Don't Take It Off! This Isn't the Place!

Never mind Hong Yu, who had completely given up pretending and was now grinning like an auntie as she enjoyed the show.

Just then, Qiu Ziqin saw Mo Yunxuan take Qing Li's hand, but not hers.

Her face immediately fell, and she muttered to herself:

"I did exactly what Master told me to do."

"Why is Master still unwilling to hold my hand?"

"I want to feel Master playing with my little hand, too!"

"It must be that fox spirit!"

"Pure and aloof on the outside, but who knows how wanton she is behind closed doors!"

"It has to be her!"

"She's been seducing Master when I'm not around, so she can get more of his attention."

"Could it be... they've already done it?"

"No! I can't let this happen! I absolutely can't fall behind!"

"Hehe~ Just you wait, Master!"

"Your beloved Qiu Nu will come find you."

Mo Yunxuan was happily kneading Qing Li's little hand when he suddenly felt a chill sweep over him.

His brows furrowed, and he stared fixedly at the fire. But aside from a heap of corpses nearly burned to ash, there was nothing else.

He glanced around and finally spotted Qiu Ziqin, whose expression was on the verge of crumbling.

Alarm bells went off in his head!

"What's gotten into Qiu Ziqin?"

"Hmm? Why does she keep looking at my little brother? Is she plotting something against me?"

When Qiu Ziqin still didn't react, Mo Yunxuan gave a light cough.

"Ahem!"

Only then did Qiu Ziqin snap out of it. The first thing she saw was Mo Yunxuan staring at her.

She hurriedly apologized. "I'm sorry, Master. I got distracted just now."

She bowed at the waist, completing the whole sequence of movements in one fluid motion.

But from Mo Yunxuan's point of view, Qiu Ziqin, who had been wrapped up so tightly, had a gap in her collar that just happened to offer a view meant for his eyes alone.

Mo Yunxuan never claimed to be a gentleman, so he took full advantage of the view and sighed inwardly: What a pair of snowy peaks!

Qing Li was standing close by.

She couldn't see what lay beneath, but she could guess.

She glanced at the fascinated Mo Yunxuan, then at the smug Qiu Ziqin, and pinched Mo Yunxuan's hand hard with her other little hand.

Mo Yunxuan felt the pain and abruptly pulled his hand back. He looked at Qing Li in confusion and asked, "What are you doing?"

Qing Li didn't answer. She turned her head aside and ignored him.

Mo Yunxuan immediately recalled his reaction just now, and a faint sense of guilt rose in his heart.

But he couldn't bring himself to apologize, so he cautiously tried to take Qing Li's little hand again, hoping to win her forgiveness.

But each time he tried, she slipped away.

That finally riled Mo Yunxuan. He glanced at Ye Chen, who had already turned to ash, and gave Li Tieniu and the other man their orders.

"Scatter Ye Chen's ashes in the river. Handle Lin Fan's the same way."

"Also, take everything in the academy that belongs to the Wei State Duke Mansion."

"Once you've taken care of everything, send word for the Left and Right Xiao Guards to return to their usual duties."

"Yes, Duke!"

Li Tieniu and his companion accepted the orders, then began directing the Left and Right Wei Guards as they cleaned up the battlefield and handled the aftermath.

When Qing Li saw Mo Yunxuan giving orders, she sneaked a glance at him.

But she didn't expect to catch Qiu Ziqin slowly straightening up in the corner of her eye.

Qiu Ziqin glanced at her, too, and seemed to smugly curl her lips.

That infuriated Qing Li!

She might not say much, but that didn't mean she was a pushover!

There was only one thought in her mind now: she had to hit back!

But no matter how long she thought about it, she always lost her nerve just when she was about to act.

She felt frustrated. She didn't dare!

A moment ago, her face had been expressionless. Now, her lips jutted out so far they could've held a hook.

After giving his orders, Mo Yunxuan stopped trying to take Qing Li's hand.

He went straight up to her and wrapped his arms around her before she could turn away.

Qing Li struggled a little for show, then leaned into Mo Yunxuan's embrace and naturally slipped her arms around his waist.

When Qiu Ziqin saw this, jealousy blazed in her eyes!

Watching the three of them put on their little drama, Hong Yu sighed. What a pity there was no gossip to snack on!

She'd always known Qing Li was adorable, but she hadn't realized she was this adorable!

Mo Yunxuan lowered his head and drew in a deep breath of her sweet scent. Then he slowly let her go.

As his hands came down, he took both of Qing Li's little hands and folded them together. Looking at her gently, he said,

"You should go back with Hong Yu and report in a little later. Don't worry about me. The Empress can't do anything to me. Don't worry."

Mo Yunxuan couldn't say that what he felt for Qing Li was love. It was more the tenderness one felt for a beloved pet.

Still, he didn't want Qing Li caught between him and the Empress, forced into a difficult position because of him.

It would be better to send her back for now. Later, when he went to see the Empress, he could ask her to hand Qing Li over to him.

Qing Li hadn't thought that far ahead. She only felt that her beloved seemed to want her to leave.

Her eyes instantly grew watery. She said nothing, only gazed at him.

Seeing her like that, Mo Yunxuan lowered his head and gently pressed a kiss to her forehead.

Then he leaned close to her smooth cheek and whispered, "Be good. Listen to me. I'll take you away myself."

Feeling the dampness on her forehead and the warm breath against her cheek,

Qing Li's body began to stiffen, and her thoughts slowed. She could only answer instinctively,

"Mm."

Seeing Qing Li like this, Mo Yunxuan felt a little uneasy.

Then he noticed Hong Yu's eyes shining, and beckoned to her.

"Commander Hong Yu, I'm entrusting my Qing Li to you. Make sure you keep her safe!"

"Don't worry, Duke of Wei. Qing Li and I are very close."

"I won't let her come to any harm!"

Having gotten a mouthful of juicy gossip, Hong Yu was more than happy to grant Mo Yunxuan's request.

She agreed at once without even stopping to think.

Mo Yunxuan nodded and climbed into the carriage. Qiu Ziqin followed close behind.

With Wang Yuan driving, the carriage slowly headed toward the Wei State Duke Mansion.

Inside the carriage, Mo Yunxuan pressed down on Qiu Ziqin's head and sent her a telepathic message:

"Don't take it off! We're in a carriage! This isn't the place!"

"Master, don't turn me away! I just want to polish your sword. I don't mean anything else."

"Really just polishing the sword? Nothing else?"

"Mm-hmm! Really, Master!"

Seeing that Qiu Ziqin seemed sincere, Mo Yunxuan simply let her have her way.

But a man still had to keep up appearances.

"Just this once. Be more careful next time."

"Understood!"

Then Mo Yunxuan personally set up a formation that blocked all sounds and disturbances from inside the carriage.

When the two of them stepped out of the carriage, they were both radiant and brimming with energy.

Only that day did Qiu Ziqin learn what it meant to be a woman.

She felt she'd wasted her life before, living with her heart detached from worldly desires.

There was only one word in Mo Yunxuan's mind: smooth!

Meng Qianxue and Meng Zhirou stood beside the carriage and watched the two climb down.

When they saw Qiu Ziqin's wanton expression, both of their faces stiffened, and a hint of wariness flashed in their eyes.

Feeling the unfathomable cultivation on Qiu Ziqin, Meng Qianxue thought: A formidable rival!

Seeing Qiu Ziqin's figure, impossible to conceal, and the allure between her brows, Meng Zhirou thought: A formidable rival!

But the two quickly composed themselves and came forward with bright smiles.

"Yunxuan, how are you? Were you hurt?"

"Xuan Gege, does anything hurt? Do you want me to blow on it for you?"