Qin Muge looked at her somewhat sly expression, as adorable as a kitten. Unable to contain his laughter, he called out to her with a hint of teasing, "Baby, how did you know I didn't know this?"
That makes some sense.
However, Chaoge felt that if she revealed even the slightest bit of this information, Qin Muge would be able to guess the whole story by observing her expression and tone.
Wouldn't that mean she gave it away for free?
"Then I guarantee it will work?" Chaoge deliberately blinked, leaned in and kissed her again, waiting expectantly for her answer.
It is acceptable to temporarily sacrifice oneself for important news.
Qin Muge was momentarily stunned to see her acting coquettishly. A few seconds later, she sat up straight on the edge of the bed, deliberately creating distance between herself and Chaoge, avoiding direct eye contact, though her tone remained languid:
"The Zhou family has always relied on the Yan family for survival, and they have been intermarrying with the Yan family for generations. Zhou Jue is an exception. Even though she has married into the Yan family, she managed to escape my purge of the Yan family and received the protection of Old Master Yan."
"I heard that she later got engaged to Yan Chen at the behest of Old Master Yan, but Yan Chen refused. After that, Yan Chen married Li Wanfang, who died in childbirth. Zhou Jue then changed her identity, which is the situation you see today."
In just a few words, a cruel aspect of the royal wars of that time is revealed.
Chaoge's attention wandered, staring at the space between the two, biting her lower lip and wondering what this person meant.
When Qin Muge looked at her again, he realized that Chaoge's expression had belatedly changed from conflicted to thoughtful.
Chaoge frowned slightly, carefully considering the meaning behind her words. It seemed a bit of a pity she hadn't returned to M1 before; otherwise, she could have seen what kind of person her grandfather from that world was.
And then there's Zhou Jue... this woman who impersonated her biological mother. No wonder Little Red Riding Hood found out Yan Xi wasn't her biological daughter; it turns out Zhou Jue was bringing the child along and pretending to be her mother.
"What information did she sell to my grandfather back then?" Chaoge rubbed the skin under her lips with the back of her hand, glancing at Qin Muge with a hint of inquiry.
Qin Muge hadn't expected Chaoge to believe her this time. She narrowed her eyes, her red pupils shimmering with a playful glint: "Guess~"
Chaoge's mind raced, and he had already glimpsed some of the truth.
If it weren't for the news of her betrayal of the Yan family, she wouldn't have had to seek refuge in the Yan family. Qin Muge's reason for letting her go was simple: the current unrest within the Yan family was the result.
Zhou Jue was an exceptionally intelligent woman; Chaoge never imagined that her greatest rival for the inheritance would come from her. But like all beautiful women, their children often struggle to inherit their talents… after all, they are too well protected, and their rivals are too weak.
Therefore, he listlessly posed a completely unrelated question:
"Have you ever wondered why Yan Zihe holds political views that are so different from those of her father and grandfather?"
Qin Muge had indeed thought about it, but only for a very short moment. After all, as long as Yan Zihe's actions were in her favor, she wouldn't insist on uncovering the truth about everything.
"I'd like to hear the details." Since her daughter Chaoge wanted to tell a story, she was naturally willing to fulfill her precious little wish.
"The Yan family's betrayal wasn't solely due to their own strength. The P4 Nebula's influence had already infiltrated the Empire back then, and Zero Toxin was a unique drug used by the high priests of Si Zhongqi's faction." Chaoge's words were simpler than Qin Muge's, but they contained just as much information, instantly unraveling more than one or two mysteries.
Qin Muge's smile gradually widened.
No wonder, it is precisely because he has witnessed transactions that almost resulted in the loss of national sovereignty that Yan Zihe now prioritizes the unification and peace of the empire.
The reason why Kaiyang and Yaochen were able to detoxify Zero Poison becomes clear: it originated from the power of their natural enemy.
"My darling gave me such a big surprise, how about I repay you with my body?" Qin Muge said with a smile. What was supposed to be a thank you turned into flirting, making Chaoge completely lose the will to continue the conversation.
He can't even speak properly in three sentences.
But looking at Qin Muge's stunningly handsome face, she couldn't bring herself to say that he was repaying kindness with enmity.
So he simply replied in a flat tone, "It's all an equal exchange, so there's no need to be so polite, is there?"
Qin Muge snuggled up to her and lay down next to her, placing her hands behind her head, staring at the snow-white ceiling without saying a word, seemingly enjoying this leisurely time.
Chaoge's mind was filled with all sorts of convoluted thoughts, and with the surroundings so quiet, she closed her eyes and seemed about to fall asleep within five minutes. Qin Muge found it amusing, intently watching her almost drift off to sleep only to suddenly remember something and wake up, only to relax again upon realizing it was him beside her, her consciousness soon drifting back to a hazy state... After repeating this two or three times, Chaoge stopped struggling and simply relaxed her body, drifting off to sleep.
Even when Qin Muge reached out to hug her, he simply shifted to find a comfortable position, which was much more honest than his contradictory behavior during the day when he clearly liked her but wanted to avoid her.
Qin Muge kissed her forehead and whispered, "I like you. Will you come back with me?"
Chaoge frowned and turned over, finally falling asleep. The words that disturbed her sleep didn't even register in her brain.
Qin Muge smiled silently, got up and took the blanket from the corner and the pillow from the bedside. After putting the pillow under her and covering her with the blanket, he hugged her and fell asleep next to her.
Seeing how cute you are, Qin Muge thought, "I'll let you hide from me a little longer."
There were countless ways to help her grow and understand her past actions. But Qin Muge ultimately chose the gentlest approach, preferring to wait for her anger to subside and for her to willingly leave with him.
Because I can't bear to let her go through those hardships again.
If she had known she would become so dependent on her, she would never have handed him over to Luo Qinghe.
Chapter 95: The Twelfth Way to Win Over a Wife
After news of the P4 Nebula arrived, Chaoge was forced by her parents to be transported back to her hometown by relatives like a piglet after only a few days at home.
Chaoge: ...Why? Wouldn't it be better to let her be free and independent at home? Why does she have to be sent back to her hometown?
But I really miss my grandparents.
The person lying on the bed scrolling through Weibo and laughing at the jokes was having a good time, but if someone outside the door listened carefully, they would find that there were conversations coming from a room that was clearly occupied by only one person.
"Should I pack a coat from the closet?" A small, open suitcase sat at the foot of the bed. A person wearing a white shirt rolled up their sleeves to their elbows, their gloves gone, and their pretty fingers traced over a row of coats hanging in the closet, seemingly considering which one to pack for her.
Once she gets home, she becomes completely lazy and basically lives a life of eating and sleeping, which makes Little Red Riding Hood, who follows her around, look at her with a worried gaze from time to time.
Yao Chen sat on a high stool next to the bookshelf, his hands supporting his head, his gaze shifting between Qin Muge and Chaoge.
He just couldn't understand why... he, a sentient being capable of materialization, a product of a high-dimensional technological civilization, had now fallen to the point of having to compete with an imperial general for the position of butler.
And we can't even compete with them!
"No need. Even if there's a big temperature difference between day and night, our physical condition won't be affected." After a few seconds, Chaoge's brain began to process the information in Qin Muge's words and thought for a reply.
They have incredibly thick skin and are very adept at ordering others around.
Yao Chen felt that this might be one of the few similarities between Chaoge and Qin Muge.
The only difference is that another potential lazy person becomes exceptionally diligent when he meets Yan Chaoge.
Lying on his back with his phone held high, the person didn't seem to mind the fatigue. After scrolling through all the messages on his phone, he yawned and leaned over the edge of the bed to look down at how many clothes were packed in the box.
"Wait, did you bring all my skirts?" After looking around the box, Chaoge couldn't find any pants. She reached out to take out all the skirts that were neatly arranged, but was stopped halfway.
Looking up at the person who was holding her wrist and smiling broadly, Chaoge shook off her hand, sat up on the bed, and landed speechlessly, seemingly intending to do it herself.
"But I've never seen you in a skirt before, although my darling looks good in a military uniform too." The person who said this had a look of regret in her eyes, and it seemed that she wished Chaoge could change into it right now if the situation allowed.
Chaoge gave a curt "Oh," as if to say, "What does it matter to me whether you've seen it or not?"
Turning to look at Yao Chen beside her, Chao Ge wanted him to kick Qin Muge out.
As a result, Yao Chen seemed to understand and got up and left on his own.
Liu Chaoge stood inside, completely bewildered. Even if she and Yaochen hadn't communicated via telepathy, their understanding shouldn't be this bad, right?
The thought had barely crossed her mind when she subconsciously turned to stare at Qin Muge. But this guy was not only thick-skinned, he also showed no emotion whatsoever, remaining unmoved no matter how strange her gaze was.
About half a minute later, Chaoge chuckled, a slight mockery in her eyes, "You know what I'm thinking, right?"
Qin Muge admitted it readily: "Yes, I have something on him that I can't tell you. Do you want to know?"
Chaoge thought for a moment and then shook her head.
This surprised Qin Muge. The furrow between his brows quickly relaxed, like ripples on a lake surface where a dragonfly skims the water, appearing and disappearing just as quickly.
Then, with great interest, he asked Chaoge, "You apply double standards to me and it?"
If he hides anything from her, she'll throw a tantrum for a long time, but she doesn't even have the slightest curiosity about the AI's secrets.
It was precisely because of their understanding of each other that Qin Muge was surprised that Chaoge's behavior was exactly as she had described. She would not even look for any opportunity or excuse to press Yaochen for answers after that.
Chaoge met her gaze directly, her expression gradually turning cold. Qin Muge knew that she was about to answer his question seriously, and the smile in his eyes faded somewhat.
"Yes, because he has never hidden anything from me, and he has felt guilty about it these past few days. I think he just didn't have time to tell me before, but that's enough for me."
Qin Muge listened without changing his expression, completely unaware that Yao Chen's behavior was in stark contrast to his own.
“One day, he will deceive you too, but he will think it’s for your own good.” Qin Muge said casually, then turned to check the wardrobe to see if there were any clothes he had forgotten.
As for malicious intent, that's impossible, because no matter what kind of AI is designed, loyalty will inevitably be a core element in its programming.
Chaoge suddenly felt a little tired, and reached out to press her forehead, as if she and Qin Muge would never be able to reach an agreement on this issue.
It's not that they get along well in other areas, but all their conflicts stem from this one point. Chaoge knows that if this problem isn't resolved, they will disagree again no matter what happens in the future.
Yan Chaoge wasn't that optimistic, and she wasn't someone who was in a relationship for the first time.
So she's no longer full of passion, no longer believes that love can solve everything; her laziness manifests in every aspect, including her relationships.
She doesn't want that kind of relationship that makes you feel like you're going against the whole world, and she'll even try to force herself to cut it off.
"What is most important to you, Qin Muge?" Chaoge looked at her, her gaze calm, her deep brown eyes devoid of emotion.
However, Qin Muge knew that the calmer Chaoge was, the more serious the problem was about to occur.
She didn't rush to answer, but Chaoge gave her the answer in the next second: "It was you who pushed aside all obstacles to ascend to the throne, it was the Crystalless Empire that became powerful through your hands."
"Then, wouldn't it be better to only focus on what's most important to you and ignore everything else?"
The meaning behind the Chaoge dialect couldn't be clearer.
Qin Muge's lips curved upwards, and she turned around, her entire aura instantly locking onto Chaoge.
That was the first time Chaoge had directly experienced Qin Muge's imposing presence.
In an instant, it was as if they were facing a huge beast from a primeval jungle. The eyes that were once as beautiful as rubies could only be associated with the scalding blood gushing out when an artery was slashed by sharp claws.
The hairs on his body stood on end instantly, and Chaoge couldn't help but take a step back and lean forward, subconsciously adopting a defensive posture.
Facing the pressure of Qin Muge's unleashed aura was like facing a towering snow-capped mountain. Not only was it unscalable, but the overwhelming pressure, as if the mountain could crush her at any moment, made all her nerves tense.
Even though she was much taller than Qin Muge when she stood on the bed, she was completely outmatched in terms of presence.
We can't beat them.
Of course he can't beat her. Yao Chen said that Qin Muge's body is at the peak of the empire, and even if Chao Ge releases all his strength, he still can't beat her.
People outdoors could only feel the drop in temperature caused by the lingering effects of the aura, and a chill ran down their spines.
Even so, Yaochen asked Chaoge, "What happened?"
【It's okay, no need to come in.】 Although Chaoge didn't know why Qin Muge was suddenly so angry, she felt that if they really started fighting, her house might be torn down by the two of them before she even got a chance to be beaten up.
Qin Muge wouldn't do such a thing...