There were a ton of people from the Divine Capital Bureau. All the officials he knew from the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Works, and the Inner Treasury had to be sent an invitation. And he couldn’t forget the several high-ranking officials he’d met at the Imperial Prison West Courtyard.
A rough calculation showed that he alone knew over forty people, and that wasn’t even counting the ones Li Gangfeng knew.
Li Qingxian hadn’t expected that in just over a month, he had somehow gotten to know so many people.
Next, he discussed it with his aunt and uncle, adding Li Gangfeng’s old acquaintances. They ended up with a list of over sixty people, though not many were likely to come.
By the time they finished the list, it was nearly midnight.
"Qingxian, it’s so late, and you’ve had a long day. Don’t go back to the Government Office. You can leave tomorrow after breakfast," Zhang Fang said.
Li Qingxian nodded. "Alright."
"No one’s lived in your place for a long time, so just stay here tonight. You and Lord Zhou can stay in the west room, and the four of us will be in the east room," Zhang Fang said.
But Li Qingxian said, "He’d actually be less comfortable staying in the main house. The east wing is fine for him. He’s one of us; he won’t mind. I’ll do what I always did. The three of us kids will stay in the west room, and you two can stay in the east room."
"No, no, that won’t do. How can we let a guest stay in the east wing? It’s a mess," said Zhang Fang.
"Uncle Xiaozhou, looks like you’ll have to put up with it for a night," Li Qingxian said with a grin.
"I’ll stay in the east wing," Zhou Henn said.
Zhang Fang couldn’t win the argument against Li Qingxian, so they did things the old way.
Chen Yuanpeng wriggled out of his mother’s arms, ran to Li Qingxian’s side, and whispered, "Brother, play with me tonight, okay?"
Zhang Fang reached out, grabbed the little rascal by the back of his collar, and pulled him back. She scolded, "Your brother’s been busy all day. Let him get to sleep early. You’re sleeping with me tonight, so stop bothering your brother."
"I don’t want to..." Chen Yuanpeng whined, twisting his body.
Zhang Fang’s face darkened. She turned and looked around for something.
Chen Yuanpeng’s eyes immediately reddened with panic. "I’ll go to the east room, okay? I’ll go! I’ll go!"
Zhang Fang snorted, her gaze moving away from the broom.
Li Qingxian and Chen Zhu got up and tidied the east wing, bringing new bedding for Zhou Henn. After washing up quickly, Li Qingxian did as he always had at the Chen Family home: he went into the west room, climbed onto the *kang* bed, and lay down in the middle.
Chen Yuanpeng stood eagerly at the doorway to the west room, lifting the cloth curtain to peek inside.
"Brother, next time, can you show me what a monster looks like?"
"Sure."
"When you have time, can you let me see a Life Artifact?"
"Sure."
"Can I go play at the Night Guard Office?"
"I’ll take you when I have time."
"Can I take a knife and chop up the people who bully me?"
"Get back to the east room, now!"
"Hehe..." The little rascal laughed and left.
Li Qingxian twitched his nose slightly. The room was filled with a faint, mixed scent, the kind that every household seemed to have, yet was different in each one.
At first, it always smelled unpleasant, but after living there for a while, you couldn’t smell it anymore.
Besides the mixed scent, the west room also had a faint, pleasant fragrance.
The courtyard grew quiet. A figure lifted the cloth curtain of the west room and, guided by the faint moonlight, felt their way to the edge of the *kang* bed. A soft voice asked, "Little Brother, are you asleep?"
"No," Li Qingxian said.
Chen Xiang climbed onto the *kang* bed. With her back to Li Qingxian, she rustled out of her outer clothes, revealing her graceful figure in the dark, and lay down on her side as she always did.
Li Qingxian noticed that Chen Xiang was a little far from him, with her back turned. He chuckled and said, "It’s so nice without Chen Yuanpeng bothering us. If he were here, he’d be bouncing off the walls."
"He’s getting more and more mischievous lately. Sometimes he doesn’t even listen to me."
Li Qingxian’s expression darkened. "He dares? In a few days, I’ll get some Talismans. If he doesn’t listen, just slap one on his head. It’ll make his whole body sore and itchy."
Chen Xiang pursed her lips and chuckled. "He’s most afraid of you."
"Of course he is. When he was little, that brat used to fight me for this spot, insisting on sleeping next to you. But in the end, I’m the one who got the middle. I’ll remind him tomorrow—if he dares to disobey you, the first thing I’ll do when I come back is deal with him!" Li Qingxian said.
"That boy really does need you to keep him in line," Chen Xiang said.
Li Qingxian lowered his voice. "Sister, how has the family been? Are you facing any difficulties?"
Chen Xiang sighed softly. "I wouldn’t say it’s been difficult, but it hasn’t been easy either. Same as always."
"Are you still doing weaving and embroidery at home, like before?"
"Mhm, one can’t be idle all the time. I have to do something to help with the household expenses. Besides, if I were to go out to work, I’d have to smear dust and ash on my face every time, which is a real hassle."
Li Qingxian sighed. The Inner City of the Divine Capital was decent, but the Outer City was a chaotic mess. A decent girl who was even slightly good-looking could easily be bullied.
That was why unmarried women in Daqi either never stepped out of their homes or disguised themselves as ugly.
Li Qingxian thought for a moment, then took a Jade Pendant from his Qiankun Bracelet. "This is a Small Magical Artifact. Keep it close to you. It can Block a full-force attack from a Seventh Grade master. Ordinary blades won’t be able to hurt you. Later, I’ll figure out how to get you some other Magical Artifacts so you don’t get hurt."
"A Magical Treasure? Isn’t this too valuable...?" Chen Xiang whispered.
"I told you. From now on, I’ll support this family."
Memories flooded Li Qingxian’s mind, all of them scenes of his aunt, uncle, and sister taking care of him.
"Little Brother has really grown up." Chen Xiang turned gently. In the moonlight, her pair of dark, shining eyes gazed softly at Li Qingxian.
Li Qingxian took his sister’s hand and placed the Jade Pendant in her palm.
"I’ll wear it," Chen Xiang said.
"That’s good," Li Qingxian said with a smile.
"If you can’t sleep, tell me some stories about the Night Guard. I’d like to hear them," Chen Xiang said, blinking her eyes.
Li Qingxian thought for a bit and chose to tell some of the lighter and stranger stories.
One spoke and the other listened, under the cover of night, until all was silent.
The sound of Li Qingxian’s steady breathing filled the west room.
Chen Xiang blinked, gazing at Li Qingxian’s face in the moonlight. She looked at the fine, downy whiskers at the corners of his mouth, and clutching the cool Jade Pendant, the corners of her own mouth curved into a smile.
"He’s really grown up..."
「The moon set and the sun rose.」
Li Qingxian was startled awake by a scream.
"You wretched child, I told you to let your brother get some sleep! What are you screaming your head off for so early in the morning? Go stand by the main gate, and don’t you dare come back until I call for you. Get out! Don’t make me grab the broom!"
"Waaah..." The little rascal’s crying faded into the distance.
Li Qingxian glanced at the large *kang* bed. His sister’s side was neat and empty.
Li Qingxian got up, pushed aside the cloth curtain, and walked out of the west room. He saw the busy figures of his aunt and sister by the stove.
"Auntie, Sister."
The two of them turned to look at him. Chen Xiang’s bright eyes sparkled as she gave him a faint smile.
"Did Yuanpeng wake you? Why don’t you sleep a little longer?" Zhang Fang said.
"No need. Things are pretty busy at the Night Guard. I’ll leave right after breakfast," Li Qingxian said.
"Stay a little longer. You haven’t been home in two months. You Night Guards, really..." Zhang Fang muttered while stirring the rice porridge.
Li Qingxian and his sister Chen Xiang exchanged a smile.
"You sit down. I’ll go get water for you," Chen Xiang said.
"Don’t worry, I’m really strong now."
As he spoke, Li Qingxian walked with Chen Xiang to the well in the courtyard. He easily drew a bucket of water, took the towel from his sister’s hand, and washed his face.
"Where’s Uncle?" Li Qingxian asked, looking around. He only saw Zhou Henn sitting in the east wing.
"He had an urgent job, making a dowry for someone. He was called away right after he got up. Dad told me to tell you that you should come home often when you’re free. The Night Guard Office isn’t your own home, after all; you can’t live there forever. Tomorrow, Mom and I will tidy up your house for you. You should come back to check on it now and then. Once you get married, you can’t still be living at the Night Guard Office." Chen Xiang smiled, pursing her lips, her sparkling eyes reflecting Li Qingxian’s face.