You're a Man Too

Smack!

Xue Qinghe raised her hand and slapped Zhang Fei on the back of the head, the gesture carrying a strong warning.

She then shot him a huge glare, her eyes clearly saying: Look again, and I'll gouge your eyeballs out.

"Ow!"

Clutching the back of his head, Zhang Fei finally realized that he had indeed lost his composure just now. He quickly coughed dryly and bowed. "Thank you, Clan Head Ye, for saving my life."

Ye Renxin withdrew his martial soul and waved with a smile. "No need for such courtesy, young friend Zhang."

Xue Qinghe took a deep breath, suppressing the inexplicable sourness in her heart, and smiled. "Clan Head Ye, I have prepared a modest meal to express my gratitude. Please join us."

"Haha, then this old man will gladly accept." Ye Renxin laughed heartily.

In the reception hall of the Crown Prince's Residence, an exquisite banquet had long since been laid out.

There were no outsiders—only Xue Qinghe and Zhang Fei accompanying them.

The dishes were not extravagant, but every one was delicate and lightly flavored, clearly prepared with a healer like Ye Renxin in mind.

Zhang Fei kept glancing at Ye Lingling across from him, muttering inwardly, Surely she'll take off her veil when she eats, right?

Sure enough, once they were seated, Ye Lingling removed her veil.

Her features were exceptionally pure and lovely. Her skin was so fair and tender it seemed almost translucent, delicate enough to break at a touch. Her eyes were crystal clear, her nose elegant and straight, and her lips a pale pink. She was simply too beautiful.

Zhang Fei could not help stealing another couple of looks.

Ye Lingling noticed his gaze and lowered her head slightly, a faint blush coloring the tips of her ears.

Zhang Fei raised his teacup in a distant toast. "Miss Ye, I'll use tea in place of wine to thank you for healing me today."

Ye Lingling looked up, their eyes meeting only briefly before separating. She said softly, "You're too polite, Young Master Zhang. It was all my grandfather's doing."

"It's all the same, all the same. Hehehe!" Zhang Fei replied with an awkward grin.

The two of them could now be considered formally acquainted.

Beside them, Xue Qinghe glared viciously at Zhang Fei.

Sensing Xue Qinghe's anger, Zhang Fei hurriedly lowered his head and focused on eating.

After several rounds of drinks, Ye Renxin rose to take his leave.

Once Ye Renxin had been seen off, only Zhang Fei and Xue Qinghe remained in the reception hall.

Xue Qinghe walked up to Zhang Fei. Her expression was neither warm nor cold, but her tone carried a hint of jealousy. "Is Miss Ye pretty?"

Zhang Fei's heart skipped a beat. Oh no. That tone... could she be jealous?

Does she have feelings for me?

But Xue Qinghe had never revealed her true identity or appearance to him, and Zhang Fei had naturally continued playing dumb. On the surface, they had always been brothers.

An idea came to him. He suddenly threw an arm around Xue Qinghe's shoulders, gave her a brotherly pat, and sincerely changed the subject. "Doesn't Your Highness think Miss Ye is pretty too?"

Xue Qinghe stiffened slightly when he suddenly put his arm around her shoulders. Somewhat at a loss, she asked in confusion, "Me?"

"Of course," Zhang Fei said, blinking as a rather lecherous grin spread across his face. "Have you forgotten, Your Highness? You're a man too. You're already eighteen—shouldn't you be thinking about a crown princess?"

Xue Qinghe froze for a moment. "A crown princess?"

"That's right." Zhang Fei pressed on while the iron was hot. "You're the crown prince, and you're already this old, yet you don't even have a single concubine by your side."

Xue Qinghe came back to herself and pushed Zhang Fei away. Her ears were slightly warm as she feigned composure. "I'm not in a hurry. Unlike you, whose mind is full of that kind of thing."

But Zhang Fei would not let it go. He leaned closer, lowered his voice, and grinned mischievously. "Don't tell me His Highness doesn't like women and prefers men?"

He deliberately crossed his arms over his chest, put on a horrified expression, and jumped half a step back. "You don't like me, do you?"

Xue Qinghe was thrown completely into disarray by his sudden outrageous stunt. Her face alternated between red and pale as she pointed at Zhang Fei, even her fingertips trembling slightly. "You... you... you wish!"

"Good, good. You scared me to death." Zhang Fei patted his chest, looking like a survivor of some great calamity. Then his usual teasing grin returned. "But Your Highness really should consider taking consorts. Otherwise, people with ulterior motives will become suspicious. Think about it—a crown prince who doesn't go near women at eighteen obviously looks abnormal. What will all the civil and military officials think? What will His Majesty think?"

After Zhang Fei's stream of nonsense, the little bit of jealous bitterness Xue Qinghe had felt was scattered beyond recognition.

She glared at Zhang Fei, trying to read something from the boy's face, but all she saw was an open and honest expression that said, "I'm doing this for your own good."

Xue Qinghe fell into thought, her eyes flickering uncertainly.

Take consorts? How was she supposed to take consorts? She really needed to think of a way.

Seeing that she was actually considering it, Zhang Fei quickly quit while he was ahead. "Well then, Your Highness, I'll head back to my room and rest. Take your time thinking it over. Take your time."

With that, he backed toward the door in a flash.

Xue Qinghe waved him away, slightly embarrassed and angry. "Go on, go on. I get annoyed just looking at you!"

"Got it!"

Zhang Fei vanished in a flash.

The next day, in the study of the Crown Prince's Residence.

Xue Qinghe sat behind her desk with tightly furrowed brows, her knuckles unconsciously tapping against the tabletop with dull thuds.

She Long and Ci Xue sat on either side, both looking rather grim.

Zhang Fei's injuries had completely healed, and everyone had no choice but to marvel at the terrifying power of the Nine-Hearted Begonia.

The four had gathered here not to discuss a "crown princess," naturally, but to decide how to arrange Zhang Fei's future.

"Little Fei can't stay cooped up in the residence forever." Xue Qinghe spoke first, her voice low. "Those great clans will do anything to ensure their continued prosperity. Since the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has already made a move, they will not strike only once. If he remains in Heaven Dou City, the hidden blades and arrows will be impossible to guard against. And the two of you cannot show yourselves and protect him at all times."

Her gaze settled on Zhang Fei, and a trace of regret flashed through her eyes. "I'm beginning to regret keeping Little Fei in Heaven Dou City. If I had known the risk would be this great, I should have sent him back to Spirit City from the start."

"Young Master, that must never happen." She Long immediately shook his head. "Little Fei's appearance is now known to everyone, and they all know he has a close relationship with you. If he were suddenly sent back to Spirit City and someone saw him there, they could hardly avoid linking you to Spirit Hall. Wouldn't that expose your identity?"

Ci Xue nodded as well, his expression solemn. "Snake Lance is right. Before Young Master completes her plan, Little Fei cannot return to Spirit City. We need to find a way to keep him away from Heaven Dou City, ensure his safety, and avoid attracting attention."

He paused before continuing, "Preferably, it should be a decent Soul Master Academy, so that Little Fei's cultivation will not be affected. Once he has gained a certain ability to protect himself, he can return to the Crown Prince's Residence."

Xue Qinghe's eyes lit up, and she nodded. "Good idea. Then which academy is both far from Heaven Dou City and suitable for Little Fei's growth?"

Everyone fell into deep thought once more.

Standing off to the side, Zhang Fei's mind was racing as well. He quickly sifted through the high-level Soul Master Academies far from Heaven Dou City.