Qian Renxue Sobs and Hugs Him First? Shui Bing'er Gets Jealous: Brother Yan Sure Is Thoughtful Toward Her...

Qian Renxue's delicate body trembled.

Though she knew the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well brimmed with medicinal herbs, Immortal Herbs of such heaven-defying rarity were priceless treasures, each and every one.

She had never imagined that before coming here, Huang Yan had set one aside especially for her—a woman he had met only once, twelve years ago.

The loneliness, anguish, and grievances she had kept buried for twelve years while living undercover in the Heaven Dou Empire came surging back all at once.

Qian Renxue stared at the Jade Box in her hands, and her eyes instantly reddened.

"Big Sis Xiao Xue, what's wrong?"

Huang Yan froze, caught completely off guard.

Before he could react, Qian Renxue abruptly stepped forward and wrapped both arms tightly around his waist.

She buried her face against Huang Yan's shoulder and began to sob softly.

Her soft, warm body was suddenly in his arms, and her overwhelmingly alluring scent filled his nose.

Huang Yan stiffened, his hands hovering in midair, unsure what to do.

After a moment's hesitation, he finally lowered a hand to Qian Renxue's back and gently comforted her.

"Big Sis Xiao Xue, you've had it hard all these years."

Qian Renxue's body trembled faintly. In his warm embrace, her sobs gradually subsided.

A moment later, she reluctantly stepped back and wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes. Her pretty face was slightly flushed, but she was smiling.

"I've made a fool of myself in front of you."

Qian Renxue gave a self-mocking smile.

"I've been disguised as Xue Qinghe for so long that I've almost forgotten what I really look like.

I'll accept this Immortal Herb."

"I prepared it for you in the first place," Huang Yan said gently.

"Big Sis Xiao Xue, take it soon. If it helps you break through, your plan to seize power will have a much better chance of succeeding."

Qian Renxue put away the Jade Box. Her beautiful eyes shifted as she looked at Huang Yan with an amused smile.

"You're so good to me. Aren't you afraid your little Bing'er will find out and throw a fit?"

Huang Yan rubbed his nose helplessly.

"Bing'er is reasonable. She'll understand."

"Is that so?"

Qian Renxue moved a step closer, teasing him, her breath sweet as orchids.

"When I hugged you just now, you didn't push me away.

If she'd seen that, who knows what she'd say about me, your 'childhood sweetheart.'"

"Big Sis Xiao Xue, don't tease me."

Huang Yan smiled wryly.

Qian Renxue relented, her expression returning to calm composure.

"All right, I'll stop teasing you.

I'll have the medicinal herbs sorted in a hurry tonight, and I'll personally arrange tomorrow morning's private auction."

Outside the door, Shui Bing'er stood uneasily close to it, her raised hand suspended in midair as she struggled to make herself knock.

Inside the hall, Qian Renxue's lashes stirred slightly, and her gaze swept toward the closed door.

She had already sensed the faint, restless fluctuations of Ice Soul Power outside.

"Looks like your little Bing'er is getting impatient out there."

Qian Renxue smiled teasingly and nodded toward the door.

"Go keep her company. Don't let her get the wrong idea.

I wouldn't want to come between you two."

Huang Yan smiled and nodded.

"All right. You should get some rest too, Big Sis Xiao Xue."

With that, Huang Yan turned and pushed open the door.

As she watched him walk over to Shui Bing'er and leave at her side, the two of them close together, the smile on Qian Renxue's lips gradually faded.

An unfamiliar envy and jealousy quietly spread through her heart.

How wonderful it would be if she were the one standing beside him, free to claim him as hers.

But the moment the thought surfaced, Qian Renxue forced it back down.

Her plan to usurp the throne was not yet complete. Every day, she had to wear Xue Qinghe's mask and could not show her true face.

Once I've taken control of the Heaven Dou Empire...

Qian Renxue's beautiful eyes narrowed as she clenched her fists.

Only after completing her grand plan would she be worthy—and have the time—to compete with Shui Bing'er for this man.

At that moment, in the estate's garden,

Shui Bing'er linked her arm through Huang Yan's. Her beautiful eyes seemed to sweep over him casually, but her voice held a hint of probing.

"Brother Yan, are you done talking with Miss Qian?

Did anything else happen while you were inside?"

Huang Yan's expression remained unchanged. He smiled warmly.

"What could've happened?

We just talked about the upcoming plan to seize power.

I also gave her the Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone I'd been saving, to help her grow stronger."

Shui Bing'er paused, a trace of jealousy creeping into her voice.

"The Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone?

Brother Yan, you sure are thoughtful toward Miss Qian. You even had such an Immortal Herb set aside for her long ago."

"Big Sis Xiao Xue's been undercover in Heaven Dou for twelve years. She's had an extremely difficult time.

I gave her the Immortal Herb so she could break through as soon as possible and make sure our plan to seize power goes off without a hitch."

Huang Yan slipped an arm around Shui Bing'er's waist and gently reassured her.

"Besides, this Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone can't compare to what we shared at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, when we refined the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid and the Infernal Delicate Apricot and became one in the spring water.

Don't you trust me?"

Shui Bing'er gave a soft huff and leaned obediently against Huang Yan. Most of her jealousy faded, though she still sounded a little wary.

"Trusting you is one thing.

But Miss Qian doesn't look at you like you're just a 'big sister.' You'd better keep your distance from her from now on. Don't do anything intimate with her behind my back."

Huang Yan silently sweated and nodded repeatedly with a smile.

"Don't worry, Bing'er. I know what I'm doing.

Come on, let's go check on the preparations for tomorrow morning's private auction."

The next morning, inside a luxurious private box in the best spot at the Heaven Dou Auction House,

Qian Renxue had already changed into her Xue Qinghe disguise. Dressed in the elegant robes of the Crown Prince, she looked refined and easygoing.

"Here's the private list for today's auction."

Qian Renxue handed Huang Yan a gilded catalog and smiled warmly.

"Besides the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Marrow, there are also two ten-thousand-year Snow Silkworms and an Ice Soul Ganoderma. They're all top-quality treasures of Extreme Cold."

Shui Bing'er looked at Qian Renxue, who had completely transformed into a man. Though she knew her true identity, she still felt a little uncomfortable and spoke politely.

"Thank you for going to the trouble, Your Highness."

"Miss Bing'er, there's no need to be so polite. In front of outsiders, you can call me 'Qinghe.'"

Qian Renxue smiled faintly, then turned to Huang Yan.

"Ning Fengzhi and Xue Beng are here for today's private auction too.

But they don't know we're after treasures of Extreme Cold, so they shouldn't deliberately interfere."

Huang Yan raised an eyebrow.

"That good-for-nothing Xue Beng came too?

Does he even have that much money?"

"Prince Xue Xing is supporting him behind the scenes, so he naturally has some spare funds."

A trace of disdain flickered in Qian Renxue's eyes.

"But with me here today, he won't be able to stir up much trouble."

The auctioneer's booming voice rose from the stage below, and the private auction officially began.

After several rounds of routine bidding, the first Extreme Cold medicinal treasure, a "ten-thousand-year Snow Silkworm," was brought out.

"Ten-thousand-year Snow Silkworm, starting bid: eighty thousand Gold Soul Coins!"

Qian Renxue remained composed and signaled to the attendant beside her.

"One hundred thousand."

Shui Bing'er was surprised.

"You raised the bid by twenty thousand right away?"

"Better to finish quickly and leave no chance for anyone else to drive up the price."

Xue Qinghe smiled calmly.