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

Hearing this, Mu Yunqing felt a surge of warmth in her heart, but when she thought of her own identity, her eyes dimmed again.

"Master, please stop joking," he said coldly.

"When have I ever joked with you?" Mu Yan retorted.

Mu Yunqing turned her back, no longer looking at Mu Yan, afraid that she would see through her thoughts.

"Would the master possibly disobey an imperial decree?"

"Yes, I will. I have already refused the arranged marriage today."

He turned to look at her, a hint of joy flashing in his eyes.

Mu Yan raised an eyebrow and smiled slightly. "What, the person who tipped you off didn't tell you the result?"

"No."

"It's alright, I already told you, it's not too late for you to find out."

Mu Yunqing nodded obediently.

[Ding, system notification: The male lead's favorability has increased by ten points, which has been converted into 10,000 points.]

Hmm? It seems like something suddenly overflowed.

Oh, so it's charm.

She was naturally beautiful and couldn't hide it; with just a few words, she captured one in ten thousand men's hearts.

"Since there's nothing else, let's go back."

"Okay." Mu Yunqing responded softly and turned to leave.

He should go back.

Damn that bedchamber, it made him so anxious.

But it's okay.

Thankfully, she refused.

Green Bamboo Garden

As Mu Yunqing approached the door, he smelled a strong odor of smoke.

It sounded like it was coming from the kitchen.

not good!

Mu Yunqing strode into the room and saw Su Qin wearing an apron, holding a long spoon, and constantly stirring the vegetables in the pot.

He stepped forward, stood beside Su Qin, stared at the dark, murky mess in the pot, and chuckled softly.

"What are you laughing at!" Su Qin turned around and glared at him, then hurriedly stirred the vegetables in the pot.

What are you cooking?

"Vegetables!"

"Are your vegetables black?"

"Your vegetables are the black ones!"

"Hahahaha." Mu Yunqing couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"What are you laughing at? Stop laughing!" Su Qin said, reaching out to cover his mouth.

Mu Yunqing dodged in a flash and mocked Su Qin's cooking again.

"If you laugh again, you'll have to cook it yourself!"

"Alright, alright, I won't laugh anymore. Chef Su, please cook!" Mu Yunqing coaxed him gently.

Upon hearing this, Su Qin smiled and said, "That's more like it."

Mu Yunqing kept praising from the side, while Su Qin kept stir-frying on the stove.

Before long, the dishes were finally served.

A plate of dark green vegetables, a plate of undercooked potatoes, a bowl of overly salty meat broth, and finally a pot of half-cooked rice.

Su Qin served Mu Yunqing rice with great enthusiasm.

"Eat."

"it is good."

"Here, have some greens!"

"Okay, okay, eat up."

The two declined each other's food, and in the end, neither of them ate a single bite.

“Is it unpalatable?”

"Try it yourself," Mu Yunqing said, placing a piece of potato into Suqin's bowl.

"Fine, I'll try it!" Su Qin said, swallowing the potato in one gulp.

……

"This isn't cooked, it...it's cut into too big pieces."

"What about the green vegetables?"

"That's right, we added too much firewood!" Su Qin said logically, throwing the pot aside.

"Chef Su, would you like to go out for a casual meal with me?"

“Of course I’m willing!” Su Qin said, putting down the bowl and chopsticks in her hands.

The two went to a restaurant in the alley together.

Imperial Palace (Xinghe Hall)

Xiao Ran leaned back on the couch, leisurely reading a storybook.

A maid rushed in, "Your Highness... Young Master Pei says he's in excruciating pain, please go and see him."

"Who's in excruciating pain?"

"Pei Xuan."

Xiao Ran's vision went black; she shouldn't have saved Pei Xuan in the first place.

This man really has too many problems.

She refused to take her medicine today.

My chest will hurt again tomorrow.

And now it hurts so much again.

"Let him bear with it!" Xiao Ran said coldly.

"But... Your Highness, he vomited a lot of blood today."

"Have you had a doctor examine you?"

"not yet."

Xiao Ran angrily threw the storybook on the ground and yelled, "Then go and invite them! I'm not a doctor!"

"Yes..." the maid replied and hurriedly ran away.

Fools! The entire Xinghe Hall is full of idiots!

Including herself!

"Your Highness, have a cup of tea to calm down." Chaoyue respectfully handed Xiao Ran a cup of tea.

"Put it on the table."

"Yes." Chaoyue put down the tea and then reached out to pick up the storybook from the ground.

"Your Highness...would you like to continue reading?"

"I'm not looking anymore, please put it away for me," Xiao Ran replied softly.

She was no longer in the mood to read storybooks.

The more I think about it, the angrier I get.

Honestly, how could the people in her palace be so stupid?

Other people's palaces don't behave like this.

Fine, I'll take whatever they give me.

No!

Why is she the only one who's so stupid!

Tomorrow she has to pick out a few flexible ones, um, that's settled then.

As for Pei Xuan...

"Sigh," Xiao Ran sighed.

Let's go see him, just in case he's really dead.

"Come with me to see him." Xiao Ran said and started walking.

"Okay, Your Highness."

In the side hall

Pei Xuan lay weakly on the bed, his face pale, and he looked much thinner than a few days ago.

"What did the doctor say?"

"Your Highness, the doctor said it was caused by a sudden attack of internal heat, which is why he coughed up blood."

"I understand, go ahead and do your thing," Xiao Ran said, then sat down on the edge of the bed.

She looked down at Pei Xuan, feeling both angry and heartbroken.

How could it have been damaged so badly in just a few days?

Perhaps sensing Xiao Ran's gaze, Pei Xuan slowly opened his eyes.

Upon recognizing Xiao Ran, she struggled to get up.

"Your Highness...Your Highness, you've finally arrived! I thought I'd never see you again."

"Don't get agitated, lie down first, lie down first," Xiao Ran gently comforted him.

"Your Highness... I really know I was wrong. Please don't be angry and don't ignore me."

Pei Xuan's brows were filled with affection, and his eyes were brimming with tears, making him look like a broken piece of jade, evoking pity.

"Your Highness...please take care of me, I...cough..." Pei Xuan said, then suddenly coughed violently.

The maid beside him quickly stepped forward and handed him a handkerchief.

Another mouthful of bright red blood.

"Your Highness..." Pei Xuan called out to her weakly.

"Oh, you should rest now!" Xiao Ran reached out and pressed him down on the bed.

Pei Xuan obediently lay down, but his eyes remained fixed on Xiao Ran, as if afraid she would disappear.

Xiao Ran sighed helplessly and gently wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief.

"Rest well and don't move around anymore," Xiao Ran said softly.

Pei Xuan took her hand and placed it on his chest. "As long as Your Highness still cares about me, it would be worth it even if I died."

Xiao Ran's heart skipped a beat, but she pretended to be serious. "Don't talk nonsense like that anymore. You should focus on getting better. We can talk about the rest later."

"Your Highness, are you leaving again?" Pei Xuan stood up again and grabbed her sleeve.

Seeing his pitiful appearance, Xiao Ran's heart softened, and she decided to stay and guard him.

"Go to sleep, I'll stay here and watch over you."

Seeing that Xiao Ran had agreed, Pei Xuan finally felt at ease and went to sleep.

That night

The moonlight was as white as snow, and its silvery glow covered the ground.

Mu Yunqing and Su Qin sat facing each other by the window, enjoying a small drink.

Mu Yunqing took a sip of wine, gazed at the moonlight outside the window, and said softly, "These past few days, I've felt that Ling Qi is acting strangely. She used to come here every day, but now she doesn't come even once every three to five days."

"What? Have you missed me terribly after not seeing me for a few days?" Su Qin replied curtly.

"I'm afraid she's not sincere, after all, she's someone from the Empress's side."

Su Qin toyed with the wine cup in her hand and chuckled, "Who knows? It's hard to tell the true feelings from the false ones among the people in the palace."

Mu Yunqing frowned slightly. "If she is only pretending to comply, I'm afraid it will cause trouble again."

Su Qin put down her wine cup, a calculating glint in her eyes. "No matter what, we just need to wait and see. If she's only pretending to comply, then we'll just dump her."

Mu Yunqing chuckled lightly, "Easy for you to say. Do you think the Empress is made of paper, someone you can bully at will?"

Su Qin pouted and said, "So what!"

"Not good. Let's go, I'll take you back." Mu Yunqing said, standing up.

"Alright!" Su Qin agreed cheerfully, and they headed back home together.

next day

Green Bamboo Garden

As dawn broke, a few lingering stars hung faintly in the pale blue sky.

A gentle breeze blows, and bamboo shadows are reflected in the window.

Mu Yunqing stood with his hands behind his back in front of the table, picking up his brush to paint bamboo.

Bold ink washes, delicate colors outline.

With just a few strokes, he painted a picture of bamboo shadows.

Before long, the first rays of dawn shone through the window onto his face.

Suddenly the light dimmed, and a beautiful figure stood beside him.

Seeing Ling Qi arrive empty-handed, Mu Yunqing looked up at her with displeasure: "Where's what I asked you to bring?"

"What is that?" Ling Qi pretended to be clueless.

"You really don't remember?" Mu Yunqing narrowed his eyes and stared intently at Ling Qi, his gaze deep and icy.

"I remember, I remember! How could I forget what you said!"

"Where's that thing?"

"My mountain has been set on fire, and everything you wanted has been burned to death."

"is it?"

“Yes, when I went back to check, the mountain was all bald!” Ling Qi said indignantly.

"How stupid! They can't even protect their own mountain!"

"You're the stupid one," Ling Qi muttered under her breath.

"What did you say?"

"nothing."

After a brief standoff, Ling Qi weakly said, "Then please help me."

"Help you? Why should I help you?" Mu Yunqing turned her back, her voice devoid of any emotion.

"I……"

"If you want revenge, I can show you a way."

"What road?"

"That is—to bring Swallowtail Mountain under my name, and I will avenge you." He turned his head and glanced at Ling Qi out of the corner of his eye, his tone full of seduction.

“No.” Ling Qi refused firmly.

"Hmph, I never fail to get what I want."

Seeing that Ling Qi remained silent, Mu Yunqing spoke up again to persuade her, "Think it over carefully. My patience is limited. Besides, it's not a loss for you."

"I'll give you the time it takes for an incense stick to burn to consider." He then returned to his seat, picked up a teacup, and took a sip. He continued, "If you haven't made a decision by the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, I'll take that as a rejection."

"I was going to refuse anyway."

Mu Yunqing suddenly stood up, his tall figure approaching Ling Qi with an oppressive aura.

Ling Qi hurriedly took a step back.

"Since that's the case, then you can handle it yourself." Mu Yunqing looked at her expressionlessly and said in an icy tone, "I want to see just how tough you are."

Ling Qi remained silent, staring blankly at him.

"What are you standing there for?" He raised an eyebrow at her, his words dripping with impatience. "Do I have to personally escort you out?"

"Ling Qi wouldn't dare."

"Oh, don't you dare?"

Mu Yunqing chuckled lightly, her tone full of sarcasm. "What wouldn't you dare to do? You even dare to disobey my orders, what else wouldn't you dare to do?"

"I can't beat them." Ling Qi hesitated for a moment, then continued, "Can you help me?"

"Why should I help you? You're unwilling to hand over Swallowtail Mountain to me, yet you want my help. There's no such thing as a free lunch."

Ling Qi couldn't help but retort, "I've already given you Red Moon. If I give you Swallowtail Mountain too, I'll have nothing left. What will I do when I get old?"

Mu Yunqing's tone softened slightly, and he tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, saying with a smile, "When you get old, I will naturally arrange a way out for you. You might as well think carefully about whether you want to give Yanwei Mountain to me."

He paused for a moment, then looked at Ling Qi with a hint of inquiry. "Or do you have some other skills that would make me look at you differently?"

Upon hearing this, a barely perceptible glint flashed in Ling Qi's eyes, and she said, "I can teach you Gu techniques."

"Gu techniques?" Mu Yunqing immediately became interested, raised his eyebrows slightly, and tapped the table to signal Ling Qi to demonstrate.

“Stretch out your hand,” Ling Qi said, taking out the Gu thread and tube from her bag.

Mu Yunqing obediently did as instructed.

Little did they know that they had fallen into the Empress's trap.

This Gu thread was custom-made for him by Ling Qi at the Empress's behest.

The poison of Gu is not easy to detect and does not usually take effect. Only the person who cast the Gu will feel excruciating pain.

Ling Qi inserted the Gu thread into the tube, then threaded a needle through the other end of the thread and pierced Mu Yunqing's body with her hand.

A sharp pain shot through my body, and my chest ached unbearably.

Mu Yunqing reacted instantly, his eyes turning sinister. He raised his hand, ripped off the Gu thread, and gripped Ling Qi's neck tightly. "What did you do to me!"

Ling Qi's expression remained unchanged as she said with difficulty, "Didn't you... ask me to demonstrate...?"

"I'm not stupid. How could I be fooled by your few words? You clearly cast a spell on me just now!"

"I didn't... cough cough..."

"Still dare to talk back!" Mu Yunqing roared angrily.

Ling Qi remained silent, her fingers twitching slightly at her sides.

"I'm giving you one last chance. Tell me, did you use any poison or not?" Mu Yunqing frowned, staring intently at Ling Qi, as if trying to see right through her.

She clenched her fist and looked at him seriously. "I told you, I didn't use any witchcraft."

Mu Yunqing suddenly released his grip, pushing Ling Qi to the ground.

Ling Qi coughed, clutching her throat, but her eyes showed a stubbornness.

Mu Yunqing snorted and turned to leave, but after taking only a few steps, a sharp pain suddenly shot through his chest, and he staggered and almost fell.

Ling Qi was startled by what she saw. Why was the poison acting up now? It shouldn't be like this according to the plan.

Mu Yunqing forced back the pain and glared at Ling Qi, "Now that things have come to this, what else do you have to say?"

Ling Qi quickly explained, "I really don't know why this happened. Someone must have framed me."

Mu Yunqing refused to believe it and was about to launch another attack.

Suddenly, he spat out a mouthful of dirty blood, and his heart no longer felt as bad as before; in fact, he felt much more at ease.

Mu Yunqing realized that he had wronged Ling Qi, and looking at her disheveled state on the ground, he felt a pang of guilt.

However, he did not reveal much, only coldly saying, "I will remember what happened today and deal with it after I find out the truth."

After saying that, he strode away, leaving Ling Qi alone sitting on the ground, gazing in the direction he had left with a complicated expression.