“Cao Gen?” Mu Anxiao didn't react immediately. After repeating the two words a few times, she looked at Feng Qishi and asked, "Hey, who is Cao Gen?"
Hearing this, Feng Qishi immediately shifted his gaze to Mu Anxiao's face and then simply watched her without saying a word.
Mu Anxiao also looked at Feng Qishi and questioned, "Why aren't you speaking?"
Feng Qishi glanced at A Ju and said, "Think about it carefully." Then, he quietly followed A Ju's footsteps.
Subsequently, Mu Anxiao, guided by Feng Qishi's words, pondered for a moment and then mumbled, "Cao Gen, that's me." With that, she chuckled to herself and quickly followed Feng Qishi.
In the blink of an eye.
Mu Anxiao and Feng Qishi, following A Ju, once again stopped outside the servants' quarters.
Mu Anxiao, with her arms crossed, watched A Ju's hesitant back and commented, "These servants' and maids' quarters are too far apart, it's quite tiring to walk. This is exhausting." She then glanced at Feng Qishi.
Feng Qishi said, "Mu Sha Zi, can you stop talking nonsense." After speaking, he also fixed his gaze on A Ju's back and said, "Tell me, what will happen if she fails to complete the task?"
"I don't know," Mu Anxiao replied. After carefully considering Feng Qishi's words, she turned to him again and said, "The person she's looking for is me. Don't worry, I won't let her find me. As for her fate, I don't care."
Judging from A Ju's earlier witty remarks to Ouyang Ye, Mu Anxiao believed that even if A Ju failed, she would surely have a way to escape unscathed.
Therefore, she was not worried about A Ju's safety, and her following them now was purely due to Feng Qishi.
Feng Qishi's eyes darkened, "Are you serious?"
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao continued to stare at Feng Qishi and said, "I followed you here. If you hadn't come, I wouldn't have. Also," she glanced back at A Ju's retreating figure, "she definitely has a way to save herself, you don't need to worry about it."
"If we don't help her, her fate is very likely to be death," Feng Qishi said earnestly. He did not want to see any more harm befall the people in his mansion.
Mu Anxiao frowned, "What, you're going to hand me over?"
"If possible, can you help her?" Feng Qishi suddenly said.
Mu Anxiao never expected Feng Qishi to hand her over for the sake of a mere maid. She also knew that the only way to help A Ju was to 'walk into the trap' and hand over the silver needle.
However, she had already reached an understanding with the silver needle. If she did as Feng Qishi suggested now, it would be a betrayal of the silver needle.
This was something she couldn't bring herself to do.
Therefore, when Feng Qishi uttered those words, she fell into silence.
At the same time, the silver needle choked out, "You're going to let me die for a mortal who betrayed you and didn't look out for you. You're too cruel."
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao looked down at the money pouch and said nothing.
Feng Qishi lowered his eyelids.
Mu Anxiao looked on incredulously, "Are you really going to do this?"
Feng Qishi sighed, "She's just a wisp of demonic energy, and besides, she did quite a few bad deeds in her life. If..."
"This A Ju hasn't done many good deeds either," the silver needle interrupted, peeking through the gap at Mu Anxiao. "You said you would protect me."
"I will," Mu Anxiao said lightly.
"Don't lie to me," the silver needle said, its tone clearly more anxious.
Mu Anxiao replied, "I won't lie to you." With that, she looked up at Feng Qishi, "You're doing this for yourself, aren't you?"
"What?" Feng Qishi didn't quite understand Mu Anxiao's meaning.
Mu Anxiao continued, "You're worried about them investigating your mansion, so to protect your status as a general, you're disregarding demonic lives, right?"
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Feng Qishi genuinely just wanted to save A Ju, but he didn't expect Mu Anxiao to misinterpret it like this. Looking at her, he sneered, "Mu Sha Zi, do you think I'm that kind of person?"
"Whether you are or not, I don't know. But I know the silver needle is not wrong," Mu Anxiao stated firmly.
Feng Qishi blinked, "She is indeed..."
"Demonic energy also has life, just like the silver needle. I will never hand her over to A Ju. Also," Mu Anxiao added, "I believe that A Ju will be able to save herself. Your worries are just unnecessary."
"..." Feng Qishi remained silent, beginning to ponder Mu Anxiao's words.
Mu Anxiao glared at Feng Qishi, then looked back at A Ju. As she turned to leave, Feng Qishi suddenly reached out and grabbed her arm. She stiffened, turned to look at Feng Qishi, and said, "I said I would protect the silver needle. Don't think about stopping me."
Upon hearing this, Feng Qishi withdrew his contemplation and said lightly, "I'm not trying to stop you. I just hope you can do me a favor."
"You still want to save her?"
"She's a maid in my mansion. She signed a contract with me. If she dies in my mansion, I will be uneasy for the rest of my life. I believe you would be too."
Mu Anxiao fell silent.
Feng Qishi continued, "Mu Sha Zi, I'll say it again. Please, help me."
"I won't hand over the silver needle to you," Mu Anxiao stated directly.
"I don't want the silver needle anymore," Feng Qishi also stated directly.
Hearing this, the silver needle quickly asked, "Are you telling the truth, or are you lying?"
Feng Qishi lowered his head and glanced at the money pouch. "I don't lie," he said, then looked up at Mu Anxiao again. "Help me, go and see Ouyang Ye."
Mu Anxiao stiffened.
Feng Qishi continued, "Only then will things make sense. If you don't see him, I'm worried..."
"You're still worried about her," Mu Anxiao interrupted.
Feng Qishi replied, "I am certainly worried, but your life is more important."
Mu Anxiao frowned, "What do you mean by that?" She suddenly couldn't understand what Feng Qishi was trying to do.
Feng Qishi explained, "You are Cao Gen now. If you don't appear before Ouyang Ye, I'm worried," he said, his expression full of seriousness, "he will suspect you."
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao suddenly felt that Feng Qishi's words made a lot of sense. However, if it was about meeting him alone, she was still nervous. "What if he discovers me?"
"He won't."
"Are you sure?" Mu Anxiao inexplicably began to trust Feng Qishi.
Feng Qishi nodded, "Certain. As long as you go back with her, things will be easier. Now," he glanced at the money pouch, "you can hand the silver needle over to me."
"You are not allowed to touch my money," Mu Anxiao said calmly.
"You agreed?" Feng Qishi sensed something from Mu Anxiao's words.
As Feng Qishi had said, Mu Anxiao was moved. She figured that if she didn't show up at the servants' quarters now, A Ju would surely go back and exaggerate, saying that there was no such person as Cao Gen. Then, with a little thought from Ouyang Ye, she would surely be exposed.
Therefore, for her own sake, she had to compromise. "Fine, it's just meeting Ouyang Ye. Nothing to be afraid of." With that, she took off the money pouch and handed it to Feng Qishi.
Feng Qishi took the money pouch and said lightly, "Don't worry, I'll be with you."