In front of the General's mansion.
Yun Shu and Yun Changfeng alighted from the carriage. Just as they were about to enter, someone blocked their path.
"Second Miss Yun."
Yun Shu looked at Qian Le'er, who stood in front of her. "Wait for me here. Is there something?"
Gazing at Yun Shu, whose beauty was unmatched, Qian Le'er's jealousy intensified, becoming uncontrollable.
If only she possessed such a face.
She would never have had such a difficult journey on the path of wealth and glory.
"Miss Yun, could you speak with me alone for a moment?" Qian Le'er suppressed her inner turmoil and said softly.
Yun Shu raised an eyebrow and looked at Yun Changfeng. "Father, please go in and rest."
Yun Changfeng shot Qian Le'er a stern glance, then nodded expressionlessly.
Seeing Yun Shu's father, the imposing General Yun, Qian Le'er felt a pang of envy. Heaven was truly unfair, allowing Yun Shu to obtain these things so effortlessly: a general for a father, and the King of Night's favor due to her looks.
Even...
Even to the point of making Yi Zixing unable to forget her.
Shameless!
The two walked a short distance away from the entrance.
The night was deepening.
The surroundings were quiet.
Only the two lanterns at the General's mansion entrance cast a bright light.
The moon in the sky was largely obscured by dark clouds.
Qian Le'er kept her head down, her thoughts deeply hidden. She feared Yun Shu seeing through her intentions, and in Yun Shu's presence, she wished to remain unfathomable.
"Speak, what is it?" Yun Shu said softly.
She truly felt apologetic towards Qian Le'er.
The lives of so many in the village... though she hadn't killed them, she was connected to it.
Qian Le'er was clearly leveraging this, knowing Yun Shu wouldn't dare do anything to her.
With this thought, Qian Le'er's tone grew bolder. "It's nothing major. We haven't seen each other in a long time, and I had many things to say. But then we met at the Marquis's estate. Miss Yun, those assassins slaughtered our entire village because of you and the King of Night. I was fortunate to survive. I didn't want to live alone, but then I remembered my parents would want me to live well."
"That's why I persevered until now. I've been blessed by heaven to meet the Young Master, who treats me exceptionally well and has even promised me a legitimate status. I've endured countless hardships to finally reach this day."
"I have no other wishes than to be with the Young Master in the future. However, I've heard rumors that the Young Master favors you, and that he dislikes many noble ladies in the capital, intending only to marry you."
"I have never been so afraid. Not even when those assassins were trying to kill me. I fear the Young Master will abandon me. In my life, I never thought of marrying anyone else; I only wish to marry the Young Master. So, can I implore you, Miss Yun, to never appear before the Young Master again, please? Can you allow the Young Master to focus his affections on me alone from now on?"
She poured out all her heart in one breath.
She stared intently at Yun Shu.
Yun Shu listened quietly as Qian Le'er spoke.
Indeed, Qian Le'er was different from before.
Seeing Yun Shu's silence, Qian Le'er became angry and immediately added, "Aren't you, Miss Yun, marrying the King of Night soon? Why do you still want to occupy the Young Master's heart? Isn't that too greedy?"
As her words fell, she continued, "Please forgive me, Miss Yun, I just care too much about the Young Master. I cannot imagine what I would become if I lost him."
She dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief.
Only after Qian Le'er finished speaking did Yun Shu ask, "Where did you hear these rumors?"
"Many people on the streets of the capital are saying it; even the servants in my household are aware. Miss Yun, I am not as beautiful as you, nor am I of your stature. Now that I have finally obtained happiness within reach, can you please be magnanimous and not destroy my happiness again? Just consider it, consider it on behalf of my parents and the villagers, and spare me a way to live? Even if you cannot avoid appearing before the Young Master, can you at least speak clearly with him, help me clarify things with the Marquis, and get his consent for me to marry into the Marquis's estate?" Qian Le'er gritted her teeth and made an even more outrageous demand.
Xiao Ju, standing nearby, listened with trepidation.
Her mistress was too bold!
To come and say such things to Second Miss Yun, if the Young Master found out, he would surely be furious.
Qian Le'er's heart pounded; she couldn't control herself.
For some reason, she felt that as long as Yun Shu was around, her goals would never be achieved.
Furthermore, she hated Yun Shu!
Not only because her parents were assassinated, but also for some unexplainable hatred.
Yun Shu looked calmly at Qian Le'er, whose expression had changed dramatically in a short period. Her words were like daggers, spoken with a hint of tears, appearing as a plea but in reality a threat.
She was using the lives of the villagers to threaten her.
"Qian Le'er, why did those assassins spare you? And how did you come to the capital?" Yun Shu asked coldly.
Hearing this, Qian Le'er's eyes flickered, and she dared not meet Yun Shu's gaze. "How I escaped the assassins and how I arrived in the capital is unimportant. Whenever I recall those past events, I can't help but have nightmares. Why must you be so cruel and insist on asking?"
Yun Shu glanced at the sky. It was getting late, and the wind carried a hint of damp earth; a heavy rain might soon fall. She said, "It's getting late. Go back and rest."
With that, she turned to go back into the mansion.
Qian Le'er, not having received the promise she desired, panicked and grabbed Yun Shu's arm. "Wait, Miss Yun, you already have the King of Night, why do you still want to entangle yourself with the Young Master? And, don't you, Miss Yun, feel even a shred of guilt in your heart?"
Yun Shu lowered her gaze to look at Qian Le'er's hand gripping her arm.
Qian Le'er felt as if her hand had been burned and instinctively let go.
"Qian Le'er, who taught you to say these things?" Yun Shu scrutinized Qian Le'er.
The more she spoke, the more loopholes appeared.
These words didn't sound like Qian Le'er's own.
They sounded more like someone had coached Qian Le'er.
Upon hearing Yun Shu's question, Qian Le'er's eyes immediately flickered. "I don't know what you're talking about. I say what I want to say, and these are truly my feelings. In the capital, apart from Young Master Yi and my cousin, I have no other relatives. Young Master Yi is bound by his family, and my cousin works for the King of Night; neither of them can protect me. Only I can protect myself. There is no 'someone' you are talking about!"
Yun Shu watched Qian Le'er become flustered, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Is there truly no one behind you?"