"This is more like it," Mu Anxiao chuckled. "If you dare to lie to me, I won't let you off." With that, she raised two fingers and gently tapped the woman's arm.
Immediately, the woman lowered her head slightly to look at Mu Anxiao's fingertips, which glowed with a faint blue light. She asked, "That place is very far. Are you sure you want to go with me?"
"I'm sure," Mu Anxiao replied. She withdrew her finger and then opened her palm. In an instant, the ball of light transformed into a coil of rope that fell into Mu Anxiao's hand. "Alright, you can get up now," she said, standing up first.
Seeing the woman freed from her restraints, Bing'er quickly ran over.
Unexpectedly, just as Bing'er was about to approach the woman, Mu Anxiao blocked her path. "..." she said, looking down at Bing'er.
Bing'er stopped helplessly, looking up at Mu Anxiao, who was inexplicably blocking her. "Move aside," she said.
"I released her, not for you. So, for your own safety, you cannot approach her," Mu Anxiao stated coldly. She glanced sideways at the woman who had already propped herself up, then turned back to Bing'er.
Bing'er frowned.
Mu Anxiao's lips curled into a smile. She looked up at Feng Qishi, who was watching them, and said, "I have something to do. You take Mu Hua into the palace first."
"What?" Feng Qishi frowned.
"I don't believe you didn't hear what I said," Mu Anxiao replied, bending down to push Bing'er's shoulder.
The moment Mu Anxiao pushed her shoulder, Bing'er took a step back and pouted.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao pointed at Bing'er's mouth and said, "You are not allowed to cry, or else..." She held the coil of rope in front of Bing'er's eyes. "I'll continue to restrain her."
"..." Bing'er knew she was no match for Mu Anxiao. After glancing at the coil of rope, she turned and walked towards Feng Qishi.
Mu Anxiao chuckled softly, stood up, and looked at Feng Qishi again. "Do you understand what I mean?"
"You're going with her," Feng Qishi said, glancing at the woman who was now standing behind Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao nodded.
"You..."
"There are some things I need to investigate thoroughly. As for King Jin," Mu Anxiao interrupted, smiling at Feng Qishi, "I would trouble you to say a few good words and stall for time."
"This is treason..."
"King Jin ordered you to capture me. I didn't go, so naturally, he will question you. If you say I've disappeared," Mu Anxiao deliberately distanced herself from Feng Qishi in front of the woman, "you'll be the one in trouble, not me."
"You scoundrel," Bing'er couldn't help but exclaim.
Mu Anxiao glanced at Bing'er, then shifted her gaze back to Feng Qishi. "..." she smiled.
Feng Qishi understood and saw what Mu Anxiao meant.
So, he took a deep breath and pretended to cooperate. "How long will you be gone?"
"How long..." Mu Anxiao swallowed, turned her head, and stared at the woman for a few seconds. "By dawn, if possible," she said, then looked back at Feng Qishi.
"By dawn..." Feng Qishi repeated, considering the current time. "I won't enter the palace yet. Return here before dawn."
"What?"
"If I go to the palace with only Mu Hua, King Jin will inevitably suspect that you've escaped. So," Feng Qishi said with a serious expression, "to avoid causing myself unnecessary trouble, I'll wait for you here, and then go to pick up Mu Hua."
"Mu Hua will be anxious," Mu Anxiao said calmly.
Feng Qishi: "Don't you want her to be anxious?"
Mu Anxiao had been taken from the Mu manor by Feng Qishi. It was likely that everyone in the Mu manor believed she was in danger.
As for Mu Hua, Mu Anxiao thought, Mu Hua must believe she was already finished. In this way, with the old fox-like Madam's cunning mind, she would surely be worried about her daughter's life in the palace.
If her guess was correct, as long as she, Mu Anxiao, didn't return, their hearts would not be at ease.
Thinking about it, Mu Anxiao suddenly felt a surge of pleasure. "Alright, let them all be anxious."
"Before dawn," Feng Qishi said lightly.
"No problem, I..."
"Come out with me for a moment," Feng Qishi interrupted, suddenly worried about Mu Anxiao.
"What for?" Mu Anxiao asked, confused.
Feng Qishi remained silent and, without looking at anyone, turned and walked ahead.
Mu Anxiao frowned, turned to look at the woman, and said, "Wait for me here. If you dare to slip away, you'll have me to answer to." After speaking, she glanced back at Bing'er and followed Feng Qishi.
Not wanting to be alone with them, Bing'er also phased through the ground and left the moment Mu Anxiao departed.
Thus, only Bing'er and the woman were left in the room.
Moments later, Bing'er glanced towards the door and quickly walked up to the woman. "Sister, you should go," she said, reaching out to pull the woman's arm.
The woman looked down at Bing'er's calm demeanor upon seeing her and asked, "Bing'er, aren't you afraid of me?"
Bing'er listened to the woman's words, then took in the green long dress the woman wore and her long hair cascading down her back. She smiled and said, "Sister, you are more beautiful than I imagined."
"You're so eloquent," the woman smiled down and gently patted Bing'er's head.
Bing'er smiled and said seriously, "Sister, hurry and go. If you don't, that ugly monster, who knows what she'll do to you."
"...Bing'er," the woman said, thinking of Mu Anxiao's abilities and what she had told her. Her heart sank. "I can't go."
"Sister... why?" Bing'er asked anxiously. "She definitely doesn't have good intentions. If you go with her, she will surely torment you to death."
"I am already dead."
".." Bing'er paused, then continued, "Sister, you can't go with her. She's not a good person. If you go with her, you'll be in danger. Then, what will Bing'er do?"
"Bing'er..."
"Sister, Bing'er can't bear to part with you. Bing'er doesn't want to see you captured by that ugly monster. Bing'er will cover for you," Bing'er said, tugging at the woman's sleeve. "Let's go."
"But..."
"She can't be telling the truth, Sister, she..."
"Only she can save you," the woman stated firmly.
Upon hearing this, Bing'er pouted and choked back a sob. "Sister, why won't you listen to me? She's not a good person."
"Only she can save you, Bing'er," the woman said, squatting down and gently stroking Bing'er's cheek. "Listen to your sister, and let me have a good look at our Bing'er."
"Sister..." Bing'er's tears began to well up. "You're listening to her because of me."
"I would do anything for you," the woman said, hugging Bing'er tightly.
The next second, Bing'er sobbed, "Sister, I don't want you to leave me. I don't want you to go with that ugly monster, Sister." As she spoke, she buried her face in the woman's shoulder and began to cry.
The woman gently stroked Bing'er's back and comforted her. "Bing'er, as long as you listen, your illness will be cured soon. As long as you are healthy, I will be happy." With that, she held Bing'er even tighter.
Bing'er cried even louder.