On the other side, just as Yun Pianpian stepped into the Jinxiu Garden, a dark shadow flashed from the eaves. The spy’s pupils contracted sharply, and the carrier pigeon in his hand flapped its wings and soared up, vanishing into the vast twilight in an instant.
In the Study Room of the West Courtyard of the Yun Residence, the gold-gilded Suanni incense burner emitted wisps of blue smoke. Before the agarwood desk, Yun Qingsong’s wide sleeves hung down, and the wolf-hair brush moved freely across the Chengxin Hall paper. The words "Focus" gradually took shape, the brushstrokes like carving and chiseling, penetrating the paper with force. Outside the window, bamboo shadows swayed, making the needle-like wrinkle between his brows appear even deeper.
“Excellent calligraphy!” The Second Prince clapped his hands and chuckled lightly, the coiled dragon jade pendant at his waist chiming as he moved. He leaned against the rosewood armchair, his apricot-yellow robes spread out like flowing clouds.
Yun Qingsong set down his brush and chuckled lightly, the dark patterns of golden threads on his cuffs flickering in the candlelight. “Your Highness flatters me. It’s merely some trick for self-cultivation…” Before he finished speaking, the urgent cries of an owl sounded three times outside the window.
Their gazes met, and they tacitly turned toward the secret court discussions. The tea on the table grew cold. The Second Prince tapped his Ru ware teacup with his fingertips: “I heard there has been a commotion of strange beasts in the Scarlet Moon Mountain Range recently?”
“Precisely.” Yun Qingsong stroked his beard and smiled, a hint of malice flashing in his eyes. “That cliff is over a thousand zhang deep, and beneath the cliff are Fifth Grade Scarlet-Eyed Demonic Apes…” As he spoke, the tip of his brush suddenly trembled, and the ink spread into a hideous black stain over the character for “Focus.”
The Second Prince paused in his fiddling with the jade pendant, but the corners of his lips curved upward: “In that case, my future Princess Consort…”
“Your Highness can rest assured.” Yun Qingsong picked up the green jade paperweight to press down the soiled Xuan paper. “Even a Spirit Master Realm Cultivator falling into that abyss of ten thousand zhang would find it difficult…”
Before he could finish speaking, the carved door of the Study Room was suddenly burst open by a strong gust of wind. A Secret Guard in black knelt on one knee, night dew still clinging to his forehead. “Sir! The Jinxiu Garden…”
“Nonsense!” Yun Qingsong slammed the table and stood up, splashing ink from the inkstone onto his sapphire blue official robe. The teacup in the Second Prince’s hand cracked with a sharp sound, yet he maintained his noble smile: “Lord Yun, it seems there is an urgent matter?”
The Secret Guard trembled all over, cold sweat dripping from his forehead, his voice almost distorted. “M-Master! The Eldest Miss has returned! Not only did she order people to carry the Duke back to the Jinxiu Garden for treatment, but… but she also struck the Second Miss, knocking her unconscious with one palm!”
“Boom—”
Thunder exploded in Yun Qingsong’s mind, and his body swayed violently. He gripped the desk to keep himself steady. His face was ashen, dark clouds churned in his eyes, and his knuckles cracked as he clenched them.
The Second Prince’s previously playful expression instantly froze. The coiled dragon jade pendant on his fingertip shattered with a "crack," turning into fine dust that fell away. He slowly stood up, and the armrest of the rosewood chair cracked inch by inch under his palm, sending wood chips flying.
“Heh…” The Second Prince let out a low laugh, but his eyes were as cold as a Cold Pool. “Lord Yun, it seems your Residence… has produced quite an extraordinary person.”
Yun Qingsong breathed rapidly, his chest heaving violently. The wolf-hair brush in his hand snapped in two with a "snap," and ink splattered across the desk like spilled blood.
“Good, very good…” The Second Prince laughed in anger, killing intent blazing in his eyes. “Since she is so eager to seek death, then this time—this Prince will personally send her on her way!”
Meanwhile, inside the Jinxiu Garden.
Yun Pianpian walked slowly through the courtyard, her fingertips brushing against the peeling vermilion paint on the corridor pillars. Her gaze swept over the overgrown flowerbeds choked with weeds, the coldness in her eyes deepening.
She had just reviewed the account books and found them increasingly laughable—the Residence of a dignified First Rank official, with countless shops under its name, yet only fifty thousand Mid-grade Spirit Stones remained in the accounts?
“Heh…” She let out a cold laugh, lightly tapping the account book with her fingertip. “The steward under Yun Qingsong is quite adept at ‘assisting,’ aren't they.”
How was this assisting? It was clearly hollowing out the foundation of the Jinxiu Garden!
She looked up and surveyed her surroundings. Decay was evident everywhere in the garden. Even the once most prosperous pavilions and towers were now nothing but ruins, draped in cobwebs.
“Renovations…” She rubbed her temples, calculating the required number of Spirit Stones, and sneered inwardly. “It seems I must first clean out the ‘rats’ in the house.”
Liu Yun hurried into the inner courtyard and knelt on one knee, saying in a low voice, “Eldest Miss, the Master has been treated and is now asleep.” After a pause, she added, “Also… Third Master Yun has arrived.”
“Oh?” Yun Pianpian’s eyes flashed. A chime sounded in her mind, and the corners of her eyebrows lifted, revealing a sly curve on her lips.
—Just when she was worrying about how to deal with these people one by one, they delivered themselves right to her door!
She had originally been planning how to deal with these people individually, but unexpectedly, they had come to her.
“Let’s go meet them.” She flicked her sleeves and rose, a flash of coldness disappearing from her eyes.
In the Council Hall, Yun Qingsong, the Second Prince, and a strange man had been waiting for a long time.
The man was about twenty years old, bearing about seventy percent resemblance to Yun Qingsong, though his brow carried more arrogance. He was currently staring coldly at the doorway; this was clearly Yun Qingsong’s son—Yun Yan.
All three of their faces were grim; they were clearly growing impatient.
Yun Pianpian, however, was in no hurry. She stepped into the hall with composed steps. Her goose-yellow long dress made her appear cold as frost, yet the corners of her lips held a smile, as if she were merely attending an ordinary family dinner.
“Pianpian has returned safely; this Third Uncle’s heart can finally be put to rest.” Yun Qingsong spoke first, his tone affectionate, though sharp glints were hidden in his eyes.
Yun Pianpian sat down with a smile, propping her chin on one hand, feigning innocence. “Third Uncle looks very well. It seems you’ve been quite comfortable during this time; your face has even gotten a bit rounder.”
—The unspoken meaning: You’ve eaten well after swallowing my family fortune?
Yun Qingsong’s expression remained unchanged, still maintaining the appearance of a caring elder. “Pianpian is back safe and sound; Third Uncle is overjoyed. Third Uncle worried terribly during your absence.”
Yun Yan, standing to the side, let out a cold sneer, his eyes full of contempt. “She’s just a good-for-nothing who dares to be arrogant relying on her status as the Legitimate Daughter of the First Branch? Does she deserve it?”
He couldn't help but mock, “Sister really puts on airs, making the Second Prince and Father wait for so long.”
Yun Pianpian languidly dug into her ear, feigning confusion. “Who are you talking about? The Second Prince?—”
She looked around, deliberately letting her gaze sweep past the Second Prince before looking away. “Where is he?”
“Slap!”
The Second Prince on the high seat erupted in fury, slamming his palm onto the table, causing the rosewood surface to instantly shatter into pieces! Veins bulged on his forehead, and killing intent surged in his eyes: “Yun Pianpian!”
—This woman dared to make him lose face in public! If it weren't for the existing engagement, he would truly want to wring her neck right now!
Yun Pianpian slowly withdrew her hand, the corners of her lips curving slightly, her eyes holding a hint of careless laziness. Seeing her demeanor, the Second Prince sneered inwardly—*“As expected, this woman is scared now. Does she finally know she needs to curry favor with this Prince?”*
He slightly raised his chin, a flicker of contempt in his eyes, just preparing to watch her bow her head and apologize, when he suddenly met a pair of ice-cold eyes!
“Swish—!”
Yun Pianpian’s figure moved like a phantom, instantly appearing before him, her slender hand raised, carrying a fierce palm wind—
“Slap!!!”
A loud slap landed squarely on the Second Prince’s face, the force so great it directly knocked his head sideways, drawing a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth!
“Who are you yelling at?” she sneered, her voice light, yet carrying a bone-chilling coldness.
—Silence descended upon the hall!