The Villainous Classmate is My Lucky Star Chapter 223
Translated by Pure
Chapter 223 Mu Yang’s Leverage (2)
Shortly after, Mu Yang left, accompanied by Fu Zixian. The teahouse's staff swiftly restored order, cleaning up the aftermath. Fu Tanghuan and Wen Yantong returned to their original private room.
Seated once again, Wen Yantong smiled wryly, "It seems Mu Yang manages to find trouble wherever he go."
Fu Tanghuan's expression grew somewhat serious. "Those four individuals might have unusual backgrounds."
Wen Yantong took a sip of scented tea and inquired, "Have you encountered them before, Third Young Lady?"
"Didn't you mention they are from Yibei?" Fu Tanghuan queried.
Wen Yantong nodded, "I'm about 80% certain."
Fu Tanghuan remarked, "Judging by what the woman said while being escorted out, I believe those individuals might not be ordinary civilians. They're likely the offspring of Yibei officials with blood ties to foreign countries. Their visit to Chaoge likely holds a more significant purpose than mere enjoyment."
Wen Yantong expressed surprise, "How do you know, Third Young Lady?"
Fu Tanghuan explained, "I've heard reports of unrest in Yibei."
Wen Yantong nearly choked on her scented tea, exclaiming in shock, "What?!"
Fu Tanghuan calmly explained, "I’ve only recently learned about it. Yibei, situated on the outskirts of Shao Jing, was under foreign occupation for an extended period during the war. It took General Mu's four-year campaign to completely expel the invaders from Yibei. However, the majority of the current inhabitants are foreigners, with only a handful of true Shao Jing residents."
Wen Yantong, though aware of this history, listened attentively.
Fu Tanghuan continued, "Over the past few months, Yibei has experienced upheaval. There's a fear of a foreign invasion once again, prompting the imperial court to dispatch forces to quell the turmoil."
Surprised, Wen Yantong inquired, "When did this start?"
"The initial contingent was dispatched two months ago, and the second is expected to depart around this time," Fu Tanghuan informed, taking a deliberate sip of tea. "My father hopes that Xiao Liu can be part of this mission. He had already secured a position for him from the Emperor in advance. This is how I got wind of the news."
The turmoil in Yibei wass supposed to occur several years later! Why was it unfolding so early?
Feeling caught off guard and somewhat disoriented, Wen Yantong inquired, "Will Fu Zixian be part of this?"
Fu Tanghuan clarified, "Xiao Liu's position is already secured. The second wave of reinforcements hasn't set off yet because some personnel decisions are still pending. However, it shouldn't be delayed by more than a few days." She paused before revealing, "I've heard that the person whose participation is yet to be confirmed is..."
"Little Marquis," Wen Yantong interjected, her expression blank. "Is it him?"
Fu Tanghuan sighed softly, "The Little Marquis unlike ordinary individuals. He harbors far-reaching ambitions."
Wen Yantong suddenly felt a surge of panic, her fingertips trembling. The realization dawned on her that this turmoil in Yibei was the war supposed to happen several years later—the same conflict that would lead to the deaths of Fu Zixian and Mu Yang on the battlefield.
Fu Tanghuan appeared to notice her distress and inquired, "What's wrong?"
Wen Yantong's heart pounded fiercely, and a sudden surge of fear enveloped her. Everything was happening so swiftly that she had no time to process it.
In the past, Wen Yantong might have dismissed this as a storyline predetermined by the original book, deeming it beyond her capacity or reason to intervene.
But things were different now.
Witnessing the potential fate of Mu Yang, a lively soul, occasionally gentle, and most of the time irritable, and Fu Zixian, a polite, shy, silent, and considerate individual, engaged in a fatal struggle was unbearable for Wen Yantong.
Even more unthinkable was personally experiencing the prospect of Chi Jingxi losing his best friends.
This couldn't be done.
Wen Yantong downed the scented tea in one large gulp, took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and stated, "Third Young Miss, let's conclude our meeting for today. I have other matters to attend to, so if you'll excuse me."
Seeing Wen Yantong in discomfort, Fu Tanghuan didn't attempt to detain her. Instead, she simply stated, "I'll leave with you."
Wen Yantong hastily concurred, rising from her seat, and exited the floral tea house alongside Fu Tanghuan. She dispatched a messenger to the Marquis Mansion, requesting Chi Jingxi to visit the Wen Residence once he concluded his affairs at the palace.
Chi Jingxi spent the entire day in the palace, seeking permission to join the second wave of reinforcements heading to Yibei to suppress the rebellion. However, the Emperor consistently rejected his plea, paying little attention to his petitions. Due to this, Chi Jingxi made frequent visits to the palace.
His ambitions weren't confined to the literary realm; such as a fact well-known to all. In times of foreign invasion in Shao Jing, those wielding brushes weren't the ones to defend the nation.
As the Emperor observed Chi Jingxi's unwavering determination to go, his initial opposition began to waver. The turmoil in Yibei, while not insurmountable, presented challenges due to its remote location. Furthermore, the battlefield inherently carried risks, and not everyone returned unscathed. The Emperor was hesitant to expose Chi Jingxi to such dangers.
Despite the Emperor's concerns, the Marquis in Chang'an was somehow convinced by Chi Jingxi. He personally submitted a memorial, urging the Emperor to grant approval for Chi Jingxi to accompany the reinforcements to Yibei and restore stability swiftly to Shao Jing.
The Emperor ultimately relented and granted his approval.
Upon leaving the palace after securing this permission, Chi Jingxi unexpectedly crossed paths with Mu Yang. Mu Yang proceeded to recount the day's events to Chi Jingxi.
To prevent his close friend from facing punishment, Chi Jingxi had no alternative but to accompany Mu Yang to the General's Mansion.
In times of trouble in the past, Mu Yang would bring Chi Jingxi home, seeking his assurance to clarify to Mu Yuan that he was not the instigator of the incident. This was the only way to ensure Mu Yuan wouldn't mete out punishment to Mu Yang. At most, Mu Yang would be tasked with facing the wall, reflecting on his actions, or forced to recite a few texts.
By the time Chi Jingxi reached the Marquis Mansion, darkness had descended. Before he could even step into his private quarters, he received Wen Yantong's message. Without hesitation, he turned around and made his way to Wen Residence.
Wen Yantong's mind remained a muddled mess as she waited for Chi Jingxi’s appearance. She pondered the original book's plot, but the timeline was completely askew. Everything felt disordered to her.
The present circumstances hinted at the possibility of Fu Zixian and Chi Jingxi embarking on a mission to suppress the rebellion in Yibei. However, Mu Yang seemed unaware of this, suggesting that the current events might not be the same as the foretold storyline. At the same time, this small detail could just be a narrative not covered in the book.
Wen Yantong hesitated to make any firm conclusions. The developments had diverged significantly, and she was cautious about drawing conclusions.
Wen Yantong glanced around, and just as drowsiness threatened to overtake her, she spotted Chi Jingxi.
Knocking on the door, Chi Jingxi entered.
She promptly rose to greet him, attempting to conceal her emotions, yet the anxiety etched on her face remained apparent to him.
Without immediately delving into the matter at hand, Chi Jingxi strolled in, poured himself a cup of tea, took a leisurely sip, and in a gentle tone, inquired, "Why aren't you asleep yet?"
Wen Yantong closed the door. And seemingly influenced by his composed demeanor, a sense of calm washed over her. "Aren't I waiting for you?" she responded.
Chi Jingxi regarded her with a smile. "We did see each other during the day. Why are you so clingy now?"
"I have something to tell you," Wen Yantong stated.
"Alright, speak," Chi Jingxi replied. After finishing the tea in his cup, he noticed Wen Yantong still standing, and he suggested, "Sit down. How can we talk while standing?"
Wen Yantong sat down with a noticeable stiffness, appearing to contemplate how to broach the topic. Chi Jingxi displayed great patience, refraining from pressuring her and allowing her the time to gather her thoughts.
Observing Wen Yantong's slightly disheveled long hair, Chi Jingxi extended his hand to fix it. He remarked, "The ends of your hair seem a bit yellow. Are you usually too particular about your diet? Make sure to eat more vegetables."
Distracted by his gesture, Wen Yantong responded, "Oh, I do eat my veggies."
"You eat too little. Make sure to eat more next time," Chi Jingxi advised as he held her hair in the palm of his hand, gently combing it with his fingers.
Wen Yantong responded in a perfunctory manner before hesitating. "I..."
Observing her pause, Chi Jingxi prompted, "You what?"
She altered her words, asking, "Did you enter the palace again today?"
It was, of course, a nonsensical topic. Wen Yantong and Chi Jingxi had left the Academy together this morning, so she was well aware that he had entered the palace again. Although she desired to inquire about Yibei, Wen Yantong grappled with how to broach the subject. After all, this pertained to court affairs, and she, being a woman and an ordinary civilian, lacked the right to pose such questions.
Nevertheless, Chi Jingxi nodded agreeably. "Yes, I did enter the palace again. I seem to recall telling a certain girl before I went in."
Wen Yantong inquired, "When you entered the palace… what were you busy with?"
"I'm just occupied with court matters," Chi Jingxi replied. Sensing her unspoken questions related to this topic, he took the initiative to elaborate, "I have a petition that the Emperor has been holding onto. I've been hoping for the Emperor's approval, which is why I've been frequenting the palace."
Wen Yantong fell silent for a moment, then finally gathered her courage and asked, "Is it... is it a request to participate in quelling the rebellion in Yibei?"
Suddenly, Chi Jingxi looked directly at her, his eyes as dark and profound as ink.
Wen Yantong sensed a growing unease, swallowed nervously, and added, "You must have seen Mu Yang before meeting me. He caused a disturbance in a newly opened teahouse today, and the opponents were four people from Yibei."
Chi Jingxi listened to her words, fell silent for a moment, and then inquired, "How do you know they are from Yibei?"
Wen Yantong looked at him, she could tell Chi Jingxi was suspicious of her again.