Seven Stars Sect Branch.
“Mm……”
Qin Mu held a chess piece in his hand, looking at the board with a troubled expression.
Across from him sat a tall, mature woman with alluring phoenix eyes, her posture elegant and a mischievous smile on her lips.
The curve of her hips was especially pronounced as she lifted a teacup, sipping lightly before speaking.
“Mu’er, are you stuck? Why not surrender? I’ll go easy this time.”
That’s right. Sitting across from Qin Mu was none other than Shangguan Xue—a genuine friend of his sister.
Since they’d been out for some time, Aunt Lu had returned to the Seven Star Sect early that morning.
Miss Ruoshuang needed to refine a sword and went into seclusion for a while, and Miss Mengyu was busy preparing medicinal liquids, also retreating for some time.
With no one watching over Qin Mu, he would sneak out—only to inevitably run into trouble.
To prevent her brother from sneaking off, Qin Mengyu had specifically called her close friend Shangguan Xue to watch him.
But this time, Qin Mu really had no intention of leaving.
Still, being under someone’s watchful gaze was uncomfortable, so he brought out a chessboard.
Fortunately, this world also had chess, so there was no need to explain the rules.
Why not Go?
Sorry, Young Master Qin admitted he couldn’t comprehend its mysteries—meaning, he simply didn’t know how to play.
Of course, since it was a competition, there had to be a punishment.
Qin Mu proposed that the loser must obey the winner.
He thought this request would be rejected by Shangguan Xue, but to his surprise, she nodded in agreement!
And so began a series of games where Young Master Qin lost again and again.
Each time Shangguan Xue won, she’d smack Young Master Qin on the butt—a blow that hurt little, but the humiliation was immense.
Qin Mu never expected that his chess skills, which allowed him to spar with Miss Mengyu (who in truth always let him win), would be utterly crushed by this Sister Xue.
“Th—The game isn’t over yet!”
Qin Mu decided to hang on a bit longer.
Half an hour later…
Young Master Qin’s eyes were lifeless.
He no longer knew how many times he’d lost.
Shangguan Xue raised her pale wrist.
“Mu’er, I’m going to hit you now.”
“Wait!”
Qin Mu clutched his butt.
“Sister Xue, how about we change the punishment?”
If it was his sisters spanking him, it was fine—he was used to it from childhood.
But being spanked by Shangguan Xue filled Qin Mu with shame.
Shangguan Xue considered his words, then stood up, adjusting her skirt.
“Then why don’t you come out with me, Mu’er?”
“Ah!?”
Qin Mu shook his head hurriedly.
No way. Miss Mengyu had specifically forbidden him from going out. If he was found out, his butt would surely suffer again tonight.
Shangguan Xue patted Qin Mu’s head.
Taller than him by almost a head, the gesture resembled patting a little puppy.
“Don’t worry. If Mengyu finds out, I’ll explain.”
And so, Qin Mu followed Shangguan Xue to the Wenmo Pavilion.
The moment they entered, Qin Mu saw shelves lined with all sorts of paper, ink, brushes, and inkstones.
“Sister Xue, why did we come here?”
Qin Mu couldn’t be called a brute, but he didn’t understand much about the arts either.
Shangguan Xue gazed at an inkstone, her beautiful eyes calm.
She wore a veil, concealing her face and aura.
Her slender hand lifted an inkstone as she inspected it.
“The Literary Examination will end soon. When it does, the Emperor will host a grand banquet at the Imperial Palace. He may even ask people to compose poetry.”
The previous banquet Qin Mu attended was only the preliminary round.
The Literary Examination itself was lengthy, with many rounds of selection.
Shangguan Xue had some knowledge of poetry.
Her younger sister, Shangguan Ling, hated it most of all, and their father—the Prime Minister—naturally couldn’t participate.
So, after some thought, she decided to go herself.
“Soga.”
Qin Mu didn’t understand much about these things and obediently followed Shangguan Xue, curiously glancing around.
Finally, Shangguan Xue picked an inkstone.
When she paid, it cost over a thousand Ling Stones, leaving Qin Mu stunned.
Was this useless thing really so expensive?!
Next, Shangguan Xue led Qin Mu to a large gate.
Qin Mu looked up at the three large characters before him—Prime Minister’s Residence.
Then, to his shock, Shangguan Xue walked right in.
The gatekeepers immediately saluted.
“Greetings, Miss!”
Click!
Qin Mu never expected that Miss Mengyu’s friend was actually the Miss of the Prime Minister’s Residence!
Ahead, Shangguan Xue looked back, seeing Qin Mu standing dumbfounded.
She walked over and flicked his forehead.
“What’s wrong? Mu’er, do you not want to come in?”
The light tap snapped Qin Mu back to reality.
“N—No, I just didn’t expect Sister Xue to be the Miss of the Prime Minister’s Residence…”
Shangguan Xue covered her mouth and laughed softly.
“Why so surprised, Mu’er? Your two sisters are Holy Maidens, and their status isn’t any less than mine.”
Qin Mu thought, That’s different. Miss Ruoshuang and Miss Mengyu had always been with him since childhood.
Their Holy Maiden status didn’t matter in daily life—after all, they were still his sisters.
Shangguan Xue’s slender hand took Qin Mu’s small hand, leading him into the Prime Minister’s Residence.
The guards were shocked but wisely kept silent.
Along the way, the servants saw the Miss holding a young man’s hand and froze in shock.
My heavens! Is this a dream?
It’s the first time the Miss has been so close to a man!
In the Prime Minister’s Residence, in a pavilion in the backyard.
A young girl propped her chin in her hands, gazing at the handsome youth before her with eyes full of affection.
“Brother Jing Kun, will you take me… to wander the world together?”
As she spoke, her cheeks turned crimson.
That’s right! Jing Kun had successfully snuck into the Prime Minister’s Residence, and this time, he was here to take the girl before him—Shangguan Ling—away.
Jing Kun’s plan was simple.
In a few days, the Emperor would hold a grand banquet for the Literary Examination winners.
With Shangguan Ling, he could sneak into the Imperial Palace.
At that time, a large portion of the Palace Guards would be stationed around the Emperor.
That would be Jing Kun’s moment to act.
Jing Kun grabbed Shangguan Ling’s delicate hand, his eyes full of passion.
“Of course, Ling’er. I, Jing Kun, keep my word! But now isn’t the time. After the Banquet for Literary Examination Winners, the two of us will soar together!”
Jing Kun felt a beautiful future beckoning him.
If he could obtain the treasures of the Imperial Palace and win the heart of such a lovely girl, it would be like the First Emperor grabbing a power line—winning big!
Shangguan Ling was overwhelmed with joy.
“I knew it! Everything Father said was wrong! It was all those people trying to frame Brother Jing Kun!”
Jing Kun put on a “moved” expression.
“It doesn’t matter, as long as you trust me, Ling’er.”
Seeing how much Jing Kun cared for her, Shangguan Ling wished she could run off with him right now.
Just as this thought crossed her mind, the door was suddenly pushed open by her personal maid, Xiao Huan.
Xiao Huan panted breathlessly.
“It’s bad… Hah… Second Miss, the Miss has returned!”