Underneath The Moonlit Night

Chapter 34 - Reflections in the Amethyst Grotto

As he cradled the small box in his palm, Qing Yi's thoughts wandered. Did Lan Xichen find these Aquamerald pearls in Qinghe? Weren't they typically exclusive to the coursing rivers of Khufu's rainforests? Perhaps there were similar rivers in Qinghe. The rarity of these pearls was no secret, primarily due to the elusive Cascade Glow Oysters that produced them. With a sigh, Qing Yi felt remorseful for not valuing Lan Xichen's genuine concern. Lan Xichen's interest in learning about Qing Yi's connections with the Crown Prince indicated a sincere care for him and a genuine desire to understand him better. Another sigh escaped Qing Yi as he contemplated his prior behavior, "I should be more honest with Ze Wu Jun...and offer my apologies."

The notion that Lan Xichen might genuinely care intrigued Qing Yi, but he quickly dismissed it with a self-reproachful shake of his head. After contemplating for a while, Qing Yi solidified his decision to reveal the truth about his relationships with the princes to Lan Xichen. Leaving Lan Xichen's study, he set out to find him. Eventually, he discovered Lan Xichen in the company of Lan Wangji, his mother, and his sister, Jing Shi, as they warmly greeted Jiang Cheng, who had recently arrived from Yunmeng, along with his nephew, Clan Leader Jin Ling from Lanling, in the grand meeting hall of the Lan Clan.

Upon spotting the imposing figure of Clan Leader Jiang, Qing Yi couldn't help but muse about the demeanor he exuded. Jiang Cheng seemed intent on projecting an air of authority, almost as if he were making a deliberate effort to appear imposing. It was a marked departure from the friendly and approachable nature of Lan Xichen. With this thought, Qing Yi considered excusing himself from the meeting room to allow the group to proceed with their discussions.

However, as he made a move to depart, Yu Yan, noticed Qing Yi and gestured for him to approach, saying, "Ah, Qing Yi, come here!"

Reluctantly, Qing Yi turned back and slowly approached the group. He couldn't help but steal a glance at Lan Xichen, who remained engrossed in conversation with Jing Shi, seemingly oblivious to Qing Yi's approach.

As Qing Yi drew closer, Yu Yan gently seized his arm and introduced him, "This is Qing Yi, one of my children who remained in the service of the Khufu Royal Family."

With a warm and disarming smile, Qing Yi politely nodded his head in Jiang Cheng's direction. For a brief moment, Jiang Cheng appeared taken aback by Qing Yi's radiant smile. After a few seconds, he commented, "You have truly remarkable children, Tribe Leader. The beauty of your second daughter rivals that of the first."

The unexpected praise left Qing Yi and everyone else present momentarily stunned. However, Qing Yi couldn't suppress his laughter and let out a hearty chuckle.

"Thank you for the compliment, Clan Leader..." Qing Yi began but realized he didn't know Jiang Cheng's name. He glanced toward his mother, Yu Yan, who quietly whispered, "Clan Leader Jiang."

"Ah, Clan Leader Jiang," Qing Yi continued, and this time, Jiang Cheng was jolted back, his interest piqued.

Qing Yi's gaze shifted towards Jin Ling, who seemed to be fixated on him. Noticing the formal attire and prominent headband adorning his head, Qing Yi deduced that he must be another young leader from a different clan. Intrigued, Qing Yi couldn't help but ask, "And this handsome young man must be...?"

Jin Ling was taken aback by the compliment from Qing Yi, his cheeks flushing as he raised his hands in a formal greeting stance. "Ah, I'm from the Lanling Clan. My name is Jin Ling," he replied.

Yu Yan chimed in, "This is the young Clan Leader Jin, a nephew of Clan Leader Jiang. They have both decided to pay a visit to our Gusu Sylvatica town." Having observed Jiang Cheng's authoritative demeanor at the Qinghe Conference, Yu Yan anticipated a possible clash between him and her son, who was known for his sharp tongue. Discreetly, she whispered to Qing Yi, "Please restrain that sharp tongue of yours for at least a day."