Chapter 345: She Might Have Her Own Reasons Too

The next day, Ye Qingran went to Guoshi Fu.

Because she had decided to transfer the mysterious gu from Fu Hanxiu's body onto herself, some preparatory work required Fu Hanxiu's cooperation to complete.

She told no one about this decision, not even Han Xing Leng Yue, keeping it hidden from them. She knew that once she disclosed it, they would try hard to dissuade her, and everyone in Yaowang Valley would stop her.

Therefore, Ye Qingran went to Guoshi Fu alone.

Fu Er naturally took this opportunity to return to Guoshi Fu as well.

He originally intended to see what Ye Qingran was doing with Your Majesty, but he inadvertently heard that Lin Xueyan had come to request an audience with Your Majesty and was rejected.

Fu Er couldn't help but frown.

Although he didn't particularly like Lin Xueyan, she was the young master's lifesaving benefactor, and he still felt grateful toward her. Now that her request to see Your Majesty had been denied, she must be very upset, right?

Fu Er thought for a moment, then went out.

In front of Guoshi Fu's main gate, Lin Xueyan felt very depressed. In the past, even if Your Majesty was indifferent to her, he would still summon her when she requested an audience; now he outright refused her, which made her feel embarrassed.

"It's all because of that bitch Ye Qingran!" Lin Xueyan thought resentfully, a feral look hidden in her brows and eyes.

If it weren't for Ye Qingran, National Master wouldn't have punished her, nor would his attitude toward her have turned so abruptly!

"Miss Lin."

Hearing the voice, Lin Xueyan was slightly startled and looked up.

"Long time no see, Miss Lin."

When she saw Fu Er, Lin Xueyan's face lit up with surprise, "Fu Er, when did you arrive in Xiliang City? Why didn't you tell me?"

Fu Er nodded toward Lin Xueyan, his tone neither cold nor warm, "I only arrived yesterday as well."

A sweet smile hung on Lin Xueyan's face, but a sharp glint flashed in her eyes.

"Fu Er, I made you watch a joke," Lin Xueyan said, her head drooping in loneliness, her hand at her side with nowhere to place it, expressing her current unease.

Fu Er understood the meaning behind Lin Xueyan's words, thought for a moment, and comforted, "Miss Lin, don't overthink it; perhaps Your Majesty is busy right now and not deliberately ignoring you."

Lin Xueyan's complexion improved a bit, and she tentatively asked, "What is Your Majesty busy with?"

Fu Er said irritably, "Ye Qingran has come to see Your Majesty."

He didn't think Ye Qingran could have any important matter to discuss with Your Majesty, and the fact that she was in Your Majesty's chambers made it clearly a scheming act!

Ye Qingran?!

It's that bitch Ye Qingran again!

Lin Xueyan strained to suppress the expression on her face, while her hand at her side was clenched tightly into her flesh.

"Ye Qingran is indeed different in Your Majesty's eyes," Lin Xueyan couldn't help but sigh, envy flashing in her eyes.

Fu Er furrowed his brows and sneered coldly, "So what if she's different? She will never be worthy of Your Majesty!" Every word dripped with contempt.

A smug glint flashed in Lin Xueyan's eyes. She had known since the Summit of the Deer Hunt that Fu Er despised Ye Qingran.

Fu Er is Your Majesty's capable aide; if his already terrible impression of Ye Qingran is further aggravated, it will only add insult to injury, and Ye Qingran will certainly have a hard time!

She showed a puzzled expression, "I just don't understand—Ye Qingran already has someone she likes, so why does she keep clinging to Your Majesty?"

Ye Qingran has someone she likes?

Fu Er's face suddenly turned as cold as ice, "Miss Lin, what do you mean by that?"

Lin Xueyan, feigning surprise, said, "Fu Er, haven't you heard? Ye Qingran has already fallen for another man, a man who seems to be called Wuhen. They were previously seen as a pair, looking very affectionate." Seeing Fu Er's face turn as cold as frost, Lin Xueyan continued to add fuel, "I originally thought Ye Qingran was beautiful and beloved by the young master, so if she became the lady master of our Summit of the Deer Hunt, that would be fine. But who knows... sigh, I never expected Ye Qingran to be the type who keeps two boats... perhaps there's some misunderstanding?"

Fu Er was already extremely dissatisfied with Ye Qingran, and now hearing Lin Xueyan speak like that made his disgust for her reach its peak.

"What misunderstanding could there be? She must be keeping two boats! That Ye Qingran, truly shameless!" Fu Er was furious, his whole body trembling.

She seducing Your Majesty was already an extremely shameless act, and she still dares to keep two boats?

Lin Xueyan's eyes flickered, deliberately exposing the fresh scar still lingering on her arm.

Fu Er saw it and couldn't help but ask with concern, "Miss Lin, what's this?"

Lin Xueyan hurriedly covered the scar, "It's nothing."

The more she did this, the more Fu Er sensed something wrong, and he pressed, "Miss Lin, you're at least someone from our Summit of the Deer Hunt; tell me who hurt you, and I'll get you some justice!"

"Actually, it's nothing..." Lin Xueyan bit her lower lip, her eyes gradually wet, "I tried hard to protect him, but I could never match an outsider... it's all my fault, being too self-righteous... indeed, I'm merely the young master's lifesaving benefactor; how could I compare to that woman who is about to become the young master's stepmother, whose words carry weight?"

Fu Er basically heard the deeper meaning from Lin Xueyan's words.

His expression was so gloomy it could drip water, "What exactly is going on?"

Lin Xueyan thought for a moment, then spiced up the story of that day when she brought Yun Zhi to see Fu Qianchen but was turned away at the door.

In Lin Xueyan's account, she had good intentions in bringing Yun Zhi to meet Fu Qianchen, but Ye Qingran turned them away at the door for various reasons; later, because of Ye Qingran, Yun Zhi was placed under house arrest at an inn, and she was sent by Your Majesty to the penal hall for punishment, which is why she sustained her injuries...

Yun Zhi was anxious for her child, Lin Xueyan acted righteously, and only Ye Qingran portrayed a snake‑scorpion‑hearted woman's selfishness and cruelty to the utmost!

"Ye Qingran, Ye Qingran again!" Fu Er clenched his fist, his face angry. If Ye Qingran were on the scene, he would have probably beaten her already.

Lin Xueyan saw Fu Er's uncontainable anger and knew her sowing discord had succeeded.

"Fu Er, promise me you won't go looking for trouble with Ye Qingran; perhaps she also has her own reasons!"

Fu Er laughed in anger, "What reasons could she possibly have!"

As long as Fu Er lives, he will absolutely never watch a woman like Ye Qingran marry into the Summit of the Deer Hunt!

"National Master, later have someone simmer these medicinal ingredients and ingest them; tomorrow I will return to extract the gu for you," Ye Qingran said after carefully checking Fu Hanxiu's condition, then retrieved some herbs from the space and laid them on the table.

In fact, Ye Qingran had a ready-made pill that could produce the same effect. However, that pill was of a higher grade, and it was obvious it came from Yaowang Valley, which would make Fu Hanxiu suspicious.

Fu Hanxiu looked at the herbs before him, and an ominous foreboding suddenly surfaced in his heart.

"Are you sure it really has no effect on you?" he said, his gaze deep as he looked at Ye Qingran, his sword‑like brows slightly furrowing.

Ye Qingran truly didn't understand; she could extract the gu for him, sparing him from the pain of the mysterious gu, so he shouldn't be grateful about it, right? Why does he keep worrying about her?

The more he is kind to her, the more uncomfortable she feels, and his guilt grows ever stronger.