"A big chest and no brain."
The remark, neither loud nor soft, reached the ears of Miss Yi. Her face immediately changed, and she turned to glare fiercely at Mo Chou. Mo Chou glared back.
If not for their master being present, she would have beaten the woman until her nose was swollen and her face bruised. Who had the patience to watch her feign cuteness and purity? It made her want to vomit.
Hearing Mo Chou's words, and looking at Yi Shuang'er, Mo You's every hair stood on end. His eyes widened in anger, his hair almost bristling, like an agitated hedgehog. Fearing further trouble, he couldn't help but soften his tone.
"Shuang'er, Cousin needs to entertain guests?"
As soon as he spoke, Yi Shuang'er seemed to hear the most beautiful music. This was the first time Cousin had spoken to her so gently. She was so excited that she immediately forgot her argument with Mo Chou, nodding repeatedly like a little chick pecking at millet.
"Alright, I'll go down first."
Father had always said that a smart woman knows when to retreat. However, before leaving, she didn't forget to give Mo Chou a vicious glare. She swore to herself that she would not let this woman off the hook. Yi Shuang'er vowed fiercely, leading her personal maidservant away.
Mo You, standing in the long corridor, waved his hand and commanded coldly, "Everyone, withdraw."
The guards of the Seventh Prince's mansion retreated. Some of the injured took the opportunity to leave and attend to their wounds.
Even the ignorant among them knew that the people before them were formidable. With just two subordinates, they had easily defeated dozens of their men.
Looking at the man at the head, his white hair like clouds, seated in a wheelchair, as beautiful as an immortal. This man was perhaps the ruthless and bloodthirsty "Heartless" of legend. Not to mention them, even if more men were to come, they would likely not be his match.
In the blink of an eye, in the vast garden, except for a few of them, even the young maids had withdrawn.
Mo You walked down from the long corridor, respectfully approaching Qingyao, and slowly said, "Miss?"
Before Qingyao could speak, Mo Chou, standing beside her, coldly said, "Such a hospitable Seventh Prince. It seems we are intruding. We shouldn't have come. We thought something had happened, but it turns out he's content being a prince here."
Mo You was young after all, and Mo Chou's scolding made his face flush and then pale. He couldn't utter a single word.
Qingyao gave him a faint, cold glance and slowly said, "Let's speak in the main hall."
"Good," Mo You finally breathed a sigh of relief. He respectfully escorted Qingyao and Wuqing into the flower hall, standing to the side. Qingyao saw that his demeanor was not arrogant at all, remaining as humble and pure as before. She waved her hand.
"Mo You, you sit too. You are the host here. It would not look good if outsiders saw this."
"Master?"
Mo You looked up and met his master's piercing gaze. Unable to resist, he sat in the chief seat, assuming the positions of host and guest.
"We came to see if you were safe. Now that we are assured, we are returning to Wuqing Valley."
After Qingyao finished speaking, a fleeting concern flashed across Mo You's brows. "Has Changsun Yin been dealt with?"
"Yes, dealt with. I wonder how Xiao Yu'er is doing? It's been several months since we came out."
Qingyao calculated. They had come out in the early spring, March and April, and now it was autumn. Time flew by so quickly. It had been six or seven months. Xiao Yu'er should be able to speak and walk by now.
She was different from others, after all. Qingyao's eyes held a hint of anticipation. She wondered what that girl would say when she first spoke.
"Can you take me with you?"
Mo You's lonely voice suddenly sounded. Qingyao looked up at him as expected. "Mo You, with your noble status, do you really want to follow us?"
"If I weren't bound, I would have sought you out long ago. I was drugged by my fifth brother, which caused my inner energy to vanish completely. Although people are supposedly protecting me in the mansion, their true purpose is to control me. Because without me, the Yi family is nothing."
As soon as he finished speaking, Qingyao shushed him, sensing someone eavesdropping outside the door. Her voice turned cold as she spoke.
"Seventh Prince, we are here to bid you farewell, as friends. We wanted to say goodbye before we leave."
Everyone in the hall understood Qingyao's action. Only Mo You couldn't detect it because he had lost his inner energy. But seeing his master's action, he knew someone was eavesdropping. Without guessing, he knew who it was.
Who else could it be but that woman, Yi Shuang'er? Since she liked eavesdropping so much, he would indulge her.
"Oh, that's great. I won't see you off then. Have a good journey. Come find me if you visit the Huangyuan Kingdom in the future."
"We will," Qingyao replied. The two of them were putting on a show, acting in unison with utmost naturalness.
The eavesdropper outside the door was indeed Yi Shuang'er. This foolish woman had forgotten that everyone in this room was a martial arts master and would be able to detect her presence. She was even listening intently, her face filled with joy.
Initially, she had been worried that her cousin might want to leave. She hadn't expected that to be the case at all. It made sense, after all. Who would give up being a prince to be a servant?
Yi Shuang'er heard the satisfactory conclusion and quickly slipped away with her people.
In the flower hall, the few people let out a sigh of relief and slowly looked at Mo You. Qingyao said softly,
"I suspected you were drugged. Since that's the case, we will take you with us. However, this matter cannot be rushed. I believe the Yi family will not be so careless. There are likely many of their people in this mansion."
"Yes."
As Mo You's voice fell, a maidservant entered from outside and steadily served tea to everyone. No one spoke until she had poured the tea and withdrawn. Mo Chou spoke impatiently, "Mo You?"
She wanted to ask Mo You a question, but Qingyao raised her hand, stopping her. The hall remained silent. Qingyao, with a cold expression, waved her hand. Mo Chou swiftly darted outside. The maidservant who had just served tea was still outside. Startled by Mo Chou, she only grudgingly left after Mo Chou glared at her.
In the hall, Qingyao slowly said, "This is one of them."
"There are likely countless others like this."
Mo You said hatefully, his face full of dejection. He was utterly helpless.
Qingyao soothed him with a deep voice, "Don't be anxious. Stay put. Let Wuqing check for you if your poison can be cured. Once the poison is cured, we will find an opportunity to take you out."
"Yes," Mo You complied and quickly walked to Wuqing, extending his hand. Wuqing placed a hand on his pulse. After listening for a moment, he frowned and slowly said, "This is Soft Bone Powder, not some rare and difficult poison. I have the antidote here."
Wuqing finished speaking and took out an antidote, handing a pill to Mo You. Wuqing remained a divine doctor; there were few poisons in the world that he couldn't cure. However, to say that there was nothing he couldn't cure would be untrue, as nothing in the world is absolute.