Chapter 107: Have You Two Had Enough of Your Lovey-Dovey Display? (5,000)

After leaving the Left Chancellor’s manor, Jin'er stood firmly on a rooftop, with Shi Yuan, who had been following closely, stopping beside her.

Jin'er turned to him and smiled. "Thank you for helping me."

Although she was masked, he could still see that she was smiling, and it was a beautiful sight. Under the moonlight, dressed in tight black attire, she appeared enchanting and wicked. Her long hair, tied in a ponytail, fluttered in the breeze, and her clothes snapped in the wind, only adding to her allure.

Shi Yuan stared at her with his indifferent eyes, yet something unusual seemed to flicker within them. In the end, he said nothing and turned his head away, refusing to look at her.

Jin'er was long accustomed to his coldness.

"Next, take me to the manor of Minister Wang of the Ministry of War."

Hearing this, Shi Yuan frowned slightly and turned to look at her, his confusion about her growing deeper.

"Life-Eating Powder" was the prized treasure of the Poison Saint. How could she possess it? Half a year ago, there had been earth-shattering news in the martial arts world that the Poison Saint had been killed by a young woman who had also usurped his position as the Master of the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect. Could she be that woman?

Though this thought crossed his mind, he quickly dismissed it. While her skills were impressive, the idea that she could kill the Poison Saint—a man who made the martial arts world tremble—seemed like a fantasy.

Noticing his hesitation and fearing a refusal, Jin'er hurriedly promised, "This is the last one. Once it's done, we’ll return to the palace, I promise!"

Shi Yuan gave her a long look before turning and vanishing from her sight with a swift motion. A moment later, he was already perched on another rooftop, continuing his way forward. Jin'er curled her lips, gathered her inner energy, and pursued him.

They dealt with the Minister of War without a hitch, and it was nearly dawn by the time they returned to the palace.

Jin'er changed out of her night attire and dove into bed, falling into a deep sleep that lasted until noon. She only struggled to sit up, yawning, after Xiao Die knocked on her door for quite some time.

"Miss, why did you sleep so late today?" Xiao Die asked curiously while combing Jin'er's hair. Her mistress was a martial artist and usually rose very early.

"Oh, that... I had a nightmare last night and was startled awake; I only fell back asleep this morning." Jin'er made up a convenient excuse. Fortunately, Xiao Die didn't overthink it, and the matter was glossed over.

After leaving her room, she stepped down into the courtyard, closed her eyes, and stretched her arms wide, feeling the pleasant warmth of the late autumn sun on her face and body. Her mood was excellent.

Just as she was about to lower her arms, she suddenly felt a tightening around her waist, followed by the sensation of a broad chest pressing against her back. Before she could turn to look, a light kiss was planted on her ear.

"Ah!" Jin'er tilted her head and hurriedly dodged, only to glimpse Shi Yuan standing not far away, staring directly at her. Seeing her look his way, he quickly averted his gaze.

Jin'er was slightly stunned, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. At that moment, Mo Yan turned her around so they were face to face.

"I missed you," Mo Yan murmured softly, looking down at the blushing girl.

It had only been one night and half a day since they had last seen each other, yet it felt like an eternity. Perhaps this was what it meant to feel as though a day apart was like three autumns.

Hearing his affectionate whisper, Jin'er’s face turned even redder. She dared only a single glance at him before lowering her eyes, her heart hammering uncontrollably. His intense gaze, paired with his charming, peach-blossom eyes, felt as if they could steal her soul, leaving her dazed.

Mo Yan reached out, gently hooked her delicate chin, and smiled. "Why the act of not daring to look at me? Am I that fierce?"

Forced to meet his eyes, Jin'er looked at the handsome face so close to hers and his slightly mischievous smile. Her heart skipped a beat, and her breathing grew ragged.

"N-no, not at all," she stammered, swallowing hard and fixing her gaze on the bridge of his nose instead.

Mo Yan raised an eyebrow, a wicked smirk playing on his lips. Suddenly, he leaned down and captured her cherry-red lips, pulling her waist tight to embrace her in a passionate kiss.

Jin'er was startled by the sudden kiss, and by the time she regained her senses, she was already dizzy and breathless from his intense, hurried pace.

Only when she felt she was about to suffocate did Mo Yan finally release her.

Jin'er gasped for air and glared at him in annoyance.

Mo Yan merely smiled, satisfied, as he reached out to stroke her flushed cheeks. "Let's go, it's time to eat." Without regard for her reluctance, he draped an arm around her waist and headed toward the dining hall.

"Anything new happen today?" After a few steps, Jin'er looked up at his handsome profile, feigning indifference.

"New? Not really," Mo Yan said with a light smile, though a strange thought crossed his mind.

During the morning court session, when he met the eyes of the Left Chancellor and the Minister of War, he noticed their expressions were quite peculiar. He had intended to find an excuse to speak with the Left Chancellor after court, but the man seemed to be avoiding him, slipping away instantly.

If this was significant, could the situation have changed?

On second thought, that seemed unlikely. The Left and Right Chancellors had always been rivals; it was impossible for the Left Chancellor to switch sides now. Never mind, he would have people keep a close watch and observe for a few days.

That evening, after Jin'er finished her sword practice, she noticed it was late and Mo Yan hadn't returned. She felt a strange longing for him.

Three or four days had passed; why had there been no movement from the Left Chancellor or the Minister? Although she had left them enough medicine for ten days, they shouldn't be so calm.

Just then, a joyful voice called out from nearby. "Jin'er!"

She turned to see Mo Yan running toward her with a smile.

Jin'er was taken aback; she realized she hadn't seen him smile so brightly in a long time.

In an instant, Mo Yan reached her, lifted her face without a word, and kissed her loudly before laughing and spinning her around.

"Ah!" Jin'er gasped, caught off guard. What had gotten into him?

By the time she was set back on the ground, she was dizzy. Due to the momentum, she remained unsteady and had to cling to his lapels, leaning against his chest.

Mo Yan loved this display of reliance. He wrapped one arm around her waist and tenderly stroked her long hair with the other, suppressing his excitement as he looked down at her. "Jin'er, it was you, wasn't it?"

Regaining her balance, Jin'er looked up. She realized the Left Chancellor must have made a move, which explained his joy.

"They compromised?" Although pleased, she had anticipated this, so her expression remained relatively calm.

"It really was you! You girl, why did you hide this from me? What if something had happened to you?" Mo Yan’s joy faded, replaced by lingering fear.

Jin'er reached up to smooth his furrowed brow, but before her hand could touch him, he grabbed it. "I'm talking to you!" Mo Yan feigned a stern tone.

Jin'er pouted, feeling aggrieved. Even though she knew he was pretending, he had never been fierce with her before, and it still hurt.

Seeing her miserable expression, Mo Yan’s heart softened. He sighed helplessly and said softly, "Jin'er, I’m worried about you. You should have told me so I could accompany you, or at least let me send more men to protect you. If anything had happened to you, I could never forgive myself, do you understand?" He kissed her hand gently, gazing at her with deep affection and concern.

Jin'er pursed her lips and looked up at him. "I had to act in my own capacity so they would think I was acting out of jealousy to keep you to myself, rather than thinking you were coercing them. That way, their resentment would be directed at me, not you. After all, you work together in court; it’s better not to harbor ill will. If I had told you beforehand, your performance in front of them might have revealed a clue, and my goal would have been ruined."

After hearing this, Mo Yan was torn between love and frustration. "How could I let you shoulder these things for me? What if, in the future..." The thought of the potential consequences made his heart ache.

"Don't worry, I only used the poison on them. Once things are settled, I'll give them the antidote, and it will be fine. Even if they hold a grudge, I’m not afraid of them. Besides, don’t I have you?" Jin'er smiled, appearing unconcerned.

Mo Yan smiled helplessly and pulled her into a tight embrace. "I will protect you. I will never let anyone hurt you."

"I believe you," Jin'er whispered, closing her eyes as she leaned against him.

Feeling her trust, Mo Yan felt an immense sense of fulfillment. He rested his chin on her head, stroking her arms, and savored the beautiful moment.

Regardless, he didn't have to marry anyone else, and he was truly happy.

They held each other in silence for a long while, neither willing to let go, until a mocking voice interrupted them.

"Have you two had enough of your lovey-dovey display? I'm starving to death." Zi Mou stood leaning against a tree, arms crossed, looking at the pair with a deadpan expression.

Mo Yan remembered that Zi Mou was waiting for dinner. He gave an apologetic smile, released Jin'er, and said, "Let’s go, let's have dinner."

Jin'er blushed at Zi Mou’s words, and seeing him watching her with an unabashed grin, she couldn't help but roll her eyes. She assumed this fellow must have been the one to tell Mo Yan about her actions.

In the dining hall, Mo Yan dismissed the servants and closed the door, leaving only Eunuch Liu and Fusheng guarding a few steps away.

"So, Jin'er, how did you actually do it?" Zi Mou asked impatiently once they were alone.

Jin'er picked up her chopsticks, put a piece of meat in her mouth, and chewed while looking at him. "Poison."

Zi Mou’s eyebrows shot up. "What kind of poison could control them? Given their strength, ordinary poison wouldn't work, right?"

Seeing his insatiable curiosity, Jin'er swallowed and pouted. "Life-Eating Powder."

Before she could finish, Zi Mou’s chopsticks clattered onto the table.

Neither Mo Yan nor Jin'er was surprised by his shock. Anyone who knew of Life-Eating Powder was terrified by its name. Mo Yan had studied it for a long time, which was how Zi Mou had heard of it from him.

"You... how could you have that stuff..." Zi Mou asked, stunned.

Jin'er couldn't be bothered to answer, so Mo Yan smiled. "Don't underestimate her. She’s the new Master of the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect." Although she had told him about her entanglement with the sect, he had almost forgotten her status in the martial world until this incident.

Seeing Zi Mou’s speechless expression, Jin'er gave him a smug look, as if to say: *Kid, don't mess with me, or else...*

Zi Mou caught her message, his mouth twitching as a cold sweat broke out on his back. He turned to Mo Yan with a look of profound sympathy. "Old friend, you are truly lucky!"

Jin'er knew he was being sarcastic, but she just rolled her eyes, too lazy to argue.

Mo Yan, however, smiled and placed a piece of fish in Jin'er’s bowl. "Indeed. Meeting Jin'er is the greatest stroke of luck in my life."

Zi Mou rolled his eyes, sighing that Mo Yan was hopelessly lovesick, and simply picked up his chopsticks to eat.

Jin'er, hearing Mo Yan’s words, felt her hand holding the chopsticks stiffen, her heart trembling slightly.

*How lucky am I to have met him...*

She pursed her lips and placed a piece of meat into Mo Yan’s bowl. Seeing his momentary surprise, followed by a radiant glow of joy as he ate it as if it were the finest delicacy in the world, she felt a sudden, sharp ache in her heart. She realized she had always taken his devotion for granted while ignoring his feelings. *If one day I were to leave...*

The thought of his heartbreak felt like a knife wound. She frowned, not daring to dwell on it, and buried her head in her food.

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"Master, there is a child outside who said someone gave him a reward to deliver this bottle to you," a servant said as he handed a small vial to the Left Chancellor.

The Left Chancellor took the small white porcelain bottle, opened it, and smelled it. Knowing it was the antidote from Jin'er, he waved the servant away.

He had never heard of "Life-Eating Powder" before, and after inquiring about it, he had broken into a cold sweat. Yet he still held onto a sliver of hope, doubting that Jin'er had actually given him such a thing.

However, after experiencing the first onset of the poison—the excruciating pain that only subsided after taking the antidote she provided—he didn't dare doubt it anymore.

It seemed she was a woman of her word. As long as he didn't cross her, she wouldn't harm him. After all, killing him served no purpose for her.

Still, the daily midnight agony of waiting for the poison to flare up was unbearable. He had to ensure the Second Prince seized the throne as soon as possible!

In the court, the Emperor of Fire stared at a report, looking deeply troubled.

"Severe drought in the three northeastern counties, total crop failure. An epidemic has broken out in a town in Leiyang County; hundreds are dead, and many more are critical. The contagion is spreading rapidly. The situation is dire." The Emperor slammed the report onto his desk, rubbed his temples, and let out a frustrated, anxious sigh.

The ministers below whispered among themselves, their collective sighing only adding to the Emperor’s irritation.

"My ministers, do you have any suggestions? Providing relief grain is not a difficult task, but this plague... it has never happened during my reign..." The Emperor sighed heavily, feeling a sense of foreboding.

With the Jin Kingdom hovering like a tiger and domestic disasters mounting, he couldn't help but think of the Wood Kingdom. Though the Fire Kingdom lacked that eerie prophecy, the internal and external threats were deeply unsettling. His resolve to have Mo Yan succeed the throne grew firmer.

The ministers looked at one another, but no one stepped forward.

Just then, the Left Chancellor turned to look at Mo Fan. "Your Highness the Crown Prince, do you have any thoughts?"

Mo Fan had been dragged out of bed every day for this court session, forced to stand for half the morning—bored and tired. He never spoke, and no one addressed him. He usually stared at the floor, counting the time until the session ended.

Hearing the Left Chancellor ask for his opinion, he became interested. After pondering for a moment, he spoke up.

"Is this really that difficult? Send relief grain. As for the villages with the plague, just surround them with a perimeter of ten miles, forbid anyone from entering or leaving, and once everyone inside is dead, send in a medical team to disinfect the area and bury the bodies. How about that? A great plan, right?" Mo Fan said proudly.

A commotion broke out instantly. The Left Chancellor’s lips curled in disdain, while the Right Chancellor and others looked pale, glancing between the Crown Prince and the Emperor’s darkening face.

"Hmph! A truly brilliant idea! Why not just send men to kill them all? Perhaps that would be even quicker!" the Emperor said, his face cold with rage.