Falling in Love Online with an Ancient General

Qian Jue: "A space-time rift? Why have I never heard you mention this before?"

Guang'an: "This is my first time seeing one as well. Everything within a space-time rift is illusory. If one stays too long, they will gradually sink into a fantasy world of their own creation, then be devoured by the rift, turned into energy, and dispersed between heaven and earth."

"So the mountains and rivers I see are all fake?" Qian Jue looked around again; everything here seemed so real.

Guang'an: "Whatever you imagine in your mind, that's what it will appear to be."

"Stop rambling and take me back quickly. I'm starving!" No wonder he couldn't catch any fish - it was all just his imagination.

Guang'an pulled a stone from his sleeve and handed it to Qian Jue. "Hold onto this."

Qian Jue toyed with the stone in his hand.

In an instant, the two returned to Guanyuan Temple.

Qian Jue: "You must have seen that girl. Was it just as you said?"

"The time is not yet right," Guang'an replied, offering no further explanation.

Qian Jue said: "Alright, I won't press you. Thank you for your help today. I'll be heading back now."

On the carriage returning to Shengjing.

Xu Linghe held Feng Qingyi's hand. "Qingyi, what did Master Guang'an say to you earlier?"

"He said he would bring him back," Feng Qingyi replied.

"That's good. Since Master Guang'an said so, you needn't worry anymore," Xu Linghe said.

Halfway through the journey, someone suddenly entered the carriage.

Seeing him sit down naturally next to Zhao Yiqing, Feng Qingyi asked, "Why are you here?"

Qian Jue: "You didn't even wait for me, you brat!"

Feng Qingyi: "I'm sorry! I really didn't mean to. I just didn't read the instructions carefully..."

"Didn't read the instructions carefully? You... you didn't set me up on purpose, did you?" Qian Jue glared at Feng Qingyi.

Feng Qingyi raised her right hand. "I swear, it absolutely wasn't on purpose. It won't happen again next time."

"You're planning on a next time?!" Qian Jue exclaimed.

Feng Qingyi: "...No, no next time."

Seeing this, Qian Jue dropped the subject and instead patted Zhao Yiqing. "Little Zhao, why are you here too?"

"Greetings, Master Qian. I'm accompanying these two ladies," Zhao Yiqing replied respectfully.

Qian Jue looked Zhao Yiqing up and down. "You're so frail, you'd only be a liability if we encountered bandits. In the future, just stay put in the Wenyuan Pavilion and don't run around everywhere."

"...I understand," Zhao Yiqing responded.

Xu Linghe: "There's no need for Master Qian to worry. I'll protect him."

"And which family are you from, girl?" Qian Jue looked at Xu Linghe.

Feng Qingyi interjected, "Aren't you just pretending not to know?"

"You youngsters have no respect for your elders," Qian Jue said.

Feng Qingyi couldn't be bothered with him. "Some people don't even know if they're old or not, but they're already trying to use their age as leverage."

Qian Jue closed his eyes. "I won't stoop to your level, you young ones."

Xu Linghe: "Is he angry?"

"Not likely. He's not that petty. By the way, are the tables and chairs we ordered last time ready?" Feng Qingyi asked.

Xu Linghe: "I went to check a few days ago, and they were almost done. They should be ready by now. Let's go take a look later."

Feng Qingyi: "Good. If they're ready, we can get some people to replace the furniture in the teahouse."

The carriage bumped along the rough road. Feng Qingyi leaned on Xu Linghe's shoulder. "I'm still a bit dizzy. Wake me up when we arrive."

...

At the General's mansion, Bai Wei looked at Shen Lanyan standing outside the door, feeling less and less inclined to announce her arrival.

"Is Princess Xuan He in?"

Bai Wei replied perfunctorily, "The Princess has gone to the temple to pray today. Miss Shen, please come back another time!"

Shen Lanyan: "Then please trouble yourself to take me to see the Princess. I have important matters to discuss with her today."

Bai Wei rolled her eyes. "You say that every day when you come. Today, let me pass on your message. Please, Miss Shen, go ahead!"

Shen Lanyan glanced at Bai Wei. "This matter needs to be told to Princess Xuan He in person."

"I am the Princess's attendant. Miss Shen, do you not trust me?"

Day after day, Shen Lanyan didn't seem to tire of this, but Bai Wei certainly did.

The Princess had specifically instructed yesterday that if she came, to send her away with excuses. She didn't want to have tea with her anymore.

Shen Lanyan's eyes welled up with tears. "I know you're close to Princess Xuan He, but now you won't even announce my arrival and are turning me away at the door. Is this how the General's mansion treats guests?"

Bai Wei: "Miss Shen, please mind your status. This is the General's mansion, not a place for you to throw tantrums. I advise you not to waste your time on the Princess. After all, the General's marriage is his own decision."

"The General already has a fiancée, yet Miss Shen still wants to use her status to replace her. This is not how a well-bred young lady should behave."

Although angry, Shen Lanyan held back when faced with Bai Wei.

"I think you might have misunderstood. I just thought that since General Qin is at the frontlines and can't attend to the Princess, I wanted to help take care of her on his behalf..." Shen Lanyan said slowly.

Bai Wei: "It's not like our General's mansion is short of people. Why would we need an outsider to take care of the Princess?"

"...That's not what I meant. I want to attend to the Princess in place of General Qin," Shen Lanyan said, lowering her head.

"What relationship do you have with our General? Replace him? You're not worthy!" Bai Wei directly shut Shen Lanyan out.

Shen Lanyan clutched her handkerchief in anger. She was just a lowly maid, how dare she be so arrogant!

If Princess Xuan He wouldn't see her, she couldn't force it. But surely her father couldn't refuse to see her.

After pondering for a while, Shen Lanyan left in a huff.

At this moment, the carriage carrying Feng Qingyi and the others entered Shengjing city.

Xu Linghe woke Feng Qingyi. "Qingyi, we've arrived. The journey was so long, we've been on the road all morning. Finally here, let's get out and rest."

Feng Qingyi lifted the carriage curtain and was the first to step down, with Xu Linghe following closely behind.

After everyone had disembarked, Zhao Yiqing spoke up: "Now that Miss Feng's matter is resolved, I shall take my leave. If either of you needs anything else, you can always find me at the Wenyuan Pavilion."

Qian Jue: "I'll go with little Zhao. Thanks, girl."

After the two left, Feng Qingyi and Xu Linghe walked side by side into the Peng Lai Residence.

"Qingyi, did you make Qian Jue disappear?" Xu Linghe asked.

Feng Qingyi nodded. "Mm, yesterday I accidentally sent him somewhere unknown. I was terrified, but thankfully he came back alive."

"Qingyi, don't you encounter dangers when you come and go like this?" Xu Linghe seemed worried.

Feng Qingyi patted her shoulder. "Don't worry, his situation was special, which is why there was an accident. It won't happen to us. When I'm on vacation, I'll take you out to play."