Female-dominated society: Striving for the position of powerful minister, doting on Xiao Yunqing

Xiao Ran said softly, "Let her in."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Xiao Yu'an rushed in, looking anxious.

"I heard that my sister saved this lowly servant. I'm sorry to have troubled you. I'll take him back right away!" Xiao Yu'an said, trying to drag Pei Xuan off the bed.

Pei Xuan gripped the bedpost tightly with both hands, shaking his head and refusing to leave.

"You lowly slave, get up now! Aren't you afraid of offending His Highness's eyes?" Xiao Yu'an shouted at him.

"No, I don't want to go with her, Your Highness, please save me! I don't want to go back! Please save me, I'll die if I go back!" Pei Xuan cried out.

Xiao Ran couldn't bring herself to do it, so she reached out and pulled Xiao Yu'an's sleeve, saying, "Let him rest for a bit, he just woke up."

“But if something happens to this sickly child in your palace, I’ll feel guilty,” Xiao Yu’an said, feigning concern.

"The doctor said he's out of danger and will be fine after a few days of rest," Xiao Ran's maidservant quickly said.

"That's wonderful, that's wonderful. I was really afraid something might happen and implicate you," Xiao Yu'an said insincerely.

Xiao Ran frowned upon hearing this. Xiao Yu'an's actions were strange and his words were peculiar; she really couldn't figure him out.

Moreover, I always felt that her words had ulterior motives.

Ahhhh, she really doesn't want to be caught up in palace intrigue!

She just wanted to be a couch potato, never competing or fighting, disappearing without a trace, turning a small problem around, and dying if something serious happened.

I eat and drink my fill every day!

However, Xiao Yu'an's fierce appearance just now was truly terrifying! If this person were handed over to her, who knows how much suffering he would endure.

Besides, he had begged her like that just now because he couldn't bear to do it.

Enough, saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda!

Xiao Ran steeled her resolve and gritted her teeth, accepting this unfortunate situation. "No, it won't happen. If anything does happen, I'll get a doctor to come and see him. Don't worry, sister!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu'an's lips curled up slightly, revealing a faint smile.

She knew that her kind-hearted younger sister would definitely keep Pei Xuan with her.

“Then I’ll have to trouble you to look after him, sister. I have other matters to attend to in the palace. I’ll come to see you another day.” Xiao Yu’an said, striding out of the hall with an undisguised smile on her face.

She was really looking forward to this show.

Unfortunately, she had to go to a neighboring country for negotiations and wouldn't be able to see it in person.

In the side hall

Pei Xuan hid by the side of the bed, his eyes bloodshot, his lips pale, his body trembling, his hands gripping the pillar tightly, refusing to let go.

"Don't be afraid, she's gone. No one here will hurt you," Xiao Ran gently comforted him.

Pei Xuan looked up at her, his gaze seeming to ask, "Can I trust you?"

"Don't be afraid, we won't hurt you, lie down quickly," Xiao Ran said again.

Pei Xuan's gaze towards Mu Yan softened somewhat. He tentatively took a step to the right, then retreated in fear.

Xiao Ran felt extremely distressed seeing him like this.

Indeed, even heroes can't resist the charms of a beautiful woman; who could resist such a lovely lady?

But why does he look so afraid? Is he shy?

That shouldn't be the case; they clearly saw each other just last night.

Unable to figure it out, Xiao Ran slowly said, "You should rest well first. If you need anything, tell the maids outside the door, and they will arrange it for you."

As Xiao Ran was about to leave after speaking, Pei Xuan grabbed her sleeve from behind.

"Your Highness, please don't go, I'm scared..."

Xiao Ran turned to look at him, and their eyes met, both filled with confusion.

He was just avoiding her, but now he won't let her leave.

“No one will hurt you, don’t be afraid,” Xiao Ran said as she pulled Pei Xuan’s hand away.

"Ugh, why does this guy always reach out for me?" Xiao Ran thought to herself.

"Second Prince, is it because you think I'm dirty?" Pei Xuan said, his voice trembling with tears.

Xiao Ran quickly denied it, "No, no, how could I dislike you!"

"Then why did Your Highness shake off my hand?" Pei Xuan continued to ask her.

"Uh……"

Why? Because men and women shouldn't touch each other! Pulling and tugging like that, what kind of behavior is that! Xiao Ran roared inwardly.

Seeing that Xiao Ran remained silent, Pei Xuan said, "Since Your Highness does not wish to stay, you may leave first. I will leave on my own once I am healed." After speaking, he lowered his head and stopped looking at her.

"Okay, then take good care of your injury. I'm leaving now." Xiao Ran said, lifting her foot and walking towards the door. She closed the door as she left, eager to get out of there.

After Xiao Ran and her group left, only Pei Xuan remained in the hall.

Light streamed through the window and fell on Pei Xuan, illuminating half of his face. His previous pitiful expression had vanished, replaced by eyes full of hatred.

Judging from Xiao Yu'an's tone, he probably won't let him off the hook.

Having lived so long in fear and timidity, I could not escape death in the end.

He hates it.

If it weren't for these powerful and influential people, how could he have fallen to such a state, become a lowly slave, suffered the destruction of his family, and been separated from his loved ones by death?

Pei Xuan clenched his fist unconsciously as he thought about everything that had happened before.

Damn it, these so-called nobles all deserve to die.

Why, why... why does he suffer so much while they enjoy the bliss of family life!

Heaven is unjust; they all deserve to die!

Pei Xuan harbored resentment in his heart, and even though he had a thousand or ten thousand thoughts, he had to suppress them. He could never cross this social class.

No matter how much they struggle, they are nothing more than meat on the chopping block of the powerful and wealthy.

It's all in vain.

On the other side, Mu Yan went to the Li residence after returning from Mu Yunyan's place. It was time to put her side quests on the agenda; being idle every day was not a solution.

Lee House

As soon as Mu Yan arrived outside the door, the servant beside her hurriedly ran to report.

"Young master, the third young lady has arrived!" the servant said happily.

Li Yunxi was secretly delighted upon hearing this, "Quickly, invite her in!"

"Yes!" the servant replied and hurriedly ran to open the door.

"Please come in, Miss! My young master is inside."

"Alright, is the Grand Tutor not in the mansion?" Mu Yan asked him.

"Mother went to play chess with Lord Liu and won't be back until later. It's the same if you need to tell me, Miss Third," Li Yunxi replied softly.

"It's nothing, I just left in a hurry yesterday and didn't get a good look around the mansion. I felt it was a real pity last night, so I came to pay another visit." Mu Yan's words were reasonable and well-founded; in fact, she just wanted to see if there were any hidden dangers in the Li mansion.

"In that case, why don't you have a cup of hot tea first, and then I'll show you around?" Li Yunxi said with enthusiasm.

"Okay, then I'll have to trouble you." Mu Yan didn't refuse and agreed softly.

The two then moved to the main hall.

"Yunxi will make you some tea."

"I...I can do it myself!" Mu Yan said, picking up the teapot on the table.

"Third Miss, please don't mind that Yunxi's tea skills are not good enough," Li Yunxi said, reaching out to take the teapot from Muyan's hand. "Let Yunxi serve you."

"Alright, then I'll trouble you!" Mu Yan replied casually.

Li Yunxi remained silent, focusing intently on brewing tea, a hint of disappointment flashing across her face.

He originally thought that Mu Yan had come to see him specifically because she had received the flowers he sent.

So, he had someone stand guard outside the gate early in the morning and also arranged the flowers in the yard.

The tea was poured cup after cup, and the incense was lit again and again before she finally arrived.

He hadn't expected her to be looking for his mother, and yet she was acting so distant with him.

"Third Miss, the tea is ready." Li Yunxi handed the brewed tea to Mu Yan, forcing a smile.

"Okay, you can sit down too," Mu Yan said, reaching out to take the tea.

"Mm," Li Yunxi responded and sat down next to Mu Yan.

Mu Yan took a sip of tea and asked, "Did you sleep well last night?"

"Thank you for your concern, Miss. Yunxi slept very well last night."

"As long as you sleep well, that's fine." Sleeping well means there are no unusual movements, and she can relax a bit at night without having to keep an eye on things all the time.

"Let me show you around!" Li Yunxi offered.

"Okay, you go first, I'll follow behind you." Mu Yan said, gesturing for him to proceed.

Li Yunxi didn't refuse and led Muyan outside. The two walked around the Li residence, stopping and starting along the way.

At each place, Li Yunxi carefully explained everything to Mu Yan, who looked around and got a general understanding. She planned to draw a sketch later, marking any suspicious areas, which would make things much easier.

Li Yunxi moved gracefully, leading Mu Yan to a goldenrain tree where they stopped.

Mu Yan looked up and saw that the goldenrain tree was lush and full of flowers, like a pink cloud. Under the tree, there was a finely crafted guqin. In the sunlight, the strings shone with a faint light, which was particularly dazzling.

"Third Miss, look, these goldenrain flowers are blooming so beautifully!" Li Yunxi exclaimed with delight, gazing at the sky full of goldenrain flowers.

"Yes."

Seeing Mu Yan's coldness, Li Yunxi suppressed her smile and sighed, "This tree, though beautiful, will eventually wither."

Seeing his change in mood, Mu Yan comforted him, "It will open again, so there's no need to worry so much."

Upon hearing this, Li Yunxi turned around and smiled slightly at Mu Yan, a smile tinged with bitterness. "What the Third Miss said is true. Flowers will bloom again after they wither, but some people... once missed, can never be brought back."

"Are you troubled by love?" Mu Yan asked gossipy.

Li Yunxi was taken aback by Mu Yan's blunt question and quickly shook her head in denial, "Third Miss, you misunderstand. I was just making a casual remark."

"That's good."

Hearing Mu Yan's words, Li Yunxi felt even more distressed and couldn't help but ask, "Third Miss, what kind of person am I in your eyes?"

Mu Yan was truly stumped by the question. She had only met him a few times and had no idea what kind of person he was, so she could only give him a perfunctory answer.

"Young Master Li, you play the zither very well."

Upon hearing this, Li Yunxi's face lit up with joy; it turned out she still remembered.

She still remembered that he had played the piano for her.

"You flatter me, Miss. I only have a little knowledge of it," Li Yunxi said modestly, then lowered her head and continued, "If you like, Miss, I can play a piece for you."

"I'd like to hear the details," Mu Yan said, sitting down to the left of the zither.

Li Yunxi walked to the zither and sat down. Her hands gently caressed the strings, and melodious music flowed from her fingertips, plaintive and captivating.

The song ended, and the lingering sound lingered.

Li Yunxi stood up and came to Mu Yan, bowing slightly as she said, "Third Miss, I'm afraid I'll make a fool of myself."

"You played very well."

Receiving Mu Yan's praise made Li Yunxi feel as sweet as if she had eaten honey. "Thank you for the praise, Miss Third."

Mu Yan politely exchanged pleasantries with Li Yunxi, then looked up at Tiandao and said, "That's all for today, let's talk another day." She paused for a moment, as if she had thought of something, and quickly instructed, "Be careful in your actions these next few days. If anything seems amiss, send someone to the Prime Minister's residence to find me."

"Can I... come to you..." Li Yunxi asked hesitantly, afraid that she had misheard.

"Yeah, you can come to me if you need anything. I'm leaving now!" Mu Yan said, patting Li Yunxi on the shoulder before turning and leaving.

Li Yunxi followed Mu Yan to the door, watching her receding figure, feeling very reluctant to part.