Yao Ruoqin frowned upon hearing Shangguan Che's words, and then said, "Brother Che, my father still holds military power, so Shangguan Jin wouldn't dare to do anything to us!"
"You wouldn't dare do anything to us?" Shangguan Jin's smile grew even more mocking. "Do you think your father will still be loyal to me after I become emperor?!"
"Brother Che, what do you mean by that? Do you doubt my father?" Yao Ruoqin jumped up as if she had been stepped on when she heard Shangguan Che's words, her expression tense.
"I don't want to explain to you!" Shangguan Che was already extremely annoyed. The situation had become one-sided, and he was already troubled enough by all of this. He had no energy left to argue with Yao Ruoqin.
But Yao Ruoqin wouldn't let it go. Ever since their marriage, Shangguan Che's attitude towards her had deteriorated day by day; he even refused to sleep with her in the study!
Thinking of this, Yao Ruoqin's anger flared up again, and she angrily roared at Shangguan Che, "Can't you still forget that bitch Shen Qianmo? Fine, now you won't even talk to me anymore?! Shangguan Che, you really are ungrateful! If you became emperor, who knows how you would treat me!"
Shangguan Che didn't even want to glance at Yao Ruoqin. Angrily flicking his sleeves, he strode away. Watching his resolute retreating figure, Yao Ruoqin said bitterly, "Shangguan Che, since you're so heartless and ruthless, don't blame me for being cruel! Everyone looks out for themselves!"
After saying that, a ruthless glint flashed in Yao Ruoqin's eyes.
"What, do you want to turn your father against you?"
The sudden noise behind her startled Yao Ruoqin, who was deep in thought. She turned around, her face pale, and when she saw who it was, her expression turned strange, a mixture of relief and resentment.
"Don't look at me like that!" Shen Qianmo glanced at Yao Ruoqin with disdain, a smile playing on her lips. "This Third Prince's residence is impregnable. Without my help, you would never have been able to leave here."
"Hmph! You want me to beg you?!" Yao Ruoqin arrogantly raised her chin, looking at Shen Qianmo with resentment. "You're dreaming! You shameless woman, I'd rather die than beg you."
Shen Qianmo's eyes remained unchanged, a lazy smile on his face as he looked at Yao Ruoqin. He didn't seem angry at Yao Ruoqin's insults, and simply said, "I'm here to take you out of the manor. If you don't want to leave, then I won't force you!"
Upon hearing Shen Qianmo's words, Yao Ruoqin's expression changed, a hint of struggle flashing in her eyes. Finally, she forced a flattering smile, her eyes filled with longing, and reached out to tug at Shen Qianmo's sleeve, "Will you really take me away from here?"
Shen Qianmo raised an eyebrow, gently avoiding Yao Ruoqin's hand, and glanced at Yao Ruoqin with disdain. Just moments ago, she had sworn she would never beg her, but now, hearing that she could take her away, she's showing a fawning face—truly disgusting. Indeed, marriages maintained by power are unreliable. She thought Yao Ruoqin was so fond of Shangguan Che, but now, to save her own life, she's kicking him while he's down!
"Don't you love Shangguan Che very much? Are you really going to betray him?" Shen Qianmo didn't answer Yao Ruoqin's question, but instead asked a question that she was very curious about.
"Love?!" Yao Ruoqin laughed sarcastically, with a hint of disdain. "He's treated me like this, why would I still love him? Besides, love is a luxury. If you don't even have your life, what's the point of loving? Moreover, if he weren't the Third Prince, if he weren't the future emperor, how could I possibly love him like this?"
Upon hearing Yao Ruoqin's words, Shen Qianmo's sarcasm deepened.
So this is what Yao Ruoqin called love? It's laughable that she previously sympathized with Yao Ruoqin's situation. Yao Ruoqin's so-called love is nothing more than possession built on power and self-interest.
Even Yao Ruoqin understood that if he didn't love her, why should she love him? How could she have been so foolish in her past life? Knowing that Shangguan Che's heart was no longer with her, she still foolishly hoped that he would turn back. In the end, what did she get? She got to see him coldly watching another woman kill her child, and she got to see him viciously pouring poison into her mouth.
"Alright, I'll take you away." Shen Qianmo's eyes were calm, like a still lake, without any ripples.
Yao Ruoqin looked at Shen Qianmo suspiciously, and said with some doubt, "Are you really so kind as to take me away? You're not planning to trick me out of the manor to kill me, are you?!"
A hint of mockery flashed in Shen Qianmo's eyes. He slowly turned to the side and laughed, "If I wanted to kill you, it would be as easy as turning my hand. Why would I need to leave the manor? Whether you leave or not, I don't have the patience to spare!"
"I'm leaving!" Yao Ruoqin said without much hesitation.
After receiving Yao Ruoqin's reply, Shen Qianmo swiftly led Yao Ruoqin away from the guards of the Third Prince's residence, dropped her off at the entrance of the General's residence, and then turned and left.
Yao Ruoqin watched Shen Qianmo's retreating figure. The winter sun was not as scorching as the summer sun, but it gently shone on Shen Qianmo. At this moment, she was dressed in men's clothing, yet she was still breathtakingly beautiful. She walked so unhurriedly, yet she gave people a noble and otherworldly feeling.
Yao Ruoqin gritted her teeth in resentment! Shen Qianmo, why do you have such a stunningly beautiful face, such an ethereal temperament? Why do you have such superb martial arts skills? This is not fair!
One day, I'll tear that indifferent face of yours to shreds!
Withdrawing her resentful gaze, Yao Ruoqin showed her entry token and entered the General's Mansion with an air of arrogance. Even without Shangguan Che's favor, she still had her father. Why would she worry about not having wealth and honor in the future?
Yao Ruoqin's figure disappeared in front of the General's mansion, while Shen Qianmo walked unhurriedly in the sunlight.
Situ Jingyan was still dressed in an eye-catching red robe, the color of which was originally gaudy, but he managed to make it look unruly. He raised his sword-like eyebrows slightly, and a charming smile appeared on his lips as he blocked Shen Qianmo's path. "Mo'er, aren't you interested in seeing what's going on at the General's Mansion?"
"When did Jingyan become so curious?" Shen Qianmo smiled alluringly, a hint of interest flashing in her eyes. "It's nothing more than some schemes and plots. If Jingyan is interested, he can go and take a look."
"Since we have nothing else to do, let's go to the General's Mansion and watch a show." Situ Jingyan reached out to put his arm around Shen Qianmo's slender waist, his narrow peach blossom eyes radiating a captivating light.
Shen Qianmo deftly avoided Situ Jingyan's hand, her smile undiminished, a hint of cunning in her eyes. "Men and women should not touch each other. Jingyan, don't always be so frivolous."
"Men and women shouldn't touch each other? You're my wife!" Situ Jingyan pouted in dissatisfaction, then revealed his childish side, continuing to reach out relentlessly, "Flirtatious? How can Mo'er say such things about me?"
Shen Qianmo looked at Situ Jingyan's feigned sadness with amusement, reached out and tapped his forehead, and laughed, "Alright, if you don't go now, you'll miss the show."
After saying that, without waiting for Situ Jingyan to return, she walked straight towards the General's Mansion. Situ Jingyan had no choice but to follow her, since he simply couldn't do anything about Shen Qianmo.
Shen Qianmo and Situ Jingyan sat steadily on the tree branches of the General's Mansion, watching the good show unfolding in the courtyard below.
"Mo'er, are all the guards in Qiyue this useless?" Situ Jingyan sat on a tree, his face carrying a hint of kingly dominance, and said disdainfully.
Shen Qianmo rolled her eyes at Situ Jingyan. Qi Yue's guards were indeed relatively weak, which was why she could easily enter and leave the palace and the prince's residence. But Situ Jingyan didn't need to be so smug. He was just saying that Tianmo's guards were very strong.
"Oh? After Qi Yue's matter is over, I'd like to see just how strong Tianmo's guards are." Shen Qianmo raised an eyebrow, confident that with her lightness skill, avoiding the guards would be a piece of cake.
"How strong can the country's guards be?" Situ Jingyan raised an eyebrow, a smile playing on his lips, and said with a touch of domineering arrogance, "If Mo'er wants to test her skills, why not try the guards of the Enchanting Blood Tower?"
A hint of interest flashed in Shen Qianmo's eyes. It was rumored that the guards of the Enchanting Blood Tower were arranged according to the Eighteen Formations of Heaven. The formations were varied, but the guards' skills were all top-notch. If she had the time, she would really like to try it out.
“Yes, Father, Shangguan Jin has made it clear that if we pull back from the brink, he will spare our lives. But Shangguan Che is still stubborn, so I had no choice but to run back.” Yao Ruoqin’s voice interrupted Shen Qianmo and Situ Jingyan’s conversation. The two of them looked down at each other, their eyes filled with the same playful and lazy expression. They were a match made in heaven.
"That Shangguan Che! All my support for him has been for nothing, and now he can't even defeat Shangguan Jin!" Yao Shan's eyes flashed with anger, then he said coldly, "Since he wants to die, then I won't play along. Let him die alone!"
“But Father,” Yao Ruoqin seemed to want to say something, her eyes showing some difficulty.
"What, Ruoqin, are you still reluctant to part with Shangguan Che?" Yao Shan frowned as he looked at his daughter's troubled expression. He had thought that his daughter marrying Shangguan Che was a great move, that she would become the empress and he would benefit from it, but it turned out like this.
Yao Ruoqin frowned and said with a disdainful look, "Why would I be reluctant to part with him? He'll be a stray dog soon! If he treated me better, I might be reluctant, but Father, you don't know how he's treated me these days!"
"Since you're not reluctant to part with him, what's troubling Ruoqin?" Yao Shan looked at his daughter and nodded in satisfaction. She should be able to let go easily. Those who have been in officialdom for a long time have long regarded emotions as dirt!
"Does Ruoqin just think that after Shangguan Che dies, Ruoqin will be a widow for the rest of her life?" Yao Ruoqin finally said what she wanted to say.