The thought stirred, and an almost imperceptible pang of sourness swept through Yun Yun's heart.
Yet she was cool and composed by nature, reserved and self-possessed. Though her thoughts churned beneath the surface, her expression remained placid, betraying not the slightest ripple. She stood silently to one side, watching the two of them.
Ya Fei stepped into the pavilion, her gaze immediately settling on Xiao Yan. The faint smile on her face softened further, and deep in her eyes lay a trace of heartfelt respect and devotion.
She paid no heed to the surrounding scenery and did not even glance first at Yun Yun. Instead, she walked unhurriedly to Xiao Yan, bowed with graceful gentleness, and respectfully saluted him. Her voice was soft and lilting, like an oriole's song:
"Master, Ya Fei has fulfilled your instructions without fail. Everything you entrusted to me this time has been completed."
"Now the entire Mittel Family, from top to bottom, is wholeheartedly loyal to you and obeys your commands. Not one of them harbors the slightest disloyal thought."
After a brief pause, Ya Fei lifted her eyes to Xiao Yan. Her gaze flickered with liveliness and cunning as she continued in a soft voice:
"Besides that, Ya Fei took the liberty of bringing the other two great families of the Jia Ma Empire under your command while I was on the road. That is why the journey took two extra days. I hope you will forgive me."
At her words, a clear glimmer of surprise crossed Xiao Yan's eyes, and he praised her inwardly.
He had only intended for Ya Fei to rely on the several Dou Wang expert death warriors he had assigned her to stabilize the Mittel Family from within and suppress the elders who clung to their seniority and secretly