Since Yue Yinuo's child was still young, she was temporarily placed in charge of the affairs of the Yue Kingdom, while all the treasures in the national treasury ended up in the pockets of the Mu family, not a single gold coin left behind. With the treasury now empty, Yue Yinuo immediately began levying heavy taxes upon taking power, and after much persuasion, the Mu family reluctantly returned a small portion.
Finally, everything in the capital had settled. Now she could leave home with peace of mind, to develop her own influence and enhance her own strength.
"Ye Lanshan, if I don't come looking for you, you'll never come looking for me, will you?" Just as Ye Lanshan, disguised as a frail scholar, was walking with a fan alongside Yue Shu, a voice gritting with anger came from behind.
"Dark Lord? Didn't you return to the Night Kingdom?" Ye Lanshan had thought Ye Yutian had left the day she woke up, but it turned out he hadn't gone after all.
"When did I ever say I left?" Ye Yutian stormed forward, fixing his gaze on Yue Shu's eyes, unleashing a powerful pressure aimed solely at him.
But Yue Shu remained as composed as ever, his entire demeanor even more ethereal than Ye Lanshan's, like an immortal.
"So what do you want from me now?" Ye Lanshan had no time to soothe the furious Ye Yutian.
"Can't I come find you if I have nothing to do?" Sparks flew between Ye Yutian and Yue Shu as they drew closer and closer.
Watching this scene, Ye Lanshan seemed to catch on and said with a smile, "Of course you can. But are you really here for me? Don't worry, I understand. I won't laugh at you."
"What are you talking about?" Ye Yutian, originally burning with rage, was completely baffled by her words. What was she going on about?
"Don't worry, I'll never tell anyone." Ye Lanshan gave them a meaningful glance and walked ahead alone.
"I feel like she's misunderstood something." Yue Shu found Ye Lanshan's knowing look a bit unsettling.
The night was bright with stars, and everything was faintly illuminated by the dim light, casting soft shadows. In this wilderness, only a dilapidated temple offered them shelter.
"Alright, wait for me a moment. I'll be right back." Ye Lanshan suddenly remembered Mu Xinlian's feelings for Yue Shu and thought it best to give her a heads-up first.
Mu Xinlian had come ahead to wait for them here when Ye Lanshan went out to find antidote herbs for Yue Shu, so Ye Lanshan felt she should update Mu Xinlian on the situation to avoid any unnecessary complications later.
"What exactly are you thinking?" Mu Xinlian gave Ye Lanshan an exasperated look. It was obvious that Ye Yutian liked her, yet she thought there was something between Ye Yutian and Yue Shu. She had no idea how her mind worked.
"You didn't see the way they looked at each other. When they met, their eyes were so intense they practically stuck to each other. If there's nothing between them, I absolutely won't believe it." Ye Lanshan's long-suppressed fujoshi heart, once ignited, was truly terrifying.
Ye Yutian stood right behind her, listening to her words, his face darkening bit by bit. His mind exploded like a thunderclap as he finally understood what her look and words meant during the day.
Had his confession not been clear enough? That she would come up with such an idea—such a bizarre way of thinking, she might be the only one in the world.
"Why do I feel a chill in the air here? Is there one of your kind around?" Ye Lanshan had just finished speaking to Mu Xinlian when she felt a cold draft on the back of her neck.
Mu Xinlian pointed behind her and gave her a look that said, "Good luck."
Ye Lanshan turned around in confusion and was startled to find Ye Yutian standing right there.
"Go on, why stop?" Ye Yutian's eyes blazed with anger. He raised his hand as if to hit Ye Lanshan but then held back and lowered it.
Ye Lanshan hadn't expected to get caught gossiping for the first time. She smiled sheepishly, but quickly regained her confidence.
"If there's nothing between you two, why do you glue your eyes to each other the moment you meet, so stuck you can't pry them off? Even if you admit it, we won't laugh at you."
At these words, the air around them grew even colder. Even Ye Lanshan felt a shiver at the look in Ye Yutian's eyes.
"You know exactly how I feel." Ye Yutian stepped back, as if nothing had happened, and slowly walked away under her gaze.
"So what if I know? So what if I don't? I know too well that someone like you can never truly love anyone." Ye Lanshan was very calm. If this could make him give up on her, then the act was worth it.
"I can tell he's sincere with you. Why are you like this?"
"It's simply impossible for us!" Ye Lanshan sighed, the image of Yu Ying's blood-soaked figure still lingering in her mind.
"Why is it impossible?" Mu Xinlian was puzzled.
"Never mind. Let's go." Ye Lanshan shook her head and returned to the temple. She thought Ye Yutian would have left by now, but to her surprise, he was still there.
For a moment, Ye Lanshan froze upon seeing Ye Yutian, but she pretended nothing was wrong and walked in.
She introduced Mu Xinlian to Yue Shu and told him that if he had any questions, he could just ask her directly.
As they rested with their eyes closed, Liu Jing came running over, covered in blood, with a large group of assassins in pursuit.
The fierce battle woke Ye Lanshan and the others.
"Why is it that every time I see you, you're being chased?" Ye Lanshan shook her head as she helped Liu Jing fight off the enemies.
"I don't want this either, but what can I do? It's my outstanding talent and having a good master that's to blame." Thanks to Ye Lanshan's help, Liu Jing finally caught her breath.
"Here." Ye Lanshan took out a bottle of pills and tossed it to Liu Jing.
Instead of taking the pills, Liu Jing first thanked him: "Young master, thank you for saving my life. If there's ever anything I can do to help, I won't hesitate."
"What a coincidence. I do have something I need your help with. But I'd rather you not bleed to death before I ask you. Take it." Ye Lanshan tried to force the pills into her hand.
Just as Liu Jing was about to bow and thank her, a cold glare shot her way, making her put some distance between herself and Ye Lanshan.
The fire crackled, and Liu Jing quietly edged closer to Ye Lanshan to whisper, "Young master, how did you end up with the Dark Lord?"
"That's a long story. It's complicated. Better you don't know."
If anyone found out that the Dark Lord had another identity, the consequences would be unimaginable.