"You can't treat me like this!"
As Xue Ye's words fell, the Imperial Guard escorted Prince Xue Xing away. Prince Xue Xing, however, protested indignantly.
He hadn't done anything wrong. He'd only been forced to do something he shouldn't have.
Xue Ye watched Prince Xue Xing and let out a helpless sigh.
How could an uncle and his nephew do something so foolish?
Couldn't they just live their lives in peace?
Just as Prince Xue Xing was being escorted away, a teasing system prompt suddenly rang out in Ye Yunxi's mind.
[ Ding! Hidden quest triggered: Pitiful and Adorable, Inspire the Emperor's Sympathy ]
[ Quest Requirements: In the main hall, use nothing but acting to make Xue Ye and at least two ministers feel protective of you. Using Soul Power to charm them is forbidden throughout. ]
[ Quest Reward: Nine-Tailed Fox External Soul Bone · Fox Tail Spike (Attaches to the coccyx; releases razor-sharp fox tail spikes imbued with paralyzing poison. Anyone below Soul Saint who touches one will drop instantly.) ]
An External Soul Bone—this reward was far better than the previous one.
For someone like her, who was already used to acting, this quest was child's play.
The next instant, a sly glint flashed through Ye Yunxi's eyes. She switched expressions in a heartbeat, her eyes reddening as crystalline tears shimmered on her lashes. She looked utterly pitiful.
Standing beside Qian Renxue, Ye Yunxi spoke in a soft, sweet voice thick with a nasal whine:
"Father, I was so scared in the dungeon just now... Prince Xue Xing was so vicious. He even said he'd rip out my tongue..."
As she spoke, her shoulders trembled faintly, as though she'd been terrified out of her wits. Yet her face was breathtakingly beautiful, and with tears streaming down her cheeks, she looked all the more heartbreaking.
Xue Ye had already been rather fond of this dazzlingly beautiful Imperial Concubine. Seeing her like this, he immediately softened and hurried to comfort her:
"Good child, don't be afraid. With me here, no one will dare bully you again."
The Minister of War and Vice Minister of Revenue beside him chimed in as well:
"Her Highness the Imperial Concubine must have been terrified. Prince Xue Xing's conduct was utterly improper!"
"Your Highness, rest assured. We ministers will submit a joint petition to punish Prince Xue Xing severely!"
As one reassuring word followed another, Ye Yunxi sneaked a glance up and met Qian Renxue's amused, knowing gaze. She quickly lowered her head again and cried even "harder."
[ Ding! Quest completed! Reward issued! ]
A warm current flowed into her coccyx, and the External Soul Bone quietly took shape. Ye Yunxi rejoiced inwardly, but kept the tearstains on her face as she obediently replied:
"Thank you, Father. Thank you, ministers."
Watching her put on such a dramatic performance, Qian Renxue shook her head helplessly, though a hint of amusement stirred in his heart.
This little vixen's acting was getting better and better.
After leaving the palace and returning to the Crown Prince's Mansion, Ye Yunxi's tearstains vanished the moment she stepped through the gate. She looked nothing like someone who'd been frightened.
With her hands on her hips, Ye Yunxi raised an eyebrow at Qian Renxue, her tone dripping with mockery:
"Tsk, tsk. Your Highness, you were so serious in the main hall just now, you almost fooled me."
"What? Done pretending now?"
Qian Renxue leaned against the doorframe and watched her at his leisure. "Weren't you crying your eyes out and saying you were terrified?"
Ye Yunxi rolled her eyes, walked over to the stone table, and sat down. She poured herself a cup of tea and took a leisurely sip:
"It was just acting. If I didn't make it convincing, how could I fool Xue Ye and that bunch of old fossils?"
She paused and smugly rolled her shoulders, feeling the power of the Soul Bone at her coccyx. That trip to the dungeon wasn't for nothing. I even scored an External Soul Bone. What a steal!
Qian Renxue looked at her smug, unruly little-devil act and couldn't be bothered to argue over such nonsense.
He knew Ye Yunxi's temperament all too well. She was impervious to both soft and hard tactics, and she never let anything go once she knew she was right. Rather than argue with her, he might as well save his energy.
Qian Renxue turned toward the study, leaving only a casual remark behind:
"Dinner's in the side hall. Go eat, and don't go hungry and start complaining about it again."
Ye Yunxi watched him go, pursed her lips, and muttered:
"Tch, he's got no fun in him at all. Serves him right that I've got him wrapped around my finger."
Even so, a barely perceptible smile flickered in Ye Yunxi's eyes. She picked up her teacup and drank happily.
Meanwhile, Qian Renxue, seated before the dressing table, was already considering how to act in the dungeon.
There was no need to worry about Dugu Bo as a line of defense. The trump card Prince Xue Xing had been counting on had already been dealt with by Ye Yunxi.
"Pufferfish!"
At his call, Porcupinefish Douluo appeared in the room, bowed, and asked:
"Young Master, should I take action?"
"Not yet. You only need to kill Xue Beng without making a sound on the night he leaves the dungeon. Make sure it looks like an accident."
"Understood!" Porcupinefish Douluo nodded.
He'd done this sort of thing plenty of times.
He rose and went to the window. Watching Ye Yunxi drink tea and eat pastries, her cheeks puffed up as she chewed, he let out a helpless laugh:
"She's so greedy, yet she's always thinking of running away. Where would she get the money to eat this much every day if she left me?"
He'd realized he simply couldn't keep this woman under control.
She was flighty, and she dared to say or do anything.
Qian Renxue pondered for a moment, then turned and strode into the courtyard, his voice carrying an imperious certainty that brooked no argument:
"Ye Yunxi, you're staying in the Crown Prince's Mansion for the time being. You're not allowed to set foot outside the gate."
Ye Yunxi's bite of pastry froze. She looked up, her peach-blossom eyes round as saucers, half a piece still stuffed in her mouth as she protested indistinctly:
"Why? I haven't done anything wrong!"
"Because Prince Xue Xing just kidnapped you, and there are plenty of people watching you outside."
Qian Renxue raised an eyebrow and walked up to her, reaching out to pinch her puffed-up cheek.
"I don't want to come rescue you next time only to find you locked in a dungeon, crying your eyes out again."
"Who was crying their eyes out? I was acting! Acting, understand?"
Ye Yunxi instantly bristled. She stuffed the rest of the pastry into her mouth, slapped the table, and stood up, nearly knocking over the teacup.
Qian Renxue couldn't be bothered to argue with her. He turned and instructed the maids waiting nearby:
"Keep an eye on the Imperial Concubine. If she tries to climb the wall or pull any other tricks, report to me immediately."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
The two maids answered respectfully and took up positions on either side behind Ye Yunxi, making it clear they were to keep her under close watch.
Seeing this setup, Ye Yunxi knew she couldn't get away. She slumped onto the stone stool, folded her arms, and snorted:
"Xue Qinghe, you shameless scoundrel! You just want to lock me up so you can go watch the Soul Master Tournament by yourself!"
Qian Renxue didn't deny it, though a playful glint flashed in his eyes.
"Clever girl."
"I want to go too!"
Ye Yunxi immediately rushed over and blocked Qian Renxue's path. She blinked her peach-blossom eyes, instantly putting on a pitiful expression.
"I promise I'll behave and be a sensible concubine. I won't cause any trouble, all right?"