"Master, can you tell the two of them apart now?" the ring asked.

Qiao Qiu placed the rice seedlings on the windowsill without answering, still feeling something was missing from her memory.

"Did the master make a promise to Yuge because he believed that Yuge was the one who truly belonged to him?"

"That was true at the time."

"It was then, but not now." The ring didn't know what to say. Its master couldn't go looking for them, and on its own, it could only believe that Yuge was the one, but it might also be blinded by the curse. "Master, what should we do now?"

"I don't know either, let's just wait patiently for now."

"oh."

In the days that followed, things seemed calm on the surface, but in reality, Qiao Qiu and Gu Youying were engaged in a fierce power struggle.

Ever since Gu Youying learned that Qiao Qiu had also transmigrated, the more she thought about it, the more she felt that Qiao Qiu hated her so much that she would definitely kill her.

Before she could make a move, she had to strike first and kill Qiao Qiu.

That way, there would be no one in the village who could threaten her anymore.

Qiao Qiu didn't take her attack seriously at all.

Poison her, but it won't kill her.

She used force; she's skilled in martial arts, and it's already quite good that she didn't turn around and kill Gu Youying.

If you try to frame someone, you'll only end up being accused yourself.

Not to mention sneak attacks.

Qiao Qiu has used all sorts of methods; what dark side hasn't she seen?

These are all minor issues.

Gu Youying also realized that she couldn't kill Qiao Qiu, but despite having such a huge grudge, Qiao Qiu didn't kill her back. Why was that?

Is she the Virgin Mary?

How is that possible?

When he gets ruthless, everyone is afraid of him.

If she doesn't take action now, there's only one possibility: Qiao Qiu doesn't take her seriously, and she has more important things to do.

Gu Youying thought about it for a long time and finally felt that the matter must be related to Bai Shu and Yu Ge. Only these two people could probably make her take them seriously.

Gu Youying also cherishes Bai Shu in her heart. Now, Bai Shu is the only thing she thinks about. If Qiao Qiu has any news about Bai Shu, she is willing to put aside past grievances and curry favor with her.

Half a month later, Gu Youying had made all the preparations and came to the Qiao family to find Qiao Qiu.

At this point, Qiao Qiu was already getting annoyed by the people coming to her house to propose marriage. She hadn't even figured out what was going on with Yu Ge and Bai Shu yet, and now they were giving her even more trouble.

Are you kidding me?

Qiao Qiu was at her wits' end.

When Gu Youying came to see her, she didn't care what Gu Youying's purpose was; she was grateful to her.

Qiao Qiu led Gu Youying into the woods.

“I know very well why you came to see me.”

Qiao Qiu didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point.

"Since you know, are you going to tell me or not?" Gu Youying asked.

"What good would it do to tell you? What good would it do to not tell you? Even if I told you, would you be able to leave the village to find him?"

Gu Youying seemed to lose all her strength in an instant and took two steps back.

Forget about it.

"No, no, I won't give up. Qiao Qiu, I beg you, I beg you, please tell me. If I end up with Bai Shu in the future, I will definitely repay your great kindness," Gu Youying said.

"Repay my great kindness?" Qiao Qiu sneered. "With what? A knife? Poison? Or a trap?"

Can she possibly forget these things? Impossible.

"No, I won't. As long as you're willing to help me this time, I'll accept whatever you want afterward without complaint," Gu Youying pleaded.

“If I remember correctly, I let you win before. Do you remember?” Qiao Qiu said.

Gu Youying's face turned pale; of course she remembered.

"But you haven't forgotten how you repaid me, have you?" Qiao Qiu asked.

She didn't forget, of course she didn't forget, how could she forget those days of constant anxiety?

Gu Youying knelt down, crying, "Qiao Qiu, it was my fault. I shouldn't have treated you like that. I was scared, that's why... You're so kind and forgiving, I'll repay you. I won't be ungrateful again, please tell me?"

"Why should I tell you? How will you repay me? Tell me, how will you repay me?" Qiao Qiu crossed her arms, her voice slightly cold.

"Me...with gold and silver treasures?With no worries about food and clothing?"

"Gu Youying, is that all you can think of?" Qiao Qiu sneered.

“I really can’t think of anything else. How about I ask Bai Shu to spare Yu Ge’s life and give Yu Ge to you?” Gu Youying’s eyes lit up as she looked at her, hoping she would agree.

As Qiao Qiu listened to her words, she felt increasingly cold inside.

"Gu Youying, your skin is incredibly thick."

Qiao Qiu had no intention of explaining anything to her anymore and turned to leave.

Gu Youying hugged her leg and cried, "Please, tell me."

Qiao Qiu kicked her away, saying as she walked away, "Here's a hint: I'm still here."

"What do you mean?" Gu Youying was stunned.

"Figure it out yourself," Qiao Qiu said, already almost at the village entrance.

The ring said in her mind, "Master, when it comes to shamelessness, you are no less accommodating."

"Oh? Is that so?"

"No? You clearly told her that you're still here, and those two will definitely come back."

“Isn’t that right?” Qiao Qiu retorted confidently.

"..." The ring choked, "Yes."

Can it be said otherwise? Both of their hearts were completely devoted to her.

It's gotten so bad that it's not like they're fighting for the position of sect leader, but more like they're fighting for her.

...

Ten days later, the seedlings that Qiao Qiu had cultivated were growing better and better, and their lush green appearance was pleasing to the eye.

Qiao Qiu didn't make the matter of the rice seedlings public. Her parents occasionally saw them and asked her about them, and she said that she just planted them casually for fun.

Although Qiao's parents were worried about her marriage, they thought it was good that she wasn't idle every day.

"Miss, I've found out!" Xiao Hui ran in.

"What did you find out?" Qiao Qiu asked casually, she didn't remember asking Xiao Hui to find out anything.

"I've found out about the rice seedlings in Gu Youying's family."

"Oh, how did it go?"

"Gu Youying's planting is terrible. So many seedlings died, and the few that survived were all sickly and yellowish-green. I don't think they'll grow well. They're nowhere near as good as the ones Miss planted." Xiao Hui was delighted to see Qiao Qiu's planting.

"Alright, stop joking around. Did you find anything else when you went to her house?" Qiao Qiu asked.

Xiao Hui thought for a moment and said, "There's nothing else going on."

"Sister Xiaohui, you must be tired too. Go and rest for a while."

"Yes, Miss."

Xiao Hui wiped her sweat and left.

It's now the season of late summer heat, and the weather is extremely hot. Even if you don't move, you'll sweat a lot, and if you do move, at least the inner layer of your clothes will be soaked through.