"What? Wait, who is speaking?!"
Cloud smile reacted after the fact, quickly turned her head, and looked into a pair of deep, dark eyes as cold as thin ice. The silver butterfly-shaped mask flashed with a cold light, piercing Cloud smile's pupils and making her squint. She couldn't help but exclaim.
"Mu Rong Chong, why are you following me again? I don't owe you anything, do I?"
Mu Rong Chong pursed his lips, remaining silent, but his deep, beautiful eyes clearly conveyed something, deeply, inextricably entwined, as if reminding the great Miss Cloud that she had forgotten something.
Cloud smile recalled previous events. Seeing the man's expression, it must have been him who helped her deal with Shangguan Lin just now. But so what? Cloud smile thought matter-of-factly.
"We're even. Don't forget what you did to me last time."
The great Miss Cloud said this with a straight face, then glanced askance at this fellow.
Today, he wore a white robe with gold trim. His sleeves were wide, and when he moved, he seemed like flowing clouds, graceful as the most delicate winter plum blossom, blooming a tree of apricot red amidst the ice and snow, alluringly seductive.
Unfortunately, it lacked a bit of brightness and had more mystery, Cloud smile mused.
Mu Rong Chong had already swiftly closed the distance, appearing beside her in the blink of an eye. He was as fast as a light breeze and as gentle as a swaying willow. A cold voice exploded in Cloud smile's ear.
"You drugged me."
After speaking, he retreated. By the time Cloud smile looked, in a flash of lightning, this man had retreated and advanced, all within the blink of an eye. He was still elegantly standing on the treetop, but the faint fragrance in his nostrils indicated he had indeed gotten close just now before retreating.
Moreover, his closeness was to remind Cloud smile that she owed him.
Cloud smile was slightly vexed, a typical case of being angered by embarrassment. She crossed her arms and glared at him intently.
"Are you a man? So petty, why do you want me to owe you so much?"
She spoke slowly, then her eyes lit up, a smile curving her lips. Her mood inexplicably improved, becoming extremely fawning.
"Great Hero Mu, let's strike a deal."
"Speak," amidst the silver brilliance, the man coldly threw out a single word, treasuring it like gold, unwilling to say more. Cloud smile was provoked again, and she cursed the Mu family inwardly before calming down and smiling charmingly.
"Help me with one thing, and I'll consider myself indebted to you once. I will repay you in the future."
A light breeze swept past. Mu Rong Chong's robes fluttered, his posture elegant and noble. His captivating pupils were as deep as a clear sea, boundless and radiant, or like the brightest star in the vast sky, dazzling the eye.
For a moment, that depth almost engulfed her. Fortunately, at this moment, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from below the tree, followed by fierce questioning.
"Who's there? What are you doing here?"
Cloud smile quickly lowered her head, only managing to see rows of guards surrounding Wanwan and Xiuxiu and a few others below the tree.
Then, her body suddenly soared into the air, drifting through the air as if riding clouds and mist. A warm, smooth hand like jade pulled her, instantly transferring her from one tree to another, and finally landing in the plum grove behind the imperial garden.
As soon as she landed, Mu Rong Chong released her hand and automatically slid three feet away, as if she were a poisonous germ. Yet, at a critical moment, he had helped her. This person was truly hard to fathom.
"Why did you help me just now?"
Cloud smile couldn't help but ask. At such a time, the smart thing to do would be to pretend not to know anything.
But curiosity could kill a cat, and she just wanted to know why this man was helping her, not once but twice. If she remembered correctly, he had wanted to kill her at first.
"Keeping you around makes the entire game more interesting."
Mu Rong Chong said coldly and indifferently, as if saving her was merely because she was a usable pawn.
Cloud smile wasn't angry. On the contrary, it seemed she had gained leverage. Since she was useful to him, his help was only natural. Her eyebrows gently raised, and her lips curved into a sweet smile, dimples appearing. She looked sweet and fresh, yet with a hint of stubbornness, like a single plum blossom in the plum grove, blooming exceptionally exquisitely.
That smile was brilliantly alluring.
Mu Rong Chong, his pupils as deep and cold as an ice pond, fixed on this unique woman. She wore an elegant white robe, her hair tied up in a simple cloud bun, adorned with tiny, pea-sized peach blossoms. She was sweet yet charming, lively and captivating.
Her face, as delicate as a fragrant flower, held a pure and lovely smile. That smile curved her eyebrows and eyes, sparkling brightly, with a small, intoxicating dimple. Her cherry-like lips, sexy like sakura, formed a captivating arc.
This woman wasn't the most beautiful, but she was the sweetest and most adorable. Her smile, whether genuine or feigned, brought a sense of ease from the bottom of one's heart, an impulse to believe her and approach her.
Mu Rong Chong, lost in his own thoughts, suddenly startled himself. What was he doing? He had more important matters. Why was he getting sentimental?
"Alright, speak. What is it?"
He shifted his gaze, looking up at the sky, his body instantly enveloped in a layer of detached coldness.
"Immediately put this into the tea at Zhongde Palace. You should understand what I mean."
Cloud smile quickly took out a packet of white powder from her sleeve, waved it, her smile brilliant.
Mu Rong Chong turned back, his icy pupils flashing. With a cold, narrow glance, he didn't ask any more questions. He nodded and sternly commanded, "Zhui Feng, go handle this matter."
"Yes," a voice echoed in mid-air. A gust of wind swept by, and something flew over. Cloud smile felt her fingers loosen, and the object had already flown out of her hand. When she looked again, she only saw a faint gleam passing by, and the medicine in her hand was gone. She couldn't help but gasp.
It seemed this Mu Rong Chong had many capable subordinates. Not only was he formidable, but his subordinates were also formidable.
"Thanks."
Cloud smile waved her hand, her mood uplifted. The thought of that detestable man being tricked made her mood inexplicably better.
She believed Mu Rong Chong's subordinates would handle this matter, and she would wait to watch the show. Such a boar of a man suddenly becoming impotent.
The beautiful women in this harem could only wait in vain. If she were to add some fuel to the fire, what would the situation be like?
Cloud smile mused, smiling more and more slyly, like a little thousand-year-old fox, cute with a hint of intelligent light.
In the plum grove, the man's figure was tall and slender, clad in a robe with golden threads flashing on the hem. His ink-black hair, like flowing water, was casually spread over his shoulders. The jade hairpin securing his hair was submerged in water.
Even with half his face covered, one could feel his extraordinary handsomeness. The exposed half of his face seemed carved by divine craftsmanship. His thin, pressed lips, naturally crimson, exuded a subtle cold ruthlessness. The unrestrained yet contained dominance around him was constantly released.
However, in his abyss-like dark pupils, a fluctuating cold pool aura caused him to move in an instant.
"You owe me once."