Although You Qi felt that he was somewhat too proud, complacent, and self-righteous, he firmly believed that Chi Huai wasn’t the kind of person who would… how should he put it? Not the kind who would cause him heart-wrenching pain or sorrow. It could be said that You Qi was very confident about his future with Chi Huai, inexplicably and steadfastly convinced that they would have a very bright future together.
However, You Qi also knew that if he voiced this, no one would likely believe him. So, in response to the concern from the marshal’s family, he brushed it off vaguely.
After all, You Qi wasn’t the marshal’s son—someone who appeared reliable and dependable but was actually an unreliable jokester. You Qi’s abilities were widely recognized, so even though his actions might seem untrustworthy, everyone silently expressed their support.
They believed that no matter what happened in the end, You Qi would undoubtedly handle everything perfectly.
Finally, through the joint efforts of both sides, You Qi and Chi Huai’s wedding preparations gradually progressed. Chi Huai’s parents hastily cut short their honeymoon and returned to discuss the marriage arrangements with the marshal and his wife. Everything was proceeding slowly yet orderly—truly something to celebrate.
Of course, all this would happen later. For now, even as You Qi indulged in dates with Chi Huai to deepen their relationship, he didn’t forget his mission and duties.
*Ahem*, a grown man like You Qi wouldn’t cross-dress for no reason. Though he usually didn’t care much about such things, there was always a reason behind his actions. And the target of You Qi’s current scheme was Qiu Liuyue.
Qiu Liuyue, a transmigrator, had opened shops using modern, novel, and fascinating knowledge, which became wildly popular and raked in fortunes, attracting countless envious and resentful gazes. If not for legal protections, Qiu Liuyue would have long been torn apart by scheming old foxes or powerful figures, leaving nothing behind.
Though overt interference was impossible, there were plenty of covert actions one could take. Countless individuals and factions had secretly investigated the masterminds behind those shops and their affiliations.
Fortunately, Qiu Liuyue wasn’t foolish—she acted cautiously. The original host’s public image had been that of an uneducated, silent, and dull person with no connections, resources, knowledge, or skills, so she was largely ignored by everyone, intentionally or otherwise.
But as Qiu Liuyue rose to fame, more and more people began noticing her, and suspicions arose about her connection to those high-profile shops.
Among them was none other than the emperor himself.
Back when the emperor was still the crown prince, neighboring barbarian states had attempted to invade the Great Zhou. As a staunch advocate for war, the crown prince personally led troops to the battlefield and drove the invaders back, inflicting such pain that they dared not show the slightest disrespect toward the Great Zhou for years. One southern state even offered its beautiful princess as tribute.
However, as a man deeply devoted to his ambitions, the crown prince—now emperor—declined the exotic beauty, though he did accept the vassal state’s submission. After all, the Great Zhou had many vassals; one more or less made little difference.
*Ahem*, digressing. Back to the emperor’s interest in Qiu Liuyue’s shops.
Having campaigned extensively across the land, the current emperor was both scholarly and martial, erudite and well-traveled. After ascending the throne and lifting maritime restrictions, the Great Zhou’s navy expanded its reach, exposing the emperor to even more wonders, which he gradually introduced to the empire to improve it.
Some of the items in Qiu Liuyue’s shops happened to be trinkets from small foreign countries—though sold at much lower prices there.
Of course, the emperor wasn’t concerned about pricing. After all, common southern goods could fetch high prices in the rare north—nothing unusual. The key issue was the appearance of these items, which inevitably led the overthinking emperor to suspect something. Thus, he tasked his most trusted childhood friend and right-hand man—the marshal and You Qi—to covertly approach Qiu Liuyue and uncover her secrets.
If Qiu Liuyue was truly innocent, the emperor wasn’t petty enough to hold it against her. But if she had ties to foreign forces plotting against the Great Zhou, then the emperor wouldn’t hesitate to act ruthlessly.
You Qi smiled at the little cutie beside him who kept sneaking glances, unaware that he’d noticed. Sure enough, he was rewarded with a dazed, lovestruck kitten, lifting his mood considerably.
You Qi leaned against Chi Huai like a delicate bird, flashing him a sweet smile. “Ah-Huai, this young lady has only just arrived in the capital and hasn’t had the chance to explore. Do you know any fun places here?”
Dazed by the honey trap, Chi Huai looked left and right, racking his brain to ensure his beloved would have a good time. “There are plenty of interesting places in the capital! For example, uh… for example… um…”
Chi Huai felt cold sweat forming on his forehead. He knew many places, yet for some reason, his mind went blank.
Suddenly, he overheard people nearby discussing the new toys at Wonder House (Qiu Liuyue’s shop selling interesting trinkets from her pre-transmigration life).
“You’ve got to admit, Wonder House has so many great things—not just for kids, but adults too!”
“Yeah, yeah! And also…”
Inspired by the lively chatter, Chi Huai blurted, “I heard Wonder House has many fun items. How about I take You’er there to see…” Immediately, he was “moved” by his own stupidity. Why take his fiancée to someone else’s shop instead of his own, where he could show off?
Like a peacock, men—being males—shared certain instincts, such as the urge to impress their beloved.
Chi Huai’s inner self wept, wondering if he was beyond salvation.
But You Qi’s gentle smile soothed his urge to bang his head against a wall, and the two walked hand-in-hand to Wonder House.
Unbeknownst to Chi Huai, after they left, You Qi exchanged a subtle glance with the two men who’d been chatting nearby before acting as if nothing had happened.
At Wonder House, the bustling crowd lived up to its reputation. Chi Huai, however, felt out of place. Usually buried in work, he’d never visited such entertainment venues—even if he owned similar businesses—since he’d never had much interest in them.
Thus, as a first-time visitor, he couldn’t even play tour guide for his fiancée. Outwardly calm, inwardly, he was drowning in tears.
You Qi noticed Chi Huai’s hidden awkwardness but didn’t show it. Instead, he gently held Chi Huai’s hand, subtly easing his discomfort with light conversation. The two strolled around sweetly, like an ordinary young couple.
Relieved of his tension, Chi Huai began observing the shop’s clever layout—space-saving yet effectively showcasing products, with décor that complemented the merchandise and stimulated customers’ desire to buy.
The items sold were indeed unique and fun. While commoners might balk at the prices, bored noblewomen and playboy young masters spared no expense for amusement, prestige, and bragging rights among friends.
After looking around, Chi Huai nodded. The shop owner was clearly talented. His eyes gleamed as ideas for profitable collaborations sprouted in his mind.
Noticing Chi Huai’s deep concentration, You Qi’s eyes darkened briefly before he smiled elegantly and pulled Chi Huai into an embrace. “Ah-Huai, what are you thinking about so intently?”
Snapping out of it, Chi Huai awkwardly apologized. “Sorry, You’er, I got carried away…”
He lowered his head sheepishly. He knew his habit of zoning out while working, but since he’d never planned to marry, it hadn’t mattered. Now, with You’er, things were different.
Sighing inwardly, You Qi thought, *I already knew about this quirk from my investigations. Why fuss? We have plenty of time to… adjust him later.*
Suddenly recalling something amusing, You Qi smirked imperceptibly before hiding it.
Chi Huai shuddered inexplicably and scratched his head. *Where did this ominous premonition come from?*
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