"This valley master doesn't need it!" the Ghost Valley Master immediately refused her.
Liu Ruyi continued to cover her mouth and chuckle.
"Speak, what benefits will I receive if this valley master helps you resolve Prince Qing's sterility poison?" the Ghost Valley Master asked directly.
"I'll trade you a secret," Liu Ruyi dangled the bait.
"What secret?" the Ghost Valley Master inquired.
"I can't tell you what the secret is now, but it's something that anyone who craves power and status would be very interested in," Liu Ruyi hinted.
The Ghost Valley Master raised his hand and stroked the small tuft of white beard beneath his chin with his fingertips, not immediately agreeing to Liu Ruyi's request. He pondered for a moment.
Then, he slowly said, "Fine, this valley master agrees."
"Thank you, Valley Master! You've had a long journey. Would you like to rest at an inn for the night before treating Prince Qing, or go now?" Liu Ruyi said with a smile.
"There's no time to delay. Let's go now," the Ghost Valley Master replied readily.
"Alright, then I'll trouble you," Liu Ruyi said respectfully.
Immediately, the two left the restaurant and hurried towards Prince Qing's manor.
Meanwhile.
Upon hearing the news that the Ghost Valley Master would be entering the capital that day, the Cold King and his consort, along with Chu Mingxuan, also went to a restaurant on the main street closest to the city gate. They found a private room with a window overlooking the street.
Jun Mohan and Chu Mingxuan sat by the window, observing the situation opposite them while sipping tea. Leng Ruoli, on the other hand, took out a telescope to carefully observe the actions of the pair of old foxes across the way.
"Your Highness, Your Highness Consort, we are too far from these two foxes to hear what they are plotting. It's a shame," Chu Mingxuan said, resting his chin on his hands as he carefully watched the man and woman sitting by the window opposite them.
"Liu Ruyi offered a secret that interested the Ghost Valley Master as a condition for him to help Prince Qing resolve the sterility poison," Leng Ruoli said calmly.
Hearing Leng Ruoli's words, Jun Mohan and Chu Mingxuan were stunned.
"Lier, we are so far from Liu Ruyi and the Ghost Valley Master. Can you hear them speaking?" Jun Mohan asked, his face filled with astonishment.
"Yes, yes, Your Highness Consort's hearing is truly amazing!" Chu Mingxuan also praised.
Leng Ruoli: "—"
"I'm not a mythical creature with super hearing, how could I hear what they said?" Leng Ruoli said speechlessly.
"Then how do you know what they said?" Chu Mingxuan asked, full of confusion.
Leng Ruoli glanced at Chu Mingxuan and waved the telescope in her hand at him.
"With this!"
"Uh..."
Chu Mingxuan's eyes widened in shock.
"I didn't expect that Your Highness Consort's telescope also has a listening function," Chu Mingxuan said, his face full of curiosity.
"No, but I can use this to clearly see the lip movements of those two," Leng Ruoli replied truthfully.
"Lier, you know lip reading too?" Even Jun Mohan was surprised this time.
"A little," Leng Ruoli answered casually.
"Good heavens! Just a little? Your Highness Consort, do you know how discouraging those words are?" Chu Mingxuan said dramatically.
"What's wrong?" Leng Ruoli asked curiously.
"Because Chu Mingxuan followed someone to learn lip reading back then and studied for three years but couldn't learn it," Jun Mohan exposed his past mistake on the spot.
"Your Highness, I just didn't want to learn. If I can study medicine, how can I possibly fail to learn lip reading?" Chu Mingxuan immediately denied it.
"Alright, you two, stop talking. Liu Ruyi and the Ghost Valley Master have already left. We should return to the manor," Leng Ruoli reminded them.
Jun Mohan nodded in agreement.
Then, the group immediately left the restaurant and returned to the Cold King's manor.
—
At the manor, as soon as Leng Ruoli and the others stepped into the Cold King's manor, they heard the butler say that Princess Qingling, Bai Yuxuan, from the Jingyuan Marquis's mansion, had come to visit the Cold King's Consort and was waiting for Leng Ruoli in the reception hall.
Upon hearing this, Leng Ruoli hurried towards the reception hall. Jun Mohan returned to his study to handle affairs. Only Chu Mingxuan trotted after Leng Ruoli into the reception hall, which Leng Ruoli found quite strange.
However, Leng Ruoli did not want to dwell on it.
As Leng Ruoli reached the entrance of the reception hall, she saw Bai Yuxuan sitting alone in the reception hall, idly waiting.
"Princess Qingling~" Leng Ruoli called out softly.
Bai Yuxuan turned her head to look outside the door. Upon seeing Leng Ruoli, she immediately jumped up excitedly.
"Second sister-in-law, you're finally back," Bai Yuxuan called out to her with a smile.
"Your second brother and I just went out. After not seeing you for half a year, you've become even more beautiful," Leng Ruoli praised.
Bai Yuxuan blushed slightly at Leng Ruoli's words.
"Second sister-in-law, please don't tease me. Since I attended Grand Tutor Xia's sixtieth birthday banquet, my parents, worried about me encountering similar danger again, sent me to the mountains to strengthen my martial arts training. Every day, my master forced me to practice martial arts, regardless of the cold winter or scorching sun. Look, I've not only gotten thin from hunger but also tanned. I even feel too ugly to face anyone. Only you say I'm getting more and more beautiful. You're not being honest." Bai Yuxuan's lips drooped, and she pouted her small mouth, immediately displeased.
"Your tan comes from exercise and martial arts training. That's called healthy beauty. Some people envy it. Take good care of yourself, and your skin will return to its porcelain white complexion after some time," Leng Ruoli said with a smile.
"Really? Second sister-in-law," Bai Yuxuan asked excitedly.
"Really. I'll give you a set of skincare products to take back with you later. Within a month, your skin will become rosy and radiant, making everyone love you," Leng Ruoli replied.
"Second sister-in-law, is it the same skincare product you gave to the Empress Dowager? I saw the Empress Dowager using it when I went to the palace yesterday. Then, I shamelessly begged the Empress Dowager for a mask to try. Unexpectedly, after using that mask, my skin really became much smoother and more tender. So, I asked the Empress Dowager for another mask, but she refused to give it to me and told me to come find you," Bai Yuxuan sighed.
Upon hearing this, Leng Ruoli immediately rolled her eyes. So, this was the real purpose of her visit.
Sensing Leng Ruoli's change in expression, Bai Yuxuan quickly said, "Second sister-in-law, I mainly came to see you. I heard from the Empress Dowager that you and second brother also returned from a trip not long ago and encountered many strange stories along the way. Can you tell me about them? I, Bai Yuxuan, love listening to people tell stories." Bai Yuxuan looked at Leng Ruoli with anticipation.
"We encountered many things during our journey north and south. It would take three days and three nights to tell you all about it. The journey was arduous, but it also brought us many gains and improvements," Leng Ruoli said kindly.