Do You Like Me That Much? Miss Villainess

"How confident are you?"

In the training ground, Su He was half-believing, half-doubting.

He didn't question the talent and strength of this girl before him, but when it came to scheming, she probably needed to prove she had this ability to make him look at her with new eyes.

"You want to help little Shen, which is good, but how do you know the Crown Prince faction's actions?"

Mu Qinglan smiled slightly: "Practice makes perfect."

After all, as an important NPC in the early game, this Crown Prince's personality profile had long been analyzed thoroughly by players on the forums.

Plus this matter was important.

Similar episodes had occurred in the game's future storylines.

Therefore, being able to draw parallels and predict the Crown Prince's actions for this wasn't surprising.

"What does Lord Su think?"

"Since you've said this much, I have no reason to refuse..."

Su He stroked his long beard and nodded slightly:

"These next few days, Shen Yao and her subordinates can follow your orders, but you cannot show yourself. You know, Guardian Wang from the royal family is still staying at the Six Bureaus. I don't want my disciple to be tied to you in the royal family's eyes right now."

He said with some deeper meaning:

"I'm hoping she can take over."

"Naturally."

Mu Qinglan agreed with a light laugh—these were all reasonable requests.

"Just wait and see."

○

This wait lasted two days.

After going once initially, Mu Qinglan never went to the Six Bureaus again, to avoid being discovered by the royal guardian temporarily staying there.

She just practiced magician spells quietly at home.

Or stared blankly at the Great Xia power structure map she'd drawn from memory.

She wasn't worried about anyone seeing this map, because all the text was in pinyin, and important names were replaced with nicknames and pinyin abbreviations used by players. (tl/n: pinyin is simply romanized text, like 'Mù Qīnglán' instead of chinese hieroglyphs '沐青澜')

She was confident that even the most renowned wise men staring at this thing would have difficulty finding any useful information.

Little Miss Bai had also visited her.

She even brought thank-you gifts from the gambling incident—one Heavenly Flower Pill and one Heavenly Flower Treasure Pill.

Honestly, Mu Qinglan was stunned for a moment, thinking: isn't this the pill your master won for you to build your foundation? Though it's not very useful to you since your foundation is solid, it could at least shorten some cultivation time.

You're giving it all to me—aren't you afraid of giving your master a heart attack?

Little Miss Bai stuck out her tongue.

Apparently she wasn't afraid.

But Mu Qinglan ultimately only accepted the Heavenly Flower Pill, declining the treasure pill.

On one hand, this was to keep Su He's blood pressure from rising too high, preventing him from developing the strange mentality that his beloved disciple had been led astray by a bad woman.

On the other hand.

Little Miss Bai's current strength was a bit lacking.

With this Heavenly Flower Treasure Pill, she could shorten her leveling time and catch up to Miss Mu Qinglan's progress, letting this originally quite formidable villain boss from the game play some useful role.

Moreover, she needed to find that weapon from the game for her.

To activate her innate destiny trait.

But that required leaving the city—no rush for now...

"Mu Mu, you're so good! You prepared delicious food for me in advance! Not like Master, who steals my sweets every day!"

In the girl's boudoir, the sweet and lovely Bai Yuyu chattered while eating.

Mu Qinglan smiled: "Maybe Chief Constable is trying to train you in something."

Bai Yuyu puffed her cheeks: "The old man is just greedy!"

Speaking of which, she suddenly remembered something: "Oh right, Senior Sister originally wanted to come with me, but you know, she's been so busy these past two days, completely overwhelmed. She probably won't be able to come play with you for a long time."

Mu Qinglan chuckled: "Could you tell her for me that I miss her?"

Bai Yuyu tilted her head and smiled:

"You tell her yourself, Mu Mu.

Oh no, I come to play with you every day, but Senior Sister doesn't accompany me. Won't rumors spread that I stole Senior Sister's girlfriend!"

Bai Yuyu suddenly thought of this angle.

"..."

"Hehe, then you'd be my rumored girlfriend. Come give me a smile, hehehe..."

Mu Qinglan flicked her forehead.

"Stop your wild thoughts."

The little girl was in a good mood. After finishing the last bite of her sweet, she asked: "Does Mu Mu have anything you want me to tell Senior Sister today?"

"Have the rumors all been spread yesterday?"

"Now most people in the bureau think Master is mobilizing the entire force to thoroughly investigate evidence, looking for clues about the eastern district chaos."

"What about the timing?"

"Three days from now. Apparently several constables on external missions will return by then."

Mu Qinglan sipped her tea:

"Tell Shen Yao to watch tonight and tomorrow night carefully. If Sun Zhu and his group don't act in these two days, they probably won't dare act later."

"Oh."

The little girl acknowledged and memorized the matter.

She actually didn't quite understand Mu Qinglan's thinking, but she was too lazy to ask. Whatever Mu Mu said was right—she'd just relay it to Senior Sister later.

Mu Qinglan put down her teacup, a slight smile appearing on her face:

"Tell Miss Shen that when things are over, Qinglan will sweep the steps in welcome."

○

"She really said Sun Zhu would make his move in these two days?"

Inside the Six Bureaus, Shen Yao's expression was serious.

"Mm, she also said if Sun Zhu and his group don't act in these two days, they probably won't dare act later."

Bai Yuyu said simply. She didn't understand these matters well, instead focusing more on another issue:

"Senior Sister, aren't you focusing on the wrong thing?"

"Hm?"

Shen Yao looked up questioningly, her delicate features appearing somewhat expressionless due to overtime work these past two days.

"The focus should be 'sweep the steps in welcome'! Senior Sister, how can you not care about this at all!" Bai Yuyu said in frustration, feeling Senior Sister was really a blockhead.

Shen Yao shook her head:

"That's just a polite expression. She..."

Shen Yao thought of her restrained contact during this period and shook her head slightly:

"She wouldn't be so bold."

"Hmph, that's your rumored little girlfriend—who knows!"

Bai Yuyu snorted lightly.

She said nothing more and went to do her own work.

Shen Yao shook her head, recalling Mu Qinglan's prediction, her heart tightening slightly.

Tonight or tomorrow night? If there hadn't been Mu Qinglan's warning and the Crown Prince's faction really stole that evidence, everything would be too late.

"I'll take the night watch tonight and rest a bit tomorrow."

It was already dark. Shen Yao stood up, put on her Six Bureaus coat, and went out to notify her subordinates.

As for the possibility that Mu Qinglan's judgment was wrong?

Shen Yao never considered it.

○

"Team A takes the first watch, Team B the second, Teams C, D, and E follow accordingly!"

"Constable Shen specifically emphasized tonight—there may be thieves breaking in. Everyone stay alert and don't slack off!" Thɪs chapter is updated by novel(ꜰ)ire.net

"Still sleeping! Sleep your ass!"

○

As soon as night fell, the constables under Shen Yao heard their leader's irritable shouting and quickly assembled, forming orderly ranks.

The leader inspected this group of subordinates.

The constables stood upright, but compared to usual, their formation speed was much slower.

The leader knew this was because they were somewhat dissatisfied.

These past few days, these constables not only had to work during the day but also participate in night watches. Working hard mentally and physically, unable to go home, with no rewards—this bitter life had no end in sight, so naturally they were somewhat dissatisfied.

Unpaid overtime, essentially.

People weren't made of iron—how could they endure such treatment?

But the leader had no choice, since Constable Shen had told him this matter must be done well—it was very important.

"Guard tonight, guard tomorrow night, then everyone can rest!"

The leader stamped his feet, his voice loud.

"Leader, is that true?"

"Naturally true," the leader glanced over there and explained to everyone: "It's just these two days. Please bear with it a bit longer. When things are over, the bureau will naturally compensate everyone."

"Leader, what's this all about? We've been on night watch for several days!"

Someone else asked.

"Don't ask!"

The leader's expression became stern, his rough face sweeping over everyone's faces with natural authority: "This matter involves bureau secrets. Even if you're dissatisfied, hold it in!"

"Understood!"

The constables answered half-heartedly.

The leader returned to his office with a dark face, looking at these days' night watch schedules, couldn't help narrowing his eyes and sighing.

"Lord Shen, what exactly are you trying to do?"

"Everyone's constables—working through the night on cases is normal, but suddenly having us guard night after night without explanation really breeds resentment..."

○

Under the same dark night.

In the Crown Prince's mansion guest room, voices were boisterous with continuous arguments—apparently the debate had reached an intense stage.

The Crown Prince walked in the courtyard, listening to the noise, expressionless.

"Great Xia has stood for over six hundred years. There have been dozens of crown princes, but never has there been talk of changing crown princes four times in just ten years..."

"Such tyranny is intolerable to Heaven."

Stepping on fallen leaves, the Crown Prince sighed softly.

Sun Zhu behind him bowed respectfully.

Not daring to say an extra word.

Such words would mean execution if spoken publicly.

"But similarly, Great Xia has never had a crown prince collude with demons and disturb the capital during his tenure. Do you... understand?" the Crown Prince asked indifferently.

Sun Zhu exhaled:

"This Sun is willing to serve Your Highness."

Hearing this, how could he not know this Crown Prince's attitude toward this matter?

Absolutely no leaks allowed!

He asked again: "When does Your Highness want me to act? The major investigation begins in three days. I'm afraid by then..."

"Tonight." The Crown Prince said.

"But the Six Bureaus seems quite guarded about that storage area now. I alone might not..."

Sun Zhu looked troubled.

"I'll have Skyreach Tower help you. Tonight, Skyreach Tower will commit several crimes in the eastern and western districts and have people set fires. The Six Bureaus will certainly send people to investigate. With this diversion tactic, their main defenses will surely be weak."

The Crown Prince said calmly, his face seeming covered with frost:

"You must not disappoint me."

Sun Zhu's heart jumped.

"Yes, Your Highness!"

○

That night.

Multiple fires broke out in the city.

Several Six Bureaus patrol teams went to fight fires and investigate.

In the shadows.

Constable Sun changed into black clothes and ventured alone into the night.