Chapter Twenty-Five: Saving Little Pu for the Second Time

The next day, Wanqi Feng summoned his dear daughter to discuss the plan for the Jueyin Temple in three days' time.

"Father, are we bringing Wanqi Yue? I am afraid her presence will only lead to many variables," Wanqi Hui explained her concerns.

Wanqi Feng pondered for a moment and said, "Naturally, we cannot bring her. If she were to see Gongcheng Ling and get overly excited, it might ruin our plans."

"Hui'er, this matter requires you to sacrifice your purity; it truly grieves me. Once we obtain the dowry left behind by that woman, I will surely compensate you well," Wanqi Feng said, holding her hands with pity.

"There is nothing to grieve over. All of this is for the future path of our father and daughter! My position as the Crown Prince’s consort, your position as the Purple Pole General—no one can stand in our way!"

Wanqi Hui’s eyes were as dark as the night, filled with absolute resolve. They were truly father and daughter; even their thoughts were in perfect alignment.

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(East Courtyard, Side Gate)

Pu Lada knelt on the ground covered in pebbles. His knees had been cut by the stones and were oozing blood, yet he kept his fists tightly clenched and tried his best to hold his back straight.

Sitting before him, sipping tea, was Steward Wang, forming a stark contrast to the scene.

"Pah! Who brewed this tea today? It’s boiling hot and full of foam. Pour it out and brew it again!"

He flung the teacup violently at a servant nearby. The young maid’s hand was scalded red by the tea, but she dared not utter a sound, only answering with cautious agreement.

A cold dagger slid down Xiao Pu’s cheek, instantly leaving a wound on his fair skin.

"Someone reported to me that they saw Wanqi Yue at the Wanbao Restaurant yesterday, and she was talking with others. Didn't you say she never left halfway?" Wang Genyuan glared at him viciously.

With a flick of the dagger, another wound appeared on his neck, yet Xiao Pu remained silent.

Inside the room, Wanqi Yue, who was eating snacks and drinking tea, suddenly saw a flash of white light. A mission had arrived, as expected.

Wanqi Yue: "(Chew, chew, chew) Can’t you wait for me to finish this bite before issuing a mission! (Gulp, gulp, gulp) Is there no humanity left!"

[Side Mission Three: Save Pu Lada again.]
[Mission Tracker: Pu Lada is being attacked in the East Courtyard. Go save him quickly.]

Wanqi Yue: "How is it another one!"

Setting aside her food and drink, she wiped her mouth and hurried toward the East Courtyard.

***

Seeing that Xiao Pu remained silent, Wang Genyuan grew even more incensed and continued:

"What? Have you forgotten about your bedridden mother? You actually dare to hide things from me!"

He struck Xiao Pu with the whip twice more. His clothes were shredded, revealing bright red welts.

"Speak! Answer me!" He kicked Xiao Pu over, stumbling himself as he lost his footing.

He happened to spot the crescent moon jade pendant hanging from Xiao Pu’s waist. With a cold snort, he ripped it off.

"Give it back!" Xiao Pu, agitated, tried to reach for it, only to be shoved away by Wang Genyuan.

"Heh, so you finally know how to speak. I was wondering why you dared to hold back—so you were 'bribed' after all."

"You really are cheap. A piece of broken jade was enough to buy you off. If I didn't know better, I'd think this pendant was worth more than your mother's life," Wang Genyuan said contemptuously.

With a flick of his arm, he tossed the pendant into the nearby pond. Xiao Pu desperately wanted to crawl down and retrieve it, but the slightest movement caused his wounds to sting like biting beasts; even standing up was a struggle.

"Do you have any idea how close you came to ruining my grand plan? I’ll give you one last chance..."

"What last chance is that?" Wanqi Yue suddenly appeared at the side gate, startling Wang Genyuan so much that he nearly dropped his whip.

Wanqi Yue took a step forward, and Wang Genyuan took a step back.

"What grand plan do you have? Why don't you tell me and let me hear it?" Wanqi Yue snatched the whip from his hand and cracked it against the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

"You... you, don't come any closer!" Wang Genyuan’s legs trembled. He turned to see he had retreated to the edge of the pond. Looking back at the relentlessly approaching Wanqi Yue and recalling the miserable beating he took last time, he instantly lost his nerve.

"Second Miss... Second Miss, I was wrong. I won't do it again, please spare my life!" He knelt immediately, kowtowing to beg for mercy.

"Weren't you very formidable just a moment ago?" Wanqi Yue tapped him with the whip, only to realize he had wet himself; he was truly frightened out of his wits.

"Did I not tell you that Xiao Pu belongs to my courtyard and that no one is allowed to bully him? Do you treat my words as wind passing your ears? Or do you look down on me so much that you don't care what I say?" She gripped Wang Genyuan’s throat tightly as she spoke.

"I wouldn't dare... I never will again!"

Her grip tightened slowly. Wang Genyuan felt the air thinning; his eyes widened, and his chest heaved violently. He thought to himself, *when did this woman become so strong...*

One of his shoes had fallen off. Wang Genyuan tried to pry Wanqi Yue’s hand away, but the more he struggled, the tighter her grip became.

His face turned purple, and breathing became increasingly difficult. Wang Genyuan had to use his last ounce of strength to point at Pu Lada.

***

"Miss..." Pu Lada called out, pulling Wanqi Yue back to her senses.

Xiao Pu must have been worried that if Wang Genyuan died, he would never find his foster mother. Very well.

She loosened her grip on Wang Genyuan’s throat, and he began to cough violently, gasping for the precious air.

Wanqi Yue stepped forward again. The oppressive feeling that had not yet faded now surged through Wang Genyuan’s entire body once more, and he feared that in the next second, she might strangle him to death.

She sneered and said, "I won't kill you, but you must retrieve the pendant you threw into the pond."

"Retrieve it yourself!" Without waiting for him to hesitate, she kicked him into the pond.

Caught off guard, Wang Genyuan choked on several mouthfuls of water. The other servants on the bank wanted to pull their head steward out, but a single glare from Wanqi Yue forced them back.

Seeing Wanqi Yue fanning herself on the bank as if she were perfectly at ease, he knew he had no choice but to retrieve the pendant.

After the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Wang Genyuan surfaced, his head covered in mud and weeds. Looking utterly disheveled and holding the crescent jade, he shouted at the other servants:

"What are you looking at? Hurry up and pull me out!"

They glanced at Wanqi Yue, who raised an eyebrow toward Wang Genyuan. Only then did they dare to pull him up.

Too distraught to even tidy himself, he held the pendant in both hands and presented it to Wanqi Yue with great reverence.

"Give it to him." The two words were cold, leaving no room for refusal.

Wang Genyuan looked up at Wanqi Yue, sighed in resignation, and turned to present the pendant to Xiao Pu with both hands, his face filled with reluctance.

Xiao Pu raised his injured arm, took the pendant with utmost care, and lovingly wiped the mud off with his sleeve.

He looked up at Wanqi Yue with a pitiful expression.

Wanqi Yue could not bear such a look from Xiao Pu. Setting aside her mockery of Wang Genyuan, she immediately ordered someone to carry Xiao Pu back to his room.