Chapter 193: An Excellent Matchmaker
"What do you mean Ningyan rescued three children?" Wuhen didn’t look up as he spoke. His tails swayed restlessly behind him, brushing against the bed in slow, uneven movements.
Across from him, Rong Yue extended a smoking pipe.
Wuhen took it without hesitation, placing it between his lips as he inhaled slowly.
"Yishu," Rong Yue said, settling back against the bed, gaze drifting toward the veil above them, "the information broker in the Water City. She’s dead."
Smoke curled from Wuhen’s lips. "Oh?"
"She was killing children. Using their blood to recharge a demon tool." Rong Yue continued, voice even.
Wuhen leaned back slightly, one hand braced against the bed, his bare torso catching the lantern light. His expression was blank.... processing.
Then a slow smile curled his lips. "...He’s so terrifying when he’s enraged. It’s very appealing."
Rong Yue let out a quiet scoff, amused despite himself. "You’re not even going to question how I know this?"
Wuhen glanced at him, one brow lifting lazily. "You think I don’t know how often you’re present... and not?"
Rong Yue’s lips curved faintly. "Fair."
He pushed himself up from the bed, adjusting his robes, movements unhurried, controlled. His tail swayed once behind him as he reached for a cup of wine and studied Wuhen more carefully.
"You’re thinking about something."
Wuhen exhaled slowly, smoke slipping past his lips as his gaze drifted. "I’m considering killing my father and taking his place. But my mother would be upset."
Another inhale. "Qinghe wouldn’t be surprised, though."
His eyes flickered briefly.
"Haoxuan..." a faint smirk tugged at his lips, "is becoming an inspiration."
Rong Yue didn’t react. This was normal. Wuhen saying things like that was expected.
"You’re not concerned," Rong Yue said instead, pouring himself wine, "that Ningyan might return with three children?"
Wuhen tilted his head. "Why would I be? Ningyan can do whatever he wants."
Another inhale.
"And if they’re his..." his gaze flicked briefly toward Rong Yue, "then they’re ours."
Rong Yue studied him.
Wuhen wasn’t joking. Not entirely.
"I need some air," Rong Yue said finally.
He set the cup down and turned away.
Wuhen waved lazily, already half-elsewhere in thought.
Rong Yue stepped out into the corridor and immediately halted.
One of his guards approached quickly, breath uneven, dropping to a bow as he extended a scroll.
Rong Yue took it. "From who?"
"Prince Rong Chao. And... there’s another matter, Your Highness."
Rong Yue’s eyes narrowed. "What is it?"
"Prince Jun Shenzhen requests your presence." The guard hesitated. "He said it is urgent."
Rong Yue’s lips twitched faintly. "Of course it is."
The scroll vanished into his sleeve.
He gestured forward. "Lead the way."
Rong Yue was led into the garden just as dusk began to settle.
The sky above was clear, dragons gliding through the fading light, their silhouettes cutting across gold and blue.
Once the guard withdrew, Rong Yue’s gaze shifted to Jun Shenzhen and Bai Ziru who were seated together, surrounded by untouched dishes, mid-conversation, laughing.
It was a peaceful sight.
Rong Yue stepped forward.
Both of them looked up.
For a brief moment, his eyes met Bai Ziru’s. Something unspoken passed between them.
Then Bai Ziru smiled. Rong Yue chuckled softly.
Bai Ziru rose first.
They closed the distance and embraced before pulling apart.
"It’s good to see you well," Rong Yue said. "And happy, old friend."
Bai Ziru’s smile softened. "You’re part of the reason for that."
His gaze flicked toward Shenzhen.
Shenzhen flushed faintly.
Rong Yue caught it immediately.
"Am I?" he said lightly, settling into a seat. "Well, I do recall playing an excellent matchmaker."
He poured himself wine. "Shame I didn’t get what I wanted."
Shenzhen blinked.
"The crystal," Rong Yue continued, voice lowering. "It can’t be removed from Ningyan."
Bai Ziru stilled.
Rong Yue took a slow sip. "And he’s strong enough now that even I would be injured trying."
Shenzhen leaned back, a faint, knowing smile forming.
"Perhaps you simply don’t want to try," he said. "Because you’d have to hurt him."
Rong Yue gave him a flat look. "Do you understand what he went through because of you?"
The air shifted sharply.
"Out of every possible place," Rong Yue continued, his voice colder now, "you chose him."
Shenzhen’s smile disappeared.
"I didn’t know," he said quickly. "It was never supposed to merge like that. The Dragon Crystal doesn’t bind to a soul unless cultivated to do so."
"But it did," Rong Yue cut in. "And now it’s irreversible. Do you expect me to what? Tear it out of him?"
His gaze sharpened. "I won’t. And even if I tried, the others would kill me for it."
He narrowed his eyes at Shenzhen. "Do not tell me you didn’t anticipate what would happen after."
Shenzhen frowned. "What do you mean?"
"The union," Rong Yue said simply. "Ningyan and Jun Haoxuan."
Shenzhen’s eyes widened. "What? No... that wasn’t..."
He stopped himself.
"I just needed somewhere safe," he said quickly. "He was unconscious. Yunyi-jie had already taken him away..."
Rong Yue’s gaze sharpened. "Han Yunyi? You never mentioned that."
Even Bai Ziru was staring now.
Shenzhen exhaled, his shoulders dropping.
"...That night," he said more quietly, "before Lan Tianheng and Lan Tianlong attacked the academy... she knocked Ningyan out. Sent him away. I don’t know why."
His voice tightened. "She never told me."
"Interesting," Rong Yue murmured.
"Shanyuan said she thought Ningyan would kill her when they met recently," Shenzhen added. "But he didn’t."
Rong Yue let out a soft scoff.
"Everyone keeps making decisions around him," he said. "And no one tells him anything."
His gaze settled back on Shenzhen. "So tell me..." his tone sharpened, "what do you think he’ll do when he finds out you’re the one who put that crystal inside him?"
"What?"A familiar voice cut through everything.
All three of them turned.
Jun Haoxuan stood at the edge of the garden, perfectly still. His wide eyes were fixed on them, filled with surprise.
Rong Yue clicked his tongue softly. They hadn’t sensed him. And judging by the look on his face, he had heard enough.