After much thought, Xu Xin felt that she couldn't just accept her current situation!
Seeing Chu Qing living a stable life while she had to live in hiding and be subservient, her hatred almost choked her!
So, after some intimate entanglement with Alana, Xu Xin tentatively spoke up, "My lord, are you just going to let it go like this?"
The smile faded from Alana's face, and a look of hostility clouded his eyes. "What else can I do? I originally wanted to go back, but that woman forced me to come back! If I could, I really would like to divorce her!" After saying this, as if worried about being overheard by someone with ill intentions, Alana walked outside the tent to check if there was no one else before returning inside with relief.
Xu Xin saw that Alana truly wanted to divorce Gerile, but he was just helpless because of her strength and personality, and it was not easy for him to bring it up.
Well, since that was the case, as kind as she was, she might as well give him a hand.
...
The dinner party today was extremely lively.
Darun had arrived early and sat down with Battel. When Chu Qing and Wei Ying came, they saw the two of them enjoying themselves.
Darun was nearly forty years old, but there didn't seem to be much of a generation gap between him and the young Battel.
Chu Qing followed Wei Ying and greeted them with a beaming smile, then casually found a place to sit down.
On the grassland, unlike in the Central Plains, there were not so many rules. So they didn't have to pay much attention to where they sat.
However, since there was a strict hierarchical system and their statuses were well - defined, only Chu Qing, Wei Ying, and the leaders of several tribes were participating in this dinner party.
When Alana and Gerile walked in one after another, Chu Qing naturally noticed Xu Xin following beside Alana.
At this moment, Xu Xin seemed to have dressed up carefully. As always, she looked weak and pitiful, the kind of look that could easily arouse a man's pity.
However, among those present, except for Alana, the others just gave her a cursory glance and then looked away.
Chu Qing curved her eyes and hooked the corner of her lips.
Seeing Xu Xin's wandering eyes, Chu Qing sneered inwardly.
Could it be... she was about to... cause trouble again?
While Xu Xin was sizing up those present, suddenly she felt a chill down her back. She instinctively looked at Chu Qing.
Sure enough!
This woman was looking at her with a sneering look in her eyes!
Humph!
Xu Xin lowered her eyes and tightly grabbed Alana's arm.
Didn't the Prince of Ning not care? Did he think that since they were divorced, it had nothing to do with him anymore?
She didn't believe that a man could be completely indifferent!
She would annoy him to death even if it was just to irritate him!
Thinking of this, Xu Xin said in a coquettish voice, "My lord, isn't it inappropriate for me to attend this dinner party today? I think the Princess of Ning is looking at me in a strange way..."
After hearing this, Alana looked up at the Princess of Ning, then squinted his eyes and said, "Does the Princess of Ning have any opinions on my beauty? There shouldn't be so many rules for tonight's meal, right?"
Suddenly being targeted, Chu Qing's expression obviously froze for a moment. Then she casually glanced at Xu Xin and saw her lowering her head and shrinking back.
Was this the start?
Xu Xin didn't want a single peaceful day?
Chu Qing smiled and said loudly, "This princess just thinks that this... young lady looks very much like someone I once knew."
"Princess of Ning, didn't Xu Xin say that you once helped her?" Gerile interrupted instinctively.
"Yes, she said I once helped her. But now this princess thinks... she also looks like..."
"Princess, with my status, how could I be like your acquaintance!" Afraid that Chu Qing would say something, Xu Xin said in a flurry.
She originally thought that since Chu Qing didn't expose her before, she wouldn't say anything more. But it turned out that she was... threatening her with this!
Chu Qing tilted her head and hooked the corner of her lips. "Oh? Miss, you don't have to belittle yourself like this. This princess just wants to say that you look very much like a... younger sister of this princess."
"???" Xu Xin almost couldn't hold back from rolling her eyes.
A younger sister!
She never expected Chu Qing to come up with this!
Seeing Xu Xin's pale face but having to force a smile at her, Chu Qing felt extremely happy.
"Chief Alana, Lady Gerile, please take your seats quickly!" Seeing that Alana and the others had been standing, Battel couldn't help but speak up.
Alana responded and then took Xu Xin to sit down.
Gerile, who was left behind, glanced at them, hooked the corner of her lips in a cold smile, and then sat down by herself.
Coincidentally, she sat next to Chu Qing.
Finally, the dinner party began.
Chu Qing didn't care what tricks Xu Xin would play. She just felt extremely hungry now!
...
After Chu Qing had eaten for a while, she noticed that Gerile beside her seemed to be drinking alone all the time.
"La... " Just as Chu Qing was about to speak, she suddenly remembered that this woman didn't like this kind of address, so she changed her words and continued, "Gerile, why do I only see you drinking and not eating? You should eat at least something to avoid feeling uncomfortable later."
The words of concern blurted out. To be honest, Chu Qing quite liked Gerile's personality.
For the younger generation she liked, she always couldn't help but say a few more words.
However, seeing Gerile's reaction, Chu Qing more or less knew the reason. But since it was the first time they met today, it would seem inappropriate for her to ask too many questions.
After hearing Chu Qing's words, Gerile gave a rather calm smile and replied, "Princess, don't worry. I'm in good health, and this amount of wine is nothing to me. Moreover, the people on the grassland are always good at drinking."
Hearing this, Chu Qing sighed softly and said, "It's a pity that this princess can't drink now. Otherwise, I would surely accompany you."
Hearing this, Gerile's expression towards Chu Qing was no longer as aloof as before. With a smile in her eyes, she said, "Does the princess also like drinking?"
Chu Qing smiled and replied, "Yes～but... my drinking capacity is rather worrying."
Perhaps touched by Chu Qing's words, Gerile's eyes curved into a smile. She raised her wine cup and said, "Then if there's a chance in the future, I will surely go to find the princess to have a good drink!"
"I'd be more than happy!" Seeing this, Chu Qing casually picked up the bowl of green tea in front of her.
Gerile gave a soft laugh and gently clinked her wine cup against the bowl in Chu Qing's hand.
One with wine and the other with tea, they drank it all in one gulp.
After putting down the wine cup, Gerile stood up and slowly said,
"I'm going out for a walk. Princess, you can continue."
Chu Qing immediately replied, "Do you want me to accompany you?"
"Princess, don't worry. I just want to go out and get some fresh air." After saying that, Gerile turned around and walked out.
Chu Qing looked at her back and gently frowned.
She thought that Gerile didn't have any feelings for Alana.
But now it seemed that she might have been wrong.
If she really had no feelings at all, she wouldn't be like this.
"Qingqing～what are you thinking about?" Wei Ying suddenly leaned in and said gently.
At this moment, Wei Ying had a slight smell of alcohol on him, but Chu Qing didn't dislike it.
Subconsciously, she poured a cup of warm tea and handed it over. Chu Qing replied in a low voice,
"I think Gerile has had a really hard life."