Xue Chuxin's Phoenix Eyes narrowed slightly as she watched her daughter lower her gaze and fiddle with the teacup in her slender fingers.
How could she not see that Xue Shiqiong's words just now had been the result of comparing the imperial family with the Chen Clan?
Or rather, did they carry a hint of protecting the Chen Clan?
And her expression had been so calm and composed, like Cloud Water washing the heart clean.
That only made her resolve seem firmer.
It was easy to foresee that as Xue Shiqiong's family grew closer to the Chen Clan, her stance would probably become even more biased in the future.
Of course, Xue Chuxin had no intention of stopping her.
She herself had deep feelings for the imperial family, but Xue Shiqiong did not—and part of that was because she had deliberately kept her apart from it.
Outside the window, the shadows of Purple Vine flowers slanted across the stone steps. She suddenly gave a soft laugh.
From the day she had allowed Xue Shiqiong to move her entire household into Chang'an Academy, she had already been mentally prepared.
Her knuckles unconsciously rubbed the rim of the celadon cup, and fine ripples spread across the tea—just like the undercurrents now quietly rising between the Royal Dao Faction, the two of them, and the Chen Clan.
Xue Chuxin lightly waved her jade-green fingers, cutting off the topic. Her gaze fell on the Mystic Nether Phoenix Immortal Lotus in her hand. "Let's not talk about this anymore. Take this treasure lotus now."
Xue Shiqiong looked at her mother, only to see a piercing light gathered in those Phoenix Eyes, cold as thousand-year Xuan Bing. She could not help asking, "Right now?"
Xue Chuxin nodded. "Yes. A Ninth Grade Treasure Medicine works best