Chapter 391: Chapter 313: A Hero, is Also a Hero
After settling Zhou Yitang back in her guest room, Chen Yi turned around and stepped into the main hall.
As soon as he entered, he saw the anxious Min sisters waiting. Upon seeing him, Min Ming leaned forward slightly; her lips quivered but she dared not speak, while Min Ning had already hurried over to meet him.
"Are you alright?" Min Ning quickly scanned him from head to toe and, seeing that he was unharmed, asked, "How did it go?"
Chen Yi untied the clutter-free belt from his waist and hung it on the wall, then loosened the straps of Hou Kang Sword. As he arranged his blades, he responded:
"Everything is still fine. It seems the inner palace will quiet down for a while. As for your sister..."
Mid-sentence, Chen Yi glanced at Min Ming. The courtesan trembled slightly, her delicate and peach-like complexion turning pale.
Chen Yi remained indifferent, continuing, "I can’t promise the Empress Dowager will lose interest in her, but if possible... perhaps it would be better for her to stay at my home."
"Alright." Min Ning agreed without hesitation.
Min Ming was slightly taken aback, and Chen Yi also found it surprising. He looked at Min Ning in astonishment.
"You actually agreed?" Chen Yi couldn’t help but ask.
Min Ning replied, "What’s wrong with agreeing? ... I know my sister doesn’t please you much now."
Chen Yi didn’t deny it, saying, "That’s true, but aren’t you afraid I’ll let my lust get the better of me?"
At this, Min Ning stared straight at Chen Yi. After a long moment, she broke into a smile and said, "I trust you now. There’s no one else I can rely on."
Chen Yi chuckled dryly. Perhaps Min Ning was overestimating his self-control. Would someone as infatuated as him truly have no thoughts about soft, alluring beauty? Yet, since she trusted him, he trusted himself too. Besides, there wasn’t a better option for now.
In Jingren Palace, he had told the Empress that he cared little for Min Ming, but that wasn’t enough to resolve her crisis. Who knew what the Empress might do next? Precisely because of this, Chen Yi suggested Min Ming stay in his courtyard, serving either as a maid or as a decorative figure. This way, even if the Empress intended to target Min Ming, the cost of her actions would make her tread carefully.
"Fine, she’ll stay here. But she must work as a maid to earn her place," Chen Yi decided conclusively.
Min Ming, hearing her fate, remained silent throughout. As the person involved, she had no space to voice her opinion, not even the smallest opportunity to speak.
It wasn’t until some time after Chen Yi’s words had fallen that she finally bowed deeply to him, mixed emotions surging as she whispered:
"Concubine thanks Lord Chen Qianhu."
Chen Yi remained expressionless and said calmly, "You should indeed thank me."
Min Ming didn’t know how to respond, so she merely nodded woodenly.
Seeing this, Chen Yi had no doubt that if he asked her to kneel, this courtesan—apart from her concerns for her sister—would immediately bend her knees without much hesitation.
But Chen Yi had little interest in that now. His attention was wholly fixed on Min Ning.
Min Ning also turned her head to meet his gaze, her eyes bright and glowing.
"I mentioned before that staying here in the Capital City isn’t safe. You should leave as soon as possible," Chen Yi coughed lightly and said, "Make your preparations within the next two or three days. If they catch on at the palace, it’ll be too late for you to go."
The Empress might have heard about his interest in Min Ning, but she didn’t know Min Ning was disguised as a man. After all, such affections—for men—weren’t something one would openly admit. Hence, the Empress, who ruled behind the curtain, didn’t pay much attention to her, focusing instead on Min Ming, whom Chen Yi had openly claimed to intend to take as his concubine.
Given the current situation, Chen Yi guessed the palace was still uncertain about how to deal with him or the people around him. Before they figured it out, there was just enough time for Min Ning to leave the Capital City.
Min Ning didn’t reject his suggestion, saying:
"Alright, I’ll leave in two days."
Chen Yi responded, "If possible, I hope you’ll leave tomorrow."
Min Ning shook her head, her expression suddenly turning solemn as she said:
"I truly want to stay just one more day."
Chen Yi found it curious. The difference of one day wasn’t significant, yet he still wanted to understand her reasoning:
"Why?"
Min Ning turned her face away, not looking at him. After some contemplation, she said:
"I’ve lived here for over twenty years. There are many places and people I find hard to let go. Tomorrow, I want to bid them farewell, and also..."
Chen Yi followed her words and asked, "Also what?"
"...You." Min Ning’s voice was low.
But both Chen Yi and Min Ming heard her clearly.
Min Ming raised her head, wanting to say something, but ultimately understood she wasn’t in a position to say anything, so she closed her mouth.
Chen Yi was puzzled, asking, "Me?"
"Yes, tomorrow will you accompany me for a walk?"
Min Ning turned her back to him, yet even so, Chen Yi could feel her burning gaze.
Chen Yi understood. She must have many things she wanted to tell him.
In this Capital City, it wasn’t just her memories that resided—it also held the memories of her and him. Though fleeting, sometimes it’s the briefest moments that leave the deepest impressions.
Thus, he agreed: "Alright."
............
One day quickly passed.
Early the next morning, Chen Yi first went to the guest room to check on Zhou Yitang, but she kept her door closed. Since she was in recovery, Chen Yi didn’t want to disturb her and instead silently stood outside for a while, sensing the energy emanating from within.
Although Zhou Yitang’s cultivation had greatly diminished, she was once the ninth-ranked in the world. Moreover, her battle with the nameless elder nanny was brief, so the internal injuries she suffered this time weren’t too severe.
Feeling her energy and realizing this, Chen Yi breathed a sigh of relief and clenched his fists silently.