A Clever Misunderstanding

Helping someone with a massage did not actually require any particularly advanced techniques. As long as the masseuse was not deliberately causing trouble, the person being massaged would generally not feel uncomfortable.

Ma Xiaotao had wanted to give Xu Tianming a couple of hard squeezes, just to let him know she was not someone to be trifled with.

But when she thought of how that would result in her mission failing, she could only suppress her resentment and carefully help Xu Tianming relax his shoulders, terrified that a mistake might displease him and render all her previous efforts futile.

By this point, feeling the cautious hands on his shoulders, Xu Tianming had more or less lost interest in continuing to interview the others.

Still, since he was putting on a show, he naturally had to see it through. Fortunately, there were only a few people left in line, so it would not delay him much longer.

"Uncle Zhao, how many people are still waiting outside?"

"Your Highness, there are five remaining."

"Mm. Have the next one come in."

As Butler Zhao departed to carry out his order, Xu Tianming did not forget to assign Ma Xiaotao a new task.

"The tea is nearly cold. Go to the kitchen and brew a fresh pot."

At this, Ma Xiaotao viciously cursed him in her heart, but obediently picked up the teapot from the table.

"Yes, Your Highness. This servant will go at once."

Prince Yan's Palace was enormous, and Ma Xiaotao certainly would not be able to find the kitchen on her own. Thus, Xu Tianming also assigned Ye Guyi to lead the way for her.

After the two women left one after the other, Meng Hongchen was finally able to say what she had been holding back for quite some time, now that no one else was around.

"Brother Tianming, did that woman's massage feel good?"

For some reason, Xu Tianming suddenly seemed to catch a whiff of sourness.

Just as he was about to say something, Columbina suddenly spoke within his spiritual sea.

"An aura that makes me very uncomfortable has entered the palace... It feels somewhat like the kind of those evil soul masters we encountered in the Evil Demon Forest..."

The moment he heard that, Xu Tianming's expression turned grave.

Those rats lurking in the gutter!

They actually dared to try planting a spy in his home!

It seemed dealing with those rats had to be put on the agenda. Otherwise, Xu Tianming would likely never have another peaceful day.

Having settled on that thought, he heard Butler Zhao's footsteps approaching from afar.

Once the spy planted by the Holy Ghost Cult appeared, Xu Tianming and Meng Hongchen beside him were both stunned upon seeing her face.

What a delicate-looking girl... Ah, damn it! That damned Holy Ghost Cult! They actually brainwashed such a pure and adorable girl into becoming a spy in my home!

Xu Tianming merely thought it, but Meng Hongchen directly asked, "Nana? Why are you here?"

Nana froze at the words, then stared blankly at Meng Hongchen. Once she saw her face and recalled her identity, she too was stunned.

Why is this woman here?

Hearing Meng Hongchen's words and seeing Nana's reaction, Xu Tianming was somewhat bewildered as well.

How did his little sister Meng'er know the evil soul master planted by the Holy Ghost Cult?

"Meng'er, what is going on? You know this girl?"

"Yes, I know her. Her name is Nana, and she is a second-year student at the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy. Because she has good cultivation talent and her soul power has progressed rapidly, Grandpa, as the academy's dean, noticed her and appointed her an elite student, granting her generous benefits."

After resolving Xu Tianming's confusion, Meng Hongchen turned to Nana again.

"Nana, why did you come to Brother Tianming's residence to apply for a maid's position? With your status as one of the academy's elite students, you should not be short on gold soul coins, should you? Could it be... that you have some other ulterior motive?"

What Meng Hongchen meant, naturally, was whether Nana intended to take the chance to seduce her man.

However, Nana, who had secrets of her own, did not think in that direction at all. The instant her identity was exposed, her thoughts became a complete mess. Upon hearing Meng Hongchen's sharp question, she instinctively thought that her identity might have been discovered. In her panic, seeking to protect herself, she repeatedly shook her head in alarm.

"No, I don't... Um, sorry, I suddenly remembered that there is something at home. I forgot to cook for my mother! I'm going home to cook for her first. Goodbye!"

After throwing out those words, Nana immediately turned and fled in blind panic. Judging by her speed, it was as if she feared she would not escape if she ran any slower.

Within the prince's palace, such behavior was undoubtedly highly disrespectful. As the palace's owner, Xu Tianming had every right to detain Nana on charges of "disrespecting the royal family."

Butler Zhao was already looking toward him in inquiry, seeking Xu Tianming's opinion on whether they should forcibly keep the girl behind.

Xu Tianming hesitated for the moment.

He remembered who Nana was.

When Huo Gua was transferred to the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy in the original story, Jing Hongchen had sent this girl out to test his strength.

Later, after Huo Gua learned the truth, he used Electrolux's power to rescue her parents' souls, winning Nana's affection.

He had not expected that this girl had already been controlled by the Holy Ghost Cult at such a young age.

Should he let her leave?

As long as Nana left, there would temporarily be no one from the Holy Ghost Cult inside the palace, and he could rest easy for a while.

But if he let one Nana escape, would the Holy Ghost Cult abandon its infiltration plan?

There was no need to think about it. Of course not!

In that case, rather than allowing the Holy Ghost Cult to send in unfamiliar spies later, it would be better to keep Nana, whose background he knew, at his side and find a way to turn her into a double agent he could use!

At the same time, Ma Xiaotao had just finished brewing a fresh pot of tea in the kitchen. As she carried the teapot back, she happened to see Nana's panicked, fleeing figure from behind, her face looking utterly innocent.

Although she did not know what had happened during the time she had been away brewing tea, with only a little thought, she imagined a scene in which a tyrannical noble shamelessly molested an innocent young girl in public.

Disgusting! Absolutely disgusting!

As a Shrek Inner Court student with justice in her heart, Ma Xiaotao now wished she could splash the scalding tea in her hands directly onto that tyrannical noble's face and vent her anger properly.

But before making a move, she recalled the teachings of her teacher, Yan Shaozhe.

Think thrice before acting. Do not ruin the greater plan over a momentary impulse!

Since that girl has already run out of the palace, she must not have suffered any serious harm... I'm sorry that I cannot avenge you immediately, but please wait a little longer. Once I complete this mission, I will definitely seek justice for you!

After that thought arose, Ma Xiaotao's heart temporarily calmed. Yet just as she breathed a sigh of relief, the scene that followed made her eyes widen.

The butler beside that tyrannical young noble suddenly moved like a ghost, appearing in front of the girl and blocking her path.

"Leaving without His Highness's permission is a grave act of disrespect toward His Highness and the imperial family! You must be punished!"