Bait and Switch

When Yue Guan saw that everyone else had left, he looked at Le Ling and hesitated before saying, "Since Your Holiness the Pope has arranged it, I'd better accompany you to obtain your soul ring tomorrow, shall I?"

Le Ling could not be bothered to argue with an effeminate man. She nodded and gave a quiet hum.

Seeing that she had agreed, and knowing that Your Holiness the Pope would not punish him, Yue Guan immediately became effeminate again.

"Good. I'll arrange the carriage early tomorrow morning."

With that, he left the room as well.

A Jian looked at Le Ling in confusion. "Are all these powerful people so strange-tempered?!"

At the mention of powerful people, Le Ling thought of Qian Daoliu again.

His temper was quite good. He was not strange at all.

Worship Hall.

Guang Ling had gone to the Papal Palace earlier because cultivation had bored him, and because of what had happened last night, he wanted to see what kind of woman his Eldest Brother liked.

Was she interesting?

Was she fun?!

Yet he happened to overhear that Le Ling wanted to hunt soul beasts and obtain a soul ring. Naturally, he was thrilled to have an excuse to go out and play.

So after returning to the Worship Hall, he had not planned to tell his Eldest Brother about tomorrow's plans. If Qian Daoliu found out, he would definitely restrain him and refuse to let him go!

Who would have thought that after Steward Yao returned, he would tell the Great Offering about it?

Upon learning this, Qian Daoliu said without hesitation, "You're taking Ling'er? I'm not at ease with that!"

Sure enough, Eldest Brother opposed it!

In order to go out and play, Guang Ling immediately argued his case. "Eldest Brother, isn't this old man stronger than that chrysanthemum? Why aren't you at ease?!"

Qian Daoliu said bluntly, "It's true that you're stronger than Yue Guan, but you're unreliable when it comes to handling things. Don't you know that yourself?!"

"Do you remember when Xiao Xue was twelve and you lost her in Sunset Forest? Fortunately, Xiao Xue came back on her own. What if you lose Ling'er again this time!"

Guang Ling: "..."

Qian Daoliu sighed. "Fifth Brother, you should obediently stay in the Worship Hall and cultivate!"

Guang Ling glared at Steward Yao with an unhappy expression.

It was all his fault for telling Eldest Brother?

This old man's hopes of going out had gone up in smoke!!

Under the glare of a Peak Douluo, Steward Yao panicked like hell.

He kept raising a hand to wipe away his sweat.

Fifth Offering, it was Miss Le Ling who did not want to go out with you. You can't blame this subordinate for that!

Azure Luan smiled from the side and soothed him, "Fifth Brother, there's actually a reason Eldest Brother won't let you go."

"What reason?"

At Azure Luan's words, Guang Ling suddenly became interested.

Azure Luan lowered his voice. "It's rare for the two of them to have a chance to be alone. Naturally, Eldest Brother won't let such an opportunity pass. He wants to accompany her himself."

Guang Ling grew excited at once. "You mean Eldest Brother is willing to leave the Worship Hall?"

"I wouldn't dare say so normally, but this time, for the sake of accompanying Le Ling, Eldest Brother will definitely be willing to leave the Worship Hall!" Azure Luan said with certainty.

After his excitement faded, Guang Ling frowned again. "But little Le Ling doesn't want to see Eldest Brother. If she finds out he's accompanying her, she'll definitely refuse."

Azure Luan raised a brow. "Then just don't let her know!"

"Don't let her know..."

"You mean use this old man's name, but when they set off tomorrow, it'll actually be Eldest Brother?!"

Guang Ling immediately bristled. "No! Why use this old man's name but not let this old man go?!"

Azure Luan frowned. "It might not necessarily be in your name. It could also be in Yue Guan's name."

"No!!!"

Guang Ling refused to let it go. "It won't do under anyone's name! This old man wants to go. Let this old man go out and play... Eldest Brother, what you're doing is bait and switch. That's wrong..."

With a headache, Azure Luan stepped forward, grabbed his shoulder from behind, and directly dragged him away.

He had originally wanted to soothe Fifth Brother.

Who would have thought that not only had he failed to soothe him, he had made him bristle even more? Azure Luan was afraid he would get beaten by Eldest Brother, so he could only drag him away!

Meanwhile, Qian Daoliu completely ignored Guang Ling's protests and focused only on instructing Steward Yao to prepare the things needed for tomorrow's trip.

Because he knew that with Third Brother around, he would definitely be able to keep Fifth Brother under control.

"Third Brother, where are you taking this old man?"

"To my side hall!"

"What are we going to your side hall for?!"

"Don't ask!"

The next day.

Because she had arranged to go to the forest today to obtain a soul ring, Le Ling got up early and washed up.

After cultivating for another hour, she changed clothes and prepared to set off.

Before leaving, she said to the Maid, "A Jian, stay here. The forest is dangerous, so don't come with me. I'll probably be back in a few days."

"Little Le Sister, be careful!"

Le Ling gave a quiet hum and left the room, heading toward the side gate of the Papal Palace.

A carriage was parked before the Papal Palace's side gate.

The moment Le Ling stepped out of the side gate, she saw Steward Yao seated in the driver's seat.

She frowned. "Why are you here?"

Steward Yao smiled warmly. "We can't exactly have Elder Chrysanthemum drive the carriage. Besides, His Excellency was worried, so he sent this subordinate to personally escort Miss to Star Dou Great Forest."

The reason was reasonable enough, and Le Ling did not suspect much.

"Elder Chrysanthemum said he has a small matter to handle. He'll come over once he's finished. Miss, please get in first, so you won't tire your feet standing here and waiting."

As Steward Yao spoke, he ushered Le Ling into the carriage.

Le Ling nodded and climbed aboard.

As she entered the carriage compartment.

Le Ling saw soft cushions and padded backrests laid out inside. Beside them were several delicate pastries and a pot of fragrant tea that had already been steeped.

The fragrance of tea filled the air; she could smell it without even pouring a cup!

She had not expected that effeminate Elder Chrysanthemum to be so good at enjoying himself. They were only going out to hunt soul beasts, yet he had made it more exquisite than even the trips she used to take as a Princess.

Had she become rougher after being a Maid here for a few days?!

Le Ling sat down and examined everything carefully. Only then did she realize that the pastries and fragrant tea were all things she liked.

She frowned. Did this Elder Chrysanthemum actually share the same preferences and tastes as her?!

That was impossible!

Just as she was puzzled, Steward Yao spoke from outside the carriage. "Miss Le Ling, have you eaten breakfast? If not, have some pastries."

"That pot of fragrant tea and those pastries were specially made by the Worship Hall kitchen at this subordinate's request, according to His Excellency's knowledge of your preferences and tastes."

Only after hearing the steward's words did Le Ling realize that Steward Yao had arranged these things.

No wonder he knew her tastes!

That had scared her to death. She had thought Elder Chrysanthemum shared the same preferences and tastes as her!

"Thank you."

Steward Yao was delighted when he heard Le Ling thank him.

Fortunately, she had not refused.

When Le Ling had first heard that Qian Daoliu had ordered these things prepared, she truly had not wanted to eat. But she had not eaten breakfast, and she was indeed a little hungry now.

It was only a pastry and a pot of tea. Why make things difficult for herself?

Fine, she would eat.

Just after she ate a piece of pastry, she suddenly heard movement outside the carriage.

Someone seemed to have arrived, because she heard Steward Yao jump down from the driver's seat.

She thought Elder Chrysanthemum had arrived.

But after waiting for a while, aside from the sound of Steward Yao getting off the carriage, she heard nothing else.

Just as Le Ling was puzzled, she felt the carriage sink slightly. Someone had climbed aboard.

Before long, she saw an extremely familiar person enter the carriage compartment—someone she did not want to see at this moment.

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