"What is it?" Yun Shu glanced at Ruan Xi indifferently.
Ruan Xi chuckled, "It's nothing major. I know you're here to help Miss Gu today, so I waited for you. I received a letter from home asking me to return, as they've arranged a wife for me. I don't like the one they picked, so could you..."
Yun Shu shot him a frosty glare.
Ruan Xi quickly waved his hands, "Hear me out! How dare I ask for your help? Even if you agreed, His Highness the Night King would probably kill me. I have someone suitable in mind. I heard Miss Gu is very intelligent and also a beauty. She's also fallen out with the Qu family. The Qu family is notoriously petty; they might hold grudges and scheme against Miss Gu's family in the future. So, why doesn't she cooperate with me? I'll help her check the Qu family, and she'll help me deal with my family. What do you say? Can you ask her for me?"
"No," Yun Shu refused without thinking.
"Why? Can't you bear to see me pushed into a fiery pit?"
"You're not much better than Qu Shujie. Pick one of your many concubines and take her back," Yun Shu offered a suggestion.
Qu Shujie was a scoundrel, but not a seasoned womanizer. Ruan Xi, on the other hand, had dealt with countless women, and few who entangled with him escaped unscathed.
Furthermore, Ruan Xi's family was no easy bunch.
Ruan Xi's mouth twitched severely. "I'm nothing like Qu Shujie. The women with me followed willingly, content and satisfied when they left. Not a single one was unhappy! Forget it, I'll think of something else."
"When are you returning?" Yun Shu asked.
"Within these two days. Ji Rong and the others are also leaving, I'll go with them. As for Lu Hao, should I take him with me?" Ruan Xi inquired.
Yun Shu pondered for a moment. "That would be fine. Take him out of the city. He doesn't need to return to the capital for a while."
"Alright!" Ruan Xi readily agreed.
Glancing ahead at the pitch-black night, he had an idea. "Do you want me to escort you?"
In such darkness...
Suddenly, he came to his senses. Others might be afraid, but Yun Shu certainly wouldn't be.
He, escorting Yun Shu? To be precise, Yun Shu might be escorting him.
Yun Shu glanced at Ruan Xi, her eyes conveying an unspoken message. "Don't provoke Zhi Ruo. I'm leaving."
Watching Yun Shu's graceful figure depart, Ruan Xi muttered, "To think I had such good intentions towards you, and you won't even allow this small matter..."
Never mind, he must have been crazy to come up with this.
However, upon closer thought, he understood why Yun Shu refused. She was afraid he would corrupt Gu Zhi Ruo.
Now that he was calm and thinking it through, if Gu Zhi Ruo genuinely, accidentally, fell for him, Yun Shu would likely cut ties with him!
That consequence was too dire!
Unbearable!
...
As soon as Yun Shu arrived home, Yun Changfeng, fuming, arrived right after.
Without preamble, he slammed the table and declared, "Your father has decided this time. You're not marrying His Highness the Night King! My Shu'er is so outstanding, there's no need for her to be looked down upon by Old Master Qin and marry his grandson. What does he think his grandson is, some precious treasure? Does he think my daughter must marry him?"
He was truly enraged!
Old Master Qin was utterly unyielding!
Yun Shu looked at Yun Changfeng in his furious state and sighed helplessly. "Father, you went to see Old Master Qin?"
"Yes! I couldn't stand it. Why did he say you did shameful things? I went to ask him what it was, and he wouldn't say. He even told me to discipline you properly and not let you stray from the right path. He also said you're not worthy of His Highness the Night King. I'm so angry! I must have been blind before, thinking Old Master Qin was a good elder. I never expected his eyesight to be so poor! He said you're not worthy of His Highness the Night King, not worthy of his backside! I'm about to combust!" Yun Changfeng felt like fire was spewing from his eyes.
He had never been so furious.
His beloved daughter, whom he cherished like a treasure, was being scorned. What father could accept that?
"Forget about this marriage! Even if you still want to marry him, I won't agree!" Yun Changfeng declared.
Yun Shu's temples throbbed with a dull ache. "Father, I'll handle this matter. Old Master Qin was most likely threatened."
"Threatened? I don't think so. Someone being threatened wouldn't speak so resolutely. The disdain in his eyes towards you was genuine!" Yun Changfeng pointed to his own eyes. "Your father's eyesight is excellent! Ordinary people and ordinary matters can't escape my gaze!"
Yun Shu was very helpless. "Father, I've known Old Master Qin for several years and understand his character. If there wasn't a reason, he wouldn't act like this, let alone slander me. Please let me think carefully."
She seemed to have a guess.
But it was merely a fleeting thought in her mind, not yet grasped.
Yun Changfeng remained adamant. "I don't care about his reasons. I won't allow my daughter to be wronged! My stance is clear, think it over yourself! Oh, and Xiao Li and the others shouldn't return to the Night King's manor these past few days. They'll stay at the General's manor from now on."
His grandchildren would not be subjected to Old Master Qin's scrutiny!
The mere thought of Old Master Qin driving him away and looking down on Shu'er made him furious!
Yun Shu was truly at a loss. "Father."
Yun Changfeng huffed. "Alright, I've said my piece. I won't waste any more words. I'm leaving!"
Yun Changfeng arrived in a huff and left in a huff.
Yu Le only dared to enter after Yun Changfeng had left. "The General has been very angry since he returned this afternoon, waiting for Miss to come back."
Yun Shu nodded. "Anyone would be angry in this situation."
"Then what about Miss? Both the General and Old Master Qin disapprove of Miss being with His Highness now," Yu Le worried. They had all witnessed how well the Night King treated Miss.
They were originally just waiting for the wedding, but now there were unforeseen complications!
Yun Shu shook her head. "It's fine. You should go rest."
"Yes, Miss." Yu Le immediately complied.
After the door closed, Yun Shu used a handkerchief to wipe her face. As the cool cloth touched her skin, she felt even calmer.
What Father said was true. If Old Master Qin was threatened, the disdain in his eyes towards her seemed too genuine.
Not like a pretense.
And Old Master Qin's repeated mention of that secret, each time with a look of disgust, also didn't seem fake.
So...
Her eyes suddenly lit up.
It was unlikely Old Master Qin was threatened. Instead, it was as if he had been hypnotized, with memories forcefully implanted.
This needed further confirmation.
If it was hypnosis, then the person who hypnotized Old Master Qin, could they also be a transmigrator?
No.
It didn't quite resemble the hypnosis she was familiar with.
Unconsciously, Yun Shu pondered deeply, her eyes slowly closing as she gradually drifted into sleep.
...
The next day.
The sun rose in the sky.
Golden light cascaded down.
Before Yun Shu even opened her eyes, she heard the three little ones at the door whispering and discussing amongst themselves.