Fu Xuan paid no mind to Qingque, who was over there wearing an expression that screamed 'I'm already dead.'
Instead, she looked past the gaming table at Sylvia seated across from it.
"I must first offer my apologies, Miss Sylvia. I never imagined Qingque would actually dare to linger here playing games all this time. She clearly needs some proper discipline."
Fu Xuan's small hand clamped down firmly onto Qingque's skull, with an air of someone about to crack a melon open bare-handed.
This reduced Qingque to a pitiful, whimpering mess under Fu Xuan's grip; it seemed her already hanging heart had finally given up the ghost.
Sylvia had more or less figured it out the moment Fu Xuan appeared.
Qingque being here today was probably all part of a plan to waylay her.
She just hadn't expected that after succeeding, Qingque wouldn't even budge from her spot, instead pulling Sylvia into multiple rounds of Celestial Jade.
No wonder Fu Xuan was so incensed that she personally intervened to subdue the wayward Qingque.
Noting that Sylvia merely smiled and waved a hand dismissively without speaking,
Fu Xuan, perhaps thinking Sylvia took issue with the Divination Commission calculating her schedule, spoke up again:
"Previously, Yukong of the Sky-Faring Commission contacted me. She mentioned they have a distinguished guest touring the Xianzhou Luofu today, but she's stretched too thin herself. So, she asked the Divination Commission to lend an… idle hand as a companion."
As she said this, Fu Xuan shot a very pointed look at Qingque.
This slacker's reputation for skipping work and shirking duties had spread so far that even the Sky-Faring Commission knew of her existence—they specifically came asking for her.
The thought made Fu Xuan's anger flare up all over again.
Seeing Fu Xuan's expression darken another shade, Qingque hastily produced a few pieces of pastry and offered them up with both hands.
"Please don't be angry, Lady Fu! It wouldn't do for your esteemed self to work up a rage and harm your health. Hehe~"
"Hmph."
Fu Xuan snorted, ignoring Qingque's antics.
Sylvia, meanwhile, withdrew her gaze from the panel hovering over Fu Xuan.
--+--
[Target: Fu Xuan]
[Favorability: 55 (Curious and Friendly)]
[Relationship: None]
['Heard that Sylvia thwarted a scheme of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, hence holds a favorable impression.']
--+--
It seemed her intervention in aiding the Whistling Flames Merchant Guild came with quite a few hidden benefits.
At the very least, officials like these already regarded her with a baseline level of friendliness upon meeting.
This treatment really was quite good.
"The Sky-Faring Commission has indeed been quite busy lately. I appreciate the trouble Yukong and Lady Fu have gone through."
Sylvia gave a slight nod from her seat. Though Fu Xuan was mature-minded, her features were delicate and rather adorable.
Paired with her steady, dignified personality, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call the contrast downright charming.
And in person, Fu Xuan's attire, from the fabric to the craftsmanship, was clearly top-tier; seeing it for real, it was beauty you'd want to hold and never let go.
Sylvia figured it was probably the formidable reputation of the Divination Commission, combined with Fu Xuan's low public profile, that prevented the rise of a 'Fu Xuan Fan Club' somewhere on the ship.
Fu Xuan noticed Sylvia's gaze but didn't pay it much mind, simply nodding and saying,
"I have official duties to attend to and cannot be away for long. If this one proves unreliable," she gestured slightly towards Qingque, "you can contact me directly."
With that, Fu Xuan offered her own Jade Abacus to exchange contact information with Sylvia.
Qingque, from the side, hurriedly protested her innocence, "Lady Fu, how can you encourage people to tattle like that? You're practically ensuring a tragic, thick wall forms between Miss Sylvia and me!"
"You still dare to speak!"
Fu Xuan glared at Qingque before finally turning and leaving.
Only then did Qingque finally let out a long sigh of relief, slumping back into her chair at the table.
"Aiya… How could Lady Fu do this… Sending me on a field assignment and then still coming to catch me slacking…"
Qingque face-planted onto the table, rocking her head side to side. Sylvia wasn't in a hurry, and the other two players, seeing Fu Xuan leave, had stealthily made their way back.
"So, how'd it go? You didn't get dragged back? Did Lady Fu really let you off?"
Hearing this, Qingque's head shot up, her eyes wide as she shot a completely non-threatening glare at the two.
"Of course not! I told you I really have a mission today. But no more games for now."
"She wasn't dragged away, but Qingque has to work overtime right under the Master Diviner's nose tomorrow to make up for today's… absence," Sylvia chimed in, rather gleefully.
Qingque immediately cracked.
"Waaah ah ah— Lady Fu is so cruel!"
The other two players exchanged a look, both expressing sympathy for Qingque's plight.
Of course, the corners of their mouths, which they utterly failed to suppress, betrayed their true feelings.
Qingque pursed her lips, finally rising from the gaming table with palpable reluctance. She then waved for Sylvia to follow.
"Miss Sylvia, let's go. Since Lady Fu herself gave the order, I'll show you around the Exalting Sanctum properly today."
"Eh~ Just call me Sylvia."
Having played for a good while, her gaming itch was pretty much scratched. Sylvia hadn't actually planned to spend the entire day lost in Celestial Jade anyway.
So, after Qingque called her, she apologized to the other two players and followed Qingque out.
--+--
Walking on the street, Qingque kept half a step ahead. She was a bit shorter than Sylvia too.
So, Sylvia had a clear view of the twin tails bouncing behind Qingque's head.
And those smooth, delicate shoulders.
"Hey, Sylvia… You know, we've played cards together. A bond like that is practically as thick as thieves, don't you think…"
They'd only taken a few steps before Qingque sidled up right next to Sylvia, wearing a sly expression that hinted at some scheme.
Sylvia's expression tightened. She took three quick steps back, adopting a wary stance.
"Have some self-respect, Miss Qingque! There's no way I'm supporting your bid to 'overthrow the Fu Xuan tyranny' and claim the Divination Commission for Qingque."
"Ack! Don't say such dangerous things!"
Qingque immediately lunged forward to cover Sylvia's mouth.
The only reason the Master Diviner kept such a close watch on her was because she inexplicably had high expectations, wasn't it?
Everyone knew Fu Xuan wanted to become the General. If someone overheard and reported this to her…
If the Master Diviner got hold of such a handle, forcing her to work overtime every day, her days of leisurely slacking would be over for good!
The panicked little sparrow practically threw herself into Sylvia's arms, close enough to catch a gentle, pleasant fragrance.
Sylvia raised her hands to steady Qingque by her slender waist, but her posture was a bit stiff.
She shook her head free of Qingque's hand.
"Then what was that scheming look about earlier?"
"Pfft! Who's scheming?! You can play your cards wild, but don't go spouting nonsense! The Master Diviner's power is sky-high; a minor character like me isn't even worth her pinky finger."
Qingque grimaced and waved a small fist in front of Sylvia's face.
"So, what were you going to say before? You completely derailed the topic."
"??"
Qingque's eyes widened. How could this person lie with such a straight face?! Who was the one who derailed the conversation in the first place?
How infuriating!
But remembering that this person now held direct tattling access to the Master Diviner, the little sparrow could only choose to endure this injustice… for now.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.