Ye Ningyuan asked in surprise, "Isn't this the one from Southern Border who came to deliver gifts before... what was his name? Right, Hu Bao!"
Shouldn't he be at the palace or the envoy's station? Why would he be here secretly meeting someone?
"Who is the one wearing the bamboo hat?"
Su Yunmo narrowed her eyes and confirmed, "The woman who sold the treasure map earlier."
Ye Ningyuan turned to Su Yunmo in shock, "Holy crap, you could tell from that far away, with a screen in between?"
Were this girl's eyes divine?
Su Yunmo glanced at her sideways, saying nothing.
Ye Ningyuan pouted and leaned closer, "Alright, alright, I know this isn't the time to talk about it. I was just giving you a casual compliment, do you have to be so dismissive?"
Momo was becoming colder and colder towards her, yet she was so gentle with that man, Ye Jingyu.
The two young girls squeezed together to peek outside.
After the two spoke for a while, the woman gave Hu Bao a small box. Hu Bao took the small box and turned to leave.
Su Yunmo's gaze deepened, and she walked out, saying, "One for each of us."
The woman with the bamboo hat entered the alley, destination unknown.
Su Yunmo quietly followed, but after a short pursuit, the person vanished.
Su Yunmo scowled fiercely.
Suddenly, a sharp light attacked from behind.
Su Yunmo's eyes darkened, and she quickly turned, throwing a punch.
Fist met palm, sending both of them staggering back a few steps.
Su Yunmo steadied herself and looked, seeing the woman with the bamboo hat behind her.
The woman's face was obscured, her features hidden. She spoke in a deliberately altered voice.
"I've long heard that the young miss of the General's Mansion is no ordinary child. It seems that rumor is indeed true."
Su Yunmo narrowed her eyes dangerously, sizing her up. "You're from Southern Border, aren't you?"
Although she wasn't wearing Southern Border attire, anyone who could associate with Hu Bao and recognize her could only be from Southern Border.
"You are very clever," the woman chuckled, her laughter laced with a hint of sarcasm and killing intent. "However, clever people tend to die young."
"That depends on who your enemy is," Su Yunmo's hand gathered power as she activated her ability.
*Crack!*
The woman's bamboo hat exploded, revealing her face.
Su Yunmo was stunned. The woman's face was expressionless, her facial muscles not even twitching as she spoke. The only mobile parts were her eyes.
Su Yunmo frowned.
Was this woman wearing a human skin mask?
A killing intent flashed in the woman's eyes. "I didn't intend to make a move on you so soon. You brought this upon yourself!"
She lunged forward, her hand forming a five-clawed grip as she reached for Su Yunmo.
Su Yunmo gathered her ability again.
A red light suddenly flashed in the woman's eyes.
The next moment, Su Yunmo felt her arm stiffen abruptly, her ability suppressed.
Su Yunmo's heart sank, her surprise evident.
Being suppressed by someone else's ability was a first. What was this woman's origin?
The woman's fist was already before her.
*Bang!*
Simultaneously, a gust of spiritual energy from a palm strike came from the other side.
The two forces collided, and the woman was sent flying.
The next second, Su Yunmo was pulled into an embrace, and the restraint on her power was instantly lifted.
She turned and saw the man's steady face, exclaiming in surprise, "Ye Jingyu?"
Ye Jingyu looked down at her for a moment, saw she was unharmed, and then looked up at the woman opposite them, his eyes filled with killing intent. "You're courting death!"
He roared and sent another sharp palm strike towards the woman.
Having exchanged a palm strike with him, the woman knew she was no match and fled quickly.
Ye Jingyu's palm strike landed on the ground, sending dust flying.
As the dust settled, the woman's presence was gone, leaving only a tassel from a jade pendant on the ground.
"Damn it, she got away!" Su Yunmo clicked her tongue, displeased.
She had hoped to capture her alive and extract information from her.
Someone who infiltrated the capital at this time to sell Southern Border treasure maps and was connected to Hu Bao was definitely no ordinary person.
"If she hadn't run, you probably would have been captured and put in a cage as a pet," Ye Jingyu poked her forehead unhappily, his reprimand tinged with concern.
"Acting recklessly, how many times do I have to tell you before you change this bad habit?"
Su Yunmo crossed her arms and huffed, turning her head away. "Who says I would have been captured? It was just a momentary lapse."
Though she said that, she felt a trace of fear.
Being able to suppress her abilities was no small feat. That woman likely had a significant background.
Ye Jingyu seemed to see through her bravado, pinching her cheek with two fingers. "Such a strong-willed little girl."
Su Yunmo couldn't break free and winced, clenching her small fists and hitting his chest.
"What kind of private moment are you two creating? There's someone else here," a resentful voice called out.
Su Yunmo averted her gaze to look at her.
Ye Ningyuan was squatting on the ground, dangling half a tassel and casting envious, helpless glances their way.
Ye Jingyu released Su Yunmo's face and gently rubbed her cheek with two fingers, easing her pain.
Su Yunmo ungratefully slapped his hand away and frowned at Ye Ningyuan. "Didn't I tell you to follow Hu Bao? Why are you following me?"
Ye Ningyuan rolled her eyes. "Momo, you always hurt your savior's feelings like this, don't you?"
She had followed because she was worried about her, and it was fortunate she had, otherwise, Su Yunmo would have suffered greatly.
Su Yunmo frowned.
Ye Ningyuan glanced at the man holding Su Yunmo. "Although he saved you just now, it was I who found him. Hmm... a chance encounter."
A chance encounter?
These words made Su Yunmo raise an eyebrow. She turned to Ye Jingyu. "Where are you coming from at this hour?"
This road was not the way to Prince Yu's mansion.
Ye Jingyu pursed his lips and remained silent, carrying her as he walked away.
Seeing them leave, Ye Ningyuan hurried after them. "Where are you two going? Take me along!"
The carriage was parked on the street outside the alley.
Qian Xue had been waiting nearby. Seeing his master emerge, he quickly stepped forward and stopped Ye Ningyuan. "County Princess, please stay!"
Ye Jingyu seized this opportunity to lift Su Yunmo into the carriage.
"Hey!" Ye Ningyuan called out, glaring with defiance. "I came to find Momo first. Is it going to kill you to take me along?"
There was no reply from inside the carriage.
Qian Xue then turned and got into the carriage, driving away.
Seeing the carriage speed off, Ye Ningyuan gritted her teeth and stamped her feet in anger.
Damn Ye Jingyu, she would never ask him to do anything for her again!
Stingy person, jealous fool!
Inside the carriage.
Su Yunmo lifted the carriage curtain and looked back at Ye Ningyuan, who was puffing out her cheeks as if scolding someone.
"Do you have something to tell me?" she asked Ye Jingyu.
The man lowered the carriage curtain and carefully smoothed her slightly wrinkled clothes from the fight. "Come with me to a place."
Su Yunmo raised an eyebrow. "Where?"
A sharp glint flashed in Ye Jingyu's eyes. "The Ministry of Justice prison."