Yun Liu had no idea where Ji Shiyu got her confidence in her terrible disguise.
Xiao Xinran hadn’t cared at first, but when she heard this, her eyes blazed with fire.
She finally remembered she’d been sold out right at the chicken coop’s entrance!
“Genius my foot! It’s not your family name you blurted out, of course you don’t care!”
“Hey, what does the chicken the Young Master of the Xiao Clan eats have to do with you, the Miss Xiao? Besides, we paid, so it’s not like we freeloaded, right?”
“Is this about money? A girl running to that kind of place, if word gets out, how am I supposed to get married!”
Weren’t you fighting happily just now?
Now you remember shame?
Ji Shiyu shrugged and added another stab.
“Don’t worry, you’ve already been dumped, so you won’t be marrying anytime soon anyway!”
And whose fault is that!?
“Thank you so damn much for reminding me!”
Memories of death began to assault the ex-wife again.
Xiao Xinran drew her sword and chased Ji Shiyu, hacking wildly.
The yellow-haired star exploded and sprinted away.
The two bickered and fought all the way, but didn’t forget to comfort Lin Shu, dragging the Flower Queen toward the shelter at a snail’s pace.
“Don’t worry, Sister Lin. Our Mister is powerful and resourceful. You can stay by his side for a few days, and once the storm passes, leave the city with us. Let’s see who dares to stop you.”
Lin Shu hesitated, nodding as she wrapped herself tightly in her outer robe.
Little Fairy’s kind heart clearly wasn’t suited for dying on the spot.
All she could do was take things one step at a time.
The two lively girls were both exceptionally talented, each reaching Foundation Establishment at a young age.
Their relationship was a delicate balance of rivalry and friendship, which made things all the more interesting.
But Lin Shu never expected that following them would mean walking right into the Liyu Royal Court, passing straight through the gates into the Wang Palace!
The Prohibition Guards were already familiar with the princesses’ close friends, even greeting them as they passed.
As for the extra person, Ji Shiyu lied with her eyes wide open—she was Yun Liu’s eldest cousin.
Wasn’t the Prince Consort’s cousin also the Princess’s cousin?
Upon hearing this, the Prohibition Squad Leader was eager to curry favor.
That Mister Yun was the new star of Yudu, favored by the king and princess.
It was said that even high-ranking nobles couldn’t get an audience, and General Geng had to personally escort him.
Miss Lin’s eyes filled with panic.
She’d somehow infiltrated deep into enemy territory and felt even more tense.
What the hell?
Why did it feel like these two girls were just going home when entering the palace?
What kind of status did the young lord they spoke of hold in the enemy country?
“I’m back!”
Ji Shiyu burst into the Garden of Beauties, shouting loudly and shattering the quiet atmosphere.
She spun around and finally spotted Yun Liu in Qin Xing’s room.
Little Mister Yun was grading the proprietress’s homework, pointing out areas where the Foundation Stabilizing Pill needed improvement, while Qin Cha obediently took notes.
Ji Shiyu rushed over, sniffing, but only caught a faint herbal scent.
Wasn’t that the expensive perfume Jing Tan’er often used?
Before the yellow-haired girl could interrupt, Yun Liu grabbed her ahoge and attacked first.
“It’s so late. What were you doing instead of cultivating?”
“Eh? We went for a walk…”
“Ah!”
Xiao Xinran charged in and stomped on Ji Shiyu’s foot, forcibly interrupting her casting.
Ji Shiyu howled in pain.
“We went to the Night Market for a late snack!”
The girl in red nodded, adding a detail.
Yun Liu’s gaze turned sly.
“Is that so? Since when did you two become so close?”
“Not at all! We just happened to run into each other!”
The two exchanged glances, frantically shaking their heads and taking a step back.
“Fine, and this young lady is?”
Yun Liu looked at the tall woman behind them, his face feigning confusion, but shock rolled inside.
Impressive.
The two idiots didn’t even follow the procedures, just barged into a brothel and brought back a courtesan?
Lin Shu still wore a half-mask.
Her shackles had only been cut at the chain, so they clinked as she moved.
She stared curiously at the boy in white.
What was interesting was that Ji Shiyu was whistling, looking away, hurriedly dissociating herself.
She had no intention of managing a harem that wasn’t hers.
Xiao Xinran was the one who’d taken the person, so if there was any scolding, it shouldn’t fall on her, right?
Xiao Xinran raised a finger, inspiration striking.
“She, she, she’s a maid I bought for the Young Master!”
“A maid at the Golden Core realm?”
Qin Xing glanced at Miss Lin, utterly unconvinced.
She wasn’t some cabbage growing in a field.
“Yeah, Sister Lin is so pitiful. Her entire family was destroyed by the Demon Sect, and she was gravely injured, left to wander the streets, selling herself to bury her father. She begged the Young Master to save her!”
Xiao Xinran braced herself and spouted pure nonsense with perfect seriousness.
In no time, the Flower Queen of Silver Sparrow Terrace was molded into a tragic, fallen heroine, whose family had been annihilated, Qi Sea damaged, and fate similar to that of little Yun.
Ji Shiyu’s head began to itch more as she listened.
Xinran’s story was so vivid that if she hadn’t been there, she might’ve believed it herself!
“To think such things happen. Evil Cults have become even more rampant lately—lawless, truly lawless.”
Qin Xing’s eyes filled with sympathy.
She took Miss Lin’s hand and had her sit down.
The gentle Senior Sister Jing Tan’er was the last person who could stand such stories.
“Ah? No, I, um…”
Lin Shu was stunned.
She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it.
She hadn’t had it that bad, right?
“I deeply regret your misfortune, Miss, but we’re not short-handed here, nor do I have time for charity.”
Mister Yun didn’t even glance at the little sparrow, famous for his iron heart.
He had no issue with lending a hand, but the appearance fee for a Heavenly Dao Pill Cultivator had to be paid in advance, thanks.
Miss Lin was a supporting character.
Her initial stats were decent, so she could work as a bodyguard, but the further the story progressed, the lower her growth rate—dual cultivation didn’t even raise it.
Other than her tight, balanced sprite, her most impressive sub-attribute was probably the [Dashing] buff, which reduced logistics time, making her a regular for farming and map running.
Tasteless, yet a pity to discard.
That was this Silver Sparrow.
“Ah?”
Xiao Xinran made a bitter face.
She didn’t know how to heal or save people.
Lin Shu shook her head, thanked Xiao Xinran, but her face showed no disappointment.
“It’s alright, Miss Xiao. Lin won’t forget your kindness. Since Mister is unwilling, I’ll leave now.”
“Everyone quiet down and let me say something fair!”
At that moment, Ji Shiyu suddenly jumped onto the table, holding a yellow chicken.
No one knew where she’d found two small mustache stickers, now attached to her mouth.
She’d also stolen Lu’er’s glasses, looking like a nightclub judge.
Yun Liu shot her a sideways glance.
“Half the winter break has already passed. How’s your homework? Have you copied all those Third-Grade Pill Recipes before mouthing off here?”
“Guh!”
Ji Shiyu instantly hugged her head and squatted down, stabbed right in the weakness.
She muttered softly, “N-not yet, but look at Sister Lin. If she gets kicked out now, in this cold weather, with nowhere to go, she’ll die! Isn’t that the same as us killing her?”
Xiao Xinran and Qin Cha both nodded.
It would be even worse if she fell back into the hands of bad people.
“So, you mean I’m the one harming her? You little brat—since when did you learn moral blackmail?”
“Hehe, I knew Master was the best.”
Ji Shiyu pinched her ears and grinned sweetly, nudging her mouth toward Xiao Xinran.
Xiao Xinran immediately understood, pulled Lin Shu along, and bowed, her hostility toward the yellow hair lessening just a tiny bit.