Mu Anxiao watched Jia's speechless expression, then thought about what she had said. She gave a dry laugh, "I was just joking, don't take it seriously."
"Boring," Jia shot Mu Anxiao a glance and continued, "Anyway, your plan won't work because if you go, the young lady of the Mu manor will lose her chance."
"Why will she lose her chance if I go?"
"The Mu manor originally only allowed that one daughter to go. Besides, she's been gone for so long. Changing people now would leave a bad impression. Wouldn't that ruin the whole thing?"
Mu Anxiao thought Jia was going to say she was ugly, which was why she asked the question.
Turns out, she had overthought it.
So, she gave an embarrassed smile, looked at Jia who had the appearance of a child, and thought about the number of times he had helped her in less than a year. She couldn't help but ask, "Do you want to grow up?"
"Why are you suddenly asking this?" Jia seemed reluctant to discuss it.
Mu Anxiao: "I just feel you're quite useful and know a lot. If... you remain a child forever, it's a bit unfair to you."
"You think it's strange that I'm telling you this, don't you?" Jia said calmly.
Mu Anxiao shook her head, "I didn't mean that. I just feel your talents are being wasted."
"What do you mean wasted? I'm an Yin Cha now, after all. Besides," Jia became serious, "if I weren't like this, that guy wouldn't have let me follow you. If I didn't follow you, I wouldn't have this good opportunity."
"What opportunity?" Mu Anxiao only now realized Jia had his own agenda.
Jia: "I want to surpass that guy, so I've been looking for demon souls too. It's a shame," his gaze flickered, "I haven't found any. If possible, could you share half the credit with me?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, when that demon soul is caught, you share half the credit with me. Perhaps, I can use it to be promoted above that guy again." The "that guy" Jia was referring to was Hei Feng.
Mu Anxiao gave a dry laugh, "Do you think I'm capable of this now? Also, you're contradictory. You said I couldn't get into the palace, and now..." She trailed off, her eyes lighting up, "Do you have a way?"
"Yes," Jia nodded.
Mu Anxiao leaned forward, "Tell me."
"Just pretend to be the third sister's maid. That way, she'll take you into the palace," Jia said lightly.
Mu Anxiao's expression stiffened. She pulled her head back and leaned against a pillar, saying, "You really are a child, so naive."
"What's wrong?"
"Every time the third sister goes to the palace, she has a special carriage to pick her up. She usually doesn't bring maids, so..." Mu Anxiao spoke, her mind racing. Excitedly, she said, "I have an idea."
"What idea?" Jia also became expectant.
Mu Anxiao's lips curved into a smile, "It's a good thing that Mu Gui turns a blind eye to them bullying me."
"Explain yourself," Jia urged anxiously.
Mu Anxiao: "There are still three days until the third sister goes to the palace. At that time, you use your magic to make me invisible, and then I can hide in the carriage. That way, I can get into the palace." She raised an eyebrow.
Jia was speechless.
Mu Anxiao looked at Jia's speechless expression and asked doubtfully, "What's wrong?"
"You have magic yourself, why don't you ever use it?"
Ever since Jia started following Mu Anxiao, she had been using Jia's magic in various ways. Her excuse every time was that she needed to conserve her spiritual energy and only use it when absolutely necessary.
At first, Jia thought it made sense.
But in these three months, Mu Anxiao had been in danger countless times, and every time she was in peril, she would ask Jia to save her. Every time Jia suggested she use her own magic, she would threaten him, saying that if she died, he would die with her.
Every time this happened, Jia felt weary.
At this moment, Jia felt it was necessary to clarify things with her.
Mu Anxiao's eyes darted away, "What can I do? Aren't I not as powerful as you?"
"Stop flattering me, you..."
"I'm serious." Mu Anxiao looked sincere. "Honestly, from the day my master brought me here, I've been useless. If it weren't for you, I would have died long ago, so thank you."
"You..."
"Earlier, Hei Feng told me to let you follow me. Honestly, I was hesitant. But Hei Feng said he trusted no one but you," Mu Anxiao interrupted, "At first, I still thought you were just a child with no abilities, but after spending so much time together, I realized I was wrong. I'm sorry."
"Hei Feng really said that?"
Before this, Hei Feng had already guessed that Jia would not be reconciled and had also guessed that Jia definitely had ambitions to surpass him, which was why he was so obedient.
Therefore, for both his and Mu Anxiao's sake, he told Mu Anxiao that if Jia was unhappy about doing something, she should take him and praise him profusely. Praising him would definitely make Jia compliant.
At first, she felt that exaggerating praise like this was fake and that the recipient wouldn't believe it.
She even thought Hei Feng's method was a devious trick. She never expected it to be so effective.
"Yes, that's what he said. He said that in his heart, you will always be his little boss. It's just that in public," she smiled, "people care about face, so he was a bit harsh to you. Please forgive him."
"Why didn't you say this before?"
"I didn't want to," Mu Anxiao stated directly.
"Why? Does praising me make you that uncomfortable?" Jia pouted.
Mu Anxiao looked at Jia's chubby little face and his child-like frame, then said with feigned composure, "It's not that I'm uncomfortable, it's just that people say children shouldn't be praised too much, right? If you praise them too much, they'll become arrogant, and arrogance isn't good. So," she smiled, "I'll be counting on you that day. Who else but you is more powerful than me?"
"..." Jia didn't grasp Mu Anxiao's hidden meaning and smiled, "Alright, since you think so highly of me, I'll naturally help you. But before that, do you need to be untied?" He glanced at the ropes tied around her hands and feet.
Mu Anxiao thought for a moment. Just as she was about to say 'no', she heard footsteps.
Jia also heard them, "It seems I'm not needed," he said.
Mu Anxiao nodded, closed her eyes, and pretended to be asleep.
Jia took a few steps back and looked towards the door.
The next moment, light shone in from outside. A servant entered the woodshed and glanced at the well-behaved Mu Anxiao, muttering, "Just as the master said, it's all talk." Saying this, he walked in front of Mu Anxiao, squatted down, and called out, "Wake up."
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao feigned exhaustion and opened her eyes. She looked at the servant squatting in front of her and asked, "Is something wrong?"
"Yes, the madam is looking for you." Saying this, the servant helped Mu Anxiao untie the ropes on her feet.
Mu Anxiao: "What does the madam want me for?"
"The madam knows about the embarrassing incident at the manor gates. In short," the servant said, untying the ropes on Mu Anxiao's hands, "you're not going to have a good time." After finishing, he stood up.
Mu Anxiao looked up, "So you mean, I'm finished." Saying this, she propped herself up with one hand and stood up.