Chapter 312: Change of Plans

Yi Chen didn’t push her and just waited for the response.

Seeing this, Wei Ru took a deep breath and finally answered a few seconds later,

"Do you know that among the top pill makers in our Kingdom, his name is already in the top three?

It’s not just in the Kingdom, actually. Now that he’s no longer afflicted by the disease, he has also become an external member of the Great Pill Sect.

With that, his name is now inked in the Thousand Eternal Pill List, making him among the few pill masters in the entire continent who can refine a Tier 3 pill with ninety percent efficacy."

As Wei Ru said those words, a hint of pride welled up in her eyes as she continued.

"Not only that...since he’s only a hundred years old, he’ll definitely be able to become our Kingdom’s first ever Grand Master! A title that would definitely improve our Black Rock Kingdom’s status in the entire continent..."

Seeing the enthusiasm evident on Wei Ru’s face as she said those words, Yi Chen couldn’t help but become confused.

’Weren’t you trying to anger him to death earlier? Why are you suddenly praising him now that he’s not here?’

As a result of these thoughts, Yi Chen asked her the next moment with confusion evident in his voice, "...If you admire him so much, just why did you do that to him in the first place?"

Hearing Yi Chen’s words, Wei Ru chuckled in a self-deprecating manner.

"That man...Han Fu...He’s still young and has a prosperous future waiting for him.

To gain the affection from such a man at this age...of course, I’m flattered beyond words, and because of his relentless proposals, the intensity of my rejections naturally began to falter.

To have a man like that have such intense feelings for you is something any woman would crave. Naturally, it’s the same for me. However..."

A bitter smile formed on Wei Ru’s lips as she shook her head, "...Nothing should ever happen between the two of us.

Being young, he’s naturally full of passion, but passion has always been a double-edged sword. While it has helped him rise to great heights at such a young age, it also possesses the capability to make him fall back to the bottom.

Something which I would never want him to go through. He possesses great talent and has several hundred years more to live...so falling for someone like me, who doesn’t even have more than a few decades to live, will only bring him great sorrow.

Knowing him for several years... that would definitely be too much for someone who had entirely dedicated his life to pill refining all this while. That’s why...it’s best this way...for him to hate me until the end.

In that way...maybe he could even use his hatred towards me to become an even better Pill refiner, don’t you think so?"

Wei Ru asked with a hollow chuckle while meeting Yi Chen’s gaze.

"This..."

Suddenly, it was Yi Chen’s turn to be at a loss for words after hearing Wei Ru out. He was also reminded of the little exchange they had had while at the dinner table earlier...the words she had said at that time repeated in his mind, which perfectly overlapped with the reasoning she gave now.

"...Not wanting to hurt the person you love, so you distance yourself from them instead..." Yi Chen muttered with a bitter smile while turning to his right to look at the dark, foggy skies.

Several kilometres away, flashes of different lights could be seen through the fog, clearly indicating that the citizens were also celebrating the day with great vigour.

Looking at the flashing lights, Yi Chen continued, "Love...it’s truly complicated, isn’t it?"

Sharing the same view, Wei Ru subtly nodded with her lips subtly pursed and muttered, "...It truly is."

A few seconds silently passed by with the two of them just standing there while staring at the sky.

Suddenly, Wei Ru was reminded of something.

"Ah!" she exclaimed while turning towards Yi Chen, "Didn’t Young Master Chen want to talk with Madam Cao Li? I had almost forgotten about that earlier! You must quickly hurry if you want to do so now, as the banquet will be over within thirty minutes!"

Hearing her words, Yi Chen was reminded of the remarks which the system had given to him earlier, as a bitter smile formed on his face.

Not minding the tone of urgency in Wei Ru’s words, he shook his head the next moment and said, "There’s no need for that now, Madam Wei. There has been a change of plans."

"A change of plans? You’re not going to meet her then?" Wei Ru asked with a confused expression.

The very reason Yi Chen came alongside her was to meet Cao Li, so seeing that he was changing his decision at the last moment, she couldn’t help but find it odd.

"No, I’m still going to meet her...just not during the banquet." Yi Chen said, not explaining much about his plan. "Therefore, Madam Wei would have to return without me later when the banquet is over."

Hearing those words, a frown formed on Wei Ru’s forehead as she asked, "...Just what are you planning?"

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"Something." Yi Chen answered with a faint smile the next second, which resulted in a sigh from Wei Ru’s side.

"Whatever...It’s obvious that you’re planning something dangerous. Just don’t get caught, it would be extremely difficult to free you from their hands, even with Madam Du Ming Li’s help."

"I’ll keep that in mind." Yi Chen replied and, while pointing towards the banquet hall, said the next instant, "Then how about we share a few more drinks until the banquet is over?"

"...Sure, I also think that my mind needs more drinks to settle." Wei Ru answered without a second thought as the two of them soon went back inside.

As expected, no one initiated any conversation with them, which allowed them to savour the different flavours of wine and liquor that were available to them.

However, they both ensured not to overindulge lest they become too intoxicated to do anything.

Half an hour passed by, and soon the emperor made a send-off speech directed at everyone, which was followed by a round of applause from everyone.

Glancing at the crowd that had started moving outdoors, Yi Chen too joined them along with Wei Ru, and soon they were in the hallway making their way towards the outside.

"Ah, looks like I drank too much alcohol earlier. I’ll go and relieve myself, so Madam Wei can wait for me outside." Yi Chen said while glancing towards Wei Ru.

Their conversation naturally attracted a lot of eyes, who, after glancing towards them briefly, kept walking forward, not caring even a bit about them.

"I’ll be patiently waiting for you next to my carriage, so take your time. If you end up damaging your bladder, then won’t I be the one taking a loss?" Wei Ru chuckled while softly caressing Yi Chen’s cheeks.

"How shameless..."

"Don’t they have any shred of decency..."

Seeing Wei Ru’s actions, the few remaining eyes that were staring towards them retreated as several snorts could be heard in the background.

Clearly sensing the surrounding reaction, the smile on Wei Ru’s face widened as the next moment she leaned forward to kiss Yi Chen’s cheek and said in a clingy manner, "See you later then, Chen’er."

"I’ll make sure to be quick then, Ru’er," Yi Chen smiled and turned around to move towards the restroom, completely satisfied with the turn of events.

They had already discussed this performance beforehand.

Even though the previous misunderstanding was cleared, Yi Chen still doubted that there would be a few who would be suspicious of him.

Therefore, to ensure that no one would get suspicious of him going to the restroom at the last moment, he decided to pull this act.

On his way to the restroom, he expanded his spiritual energy and soon found a storage room not far away.

Sensing that no one was around him at the moment, he slid open the door and soon hid inside.

’Now we wait...’

Yi Chen thought and patiently waited for the crowd to disperse as he sensed their movement with his spiritual sense.

He wasn’t worried about being found out by others because he was using the external probing method.

There were two ways of using the spiritual sense. One was external, and the other was internal.

In external probing, one spreads one’s spiritual energy outwards to understand the layout, position, and the changes happening in all the things around them.

Meanwhile, in internal probing, one’s spiritual energy penetrates a person or a thing to understand their cultivation level or body condition, if it’s a person, or to understand its properties and uses, if it’s a thing.

While external probing couldn’t be sensed, the internal probing could easily be sensed by a person if they are subjected to it.

The crowd of people that were gathered at the banquet hall all bid their thanks to the emperor and Cao Li before finally taking their leave.

As a result, the entire palace soon became devoid of guests as the only people left inside were the guards stationed at several positions, the emperor and Cao Li.

’...He’s bowing down?’ Yi Chen frowned as he saw the emperor’s figure continuously bowing at Cao Li, who was standing next to him with her hands crossed.

A short exchange of words took place between the two of them as Cao Li suddenly waved her hand towards the emperor as if to cut him off and started walking towards the door.

With his back slightly bent, the emperor followed her out of the hall.

’Where are they going no-’

Suddenly noticing them take a turn, Yi Chen couldn’t help but furrow his brows.

’Wait...why are they coming in my direction? Was I discovered?’

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