Do You Like Me That Much? Miss Villainess

The great library at the center of the Six Bureaus, situated by the lake, was perpetually shrouded in a thin layer of mist.

Beside the lake was a large bamboo grove.

In Great Xia, bamboo groves symbolized scholars' integrity—resilient and upright. Throughout history, countless poets had composed poems about them. It could be said that few Great Xia scholars didn't favor this plant.

So this law enforcement agency, the Six Bureaus, also joined the fun.

The great library was called "Understanding Principle."

The name was personally inscribed by the Six Bureaus' founding Chief Constable.

Understanding principle meant comprehending reason, signifying that they weren't crude martial artists who only knew how to fight, but educated people who emphasized reasoning with others. Planting bamboo was very reasonable too.

What principle did they discuss?

All Six Bureaus constables unanimously believed—

The principle of a second-rank Martial Saint's fists.

Therefore, only second-rank masters could become Six Bureaus Chief Constables.

This also became the office space for successive Chief Constables.

Being pushed through the great library by Bai Yuyu, Mu Qinglan occasionally glanced around with her peripheral vision, seeing many people walking hurriedly with urgent expressions.

"The eastern district matter has put a lot of pressure on the bureau."

Bai Yuyu explained.

"Master's training ground is on the third floor of the great library—the entire floor. When you meet him, don't slip up!" Little Miss Bai chattered like an old nanny sending a child on a long journey.

"Slip up?"

Mu Qinglan was slightly stunned. Sometimes even the bad woman couldn't grasp her thought process.

"Just don't let him easily trick you into revealing your talent. You're sometimes silly, and I'm worried sick."

Mu Qinglan looked sideways.

This silly child really had a lot of drama, but wasn't she also revealing that she knew about her true talent? Silly treasure.

But she still cooperated: "Isn't that your master?"

"The old man is awful!" Speaking of this topic, the little girl angrily waved her small fist, her face puffed up in anger. "He often doesn't buy breakfast in the morning and steals my breakfast!"

Mu Qinglan's mouth twitched.

This Chief Constable's hobby was really... unique.

"Anyway, I'll only escort you this far!"

Mu Qinglan smiled.

Before she could say anything about seeing each other later, the little girl had already waved her hand and bounced out of the third floor, her light footsteps creating clear stair sounds layer by layer.

○

A moment later, at a tea table beside the training ground.

"Chief Constable Su, it's been many years since we last met."

Mu Qinglan quietly brewed tea for the old man across from her, her expression calm and voice cool and cold.

Su He asked curiously: "I attended your birthday celebration, but that was when you were small. Do you really remember, or did General Yuan tell you?"

"I dare not forget."

Mu Qinglan shook her head slightly.

"Then it seems this old bag of bones is quite popular with young people. Little Bai also keeps mentioning my name."

Chief Constable Su said cheerfully.

"..."

"The Chief Constable is clean and honest, naturally close to his subordinates."

Speaking appropriately to different people, Mu Qinglan had plans to win over this second-rank Martial Saint, so naturally her words went in directions that would please him.

She also restrained her personality somewhat.

As for whether she remembered? She really didn't.

"Clean and honest?"

Su He chuckled: "Just had a gambling match and won a Heavenly Flower Treasure Pill worth a hundred gold. Is that also called clean and honest?"

"Not accepting bribes or being manipulated by others is sufficient to be called clean and honest."

Mu Qinglan's expression remained calm as she pushed the brewed tea across.

Then took a sip.

Su He's expression didn't change: "Princess seems to have implications in her words. Our Six Bureaus serves the court and His Majesty with complete loyalty. Could it be that in the Princess's view, there's so much filth within?"

Mu Qinglan shook her head again.

Her tone was calm and indifferent, carrying an unquestionable certainty from beginning to end.

"The Six Bureaus serves the people, which Qinglan naturally admires. But as the ancient saying goes, 'Constantly brush away dust, lest it accumulate.' Now that Six Bureaus constable positions haven't changed for long, perhaps some tarnish has grown in corners the Chief Constable cannot see."

Su He raised his eyebrows.

"Princess might as well be bolder and speak names directly."

"Sun Zhu, Constable Sun."

"Evidence."

Su He's words were brief, carrying completely different authority than before.

Mu Qinglan remained calm and composed: "Constable Sun is backed by the Crown Prince. Though he tries to conceal it, if Lord Su sends people to investigate thoroughly, the truth will surely come to light." Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by novel⦿fire.net

"I knew he had backing, but he's quite capable, so I never thought it would be the Crown Prince..."

Su He fell into contemplation.

Having backing and being backed by the Crown Prince were two completely different concepts.

Because this was too complex.

With his status and position, he naturally knew about the "Crown Prince's Sorrow" that had plagued Great Xia's royal family for generations—occurring at most every four years.

Three years had passed again.

By next year at the latest, the emperor and his son would inevitably break and fight to the death.

Though Su He didn't think the Crown Prince had any chance, any subordinate allying with the Crown Prince would affect the entire Six Bureaus' position in the court.

At present.

The conflict between Crown Prince and emperor was much sharper than that between Prince Qi and the emperor...

It just hadn't erupted yet.

"What do you want to do? Don't tell me you're speaking to this extent with this old man without desires or demands." Su He asked indifferently, his expression much more serious.

"I have a grudge against him."

Su He nodded, seemingly accepting this explanation, then asked: "Why should I help you?"

"Doesn't Chief Constable Su want to choose sides because he's somewhat displeased with that supreme Martial Emperor?" Mu Qinglan asked. This was information she'd seen in later storylines from her previous life.

"Hm?"

Su He's eyes narrowed slightly, his expression becoming even more subtle.

As if asking how she knew.

Mu Qinglan smiled without answering, instead bringing up another matter: "Does Lord Su know that I visited the National Advisor two days ago and was fortunate to begin cultivation, entering ninth rank?"

Su He nodded.

"Eleven days ago." His information was more precise.

That made it simple... Mu Qinglan smiled slightly in her heart, calmly looking at the old man across from her, then lightly snapped her fingers.

Whoosh—

A ray of sunlight passed over the bamboo mat.

Chief Constable Su, who had remained calm throughout, was momentarily dazed, even spilling some tea.

"Small mastery in magic?!"

This, this... this was only eleven days.

Su He found it incredible.

Who could spend just eleven days to cultivate a spell to small mastery at ninth rank?

Converting by analogy, the talent of the girl before him probably exceeded even his proud eldest disciple, Shen Yao.

At this rate, breaking through to eighth rank within a month wouldn't be difficult.

That would be next month?

Mu Qinglan took in his expression completely and smiled slightly.

Magic realms from low to high were divided into five levels: Entry, Proficiency, Small Mastery, Great Mastery, and Perfection. Small mastery was the third level—it didn't seem very strong.

But this had to consider the cultivation realm.

Was ninth-rank small mastery the same as seventh or eighth-rank small mastery?

As for why he didn't suspect Mu Qinglan was eighth rank—that would be even more ridiculous. Three days to break through? Su He never considered such a possibility from beginning to end.

In the game, as levels progressed, players could upgrade their skills to higher levels.

This was also an important way to give players positive feedback.

Skills learned at ninth rank could be upgraded once at eighth rank, upgraded again at seventh rank, and could be maxed out at sixth rank, reaching the legendary realm of perfection.

Other skills were calculated similarly.

Small mastery was level 2 skills.

But don't underestimate Mu Qinglan's easy point allocation—for ordinary people at eighth rank, wanting to practice a spell to small mastery would probably take over a month.

But for Mu Qinglan, it only required ten experience points.

Hehe.

Just a small cheat.

My strength comes entirely from my own effort! System, allocate points!

Little Bai, how could you say 'not inferior to me'? Su He felt numb inside, feeling his disciple was becoming increasingly disobedient.

This was much stronger than you, even stronger than your senior sister Shen Yao.

But Su He never thought that his disciple Little Bai had an even more outrageous version of Mu Qinglan in mind—a genius who could break through the Human Gate in half a month. Saying this to him was just deceiving him.

Hateful old man, how could he compare to my cute and fragrant Mu Mu!

"You have this kind of talent? Innate destiny trait?"

Su He muttered to himself.

Without waiting for Mu Qinglan's answer, remembering that both disciples had good relationships with her, he made his decision and feigned anger: "The Crown Prince really goes too far!"

"Chief Constable, please calm your anger," Mu Qinglan's mouth twitched. "The Crown Prince forms factions for personal gain, plants spies in the Six Bureaus, and schemes greatly. I have a plan that can strike at the root."

After speaking, she added: "Lord Su could have Constable Shen lead the team. If successful, it might be a great achievement."

Miss Shen, here's another gift for you. You can't say I'm playing favorites this time, okay?

Su He said in a deep voice: "Explain in detail."

"Please listen to my words..."