As soon as Lu Li returned to Duanqing Peak, Gu Qingying and Gong Shangyu immediately quieted down.
The once noisy and clamorous Duanqing Peak finally returned to silence.
Gong Shangyu sat silently in her room, copying out the Sect Rules, while Lu Li, upon his return, headed straight to the Dan Room of Duanqing Peak to sort through the medicinal herbs he had just purchased, preparing to refine Zhujidan for Gu Qingying’s upcoming Zhujishi, making preparations for her future foundation building.
Seeing Master busying himself in the Dan Room concocting pills, and her Second Senior Sister shut in her room copying out the Sect Rules in penance, Gu Qingying, now idle and utterly bored, could only run to the kitchen, pull out Spirit Vegetable and Spirit Beast Meat from her Storage Pouch, and start making a late-night snack for Master.
Drawing on the culinary skills she had accumulated in her previous life, Gu Qingying quickly finished cooking a steaming hot, fragrant pot of Spirit Meat Porridge.
However, though the porridge was ready, when she was about to bring it to Lu Li, she couldn’t help but hesitate and waver.
She paced back and forth in the kitchen, holding the bowl, her fair little face filled with worry.
“Ahhh… The porridge is ready, but how should I deliver it to Master?”
“Should I just bring it to Master? What excuse do I use? Should I say it’s filial piety from a disciple? Would that seem too deliberate? Will Master think I have ulterior motives?”
“But… I really want Master to try it… He’s seemed to grow thinner lately, with all the tasks and helping me cultivate…”
While Gu Qingying was staring blankly at the shimmering porridge in the bowl, a slender jade hand suddenly reached over from behind her and gently patted her on the shoulder.
“Yo~ Junior Sister, what are you daydreaming about here?”
At these words, Gu Qingying, who had been lost in indecision, was startled so badly she nearly dropped the bowl in her hands.
She turned to see her Second Senior Sister’s smiling face.
All the tangled thoughts Gu Qingying had been entertaining vanished in an instant—she dared not let anything show now…
Facing the sudden appearance of Gong Shangyu behind her, Gu Qingying silently berated herself.
Why had she hesitated so long?
Why hadn’t she seized the opportunity?
At the same time, she also secretly blamed Gong Shangyu—why couldn’t this meddlesome person have shown up a little later?
If Gong Shangyu had come out just five minutes later, Gu Qingying would have already delivered the porridge to Lu Li.
But it was too late for regrets now—Gong Shangyu was here, and all of Gu Qingying’s plans were stillborn before they even began.
After all, if Gong Shangyu found out she had secretly made porridge for Lu Li, with her personality, she’d definitely jump in to cause trouble.
Looking at Gong Shangyu, who had suddenly appeared behind her, the hopeful smile on Gu Qingying’s face, that of a young girl secretly longing for affection, instantly froze as if iced over.
At this moment, Gong Shangyu was standing behind her, her stunning face wearing a teasing, ambiguous smile as she regarded her Junior Sister.
“Junior Sister~ What are you standing here for?”
Sensing the sly, fox-like aura emanating from Gong Shangyu, Gu Qingying couldn’t help but complain with annoyance.
“I should be asking you! Why did you suddenly appear and startle me like that?”
“I just finished copying the Sect Rules~ and didn’t see you outside, so I got worried~”
Looking at the mischievous glint in Gong Shangyu’s eyes, Gu Qingying muttered in a low voice, “Hmph… A fox wishing a chicken Happy New Year! Up to no good!”
Gong Shangyu glanced at the kitchen stove and didn’t continue bickering with Gu Qingying.
Instead, she twitched her nose and sniffed around the kitchen.
“Junior Sister… what are you cooking? It smells so good!”
As she spoke, Gong Shangyu reached out to lift the lid of the clay pot in which Gu Qingying was making porridge.
“Hmph… none of your business!”
Gu Qingying slapped her hand away, squeezing between Gong Shangyu and the stove to forcibly block her from the clay pot.
“I… I made a late dinner for myself, is that a problem?”
“Oh? Dinner?”
Gong Shangyu’s pink eyes shifted between Gu Qingying and the clay pot, her nose twitching as she savored the rich aroma, a knowing smile curling on her lips.
“Hehe~ Using spirit-infused tenderloin, plus Conyang Grass and warming… oh no… it’s the nourishing Chishao, all stewed together as dinner?”
“Hehe… Junior Sister, you’re really particular about your meals—so thoughtful~”
Gu Qingying’s face turned crimson, as if Gong Shangyu had seen through her deepest secret.
“W-what I like to eat is none of your business!”
“It’s not my business.”
Gong Shangyu shrugged, then, as if by chance, moved closer, her gaze falling on the clay pot as her tone suddenly became earnest.
“But… Junior Sister, you see, I’ve been working hard on my cultivation lately too, and this porridge you made smells amazing~”
“Hehe~ How about… you share a bowl with me?”
“Gong Shangyu! In your dreams!”
Gu Qingying instantly guarded the clay pot like a mother hen, “Th-this… this is for M—”
“Oh… no! I worked hard to make this!”
Seeing this, Gong Shangyu’s lips curled up, “Oh~ So you made this for Master~”
Gu Qingying’s face instantly flushed bright red, like a ripe cherry, even the tips of her ears turning pink.
Seeing her Junior Sister’s embarrassed look, Gong Shangyu found it all the more amusing.
She deliberately drew out her words, asking slowly, “Since you made it specially for Master, why are you standing here? Hurry up and bring it to him, hm?”
“If you leave it any longer, it’ll get cold, what a waste~”
Upon hearing this, the little person in Gu Qingying’s heart was already stomping and shouting.
Isn’t it all because you showed up so suddenly!
If you’d come a little later, I’d have mustered up the courage to bring it to Master by now!
Though she cursed fiercely in her heart, Gu Qingying still replied in a voice as soft as a mosquito, “I… I haven’t figured out… how to say it to Master yet…”
“Just bringing it straight over like this… isn’t it… a bit too deliberate?”
“Will Master think… I have ulterior motives?”
Her voice grew softer and softer, her head lowering rapidly, her fingers anxiously twisting her clothes.
Her whole manner was that of a young girl just awakening to love, torn between hope and fear.
Seeing her shy demeanor, Gong Shangyu secretly snickered, her eyes darting cunningly before a sly scheme welled up from the bottom of her heart.
Suddenly, a warm smile bloomed on her face as she gently patted Gu Qingying’s shoulder, speaking to her Junior Sister with extraordinary sincerity.
“Hehe… What’s there to be embarrassed about? If you’re too shy to bring it over yourself, Junior Sister, then that’s perfect!”
Gong Shangyu pointed at herself, “I just finished copying the Sect Rules and was about to report back to Master anyway…”
“So, as for this pot of meat porridge… why not let me take it to Master for you? I’ll tell him you made it!”
At these words, Gu Qingying’s head snapped up, a hint of surprise flickering in her violet eyes.
But soon, it was replaced by deep suspicion—she didn’t believe for a moment that this fox would be so kind-hearted.
Gu Qingying eyed Gong Shangyu warily, “You… would really do that?”
Gong Shangyu immediately raised three fingers in a vow, her face full of righteous solemnity.
“I, Gong Shangyu, swear to Heaven! I will absolutely deliver your heartfelt gift to Master, without changing a thing!”
Seeing her Second Senior Sister’s earnest expression, Gu Qingying’s suspicions eased a little.
And thinking how she truly felt too embarrassed to bring it herself—and besides, if the porridge sat any longer, it really wouldn’t taste good…
Under her Senior Sister’s sincere gaze, Gu Qingying finally bit her glistening lower lip, as if summoning great resolve, and carefully handed the clay pot to Gong Shangyu.
“Uh… alright then. I’ll trouble Senior Sister.”
“Don’t worry, leave it to me!”
Gong Shangyu took the pot, her smile blooming ever brighter.
Yet in her heart, she was secretly mocking—Junior Sister really is still too naive, too young.
Palace strife in the Hou Gong is always a life-and-death struggle; those Imperial Concubines and Palace Maids are always competing for favor before the Emperor with gifts and borrowed flowers.
Do you really think you can win Master’s favor so easily?
You’d better step aside and rest!
The waters of the Hou Gong run deep, child, far deeper than you can handle!