12dz Chapter 38: You Have to Be Gentle When You Tell Me to Get Lost?
Chapter 38: You Have to Be Gentle When You Tell Me to Get Lost?
Mu Xue was speechless after Mu Yan's words, and could only glare at her fiercely.
Mu Yunyan said, "Ayan is right. Then let's wait here for news."
Although Mu Xue was unwilling, she dared not disobey Mu Yunyan's wishes.
Before long, the doctor's voice could be heard from inside.
Everyone's hearts tightened instantly.
Mu Yan walked out of the house, looking somewhat tired.
"Ayan, how is Aci?" Mu Yunyan asked hurriedly.
Mu Yan gave a slight bow. "Mother, please don't worry. The medicine has been given, and the fever has subsided considerably, but you still need to take good care of her."
Upon hearing this, Mu Xue's eyes darted around, and she said in a shrill voice, "Sister, you're doing such a good deed, could it be that you knew all along that Fourth Brother would contract the plague, and you did it on purpose?"
Mu Yan's expression changed. "Second sister, why do you say that? I only discovered fourth brother's illness by chance and took him to the hospital in time."
Mu Yunyan frowned. "Enough. With the epidemic raging, you must not continue to suspect each other and cause trouble. Mu Xue, if you make any more unfounded accusations, I will not let you off easily."
Mu Xue pouted and lowered her head unwillingly.
"Everyone, step back and let him rest properly."
"Yes," the two replied and withdrew one after the other.
As soon as Mu Yan stepped out of the clinic, she summoned the system.
"Hey, what a coincidence, I also need to talk to you!" Aladdin said with a grin.
"Is it also related to the plague?"
"Yes, the mission is to align with global standards!"
"Okay, I understand. Let's analyze the situation."
[System is detecting the world, beep, you'll be broadcasting this shortly.]
[Host world detected. Many pipes in the city are clogged, and the ditches are filled with the stench of rotting animal carcasses; the water quality is unclean.]
"pipeline?"
"Yes, if the pipes are not dredged, dirt will accumulate and eventually cause problems."
"No, I mean, I'm in charge of the pipelines too?"
"You want the points too, don't you?" Aladdin muttered to himself.
"What are you mumbling about?"
"It's nothing, oh dear, you go and get it done. Just make sure it's clear. As for the rest, leave it to the Imperial Hospital."
"Shouldn't this be handled by designated officials?"
“Yes,” Aladdin said lazily.
"You're kidding me!" Mu Yan said, reaching out to hit Aladdin.
"That's exactly right! You're a powerful minister with a romance system. If you don't get rid of a few useless officials... hmph, how will you climb the ranks!" Aladdin said, making a throat-slitting gesture.
Aladdin's words seemed to awaken Mu Yan's senses.
She knew it! Why did they make her dig ditches all of a sudden? Turns out they were paving the way for her.
The dog system is still somewhat useful.
"Okay, I got it. Go back to sleep. I'll call you if I need anything."
"Hmph~ I'm not the kind of lazy system that just sleeps all day." Aladdin pouted.
"Alright, alright, you're not. You can leave now, I have important business to attend to!"
"Hmph, you're quite enthusiastic about side quests, but you haven't made any progress on the main quests at all."
Mu Yan rolled her eyes at him. "What do you know? I'm playing the long game."
"Where's the line? Where's the fishhook? What if the male lead gets kidnapped?"
"Huh? Didn't you say this was my official pairing? How could someone else steal it from me?"
"Emm...who knows?"
"Alright, never mind that, let's get down to business!" Mu Yan said, then shut down the system and walked towards the alley behind her.
Mu Xue followed Mu Yan furtively.
She'd been following him for two miles already, and he still wasn't stopping. Her feet were practically calloused from all the walking. Why didn't he ever take a break?
Mu Xue rubbed her ankle while complaining, and when she looked up again, Mu Yan was gone.
Damn it, where did she go! She stood up and looked around for Mu Yan's figure.
"Are you looking for me?" Mu Yan suddenly appeared behind her.
Mu Xue was startled by her, but she forced herself to remain calm and said, "Who, who's looking for you!"
"Then what were you doing, sneaking around behind me like that?"
"You knew I was behind you? You deliberately walked this far away!"
"So what?"
"Mu Yan, you are truly vicious!"
"Heh," Mu Yan chuckled, placing the sword against her neck. "Putting aside whether you're malicious or not, tell me, what's your purpose in following me?"
"What could possibly be the purpose of sisters walking together like this!"
"Still dare to be stubborn?" Mu Yan questioned her coldly.
"I...I just wanted to see where you were going."
"Do you see it clearly now?"
"Look... I see clearly." Mu Xue was terrified; she was truly afraid that Mu Yan, that crazy woman, would kill her with a single blow.
"Look carefully and then get lost!" Mu Yan moved the sword aside and pushed Mu Xue forward a step.
Mu Xue was stunned by the push and said aggrievedly, "Fine, I'll leave, why are you yelling at me like that!" No one had ever yelled at her like that before.
Mu Yan couldn't help but laugh out loud, "So I have to be gentle when I tell you to get lost?"
"Who cares if you're gentle or not? You're crazy! I'm going back to tell my mother!" Mu Xue said and ran away.
Mu Yan smiled helplessly; there was really nothing she could do about her.
This is the kind of person she fears most in her life.
It's neither completely bad nor thoroughly good.
They teeter on the edge of morality, leaving people unsure of what to do.
I just hope she doesn't go astray; otherwise, swords have no eyes, and she won't care about our past relationship.
Green Bamboo Garden
Mu Yunqing led Pei Xuan in practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard. As the sword rose and fell, bamboo leaves fluttered in the air.
He moved with lightning speed, his sword wielding with impenetrable precision, each strike carrying a sharp and fierce aura, slicing down the surrounding bamboo leaves.
Pei Xuan followed Mu Yunqing's movements closely, his eyes focused, and his sword danced in response.
Ling Qi suddenly jumped down from the eaves. Pei Xuan thought she was an assassin and slammed her to the ground with a leap.
"What are you doing?" Ling Qi asked him through gritted teeth.
"I was about to ask you the same thing. What are you doing here, sneaking around like this?" Pei Xuan said, tightening his grip on the hand.
Ling Qi, in pain, quickly begged for mercy, "You've hit the wrong person, I'm one of our own."
"One of our own?" Pei Xuan turned to look at Mu Yunqing.
"Yes, let her go," Mu Yunqing said calmly.
Ling Qi rolled her eyes at Mu Yunqing, "Did you deliberately let him arrest me?"
Is there any point in asking a question you already know the answer to?
"Hmph, I won't argue with you." Ling Qi said, patting her clothes and getting up.
"What are you doing here?"
"His Majesty... requests that you come to the palace," Ling Qi said weakly.
"I?"
"Ah."
"What do you want with me?" Mu Yunqing asked lazily, then suddenly changed the subject, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes. "Or is it that someone has betrayed me again?"
Ling Qi hurriedly knelt down, "Ling Qi, no, this is His Majesty's will. She said... she has something to entrust to you."
"If you're not wrong, why are you panicking? Stand up and speak."
Ling Qi put on a smile and said ingratiatingly, "Then... when do you have time to go over there? That way I can explain myself."
Seeing her like this, Mu Yunqing teased, "When did you become so obsequious? It's a little strange to see you being so compliant all of a sudden."
"Oh, what are you saying, Lingqi? You've always been very obedient."
Ling Qi said this outwardly, but inwardly she was cursing.
He has the nerve to say that. It's all because he keeps talking about death all the time, always saying things like "where he'll die" or "I'll drag her down with me even if I die."
Anyone would be afraid, humph.
"Did she say what it was?"
"No."
"Alright, I'll go check it out later. You can go back and report."
"Okay!" Ling Qi replied happily and turned to leave.
Although Mu Yunqing readily agreed, he had already started making his own plans.
The Empress sought him out for one of two things: to kill someone or to solve a case.
Is it because there's no one around, or...?
Does she want to extend her influence outside the palace?
It's not impossible.
The struggle between dynasties must be guarded against, and it is certainly a good thing to find more allies for oneself.
But Mu Yunqing would never do anything for her for nothing.
For him, gold and silver treasures were ultimately external possessions; he needed something more practical.
"Master, are you really going to the palace?" Pei Xuan asked him.
"Well, after all, she is the Empress, so I can't refuse."
Do you... see each other often?
"I suppose so. Why are you asking this all of a sudden?" Mu Yunqing turned to look at him.
"We still need to be wary of people in the palace. Pei Xuan, let's go together."
Mu Yunqing was about to agree when she remembered Pei Xuan's previous ordeal. "You're coming with me because you want revenge?"
“Ha, revenge…” Pei Xuan gave a bitter laugh. “Revenge is too far away for me.”
"Then you don't need to go. Just watch over the vegetables for me!" Mu Yunqing said, pointing to the vegetables in the yard.
He casually assigned him a task, simply to prevent him from getting involved in the court again.
How could Pei Xuan not understand his intentions?
But what reason did he have to sit idly by and wait for his death?
"My lord, please take me with you. I'll wait for you outside the palace gates," Pei Xuan said again.
"Alright, then let's go."
"Pei Xuan thanks his master." Pei Xuan said, bowing and kneeling down.
Looking at his figure, Mu Yunqing felt that he was too similar to his former self.
There was a time when he, like him, would kneel down to anyone he met.
Bruised knees are just an everyday occurrence.
"From now on, unless you have made a mistake, you will not have to kneel."
Upon hearing this, Pei Xuan looked up at him.
When their eyes met, it felt like a lifetime had passed.
His mother had said the same thing to him before.
"If there is no fault, there is no need to kneel."
He was once a precious treasure, but alas, snow covered the green mountains, blood stained the family, and treacherous officials hid him everywhere. In the end, his parents were separated from him, he was covered in wounds, and his family was destroyed.
Thinking of this, Pei Xuan couldn't help but clench his fists.
He would never let these so-called superiors off easily.
The people suffer greatly, and the world is desolate; they deserve to be made to endure it all.
"It's getting late, let's get going." Mu Yunqing said, getting up and leaping onto the roof, with Pei Xuan following closely behind him.
The two traversed the rooftops and soon arrived at the palace gate.
Mu Yunqing entered the palace to meet the emperor.
Pei Xuan wandered around on the eaves and unknowingly arrived at Xinghe Hall.
He stood on the eaves watching her.
She knelt on the ground in plain clothes, muttering incantations, with a brazier in front of her.
The maid beside him kept peeling off the paper money.
Someone died in Xinghe Hall?
In just over half a month, who died so suddenly?
Pei Xuan was pondering when he suddenly heard his name.
Xiao Ran cried uncontrollably, murmuring, "Pei Xuan, may you rest in peace."
"Waaah, it's all my fault, I shouldn't have let you go."
"I'll never curse you to die again, sob sob sob."
Pei Xuan didn't understand why she was crying at the time.
I found out later...
Bloodstains were visible on the skylight, and corpses stretched for dozens of miles along the wall—this was a description of him.
That night, everyone in Anning Palace thought he was dead, including Xiao Yu'an.
Everyone says that a handsome man died in Anning Palace.
The news spread like wildfire, eventually reaching the Xinghe Hall.
Who else could be a handsome man besides Pei Xuan?
When Xiao Ran heard the news, she could barely stand and cried as she went to Anning Palace to look for the person.
It was Chaoyue who stopped her.
Now, people are mourning for him, and there's no stopping them.
Pei Xuan felt a pang of bitterness in his heart. She was not related to him at all; in fact, she was his enemy.
She should hate him.
But when she heard that he was dead, she was the one who cried the most.
Empress' bedroom
Xiao Ning lay on the couch, her blood-red dress outlining her graceful figure.
Her eyes were languid and alluring, and the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned, revealing a subtle smile.
Mu Yunqing knelt before the bed, awaiting the Empress's command.
She suddenly sat up, walked to Mu Yunqing, gently lifted his chin with her finger, and said, "Do you know why I summoned you here?"
Mu Yunqing moved her hand away and said, "Your Majesty, I am unaware. Your Majesty may speak frankly."
The Empress smiled, leaned close to Mu Yunqing's ear, and whispered, "You don't know? Then I'll tell you. I summoned you here because I want to take you as my concubine. Are you willing?"
"Your Majesty, please don't be so harsh on this humble subject," Mu Yunqing said, taking a step back to distance himself from the Empress.
"Hmph," the Empress snorted coldly, sat back on the couch, but her gaze did not leave Mu Yunqing.
"You have a pleasing appearance, but your words are not. So many people are eager to get into my bed, yet you refuse?"
"The ruler is the ruler, and the people are the people; I, a humble citizen, dare not overstep my bounds."
"Alright, I understand what you mean. If you're unwilling, I won't force you."
Despite saying that, Xiao Ning still felt a little regretful.
Mu Yunqing's face is etched into her heart.
He was brave and resourceful, and skilled in both literature and martial arts.
He could share her burdens with affairs of state and also warm her bed and befriend her.
Furthermore, keeping him by my side would also help to keep him in check.
But he was unwilling, and she couldn't force him.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Mu Yunqing said, bowing his head and kneeling again.
"A sudden epidemic has broken out in the city. Are you aware of this?"
"Have heard a little bit."
What are your thoughts on this epidemic?
"In my humble opinion, prevention should come first, followed by treatment, and then the root cause should be investigated."
"Hmm, that makes some sense. As for prevention first and treatment later, I will arrange for someone to handle that. But finding out the root cause is something you will have to deal with."
"This humble subject will certainly not disappoint Your Majesty's expectations."
"Alright, step down. I await your good news."
Mu Yunqing responded and then left the palace to meet Pei Xuan.
Where to go now?
"The Water Conservancy Bureau".
The two exchanged a glance and ran towards the Water Conservancy Bureau.
Dushuisi
Inside the Waterworks Office, Mu Yan leaned against a bookshelf, flipping through account books. The night breeze was unwelcome, the birds were silent, and the only sound was the rustling of pages.
Mu Yunqing and Pei Xuan quietly stepped inside.
As soon as Mu Yunqing approached the bookshelf, Mu Yan sensed someone getting close and turned around alertly.
Seeing a man in black standing behind her, Mu Yan kicked Mu Yunqing without saying a word.
How dare you steal something right under her nose!
She absolutely had to beat him to death.
She moved with the lightness of a swallow and the speed of her footsteps. Mu Yunqing hurriedly dodged to the side and hid in the narrow aisle between the bookshelves.
Mu Yan then threw a punch, creating a gust of wind as it struck a nearby wooden pillar, sending wood chips flying.
Mu Yunqing grabbed an account book and threw it at Mu Yan. Mu Yan raised her hand and swung it, knocking the account book to the ground.
The surrounding candlelight flickered and swayed due to the air currents generated by the two fighters' battle.
Mu Yan's eyes turned cold as she lunged at Mu Yunqing again. Mu Yunqing moved nimbly, weaving between the bookshelves like a ghost. In her haste, Mu Yan swept across a row of bookshelves, causing books to fall and try to block Mu Yunqing's path.
Mu Yunqing used the momentum to leap up and land steadily on top of another bookshelf, looking down at Mu Yan from above.
Enraged, Mu Yan was about to launch another attack when Pei Xuan quickly stepped forward to stop her. "Wait, it's all a misunderstanding."