To protect Qingque—who had already fled the Divination Commission and whose offense was far greater than his own—Yu Xian chose the first option Fu Xuan had given him.
He would stay and study divination with her all night.
And, of course, this was Fu Xuan—one of the Six Charioteers, the newly appointed Master Diviner of the Divination Commission, the superior of countless diviners across the Luofu.
Fu Xuan was not the type to make idle threats or speak in riddles. She was direct, absolute, and unwavering.
When she said "all night," she meant it.
There would be no sneaking out for a date with Qingque tonight.
Ah…
Thinking this, Yu Xian couldn't help but sigh.
Qingque… his poor Qingque.
She must already be waiting for him somewhere in Changled Tian, drink in hand, expecting him to arrive at any moment. And now, because he had been caught by none other than the formidable Fu Xuan, he wouldn't be showing up at all.
He could already imagine how disappointed she would be—how her face would fall, how she might even cry or throw a little tantrum when she learned that he'd stood her up.
"Ah, Qingque…" Yu Xian thought bitterly, "please don't cry too much…"
With that, he pulled out his phone and typed a quick message explaining the situation: that Fu Xuan had caught him, and that his punishment was to stay behind for an all-night study session.
He wanted to say more—something to comfort her—but the sharp, piercing weight of Fu Xuan's gaze on his back made him freeze. It felt like needles on his skin.
So he hurriedly sent a short apology, shoved his phone into his pocket, and straightened up.
When he looked up again, Fu Xuan was suddenly standing right in front of him.
Her expression was cold, her silence even colder.
The sudden proximity startled him. She had been across the room just moments ago—how had she moved so fast?
Her face, delicate and pale like porcelain, now seemed to radiate an intensity that could freeze the air.
"What are you dawdling for?"
Even without words, Yu Xian could see the anger written across her face.
He stiffened, silently thankful that he'd put his phone away in time. If she had caught him texting Qingque, who knew what she would've done? Perhaps she would've dragged Qingque back here herself and punished them both.
Gulp.
At that thought, Yu Xian swallowed hard and resolved to make it through the night unscathed.
If he wanted to keep his and Qingque's future safe, he would have to endure—and maybe, just maybe, win Fu Xuan's favor before the night was over.
---
By the middle of the night, the Divination Commission was silent.
All the other diviners had long since gone home, leaving only two figures behind in Fu Xuan's private office—silhouetted by the warm golden glow of a single lamp.
Inside, Fu Xuan sat across from Yu Xian, guiding him through complex calculations and divination theories.
It was Yu Xian's first time stepping into her personal workspace. The office, he found, was not at all what he expected.
Despite Fu Xuan's refined and elegant reputation, her surroundings were surprisingly modest. Ancient texts were stacked high in every corner, scrolls and jade slips filled with records of the Luofu's history. A single desk and two chairs dominated the room, leaving little space for anything else.
On the desk sat a few simple divination instruments and a small incense burner. From it rose a thin trail of smoke carrying a faintly sweet fragrance—calming, delicate, and strangely comforting.
The aroma filled the room, making Yu Xian's eyelids grow heavier with each passing moment.
"Mmm…" he yawned softly.
The scent was soothing, a mixture of herbs and something faintly sweet—like milk.
Milk?
He blinked. Was Fu Xuan secretly drinking milk in her office?
The thought made him snort quietly. Could she really still be trying to grow taller?
Before the laugh could escape his lips, a sharp thwack landed squarely on his forehead.
"Daydreaming again?" Fu Xuan's voice snapped through the silence. "I've been lecturing for two hours, and you're still this inattentive? I even gave you a five-minute break earlier. Do you really think this Seat is so lenient?"
Her tone was harsh, but her flustered expression betrayed her. A faint blush colored her cheeks as she looked away, pretending to be annoyed.
As she moved, the faint scent Yu Xian had noticed earlier grew stronger. The same soft, sweet aroma—like warm milk and incense—hung in the air around her.
He quickly looked down, trying to hide the confusion (and fatigue) clouding his thoughts. Perhaps it was just the incense, or maybe the late hour was playing tricks on him. Either way, his mind was starting to drift again.
The day's exhaustion was catching up fast. His head grew heavier and heavier until, finally—
Thud.
He slumped forward onto the desk, fast asleep.
Fu Xuan stared at him in silence for a moment, then sighed softly.
"As expected," she murmured, "an ordinary person really can't endure this much…"
Reaching for a folded blanket nearby, she draped it gently over his shoulders.
Her gaze softened for a brief moment as she watched him sleep.
"For all his foolishness… he works hard."
Her tone was quiet, almost fond. Then, after ensuring he was comfortable, she sat back down and resumed her own work under the dim light.
Outside, the night deepened.
And for the first time in a long while, Yu Xian slept peacefully—unaware of the faint smile that had touched Fu Xuan's lips.
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A/n: While I am a new translator, I have a Patreon! While it may be a bit empty right now both this and the other book on my page has advanced chapters posted on patreon.
patreon.com/deadlygoober