ve actually experienced it!”
Hong Que gritted his teeth.
What are you acting so smug for? Just you wait, I’m crawling into her bed tonight!
As night fell, Hong Que, who had slept his fill, opened his eyes. He secretly left his room and snuck into Xie Qiang’s.
His heart was racing so fast that his ears were filled with the sound of his own heartbeat. Hong Que lifted the quilt and dove inside, only to grab empty air.
Hong Que sat up abruptly, realizing the bed was empty.
Where was she?
The moon hung high. The nightlights in the backyard were in disrepair. After flickering a few times, they merged completely into the darkness.
Under a lamp, Xie Qiang was kicking a pebble by her feet out of boredom. Since it was winter, it was quite cold. She wrapped her shawl tighter around her and checked her optical computer.
“Why isn’t he here yet”.
Her cheeks hurt from the night wind. She breathed into her palms and pressed them to her face to warm up. Unable to endure it any longer, she turned to go back inside.
Just as she turned, her cheeks were cupped. Her head was forced up, and she crashed into a pair of silver-blue fox eyes. The silver-haired youth was squinting with a smile, the black mole under his eye catching the light.
“Princess, were you waiting anxiously~”
“You’re so slow.” Xie Qiang was about to voice her dissatisfaction when she felt her cheeks being squeezed by the youth’s hands, forcing her lips into a pout.
“I’m sorry, Princess.” Cang Jiu took off the soft white scarf from his neck and wound it around Xie Qiang’s. He then said with a grin, “How about I make a scarf out of the fox fur I’ve shed since I was little and give it to you as an apology?”
Xie Qiang: …Are you sick!
“Did you get the thing?” Xie Qiang reached out and wiggled her finger.
“Mmh-hmm.” Cang Jiu pulled a small sealed bag from his pocket. Inside were several hairs with follicles attached. “These are the Emperor’s hairs. I just picked them up; they’re fresh”.
Xie Qiang reached for it, but grabbed only air. The fox youth playfully waved the bag in his hand, a mischievous smile dancing in the corners of his eyes. “Princess, you tell me—it’s the middle of the night, and I don’t have a betrothal with you. Meeting like this in the backyard… does this count as an affair?”
Xie Qiang: “…Is this your reason for calling off the engagement? You want to seek thrills?”
“Does the Princess not like it?” The fox youth leaned his head against her shoulder, his index finger gently twirling a lock of her soft white hair. His voice was melodious. “Being an Imperial Consort is so boring. I’d rather be the Princess’s little secret lover~”
Xie Qiang: …
Xie Qiang ruthlessly pushed his head away. “You can leave now”.
“Princess, it’s so late, and the palace gates are closed. Are you really not going to let me stay the night?” Cang Jiu hugged her arm and acted spoiled. “If you’re worried they’ll hear, we can sneak off to another place, like the villa the Emperor gave to Hong Que…”
As soon as the youth finished speaking, he felt something being shot at him from behind. He slammed Xie Qiang behind his back and reached out to catch the incoming object.
The object was alive—red all over and burning hot. After being caught by the fox youth, it desperately pecked at the web of his thumb with its beak, screaming at the top of its lungs. “You shameless, lecherous fox! Let go of me!”
“Fat bird, why are you as rude as your master?” Cang Jiu raised an eyebrow and bared his sharp beast fangs, threateningly. “Believe it or not, I’ll eat you?”
“Let go of Little Red!”
Hong Que leaped down from the window of Xie Qiang’s room and sped toward them. “You traitor, what are you doing here!”
“Tsk, how fierce.” Cang Jiu let out Little Red. He put a single arm around Xie Qiang’s neck, standing behind her, and kissed her cheek right in front of Hong Que. He then gave a wicked grin. “Princess, I’m leaving first. I wish you a pleasant evening”.
The fox youth nimbly leaped over the back gate and vanished into the night. Hong Que rushed over frantically and immediately began wiping Xie Qiang’s cheek.
“That damned fox! Stealing someone in the middle of the night!”
The red-haired youth said indignantly. Noticing the fox-fur scarf around Xie Qiang’s neck, he pulled it off in a rage, threw it on the ground, and stomped on it several times.
Then he looked up and glared at Xie Qiang. “Why aren’t you sleeping in your room in the middle of the night? What were you doing with Cang Jiu!”
“You aren’t sleeping in the middle of the night either. Why did you jump down from my windowsill?” Xie Qiang bent down to pick up the scarf, looking at Hong Que suspiciously.
“I…” Hong Que choked. He thought of something and immediately said righteously, “You still owe me a kiss from this morning. I came to collect it!”
Xie Qiang looked at his silk pajamas, which were halfway open. “…Is that so”.
He looks like he wants to do something much worse.
Translator’s Note
Hello again! These chapters are packed with major shifts!
- Paternity Scandal: Wanyan Jin’s exposure of Xie Qiang’s bloodline is a total game-changer. In many Imperial-themed webnovels, the “swapped at birth” trope is common, but it’s usually the villain who gets exposed—here, our “Kitty Guide” is the one facing the music!
- The Goose Honk (鵝叫聲): This is a hilarious piece of internet slang used in the chat. It refers to the sound of high-pitched, breathless laughter fans make when they see their “ship” (favorite couple) having a cute moment. It’s basically the webnovel version of “squee!”
- The “Three Urgencies” (三急): Mentioned in Chapter 135, this is a humorous Chinese euphemism for needing to use the bathroom (urination, defecation, and… the third is debated, but usually refers to the suddenness of the need).
- Pinching the nose to keep the butt tight: This is Hong Que’s colorful way of telling someone to “shut up.”
- PUA (Pick-Up Artist): Xie Qiang uses this modern term to describe how she manipulated her brother’s emotions. It’s become a common term in modern Chinese slang to describe emotional manipulation in any relationship.
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