My Five Bigshot Seniors: I am The Most Coddled Junior!-Chapter 85 - 37: Together

Ever since she could speak, Gu Qingqing didn’t speak much because she still couldn’t fully grasp voice and tone, but seeing Jun Wu made her so excited that she couldn’t help but call out his name.

Hearing Gu Qingqing’s voice, Jun Wu was initially a bit incredulous, but then his face filled with delight as he stepped forward and clasped her arm.

"Geng Geng, you can speak?" All these years he’s been concerned about Gu Qingqing speaking, almost to the point of obsession, just like Si Lin and the others.

Gu Qingqing nodded, [I haven’t fully grasped it yet, I can only say a little.]

"It doesn’t matter, as long as you can speak, it will only get better from here." Worried that Gu Qingqing might feel inferior, Jun Wu quickly comforted her.

[Hmm, I know,] Gu Qingqing smiled, [Why do you suddenly appear here?]

She hadn’t forgotten Jun Wu should be in the Sub-immortal Realm. When he left, they said they would meet there, but she didn’t expect Jun Wu to come to the Xuantian Continent.

"An Immortal Secret Realm appeared in the Xuantian Continent, which is a rare opportunity, so I applied to come here through my father." Jun Wu held Gu Qingqing’s hand as he spoke and led her into the house.

Gu Qingqing suddenly realized that Wen Guiyun had mentioned earlier that this Immortal Secret Realm was rare and might only appear once in the Xuantian Continent. That’s why he let Si Lin and the others come down the mountain, hoping they could also enter the realm to see if they could find any opportunities. Now hearing Jun Wu, she immediately understood his intentions.

[That’s great, we can enter the Secret Realm together.] Gu Qingqing was very happy. Her feelings for Jun Wu were different; he could be said to be her first and most important friend in the Xuantian Continent. She’s really happy to be with him!

"Yes, we will go together." Jun Wu also smiled, clearly very pleased.

"Cough cough, hey, you two, just talk, is it necessary to hold hands?" Rong Ye glared at Jun Wu and Gu Qingqing’s clasped hands, expressing his dissatisfaction.

By this time, they had entered the house and Si Lin and the others were waiting. Apart from Rong Ye, Si Lin and the others didn’t speak, but their expressions weren’t good either.

Gu Qingqing and Jun Wu both glanced at their clasped hands, paused for a moment, quickly separated, and somewhat awkwardly looked to the sides.

"Jun Wu, why are you here?" Seeing them separate, Rong Ye was a bit satisfied and asked.

"For the Immortal Secret Realm." Jun Wu glanced at Gu Qingqing, turned his head, and replied expressionlessly.

"Did Saint Master Jun approve of you being here?" Yue Zhao asked with a perfect smile, implying something deeper.

"The Immortal Secret Realm is rare, an opportunity not to be missed." Jun Wu walked to a nearby chair, sat down, and looked at Yue Zhao as he spoke.

"So you’re saying you’ll enter the Secret Realm with us?" Nan Hua shook his fan as he spoke.

"I will be with Geng Geng." Seeing Gu Qingqing sit across from him, Jun Wu quickly moved to the seat beside her and said.

"Boy, hold back a bit, Geng Geng is our junior sister, not yours!" Rong Ye glared at Jun Wu, clearly displeased.

"I’m Geng Geng’s good friend." Five years ago, Jun Wu wasn’t afraid of Rong Ye, and now, even less so, even if Rong Ye’s cultivation was higher!

Upon hearing this, Gu Qingqing glanced at Jun Wu, then turned her head towards the angry Rong Ye, [Brother Rong, Jun Wu is my friend, don’t be mad at him.]

Rong Ye snorted coldly, but for Gu Qingqing’s sake, he didn’t bother with Jun Wu anymore.

Jun Wu smiled when Gu Qingqing looked over, making her shake her head helplessly.

...

Besides the Second Elder Zhao Yuan, Sect Master Ning Changchun and Great Elder Lei Qiming of the Shangyang Sect had also come to Shangjing City. Unlike the Zhuo Family and Yun Family who had their own properties in Shangjing City, they rented an estate to reside in.

Zhou Qing and Zhang Qi, after parting ways with Gu Qingqing and the others on the street, were extremely excited. Once back at the estate, instead of going to their rooms, they headed straight to the Second Elder Zhao Yuan’s room.

"Second Elder, today we met Young Master Rong, our benefactor." Zhou Qing, unable to contain her words, excitedly told Zhao Yuan about meeting Rong Ye.

Zhao Yuan was initially puzzled about why Zhou Qing and Zhang Qi came to see him, but upon hearing Zhou Qing, he quickly put down his tea cup and stood up, "Is this true? You really saw him?"

"It’s true, we both saw him and even spoke with Young Master Rong." Zhang Qi’s demeanor was no less excited than Zhou Qing’s.

He viewed Rong Ye not only as a lifesaver but also as an idol. Rong Ye’s manner when dealing with the Lightning Silver Tiger had left a lasting impression on him, making him an object of pursuit. Now seeing him in person, he was naturally thrilled.

"We brought up the past events, and Young Master Rong, just like back then, told us not to dwell on it." Zhou Qing also admired Rong Ye, and his actions were unconsciously glorified in her eyes.

"Indeed, Young Master Rong is noble and virtuous." As an elder of the Shangyang Sect, Zhao Yuan, although not as idolizing as Zhou Qing and Zhang Qi, held Rong Ye in high regard and respect, and the words of praise flowed effortlessly.

Zhou Qing and Zhang Qi nodded vigorously, agreeing with Zhao Yuan.

"The Immortal Secret Realm is now known to all, and Young Master Rong likely came for this as well. Shangjing City has truly gathered heroes lately!" Zhao Yuan sighed, looking at Zhou Qing and Zhang Qi, "About Young Master Rong, don’t go broadcasting this story around, to avoid unnecessary trouble for him!"

Zhang Qi and Zhou Qing exchanged a look and nodded.

...

After being escorted back to her palace by Li Xiuyan’s guards, Li Sisi furiously smashed everything on her table, her beautiful face twisted with anger, "Damn it, just damn it!"

"Princess, don’t get angry, calm down or you’ll harm your health!" Li Sisi’s maid, who hadn’t accompanied her out of the palace today and was unaware of what had happened, instinctively comforted her.

Li Sisi turned around, looking at the maid with a terrifying gaze that frightened the maid into taking two steps back.

At this moment, a report came from outside, and Li Sisi instantly became alert. She hastily tidied up her clothes and looked at the maid, "Clean this place up."

After speaking, she walked outside.

"Third Princess, His Highness the Crown Prince has issued a decree: From today, Third Princess Li Sisi is to be confined for half a month!" The messenger was under Li Xiuyan’s command and announced the decree directly upon seeing Li Sisi.

Li Sisi’s face twisted for a moment, but she finally managed to smile sweetly and promised that she would comply with the confinement order.

After the Crown Prince’s official left, she returned to her chamber with a smile, but as soon as the door closed, she angrily threw the items the maid had just put in order back to the ground.

"Li Xiuyan, I’m not done with you!" She looked up under the maid’s horrified gaze, biting her lip, and said with a hideous expression, a trace of black light flashing through her eyes.

Just as she calmed her nerves and had the maid tidy up the room again, her mother, Noble Princess Consort Yi, hurriedly entered from outside.

"Xier, what’s going on? How did you end up being confined?" Noble Princess Consort Yi looked at Li Sisi, anxiously and worriedly asking.

"I accidentally provoked someone I shouldn’t have, angering my Crown Prince brother, so I’m being confined." Despite being unhappy with Li Xiuyan, Li Sisi understood his unassailable position in the Emperor’s eyes and chose not to set her mother against him, directly admitting her fault.

"How could you be so careless?" Noble Princess Consort Yi looked at Li Sisi with a pained expression, "You’re well aware of your Crown Prince brother’s temper, yet you still managed to get caught by him."

Noble Princess Consort Yi knew her daughter well and was aware of Li Sisi’s temperament; she was somewhat wary of the Crown Prince and couldn’t help but grumble a bit.

"Mother, don’t worry. I will endure the confinement well." Li Sisi smiled, leaning into Noble Princess Consort Yi’s embrace, speaking obediently.

"Oh, you," Noble Princess Consort Yi, who adored Li Sisi dearly, found it hard to bear seeing her suffer, "Mother will summon your cousin into the palace tomorrow to keep you company so you won’t be bored. After all, the Crown Prince only ordered confinement, not that no one can accompany you."

"Thank you, Mother. I knew you loved me the most." Mentioning her cousin lit up Li Sisi’s eyes, and she tugged at Noble Princess Consort Yi’s clothing, acting coquettishly.

"Oh, who else would Mother dote on if not you?" Rolling her eyes slightly with mock annoyance, Noble Princess Consort Yi said dotingly.

Li Sisi said nothing, clinging to Noble Princess Consort Yi. Despite her expression of distaste, her actions were gentle as she caressed Li Sisi’s head.

...

Meanwhile, in the Crown Prince’s Palace.

"Your Highness, your decree has been conveyed to the Third Princess." Once back in the Crown Prince’s Palace, the Crown Prince’s official went to the study to report back to Li Xiuyan.

"What was the reaction of my third sister?" Li Xiuyan looked up from the memorials, glanced at the official, and asked.

"The Third Princess said she would comply with the confinement order," the official replied with his head lowered, speaking respectfully.

Upon hearing this, a sardonic smile appeared on Li Xiuyan’s lips, though the official, with his head still lowered, did not notice it.

"Alright, I understand, you may leave now." Waving his hand, he dismissed the official.

Once the official had left and the study door was closed, Li Xiuyan’s personal guard, Wu Qi, who was also his trusted aide, came over from the side, filled his cup with tea, stepped back, and stood by the table.

"Your Highness, you’ve confined the Third Princess; she might bear a grudge against you, and Noble Princess Consort Yi’s side is also tricky to handle. If she says anything to His Majesty, it might affect your relationship with him," Wu Qi said while closely observing Li Xiuyan’s expression.

"The bond between me and my father is not something Noble Princess Consort Yi’s mere words can affect. Besides, Noble Princess Consort Yi is just a plaything my father is fond of, do you really think my father would care much about her?" Li Xiuyan looked at Wu Qi, speaking with casual indifference and a hint of mockery.

Li Xiuyan was confident in his position in his father’s heart. After all, as his only legitimate son, he was more than a match for all his brothers combined in terms of both lineage and talent.

Moreover, his deceased mother, the late Empress of the Great Tang Dynasty, held an irreplaceable place in his father’s heart—a beacon against which the countless women of the harem could not compare.

If his mother were still alive, Noble Princess Consort Yi would never have become a Noble Consort!

Reflecting on His Majesty’s attitude toward the Crown Prince, Wu Qi realized his earlier worries might have been excessive.

"I was overthinking it. His Majesty’s favor toward the Crown Prince is unparalleled and unmatched by others." In saying this, Wu Qi couldn’t help but think of Li Sisi, who, though the most pampered among the princesses, was worlds apart compared to their own Highness.

"No worries, I’m aware of your concerns," Li Xiuyan did not blame Wu Qi, "I’ve already sent word to my father about the incident in the city; if he disapproved, he would have long sent someone to reprimand me."

"You have planned everything thoroughly, Your Highness." Seeing how comprehensive Li Xiuyan’s considerations were, Wu Qi felt even more reverence for him.

"Indeed, it’s because of my third sister’s folly. With the Immortal Secret Realm affair drawing all kinds of forces to Shangjing City, none of the Four Major Sects or Five Great Families is easy to provoke. She still thought she could act as she did before. If I hadn’t gone today, she would’ve made an even bigger fool of herself!" The thought of Zhuo Tingqiu and others deepened the glimmer in Li Xiuyan’s eyes, his lips curling into a smile.

"Who would’ve thought the Secret Realm would appear near Shangjing City? It’s both an opportunity and a challenge for us. So many forces converging here are bound to impact the city, and if anything happens, we cannot shirk the responsibility!" Wu Qin’s expression grew solemn as he spoke.

"Indeed, we must remain vigilant and closely monitor the various forces’ actions. Our people should stay alert and follow these powers closely," Li Xiuyan took a sip of tea and then continued, "Moreover, have someone look into the identities of those accompanying Zhuo Tingqiu and Yun Ran today. They all seemed extraordinary, yet I’ve never heard of them."

He trusted his intuition and was confident in his ability to judge people. Upon seeing the group of five men and one woman with Zhuo Tingqiu today, he sensed that they had significant backgrounds, yet could not match them with any known power—an aspect that piqued his interest. Accustomed to controlling everything, he didn’t want surprises beyond his grasp!

"Understood, I’ll arrange it immediately." Wu Qi placed his right hand over his left chest, bowed to Li Xiuyan, and then turned to leave.

After Wu Qi left, Li Xiuyan held the memorial but did not read it. Instead, he ruminated for a while before lowering his head to resume reading the memorials.