Su Qier's words carried a hint of pride and self-satisfaction. Yun Xiao sighed, reaching out to take the jade pendant. "This will cost you your life. Why cling to it so stubbornly? Following me may not be a good thing; the path ahead is perilous."
Su Qier, however, remained unfazed. Perhaps it was her profound loneliness, or perhaps this woman was worth such devotion. Her eyes, like flowing water, melted in the sunlight, a flash of unyielding brilliance like a precious stone passing by. It was this that ignited her resolve.
"Very well, you may follow me. But know this: from now on, your eyes and your heart will belong only to me. I am your master. You must not only obey my every command but also shed all your bad habits. I cannot tolerate a ruffian lingering around me all day."
Yun Xiao, rarely, suppressed the smile on her face and spoke with neither anger nor annoyance, yet with a gravity that commanded respect.
"Okay."
Su Qier nodded without hesitation. All she wanted was enough to eat and to wear pretty clothes.
Yun Xiao pocketed the jade pendant and lightly lowered her brows. Sunlight slanted across her, illuminating half her face like a blooming peach, while the other half remained hidden in the light, hinting at an unfathomable sharpness.
"This won't bring you good luck."
After speaking, she looked up at the sky. It was getting late, and the three of them hadn't eaten yet. Su Qier had said she hadn't eaten since yesterday. Shangguan Lin was not someone easily dealt with, so Yun Xiao imagined her heart was in her mouth. "Come, I'll treat you two to a meal now."
As soon as Yun Xiao spoke, Su Qier readily agreed. She was famished, her chest pressed against her back.
However, the three dared not make a spectacle of themselves by seeking out luxurious restaurants. They chose a quiet little eatery instead; filling their stomachs was the priority.
The small shop was peaceful, which was conducive to conversation.
"Su Qier, that name is too unrefined. I'll give you a new name."
"Okay."
Yun Xiao raised her delicate brows and said with a smile, "Wanwan. From now on, your name is Su Wanwan."
Su Qier and Xiu Xiu blinked in surprise. The name was indeed elegant, elegant to the bone. Su Qier was delighted, savoring it repeatedly. Finally, she said, "This name sounds so lovely. All right, I'll be Su Wanwan from now on."
Yun Xiao sipped her tea and asked Su Qier, no, Su Wanwan, "Do you know the Yun Royal Mansion? Is there a foolish young lady there?"
Upon hearing Yun Xiao's words, Su Wanwan's interest was immediately piqued. She put down her chopsticks, smacked her lips, and began to speak with relish.
"The Yun Royal Mansion? Who doesn't know it? That foolish girl is a household name. Not only is she foolish but also timid. But the most bizarre thing is that such a foolish person actually married into the royal family and became the Empress of Dong Qin. Don't you think that emperor has a screw loose?"
Towards the end, Su Wanwan's voice became much softer, and she chuckled slyly.
However, after her laughter subsided, she noticed the atmosphere had turned somewhat somber and eerie. A chill wind seemed to blow, and the expressions of the two people before her were strange. Her scalp tingled faintly, and she cautiously asked,
"What's wrong?"
Yun Xiao's lips curved, revealing stark white teeth. "I am that foolish person."
Su Wanwan listened to Yun Xiao's words, stunned. For a long time, she remained motionless, her eyes wide open, her movements comically endearing. Yun Xiao couldn't help but smile faintly.
"What's wrong?"
"This, this? No way," Su Wanwan stammered, searching for her voice. She dared not offer any more opinions. On one hand, she was shocked that the foolish person everyone talked about was not foolish at all, but very clever and cunning. On the other hand, she was excited, realizing her intuition had been so sharp. Merely by relying on someone casually, she had found herself connected to a young lady of the Yun Royal Mansion, and even the current Empress. No wonder she had spoken of eating delicacies and wearing fine clothes earlier; it wasn't just empty talk.
"But why would Your Highness impersonate a fool?"
Wanwan was extremely curious. Why would Her Highness pretend to be foolish? Was this a scheme by the Yun Royal Lord to secure the position of Empress in the palace? Wanwan's pupils flickered, as if she saw a conspiracy hidden beneath the surface. A smile curved her lips, revealing a knowing expression.
Yun Xiao cast a cold glance at her. This girl truly had no fear of stirring up trouble and lacked the usual apprehension of others. However, the matter wasn't as mysterious or profound as she imagined.
"No one knows I'm not foolish, not even those in the Yun Royal Mansion. So, you'd best keep your mouth shut. If you reveal this, I'll skin you alive."
A fleeting coldness flashed in Yun Xiao's eyes. Wanwan shivered, completely believing in her ability to carry out her threats. She quickly nodded, "I understand. I will surely keep Your Highness's words firmly in mind."
"Good. Now, let's go. We still have things to do?"
Yun Xiao stood up. Xiu Xiu and Wanwan followed suit, preparing to leave together.
Just then, a large contingent of soldiers surged in from outside, led by a cold and ruthless man. A knife scar, about two inches long, ran diagonally from below his eyelid, making him look quite fearsome. He gripped the treasure sword in his hand and scanned the only three customers in the shop with a vigilant gaze.
Yun Xiao smiled charmingly at him, her radiant smile carrying a hint of appeasement, as cute as a fawn. The man's gaze shifted from her face to Xiu Xiu and Wanwan beside her. Xiu Xiu and Wanwan had never encountered such a scene and seemed intimidated, lowering their heads in fear.
The man walked over slowly, followed by a large group of soldiers who surrounded the three of them. The air instantly froze.
Although Yun Xiao's smile was cute, her heart was tightly strung. These people were likely here for Wanwan; otherwise, she wouldn't be so tense. Could they be Shangguan Lin's men? If so, wouldn't she also reveal her flaws? These men, following Shangguan Lin, must have seen her after she became foolish, as well as Wanwan. Fortunately, she had changed into the newly bought clothes earlier and was now wearing her previous beggar's attire, with her hair somewhat disheveled. The three of them were now rather alike.
Among these soldiers, the leading man with the scar was Mu Li, Shangguan Lin's subordinate. He was tasked by the Prince to search everywhere for the fellow who had communicated earlier and dared to steal the Prince's jade pendant. Mu Li paced back and forth, about to question them when the shopkeeper and the waiter approached, bowing and scraping, speaking cautiously,
"What is the matter, officers? I am a law-abiding person and have done nothing illegal."
Mu Li snorted and withdrew his gaze from the three of them, speaking calmly, "If you discover any suspicious individuals, report them to the authorities immediately."
"Yes, yes," the shopkeeper responded repeatedly. Mu Li led his soldiers out. As he reached the doorway, he paused and surveyed the scene one last time, ensuring the three posed no threat before departing.
Inside the small shop, the shopkeeper and the waiter's legs gave way, and they nearly collapsed. Reaching out to steady themselves against a table, they repeatedly asked, "Who are the people from the Yun Royal Mansion looking for?"
Saying this, they returned to the counter. The three of them were equally terrified, their faces pale, and a cold sweat had broken out all over them.
Xiu Xiu couldn't help but murmur softly, "Mistress, why did you make a bet with her? If the people from the Yun Royal Mansion find out, it will only bring trouble upon us."