Do You Like Me That Much? Miss Villainess

"I found the person you're looking for."

Mu Qinglan lazily lay back in her wheelchair, her posture somewhat unladylike. She opened her eyes and stared blankly at Jiang He's clear, bright eyes.

What person?

She used her brain, which was nearly rusted from sun exposure, to think for a while before finally reacting.

"The portrait I described to you?"

On the fifth day of knowing Jiang He, after confirming they had established a good relationship and wouldn't easily leak information, Mu Qinglan had asked her to secretly investigate someone.

Big beard, high nose bridge, deep-set eyes, sturdy build, knife scar at the corner of his eye...

This was the appearance of that "demon assassin" from the first Human Gate.

He was the one who had intercepted and killed all the communication soldiers in that city back then—a mortal enemy.

Mu Qinglan was neither magnanimous nor forgiving, so she had absolutely no intention of letting him go. Since he was a royal secret agent who had achieved merit, he wouldn't stay in the provinces forever and would eventually return to the capital.

She wondered if Jiang He, as the Ninth Imperial Princess of the royal family, might have channels to contact him.

And there really was a pleasant surprise?

"Mm."

Jiang He obediently nodded, and a hint of joy suddenly flashed across her cool face.

Mu Qinglan straightened in her seat and took the scroll. As she unrolled it, accompanied by the sound of paper unfurling, a portrait that was almost identical to her previous life's sketch rolled out.

"I had someone draw it with charcoal. It's been kept secret."

"Is this the person you were asking about?" Jiang He moved her stool closer and lay on the stone table, curiously staring at her.

"Let me see."

Mu Qinglan felt a bit embarrassed. This was really useful, though she felt some guilt about deceiving such an innocent girl.

But this guilt quickly disappeared.

Hmm... the appearance was about the same, the features were similar too. It was probably the same person, but to be safe, she still asked: "Who is he?"

"Divine Guards centurion, Feng Qi."

"Divine Guards?"

"Mm, imperial palace guards. I secretly inquired about it—he became a centurion four years ago."

Mu Qinglan pondered for a moment: "I remember the Divine Guards have nine divisions, centurions are sixth-rank, right?"

"Mm, nine centurions, each leading a small team. Centurions are sixth-rank, chiliarchs are fourth-rank." Jiang He calmly answered, unhesitatingly selling out the imperial palace guards' organization structure.

Though this wasn't really a secret either—you could find out with some inquiry.

Mu Qinglan hummed softly. He had even gotten promoted, but fortunately he was transferred to the capital. If he had been dispatched to some remote corner, she really would have had no way to deal with him, and finding him would have been a major problem.

Now the question was how to deal with him.

But this matter wasn't urgent. She could plan it carefully and couldn't drag Jiang He into it.

Thinking of this, Mu Qinglan asked with concern:

"You weren't discovered, were you?"

Jiang He calmly shook her head, seeming to seek praise: "I asked Sister Qin. She's a good person and won't tell."

"Very thoughtful."

Mu Qinglan smiled while cupping her face, making Jiang He unconsciously lift her chin like a happy white swan.

Surnamed Qin?

She seemed to be a boss in Jiang He's dungeon storyline, so her loyalty should be no problem.

"Don't get involved in this matter anymore after this." Mu Qinglan's expression became more serious.

"Mm-hmm." Jiang He nodded.

This matter was temporarily concluded. Neither brought it up again. After chatting for a while, Jiang He pushed the wheelchair toward the back garden.

On the way, they encountered a masked maid. Jiang He couldn't help but ask quietly: "I haven't seen her before..."

"Haven't seen her?" Mu Qinglan's mind was full of schemes and didn't react immediately.

"Her." Jiang He straightened the wheelchair.

Only then did Mu Qinglan notice the black-clothed maid watering flowers. The maid was petite, dressed appropriately, with the only eye-catching feature being the cat-face mask she wore, which was quite mysterious.

Mu Qinglan blinked, knowing this was her newly appointed personal maid, and said:

"She's a maid from the mansion. You've seen her before."

"?" Though Jiang He was puzzled, she didn't ask further and just pushed the wheelchair in small steps around the garden.

Though it was October, the garden was blooming vibrantly.

After all, there were dedicated caretakers here ensuring that except during snowfall, flowers were always blooming, so it wouldn't look ugly.

"I need to go into seclusion for a while. I forced my way to seventh-rank and need to recuperate." Jiang He suddenly said.

"Then I won't be able to see Jiang Jiang for several days." Mu Qinglan looked pitiful.

"Then... should I seclude for less time?" Jiang He hesitated.

"No, no," Mu Qinglan waved her hands repeatedly and patted the back of her hand. "Your health is important. I was just joking around, don't take it seriously."

She puffed up her cheeks indignantly: "If you come out of seclusion early, I'll be angry."

Jiang He hesitantly nodded.

Mu Qinglan straightened up, pinched her face, and pulled her cool little cheeks to both sides like pulling dough, complaining: "Did you hear me!"

"I know." Jiang He was helpless.

It wasn't until the wind blew down a flower petal that Mu Qinglan looked up, grasped Jiang He's hands, crossed them over her own arms, and said:

"We probably won't see each other until next month. Think of me more during seclusion and don't forget me! Otherwise I'll be angry! If you go to the National Advisor's mansion, please give my regards to Sister Ning. I'm too lazy to go—if I do, the old auntie will nag me again."

"Okay." Jiang He listened and remembered, nodding.

"By the time you come out of seclusion, I might have caught up to you." Mu Qinglan raised her eyebrows. Though she smiled lightly, she was inexplicably arrogant.

"Oh."

Jiang He calmly nodded, freed her hands to knead Mu Qinglan's face back and forth. Even the tender white dough under a dough master's hands would be kneaded dizzy.

Mu Qinglan grumbled in dissatisfaction a few more times before Jiang He let go, left the mansion, got on a carriage, and returned to the palace.

Both had their own matters and couldn't stay long.

Besides, there really wasn't much to see in the garden. Next time she could bring bodyguards to play in other parts of the city. After the demon clan's incident, other petty criminals didn't even dare approach Jiang He, fearing they'd be noticed and then uprooted completely.

Security was extremely well guaranteed.

Mu Qinglan found Zhu Yan, who was quietly tidying the room and beating dust from bedding. She suddenly found this rather cute and sat in the doorway, propping her chin to watch.

A faint sense of peace came through the contract.

After Zhu Yan finished with the bedding and shook it out, spread it properly and smoothed it, she turned around and stood there prettily: "Miss... Master..."

"Miss Zhu Yan has adapted well."

Mu Qinglan heard her form of address and smiled secretly, then looked over the bed she had made.

"I learned this when I was at Star-Plucking Tower. The instructors there also required room cleanliness, saying we couldn't leave any traces." Zhu Yan removed her mask and explained: "It happens to be useful for cleaning Master's room."

Military training? Assassins do this too?

Mu Qinglan internally complained, then said seriously: "Put your mask back on. We're going out for a trip to Six Bureaus."

Zhu Yan nodded, put away the tools in her hands, thought for a moment and said:

"I'll go find Steward Yuan first. At noon he introduced me to the mansion's situation, but I don't know the coachman yet." ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ noᴠelfire.net

"Remember to choose one without insignia."

"Mm." Zhu Yan nodded and ran off. After a moment, she returned to push the wheelchair, saying: "It's all arranged. Steward Yuan also reminded me that you must return home before the night watch. Last time's Hundred Flowers Night Banquet scared him badly."

"That was an accident. How could something happen so easily." Mu Qinglan pouted in response.

The wheels rolled, breaking through the autumn wind, carrying the two young ladies gradually away.

○

The chilling autumn wind crashed into the chilling manor.

Inside the Crown Prince's mansion, the Crown Prince's face was ugly, like he'd been defecated on by wild geese. He stared down at the ground, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the table his subordinates had offered.

"Have you found the mole?" After a long silence, the Crown Prince asked.

The aide trembled all over: "Your Highness, we've searched everyone in the mansion twice and really haven't found any traitors who could harm you."

"Then how did the secret order leak!" the Crown Prince angrily interrupted.

The aide was bewildered, looking at the Crown Prince, then down at the ground, burying his head even deeper. He felt wronged—they had killed many people but hadn't found a single confirmed traitor. Was this their fault?

You even killed the two death warriors who accompanied you into the Human Gate yesterday!

Just because you suspected they were moles.

If this continued, if not for knowing that fleeing would be a dead end, he would want to pack up and run too.

"Maybe... it was leaked before?" the aide said carefully. "After all, you know how many spies there are in Heyang City."

"True, can't blame you." The Crown Prince glanced at him and sighed.

The room fell silent.

Only the autumn wind, insensitively crashing against the windows like a drunk man violently pounding on doors at night, making the windows rattle loudly.

After a long while.

Tap tap... The Crown Prince knocked on the table and said slowly: "During this period, withdraw all the mansion's affairs. Wasn't everything proceeding as usual before? Now call back the people outside and tell them to hide well."

The aide acknowledged.

"The encounter in the Human Gate definitely wasn't an accident. Go secretly investigate who could have known I was entering the Human Gate last night. Also deal with that guy who sent those two from Chizhou."

"Should we explain to those people?"

"Just say he harbored treasonous intentions and committed insubordination." The Crown Prince waved his sleeve impatiently.

Seeing the Crown Prince's mood had stabilized considerably and he wasn't flying into rages and flipping tables like this morning, the aide also breathed a sigh of relief.

"Then I'll go."

The Crown Prince waved dismissively.

○

Inside Six Bureaus, there were far fewer constables coming and going than in recent days.

Heyang had a population of a million, with countless trivial matters, but such things weren't Six Bureaus' responsibility—ordinary government offices would handle them. Six Bureaus only dealt with murders or transcendent crimes.

The assassination at the night banquet a few days ago had mobilized all of Six Bureaus. After investigating for over ten days with no results, personnel had been withdrawn.

Only a few remained to continue investigating.

Many had even taken leave to rest at home for a couple days.

Mu Qinglan passed by the office and deliberately took a detour, but didn't see Little Bai, so she could only honestly head to her original destination.

"You're asking about the Divine Guards? They're not in the same organization as Six Bureaus. I don't know much." Shen Yao was stunned and looked up: "Don't you know the Ninth Imperial Princess? Can't you ask her?"

Mu Qinglan shook her head: "She doesn't understand these things, and I don't want to involve her in this matter."

Shen Yao's cool eyebrows raised slightly:

"But you'll involve me?"

"..."

Mu Qinglan didn't speak, smiled slightly, and waved for Zhu Yan to go out.

Then she pushed her wheelchair forward, leaning over with lowered head and brows, making herself look like a well-behaved little cutie, blinking her eyes.

Seeing this, Shen Yao's heart tightened slightly. She unconsciously straightened her back, but her voice remained cool and distant:

"What are you doing?"

"..."

Mu Qinglan continued not speaking, playing the expert.

Shen Yao raised her hand, wanting to push this scheming woman who constantly caused her trouble and didn't care about her at all away. But unfortunately, this bad woman's movements were faster than hers.

And more decisive.

Almost the instant Shen Yao frowned and wanted to send her away, the bad woman pushed off her wheelchair, borrowing some transcendent strength to execute a wheelchair charge.

The wheelchair rolled and crashed into the wall with a clang.

According to conservation of momentum, ignoring friction, when the wheelchair-plus-person system wasn't acted upon by external forces, if the wheelchair flew backward, then naturally the wheelchair sister would fly forward.

Mu Qinglan's forward lunge wasn't fast, and could even be said to be easily dodged. But what would happen if she dodged?

Shen Yao's gaze became complex for a moment, anger flashing across her face.

If she didn't catch her, she would immediately fall to the ground. With her body condition, such a fall would definitely require lying at home for two or three days!

Damn bad woman, she was calculating against her!

Mu Qinglan also knew she was calculating against her. She had curved her lips into a smile when she lunged out, and when she fell into the embrace, a fox-like cunning flashed in her eyes.

Miss Shen was really someone who said one thing but meant another.

Cute, and easy to handle.

Shen Yao held the boneless young lady in her arms, wanting to place her on the bed, but because she misjudged the distance, her knee bumped the bed edge. Her body tilted backward, and being pushed by the completely unruly bad woman in her arms—

She was pressed onto the bed.

"You... let me up."

Shen Yao said with slight annoyance. Most of her sense of distance disappeared, like melted snow—not icy, but colder.

"No." Mu Qinglan shook her head, firmly pressing down and refusing to get up.

The office was quite quiet, but being pressed on a bed here made Shen Yao's heart continuously surge with embarrassed anger.

She wanted to struggle, but Mu Qinglan wasn't to be trifled with either. Taking advantage of Shen Yao's concern about hurting her, the bad woman dominated the bed, leaving no blade of grass standing wherever she went.

Creak—

The bed frame shook.

And in just this moment of distraction, the originally closed knees of the great iceberg Shen were pried open a crack, and then a slender, graceful little leg found the gap and slipped in.

The smooth little leg was gently rubbed by taut white stockings.

It was like the sparks from tires during drifting lane changes on Mount Akina, making her heartbeat accelerate continuously—faster, faster, faster!

The speed was a bit fast. The passenger felt somewhat parched and wanted to get out, but the car doors had long been welded shut. Without the driver's permission, no one could get out!

"Let go."

"No way."

Ink-colored hair was pressed against the bed like a sea, reflecting white light.

Shen Yao could clearly feel the weight of the young lady pressing on her, her graceful curves, powerless legs, and the faint lily fragrance entering her nostrils.

Flower fragrance mixed with lit candles.

Making the room gradually heat up.

Ambiguous air currents roamed the room, inhaled through the white-haired girl's nostrils, circulated through her blood vessels, and finally all pounded against her tender, sensitive neck.

Her breathing was somewhat rapid—this was because Mu Qinglan's constitution was inherently sensitive. Just slight movement made her break into fine sweat and pant lightly.

Like she was being bullied.

"What exactly do you want to do?"

Shen Yao took a deep breath, allowing that thick lily fragrance to swirl within her body, and asked coldly.

"I want Chief Constable Shen to help me."

Mu Qinglan smiled triumphantly, pressing on her and using her finger to lift Shen Yao's chin, not concealing the playful look in her eyes at all.

"Miss Shen was unwilling to help, so I could only resort to this underhanded method."

Shen Yao felt embarrassed and angry. She knew this was the reason, but the key problem was that you hadn't even said what you wanted me to do before jumping on me.

"What do you want me to do?"

Her voice was cool. She struggled, indicating for Mu Qinglan to get off quickly.

But Mu Qinglan wouldn't obediently comply. Instead, she smiled faintly, lowered her head, brought her lips to Shen Yao's ear, and breathed:

"Miss Shen, be obedient."

"Didn't we agree before? I help you get revenge, and you listen to me. Now is the time for you to listen. If you're lucky, you might even get to kill some people."

Shen Yao fell silent, closed her mouth and quietly averted her gaze, tacitly allowing her misbehavior.

Indeed, they had agreed on this.

"..."

Mu Qinglan looked at Shen Yao's submissive eyes, was silent for a moment, but didn't continue teasing. She just propped herself up and sat on the bed's edge, letting her white hair scatter messily on the bedsheets, intertwining with Shen Yao's black hair.

She beckoned with one hand, using telekinesis to summon the wheelchair, and sat in it.

"No fun."

She said flatly, her voice full of boredom, like experiencing sage time after a tiring day—desireless.

"I don't want to be a criminal, especially one who forces Chief Constable Shen. That sounds pretty terrible."

Honestly speaking, she was indeed interested in going against Shen Yao's nature, but what interested her was the reluctant compliance and hesitant speech, not firm resistance.

That would lower affection levels.

Perhaps some people liked that, but Mu Qinglan didn't, and wouldn't do such things.

Right now Shen Yao was unwilling—the time hadn't come yet.

Of course, the greater possibility was that her obsession hadn't dissipated. Though she had favorable feelings toward herself, she was unwilling to go further. Mu Qinglan could understand this and wasn't in a hurry.

After speaking, Mu Qinglan sat across from the desk, leaned back in her chair, and closed her eyes to rest, waiting for Shen Yao to come online.

Shen Yao's mood was somewhat complex.

She got up, tidied her disheveled clothes, then stood by the bed.

Her heart pounded, not knowing what to say.

"Sit down."

"I'm not going to eat you," Mu Qinglan lifted her chin, her pale jawline drawing a beautiful curve. "Besides, I won't do anything tasteless unless you're willing."

She smiled:

"But you'll be willing eventually—you'll willingly let me do whatever I want to you."

Staring into Shen Yao's eyes, she repeated meaningfully:

"I'm very certain of that.

—And now, let's talk business. It's getting late."

○

Inside Six Bureaus.

Mu Qinglan smoothed her clothes and came out of Shen Yao's office. Zhu Yan immediately followed, pushing the wheelchair outside.

Getting on the carriage, she asked:

"Not returning to the mansion? Is there something you need me to do?"

Mu Qinglan nodded, looked her over, and said bluntly: "Taking you to buy clothes—ordinary, plain ones. Then we'll change your mask. I need you to deceive someone."

"Understood."

Zhu Yan was very obedient. Mu Qinglan was very satisfied, smiled, and handed over a bundle of papers, explaining:

"The target is surnamed Feng, one of the nine Divine Guards centurions. I just got his file from Shen Yao—take a look. I need to return it tomorrow."

Zhu Yan took them, reading while asking: "What do you want me to do?"

Whoosh—

Mu Qinglan lifted the carriage curtain, propped her arm on the window, and said: "Use the identity of a Great Xia secret agent to tell him that the Crown Prince is forming factions for personal gain—not only secretly colluding with Prince Qi's mansion, but even having unclear relationships with Li Wang and the demon clan."

"Will he believe me?" Zhu Yan hesitated, feeling the plan was unreliable.

"Of course not," Mu Qinglan said indifferently. "But he'll become suspicious and then investigate secretly."

Mu Qinglan pointed to a section of the file:

"Feng Qi is naturally suspicious but also glory-seeking. He's been suppressed by superiors, wants to achieve merit to transfer positions, but has been held back from earning merit and can't transfer."

"What does this mean? He won't believe us, but he'll take the bait."

"As long as he takes the bait, that's enough."

When at Six Bureaus, she had already discussed the plan's feasibility with Shen Yao once. The conclusion was: worth trying.

Whether successful or failed, there wouldn't be any losses.

"Then I'll try." Zhu Yan nodded.

She silently determined in her heart that this was the first task Sister Mu had entrusted to her—she must complete it beautifully.

"No rush, it's not difficult. Let's eat something first." Mu Qinglan said leisurely, grabbing a fruit to stuff into the assassin girl's mouth.

Zhu Yan obediently opened her mouth. After eating, she thought of something:

"Evidence of the Crown Prince colluding with Prince Qi's mansion—how does Master want to handle this? I know some things that might make investigations more realistic."

"Then write them out when you return. I'll discuss it with Steward Yuan."

Mu Qinglan nodded and stopped managing this matter, just gazing at the bustling street outside the window, her gaze gradually becoming unfocused as she daydreamed.

Let's finish things quickly and go home.

○

Tap! Tap! Tap!

Discolored boots struck hard against the stone-brick road.

Hard heels hit the ground tiles, making dull sounds. The shoe owner's expression was gloomy and fierce, like he'd just committed murder.

Feng Qi was in a very bad mood today.

Because his stupid superior had started nitpicking at him again.

Since transferring from the Secret Investigation Bureau to the Divine Guards four years ago, he had constantly been suppressed by superiors. He knew the reason—his superior, that Divine Guards chiliarch, had also transferred from the Secret Investigation Bureau.

This wasn't an ordinary colleague relationship.

If he were transferred out for more experience, earned some merit, got promoted a bit, who could guarantee he wouldn't replace his superior and become the next chiliarch?

He was over twenty years younger than that old dog.

Fists fear the young and strong—young warriors had significant advantages.

If he could advance further, that old dog's position would become a hot seat.

After all, that's how he had climbed up too.

So that old dog naturally had extreme conflicts with him, constantly making things difficult at work. Therefore, he extremely desired an opportunity to earn merit, so he could request transfer out of the capital to earn achievements outside.

Then return in triumph.

He was thinking when he suddenly looked toward the wall and shouted:

"Who?!!"

On the wall, a black-clothed figure wearing a dog-head mask stood quietly.

The black-clothed figure said: "Secret Investigation Bureau."

"What does the lord need?" Feng Qi asked while secretly gathering power in the dark. He didn't believe them at all and prepared to capture them first.

"There's something I need you to investigate." The black-clothed figure drifted further away, maintaining a safe distance.

Feng Qi was stunned, asking cautiously:

"What matter?"

It wasn't asking him to do something, but asking him to investigate something. This made Feng Qi's hostility lessen slightly. Of course, he definitely wouldn't listen to the other party—whether to investigate or not he'd decide after hearing it, and whether to tell the other party he hadn't decided either.

But for this kind of thing, listening wouldn't hurt.

The black-clothed figure lowered their head. The voice behind the dog mask was hoarse and unpleasant like dry branches, making people frown:

"The Crown Prince is forming factions for personal gain, colluding with Prince Qi, Li Wang, and the demon clan, intending rebellion."

"Secret Agent Feng, your time to earn merit has come."