Chapter 257: Innocent and Naive

The onlookers had thought National Master would not refuse Ling Qingwu. After all, Ling Qingwu knows someone from Western Extremity Zhu Lu Zhi Dian—such a formidable background, surely National Master couldn't refuse either, right?

What they didn't expect was that National Master actually said such a strange sentence.

Following National Master's gaze, they saw Ye Qingran and were slightly startled.

National Master called Ye Qingran "the child's mother"—could he be intentionally asking Ye Qingran to be the child's mother?

They couldn't help but recall the rumor that National Master favored Ye Qingran; could it be true?

National Master's teasing gaze made Ye Qingran feel uneasy all over, and a hint of bashfulness appeared on her face.

With so many people watching, does this man know what he's saying?

Ye Qingran also didn't know how to respond.

At that moment, Fu Qianchen lifted his face and asked innocently: "Sister, do you want to be our stepmother?"

Ling Qingwu froze, lowered her head to look at Fu Qianchen—he looked almost exactly like National Master; without a doubt he was National Master's son.

Thinking that if she married in, she would inevitably become this child's stepmother; although she didn't like the child, under everyone's eyes she certainly wouldn't show it.

Ling Qingwu forced a smile: "You must be... Xiao Chen? You're really cute!"

Fu Qianchen didn't like the sister before him, always feeling her smile was fake.

"Sister, you haven't answered my question yet."

Ling Qingwu's smile stiffened; she glanced shyly at National Master and said, "Then it depends on your father's decision." Her intention was already obvious.

For some reason, upon hearing that Ling Qingwu wanted to be Fu Qianchen's stepmother, Ye Qingran's heart surged with unnamed anger, as if her possessions were being coveted by others.

She patted Fu Qianchen's head, feigning innocence: "Xiao Chen, do you like this sister as your stepmother?"

Fu Qianchen shook his head: "No!"

Ling Qingwu was unwilling to accept it: "Why?" How was she inferior to Ye Qingran, that woman who doesn't know how to keep herself pure?

"Because Fu San Uncle said stepmothers are mostly not good people, and besides, I already have a mother!" Fu Qianchen said, rubbing against Ye Qingran's body as if telling everyone who his mother was.

Seeing this, Ling Qingwu's face darkened further—was Fu Qianchen publicly mocking her as not a good person?

Upon hearing that, Fu San widened his eyes and pointed at himself.

Fu Hanxiu's gaze swept over.

Does Fu San usually teach him these things when he's not paying attention?

Looks like he's itching for a beating again!

Feeling Your Majesty's gaze, Fu San almost wanted to cry but had no tears.

Heaven and earth as my witness, when did he ever say that?

Young master, be decent in life!

Ling Qingwu gritted her teeth, forcing herself to keep a calm expression. Inside she was seething, wishing she could kick Fu Qianchen to death.

Then Fu Qianchen said again, "Sister, you look angry—is it because I told the truth? Someone like you, if you married my father, wouldn't I have no good days?"

Hearing this, everyone felt sorry for Fu Qianchen. They said children are the most sensitive, and this was no exception. Although Ling Qingwu is outstanding, her impatient look shows she definitely wouldn't be a good stepmother.

Ling Qingwu trembled with anger. She silently vowed that once she became his stepmother, she would surely kill him!

However…

A flash of cold light passed through Ling Qingwu's eyes.

Although Fu Qianchen is National Master's son, his words don't count; it still depends on National Master's decision.

So she thought it over and said again: "National Master, I am the daughter of Qingyun Sword Immortal, a top-ten disciple of the Xuan Yuan Sword Sect, and I have connections to Zhu Lu Zhi Dian. If we join forces, we will surely carve out a place for ourselves in Western Extremity, and even hope to become a mid-level member of Zhu Lu Zhi Dian!"

She was very confident in herself and also believed that if National Master were smart enough, he would understand her words were not empty!

National Master, this time you'll surely be moved, right?

"Tsk tsk, a mid-level member of Zhu Lu Zhi Dian? Impressive. We mere mortals can only look up. National Master, are you really still hesitating?"

National Master's face immediately worsened.

Does this woman know what she's saying?

Does she really want him to have ties with some sword sect disciple?

One must admit, she truly has the talent to make people furious to death!

He felt quite displeased, so he simply avoided looking at Ye Qingran to spare himself the annoyance.

Fu San stood aside, laughing and crying at the same time.

A mid-level member of Zhu Lu Zhi Dian?

Is this going to make Your Majesty sink further and further?

He had decided; later he would tell Miss Ye that their Your Majesty is actually the Emperor Sovereign of Zhu Lu Zhi Dian himself!

Everyone also felt that National Master would certainly not refuse Ling Qingwu this time.

After all, her promise was too tempting!

Many women showed envy. Such an outstanding handsome man as National Master—could he really be so easily conquered by Ling Qingwu?

Who would have thought…

"Fu San, throw that clueless woman far away—I don't want to see her again!"

National Master flew into a rage, waving his hand like an emperor issuing commands.

What?

Ling Qingwu was dumbfounded.

Even if National Master didn't appreciate it, he still wanted his subordinates to throw her far away?

Had she misheard?

Only when she saw Fu San striding toward her did she realize she hadn't misheard.

"National Master, you can't do this!"

Fu Hanxiu wouldn't even look at her.

If it weren't for her, Ye Qingran wouldn't have given him grief!

Watching helplessly as Fu San brought two people to seize her, Ling Qingwu finally came to her senses and shouted sternly, "I am a member of the Xuan Yuan Sword Sect…"

Before she could finish speaking, someone grabbed her arms.

Ling Qingwu thought she could resist, but the two unattractive lackeys possessed astonishing strength. She secretly felt alarmed, wondering if she had underestimated the National Master's power.

Was it because his Western Extremity background was even tougher than she imagined that he didn't take the favor she had just offered?

With that thought, Ling Qingwu became all the more determined to win the National Master's heart.

Several other Xuan Yuan disciples, seeing their senior sister captured, tried to intimidate the captors with their status—but Fu San retorted with, "Xuan Yuan disciples? What are they worth?" They could only watch helplessly as Ling Qingwu, treated like trash, was dragged away by the National Master's lackeys and unceremoniously dumped in a corner.

Everyone watched Ling Qingwu's miserable fate and couldn't help laughing.

"I'm dying of laughter—just a moment ago Ling Qingwu was acting all high and mighty, and now she's been tossed aside like trash!"

"The National Master's move is truly satisfying—I've long been sick of Ling Qingwu's arrogant attitude!"

……

Ye Qingran clearly noticed that after Ling Qingwu's uproar, Fu Hanxiu's mood soured—he went ice‑cold, a low pressure surrounding him.

Ye Qingran roughly knew the reason, but she pretended nothing had happened.

Wasn't this exactly what she wanted?

Back then, she had Wuhen help her act—wasn't it to achieve a similar goal?

But why, then, wasn't she very happy?