Jiang Luoxi was gritting her teeth at this moment, feeling flustered earlier that day.
She had lost her composure in front of Yun Shu.
But that didn't mean Yun Shu could toy with her!
Seeing Jiang Luoxi's anger, Yun Shu found it amusing, "How am I toying with you?"
"You're trying to extract information from me but don't intend to help me. Isn't that toying with me?" Jiang Luoxi gritted out.
Indeed, Yun Shu was insidious. One could never let their guard down when dealing with her.
Yun Shu chuckled lightly, "To you, the information you possess is important. To me, how can I know if it's important? Besides, did I ever promise to help you just now?"
"You!" Jiang Luoxi was thoroughly angered.
She knew she was at a disadvantage and needed Yun Shu's help.
Despite the palace being crowded, and her ability to enlist Zhan Tianhong's aid before, things were different now. She had become a pawn in the eyes of some.
She took a deep, heavy breath.
After calming herself down, Jiang Luoxi spoke again, "Miss Yun Er, I think we should both calmly consider what the other party truly needs. I admit I used to like Prince Ye and resorted to unscrupulous means to gain his attention. But there were other reasons; someone was instigating me to approach Prince Ye. Many of the things I did were beyond my control."
"Therefore, the ones Prince Ye and you should truly hate is the person behind me, not me."
Yun Shu lowered her gaze, feeling that this Jiang Luoxi was the real one, the mask falling away when a person reached their dead end, revealing their true face.
However, Jiang Luoxi did have some exploitable aspects.
The confrontation had reached its conclusion.
She looked at Jiang Luoxi with a half-smile, "I can help you escape the palace and the capital."
Jiang Luoxi froze abruptly, "Really?"
Suddenly receiving Yun Shu's affirmative answer, Jiang Luoxi was momentarily stunned, feeling as if she were in a dream. Hadn't Yun Shu just been toying with her?
"Alright, tell me everything you know." Yun Shu's voice carried a hint of coldness.
Jiang Luoxi seemed to awaken from a daze, fluctuating between hope and fear, "If I tell you everything now, what if you go back on your word? Once you send me out of the capital, I will tell you everything."
Yun Shu smiled and stood up again, "That can also be arranged."
Seeing Yun Shu agree so readily, Jiang Luoxi's heart fluttered with unease, "You really agreed? Aren't you afraid I'll tell you nothing once I'm out of the capital?"
"If I'm the one sending you out of the capital, do you think you could escape if I didn't let you? Jiang Luoxi, you should be glad you're not the mastermind," Yun Shu said with a cold laugh.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Luoxi stiffened, her face turning even paler.
Even though she was the esteemed Consort Luo now, she was, in fact, the abandoned daughter of Prime Minister Jiang, and a lowly concubine of Prince Ning! While she could once command assassins to kill many, she could also be killed by them.
At this moment, Jiang Luoxi became even more aware of the truth in Yun Shu's words about her not being the mastermind.
She let out a self-mocking, cold laugh, "Miss Yun Er is right. When can someone take me away?"
She had to escape as soon as possible, even faster, to have a glimmer of hope.
Yun Shu's eyes flickered, "Within three days. Be ready at any time."
Jiang Luoxi still felt a sense of unreality, as if she were dreaming, even after Yun Shu had left.
Had Yun Shu agreed so easily?
Was Yun Shu perhaps toying with her?
Agreed now, only to leave her waiting in vain?
For a moment, countless speculations raced through Jiang Luoxi's mind, her emotions more turbulent than before Yun Shu's arrival.
No, it was because Yun Shu knew she held significant information. Yun Shu wouldn't make promises lightly. Since she had made a promise, she would definitely help her.
With this thought, Jiang Luoxi's speculations lessened. Within three days...
Within three days, she would know if Yun Shu had been truthful.
In front of the palace gate.
Yun Shu and Qian Le'er were parting ways.
They had to board separate carriages.
Qian Le'er bowed to Yun Shu, "Le'er is grateful to Miss Yun Er. Today's experience has made me more determined to live bravely and to live better than Jiang Luoxi! The more she disregards my life, the more I want to make her understand one day that I can make her wish she were dead but unable to die."
These were her genuine thoughts upon seeing Jiang Luoxi earlier.
Yun Shu's gaze shifted slightly, and she said softly, "You will indeed live longer than Jiang Luoxi. Even if Jiang Luoxi were to beg for death but unable to find it at your hands one day, you must continue to move forward. Only then will it be true revenge."
It was also a salvation for herself.
Qian Le'er was taken aback. She hadn't considered what would happen after she achieved revenge. If not for Yun Shu's words, perhaps she would have ended her own life.
After all, the person she cared about most no longer needed her care, and he would likely find her thoughts disgusting if he knew.
Seeing Qian Le'er lost in thought, Yun Shu spoke softly again, "Killing Jiang Luoxi is not revenge. There are still many people behind her. Take your time."
Qian Le'er's previously dim eyes lit up.
Yes, there were still people behind Jiang Luoxi.
Simply killing Jiang Luoxi wouldn't constitute true revenge!
"Thank you, Miss Yun Er. I understand. I will definitely live longer than them!" Qian Le'er gritted her teeth and said in a low voice.
Yun Shu smiled and nodded.
...
After parting with Qian Le'er, Yun Shu went to Prince Ye's manor.
She returned to the Yun manor after spending over an hour there.
Coincidentally, Jing Heng had returned.
Acha had prepared a lavish meal. Jing Heng ate bite by bite, his ears slightly flushed. Acha stood by his side without eating, occasionally pointing to a dish and saying, "Eat more fish, more vegetables. They're good for your health."
Yun Shu stopped in her tracks, suddenly feeling that her return was ill-timed.
Look at how well Jing Heng and Acha were getting along in her absence.
Indeed, short separations could foster emotional bonds between people.
Some deep emotions were born during moments of longing.
The two discovered Yun Shu.
"Master."
"Miss!"
Yun Shu, unable to hide, walked over. "When did Jing Heng return?"
"An hour ago." Jing Heng finished the mountain of food in his bowl with a few bites and then stood up.
Acha, still blushing, stammered, "Has... Miss not eaten? I'll go to the kitchen to get food right away."
Yun Shu raised her hand, "No need. I've already eaten at Prince Ye's manor."
"Ah, Miss has eaten? Then, then..." Acha became flustered. She had been too shameless earlier, constantly staring at Jing Heng and worrying if he had eaten enough.