Hawk-like eyes clashed with icy gazes, neither willing to yield. A silent contest of wills filled the air with tension, the atmosphere thick with an almost tangible hostility. Behind them, the two longswords began to tremble restlessly, emitting strange vibrations that made Gu Yun inwardly startled. Just as she was about to turn and investigate, a large hand clamped firmly onto her shoulder. Though she couldn't understand why Binglian and Chixue were behaving so differently tonight, she certainly didn't wish for an outsider to uncover the secret of the swords.
A frosty gaze pierced over Gu Yun's head and fixed upon the restless swords on the stone table. As if sensing Su Ling's fury, the brilliant light they emitted began to dim, and the incessant quivering of their blades gradually subsided.
Pain from her shoulder made Gu Yun furrow her brows, but she did not cry out. Instead, she spoke softly, "Let go."
Damn Su Ling. He dared to lay a hand on her!
Though her voice was quiet, her hand had already found the dagger at her waist. If he didn't release her soon, she wouldn't hesitate to act. Seeing that Binglian and Chixue had returned to their usual calm, Su Ling also ceased his aggression and released his grip.
Now finally having the chance to properly observe the woman before him, Su Ling took in her bizarre appearance. Her once knee-length hair had been cut to her waist and was tied high, devoid of any ornamentation. The close-fitting black garb she wore was undeniably strange, and she carried a longbow on her back in the middle of the night. When had the general's manor become a place she could come and go freely? And what of the night patrol guards—were they all blind?
Even someone as cold and aloof as Su Ling couldn't help but be intrigued. "So late at night, dressed like this—where were you planning to go?"
Now that he had let go, Gu Yun also moved her hand away from her waist. "I just returned from hunting," she replied nonchalantly, all the while glancing back toward the source of the earlier disturbance. Behind her stood the same familiar stone table and benches, the pine trees swaying gently in the breeze as always—nothing appeared out of the ordinary.
"Hunting?" Su Ling clearly didn't believe her.
Gu Yun turned around and met his increasingly frigid stare. With a shrug and a smile, she quipped, "I almost caught a giant rat, but it got away."
She was telling the truth. Whether he understood her meaning depended on his own perception.
Su Ling's sharp eyes lingered on her mischievous, strikingly beautiful face for a moment, and then—unexpectedly—his usually emotionless lips curled into a slight smile. In a low voice, he asked, "Are all the women of the Qing family so peculiar?"
What was that supposed to mean? Had he met the other sisters of the Qing family? Even if he had, was "peculiar" the word he had to use?
Feeling something was off, Gu Yun deliberately played along and replied, "Compared to them, I believe I'm quite normal."
Su Ling's hawk-eyes narrowed slightly as he nodded. "True. The grace your sister showed while dissecting a corpse was truly… eye-opening."
He had witnessed all manner of horrors on the battlefield, but never had he seen anyone examine a human body with such calm precision—dissecting and analyzing each organ as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world. That the person doing this was a slender woman only made it more astonishing. Her steady hands and composed demeanor left an indelible impression.
Dissecting corpses?!
Gu Yun's heart skipped a beat, joy and excitement flooding her chest. But in order to draw out more information from Su Ling, she reined in her emotions and feigned ignorance, asking, "How did you know my sister is skilled in autopsies?"
Su Ling replied blandly, "Tonight, in the great hall, she stole the show."
Not just him—even the civil and military officials would surely remember the newly appointed Lady Prime Minister vividly.
The great hall? So Qing must have possessed one of the Qing daughters who had entered the palace. Gu Yun pressed on, "Where is she now? Still in the palace?"
"She should have returned to the Prime Minister's manor by now."
Su Ling's interest was already fading, and Gu Yun didn't ask further. She had learned what she needed: Qing had likely entered the body of one of the Qing daughters and was now residing at the Prime Minister's residence. That was enough for now. She would find a way to meet her.
For the moment, she had to deal with Su Ling.
Taking a step back, she sat calmly on the stone bench and said, in a composed and amicable tone, "There's something I'd like to discuss with you."
Just moments ago, she had been acting like a fierce tigress; now, her demeanor was cool and serene. Curious about the sudden shift, Su Ling sat down across from her and replied in a low voice, "Speak."
Without hesitation, Gu Yun went straight to the point. "I know the Emperor of Qiongyue forced me into the general's manor. You were never pleased, never wanted me here. My presence seems to have disrupted your usual life. So, I propose a solution: I'll stay for a while, and once the Emperor loses interest in the matter, you can find any excuse to expel me. That way, things can return to normal for you, and your life will go on as before."
She was good at reading expressions, and it was obvious that Su Ling didn't like her—his fleeting curiosity couldn't mask the disdain in his eyes. Since that was the case, her departure should be welcome.
Yet Su Ling's face showed not the slightest sign of joy. He stared at her coldly, and a sense of foreboding rose within Gu Yun. Still, since he remained silent, she had no choice but to ask, "What do you think?"
As expected, he replied with just three words: "Not a chance."
"Why not?"
Troublesome woman. Su Ling's voice grew colder. "Since you've entered the general's manor, don't even think about leaving. As for your future, I will make the arrangements. You needn't concern yourself."
Women cared most about their reputations, didn't they? A woman thrown out of the general's manor—what kind of ending would await her? He hated the trouble women brought, but he wouldn't abandon her to ruin. If she couldn't bear living here, he'd just build a separate residence outside the city. Out of sight, out of mind.
Of course, Gu Yun had no idea what was going on in his head. She merely listened to his words and let out a cold laugh. "So, to put it plainly, you don't care whether you want me or not. My feelings are irrelevant. Even if I'm nothing more than a decorative object, I'm still expected to remain trapped in this place forever, awaiting your arrangements?"
Ridiculous. Who did he think he was?
Her sharp retort only deepened Su Ling's displeasure. He had no need to explain himself to a woman. With defiant arrogance, he replied, "Exactly."
"No room for negotiation?" Gu Yun asked one final time.
The glint in Su Ling's cold, dark eyes gave her the answer.
Gu Yun rose to her feet. Su Ling assumed she was about to start throwing a tantrum, but instead, she merely said with a calm expression, "Understood."
There was no point continuing the conversation. Since the negotiation had failed, she would proceed with her original plan. No one—not even Su Ling—could keep her trapped here forever.
Her unnervingly calm composure, the resolve and disdain in her eyes, filled Su Ling with a sudden sense of unease. As she stood, he too rose abruptly, his tall frame once again blocking her path.
"Step. Aside."
This time, Gu Yun had no patience left. With a low growl, her dagger flashed from her waist.
She had only intended to force him back and make her escape. But just as the blade neared him, Su Ling agilely dodged. Gu Yun tried to seize the opportunity, but he swiftly closed in, entangling her movements.
Though she held a dagger, Su Ling was a seasoned warrior. After only a few exchanges, Gu Yun knew she was no match for him. His eyes grew colder, his strikes more ruthless. After a dozen blows, he seized her wrist with a grip like iron. Pain shot through her arm—his strength made it impossible to hold onto the dagger. With a clatter, it fell to the ground.
Even with the searing pain nearly breaking her wrist, Gu Yun refused to utter a sound. She had been defeated—she could accept that—but beg for mercy?
Never.
Su Ling had not expected...