Super Main d'Or

Chapitre 48

"Prime Minister, there's no need to bring up those ignorant things from when we were young. Please stop beating around the bush."

Deng Qinghui scrutinized her for a long time before sighing, "Miss, do you know that ever since the Yunge Poetry Competition, Qinghui has been unable to forget you and has been deeply in love with you?"

Yin Wuxiao's heart sank.

“Miss, three years ago our family suffered a great calamity. I was frantic with worry, but I couldn’t find you anywhere. Now that I know you have returned from your seclusion to recuperate, I dare to express my feelings to you. Miss, the world is cold and people’s hearts are hard to discern. You are a lonely and weak woman. Rather than shouldering the burden of the family’s prosperity and showing your face in public, why not let me provide you with shelter? From now on, you can rely on your husband for status and live in harmony with him. What do you say?”

After a long pause, Yin Wuxiao forced a smile and said, "Your Excellency is joking. Your Excellency married the daughter of the Imperial Brother-in-law two years ago. They are a loving couple and follow each other's lead. Why should I, Wuxiao, interfere?"

Deng Qinghui was neither angry nor argued. He reached out and grabbed Yin Wuxiao's sleeve: "Miss is a smart woman, why pretend to be ignorant? As long as Miss nods, Miss will have a place in the Prime Minister's mansion. This poem..." He took the poem he had just written and folded, and brazenly put the paper into Yin Wuxiao's sleeve pocket, openly stroking her delicate forearm with his hand.

"This poem, consider it a token of our love for Miss, shall we?"

Yin Wuxiao's body stiffened, his anger barely contained. "Prime Minister, please have some self-respect."

"There is no one else on this stream, only this painted boat. If I, the Prime Minister, do not respect myself, what can Miss do?" Deng Qinghui smiled.

Yin Wuxiao remained silent, but upon hearing the faint sounds outside the cabin, he let out a soft breath and sneered, "This pleasure boat belongs to the Prime Minister, but Gongxi is not his Gongxi. How does the Prime Minister know that there is only this one pleasure boat on Gongxi?" Before Deng Qinghui could react, he reached out and lifted the curtain, stepping out of the cabin.

Deng Qinghui was taken aback. He chased after them onto the deck, only to find a small boat had suddenly appeared on the stream, its bow touching that of his own pleasure boat. Yin Wuxiao had already stepped onto the small boat with his back to him. On the boat, besides the boatman, was the little maid who had been left on the shore earlier.

Unexpectedly, she had a backup plan before boarding the ship. Deng Qing felt somewhat frustrated, yet secretly admired her.

Although he harbored ill intentions, he was very concerned about his manners and did not press the matter further. He simply smiled and said, "Miss promised Qing that she would remove her veil, but she has not yet fulfilled that promise."

Yin Wuxiao turned around, gave him a cold look, and without any hesitation, casually waved her hand, causing her veil to fall off.

"Is Your Excellency satisfied?"

Seeing the slight disappointment on Deng Qinghui's face, she thought to herself with a sneer, "Does Deng Qinghui really think she's a stunning beauty?"

Deng Qinghui was also thinking to himself: Although Yin Wuxiao's appearance was not as good as he had expected, it did not diminish her talent and romantic demeanor. If he could not get this woman, he would be unable to suppress his desire.

"Miss Yin!" Just as the small boat was about to leave, he called out loudly, "The other day when I went to visit the Second Prince's residence, I met a maidservant by the Prince's side. She was an acquaintance. Do you know who she is, Miss?"

Yin Wuxiao's expression changed drastically.

The paper in my sleeve, though light, felt as heavy as a stone at this moment.

Deng Qinghui knew he had achieved his goal and laughed, "Miss Yin, please consider my suggestion more carefully. I await your good news." He turned and went back to his cabin, confident.

※ ※ ※

With a "crash," another piece of porcelain in the Yin family's study was ruined.

Yun'er heard this and was anxious, but dared not approach. Her mistress had instructed her not to disturb her, and she did not. Her mistress said that obedience was a sign of wisdom, and she kept that in mind.

After turning through several corridors, just as she was thinking of going to the kitchen to prepare some calming and cooling things for the young lady to vent her anger and replenish her strength, she bumped into the handsome young man who she had personally chased out of the house with a broom a few days ago.

"Huh?" Yun'er blinked. "Where did you come from?"

Baili Qingyi smiled at her: "It flew in." Seeing her eyes widen, she added: "I am your young lady's friend, I will not harm her, don't worry."

Yun'er thought for a moment. This wasn't the first time her mistress's friend had flown in and out like this. Even if he really had some bad intentions, it wasn't something her mistress and she, two weak women, could stop him from doing. Besides, this young master was incredibly handsome...

"What's wrong with your young lady?" Another sound of porcelain shattering rang out, and Baili Qingyi asked with a frown.

"Miss went to see the Prime Minister today, and when she came back..." Wait, that's not right. How could she tell outsiders about Miss's affairs so casually? Yun'er quickly shut her mouth.

Baili Qingyi chuckled. This maid was probably carefully trained by Yin Wuxiao; her every word and action was cautious and prudent, perfectly suited to Yin Wuxiao's temperament. He didn't ask any more questions and walked towards the study.

He pushed open the door, and a vase flew towards him, which Baili Qingyi caught steadily. "What happened?" The room was a mess, and his calm mood was disturbed.

Upon seeing him, Yin Wuxiao turned and sat down on the chaise lounge. "This is none of your business." She paused, then, remembering he was now someone she refused to associate with, abruptly stood up: "Who gave you permission to come in? Get out!"

Baili Qingyi laughed: "Xiao'er, I want to come in; your walls can't stop me."

Little did she know that these words struck a nerve with Yin Wuxiao. She raised her hand and threw another vase at her: "My walls are for gentlemen, and they can't stop a despicable thief like you!"

Baili Qingyi hurriedly took the phone again, somewhat bewildered. After a long while, he finally said, "Xiao'er, who offended you?" He had never seen Yin Wuxiao act like a shrew before. The only time he had seen her lose control was when she angrily jumped onto her horse.

"I..." Yin Wuxiao wanted to vent her anger, but felt it was inappropriate to say such things to him, and she was unwilling to give up, so she simply shut her mouth and sulked. A surge of grievance welled up in her heart. Was being a woman a matter of having to dedicate one's life to one man or having to navigate between all sorts of men? She only wanted a few days of peace and tranquility, but she was being held back at every turn.

"I don't want to see you right now." She turned her back to him, trying not to make her tone too harsh.

Seeing the seriousness in her tone, Baili Qingyi sensed something was amiss. She stepped forward and said, "Xiao'er, if you've suffered any injustice or have anything troubling you, feel free to tell me..."

Yin Wuxiao sneered, "Are you going to provide me with shelter too?" She simply walked past him and headed towards the door.

Baili Qingyi frowned, reaching for her sleeve to stop her from leaving. Unexpectedly, he pulled something from her sleeve, which floated lightly to the ground.

Yin Wuxiao's expression suddenly changed. He stared blankly as the paper fell to the ground, and then saw Baili Qingyi pick it up and unfold it. He forgot to stop her.

After reading the poem on the paper, Baili Qingyi saw that Yin Wuxiao looked bewildered and understood about 70-80% of it. His rare anger rose uncontrollably.

"You boarded his pleasure boat alone?" His gentleness and caution vanished, replaced by a stern gaze.

"Yes." Yin Wuxiao straightened his neck.

"Didn't you know his intentions beforehand? Did you want to become his concubine?"

"Didn't I come back unharmed? I don't want to talk about this." Yin Wuxiao lowered his eyes, not wanting to recall unpleasant memories.

Baili Qingyi stared at the woman before him, a familiar sense of powerlessness welling up inside him. He couldn't control her, he could never even clearly perceive her thoughts, he couldn't be sure if she would stay or leave, he wasn't even sure if he was important to her. This woman was too resilient, too ruthless to herself, and had too eccentric a personality. He never knew what she would do next.

The cold-blooded goose guards the icy pond

The lady angrily urged the beautiful woman to sit on the moonlit flower, while the top scholar built a new ivory bed.

A single fragrant branch, glistening with dew, was unexpectedly taken into the twelve rooms of the West Wing.

The twelve rooms in the west wing were taken in...

"How dare he write such a poem to you..." Baili Qingyi gripped the paper tightly, wanting to tear Deng Qinghui to pieces. "Did he do anything to you?"

"No."

"How could there not be? The person who could write such poems, who could write such vulgar and obscene poems... what he thinks is a hundred or a thousand times more obscene than what is written in his poems..."

"Baili Qingyi!" Yin Wuxiao roared. "Do you think I'm a weak woman incapable of protecting myself? Do you think I don't know there are many filthy people in this world? What right do you have to lecture me?" Her composure and self-control in front of others could no longer be maintained. This person, who had shared so many hardships with her, knew her joys and sorrows, and almost saw through her completely, still couldn't believe that she could protect herself from harm.

"Why don't I have the right to lecture you?" Baili Qingyi's composure vanished in an instant. "You're not a member of the martial world, you have no martial arts skills to defend yourself. If that person had malicious intentions, how could you escape? Tell me, how are you going to use your so-called cleverness and wisdom to escape? Xiao'er, since we parted ways at Baiwen Manor, I thought you would have made some progress, but I didn't expect you to still be so willful and so emotional!"

Yin Wuxiao trembled, her phoenix eyes fixed on him, reddening: "Don't mention your Jianghu to me, and don't mention Baiwen Manor! Baili Qingyi, I am not a Jianghu person, I am not under the jurisdiction of your Baili Mansion. You uphold your Jianghu justice, what does it have to do with me? You used me to fulfill your father's last wish, you used me to investigate the secrets within the Qiao Gang, do you think I don't know these things? You've used me all you want, can't you let me have a few days of peace? When I left with Mu Li at Baiwen Manor, you didn't interfere, so who I marry in the future, whether as a wife or a concubine, is none of your business! Baili Qingyi, no matter how many people like and admire you, I, Yin Wuxiao, don't care. From this day forward, for all eternity, I will have nothing to do with you!"

The words she uttered in her rage had already taken a toll on her strength, but she forced herself to stand up defiantly and look him straight in the eye, her expression noble and unapproachable. Only the turmoil in her chest betrayed her turbulent inner turmoil.

Baili Qingyi was stunned, taken aback by her resolute expression. Her words echoed in his mind like a mountain bell. Yes, she knew everything. She saw right through him, revealing no glory imposed by the martial arts world, only darkness and cowardice that even he himself despised.

He held his breath, trying to soothe her anger with a calm tone, but what came out was a bitter smile: "Xiao'er, I admit, I used you. I won't argue, but... but am I really so worthless in your heart? If that's the case, then why..." He paused, his eyes brightening, his tenderness bordering on humility: "Xiao'er, ask yourself honestly, do you really have no feelings for me at all? Then why did you run around for my injury? You knelt for three days and three nights for me at the foot of Tianshan Mountain, forced Bai Can to enter the palace to steal ginseng for me, and searched the entire martial world for Yu Zong Dao Mo for me. There must be a reason for all of this."

Yin Wuxiao was captivated by his tender, almost pleading question, and she was stunned.

The room was quiet.

Yin Wuxiao let out a slow breath, his bright eyes welling up with tears. He finally asked.

He asked, so she couldn't not answer; she couldn't lie to him, and she couldn't lie to herself. She couldn't do it.

So she said softly:

"Yes, I, Yin Wuxiao, have fallen for you."

Baili Qingyi's chest pounded like a drum.

Yin Wuxiao continued, not even glancing at him: "You, Young Master Qingyi, are loved by everyone in the martial world. Countless heroines and beauties are crazy about you, and I'm no different. But who says that just because I like you, I have to marry you wholeheartedly? Who says that just because I like you, I have to be at your beck and call? Don't I have my own opinions and principles?"

Baili Qingyi was stunned; he never expected to receive such an answer.

Yin Wuxiao gently turned her head to look at him, her expression pained:

"You... only say ambiguous things and do ambiguous things, but you never let anyone know what you're really thinking. Now you've forced me to say these things, and you're happy? You're happy, aren't you?"

"You... are you pleased now? Happy? I... I don't want to see you again, never again." She sounded like a wronged little girl.

Baili Qingyi stared blankly at her, watching tears well up in her eyes, sliding down her snow-white cheeks, down her delicate chin, down her neck, and dripping onto the ground. He reached out to catch them, but when he caught one, he abruptly pulled his hand back. The tear burned his palm, but chilled him to the bone.

"I... I thought I was smart all my life, but when I encountered love, all my careful calculations turned out to be foolish," Baili Qingyi sighed.

He took out a small jade pendant and gently placed it in Yin Wuxiao's hand.

"Xiao'er, this jade pendant... this jade pendant is my most precious possession. If you ever encounter any difficulties in the future, just have someone bring this jade pendant to Baili Prefecture in the capital, and I will come immediately. You..." He reached out to stroke her cheek and wipe away her tears, but when he met her unfriendly tearful eyes, he had no choice but to give up.

"My feelings for you have been there for more than just a day or two, or even a year or two. I hope you can understand, I hope you can comprehend, yet I fear you are too clever, too insightful. It's just that... alas, it was not my intention to hurt you. Please be careful in everything you do from now on... You are the most extraordinary woman in this world, I believe in you. You can live a good life without me."

He steeled his heart, turned around, and stepped out of the room.

Xiao'er, oh Xiao'er, do you know that you can live a good life without me, but without you, I would not be myself.

※ ※ ※

Yin Wuxiao sat there, gazing at the jade pendant, for the entire night. Only when dawn broke did he finally succumb to exhaustion and fall into a deep sleep.

Little did he know that he had only taken a nap when Yun'er barged into the room, shouting and yelling.

"Miss, Miss, something terrible has happened!"

"What happened?" Yun'er rarely acted so carelessly; something serious must have happened. Yin Wuxiao opened his eyes, which were red and swollen.

"Miss, someone from the Prince's manor has sent word that Miss Mansi has been imprisoned!"

"What?" Yin Wuxiao suddenly stood up. Impossible. If Deng Qing were trying to frame someone, it wouldn't have happened so quickly. Besides, he told her yesterday to think it over carefully. How could he reveal his trump card so soon?

Did they say what the reason was?

"It seems that...they offended the princess."

Yin Wuxiao pondered for a moment, then raised his eyebrows and said, "Yun'er, prepare the carriage. I need to go to the Ministry of Justice prison."

※ ※ ※

By the time he had smoothed things over with all the relevant parties and finally saw Shi Mansi in prison, it was already dark.