Chapter 72 Qingyue's Questioning

The courtyard where Su Yuyao lived had never been so quiet.

Qingyue's face was ashen, Qimen's awkward smile was utterly forced, Guanxiao rubbed his forehead and glanced at Guan Yue, whose face was covered in red rashes, while Feihua paced back and forth with her hands behind her back and her belly protruding, muttering, "Where's the girl? Why hasn't she come back yet..." Fangchun stood to the side, sweating profusely, and even the white rice cake under the eaves stopped chewing, stood up straight, and secretly rolled her eyes at the people in the courtyard.

Qingyue looked at Feihua, who had gained a lot of weight and even developed a double chin and a small belly, and sighed helplessly, asking, "Where is Su Yuyao?"

Qingyue's voice was extremely calm, so calm that it was even somewhat terrifying.

"Ah, well... we heard you were here, so we sent Bai'er to look for you," Qimen said with a smile. "This Jiujiao Mountain isn't that big, but it's not that small either, so... finding someone isn't easy... well... it might take some time. Why don't you come over to our place for some tea and rest, and then we can have Yao'er come to see you when she returns..."

"Hmph!" Qingyue sneered, sat down on the stone bench in the courtyard, and said leisurely, "What a coincidence, I also sent Su'e to look for her. I'll wait here and see if Su'e can bring Su Yuyao back, or if Bai'er can bring Su Yuyao back!"

Guan Xiao winked at Guan Yue, who lowered his eyelids and quietly left the courtyard.

"Bai'er, how is Lady Qingyue's complexion?" Su Yuyao asked cautiously, holding Bai'er's hand. "Is she not feeling well...?"

"Miss," Bai Er's voice trembled with tears, "it's not just bad, it's absolutely terrible! Her eyes are like she wants to kill me! What should we do?"

"You're asking me?! Who am I supposed to ask?! It's possible that Lady Qingyue already knows about Xuanfeng marrying into the wolf clan. I can't explain this to her..." Su Yuyao suddenly slapped Bai'er's bottom and said angrily, "You little brat! Why didn't you tell me sooner! If it weren't for Baihu, I would still be in the dark!"

"Miss, I don't know either. Ruixue didn't tell me either..." Bai Er said aggrievedly.

"Ruixue definitely doesn't know either. If he did, he would definitely tell us!" Su Yuyao led Bai Er around in circles, showing no intention of turning back. "If we go back now, we'll definitely get a beating! I need to find a place to hide first!"

"Miss Yao'er, where are you trying to hide?"

"Ah!" Su Yuyao and Bai Er were both startled and trembled.

"Hehe... What a coincidence! Isn't this... Granny Su'e..." Su Yuyao said with an awkward smile.

She glanced at Su'e's expression, as if she could already foresee the inevitable result of being beaten.

"Bai Er, are you asking Miss Yao'er to go back? Or are you taking her... to continue playing hide-and-seek?" Su'e asked with a gloomy face.

"Little slave...no...it's not..." Bai Er was so frightened that she stammered and hurriedly shook her head.

Su Yuyao quickly shielded the terrified Bai'er behind her and said, "Granny Su'e, why are you frightening Bai'er? She came to find me, we...we were just about to...go back..." Su Yuyao's voice grew weaker as she spoke.

"Oh? Is that so? Then please!" Su'e stepped aside.

"You...you also please..."

I'm doomed! There's no escaping it! Heavens above! Someone save me!

Su Yuyao dawdled, taking three steps at a time, and just as she was about to reach the courtyard, her legs began to feel weak.

"Su Yuyao!" Guan Yue suddenly rushed over.

"Yue, Yue'er brother..." Su Yuyao pouted, tears welling up in her eyes, "Please help me find Granny Zhong... I, I might get a beating..."

Guan Yue looked at Su Yuyao, who was trembling all over, gritted his teeth, struggled to reach out and grab Su Yuyao's wrist, and turned to run towards the Vermilion Bird Hall.

Everyone was stunned.

Upon hearing Su'e's report, Qingyue stood up in shock. "What did you say? Guan Yue... he took Su Yuyao away?"

“It’s absolutely true! This old servant dared not go after them, so I could only return first,” Su’e said, bowing her head.

Qingyue sighed and looked at Guan Xiao, who was blinking and muttering, "Hey? That's not right! No way! Yue'er has a problem, could it be..."

Qingyue sat down again with a long face, looking coldly at Guan Xiao.

"This humble servant will send someone to bring Miss Yao'er back right now..." Guan Xiao smiled apologetically and left the courtyard.

Guan Yue pulled Su Yuyao into Shoujing Hall before letting go. He calmed his discomfort, looked at his hands, and thankfully, the rash hadn't worsened. He turned to look at Su Yuyao.

Su Yuyao was shocked. "Brother Yue'er, you... don't dislike me anymore?!"

Guan Yue was panting. How could he explain that he had never disliked Su Yuyao, or anyone else? He just couldn't get over that hurdle in his heart...

"Boss! These girls are amazing! I never thought that the mountains of Jiujiao Mountain would be even more beautiful than the women..." A skinny guy with a pointed mouth and a lewd face said, grinning with a mouthful of small fangs, while pulling up his pants in a sly manner. Beneath him was a terrified and desperate girl.

"Look at you, so pathetic! Forget about young ladies, even this young master Guan Yue is so pitiful! I have to...do it again!"

Inside the cave, cries for help, screams, pleas for mercy, and desperate roars assaulted Guan Yue's eardrums.

Guan Yue lay naked on the ground, weakly vomiting up the mucus in his stomach. His body was covered in blood and mottled viscous liquid. The man called the leader was squatting in front of Guan Yue, spraying the foul-smelling liquid in his face.

Guan Yue inhaled the stench mingled together, and felt an overwhelming nausea. He couldn't remember how many people had just ridden over him; he only knew that perhaps each additional person venting their frustrations on him would lessen their suffering even slightly…

Suddenly, the foul-smelling leader let out a dull thud and collapsed in front of Guan Yue, hot, foul-smelling blood seeping from beneath him.

Gradually, the girls' cries ceased to be desperate anger, but rather cries of anguish...

Guan Yue struggled to his feet, his bloodshot eyes straining to discern who had arrived… His father? Or perhaps Lord Xuanfeng…

"Yue'er! What happened to you?!" Guan Xiao glared at the battered children before him, his eyes blazing with fury, and roared through gritted teeth, "Bastards! Don't leave a single one alive!"

A gust of wind blew by and gently lifted Guan Yue into its arms.

"Ugh..." The pain all over his body made him tremble uncontrollably.

"Guan Yue, thank you. If it weren't for you, those girls would have suffered even more..." Xuan Feng said softly, looking at the weak Guan Yue in his arms.

Guan Yue gazed at the crimson Xuanfeng, then at the rescued figures, and said with frustration, "I...can't save...anyone..."

Guan Yue closed his eyes tightly, wishing so much that this was just a nightmare...

"Brother Yue'er, what should I do now?" Su Yuyao asked anxiously, unaware that Guan Yue was trying to heal his heartache.

Guan Yue slowly opened his eyes, looking at the worried Su Yuyao in front of him, "Uh... I don't know either..."

"Huh?! You didn't know?!" Su Yuyao's eyes widened as she complained, "You didn't know and you still dragged me here?! If we get caught and taken back, we'll definitely be punished even more severely!"

Su Yuyao stamped her feet in frustration, saying angrily, "Think it through before you act! You dragged me here so rashly, Qingyue will be even angrier! What if Qingyue blames you too?! Not only did you not help me, you also got yourself into trouble! You're so brainless! So stupid!"

"What...what did you say?" Deep inside Guan Yue, there was a vulnerability that no one had ever touched, which was being destroyed by Su Yuyao.

"What did I say?!" Su Yuyao said, one hand on her hip and the other pointing at Guan Yue's chest. "Guan Yue, you should be a smart person, how could you be so reckless! If you weren't sure, if you hadn't thought of a way out, you shouldn't have acted so impulsively!"

"I'm sorry..." Guan Yue lowered his head, never expecting that the blame he had been hoping for would come from Su Yuyao's mouth.

After that incident, Guan Xiao had always been extremely protective of him, and Xuan Feng's gaze towards him was unfathomable. Everyone involved in the rescue, including the rescued girl, had vanished from his world. No one blamed him, and no one dared to say a harsh word to him; everyone was protecting him. But the more they protected him, the stronger his guilt became…

Only Su Yuyao shattered this fragile protective layer...

And the knot in his heart seemed to have loosened somewhat.

"I'm sorry, I was wrong, I didn't think it through..." Guan Yue said softly, his head bowed.

"Of course you're wrong! You're only making things worse!" Su Yuyao said relentlessly. "I don't care! If Lady Qingyue wants to punish me, you have to take the blame for me! Do you hear me!"

Guan Yue looked up at the angry Su Yuyao and nodded slightly, saying, "Okay..."

Su Yuyao suddenly noticed that Guan Yue's face had returned to its milky white color, and she exclaimed in surprise, "Brother Yue'er! Your rash is gone?!"

"Really?" Guan Yue stretched out his hand to look at it, and indeed the rash was gone.

Su Yuyao laughed and said, "Haha! It seems you really don't mind me!"

As she spoke, Su Yuyao tapped Guan Yue's chest again, "I just touched you like this, and you didn't even get a rash! Everything in this world exists in the dust. No matter how clean you are, you still poop and pee, pick your feet and fart just like everyone else, right? You may not like it, but there's no need to be disgusted. Besides, I hate cleanliness the most, but I didn't disgust you!"

Guan Yue looked at Su Yuyao with some surprise, "You...you still dislike me?"

"You can look down on me, so why can't I look down on you?!" Su Yuyao pointed at her shoes and said, "I have to polish my shoes every day when I come to see you, and I don't even dare to walk around here. Do you know how hard it is for me to hold back!"

Guan Yue lowered his head and smiled, "Excuse me...would you like...to go for a cup of tea?"

"I'm not drinking anymore," Su Yuyao said, looking towards the courtyard gate. "Someone might come to arrest me soon, I'm not in the mood for tea..."

"Guan Yue! You brat!" Granny Zhong walked in, her eyebrows raised.

Guan Yue quickly shielded Su Yuyao behind him, "Grandma Zhong, what brings you here?"

"Why am I here?!" Granny Zhong looked at Su Yuyao, who peeked out from behind Guan Yue. "If I hadn't come, who would have taken her away from you?!"

"Grandma Zhong," Su Yuyao asked, "did Lady Qingyue send you?"

Seeing Su Yuyao's frightened expression, Granny Zhong suppressed a laugh and said, "Lady Qingyue isn't an unreasonable person. What are you afraid of? It's only because you keep hiding like this that Lady Qingyue is angry!"

"I knew it! You really made things worse!" Su Yuyao said angrily to Guan Yue.

She stepped forward, slightly curtsied to Grandma Zhong, and said, "Grandma Zhong, please be my witness. I was dragged here by Brother Yue'er, not that I came here on my own!"

Granny Zhong looked at Guan Yue and curled the corners of her lips. "Guan Yue, why don't you go with Miss Yao'er?"

Guan Yue nodded...

Qingyue was already getting angry and her blood was boiling. When she saw Su Yuyao hiding behind Granny Zhong and peeking into the yard, she wanted to slap her twice.

Seeing Qingyue's expression, Su Yuyao knew things were going badly and dared not come out.

Grandma Zhong smiled and said, "Your Highness Qingyue, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting! Young Master Guan Yue was afraid that you would punish Miss Yao'er, so he took the liberty of dragging Miss Yao'er away. I've already scolded him! Please don't take it to heart!"

Qingyue gave a soft "humph".

Grandma Zhong pulled Su Yuyao in front of her and whispered, "Go, don't be afraid!"

Su Yuyao's legs trembled uncontrollably. She gripped the hem of her skirt tightly on both sides and took two steps toward Qingyue.

"Su Yuyao, you're finally back! You're the only one who could make me wait this long!" Qingyue's voice startled Su Yuyao so much that she almost knelt on the ground.

Su Yuyao forced a smile and asked ingratiatingly, "Hehe... Your Majesty, it's been a long time! What brings you here..."

"What wind?" Qingyue asked, her eyes wide. "A black wind!"

really!

Su Yuyao swallowed nervously and said, "Oh, that's unfortunate, Xuanfeng isn't here..."

Qingyue sneered, "Hmph! Of course he wasn't here! Didn't he run off to become a son-in-law of the wolf clan?"

"Ah..." Su Yuyao feigned innocence, "I don't know?!"

"Su Yuyao!" Qingyue said sharply, "You dare say you don't know?!"

"Your Majesty!" Su Yuyao knelt on the ground with a thud. "I really didn't know! I didn't know that Xuanfeng had been chosen as a son-in-law by the wolf clan! This was not my intention, nor was it my idea. I did not force Xuanfeng, nor did I instruct anyone..."

Qingyue grew even angrier listening to Su Yuyao's string of attempts to absolve herself of responsibility. "Su Yuyao! If it wasn't your idea, whose was it?! Did Xuanfeng want to marry into the wolf clan himself?! Xuanfeng is a dignified Heavenly Lord! A Heavenly Lord! Marrying into the wolf clan?! Su Yuyao! Listen to this yourself, is this even reasonable?!"

"Ah...it's a bit outrageous...but...I don't know what happened..."

"Su Yuyao!" Qingyue asked coldly, "Even if Xuanfeng's marriage into the wolf clan has nothing to do with you, you should at least know that I'm here to see you! If you're not guilty, why are you hiding?!"

"I...I didn't dodge, Guan Yue pulled me away...I didn't mean to dodge..." Su Yuyao turned to look at Guan Yue and said in a low voice, "Say something!"

Guan Yue stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, it was indeed my fault. I was not thoughtful enough. If you must punish someone, punish me! It has nothing to do with Su Yuyao!"

Qingyue glared at Guan Yue sideways, "Punish you?! How? Who can touch you?"

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!" Guan Xiao stepped in front of Guan Yue. "My son has made a mistake, and as his father, I cannot shirk responsibility. If you must punish someone, punish me!"

“Father!” Guan Yue called out softly.

"Shut up! You're just causing trouble!" Guan Xiao scolded.

Su Yuyao watched Guan Xiao protecting Guan Yue with great envy, thinking, "If my father were still alive, he would definitely protect me like this too! Ah! No! If my father were still alive, why would I be kneeling here? I should already be married, maybe even a mother. How could I have such a entanglement with Xuan Feng! If I didn't have this entanglement, would I not have to be so careful? Indeed, being Xuan Feng's woman is not easy..."

Su Yuyao sighed softly.

Qingyue felt a pang of sympathy when she saw Su Yuyao kneeling alone on the ground.

"Guan Yue, you knew I was waiting for Su Yuyao here, yet you deliberately took her away. This is truly wrong! Guan Xiao, as a father, you love your son dearly and are willing to take responsibility for him, which I can understand. However, Guan Yue, as the Prince of the Nine Suburbs Hall, should bear the blame himself!"

"Yes... Your Majesty, but it's my son..." Guan Xiao was still somewhat worried.

Qingyue lowered her eyes and thought for a moment, then said, "Guan Yue, you have your principles, and I respect that. So, I will punish you by making you sweep up all the fallen leaves in Jiujiao Mountain. Do you accept that?"

Guan Yue paused for a moment, then bowed his head and replied, "Yes, Your Majesty!"

Huh? How can we possibly sweep up all the fallen leaves in the mountains? Sweeping up all the fallen leaves on the mountain would just be trapping Brother Yue'er in the mountains, wouldn't it?

Su Yuyao looked up at Qingyue, only to be met with Qingyue's stern gaze, which startled her so much that she quickly lowered her head.

"Su Yuyao! I need to think carefully about how to punish you!"

"Ah? Your Majesty, please spare me! I'm truly innocent!" Su Yuyao pleaded, her voice trembling with tears.

“Your Majesty,” Qimen said with a smile, stroking his beard, “this is just news released by the Wolf Clan. Empress Yi has not yet acknowledged her, so why don’t we wait for her instructions?”

Qingyue glanced at Qimen and said, "Lord Qimen, if Empress Yi intervenes in this matter, then it will be confirmed! Therefore, Empress Yi sent someone to inform me to investigate this matter!"

"Ah?" Qi Men chuckled awkwardly again. "Your Majesty, please don't upset yourself! This humble servant can testify on Yao'er's behalf that Yao'er truly knew nothing about this! Besides, Yao'er is young, and it's not easy for her to be with Lord Xuanfeng. She's also been through some unpleasant things. Chief Sa must have been very protective of his daughter, which is why he came up with this somewhat inappropriate method to get a guarantee from Yao'er. You should just take it as a joke and not take it to heart... Hehe... Okay?"

Qingyue glanced at Su Yuyao, who was about to burst into tears, and said while catching her breath, "Lord Qimen, you don't need to coax me. I am not Yao'er!"

"Hahaha..." Qi Men breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Qing Yue soften her tone, and said, "Your Majesty, Yao'er has made a lot of progress recently! Wherever she goes, she takes these people with her, and manages everything in an orderly manner! Look at Fairy Feihua, how well Yao'er takes care of her! Not only is her mood more stable, but she has also become much stronger! It is not easy for Yao'er to do so much at such a young age!"

Qingyue said with a smile, "Yes, Yao'er has really made progress, but it's not good to keep disturbing the peace of Jiujiao Mountain. Lord Qimen, why don't I take them back first!"

"Huh?! I don't want to leave!" Su Yuyao pouted. "Brother Yue'er has already taught me how to circulate Qi, and I want to learn more!"

Qingyue looked at Guan Yue and said, "Young Master Guan Yue is truly capable. He actually managed to teach our Yao'er how to circulate Qi. This is something that even Lord Qi Meng couldn't teach!"

"Your Majesty, Su Yuyao is very intelligent and talented. As long as the right methods are used, she can learn very quickly..."

"Oh, so we were using the wrong method! Young Master Guan Yue really cares about our Yao'er..." Qing Yue said slowly, her eyes lowered.

Everyone was startled again. They all realized that Qingyue's words were a bit off. Guan Xiao hurriedly said, "My son and Miss Yao'er are about the same age. He treats Miss Yao'er like a younger sister. Miss Yao'er is also very lovable, and we all like her..."

"Oh? You all like it? Then... Young Master Guan Yue likes it too?" Qing Yue raised her head and looked at Guan Yue with a smile.

Guan Yue quickly lowered his head, his ears gradually turning red, "I..."

“How could Brother Yue’er possibly like me?! He’s always looked down on me!” Su Yuyao hurriedly explained, “To like someone is to accept everything about them, good or bad, without disliking them! But every time I go to Shoujing Hall, I have to change into clean clothes, wipe my shoes clean, and even put my water bottle outside in the courtyard! Otherwise, Brother Yue’er will get angry…”

"Feihua, don't go! Feihua won't go..." Feihua suddenly ran out of the house, threw herself into Qingyue's arms, and said in a child's voice, "Feihua won't go!"

Fangchun rushed over, helped Feihua up, and held her in her arms, gently coaxing her, "Don't go, don't go..."

Looking at Fei Hua, Qing Yue's heart suddenly softened.

"Your Majesty, even if Brother Yue'er doesn't like me, he has to pretend he does. Everyone knows I'm Xuanfeng's woman. Who would dare not like me? Who would dare speak ill of me?" Su Yuyao quickly said, taking advantage of Qingyue's concern for Feihua. "Furthermore, it is indeed shameful for Xuanfeng, as the Heavenly Lord, to marry into the Wolf Clan. Since I am his woman, how could I not know the implications? If I were there, I certainly wouldn't have agreed! Your Majesty, I truly didn't know! Please forgive me, considering how well I've taken care of Feihua!"

Qingyue stroked Feihua's head, thought for a moment, and asked, "Did you send a message to the wolf clan?"

Lord Qi stroked his beard and said, "Your Majesty, when you went to Chengma Peak, Yao'er never left the academy. I brought her out to keep her by my side, and we didn't contact the wolf clan at all!"

"Where's that wolfhound?" Qingyue asked, scanning the yard. "Isn't he able to contact the wolf clan?"

Just as Su Yuyao was about to speak, Qimen laughed loudly and said, "Your Majesty is talking about Ruixue, isn't she? He's already gone!"

Although Qingyue still looked angry, her attitude had softened considerably. She looked at Su Yuyao and asked softly, "It really wasn't your idea?"

"It really wasn't!" Su Yuyao raised her hand and swore, "I swear, this really wasn't my idea! If I'm lying... then... then let me..."

"Alright!" Qingyue interrupted Su Yuyao's oath, pointing at her coldly and saying, "You little brat, if there's a next time, I'll beat you without even asking! Get up!"

"Hehe... I promise there won't be a next time!" Su Yuyao glanced at Qingyue's face and finally felt relieved. She stood up, rubbing her knees, and said, "Your Majesty, you've come all this way, how about we have roast meat for dinner tonight? The wild boar meat here is so delicious!"

She turned to Guan Xiao and winked at him, "Lord Guan Xiao! Is this any good?"

"Okay! Okay! Of course!" Guan Xiao turned around and pointed at Guan Yue, who was still shy. "Yue'er! What are you standing there for? Go and get ready!"

Guan Yue was stunned for a moment, then quickly fled the courtyard with his two bright red ears.

Su Yuyao watched Guan Yue leave and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Why was that deadpan guy so shy for no reason? He almost couldn't explain himself!

Qingyue knew that Xuanfeng's marriage into the wolf clan had nothing to do with Su Yuyao, that the Qi family had been trying to save face for themselves, and that Guan Yue was shy...

She sighed deeply, touched Fei Hua's chubby face, and couldn't help but smile. Back then, Fei Hua never ate a single leaf of vegetable in order to maintain her figure, but now she had been influenced by Su Yu Yao... Qing Yue suddenly felt sad again.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!" Su Yuyao ran happily to Qingyue's side, grabbed Qingyue's arm, and said in a coquettish tone, "Your Majesty, I've missed you so much!"

Qingyue tidied Su Yuyao's stray hairs behind her ear and said, "You little devil! When Xuanfeng comes back, I'm going to ask him everything! If I find out anything about you, you'll see how I punish you!"

"No problem!" Su Yuyao said with a playful smile, linking her arm with Qingyue's. "If you find out anything related to me, you can punish me however you like!"

Qingyue wanted to be even stricter, but looking at Su Yuyao's apple-like face, her watery eyes, and her chattering little mouth, she couldn't help but laugh.