He casually pushed open the door and slowly walked out.

Yu Qingwu followed, stepping out of the room. She glanced somewhat unnaturally at Ning Yu and Hu Die, then, with the elegant air of a second senior sister, asked, "Ning Yu, Hu Die, is there something you need?"

"Well... Master asked you two to come over. He said he has something to discuss." Ning Yu glanced at Xie Jin Yan beside her, as if he hadn't heard him speak, and directly skipped him to answer Yu Qingwu.

For some reason, even though Xie Jin Yan was clearly his junior brother, he felt a little afraid of him.

It wasn't just him; almost all of the other senior brothers and sisters felt the same way.

It wasn't because of Xie Jin Yan's identity as the crown prince, but because he was inherently gloomy and ruthless.

Moreover, when Xie Jin Yan was younger, because of his somewhat feminine appearance, they, the disciples who considered themselves masculine, had often bullied him. After being bullied so much, once Xie Jin Yan truly grew from a child into a crown prince full of conspiracies and ruthless schemes, they naturally feared revenge.

Originally, Xie Jin Yan seemed not to care in the past, which had made them relax a lot, but now, seeing Xie Jin Yan show that cold, playful expression again, that feeling of a chill down their spines returned.

So, Ning Yu didn't dare to look Xie Jin Yan in the eye, and pretended he didn't exist. He continued to smile obsequiously at Yu Qingwu, saying, "Second Senior Sister, yesterday's incident, while not a huge deal, wasn't small either. It caused him to lose face. You've always been Master's favorite disciple and have always helped handle sect affairs. Now, Master probably hopes you can help come up with some ideas."

Help come up with some ideas?

Favorite disciple?

If she had heard these words in the past, Yu Qingwu would have believed them.

But now, ever since she learned about her master's original purpose in adopting her, Yu Qingwu found these words so ironic, so ridiculous and pathetic.

She felt quite sarcastic in her heart, but she didn't say anything on the surface. She just nodded slightly, maintaining her usual dignified demeanor, and replied seriously to Ning Yu, "Alright, I understand. You can go back first. We'll be there in a moment."

"Okay, Second Senior Sister, then you and Junior Brother Xie hurry up."

"Yes, Senior Sister, hurry up, don't keep Master waiting."

As soon as Ning Yu finished speaking, Hu Die chimed in with a dry laugh.

Honestly, even though she had noticed in the past that Senior Brother Xie liked Senior Sister, she still felt a little uncomfortable seeing them together now.

And when she thought about what she had said to her seventh senior brother yesterday to advise him, Hu Die felt even more ashamed of herself.

People were already married, but she was still worrying about them, acting like a complete fool.

Giving Xie Jin Yan a quick glance, Hu Die also ignored him directly, stepped forward, grabbed Yu Qingwu's hand, looked around, and, after confirming that there was no one else around, lowered her voice and reminded her, "By the way, Senior Sister, when I went to the Ziyun Pavilion just now, I saw Senior Brother Xiao and that Xiao Yucheng there, as well as Yan Qingqing and Qu Shanshan, and the other people who were colluding with Qu Shanshan."

"I think Master also intends to call the other senior uncles and aunts over as well, saying that... he sent a letter to Qu Shanshan's father overnight. Anyway, this matter seems to have blown up. I don't know what Master wants you to discuss, but... I think Xiao Yucheng and his lackeys definitely won't give you an easy time. They might even try to pin the blame on you two."

"Senior Sister, you also know that Xiao Yucheng has been coveting Master's position as sect leader for more than a day or two. Now that he hasn't been able to bring Master down, and instead his own disciple has disgraced herself, he will definitely want to drag one or two of Master's disciples down to vent his anger. Since this matter was caused by you and Junior Brother Xie, I think he probably wants to take it out on you."

"I also heard him saying something about the Qingzhou prefect being his friend, and that... without the Qingzhou prefect's support, Junior Brother Xie's position as crown prince is just a facade."

Qingzhou prefect? Facade? And wants to vent his anger on them?

Did this Xiao Yucheng still think that Xie Jin Yan was the down-on-his-luck crown prince from the past? Did he still think that his senior sister was the helpless orphan from the past? Did he think that threatening them with expulsion from the sect and loss of the support of the literati would scare him?

But... given Xiao Yucheng's personality, he could do it.

Scoffing inwardly, Xie Jin Yan also smirked, glanced indifferently at Hu Die, and, before Yu Qingwu could speak, replied for her, "Hu Die, do you think Xiao Yucheng can take his anger out on *zhen*? (I, used by royalty)"

"What is he? Just a dog of the Qingzhou prefect. Give him an inch, and he really takes himself seriously. He doesn't even look to see why people give him face."

Heh, the Qingzhou prefect gives Xiao Yucheng face because Xiao Yucheng is his, Xie Jin Yan's, senior uncle.

If it weren't for that relationship, even if Xiao Yucheng went to be a gatekeeper, people might not even give him a second glance.

He didn't know why Master would indulge such a flawed waste of a person so much.

But, no matter how much Master indulges him, if Xiao Yucheng dares to provoke him this time, he will definitely make that old thing suffer.

"Alright, Hu Die, Ning Yu, just wait for good news! He thinks Xiao Yucheng can make me suffer? Today, I'll see who makes whom suffer."

With a cold snort, Xie Jin Yan grabbed Yu Qingwu's hand and strode towards the Ziyun Pavilion.

Seeing his expression, the worry in Yu Qingwu's heart suddenly calmed down.

She knew that once Xie Jin Yan went crazy, even Master might not be able to do anything to him.

Today, whether it was Master or Xiao Yucheng, they probably wouldn't get off easy.

"Your Highness, what do you plan to do with Xiao Yucheng?" A smile appeared on the corner of her lips, and Yu Qingwu asked with some anticipation.

Hearing this, Xie Jin Yan chuckled and turned his head to raise his eyebrows at her, saying, "That depends on how he wants to deal with you and me."

With a hint of coldness in his eyes, Xie Jin Yan quickened his pace.

Following his pace, Yu Qingwu had no choice but to keep up.

After about an incense stick's worth of time, the two arrived outside the Ziyun Pavilion.

*Creak*. Hearing the sound, the people inside opened the door.

As soon as the door opened, all the elders, senior uncles, and senior aunts were sitting inside, quite a sight.

Qu Shanshan and several female disciples who usually bullied people were kneeling in the center, each with red and swollen eyes. When they saw Yu Qingwu and Xie Jin Yan enter, the hatred in her red eyes instantly surged, and she glared fiercely at Yu Qingwu, grinding her teeth.

Yu Qingwu saw it but pretended not to notice. She quickly stepped forward, smiled and nodded at Yan Qingqing, who was standing to the side, and then, together with Xie Jin Yan, went straight to their master, Xiao Rongqi, who was seated on the platform. They bowed and said, "Disciple greets Master. May I ask, Master, why have you summoned your disciples? Is there something you need to instruct?"

"Instruct? Instruct what?"

"Yu Qingwu, Xie Jin Yan, do you know your crimes!" Before the two could finish speaking, Master hadn't even opened his mouth when Xiao Yucheng suddenly stood up and questioned them sternly.