He Actually Yelled at Me?

He was waiting for me?

Bai Yuji ignited a flame with her fingertip, lighting the candle, and looked at him with some wariness: "If you intend to do anything improper to me, I suggest you consider your own well-being."

Qin Muye curled his lip: "Do I look like I'm in the mood for that?"

Only then did Bai Yuji sit down across from him, asking curiously: "Then what do you want to do?"

The depths of Qin Muye's eyes held an irrepressible irritation: "I just handed over ten thousand taels to an organization that holds a deep grudge against the Qin Family. Surely I'm allowed to ask how you plan to deal with us?"

Bai Yuji: "..."

She was momentarily speechless, and only after a silence did she ask: "Since you knew that, why did you still give them the money?"

What the hell?

They really were planning it!

Qin Muye felt a dull ache; he had originally just wanted to have a heart-to-heart with Bai Yuji in the dead of night.

But just now, when she first looked at him, her gaze had actually flickered away.

That was why he had tested her.

Damn it! He'd been careless, assuming they would only use the money to keep their own factions in check.

It turned out she really intended to use the money to strike at the Qin Family?

There were only two of them from the Qin Family in the Capital City!

This little minx was quite wicked!

He took a deep breath: "Because the Nanzhao royal family has been nearly wiped out, and I feel a pang of guilt."

"Just because of that?"

"Why else?"

Qin Muye furrowed his brows: "You don't actually think I've fallen for you and offered this ten thousand taels as a dowry, do you? Surely not, surely not?"

A nameless anger suddenly welled up in Bai Yuji's heart: "You..."

"What about me?"

Qin Muye stood up, braced his arms on the table, leaned forward, and looked down at her: "Bai Yuji, I don't want to get involved in politics. On an emotional level, I feel guilty toward you all, so I'm willing to pay to make some amends. Of course, I know this won't change anything, and it will only make you think I'm a fool. But I have a temper too! I'm not easy to deal with! Don't mistake me for a pushover! You can go after my father, and I won't say a word, because the only reason I'm alive right now is that you all need to use the gu to kill him. But if you dare touch my aunt, don't blame me for being ruthless. When the time comes, none of us will survive!"

Bai Yuji: "!!!"

A few days ago, when he was hanging by a thread, his tone hadn't been this severe.

Now...

She was even angrier: "Are you yelling at me?"

Qin Muye glared at her: "So what if I am? That's my aunt! Don't you have any idea how well my aunt has treated you these past few days?"

"I never planned to harm her!"

"Then who did you plan to harm?"

"..."

Bai Yuji felt a suffocating tightness in her chest. Although this plan didn't go so far as to kill Qin Yanying, it was indeed targeted at her, and the Great Elder had a blood feud involving the death of his son.

But how dare you be so fierce with me?

She snorted: "If you were truly that filial, you should commit suicide right now to prevent us from acting against your father. Why hide behind your aunt as an excuse to compensate for your cowardly sense of filial piety?"

"Is that the same thing?"

"How is it not?"

"Since coming to the Capital City, my aunt has been the only one looking after me."

"And before you came to the Capital City? Didn't your father take care of you then?"

"He did!"

Qin Muye laughed at himself: "But after arriving in the Capital City, he didn't write me a single letter. Even when he returned to the Capital City to argue with the Emperor, he didn't come to see me once. And less than a year later, my mother died—the same mother who encouraged me to donate my marrow to save my father. In that whole year, I didn't see a single letter from her either."

"Ah!"

Bai Yuji suddenly felt like she had shrunk a head shorter: "Why?"

Qin Muye let out a cold laugh: "I'd like to know why, too! That's why when you forced me to raise the gu, I couldn't even be bothered to resist—at most, I was just worried that if my backer fell, I wouldn't live comfortably. But! Do! Not! Touch! My! Aunt!"

Bai Yuji: "..."

She wanted to say something more.

But Qin Muye had already left, and no amount of calling could bring him back.

Looking down, she discovered a plate of desserts and a pot of fruit wine on the table; she hadn't even noticed them just moments ago.

Did he... come here just to chat with me?

It must have been that my shifty eyes gave something away, allowing him to guess the truth.

He is very clever and knows everything, yet in front of me, he seems unable to hide anything at all.

He readily produced ten thousand taels, hoping to make up for his guilt, yet nothing has changed.

And I even questioned why he couldn't restrain himself?

So, he must be very angry, right?

But I haven't even agreed to this plan yet!

He actually couldn't wait to come and roar at me!

Bai Yuji felt a bit angry, but upon reflection, it made sense.

The two sides were already locked in a mortal feud; even if she couldn't bring herself to be ruthless, the grand tide of events would eventually force her to make a decision. If that day truly came, how would she choose?

She drifted in a trance for a while.

Suddenly, she realized she was already standing in front of Qin Muye's door, and she had even knocked on it.

Hm?

Why am I knocking on the door?

"Creak!"

The door opened.

Qin Muye's expression was not good: "Something else?"

Bai Yuji racked her brains, finally figuring out why she had come over. As the leader of a revenge organization, she naturally had to appease her tool; otherwise, it would be very troublesome if he refused to cooperate later.

Right!

That's it!

She took a deep breath: "Things are not the way you think they are, you shouldn't be angry."

Qin Muye countered: "Then how should things be?"

Oh no!

I haven't made up a lie yet!

Bai Yuji turned her face away, her tone somewhat fierce: "If you are willing to understand, then you naturally will. If you are unwilling, then there is no use in me explaining; believe it or not, that is up to you. I'll fry bugs for you to eat tomorrow, so stop letting your imagination run wild."

Qin Muye: "..."

Such a fierce tone, yet it can't cover up your guilty conscience.

You are really not cut out to be the leader of a revenge organization, are you?

"Are you going to eat it or not?"

"Eat!"

"Good! Then hurry up and sleep, wake up early tomorrow to eat."

Bai Yuji felt she was quite impressive for having appeased him so easily; she let out a sigh of relief and hurried back to her own room.

Qin Muye: "..."

He winced in annoyance, vaguely guessing that it must have been those Nanzhao Remnants filling this young woman's head with hateful rhetoric again—these Mountain Folk were far too radical!

With no foundation in the capital, he had to hurry and cling to Li Xingluo's thigh, or he would truly have no way to counter this.

Outskirts of the city.

Changqing Elegant Pavilion.

Li Runyue reclined lazily on a soft couch, drinking wine. Her palace attire was disheveled, exposing her long, fair legs to the air, yet she remained completely oblivious.

Her eyes were hazy, her face flushed with intoxication.

Parting her red lips slightly, she tilted her head back and shook the wine pot, downing the last drop of the fine brew.

She then gave a light wave of her delicate hand.

Seeing this, the maid hurriedly replaced it with a full pot.

Pu Mingzhu shook her head helplessly: "Grand Princess, the Imperial Princess has already fulfilled her promise to you. Within three days, news of the Puppet Assembly will spread throughout Great Gan; seven days is enough time for those top-tier puppeteers to arrive."

"Very good!"

Li Runyue let out a soft laugh: "Thank little Xingluo for me; she has really helped me a great deal this time!"

Pu Mingzhu stood up and bowed respectfully: "If there is nothing else, this servant will take her leave!"

"Go!"

Li Runyue waved her hand languidly, and only after Pu Mingzhu had departed did she glance toward the screen. "Old Nanny! I have already agreed to everything you requested, Grand Princess. Why are you still lingering here?"

He Xifeng stepped out from behind the screen. "Grand Princess, the Gu Puppet of our Nanzhao is also peerless. Since you desire puppets, why not simply hand the two thousand spirit stones over to us?"

Li Runyue gave a mocking laugh. "Oh? Have you Mountain Folk become so brazen in your begging now?"

He Xifeng was instantly enraged. "You..."

Li Runyue covered her mouth and chuckled. "If you truly wish to take these spirit stones, then display your real ability at the Puppet Assembly. Don't you have a genius puppet master who has always wanted to become the Consort of the Fallen Nation? You should take this opportunity to prove your strength to that impolite little princess of yours."