Do You Like Me That Much? Miss Villainess

Inside Red-Cherishing Courtyard, the atmosphere was heavy.

Only the flowing qin music, like birdsong, echoed around the beams without cease.

Bai Yuyu looked at the girl beside her. Clearly this was a little sister several months younger than herself, but somehow, her cheeks were now flushed red and she didn't dare look at her.

In her heart, it felt like a little deer was bouncing around everywhere.

Or like a small sapling had taken root and sprouted inside, constantly poking at her heart with its branches.

"Destiny..."

The little girl lowered her head, looking at the ground, murmuring very quietly to herself.

Her hands weren't placed in front but clasped behind her back, ten fingers gripped together, continuously tapping the ground lightly with her right toe.

She wasn't thinking about anything else now, only pondering what Mu Qinglan had said about "destiny."

So what was destiny?

The diviners of Great Xia's Imperial Observatory had once presented their view to the emperor:

Destiny is the limitless nature of all things.

Meaning, in their eyes, destiny was the sum total of all developmental patterns in the world.

But in Bai Yuyu's eyes, from meeting to knowing each other, from unfamiliarity to familiarity—this was the destiny between her and Mu Qinglan.

She naturally knew all of this was full of coincidences.

Prince Qi's mansion and the Six Bureaus were both in the city, and they were close on the night of the full moon, so they should have been paired together.

Mu Qinglan was naturally kind and reliable, so she definitely wouldn't refuse an alliance with her.

Their real-world meeting was even more due to Senior Sister already having a good relationship with her, which allowed the two to become best friends who talked about everything.

—But so what if it was coincidence?

After knowing Mu Qinglan's true identity, she was really, really so happy!

She had clearly said she would protect her before, and Mu Mu had even said she was a little woman who needed her protection.

But in the end, it was always her protecting herself.

'I used to be quite smart, but when Mu Mu holds my hand, I somehow become silly.'

The little girl felt wronged. This couldn't be blamed on her, right?

But speaking of becoming silly, she remembered another saying.

It seemed that falling in love would lower one's IQ?

Make you silly?

'Could I be…'

The little girl's face exploded in red, and her already lowered head buried even deeper.

Anyone who didn't know might think this was an ostrich!

But a few seconds later, as the memories of being happy every day since meeting Mu Mu flooded her mind, this usually lively and cheerful constable's expression gradually returned to calm.

After a long while, she reached a conclusion.

The black-haired girl's eyes were soft as she looked up at her side: Newest update provıded by novel(ꜰ)ire.net

'Perhaps…'

'I'm a little moved.'

○

Inside the pavilion, behind the pearl curtain.

Mu Qinglan propped her cheek with one hand, eyes slightly lowered, calmly taking in everyone's state in the hall.

People's expressions varied.

Some shocked, some pale, some excited, some resentful, some jealous, and of course, there was the little girl beside her with unconcealed shyness on her face.

Mu Qinglan smiled slightly in her heart.

Actually, she didn't know any gambling techniques at all. Even those previous numbers were the house secretly manipulating the dice to help her cheat.

So her words about "bring it on, let's duel" were just talk.

She knew very clearly that Sun Zhu couldn't possibly succeed.

First, Red-Cherishing Courtyard wouldn't let him duel. Are you kidding? If you really went to duel, wouldn't that mean our gambling here was unfair? For a tavern's reputation, that would be devastating.

Even if the news Mu Qinglan brought out today wasn't explosive enough.

And her identity as Prince Qi's legitimate daughter wasn't sufficient guarantee for this news.

There definitely wouldn't be any possibility of cheating.

But those were all hindsight now. Reality was, she had indeed succeeded.

Successfully won the little girl's heart and this gambling match.

Though today's events did have some coincidental elements, they were inseparable from the planning Mu Qinglan had prepared long ago.

Including the deliberate flaws left in the Human Gate ritual.

Including the affection cultivated through these days of interaction.

Oh right, she also had to thank the two great benefactors Sun and Fat Li, these two wise fools for their aggressive pressure.

—If they hadn't been so arrogant, Mu Qinglan's heroic rescue act might not have had such good effect.

"Heh."

Mu Qinglan chuckled softly, immediately attracting the little girl's attention.

"Scared already? I was originally thinking I might encounter some experts, but I didn't expect them all to be as bad as you, Bai Bai." She smiled warmly but with a hint of mischief.

"Eh?"

The little girl never dreamed that the bad woman would suddenly start criticizing her.

"Hmph!"

Bai Yuyu snorted, pouted, and very gently kicked the wheelchair with her little foot, indicating she was really angry now! Come coax her!

"You're still snorting! They don't have a reliable expert like me to protect you." Mu Qinglan said shamelessly. "Look, see what a mess they've lost themselves into."

The little girl couldn't refute this, since she had indeed won by riding on her coattails. She could only glare at her indignantly.

Mu Qinglan poked her cheek:

"Stop puffing your face, you look like a pufferfish. So silly. If not, you can protect me next time. This little woman is delicate and pitiful, Constable Bai mustn't bully me...

She deliberately acted pitiful.

When she heard about protecting her next time, the little girl's eyes unconsciously brightened.

Because for her, what she was most proud of now was her talent and strength. As long as it didn't involve powerful assassins, simple protection wouldn't be a problem.

Bai Yuyu patted her chest, about to agree.

But suddenly her expression froze.

She thought of something very important.

'What is Mu Mu saying? Didn't she also pass the Human Gate? Her strength isn't much worse than mine!!'

The little girl cried out in her heart, but then remembered something else.

'I remember Senior Sister said she only awakened this month, right? This month, and then until the night of the full moon... she broke through the Human Gate in less than fifteen days?!!

Bai Yuyu was tremendously shocked.

Even with her extensive knowledge and experience, she had never heard of such a genius.

The Six Bureaus Chief Constable's direct disciple, one of Great Xia's top three talents in the past decade, Shen Yao—even she had spent over a month going from zero to breaking through the Human Gate.

Less than half a month, how was that possible?

What on earth...

Mu Qinglan calmly withdrew her gaze from the little girl and quietly sighed in relief.

She had deliberately exposed her ability to manipulate shadows earlier, displaying it in exactly the same way as in the Human Gate ritual, precisely to let the little girl discover her secret.

Bai Yuyu had indeed discovered it.

But her poor little brain seemed to automatically ignore the feat of going from zero to the Human Gate in just a few days.

How could this work?

This secret had an important role in the bad woman's plans!

Fortunately, after provoking her a couple times, the little girl naturally discovered this matter and was successfully shocked into gaping with her mouth wide open, stunned in place.

'Now we have a shared little secret.'

Mu Qinglan thought with lowered eyes.

'Even a terrifying secret that could shock the world. But she might not necessarily discover this? Judging by her brain that can barely function now,' Mu Qinglan wasn't quite sure. 'Forget it, I'll quietly point it out to her later.'

Can't rush...

Her thumb gently rubbed against her cheek:

'Step by step…'

'Food must be eaten bite by bite, and little girls must also be taken bite by bite…'

Constable Sun, collapsed on the ground, looked at the two girls who seemed to be flirting over there, a flash of deeply hidden malice in his eyes.

'How could these two half-grown brats possibly beat me?!'

'And in front of so many people!'

'No way! I won't accept this! I need to find an opportunity, a suitable opportunity... to quietly get revenge.'

Fat Li's face was deathly pale.

He knew in his heart that unlike Sun Zhu, he didn't have value worth keeping.

The Crown Prince's entrusted task had failed, and this descending wrath couldn't possibly be directed at a Six Bureaus constable who would be useful in the future.

But this matter needed someone to take the blame.

The Crown Prince couldn't take the blame.

So the one to take the blame could only be him, this now-disgraced great gambling hero, right?

My life is over!!

Behind the curtain at the head seat, Yoo Shi looked at those two's miserable state, then recalled their high spirits when the gambling just started, and couldn't help but sigh greatly.

Sighing at their misery.

Admiring Mu Qinglan's planning.

Yoo Shi had always been deep in schemes and quite cunning, but in front of Mu Qinglan she felt like a pure little white flower, harmless to man and beast.

Thinking of this, anticipation rose in her eyes as she couldn't help recalling the conversation in the back courtyard earlier.

Dark bamboo grove, winding secluded path.

"Miss Yoo wants to climb higher, right? Not satisfied with this mere courtyard, wanting to truly enter Heyang's upper class instead of just being a courtesan ordered around by others.

I can help you. But the price..."

The white-haired girl gazed at her indifferently, behind those blood-red eyes seeming to be a devil tempting one to fall into the abyss.

Yoo Shi had agreed.

She collected her thoughts and raised her cup in a distant toast to the dealer who had helped with cheating, taking a small sip, her expression becoming even calmer.

Wasn't it just being a dog?

She was already that prince's dog. Being that princess's dog might not be bad either.

Thinking this, she stroked the qin again, the music flowing like water over the entire pavilion once more.

The pavilion was noisy, mostly with guests' laughter and conversation.

Still carrying shock at this unexpected result.

Perhaps this matter might not be noticed by Heyang's truly powerful nobles, but regardless, among Heyang's merchant children and in Great Xia's pleasure quarters, Mu Qinglan could be said to have truly become famous.

However, not all nobles failed to notice this matter.

At least several factions had been watching developments here from beginning to end.

"I yield, I yield!"

"Hmph! Unorthodox methods!" Guardian Wang looked at the results the spy delivered, saying displeasedly.

"Unorthodox methods are unorthodox methods. At least this disciple of mine successfully completed her first eighth-rank mission. She won't come crying to me later."

Su He was in great spirits.

"Just eighth rank. If she breaks through the Earth Gate and comprehends the Heaven Gate, wouldn't you be worrying every day?"

Guardian Wang shook his head repeatedly, saying disdainfully:

"Really quite the worrywart."

"I only have these two direct disciples. Am I not allowed to worry a bit?" Su He shook his head and nodded.

"Heh!"

Guardian Wang appeared disdainful on the surface, but in his heart he thought that among the royal subordinates in over ten years, there really wasn't anyone who could compare to Shen Yao. Even those who could match Bai Yuyu were few and far between.

Innate destiny traits...

Guardian Wang had a headache. He'd heard that Ninth Imperial Princess had one, but she was too distant to approach!

Several guardians had gone to visit her, wanting to take her as a disciple, but all returned rebuffed.

Sigh, forget it.

She was Great Xia's imperial princess after all. She surely wouldn't benefit outsiders.

Sighing slightly in his heart, he said indifferently:

"I'll have someone deliver the Heavenly Flower Treasure Pill tomorrow morning, but I still want to remind Lord Su— The emperor and Prince Qi have been at odds for a long time. I hope Lord Su can restrain his disciples and not choose the wrong side. Naturally sworn to serve His Majesty loyally.

Su He's expression became serious, then relaxed carelessly after Guardian Wang left.

"Tomorrow when the bet arrives, I'll keep the treasure pill for little Bai to build her foundation, and send the Heavenly Flower Pill to that princess as a gesture of goodwill. It was thanks to her that we could win anyway."

○

When the spy reached the Crown Prince's mansion, the atmosphere in the study was heavy.

The advisors watched the Crown Prince's face turn stormy as he opened the report, all exchanging glances and wondering about the final result.

"Outrageous!!"

The Crown Prince was furious.

The advisors subtly exchanged looks. Well, they lost.

It seemed that since the failed assassination of Mu Qinglan, the Crown Prince's plans had been repeatedly frustrated. It was from that time that the Crown Prince's outbursts had obviously increased.

An advisor offered counsel:

"Your Highness, please calm your anger. The urgent matter is still getting that evidence."

The Crown Prince looked at his subordinate angrily, almost clenching his knuckles white, pacing in the study for a while before saying:

"Right, no need to worry. Though we didn't get the evidence, that thing is hidden among so many relics. The Six Bureaus might not pay attention to it, and even if they investigate, they might not discover the abnormality… But we still need to be careful..."

The Crown Prince took a deep breath and said:

"Have Sun Zhu make up for his failure. I remember newly stored evidence is placed in the warehouse, right? Have him find an opportunity to take that thing out and dispose of it."

"As for Fat Li?"

A cold glint flashed in the Crown Prince's eyes:

"Ruining my plans, deceiving my trust—find a reason to throw him in the imperial prison!"

○

The ripple effects of the event spread ever farther.

And at the center of this event, besides all the people mentioned above, there was one more person harboring thoughts quite different from all the others.

Cool and aloof Shen Yao watched the interaction between the two beside her.

Repeatedly wanting to speak but stopping.

Her brow furrowed slightly as she quietly stared at the interaction between the two behind the curtain, eyes unblinking, her whole body continuously emanating an aura that warned people to stay away.

The maid beside her had long since fled.

The guests at the banquet also kept their distance.

Previously she had thought, 'Bai Yuyu, laugh now. When the bad woman deceives you, you'll have plenty to cry about.' But now she realized that before Bai Yuyu cried, she herself might become unhappy first?

"..."

Shen Yao felt a bit depressed.

She clearly thought the interaction between those two was quite childish, but for some reason, the more she watched, the more unhappy she became, and she felt a subtle discomfort in her heart.

Could it be...

Really jealousy?

The moment she realized this, Shen Yao's gaze trembled and she felt at a loss.