With this single sentence, everyone was shocked.
Was King Cheng the murderer of their master? This meant they had almost walked into a trap themselves!
How could this be!
Ziyuan looked back at Su Yunmo, her heart filled with worry.
Su Yunmo clenched her fists tightly.
Yuning!
She forcefully suppressed the shock and grief in her heart, then stood up and walked down step by step, positioning herself before everyone.
"From now on, Manlou will be officially renamed Bloodstain. All personnel are to obey Ziyuan's orders. Those who disobey will die!"
At the same time, Ziyuan drew her sword and struck, staining the ground with the blood of traitors.
The smell of blood in the room grew heavier, lingering for a long time, but no one dared to complain any further.
Their master was dead, and the person they wanted to defect to was actually the enemy. Now, they had no choice but to follow this child.
They could only hope that she was as capable as she appeared, and would not fail their master's trust.
Ziyuan stepped forward, her expression complex, "Master, the fire rescue was delayed for so long. Without someone instructing it, such a thing would be impossible."
And the only person who could have ordered everyone to stop the fire at that time was the second young lady.
"Yuning wouldn't do that!" Su Yunmo clenched her fists tightly, but the red light surging in her eyes revealed her inner struggle at this moment.
Ziyuan looked at her with heartache, wanting to say something but unable to articulate it.
Su Yunmo closed her eyes, burying all hatred and killing intent deep within. "It's no longer safe here. You take them to find another place."
She would personally investigate the matter of Yuning!
"Yes." Ziyuan stood up, leaving her alone to calm down, and ordered everyone, "Hang the traitor in the corridor to be exposed to the sun. The rest of you, withdraw with me."
The group moved quickly. Shortly after they withdrew, Chen Guoxing arrived with his men.
However, all that was left for them was an empty courtyard and a few corpses.
Su Yunmo returned to the academy and lay on her bed, sleepless all night.
Yuning had colluded with Ye Jingyu and helped murder her.
She had never imagined such a thing. Yuning was her sister!
Although they were half-siblings, Yuning's mother had died when she was very young, and the third concubine, despite having no children, was powerful.
From childhood, the three siblings had relied on each other, and Yuning was the one Su Yunmo protected most.
Why, why on earth!
As night deepened, it seemed to bury all the filth in the world.
Su Yunmo finally made up her mind, a plan forming in her heart.
The next morning, students began to attend classes one after another.
Lin Yuning got up and went out in the morning. She saw Su Yunmo standing at the courtyard entrance from a distance, as if waiting for her.
"What are you doing here? Why aren't you going in?" Lin Yuning walked over and greeted her.
Su Yunmo handed her the sachet she had been holding all morning. "You gave me a luck charm, and my waist felt empty. We should reciprocate."
"It's so beautifully embroidered. Thank you. I'll wear it all the time." Lin Yuning stroked her hair, smiling gently.
Su Yunmo couldn't tell if this smile was genuine or not. "I heard you have an older sister? Is she good to you?"
Lin Yuning's expression froze for a moment. She withdrew her hand calmly and said coldly, "She's already dead. There's no need to mention the deceased."
Su Yunmo felt something inside her heart suddenly crack.
Lin Yuning quickly regained her gentle demeanor. "Do you want to come inside and sit for a while?"
Su Yunmo shook her head. "No, I need to go back."
"Alright, take your time. I'll treasure this sachet." Lin Yuning shook the sachet.
Su Yunmo watched her walk back, her gaze fixed on her retreating figure, her hands slowly clenching.
The sachet contained 'Dream Inducer.' As the name suggested, it would bring dreams of what one thought about during the day.
If she smelled the medicine in her sleep, she would dream of herself. If she truly missed her, it would be a beautiful reunion dream of sisters.
But if what Ziyuan said was true...
Su Yunmo pursed her lips tightly.
Yuning, don't disappoint me.
A probing gaze fell upon her. Su Yunmo instinctively looked back, meeting Lin Chenxi's complicated gaze.
Su Yunmo's heart sank.
Lin Chenxi lowered his brows and retracted his expression. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop on your conversation. I just saw you talking intimately and feared I was intruding."
Su Yunmo tightened her grip.
If Yuning had really done such a thing, would her elder brother have known?
What role did he play in that fire?
Lin Chenxi walked over and crouched down, patting her shoulder. "Your name is Momo? I'm sorry for being impolite last time."
A hint of pain flashed in his eyes. "Niange has already passed away. I haven't been able to accept it. When you mentioned her, I thought you were joking, so I felt very upset."
Su Yunmo's heart trembled violently, and she gritted her teeth.
So, there were still people in the mansion who missed her. So, she still had family.
Lin Chenxi's gaze swept over her tightly clasped hand, his eyes flickering slightly. "I'd really like to hear about you. Would you like to have lunch together?"
Su Yunmo nodded emphatically. "Okay!"
Su Yunmo had never found classes so unbearable. She spent the entire morning thinking about Lin Chenxi. When noon finally arrived, she rushed out immediately.
Lin Chenxi was waiting for her at the boundary between the east and west courtyards, thoughtfully holding a box of pastries. He waved to her from a distance upon seeing her.
Su Yunmo remembered when she was little, whenever she went out to play, her elder brother would wait for her at the door like this.
As Su Yunmo approached, Lin Chenxi placed the pastries in her hand and led her to the cafeteria.
The two of them chatted incessantly, from one topic to another, anything could become a subject of conversation.
Su Yunmo's inner shadows gradually faded a lot because of this conversation.
However, before she could feel happy for long, a restlessness arose in her heart.
How to describe it... a strong urge to jump into a river?
Ye, Jing, Yu!
Su Yunmo gritted her teeth, trying to ignore this strange emotion, but the desire to jump into the river became more pronounced.
She gritted her teeth hatefully, had to bid farewell to Lin Chenxi for the time being, and turned in a different direction.
The door to the private chamber was tightly shut, exuding an aura of "keep out" like its owner.
When Su Yunmo arrived, Qianxue was guarding the door, holding a plate of food, her face filled with difficulty and helplessness.
Upon seeing Su Yunmo, she immediately looked as if she had seen a savior. "Little Miss, you're here?"
"Master, the little miss is here. Please open the door."
The sound of something being smashed could be heard from inside.
Then came Ye Jingyu's cold laugh, "Who let her come? Tell her to get lost. My place is quiet, don't let her disturb my important business!"
"Not busy, not busy at all. Nothing is more important than you." Qianxue tried to persuade him, constantly giving Su Yunmo meaningful glances.
Su Yunmo crossed her arms, frowning.
What was the meaning of this? He had toyed with her for so many days, and now he was throwing a tantrum?
"Sister Qianxue, the food has gone cold. You should reheat it. I have a way to get brother to open the door." Su Yunmo put on a cute and obedient face.
Qianxue felt relieved upon hearing her say this. "Then I'll leave it to you."
"Mhm." Su Yunmo maintained her innocent expression, waiting for her to leave.
The moment Qianxue was out of sight, Su Yunmo rotated her wrists.
She had been appeasing a child for enough days!