Yu Qingwu entered the hall to find Xiao Rongqi making tea.

The fragrance of tea permeated the room. Xiao Rongqi remained a figure of extraordinary grace, yet aloof and detached, seemingly untouched by worldly affairs, a fairy who did not partake in the struggles for fame and fortune.

If she hadn't learned what her Shifu was secretly doing, perhaps Qingwu would still firmly believe that her Shifu, Xiao Rongqi, was truly patriotic and cared for the people, not caring about fame or profit.

Even on the way to the Shu region, she had suspected that Xie Jin'an might be slandering her Shifu.

However, after witnessing Yan Qingqing's fate, and seeing her Shifu protect Xiao Fengyun at the expense of instructing elders like Zhai Ying to fight Xiao Yucheng, tarnishing their reputations,

at that moment, a crack appeared in her image of her Shifu.

"Disciple greets Shifu," Yu Qingwu said as she slowly approached, maintaining her usual dignified posture and respectfully bowing to Xiao Rongqi.

In the past, she had truly respected him.

But now, it was merely a pretentious formality.

In comparison, Xie Jin'an hadn't changed much.

He also cupped his fist in salute to the person above him, but with a纨绔 (wankua - playboy) air. He glanced at the teacup in front of Xiao Rongqi and said with a somewhat joking, yet slightly sarcastic tone, "Shifu, the sect is in such chaos, and you still have the leisure for this."

Hearing this, Xiao Rongqi smiled, still with that detached, emotionless demeanor. He pointed to the seat on the side, as if he hadn't heard Xie Jin'an's words, and said gently, "Sit. First, try this Longjing tea I brewed."

After speaking, he signaled for the two of them to take the teacups filled with hot tea.

If it were any other day, Xie Jin'an would definitely banter with him.

Thinking that there was still some master-disciple sentiment, there was no need to make it too ugly.

But now that Shifu was protecting Xiao Fengyun to such an extent for the sake of the Xiao family's reputation, there was no point in being tactful.

So, Xie Jin'an didn't drink the tea.

He simply pulled Yu Qingwu down to sit beside him in a relaxed manner, then looked up at Xiao Rongqi and got straight to the point, asking, "Shifu, you called A-Wu and me here, presumably because you've already decided what you want."

"I have already explained to A-Wu why she came to my manor, so you don't need to keep up this pretense."

"I'll only ask you one question: if we want to exchange something for Junior Sister Yan's freedom, what do we need to give you?"

By the end of his words, Xie Jin'an's tone had become cold, and he had changed his self-reference from 'I' to 'Gu' (孤 – a formal, imperial "I").

Yu Qingwu knew that he was talking to Shifu as the Crown Prince, not as a disciple.

Looking at the Shifu in his seat, his usually calm and unruffled face flashed with a hint of anger, seemingly angered by Xie Jin'an's disrespect.

Or perhaps, Xie Jin'an's disrespect in front of Yu Qingwu, his exposure of him, caused him to lose face.

But in the end, Xiao Rongqi suppressed the displeasure in his heart, his gaze slightly sweeping over Yu Qingwu sitting next to Xie Jin'an, then looking at Xie Jin'an. His eyes did not reveal whether he was satisfied or angry. He smiled faintly and said, "Jin'an, I haven't seen you for more than half a year, and you've become more and more impressive in my eyes."

"To negotiate with me for a woman you're not familiar with, this doesn't seem like your style."

The implication was that Yu Qingwu was whispering in his ear, influencing him.

But if she could influence him, shouldn't Shifu be happy?

Why still have this ambiguous attitude…

In fact, when Yu Qingwu had first returned, she felt that Shifu Xiao Rongqi's attitude towards her was not as good as before. She had once thought it was her imagination, but at this moment, she was almost certain.

Shifu… was indeed dissatisfied with her.

Was it because she had humiliated Xiao Fengyun in the Crown Prince's manor?

Or was it because of something else?

But no matter what the reason, she had no time to worry about it now.

The most important thing now was to take Junior Sister Yan away.

Yu Qingwu picked up her teacup, took a sip, looked at Xiao Rongqi indifferently, and, without waiting for Xie Jin'an to answer, smiled and retorted, "Is Shifu implying that this disciple has been whispering sweet nothings into His Highness's ear?"

Her clear and bright voice was the same as before, but there was no respect in her tone, only sarcasm and mockery.

Yu Qingwu's ambiguous reaction stunned Xiao Rongqi in his seat.

A look of disbelief flashed in his eyes, and there was also a hint of suppressed anger, seemingly with a touch of resentment.

This attitude was completely different from when she had left the sect last time.

Or rather, her Shifu had always been kind to her, even if he had been pretending, but Yu Qingwu could still feel some sincerity.

But now…

Shifu's eyes were filled with anger, hatred, and forbearance.

Yu Qingwu was even more puzzled. She didn't think much about it. Seeing that Shifu Xiao Rongqi didn't speak, she smiled again, changing the subject as if she were negotiating with him as the Crown Princess, and brought the conversation back, asking Xiao Rongqi, "Alright, Shifu, this disciple was just joking with you."

"Let's not talk about these useless things and get down to business. What exactly do you want to let Qingqing go?"

Hearing this, Xiao Rongqi still didn't speak, only looking at her with an displeased expression.

Yu Qingwu didn't care what kind of look he had. Ever since she knew that he treated them, his disciples, as concubines for others, perhaps her attitude towards him had changed.

It was just that her Shifu probably couldn't accept that the most obedient and gentle disciple would treat him this way.

Perhaps, he was now regretting that the person he had sent out was her, and not one of his junior sisters who would listen to him.

So, she spoke again, humming and said with a sneer, "Shifu, if you want fame and fortune, then stop putting on airs. There's no such thing as having both face and substance in this world."

He wants both face and substance?

Was she telling him that if he wanted fame and fortune, he had to lower his posture?

Heh, she really was his good disciple.

Why hadn't he known that this disciple was so sharp-tongued and ungrateful before she got married?

It was just letting her be someone's concubine, and she had this kind of attitude. Moreover, she was now the Crown Princess, so what was she still dissatisfied with? If he hadn't brought her back from Qingzhou that day, she would have turned into bones long ago.

And now, she was putting on the airs of a Crown Princess. How could she have reached that high position without him, her Shifu?

That position was originally reserved for Yu Mo.

But now, this ingrate had snatched it away…

Most importantly, his good disciple was not obedient. If he wanted her to help him do things, it seemed unlikely.

Therefore, the most important thing now was to insert new people, to insert his Xiao family's bloodline.

"A-Wu, it seems that you have improved a lot in the past half year. You even dare to talk to me like this." The corners of Xiao Rongqi's mouth twitched slightly. He suppressed the anger in his stomach and smiled at Yu Qingwu, "That's right, A-Wu, I plan to let my clan's niece enter the Crown Prince's manor to support you."