"Let your niece from the clan enter the Crown Prince's residence to support her?"

Didn't that mean he wanted Xie Jin'an to take his niece as a concubine?

So, her master probably thought she was disobedient and planned to find someone to replace her?

But why did he think that the woman replacing her would be obedient?

Putting aside whether that woman would be obedient or willing, even if she agreed, Xie Jin'an would never agree.

After all, he had thrown a tantrum just at the mention of taking Junior Sister Yan.

If it were another woman, one sent to his side by their master and whom he didn't like, then it would be even more out of the question.

In the end, her master still didn't understand Xie Jin'an enough, nor did he understand her enough.

If he understood her well enough, he would know that she would never willingly obey anyone, not even the master she once respected most, not even someone who had been kind to her.

There were many ways to repay kindness, but using her own husband was not her style.

Therefore, without a second thought, Yu Qingwu's face turned cold and she resolutely refused.

"Master, I cannot tolerate infidelity. So, this matter is absolutely impossible."

She waved her hand, watching anger surge in Xiao Rongqi's eyes. Before he could speak, she retorted indifferently, "Besides, even if I agreed to let your niece enter the Crown Prince's residence now, once she enters, I have plenty of ways to deal with her. Perhaps she'll fall ill and die within two months…"

*Pfft…*

Hearing Yu Qingwu's words, Xie Jin'an was both surprised and amused.

He thought that, given how respectful and devoted to her master his rigid senior sister was, even if she was unhappy, she would agree for the sake of their master-disciple relationship, and in any case, wouldn't make things too difficult for her master.

After all, she always seemed to lose her mind when it came to matters concerning their sect.

Just a moment ago, Xie Jin'an was still considering how to refuse, but now Yu Qingwu's words made him no longer need to be so subtle.

He spread his hands, put on a helpless expression, and sighed as he refused Xiao Rongqi, "Master, you've seen it yourself. A-Wu has this temperament. She can't even tolerate your niece, let alone her own younger sister. If you insist on sending her, I'm willing to accept it."

"After all, it wouldn't hurt to have a few more beauties in the residence. In the end, I, the husband, would be the one to benefit."

"But… I can't possibly fall out with my wife for the sake of a concubine. If word gets out, how bad would that look?"

"Furthermore, the Southern Border soldiers have very close ties with Senior Sister, and last year they received donations from Senior Sister's family assets, making their weapons and military provisions plentiful, which allowed them to win countless battles. Now, many people have entered the court as officials, and some hold great power, all of whom treat A-Wu like their own younger sister."

"Do you think these people will watch their own younger sister suffer?"

Xie Jin'an had always been good at talking nonsense. With this string of connections, he simply turned Yu Qingwu into the younger sister of the Southern Border generals.

How could Xiao Rongqi not know that he was talking nonsense? He might not fully understand the disciples he had taught, but he could still grasp some of their temperaments.

But even knowing he was talking nonsense, Xiao Rongqi couldn't refute it.

He only felt a stuffiness rising in his chest…

With Xie Jin'an's attitude, how could he not understand that this was his second disciple's bias?

In the past, he knew about his seventh disciple's attachment, favoritism, and possessiveness towards his second disciple.

Therefore, he ultimately decided to send Yu Qingwu, the most beautiful, the most observant, the most intelligent, and the most respectful and reliant of all the women he had trained, into the palace.

In Xiao Rongqi's view, Yu Qingwu was an orphan with no parents, who only regarded him, her master, as her own father. Even if she eventually learned the purpose of his adopting her, she would not have too much resentment.

Now it seemed that he had misjudged.

Or rather, his second disciple had truly mastered her craft.

After all, she could even hide her true face in front of him, her master.

Xiao Rongqi gritted his back teeth, his fingers tightening unconsciously under the table.

After a long while, he forced a kind smile and said to Xie Jin'an in a gentle voice, "Jin'an, you are the heir apparent, the Crown Prince, and the future emperor. How can an emperor not have three palaces and six courts…"

"The emperors of the past all had three palaces and six courts, but now, Your Highness is setting a precedent." Xiao Rongqi shifted his gaze slightly, intending to persuade Yu Qingwu with arguments such as outsiders were not as good as family. Before he could finish his sentence, Yu Qingwu suddenly interjected.

Her lips curved in a smile, her posture dignified, a completely calm and elegant demeanor, just as Xiao Rongqi had taught her.

Clearly, she was his most perfect work, but the moment he thought of how she had driven his Yu Mo mad, all his past affection and pride instantly turned into hatred.

In addition, Yu Qingwu was not listening to his orders at this moment, and Xiao Rongqi became even more enraged.

His face remained frozen in a smile, his expression unwilling and awkward.

After a while, he looked at Xie Jin'an with a paternal air and asked him, "Jin'an, is that what you think too?"

"Master, my Senior Sister's meaning is my meaning." Xie Jin'an still wore that纨绔 (wankua – playboy/good-for-nothing) look, scoffing, "Besides, even if I disagree, I wouldn't dare, after all, Senior Sister now has a rather complex power in the court, and perhaps I, the Crown Prince, will have to rely on her."

Xie Jin'an sighed sorrowfully, making it sound as if it were true.

This fellow was truly lying without batting an eye.

Judging by his behavior, he probably hadn't fully shared many of the political affairs and connections with his master.

In the past, Yu Qingwu didn't quite understand why Xie Jin'an was always wary of even their master, but now she understood.

Master not only wanted fame and fortune, but he also seemed… to be attempting to control the current Crown Prince.

It was a pity that, after all these years of nurturing, he hadn't been able to gain his complete trust.

Not only Xie Jin'an, but even the gentle Qing Qing had never truly trusted their master.

For a moment, Yu Qingwu felt some sympathy for her master.

But even if she sympathized, she would never join forces with him, willingly be controlled by him, or willingly use herself to fulfill his ambitions.

Therefore, as soon as Xie Jin'an finished speaking, Yu Qingwu immediately took over the conversation and said to Xiao Rongqi, "Master, I won't say much else, just one sentence: I will never share my husband with anyone else."

"Furthermore, if you want to enter the court as an official, or gain both fame and fortune, you don't necessarily have to go through the channel of sending junior sisters to others as concubines."

"Besides, even if you rely on junior sisters to gain fame and fortune, it won't be good for your reputation if word gets out."

"Don't you think so?"

"In my opinion, perhaps other methods would allow you to walk more uprightly and more securely."

Yu Qingwu's lips curved in a smile, but her eyes were cold and stern as she looked at Xiao Rongqi sitting in the seat, and added, "Of course, if you insist on doing so, then I might as well not save this Junior Sister Yan. Anyway, I am now wealthy and honored, and favored by His Highness. It's just one less life saved, which won't affect me at all."