Just as the two embraced, a figure drifted toward them without sound.
Yun Yao had come searching for Yun Xi. She had not expected to find this.
Her eyes narrowed as she took in the scene—her son, her niece, their bodies pressed close.
For a single heartbeat her expression froze, every line of her face sharpening into something cold and unreadable.
Then, as though a mask had slid into place, her lips curved into a smile that never touched her gaze.
"Such energy this early in the morning. Is this what they mean by being young and carefree?"
The familiar voice struck from behind. Yun Xi, who had been struggling in Ye Qian's arms, went rigid.
She had not expected this. She had been so careful, scanning her surroundings precisely to avoid being seen by her aunt.
Yet despite all her precautions, her worst fear had materialized. Her aunt had caught them in such an intimate state, and now—how could she possibly explain?
This time, panic lent her strength. She shoved harder, and Ye Qian's grip finally loosened. Yun Xi broke free.
Turning, her face burning crimson, she saw her aunt standing with one hand resting lightly against the wall.
There was no obvious anger in her posture, only a casual, almost amused tilt to her head.
"Aunt! It's not what you think! I… I just accidentally… slipped!"
The words tangled on her tongue. Yun Xi, who had clearly not spent much of her life lying, found it agonizingly difficult to construct even a half-decent excuse.
She stomped her feet in frustration, and beside her, Ye Qian laughed.
The sound of his laughter grated against her nerves. She whirled on him, glaring.
"You… you're still laughing! If it weren't for you, how could this have happened?"
His smile remained infuriatingly relaxed, and she wanted nothing more than to rush over and pinch his face until he stopped.
But with what had just transpired, and Yun Yao still watching, she did not dare make a single rash move.
Yun Yao observed them in silence, her gaze flicking from Yun Xi's flustered expression to Ye Qian's easy, impudent grin.
Then she turned fully to her son. Without warning, her entire demeanor shifted.
The sharp, calculating edge in her eyes melted away like frost under sunlight, replaced by something genuine and tender.
A small, soft smile curved her lips, and when she spoke, her voice dropped to a tone reserved only for him—warm, affectionate, unguarded.
"Good morning, dear. I hope you enjoyed the new immortal tea leaves I had sent over."
Ye Qian straightened at once, every trace of mischief vanishing from his face.
Before his mother, he was no longer the sly, teasing version of himself from moments ago.
"As always, your good taste never fails to impress, Mother," he said with a casual smile.
Yun Yao's eyes shone. She reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair from his forehead with delicate fingers.
"In the blink of an eye, you've grown up so fast…"
The words were spoken more to herself than to him, threaded with quiet pride.
"My Qian'er… you're becoming such a fine young man."
Then, as if only just remembering Yun Xi existed, she glanced back.
The warmth drained from her expression, replaced by polite, distant kindness.
"Xi'er, you can be at ease. I do not require explanations," she said, though her smile no longer held its gentle light.
"I know when not to meddle in the affairs of the younger generation."
She looked at them both, something unreadable flickering in her gaze.
"Since you're having so much fun, you two can continue enjoying yourselves. I'll be leaving now."
Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked away, her steps light and unhurried.
Yun Xi watched her go, a strange chill creeping down her spine.
The words had been kind enough, but the tone—there had been something off about it, something unsettling.
Once Yun Yao disappeared around the corner, Yun Xi's eye twitched.
Why… why wouldn't her aunt listen to her explanation?
This matter truly was not what she thought!
Yun Xi desperately wanted to clarify, to explain everything thoroughly, but now there was no opportunity.
After all, Yun Yao had already left. She needed someone to listen if she wanted to explain anything.
Turning back to glare at Ye Qian, Yun Xi reached out and pinched his arm hard.
"You! Why didn't you make it clear just now?
If you had explained it to Aunt, she wouldn't have misunderstood us."
Ye Qian, whose arm she had pinched, did not even register pain.
Though his cousin was a talented cultivator, he wielded the Supreme Immortal Body. Coupled with his superior cultivation rank, such petty moves were utterly ineffective against him.
Being pinched like that would certainly cause pain to a lesser being, but Ye Qian was the exception.
He merely crossed his arms, his face cold and expressionless.
The sudden silence startled Yun Xi.
She had been too nervous just now, acting on unconscious impulse when she pinched him. Now, as clarity returned, she realized the gravity of what she had done.
The person standing before her held a higher status than herself.
Although he was her cousin, he was also the future Patriarch of the Ye Family.
If outsiders saw her treating Ye Qian like this and exaggerated the story even slightly, letting the people of the Ye Clan know, it would be deeply disadvantageous to her.
She glanced around in a panic. After confirming no one was nearby, she turned back to find Ye Qian watching her with that same blank expression.
She could not tell if he was genuinely angry or merely faking it to tease her.
Skeptical, Yun Xi carefully took his arm and gently massaged the spot where she had pinched him.
"How does it feel now, Qian'er? Is it any better?"
Her voice trembled with nervousness as she massaged him, but her worry was sincere.
Seeing Yun Xi so flustered, Ye Qian's lips curved into a lazy grin. He leaned in, his breath warm against her ear.
"You call this a massage? Too focused on your cultivation and not enough on mastering certain arts.
There's still so much for you to learn."
Having already endured this kind of torment before, Yun Xi had adapted somewhat. This time, she raised her head and glared fiercely at him.
"If it doesn't hurt, then never mind. Why didn't you just say so? Hmph!"
With a soft snort, she turned her head away, seemingly displeased and unwilling to look at him.
Whether she was truly displeased or merely acting bashful, Ye Qian could sense the truth easily enough.
Reaching out, he grabbed Yun Xi's delicate hand and pulled her along, walking toward the palace gates.
As they moved, his voice drifted back, casual and confident.
"Come, Xi'er. I'll take you for a stroll around the estate grounds.
I'd rather explore them with you than with anyone else."
Yun Xi, who had turned her head away and appeared slightly angry, was not truly upset, of course.
She merely wanted to see if Ye Qian could discern whether her anger was genuine or feigned.
If he guessed wrong, she could tease him just as he had done before. If he guessed correctly, she would simply pretend nothing happened.
The result was predictable. Ye Qian had seen through her act at a glance.
She tried but failed to hide the eager smile tugging at her lips.
After the two left, they climbed into Ye Qian's qilin carriage and descended the mountain.
Within the Ye Family Land, the bustling areas all lay at the mountain's foot, not among the palaces on the peaks.
The people of the Ye Clan who lived at the foot of the mountain held relatively lower status, though this was only relative to the core members.
Placed outside the clan, their standing would generally go unchallenged.
On their way down, they encountered many Ye Family soldiers clad in exclusive Ye Clan armor, sharp weapons glinting at their sides.
These were the elite soldiers of the clan, responsible for patrolling its various territories every day.
Upon seeing the luxurious qilin carriage, every soldier stood at attention and saluted respectfully.
"Young Master!"
Their voices rang out, full of vigor, and their auras revealed impressive cultivation—far beyond what ordinary soldiers could compare to.
Through the curtains, Yun Xi observed these disciplined Ye Clan soldiers radiating power.
While her Yun Family also maintained an army, compared to the Ye Family's forces, there seemed to be a noticeable gap.
This disparity existed not only in raw strength but in discipline, training, and countless other aspects as well.
Upon reaching the foot of the mountain, after finding a suitable spot to leave the qilin carriage, Ye Qian took Yun Xi into the bustling market.
Within the Ye Family Land, everyone knew Ye Qian's identity.
The moment he arrived at the market, heads turned. People immediately noticed him and quickly bowed with proper reverence.
"Greetings, Young Master!"
One after another, individuals from all walks of life bowed before their future lord.
Ye Qian's expression remained aloof.
He acknowledged them with nothing more than a slight nod, his gaze sweeping over them without lingering.