Marriage in the Palm - Chapter 3

After a brief visit and exchange of pleasantries, the Xuanmen female cultivators, knowing that the Young Master preferred tranquility over clamor, tactfully took their leave, unwilling to disturb the two women’s peaceful time.

The residence returned to its former quiet and serene state.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the twilight hues stained the entire Hillside Villa.

The Yin Sha, which had been stable and contained during the day, began to surge restlessly within Wen Zhiyan’s body as night fell. Strands of icy, malevolent energy crept through her meridians, silently eroding her limbs and bones.

Even with Xie Qingci’s constant presence to suppress it, the Natal Sha Qi rooted deep within her fate remained impossible to completely eradicate.

Wen Zhiyan sat on the living room sofa, her fingertips turning slightly cold. A faint, almost imperceptible weariness clouded her brow as a familiar, dull ache began to throb within her body.

Xie Qingci immediately noticed her discomfort. She rose and approached, gently kneeling before Wen Zhiyan and taking her cold, pale hands in hers.

“Is the malevolent energy acting up again?” The young woman looked up at her, her eyes filled with worry.

Wen Zhiyan nodded slightly and replied softly, “It’s fine. It’s an old ailment. I’ll just endure it until it passes.”

For so many years, she had endured all the pain and torment alone, growing accustomed to bearing it all.

But now that Xie Qingci was by her side, she no longer wished to face all the suffering by herself.

Xie Qingci’s heart softened. She rose and sat beside Wen Zhiyan, wrapping her arms around her slightly chilled body and pressing her own warmth against her.

“Don’t endure it alone anymore,” she murmured. “I’m here.”

Closing her eyes, Xie Qingci focused on channeling the orthodox cultivation method of Qingwei Hall. Pure, gentle Supreme Yang Spiritual Energy flowed steadily from her body into Wen Zhiyan’s.

The Supreme Yang Spiritual Energy was mild and enduring, gradually soothing the restless Yin Fiendish Aura and nourishing the meridians and organs damaged by years of malevolent energy.

The bone-chilling cold slowly dissipated, replaced by a steady, comforting warmth that seeped into Wen Zhiyan’s very soul.

Wen Zhiyan’s long-tensed body finally relaxed. She instinctively tilted her head, resting her cheek against Xie Qingci’s soft, slender shoulder. In that moment, she shed the impenetrable armor she wore for the world, revealing her most vulnerable side.

To the world, she was the undisputed empress of the business realm, a woman no one dared to provoke. But before Xie Qingci, she was just an ordinary person, starved for love and warmth, shivering in the cold.

“Qingci…” Wen Zhiyan whispered her name, her voice tinged with a faint, lazy dependence.

“I’m here,” Xie Qingci replied softly, stroking Wen Zhiyan’s long, silky black hair in a soothing gesture. “I’ll always be here.”

“Every night from now on, I will be with you,” Xie Qingci promised, her voice a soft murmur. “I will transfer my qi to stabilize your Sha daily, slowly nourishing your body. Before long, I will completely suppress your death tribulation, ensuring you will never suffer from illness again in all the years to come.”

Wen Zhiyan’s heart swelled with emotion. She wrapped her arms tightly around the young woman’s slender, supple waist, pulling her close as if holding onto her only salvation and sanctuary in this life.

“With you by my side, I fear nothing.”

Once, she had walked alone, her path filled with nothing but cold despair and dead ends, without a single glimmer of hope.

But now, she held the sun in her palm and a beloved in her arms. Even if the road ahead still held perils and tribulations, she no longer trembled.

As the night deepened, the evening breeze grew still and gentle.

The two of them snuggled together on the soft sofa, their breaths mingling, their yin and yang energies harmonizing. All the world’s coldness and suffering seemed to vanish, dispelled by the warmth in their embrace.

Leaning against Wen Zhiyan, Xie Qingci gradually succumbed to drowsiness. Her eyelids drooped, and her breathing became soft and steady.

Wen Zhiyan carefully adjusted her position, cradling the young woman securely in her arms. Her movements were infinitely gentle, terrified of disturbing Xie Qingci’s sleep.

She gazed down at the girl’s serene, docile face, her eyes brimming with a love so deep it seemed palpable. Then, she pressed a light, tender kiss to Xie Qingci’s smooth forehead.

“For the rest of my life, you are the wind and snow, you are the tranquility, you are the poverty, and you are the glory. You are the tenderness in my heart, and everything my eyes behold is you.”

The next morning, Wen Zhiyan’s body had completely recovered, without any discomfort.

After a night of Xie Qingci’s spiritual energy nourishment, not only had her Yin Sha subsided, but even her chronically damaged meridians had been repaired quite a bit. Her complexion also had a hint of color, no longer the sickly pallor of the past.

After the two woke up, they hugged and lingered in bed for a while before slowly getting up and going downstairs.

In the dining room, besides the prepared breakfast, there were also several exquisite wooden boxes placed to the side.

Xie Qingci looked at the wooden boxes and raised an eyebrow slightly: “What is this?”

The butler immediately came forward and replied respectfully: “Miss Xie, it was sent by the female seniors of various Xuanmen sects this morning. They said it was a small gift for you to express their respect, and they also said they wouldn’t dare disturb you, so they left after putting down the items.”

These were the congratulatory gifts sent by the female cultivators of the Xuanmen sect who had come to pay their respects yesterday.

Xie Qingci nodded, walked over slowly, and opened the wooden box.

In the first box, there was a Mutton-fat White Jade Pendant, carved with the ancient and simple runes of Qingwei Hall. The spiritual energy was dense, and it was a top-grade warding-off-evil, body-warming treasure.

The second box contained a hairpin carved from a Thousand-year Peach Wood Branch. Peach wood possessed the most potent yang energy, capable of suppressing Sha and warding off evil, making it the perfect accessory for her to wear at all times.

The third box held a long-lost ancient text of the Xuanmen sect, along with a Thousand-year Spirit Herb that could nourish the spiritual body and stabilize one’s cultivation level.

The remaining boxes were also filled with rare Xuanmen treasures and precious spiritual materials, each priceless and coveted by practitioners who would go to great lengths to acquire them.

The female cultivators from the secular Xuanmen sects were well aware of the Qingwei Hall successor’s prestige and the karmic bond she shared with Wen Zhiyan. They offered these treasures both as a sign of respect and in the hope that she could stabilize her cultivation and protect Wen Zhiyan’s fate.

Xie Qingci gazed at the boxes of treasures, her expression calm and unruffled.

Having grown up in Qingwei Hall, she had seen countless heavenly treasures and Xuanmen oddities since childhood. Such items held little allure for her.

However, her eyes flickered when she picked up the Mutton-fat White Jade Pendant.

The jade was warm and imbued with abundant yang energy. Worn close to the body, it could constantly nourish the wearer, dispel chill, and stabilize the Yin Sha within Wen Zhiyan’s body, easing her daily suffering.

Xie Qingci immediately took the jade pendant, walked to Wen Zhiyan’s side, and looked up at her. “Zhiyan, put this on.”

Wen Zhiyan looked down at the jade pendant in Xie Qingci’s hand, then at the hopeful expression on her face. Her heart softened. She lowered her head slightly. “Alright, put it on for me.”

Xie Qingci rose on tiptoe and carefully tied the pendant around Wen Zhiyan’s neck. As it rested against her heart, the jade’s gentle yang energy slowly spread, instantly bringing a soothing warmth to her chest.

“This jade pendant can suppress the Sha in your body,” Xie Qingci said softly, her gaze earnest. “If you wear it all the time, you won’t feel so cold, and you won’t suffer as much.”

Xie Qingci remained indifferent to all other treasures, yet she had chosen only the one that could best protect Wen Zhiyan. Her every thought and action was devoted to her.

Wen Zhiyan took Xie Qingci’s hand and pressed it to her heart, her eyes filled with tenderness. “Since you gave it to me, I will wear it forever and never take it off.”

She had never believed in such mystical objects, but because it was a gift from Xie Qingci, she cherished it as a priceless treasure.

No jewel in the world was half as precious as her Young Master.

The butler, watching the scene, couldn’t help but smile.

Seeing his two masters so deeply in love and devoted to each other was truly heartwarming and reassuring.

Xie Qingci packed away the ancient Xuanmen texts and spiritual herbs, then asked the butler to store the remaining treasures safely.

She didn’t need any of these external enhancements. All she ever wanted was for Xie Qingci to be healthy, safe, and free from worry, year after year.

At the Wen Group headquarters, in the executive office on the top floor.

The entire level was designed with a cold, minimalist aesthetic, dominated by black, white, and gray. The space exuded an oppressive atmosphere that kept people at a distance, and even the air seemed thick with tension. Female employees and assistants walked on tiptoe, afraid to make the slightest sound.

Everyone knew that President Wen was restless today. The icy aura radiating from her was even more intense than usual, making it clear that no one should dare approach her.

Behind the massive, black executive desk, Wen Zhiyan sat in a sharply tailored black haute couture suit. Her long hair was tied back in a neat low ponytail, revealing the stark, cold lines of her profile. She held a fountain pen in her fingers, but not a single word had touched the paper for a long time.

The company’s financial reports were displayed on her computer screen, and her assistant, Lin Wan, was reporting on her work. But Wen Zhiyan’s mind had long since flown back to Banshan Yunjing, to the person waiting quietly for her to return home.

Though they had been apart for only half a day, she couldn’t restrain her longing.

She missed Xie Qingci’s clean, gentle features. She missed her soft, soothing voice. She missed the warmth of her palm. She missed the way she would nestle quietly in her arms.

Without Xie Qingci by her side, the vast office felt as cold as an ice cellar. The Yin Sha within her began to stir restlessly again, leaving her heart feeling empty and making it impossible to concentrate on anything.

Lin Wan stood before the desk, watching her CEO’s frequent lapses in focus and the growing impatience in her eyes. Suppressing her own shock, she methodically finished reporting the final task.

“President Wen, the multinational video conference is scheduled for three o’clock this afternoon, and it starts in ten minutes. Also, the Old Madam from the main Wen family has sent word again, requesting a meeting to discuss Miss Xie’s situation.”

At the mention of the Old Madam, a flash of coldness swept through Wen Zhiyan’s eyes.

That woman, her grandmother in name only, was just like the other female relatives of the Wen family. She cared for nothing but power and profit and had never shown Wen Zhiyan a shred of warmth. Now, she was incessantly interfering, trying to force her to send Xie Qingci away so she could continue to control and manipulate her and the Wen Group.

Wen Zhiyan tapped the desk sharply, her voice devoid of any warmth. “I won’t see her.”

“Block all communication channels. If you let another word from the Wen family through, you’re fired.”

“Yes, President Wen,” Lin Wan replied immediately, not daring to say another word.

Her CEO’s bottom line had always been Miss Xie, who lived in the Hillside Villa.

Anyone who dared to touch Miss Xie was crossing Wen Zhiyan’s ultimate line.

Wen Zhiyan rubbed her throbbing temples. The Yin Sha within her churned with her turbulent emotions, and a bone-chilling cold crept from her fingertips. Subconsciously, she pulled out her phone and opened her chat with Xie Qingci.

The conversation window was clean and simple, containing only the message she had sent that morning—Wait for me, little one—and Xie Qingci’s soft, sweet reply: Okay.

At the sight of that single, obedient word, the coldness in Wen Zhiyan’s eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a tenderness so deep it seemed to melt.

After a moment’s hesitation, she dialed the home’s internal line.

The call was answered quickly. Xie Qingci’s voice came through, clear and gentle with a hint of softness, like a honey-soaked cool candy that instantly smoothed away all of Wen Zhiyan’s irritation and chill.

“Zhiyan?”

The tension in Wen Zhiyan’s shoulders vanished. Her voice became incredibly soft, completely devoid of the cold hardness she showed the world, and even carried a faint, imperceptible trace of grievance. “It’s me.”

“What are you doing? Have you been good?”

Xie Qingci was sitting on the living room rug, paging through the ancient Xuanmen texts Wen Zhiyan had found for her. Hearing the voice, she smiled gently, her tone warm. “I’m reading. I’ve been very good, I haven’t run off, and I haven’t seen any strangers.”

“The butler prepared warm milk and osmanthus cake for me. It’s delicious.”

She shared the small details of her day, her voice gentle and trusting.

Listening to her voice, Wen Zhiyan felt the void in her heart slowly fill. Even the restless Yin Sha within her calmed down. “Did you miss me?” she asked softly.

Xie Qingci’s cheeks flushed slightly. “Yes,” she replied in a small voice.

That single word filled Wen Zhiyan with such joy that she wanted to drop everything and rush back to her side this instant.

“I missed you too,” Wen Zhiyan murmured, her voice brimming with longing. “I’ll come home as soon as the meeting is over. Don’t go anywhere, just stay put and wait for me.”

“Okay,” Xie Qingci obeyed. “I’ll wait for you.”

After hanging up, the oppressive aura around Wen Zhiyan vanished completely. Her expression softened, and even her gaze turned tender.

Lin Wan, standing nearby, watched in stunned silence.

President Wen, the ruthless “Ice Queen” of the business world who had never shown a single weakness, could actually be this devoted to someone. She could actually look this soft.

Xie Qingci was Wen Zhiyan’s only weakness.

And she was the weakness Wen Zhiyan would spend her entire life protecting in the palm of her hand.

The late autumn wind of Shanghai City swept past the floor-to-ceiling windows, carrying a chill. Xie Qingci curled up on the velvet sofa in the living room, wrapped in the creamy white cashmere blanket Wen Zhiyan had custom-made for her. With a heated pillow in her arms, she quietly pored over the Xuanmen Manual.

Her gaze was lowered, long lashes casting a faint shadow. Her pale fingertips lightly brushed the yellowed pages of the book. She radiated a clean, gentle aura, like a handful of moonlight untouched by dust.

Wen Zhiyan sat beside her, ostensibly working on her tablet, but her gaze kept drifting back to Xie Qingci.

Watching her snuggle deeper into the blanket to ward off the chill, seeing her take small sips of warm honey water, and admiring her quiet, docile presence, Wen Zhiyan felt her heart soften completely.

Compared to the ruthless decisiveness of the business world, she cherished this own quiet, warm companionship all the more.

“Qingci,” Wen Zhiyan said, closing her tablet. She reached out and pulled Xie Qingci closer, letting her lean against her shoulder. Her voice was low and gentle. “There’s a business charity gala this Friday evening. It’s a routine event I have to attend. Would you come with me?”

Xie Qingci looked up, a hint of apprehension in her clear eyes. “Will… will there be a lot of people? I’m afraid of the noise.”

She had always been sensitive to crowds and noisy places. The chaotic energy of a large gathering not only unsettled her spirit but also disturbed her spiritual body, which in turn would destabilize the Yin Sha within Wen Zhiyan.

Wen Zhiyan immediately tightened her hold, stroking Xie Qingci’s long hair with a patient, soothing touch. “Don’t be afraid. I’ll hold you the entire time. I won’t let anyone get close to you, or disturb you.”

“I’ve already had the gala venue cleared and purified. Only the most essential guests will be allowed. We’ll be seated in the quietest, most secluded corner. I’ll be by your side the whole time, ensuring no one stares at you or tries to talk to you.”

She knew Xie Qingci’s nature all too well and would never force her. She simply wanted to openly bring her girl by her side, to tell the world that Xie Qingci was the only person Wen Zhiyan would ever have in this lifetime.

More importantly, if she was away from Xie Qingci for too long, her Yin Sha would easily become restless. Only with Qingci by her side could she find true peace.

Seeing the longing and hope in Wen Zhiyan’s eyes, Xie Qingci’s heart melted completely. She nodded gently, “Alright, I’ll go with you.”

As long as she could be with Wen Zhiyan, she was willing to try and adapt.

Wen Zhiyan’s eyes instantly lit up. She leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to Xie Qingci’s forehead, her heart overflowing with joy. “My Qingci is the best.”

To ensure Xie Qingci’s absolute comfort, Wen Zhiyan immediately sent a set of extremely strict instructions to her assistant, Lin Wan:

[Clear the venue for the entire gala, limit access, purify the air of all negative energy, and block out all distractions.]

[Prepare the quietest viewing area. No one is allowed within a three-meter radius.]

[Custom-make a full set of warm formal attire. The fabric must be soft and non-clinging to ensure Qingci doesn’t get cold.]

[Prepare ample hand warmers, hot drinks, and soft cushions. She dislikes noise, so block all social interactions and small talk throughout the event.]

[Anyone who dares to stare at her or speak to her will be escorted out immediately and blacklisted from all future collaborations.]

Lin Wan, having received the messages, was unfazed.

The cold-faced female CEO reserved all her patience, tenderness, obsession, and possessiveness for Xie Qingci alone.

To help Xie Qingci adjust to the occasion, Wen Zhiyan even canceled all toasts, social obligations, and speeches. She only planned to make a brief appearance, stay quietly by her side the entire time, and take her home as early as possible.

She never wanted Xie Qingci to fit into her world, but rather to completely clear her world, leaving it for her alone.

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