Volume One, Chapter Six: Farewell to Mo Chenlan

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“Qiuyue, is this the dress Mother sent today?”
“Yes, Miss. I heard Madam say this dress is made from Nizhang fabric; there are only two bolts of it in the entire Baiyue City.”
Seeing Zhaoyan’s face light up with joy, as though she were seeing such fine clothes for the first time, Qiuyue smiled and explained.
Originally, she and Qiujv had been assigned to the Second Miss, and they had lost hope. After all, whether a maid’s life in the Yun Mansion was good or not depended entirely on the status of her mistress.
Though the Second Miss held a high status, she was considered talentless in cultivation, a countryside girl who could hardly compare to the other ladies.
The two sisters were still occasionally ridiculed, but after spending a few days together, they found that the Second Miss was somewhat different from the rumors—optimistic, kind-hearted, and treating them well.
At that moment, Zhaoyan smiled until tears welled up; Qiuyue snapped back to attention, panic flickering across her face. “Miss, you...”
“Wuwuwu, I’ve never worn such beautiful clothes before. I’m so moved!”
Qibao thought: Moved my foot. This fabric used to be for wiping feet in a past life, now it’s made into a dress and worn—no wonder she’s crying.
“No, such precious clothes aren’t meant for me. Only someone as noble as Sister deserves to wear them.”
“Second Miss, rest assured, the Eldest Miss has one too.” Realizing her slip, Qiuyue quickly bowed her head.
Sneaking a glance, she saw Zhaoyan remove the dress, cradling it carefully in her hands, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
“Sister has one, then I’m at ease. But still, I want to give this precious dress to Sister. It would be wonderful if I could deliver it to her personally.”
Qiuyue hesitated. Before coming, Madam had instructed them not to speak of the Eldest Miss, and certainly not in front of the Second Miss.
But looking at Zhaoyan’s expression and thinking of her sister Qiujv, after glancing around, she whispered, “Miss, I overheard Madam and Nurse Yun talking about the Eldest Miss being unconscious when I passed by her courtyard, but the other maids didn’t catch the details.”
Unconscious? A glimmer of light flashed in Zhaoyan’s eyes; no wonder she hadn’t seen her that day.
Yun Zhaojun was unconscious, abandoned for eighteen years, yet brought back at this moment—if there’s no conspiracy, she wouldn’t believe it.
The flaw lies with Yun Zhaojun; it seems she must find a chance to go out.
Feigning concern, Zhaoyan grasped Qiuyue’s hand: “Sister is unconscious, and as her younger sister, I haven’t been able to see her. If she wakes and finds out, she’ll be heartbroken. No, I must go find her.”
Qiuyue’s face paled. If the Second Miss left, Madam would surely know she mentioned the Eldest Miss.
She would be finished!
No, she mustn’t let the Second Miss go.
Hastily, Qiuyue pulled Zhaoyan back and knelt, pleading, “I beg you, Second Miss, please don’t go. Otherwise, my sister and I will surely be doomed.”
Zhaoyan feigned confusion: “Why?”

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Qiuyue had no choice but to reveal Madam Yun’s orders. It turned out Madam Yun told everyone in the mansion that the Eldest Miss was in seclusion for cultivation; Qiuyue had just overheard the conversation between Madam Yun and Nurse Yun by chance.
After hearing this, Zhaoyan was even more convinced that the Yun family harbored a conspiracy.
Seizing the opportunity, she pressed further about Yun Zhaojun’s whereabouts, but Qiuyue only knew that the Eldest Miss lived in a place called Baoxian Pavilion, unaware of its precise location within the mansion.
The Yun family was full of experts, with strict security. Given her current strength, it was already difficult for her to leave the courtyard, let alone the Yun Mansion.
In short, she had to find Yun Zhaojun to uncover the truth.
That night.
The moon was veiled by heavy dark clouds, casting the entire mansion in shadows.
As usual, Zhaoyan entered the Linglong Tower to cultivate.
Since breaking the third seal, her cultivation speed had multiplied severalfold. Coupled with the Divine Command technique she practiced from her previous life, she had reached the early Spirit King stage within three days.
Unfortunately, her body’s constitution was too weak, or she might have already attained Spirit Lord status.
“Master, there’s a situation outside.”
Zhaoyan quickly exited the Linglong Tower, sensing her surroundings with spiritual power. Suddenly, a figure materialized in her room. The man was cloaked entirely in black, his large hat brim casting his face in shadow.
Zhaoyan was startled; the last person with stronger spiritual power than hers was the man at the cliff bottom.
The man removed his hat, revealing knobby fingers. Zhaoyan twitched at the sight.
“It’s you!”
Zhaoyan squinted suspiciously at the man who had appeared out of nowhere and instinctively took a few steps back.
“Second Miss Yun, long time no see~”
A deep, cold voice spoke. Mo Chenlan’s jet-black eyes were like a chilling abyss, smiling yet not.
“Save your cliché reunion lines. Mr. Mo, what brings you here at this hour?”
Zhaoyan smiled innocently, her mind racing.
Seeing this, Mo Chenlan wasted no time.
“This concerns Second Miss Yun’s life. Are you interested?”
Hearing this, Zhaoyan’s almond-shaped eyes narrowed. A few days ago, people from Snow Domain had approached her ‘adoptive father’, and now he appeared here. The visitor was indeed Mo Chenlan, and it seemed the talks with her adoptive father had broken down.

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It appeared the Yun family’s conspiracy was no small matter; it had even alarmed the Snow Domain.
Zhaoyan quickly regained her composure. She had only met this man once; he wouldn’t come kindly bearing such news.
He had a request.
With that thought, a plan began to form in Zhaoyan’s mind. This man’s strength was evident; if he could come here without alerting the Yun Mansion, he must be formidable.
Perhaps she could use him to locate Yun Zhaojun.
“Mr. Mo, you jest. I’m just a lowly cultivator in my own home. Who would dare harm me?”
Mo Chenlan chuckled lightly. “Second Miss, aren’t you curious about the real reason you were sent to the countryside for eighteen years?”
Zhaoyan sneered inwardly. She wasn’t the original owner, so why should she be curious? A sharp pain flickered in her heart as that obsession stirred again.
Noticing her expression, Mo Chenlan’s lips curved slightly, assuming she was merely denying her true feelings.
“Could it be you know something?” Zhaoyan asked.
Mo Chenlan shook his head. “No.”
Zhaoyan rolled her eyes inwardly. If you don’t know, then why say anything?
“But I have clues and need your cooperation, Second Miss Yun.”
“Why should I trust you?”
Mo Chenlan advanced step by step. His eyes, deep as a frozen pond, gleamed with amusement, nearly overwhelming Zhaoyan, who hastily stepped back.
This damned seducer relied on his good looks to entice her at every turn.
“Second Miss Yun, you can’t even leave this courtyard. You have no choice.”
Zhaoyan turned her face away, refusing to look at him.
“Speak then. What do you want me to do?”
“Not yet. I’ll tell you what to do once I confirm a few things.” Mo Chenlan leaned against the window sill, his dark hair drifting wildly in the breeze, adding a lazy, devilish charm to his striking face.
Seeing Zhaoyan staring intently, he scoffed softly, seeing yet another admirer of his looks. Yet he didn’t seem to mind her bold gaze.