CHAPTER 691: CHAPTER 671: FLIRTING

In recent days, the Second Prince has been performing quite impressively in managing political affairs. Whether it’s the rear logistics or fostering unity among the clans, with Xie Jue’s assistance, the Second Prince has handled everything exceptionally well. Xie Jue himself excels at managing such affairs; whether it’s Beiman or the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry, military duties are essentially similar. Since Beiman tend to be straightforward, handling matters becomes even smoother, earning the Second Prince many rewards from the Beiman King.

Among the rewards he brought back to the mansion was a long spear, described as a war trophy from the battlefield. The Beiman King is skilled in using meteor hammers, the Great Prince excels with tridents made from red ore, Dugu Jing is adept with short weapons, but only the Second Prince has a fondness for such long spears. Hence, the Beiman King gifted the spear to the Second Prince, who gleefully carried it back to his residence and showed it off proudly in front of his strategists.

Xie Jue clenched his fists quietly, his lips turning pale.

A war trophy?

This is Fang Chuning’s spear!

The red tassel adorning the spear was woven by his own hands. Xie Jue personally loved the simplicity of white, but white tassels were considered unlucky on spears, so he chose red. This vivid crimson stood out strikingly on the battlefield, accompanying its owner through countless killings — how did it become a war trophy!

If he were still safe, there was no way the spear would fall into someone else’s hands.

Was he injured?

The Second Prince wielded the spear in the courtyard. Fang Chuning’s spear was crafted from the finest iron in Yanyang—balanced and sharp, a lethal weapon. The Second Prince deeply admired it.

Xie Jue watched from the side as the spear now belonged to a different owner, his heart filled with extreme displeasure. To him, the true owner of the spear should only be Fang Chuning; anyone else using it was simply defiling it.

Nearby, the strategists praised the Second Prince’s excellent skills and his extraordinary mastery of spear techniques. Xie Jue felt unsettled. At that moment, the Second Prince Consort arrived with Lan Ningzhen, the two sisters exchanging cheerful banter as they entered. The Second Prince Consort, tall and graceful herself, appeared overshadowed when standing beside the remarkably taller Lan Ningzhen—a rarity even among Beiman women.

"Anning greets brother-in-law!" Lan Ningzhen folded her arms across her chest and performed a Beiman salute.

Her voice was somewhat androgynous, crisp and clean.

Xie Jue paused a moment, hearing the name "Anning," his gaze lingering briefly on her. Lan Ningzhen bore a striking resemblance to the Second Prince Consort in her alluring, fox-like eyes that seemed capable of capturing souls.

The Second Prince set down the spear, tossing it casually into the weapon rack nearby, where it now stood out prominently amongst the other spears—sharp and powerful. Lan Ningzhen’s gaze lingered on the spear momentarily before shifting away.

The Second Prince, naturally hospitable and boisterous, treated his first meeting with his younger sister-in-law as if they were old friends. "Anning, no need for formalities. You’ve made quite the name for yourself in Fox City recently. Your sister’s been wanting to meet you for ages. Now that you’re here, you must join us tonight for a grand celebration!"

"Yes, brother-in-law, how could I refuse such an invitation?"

"Anning has an excellent tolerance for alcohol; she’ll be perfect company for an evening of drinking." The Second Prince Consort laughed, instructing the servants to prepare a banquet. She amiably addressed the strategists nearby, "Gentlemen, please join us for the meal as well."

"At your command!" They accepted the invitation and followed the party to the dining hall. Xie Jue walked at the rear, unable to resist glancing back at the spear standing solitary in the wind and snow.

Anning, how did the spear end up in the hands of the Beiman?

At the Beiman banquet, men and women mingled freely, without segregation. The Second Prince and Consort sat at the head of the table, Lan Ningzhen to the right of the Consort, with Xie Jue seated directly beside her. The proximity made them almost uncomfortably close.

Lively and clever, Lan Ningzhen was not the type to grow up secluded on Heavenly God Mountain, naive to worldly affairs. She was knowledgeable, well-informed, and good-natured, weaving seamlessly into conversations with the Second Prince, the strategists, and others at the table—challenging them to drink. Soon, one jar of wine was empty. Beiman women were famously heavy drinkers; Lan Ningzhen and the Second Prince Consort both possessed astounding capacities. Meanwhile, only Xie Jue abstained completely, watching her effortlessly juggle conversations and share anecdotes from Heavenly God Mountain. Her tales stirred laughter from the Second Prince and brought joy to the gathering.

As the wine flowed more freely, she even joined the Second Prince in openly ridiculing the Priest Court, calling them a bunch of stubborn old traditions that did more harm than good. Their instant rapport—little sister-in-law and brother-in-law—pleased the Second Consort to no end.

Xie Jue thought to himself that Lan Ningzhen’s demeanor could almost be mistaken for a man’s; her actions and conduct felt distinctly masculine. A strategist had once remarked that on Heavenly God Mountain, she had been raised entirely by priests, all of whom were male. As a result, she had little interaction with other women growing up, and her temperament came to resemble that of men.

Proud, combative, and unwilling to concede—yet unmistakably charming!

"Mr. Helian, why aren’t you drinking?" Lan Ningzhen asked, turning her attention to Xie Jue beside her. By the third round of wine, the atmosphere had grown increasingly relaxed. It was, after all, a family gathering, unbound by excessive formalities.

Xie Jue glanced at her briefly. The Ruby adornment on her forehead accentuated her mesmerizing fox-like eyes, so enchanting they resembled rippling spring waters, capable of drawing one in. From this angle, the resemblance was simply too striking. A strange unease stirred in Xie Jue, who quickly averted his gaze.

"I’m not skilled at drinking!"

"A man in Fox City who isn’t good at drinking—that’s quite rare!" Lan Ningzhen teased with a smile, her gaze lingering on his slightly dark complexion. She poured him half a bowl of wine. "Come on, give me the honor—drink a cup with me?"

Xie Jue truly wasn’t skilled at drinking, but he wasn’t incapable of having a single sip. However, Beiman wine was particularly strong—far fiercer than Ningzhou’s white liquor—with an intense aftereffect. What’s worse, the Beiman even favored drinking from bowls rather than cups. One bowl of their wine could easily incapacitate Xie Jue.

She was sitting far too close. It was winter, and Beiman homes lacked any sort of heating. Her breath became visible as she spoke, mixing faintly with the aroma of wine and a subtle, clean fragrance emanating from her, reminiscent of the pine blossoms at snowy mountain ridges. The blend of wine and scent was oddly pleasant. Xie Jue instinctively shifted back slightly, preparing to decline coldly.

The Second Prince chimed in, "Helian, Anning is enthusiastically inviting you. Why not drink half a bowl? You won’t get drunk from that."

The Second Prince genuinely understood Xie Jue’s aversion to drinking. Among the Beiman, alcohol was an unavoidable part of all ceremonies, so much so that Xie Jue once drank a single bowl and passed out in the snow, nearly fracturing his bones. This incident convinced everyone of his low tolerance, so the Second Prince never forced him to drink again within the residence.

But today’s joyful occasion called for a small exception; half a bowl wouldn’t hurt. Xie Jue couldn’t outright refuse and risk offending the Second Prince, so he picked up the wine bowl and lightly clinked it against Lan Ningzhen’s. Instead of downing the half-bowl, he merely sipped cautiously, unable to stomach the harsh fire of Beiman alcohol.

"How obedient!" Lan Ningzhen joked, her words laced with playful teasing and tinged with flirtation. Even her voice carried an exaggerated sweetness that made one’s skin crawl. "Mr. Helian, your face is turning red!"

Xie Jue realized, without a doubt, that he was being flirted with!

Such behavior in Yanyang would undoubtedly be deemed improper; an unmarried woman acting this way could damage her reputation, inciting scorn from others. But here in Beiman, it was completely normal. Beiman women had a particularly bold way of expressing affection—some would even snatch away someone they fancied and keep them as their own.

Unamused, Xie Jue frowned, disliking this sort of teasing. Yet Lan Ningzhen seemed oblivious, taking the opportunity while refilling his bowl to deliberately graze his hand. She coquettishly exclaimed, "Mr. Helian, won’t you have another?"