Looking at Yao Ruoqin's shy expression from the tree, Shen Qianmo felt like vomiting. Shangguan Che wasn't even dead yet, and Yao Ruoqin was already thinking about remarrying. The contrast between her previous affectionate demeanor and her current attitude made Shen Qianmo feel that Yao Ruoqin was even more disgusting than Shangguan Che.
"So Ruoqin is thinking about her future marriage." Yao Shan reached out and gently pinched Yao Ruoqin's nose. "With your father's status and Ruoqin's looks, are you worried about not finding a husband?"
Shen Qianmo couldn't help but sneer. Yao Shan was right. With the status of a great general, there would indeed be someone willing to marry Yao Ruoqin. But why didn't he use his brain to think about whether Shangguan Jin would so easily let go of someone who had always helped Shangguan Che deal with him if Shangguan Che died?
A military officer is still a military officer. Even after so many years in officialdom, his shrewdness is still lacking. He is far inferior to that old fox, Shen Lingyun.
"Oh, right, Father, I have another request." Yao Ruoqin smiled shyly at first, then revealed a vicious look in her eyes as she spoke to Yao Shan.
Seeing the resentment in his daughter's eyes, Yao Shan couldn't help but ask, "What is it?"
"The Demon Palace Master Mo Chi is none other than Shen Lingyun's good-for-nothing third daughter, Shen Qianmo. I hate her to the bone, and I hope Father can find a way to get rid of her!" Yao Ruoqin said through gritted teeth.
Shen Qianmo raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. She hadn't expected Yao Ruoqin, already in dire straits, to still be thinking of dealing with her. Had Yao Ruoqin's hatred for her run so deep? But eliminating her? She'd have to see if Yao Ruoqin had the ability!
"It seems Mo'er has incurred her jealousy." Situ Jingyan's lips curled into a cold smile, and a hint of murderous intent flashed in his eyes as he looked at Yao Ruoqin. Originally, he did not want to get involved in Qi Yue's affairs, but since Yao Ruoqin dared to try to harm his Mo'er, then he would not be polite.
"Jingyan, don't worry about her. She'll find her own way to die eventually." Shen Qianmo sensed the intense killing intent emanating from Situ Jingyan and knew that he was wholeheartedly protecting her, so she couldn't help but smile.
"That doesn't mean she can be allowed to live so freely! How dare she even have such thoughts! She deserves to die a hundred times over!" Situ Jingyan's murderous aura subsided slightly, but his dark eyes still held a murderous intent. A bloodthirsty and alluring smile curved his lips, like a blooming poppy, deadly yet seductive.
A cold smile appeared on Shen Qianmo's lips. "As long as you keep her alive, you can do whatever you want with her."
Two stunningly beautiful figures, one in red and one in white, were hidden deep within the trees, like poppies blooming together and clinging to each other, alluring yet deadly. Though they were cold-blooded, they were completely devoted to each other.
"Ah!" Yao Ruoqin screamed in panic. Yao Shan looked at the leaf that had been knocked out of Yao Ruoqin's hair and was now firmly stuck in the middle of her hair. A look of seriousness flashed in his eyes.
Seeing his daughter's panicked state, Yao Shan's eyes flashed with anger. He searched everywhere but couldn't find a trace of her. He couldn't believe someone had managed to sneak into the General's mansion undetected and even injure his daughter. How could he possibly save face? He roared, "Who is this expert?! Why would they harm someone in secret like this?!"
No one answered him. Deep within the trees, Shen Qianmo raised an eyebrow, looking at Situ Jingyan who seemed to be saying, "I didn't do anything." A hint of amusement flashed in her eyes as she chuckled, "Since when did Jingyan start liking to play tricks on people like this?"
Situ Jingyan wore a lazy smile as he gently ruffled Shen Qianmo's hair and said indulgently, "It's because Mo'er won't let me hurt her, so I had to scare her a little so she won't speak recklessly in the future."
"You injured her hand a few days ago, and it's still not healed." Shen Qianmo looked at Yao Ruoqin's left hand, which was wrapped in white gauze, her eyes filled with no sympathy, only mockery.
Situ Jingyan's lips curled slightly, his eyes filled with endless coldness, and he said, "One thing at a time. Last time, she spoke rudely and insulted you. This time, she had inappropriate thoughts."
"Shen Qianmo! You don't need to hide anymore! I know it's you!" Yao Ruoqin's sharp and sarcastic voice interrupted Shen Qianmo's words. Situ Jingyan's eyes darkened. Was this woman tired of living?
"So what if you know it's me?" Shen Qianmo smiled coldly and ruthlessly as he lightly leaped down from the tree. Dressed in men's clothing, he was elegant and otherworldly, and looked at Yao Ruoqin, who was in a sorry state, with a smile.
When Yao Ruoqin saw that it was indeed Shen Qianmo, a hint of fear flashed in her eyes. Then, she looked at Yao Shan and the guards who were gradually surrounding her, and said with a hint of arrogance and resentment, "Hmph! Since you've come to the General's Mansion to die, then I'll grant your wish!"
"What an arrogant tone!" Situ Jingyan also jumped down from the tree, his arrogant gaze sweeping over everyone present, his tone unyielding and domineering. "I'd like to see who dares to lay a finger on Mo'er!"
The guards who were about to make a move stopped in their tracks because of this arrogant and unruly remark.
The man in red, though standing alone, seemed to command a vast army; his charming and unrestrained smile was as sharp as a sword.
"So it's the Third Miss of the Prime Minister's Mansion and Emperor Tianmo. Yao Shan is apologies for his disrespect." Yao Shan was more shrewd than Yao Ruoqin. He knew that since Shen Qianmo and Situ Jingyan dared to show themselves, they were confident they could leave. Moreover, their identities were extraordinary.
One is the emperor of a neighboring country, of incomparably noble status; a single mishap could implicate the entire Qi Yue. The other is the daughter of a prime minister, who is now planning to switch allegiance to Shangguan Jin; Shen Lingyun is someone he absolutely cannot afford to offend.
He just didn't understand why Shen Qianmo, having already chosen to marry into Tianmo, would deliberately fake her death and return to Qiyue, and why the Tianmo emperor would let her do whatever she wanted.
"Father, why are you being so polite to them!" Yao Ruoqin shook Yao Shan's arm in dissatisfaction, glanced at Shen Qianmo, and arrogantly raised her chin. "I think we should just kill them now!"
"Slap." No one saw how Shen Qianmo made the move; they only saw Yao Ruoqin fall to the ground, a bright red finger mark appearing on her fair face.
"You talk too much nonsense!" Shen Qianmo glanced at Yao Ruoqin disdainfully. She had always disdained to argue with Yao Ruoqin, but did Yao Ruoqin think she was afraid of her?!
Yao Ruoqin was knocked to the ground by Shen Qianmo and made a fool of herself in front of so many guards, which naturally made her even more furious. She immediately got up unsteadily, ran to Yao Shan's side, shook Yao Shan's arm with her right hand that could still move, and cried, "Father, look, they are going too far!"
Yao Shan was somewhat annoyed to see Shen Qianmo hitting Yao Ruoqin right in front of him, showing him no respect whatsoever. However, he dared not offend Shen Qianmo and Situ Jingyan rashly, especially since Shen Qianmo had the Demon Palace behind her, whose power was no small matter.
"It seems the punishment for you was too lenient." A cold glint flashed in Situ Jingyan's eyes, and a bloodthirsty and chilling smile appeared on his lips.
With a "crack," Yao Ruoqin fell to the ground again, her face turning deathly pale. This man had broken her right hand once more in the General's mansion. A piercing pain shot through her wrist, leaving her without the strength to speak. She could only curl up on the ground, silently enduring wave after wave of excruciating pain.
"Outrageous!" Yao Shan could no longer stand by and watch. How dare they treat his daughter like this in front of him? Did they even respect him?!
"Insolence?!" Situ Jingyan merely raised an eyebrow and repeated the question, his eyes filled with an overbearing arrogance, exuding a superior aura that caused Yao Shan to unconsciously take a step back.
"What's going on? Why is it so noisy?!" The commotion outside attracted Shangguan Pian and Yao Yuanshan, who were in the backyard. Shangguan Pian asked with a hint of arrogance.
When she saw the scene before her, she was completely dumbfounded. A dark mass of guards surrounded them, and in the middle stood two peerless men, one in red and one in white.
She had seen the man in red before; he was the King of Tianmo Kingdom. But she had never seen the elegant man in white before.
Opposite the two men was her father-in-law. Following his gaze, she saw Yao Ruoqin lying on the ground, almost unconscious.
"What on earth happened?!" Yao Yuanshan asked in confusion upon seeing the scene. He ran to the middle of the courtyard, helped Yao Ruoqin up, and shouted at the servants, "Ruoqin is injured like this, why aren't you calling a doctor?"
"Who are you?!" Shangguan Pian asked, pointing at Shen Qianmo.
The man before her was refined and otherworldly, his smiling eyes like a clear pool, captivating and serene. Below his delicate nose were alluring cherry lips, now adorned with a languid smile. She didn't recall Qi Yue having such a peerless and elegant gentleman.
"Shen Qianmo." Shen Qianmo looked at Shangguan Pian with a smile and calmly uttered three words.
Shen Qianmo simply smiled faintly, but Shangguan Pian's expression changed drastically. She stared at Shen Qianmo with disbelief in her eyes and exclaimed in surprise, "What?!"
"Shen Qianmo is none other than Mo Chi, the Palace Master of the Demon Palace!" Yao Ruoqin, who was being held by Yao Yuanshan, squeezed out these words through gritted teeth. Her face was as pale as paper, making her painted red lips look very out of place. The vicious anger in her eyes was also incongruous with her pained expression, making her look extremely ferocious.
"The Demon Palace Master? Shen Qianmo?" Shangguan Pian still looked incredulous, looking Shen Qianmo up and down. This stunningly beautiful woman was nothing like the plain-looking woman she used to be.
Wasn't Shen Qianmo the good-for-nothing third young lady of the Prime Minister's mansion? How did she suddenly transform into the Palace Master of the Demon Palace? Wasn't Shen Qianmo supposed to have died on her way to a political marriage? How is she standing here perfectly fine, with an unparalleled beauty?
However, this otherworldly and noble demeanor strongly resembles Shen Qianmo, and Situ Jingyan standing beside her cannot be deceived. Could it really be Shen Qianmo?