Chapter 71 Going Out Late at Night

Qi Sian's eyes darkened as he met Pan Yueqing's somewhat startled gaze. He spoke in disbelief, "You don't know either?"

These words were strange. Pan Yueqing didn't hide her annoyance and rolled her eyes at Qi Sian, "Of course I don't know. I just left the residence of the Princess of Anbei this morning. There were honored guests visiting today, and I've just come back." As she spoke, she stopped abruptly, and couldn't help spitting in annoyance, wondering why she was explaining things to this venomous - tongued Qi.

"You've met Lai Changya, right?" Qi Sian didn't continue the previous topic. Instead, he leaned against Pan Yueqing's bookshelf and seriously flipped through Essays on Novels in his hand. The moonlight shone through the small window onto his nose, giving him an otherworldly air.

Not only had she met her. Ignoring him, Pan Yueqing stood with her back to Qi Sian beside the table not far away, fiddling with the asparagus fern bonsai that Gu Pan had placed there. Perhaps Qi Sian didn't hear Pan Yueqing's response, and he continued on his own, "What do you think of her?"

"She's a beauty." Pan Yueqing's heart stirred slightly. She calmly spoke to Qi Sian, her eyes slightly downcast as she hid all her emotions. Just now, in front of Shen Xinchang, she had confirmed that the person who wanted to push Pan Haiyun to accept the position of chief examiner was this venomous man in front of her. Given Qi Sian's character of never chatting idly, if she replied rashly, she didn't know what kind of trouble she'd be dragged into.

"I think she's more than just a beauty." Qi Sian seemed to be amused by Pan Yueqing's words. He raised his hand and pointed at her from a distance, "Change your clothes and come with me."

"I'm a young lady in a boudoir. Going out with you at this hour?" Pan Yueqing raised her eyes in disbelief. Although she knew Qi Sian intended to use her, this man was really going too far. She was still unmarried. If people found out she went out with him, how could she live?

"Disguise yourself, change your clothes, and wear a mask. Didn't you often sneak out when you were in the Marquis Dingyuan's residence?" Qi Sian gave Pan Yueqing a look of disdain, "The one who dared to set Pinglong Nunnery on fire and kill bandits with her own hands doesn't have the courage for this?" His eyes might as well have said, "Do you really think of yourself as a harmless person?"

He knew all that?! After hearing this, Pan Yueqing unconsciously averted her gaze and lowered her eyes to hide the killing intent in them. For a moment, she truly wanted to call someone to deal with Qi Sian. But reason quickly prevailed. The only reason she had saved Qi Sian from death before was that she didn't want to see Qi Sicheng triumphant. Moreover, if Qi Sian died, it was impossible to leave no trace... She didn't want to be buried with this cold - hearted snake!

Qi Sian slapped his folding fan shut and looked at Pan Yueqing, who was still standing there motionless. He let out a long sigh and said, "Someone has set their sights on Shangbei Fang. Aren't you going to take a look?"

"Isn't Shangbei Fang just a part of your scheme?" Pan Yueqing said calmly, sneering as she met Qi Sian's calm gaze, "Tell me, who exactly do you want to bring down?"

She thought it over and over. Although the Princess Pingning had lost her father, she was still favored by the Emperor because of her late father's loyalty. She was considered part of the Prince Fu's faction. Prince Fu's fief was in Jiangnan, far from the capital for many years. According to what her third cousin said, although it seemed that the Emperor had an issue with the powerful vassal kings in the court, in fact, it was Prince Xiangyang, Qi Sian, who had been strongly advocating for the reduction of vassal power.

However, Qi Sian had too many enemies. Although she had a vague feeling that it might be Prince Fu, she wasn't completely sure.

Qi Sian smiled and looked Pan Yueqing up and down a couple of times, then smiled even more meaningfully, "I really can't figure out why they all say your third younger sister is the most talented woman in the capital." As soon as he finished speaking, he stepped forward and walked around Pan Yueqing two or three times. Then, he suddenly reached out and grabbed her chin, "In terms of intelligence, she's not as good as you."

Pan Yueqing was startled by his sudden move. Although Qi Sian only applied force for a moment and then released it, just loosely holding her chin, she still felt offended. She immediately reached out and grabbed Qi Sian's arm, her fingers turning white from the grip. She forcefully shook off his hand and smiled calmly at Qi Sian, "In this big mansion, without protection and with many people jealous of me, how could I survive if I didn't hide my abilities? Who has set their sights on Shangbei Fang and why, Your Highness... don't you have an idea?"

Qi Sian was thrown off - balance by her sudden strong shove but quickly regained his footing. When he heard Pan Yueqing deliberately draw out the word "Your Highness", he froze for a moment. The next moment, he shook his head helplessly. He suppressed the urge to step forward and grab her neck, looked deeply at Pan Yueqing, and smiled faintly, "I take back what I just said. Maybe your third younger sister is a bit smarter than you."

"I've met Shen Ping'an. Although they look similar, they're completely different. You're definitely not Shen Ping'an." Pan Yueqing said calmly, her gaze composed, without the slightest fear of being silenced for revealing the secret. She gave Qi Sian a deep glance, then turned and walked behind the screen. Before Qi Sian could speak, her voice came from behind the screen, "I'll change my clothes."

"Second Miss, when we're outside, I'm Shen Ping'an." Qi Sian crossed his arms and watched with interest as Pan Yueqing put on a black night - suit. Her long hair, like a waterfall, was tied up high on her head, and a wooden hairpin went through the bun. Qi Sian reached into his waist, took out a human - skin mask, and threw it to Pan Yueqing. Just as he was about to tell her how to put it on, he saw that Pan Yueqing put it on skillfully and stood there, looking valiant, "Let's go through the second side - gate."

The second side - gate was the one on the outermost side of the Pan Mansion. In the early morning, maids and servants used this gate to take out the night soil. Usually, there was no one guarding it. Pan Yueqing spoke calmly and walked ahead, skillfully avoiding the maids and servants changing shifts in various courtyards of the Pan Mansion. Qi Sian watched as Pan Yueqing quietly closed the door. Looking at her newly - changed, somewhat youthful male face, he couldn't help but pat her on the shoulder and admonish, "When we go out tonight, remember, you're my servant, and call me A Lang."

Pan Yueqing turned her head to the side, her eyes narrowing as she was about to speak. Qi Sian put on a fox - shaped mask, took three steps forward, and entered a small alley. There, a resplendent carriage was waiting. The leading servant boy looked even more youthful than Pan Yueqing, only about eight or nine years old. He looked up at Qi Sian, silently saluted, and said crisply, "A Lang, the gold leaves are ready."

Qi Sian stepped onto the carriage and said in a deep voice, "Let's go."

"Are you going to the Long Night Underground Palace?" As soon as Pan Yueqing heard "gold leaves", she became alert. Although there were the East and West Fangs in the capital, which were bustling during the day, the liveliest time was not the Ghost Market but the famous Long Night Underground Palace in the poor area after midnight. As the saying goes, "Long night of ecstasy, open the door with gold leaves." It was a place where you could buy anything as long as you could afford it.