The conversation at Guanxing Tower did not last very much longer.
As the night wind grew colder, Gu Qing noticed Qin Xiyan huddling under her thin blanket, so he took the initiative to suggest they head back.
Although Qin Xiyan was a bit reluctant to leave, she nodded obediently.
On the way back, neither of them spoke of any heavy topics.
However, Qin Xiyan could not help but explain a few more things regarding the engagement.
“Gu Qing.”
She walked very slowly.
“Even though my family brought you here… the wedding date has not been set yet.”
“My father said that this is a matter between the two of us, after all. Even though it is a political alliance, he hopes we can… can get to know each other for a while first.”
“If you feel I am unsuitable, or… or if we do not get along.”
“You can tell me at any time.”
At this point, she glanced at Gu Qing nervously.
“Although we cannot break the engagement, I can keep stalling… I will just say I am unwilling, or that my health is poor.”
“In short, I will not force you.”
Looking at her expression, which seemed terrified of upsetting him, Gu Qing felt both helpless and amused.
‘Is this really a marriage alliance between top-tier families?’
‘Why does it feel like I am the one holding all the power?’
“Xiyan, you are overthinking things.”
Gu Qing gave a gentle smile.
“Since I am here, I might as well make the best of it. Things like wedding dates are decided by the elders. What right do I have to be picky?”
“Besides…”
He looked at Qin Xiyan, his tone turning a bit more sincere.
“I think things are quite good as they are now. We can be friends first, then talk about other things. What do you think?”
“Mhm! That is exactly what I thought, too!”
Qin Xiyan nodded vigorously, her violet eyes lighting up with brilliance.
—
The next hour became Qin Xiyan’s “tour guide time.”
She seemed as though she had not been this happy in a long time, enthusiastically leading Gu Qing around Moon-Dwelling Courtyard.
“Look, over there is the Ink-Washing Residence. That is where you will be staying.”
“Next to it is the Rain-Listening Pavilion, which is where I live. There is a terrace on the second floor. You can hear the sound of the rain when it pours, and it is very beautiful.”
“And over there, behind that bamboo forest, is a hot spring pond. It is connected to a geothermal spiritual vein and is very comfortable to soak in. You can go there often in the future.”
Moon-Dwelling Courtyard was indeed massive.
It was absurdly large.
Every plant, tree, brick, and tile gave off a feeling of being “low-key but incredibly expensive.”
The seemingly ordinary bluestone paths were actually paved with solid slabs of warm jade.
Walking on them felt as smooth as silk, and the cold of the night was completely blocked out.
The flower beds along the road were not planted with ordinary ornamental flowers, but with rare spiritual grasses.
Even the few goldfish swimming in the pond were actually the young of some sort of sentient spiritual beast.
“Is this really just… a side courtyard?”
Gu Qing could not help but sigh.
Compared to this place, his family estate on Canglan Star was like a thatched hut in the countryside.
“Yes, it is just a side courtyard,” Qin Xiyan replied, nodding with a bit of embarrassment.
“Because of my health issues over the years, I cannot live in places like the main household where the spiritual energy is too violent. So, my father specifically had someone renovate this floating island.”
“Although it is not as grand as the main estate, it is peaceful.”
“I only moved here two years ago.”
Gu Qing looked at the luxurious decorations around him, clicking his tongue inwardly.
‘Peaceful?’
‘This is clearly a paradise built with countless resources.’
“Oh, right, Gu Qing.”
Qin Xiyan suddenly stopped and pointed to a rockery not far away.
“There is a teleportation array there that leads directly outside. However…”
She paused, a trace of a plea in her eyes.
“Although there is no grounding order, if you want to go out, could you… could you let me know first?”
“I am not trying to control you, it is just… this is the Qin Family, after all. Some places outside have many rules. I am afraid that if you are unfamiliar with the paths, you will… you will run into trouble.”
She did not say “be bullied,” but Gu Qing understood.
A useless matrilocal son-in-law wandering around a strictly hierarchical place like the Qin Family without a guide would easily be targeted if he did something wrong or entered somewhere he should not.
“I understand.”
Gu Qing nodded, agreeing readily.
“I am not one for going out much anyway. If there really is an emergency, I will definitely tell you first.”
“That is good.”
Qin Xiyan breathed a sigh of relief, the smile returning to her face.
—
As they turned a corner of the corridor, they encountered Mother Qin, who was leading a team of maids on a night patrol.
Mother Qin, who had looked cold and sharp as a hawk just a moment ago, saw her face instantly melt the moment she spotted Qin Xiyan.
“Oh, my little ancestor!”
Mother Qin walked over quickly, her voice full of worry.
“What time is it? Why are you still out here in the wind?”
“Even though Moon-Dwelling Courtyard has a temperature-control array, the night dampness is still very heavy. What if you catch a cold?”
As she spoke, she reached out and straightened Qin Xiyan’s clothes.
“Nanny, I am fine.”
In front of Mother Qin, Qin Xiyan looked like a spoiled granddaughter.
“Gu Qing just arrived today, so I was showing him around.”
“Hmph, what is there to see? There will be plenty of time later. Could you not look during the day tomorrow?”
Mother Qin glared at Gu Qing.
Although she did not lash out in front of Qin Xiyan, her eyes clearly said: ‘You ignorant son-in-law, how dare you keep the Third Miss up late?’
Gu Qing rubbed his nose and sensibly lowered his head to admit his mistake.
“It was my oversight. I will take the Third Miss back now.”
“Forget it, forget it. There is no need for you.”
Mother Qin waved her hand.
“The Ink-Washing Residence is just ahead. Go back and rest yourself. I will look after the Third Miss.”
“Yes.”
Gu Qing was about to bow and take his leave when Qin Xiyan suddenly grabbed Mother Qin’s sleeve.
“Nanny, I want to take Gu Qing to see the kitchen.”
“The kitchen?”
Mother Qin froze.
“Why go to such a smoky, sooty place?”
“Gu Qing said he can cook. I want to go see it.”
Qin Xiyan shook Mother Qin’s arm.
Mother Qin had no choice but to sigh helplessly, giving Gu Qing another fierce glare.
“Fine, fine, fine. Whatever you want.”
“But you have to go to sleep after one look, do you hear me?”
“I hear you!”
—
The kitchen of Moon-Dwelling Courtyard was located in an independent courtyard on the west side.
When Gu Qing stepped inside, he was once again shocked.
‘Is this a kitchen?’
‘This is practically a small-scale alchemy room!’
The space was massive, and there were no traditional stoves or firewood.
Instead, there were rows of jade counters engraved with temperature-control arrays, along with several bronze cauldrons suspended in mid-air, heated by spiritual fire.
Several female cultivators dressed in white were busy at work.
They were clearly not ordinary cooks, but spiritual chefs who specialized in the Food Dao.
Upon seeing Qin Xiyan and Mother Qin enter, the spiritual chefs quickly put down their work and bowed respectfully.
“Greetings, Third Miss. Greetings, Mother Qin.”
“You may rise.”
Qin Xiyan waved them off and turned to look at Gu Qing with a hint of expectation in her eyes.
“Gu Qing, this is the kitchen.”
“See? It is very big, right?”
Gu Qing nodded, his gaze sweeping over the spiritual ingredients and kitchen utensils he had never seen before.
Purple rice, glowing bamboo shoots, and various meats of beasts he did not recognize…
It was indeed high-end.
So high-end that he felt a bit lost.
He had originally wanted to see if he could use the kitchen here to continue brewing the medicinal prescription Su Li had given him.
After all, that was a formula Su Li had specifically created to regulate his meridians.
If he stopped taking it, his previous efforts would be wasted.
But…
Gu Qing’s gaze landed on the ingredients on the shelves.
There were none.
Forget the ordinary medicinal herbs on Su Li’s prescription; he could not even find a single low-grade spiritual grass here.
Everything was a top-tier ingredient that he could not even name.
‘Brewing medicine with these things?’
‘I do not know how.’
Gu Qing’s brow furrowed slightly, a hint of difficulty appearing in his eyes.
“What is wrong?”
Qin Xiyan, who had been watching him closely, keenly sensed the change in his emotions.
“Is… is what you are looking for not here?”
Gu Qing hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded.
“The ingredients here… are too high-grade.”
He gave a bitter smile.
“I was looking for some ordinary medicinal herbs, or… perhaps some lower-grade spiritual plants.”
“Medicinal herbs?”
Qin Xiyan blinked.
“Are you feeling unwell?”
“No.”
Gu Qing quickly shook his head.
“It is… it is a health-replenishing soup I have always drank. The recipe is a bit special and requires some specific materials.”
He did not mention Su Li, nor did he mention that it was for treating his meridians.
He only said it was a health-replenishing soup.
This excuse was reasonable.
After all, Qin Xiyan knew his health was poor, so it was normal for him to have a folk remedy.
“So that is it.”
Qin Xiyan understood.
She did not ask what the recipe was, nor did she show any disdain for the low-grade items.
She turned her head and looked at a middle-aged female cultivator standing nearby.
The woman appeared composed.
Though she wore a cook’s attire, her aura was extraordinary; she was clearly the manager of this kitchen.
“Aunt Hong.”
Qin Xiyan spoke.
“If Gu Qing needs any materials in the future, no matter what they are, as long as the Qin Family has them, try your best to satisfy him.”
“If they are not in the storehouse, send someone to buy them outside.”
“In short, this is also Gu Qing’s home from now on. Whatever he wants to do, you all must cooperate.”
Aunt Hong glanced at Gu Qing.
Although she was curious about what this matrilocal son-in-law was up to, she still bowed respectfully.
“Yes, Miss, please rest assured. I will have someone prepare it immediately.”
She then walked up to Gu Qing, her attitude being somewhat polite.
“Young Master Gu, if you need any materials, you can provide me with a list. If they are available in the city markets, they can be delivered as early as tomorrow morning.”
“Thank you, Aunt Hong.”
Gu Qing breathed a sigh of relief and cupped his hands in thanks.
“It will not be too much trouble. Just some common…”
He paused, recalling the names in Su Li’s notes.
“I will write the list for you later.”
“Very well,” Aunt Hong nodded.
—
It was very late by the time they left the kitchen.
Mother Qin finally spoke up and forcibly took Qin Xiyan back to rest.
Gu Qing also returned to the Ink-Washing Residence.
He sat at the desk, spread out paper and ink, and began to write the prescription from memory.
With every name he wrote, the image of Su Li teaching him how to identify the herbs surfaced in his mind.
“This one is Dragon Whisker Root. It is best to choose those with purple roots…”
Gu Qing’s hand paused slightly, and the ink bled into a tiny black dot on the paper.
“Li…”
He whispered the name softly.
‘I am doing quite well now.’
Gu Qing looked at the moon outside the window and spoke silently in his heart.
‘This place is very big and very beautiful.’
‘The owner of this place… is a kind girl just like you.’
‘If… I really cannot step onto the path of cultivation in this lifetime.’
‘Then I will use this body to stay with her in Moon-Dwelling Courtyard and finish this mortal life peacefully. It would not betray the kindness she showed today.’
A moment later, Gu Qing put down his pen and looked at the complex prescription on the paper.
‘But if…’
‘If one day I am fortunate enough to find my path to immortality.’
‘Xiyan, I will stay with you, too.’
‘I will walk with you until the end of your life and see you off peacefully… Then I will pursue my Great Dao and seek the truth of what happened back then.’
This was the promise Gu Qing made to himself.
It was also the only return he could offer this kind girl.
Gu Qing closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Then, he picked up the pen again and added a line of small characters at the end of the prescription:
[Age of herbs does not matter, spiritual energy is not required.]
After finishing everything, Gu Qing blew out the lamp.
On his first night in Moon-Dwelling Courtyard.
He did not sleep very soundly.
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