Do You Like Me That Much? Miss Villainess

Inside Red-Cherishing Courtyard, incense curled upward.

In the pavilion in the back courtyard, Yoo Shi sat with her legs folded, silently adding tea for the girl across from her.

"You want to ask why I chose you?"

The white-haired girl's tone was indifferent.

"Yes, with Your Highness the Princess's strength, a single call would surely have many willing to join your ranks. So why me?"

Hearing this, Mu Qinglan took a sip of tea and said coldly:

"Why you? Just a coincidence. I happened to come to Red-Cherishing Courtyard today, and you're quite ambitious with some ability—just these three points. Don't think too highly of yourself. If today I'd come to some Spring-Cherishing Courtyard or Green-Cherishing Courtyard instead, I'd still find an informant to work for me."

"Then this humble one is relieved."

Yoo Shi nodded. "If Your Highness had been watching this humble one from early on, that would have been unsettling instead."

Mu Qinglan didn't respond, merely tasting her tea.

To say she hadn't investigated beforehand would naturally be false.

But that was understanding from the game.

Yoo Shi, chief courtesan of Red-Cherishing Courtyard under Prince Li's mansion, quite deep in scheming and skilled in social maneuvering, serving as a player guide in several quests.

More importantly... she wasn't a court lackey.

At least not by the time Mu Qinglan had transmigrated.

So she felt somewhat at ease with her.

Tianyin Ward, as Heyang's pleasure quarter, had countless people flowing through daily with endless intelligence flowing in and out. Even Prince Qi's mansion had its own businesses here helping gather intelligence.

But her family didn't operate this kind of elegant residence, but rather more proper establishments.

As for why she needed someone to help keep watch...

"Azure Moon Tower, have you heard this name?" Mu Qinglan suddenly asked.

"One of the three great establishments in the north ward, operating more explicit business than ours, earning gold daily." Yoo Shi answered.

"I want you to watch them."

"What aspects?"

Mu Qinglan pondered for half a second: "Personnel movements, street rumors, and their tower mistress—pay attention to her schedule if possible."

"Acceptable, all small matters." Yoo Shi nodded.

"As compensation, I'll help you climb higher in Prince Li's mansion," Mu Qinglan said indifferently. "You're not the chief yet, right? After this matter, if you maneuver properly, would becoming chief be problematic?" For more chapters visıt NovєlFіre.net

"One month will suffice."

Yoo Shi worried she might think her capabilities insufficient, adding:

"Though this matter isn't exactly refined business, maneuvering also takes time. Becoming chief within a month is already the fastest possible. As for what Your Highness mentioned to me, I'm afraid that requires gradual planning."

Workers, most importantly, must demonstrate their value and make supervisors feel they aren't freeloaders.

Job interviews work the same way.

Yoo Shi was quite ambitious, wanting to climb as high as possible, and Mu Qinglan had the ability to help her, so naturally she tried her best to demonstrate her value.

Mu Qinglan understood this principle too.

"Send me back." She closed her eyes to rest.

Yoo Shi curtsied lightly, respectfully pushing her new boss back to the banquet.

Today's events certainly couldn't be hidden from Prince Li, and he would definitely send someone to question her, but Yoo Shi felt that with Mu Qinglan guaranteeing that secret, acting according to circumstances, no one could blame her for anything.

She might even receive some rewards.

"Are there court spies hidden among Prince Li's business executives?"

Yoo Shi shook her head lightly, feeling that Heyang was truly facing approaching storms.

Mu Qinglan also sighed helplessly—these matters came one after another, simply not allowing any rest.

'Demon clan storyline, Lou Guanyue, Azure Moon Tower…'

Troublesome.

'The mansion has no informants in the courtesan world, so I had to personally find someone to watch. But... if that evidence is now in the Six Bureaus' hands, I might not be unable to scheme and give the Crown Prince a big blow?'

She narrowed her eyes.

○

When she returned to the pavilion, Shen Yao had already sobered up.

In fact, when she drank that cup of hot tea, most of the drunkenness had already left Miss Iceberg, but Mu Qinglan had insisted on going alone, so she stayed behind to wait.

Now she was just completely sober.

Mu Qinglan calmly glanced at Shen Yao sitting properly.

She still looked as cool and aloof as before, but she knew their relationship had grown much closer through this honest exchange.

The bad woman always understood—

Whether you could push and pull was key to relationships.

Benefiting from many theories from her previous life, she deeply knew that the secret to closing distance between people was having shared little secrets.

Many people would choose to share secrets, but this was only the first level.

In the bad woman's view.

Sharing secrets was only the worst choice.

Because this might make the other person think you couldn't keep secrets.

So then, the best method for having shared secrets was never sharing, but creating—creating together.

The slightly inferior method was accidentally letting the other person know your little secrets.

Then, the bad woman began practicing.

At an appropriate moment, Shen Yao and she jointly possessed a secret that absolutely couldn't be known by outsiders.

Then using perfectly timed consideration to break into Shen Yao's heart.

Instantly filling the previous gap.

The bad woman smiled slightly, 'Sometimes, closing distance is just this simple.'

Another moment of silence.

Just as Red-Cherishing Courtyard was about to close, Bai Yuyu finally hurried back.

"Oh my, I'm exhausted. The storage uncle asked questions about everything, afraid something went wrong. Am I the type of person who easily causes problems?"

"Little Bai, have some tea."

Mu Qinglan handed her freshly brewed tea.

Bai Yuyu's eyes lit up as she gulped down a big mouthful: "Mu Mu is still the best. Hehe, don't worry Mu Mu, I'll definitely protect your secret well! I absolutely won't let a second person know!"

Mu Qinglan looked seemingly puzzled: "What secret?"

"If secrets are told, they're not secrets anymore!" Bai Yuyu maintained mystery.

At the same time, she hummed proudly in her heart.

Go ahead and guess!

Who told you to be so careless in exposing it? This kind of secret must be protected well. I hope you'll be more careful in the future!

If others knew you could break through the Human Gate in half a month, how could they tolerate you?

Only I, Great Lord Bai, would protect you like this.

Hmph!

Shen Yao silently drank tea, calmly glancing at her, feeling quite indifferent.

You have secrets, and I don't have secrets?

The girl in front of her with her gentle, warm, and considerate smile was completely the bad woman's disguise from beginning to end—wasn't this secret explosive enough?

Could your secret compare to mine?

The three silently exchanged glances, each feeling confident.

"And I also have a secret, waiting for Mu Mu to discover personally!" Bai Yuyu remembered something and smiled happily.

"What is it exactly?"

Mu Qinglan asked curiously, thinking it couldn't be about her being that silly Miss Bai from the Human Gate.

"I won't tell you!"

Bai Yuyu stood on tiptoes, made a face, her smile becoming even more radiant.

○

After sending Mu Qinglan to her carriage, the two Six Bureaus constable ladies slowly walked along the street toward the carriage service.

Even in Tianyin Ward, not every guest could have their own carriage.

Carriage services emerged accordingly.

It was essentially like taxis from her previous life, except the departure point was fixed and prices were somewhat higher.

But the two girls didn't mind.

Shen Yao, as a constable, had a substantial salary, and Bai Yuyu was the little princess of Duke Bai's household—she was rich.

On the road, Bai Yuyu still bounced around, asking Shen Yao:

"Senior Sister, aren't you curious about what secret your rumored little girlfriend and I share?"

"Not curious."

"Eh? Guess! Though I won't tell you, if you find out later you'll definitely be shocked!"

"Childish."

Shen Yao said indifferently, her eyes lowering slightly.

Besides, who doesn't have secrets...?

○

After returning home, Mu Qinglan sat in the courtyard, watching the setting sun, her smile growing.

The gambling match at the banquet was over.

His Highness Crown Prince, the gambling match between us two has just begun.

This time, I'll strike your vital point!

And the two gifts I sent out today... I watched Miss Bai receive her gift well.

But Miss Shen, you must properly catch my gift—with your heart that will sooner or later fall into my hands.

"Ez~"

Mu Qinglan laughed aloud.