Chapter 1720 - 1028: Who Are You Looking For?

"Little Confidant, tonight your grandfather will certainly be with those people. Would you like to come to my place in the evening... um... because their cooking skills are not very good."

Four women: You speak as if your cooking skills are excellent.

In the end, it was Little Confidant who took charge of the kitchen, showing her full culinary prowess, laying out a table of dishes on Sui Yi’s moderate-sized table.

While six people dined at the table, Zhi Wen’s side was also having a gathering, tables full of literati, and the Sect Masters, when suddenly the door was pushed open amid discussions.

When everyone saw the person who opened the door, they all stood up in unison.

"Ice Venerable."

At that moment, the Ice Venerable was wearing only a sleeveless undershirt, with her jade arms crossed over her chest, a slender waist, long legs, and a beautiful face, leaning against the doorway, her eyebrows and eyes carrying the weight of an ice mountain.

The chill hadn’t yet leaked out.

"Where is she?"

Someone instinctively replied, "Who?"

"Who do you think I could be looking for?" Ice Venerable squinted slightly.

The chill began to seep out.

Everyone shivered intensely.

Wen Ji’s hand holding the wine glass trembled as she said, "She didn’t come."

Ice Venerable, if you used your mind to scan, you’d know instantly, why bother asking.

Unless you want to know where she went...

"Well, she seemed to have left with her friends..."

Friends... And them.

Thinking about it, it must be those women...

Food and lust... and Teacher... haha.

Sure enough, someone at the Sect Master’s table murmured, "Master Yan is also absent... probably went to her place."

Don’t say it, brother!

Many cried out in their hearts.

Ice Venerable’s face looked unpleasant.

Everyone knew that Sect Master was a great beauty who even enchanted the Dragon Emperor, and if Mr. Sui entered her nest, wouldn’t he be devoured whole?

When Ice Venerable was about to leave, she suddenly saw Zhi Wen on the side sneakingly picking up a little turtle.

"Hey... Little Confidant, have you eaten yet..."

"You have, right, oh~~ you ate at Mr. Sui’s house... She’s home then, that’s good, that’s good."

She’s home, Ice Venerable, rest assured....

Zhi Wen’s repetitive "that’s good" mirrored the frantic thoughts in everyone’s minds.

But...

"Ah, you cooked so many dishes... so many sisters... so many..."

The voice suddenly softened, Zhi Wen covered the little turtle, turning back timidly towards the door...

Those little eyes remarkably resembled Little Confidant’s.

Then she saw Ice Venerable’s expressionless face.

Well, Ice Venerable, at least she didn’t go to someone else’s house, just brought them to her own place, it should be... probably... slightly better...

The entire elegant dining room seemed crushed by glaciers, as Ice Venerable swept her gaze across, leaving a remark: "Embody clarity with simplicity, uphold integrity with propriety, too much recklessness is not good."

When everyone realized Ice Venerable had left and turned their heads...

The dishes on the table had turned into blocks of ice.

Everyone: o(╯□╰)o

Eating a meal is reckless? How is it reckless?

This fallen gun is good, I give it full marks.

————————

In the dark night, Little Confidant, still rather shy, returned to her own home to sleep.

Upon entering, Sui Yi brought the bedding and garments into the room, seeing Shi Feixuan standing on the outside balcony.

But she quickly came in.

"Teacher, sorry... We were being frugal and didn’t bring any clothes, causing you trouble."

Shi Feixuan was somewhat apologetic, but she heard Sui Yi say: "You and I are friends now, such a trivial matter isn’t worth apologizing for... Besides, these clothes are mine, just saving time by giving you something I had, hope you don’t mind."

Shi Feixuan shook her head: "Not at all, Teacher wore it, I’m just embarrassed..."

"Eh?" Sui Yi turned to look at her.

"It’s nothing," Shi Feixuan softly said, coming over to help Sui Yi set up the bedding.

Then Shi Feixuan picked up a set of clothes and suddenly noticed there’s undergarments inside...

Her face flushed slightly.

"I haven’t used these, they’re new," Sui Yi knew Shi Feixuan and Shi Qingxuan, despite appearing poised, were after all raised in a traditional environment, internalizing propriety.

So she explained briefly.

But it made no difference.

Shi Feixuan’s face turned even redder, averting her eyes, softly saying: "Teacher doesn’t need to explain, of course, I know these weren’t used by you."

How could there be a woman who would let another woman wear her used underwear...

So it’s new.

Her face reddened simply because it was underwear, nothing more, but this person seemed to have no awareness of it.

Such a clever person...

"That’s good. I still have quite a few on my side. You can choose whatever style you like."

Shi Feixuan: "....."

Don’t choose, I’d rather die than choose.

Sui Yi also sent clothes to Shi Qingxuan... and of course encountered the same amused yet awkward reaction from Miss Shi. When she arrived in Yan Jingan’s room...

Yan Jingan glanced at her and said, "The style is somewhat conservative, fitting your habits."

Sui Yi: "..... You know about this too?"

Yan Jingan: "It’s not like I’ve never seen it."

This is the difference between a mature woman and a young lady. Sui Yi chuckled softly as she saw the words Yan Jingan had just written on the table.

"Your handwriting has improved quite a bit."

Sui Yi rarely comments on others. "Improved quite a bit" is praise, but it also implies there’s room for further improvement.

Were it anyone else, Yan Jingan would naturally consider whether the person was qualified to make such a comment, but as for Sui Yi...

"You used to guide my handwriting too. When you’re not around, I write out of boredom in my leisure time. Some progress over time is inevitable... but you write a couple of books that stir up a storm throughout the city, so now reaching Purple Sky, neither side will ignore you."

Sui Yi didn’t put down the paper, instead said, "The Dragon Ape World emphasizes Martial Arts more, although literature also develops, it’s not mainstream. Yet in recent years there’s been a trend of reading classical texts... When those above learn, those below can only develop through the guidance from above, showing that the ruling class of the Dragon Ape Faction has been studying ancient literature these years... It can only be for the relics of the Main World. If they genuinely value me, it wouldn’t be a bad thing."

Perhaps she has a chance to observe the ancient literary relics collected by the two ruling forces...

It’s not the first time Yan Jingan experienced Sui Yi’s strategic view, she smiled and said, "Your guess is quite right. The Dragon and Ape Sects have been sending out their strong forces externally in recent years, to search for ancient relics, and they have gained some yield. The grand formation today is a manifestation of that; I suspect they have more ancient techniques at hand. Moreover, the main reason the two factions support and respect us in the study room is not for the book-selling income, but to recruit individuals knowledgeable in classical texts, to help them decipher some secret script data."

"You wrote sacrificial text in the Ice Gleam District, and today you’ve penned poetry rich in ancient charm..." Yan Jingan paused, suddenly asked, "Was it intentional?"

"Just going along with the flow."

Sui Yi offered no explanation, understanding passed between them in the silence.

——————

Sui Yi and Yan Jingan anticipated the two factions would act, but didn’t expect them to move so quickly. The next morning, someone came to request their presence.

And it was from the Dragon Faction.

——————

Coiling Dragon Tower.

It was Sui Yi’s first time entering the Dragon Tower, integrating both internal and external ornamentation, taking on a grand and imposing style, wide and bold. Those traversing within held themselves with confidence, though upon seeing Sui Yi, a delicate and fragile woman, they cast curious glances, yet not lacking those who recognized her, nodding in acknowledgment, wondering why Mr. Sui was here...

The person who came to summon her did so with the Dragon Queen’s decree, Sui Yi certainly knew she was to meet the Dragon Queen.

Coiling Dragon Tower, frankly, was a governing institution from the top downwards, with the top floor inevitably occupied by the Dragon Emperor. Sui Yi initially thought the Dragon Queen was on a secondary floor, not expecting her to be on the top floor as well.

Shared power?

This made Sui Yi somewhat surprised at the relationship between the Emperor and Empress. Based on what she inferred from the language between the Dragon Queen and Ape Queen, coupled with Yan Jingan’s words, she could ascertain there was little affection between the Emperor and Empress, seemingly independent.

No closeness yet sharing power, at least it proves there’s a "relationship" stronger than a marital bond between the Emperor and Empress.

Therefore, this Dragon Queen needs to be treated cautiously.

The top floor was reached.

Sui Yi stood outside the corridor waiting for a summons, observing most of the city from there, a landscape of grandeur beyond words, yet upon a glance from the nearby guard, he noticed this female teacher was not much surprised, nor did she show any appreciation for the view, akin to casually gazing upon her backyard.

Such calm, without waves in the heart.

Fell into someone’s eyes.

The guard who glanced chaotically saw the person, immediately corrected his expression and lowered his head in greeting.

"Greetings, Lord Lih."

Sui Yi turned her head, seeing Yin Li with her hands behind her back, standing at the other end of the corridor, though she still wore a mask, but her regular attire made her figure appear quite slender, nevertheless as a female, delicate and thin, with distinct bones, lacking grace yet incredibly dignified and heroic.

Sui Yi also bowed in acknowledgment.

Yin Li stepped forward, gently waved her hand, "No need for excessive formality," and glanced at the door closed inside.

Her expression couldn’t be seen, but Sui Yi could basically deduce a bit from the other’s gaze...

Could this Dragon Maiden be thinking of that matter again.

The door opened quickly.

"Teacher, the Dragon Queen is waiting for you inside, ah, Lord Lih."

Yin Li said nothing and walked towards the other end of the corridor, maintaining a cold demeanor.

Sui Yi followed the person into the main hall, yet it was not within the main hall she saw the Dragon Queen, but, after passing through the back of the hall... arriving in the garden.

Not in the main hall, indicating the Dragon Queen did not intend to follow an authoritarian route. If in the garden...

Sui Yi saw in the garden pavilion, the Dragon Queen wasn’t either watering or painting, rather, she was simply sitting, supporting half her cheek with one hand, just gazing at the refreshing beauty outside the pavilion...

Upon hearing the attendant’s report, she turned to face Sui Yi with a gentle smile.

"I have seen your books before, and at that time I thought the author must be extraordinary. Yesterday, seeing you with Yan Jingan, confirmed my judgment was accurate."

Rather than affirming her excellence, it’s more like affirming Yan Jingan’s insight.

This doesn’t resemble the attitude of a wife towards a suspected "third party" woman, unless this Dragon Queen truly lacks interest in the Dragon Emperor, or possesses an extremely open-minded heart.

"Dragon Queen overestimates."

The Dragon Queen pointed with a finger, "Sit."