Chapter 22: An Siqin

In Gushi City, the ink-qilin carriage and Tian Chenyun, riding his Gale Lion, moved slowly down the street. The people nearby automatically stepped aside to let them pass. Who didn't know that this ink-qilin carriage belonged to the Seventh Prince of the Holy Temple? Since the ink-qilin only submitted to the Seventh Prince, he must be inside. Young maidens gazed at the ink-qilin carriage with hearts in their eyes, as if they could peer through the fabric to see Nan Qingcheng within. Tian Chenyun rode on the back of his Gale Lion with a sunny smile, winking at the people around him. "This is Gushi City; once we pass through, we will reach the Seven Profound Forest," Nan Qingcheng explained to Qing Mei. "This Tian Chenyun is really..." Qing Mei, who had just caught a glimpse of Tian Chenyun winking outside through a gap in the curtain, said speechlessly. "Don't mind him. We will rest here for the night and set off again tomorrow morning." Qing Mei nodded.

"Hey, An Siqin, what are you doing?" Tian Chenyun's dissatisfied voice came from outside, and the carriage stopped moving.

An Siqin wore a purple dress that draped to her ankles, her long hair cascading down. Her purple attire was like a flower, indescribably beautiful, elegant, noble, and peerless. Only, there was a hint of affectation between her brows that went unnoticed by others. Standing beside her was a girl in green, whose appearance was pretty—she could be considered a beauty—but her head full of expensive hairpins made her look tacky. "Cousin Qingcheng, it's me, Siqin." An Siqin blocked the path of the ink-qilin. She and Qin Ke had learned that Cousin Qingcheng was heading this way and had arrived early, presumably to go to the Seven Profound Forest. If she begged Cousin Qingcheng then, she might be able to go with him. "An Siqin, don't block the road; we have things to do," Tian Chenyun said bluntly. He didn't know why, but he inexplicably disliked this An Siqin.

The onlookers nearby heard that this young lady was An Siqin and immediately began to praise her incessantly.

"Oh my, look, that is the eldest miss of Anmu Palace, Fairy Siqin. It is said that Fairy Siqin is breathtakingly beautiful, and seeing her today, it is truly so."

"Yes, yes, and her temperament is so refined."

"I heard that Fairy Siqin has liked the Seventh Prince since she was a child, but the Seventh Prince does not feel the same way toward her."

"Who says? In my opinion, the Seventh Prince and Fairy Siqin are a perfect match. One is the Seventh Prince of the Holy Temple, and the other is the eldest miss of Anmu Palace, who is on good terms with the Holy Temple—a talented man and a beautiful woman!"

"That's true, that's true."

An Siqin curled her lips in satisfaction as she listened to these remarks. After all, only she was worthy of Qingcheng.

"Hey, Nan Qingcheng, who is that outside?" Qing Mei asked, squinting at Nan Qingcheng, who was calmly drinking tea before her. "An Siqin, the eldest miss of Anmu Palace," Nan Qingcheng said, taking a sip of tea. "I see your relationship is quite extraordinary, huh? 'Cousin Qingcheng,' tsk tsk." Qing Mei teased Nan Qingcheng with the air of an elder. "She insists on calling me that; what can I do? Are you jealous?" Nan Qingcheng said, his face full of smiles. "Who says? I'm not a vinegar jar," Qing Mei said, pouting her little lips.

"Cousin Qingcheng, it's me, Siqin," An Siqin called out relentlessly from outside.

"Is there something?" Nan Qingcheng stepped off the carriage, his face cold, not even glancing at An Siqin. But An Siqin was already used to Nan Qingcheng being this way; when had he ever looked at her with anything but cold eyes? Beside her, Qin Ke was also gazing at Nan Qingcheng with eyes full of love. "Cousin Qingcheng, where are you going?" An Siqin displayed her most beautiful smile toward Nan Qingcheng, but Nan Qingcheng still couldn't be bothered to look at her. "Does where I go have anything to do with you?" Nan Qingcheng said, not giving An Siqin any face at all. An Siqin's expression stiffened suddenly, and many women nearby who were jealous of her covered their mouths to hide their laughter. However, being the eldest miss of Anmu Palace, she adjusted her emotions quickly and said with a look of grievance, "Cousin Qingcheng, just tell Siqin." As she spoke, she tried to reach out to pull on Nan Qingcheng's sleeve, but he dodged her. "Don't touch me." Nan Qingcheng's voice remained cold. An Siqin bit her lower lip pitifully, looking at Nan Qingcheng with aggrieved eyes, but just as she was about to say something, she was interrupted by a clear, beautiful female voice.