All along, Shen Yao had been quite obedient, a very reliable subordinate.
But having lived for this long, Shen Yao naturally had some ideas of her own.
She wouldn't follow Mu Qinglan blindly in everything.
When it came to strategies, Shen Yao indeed listened to her, striking wherever directed without objection. Even if she had concerns, she would voice them at most once, and then keep them to herself while doing her job conscientiously.
But regarding matters of emotion, Shen Yao did have some objections.
Neither had any dating experience or much understanding of romantic feelings, but who could tolerate suddenly being called someone's dog in front of others?
Shen Yao couldn't stand it.
But since Mu Qinglan was handling important matters at the time, Shen Yao had only protested briefly without seriously refuting her point. Fortunately, Mu Qinglan had also given her a way out.
At least she hadn't been left in an awkward position.
But now she was going to have a proper talk about this.
—How could she call someone a dog?
Shen Yao pursed her lips, her delicate face showing a serious expression. She pulled the white-haired girl's small hand, ready to lecture this bad woman who was three years younger than herself.
But how could Mu Qinglan, a master of people, not understand?
Through the game's plot, secret investigations, and their interactions over these days, she had fully grasped the other's depths.
Perhaps she understood Shen Yao even better than Shen Yao understood herself.
So when Shen Yao pulled her hand, Mu Qinglan already knew what words would come out of her mouth.
Thus, she preemptively accused:
"Has Miss Shen realized her error tonight?"
"...Huh?"
Shen Yao had been organizing her words, thinking about how to tell a child of this age that calling someone a little dog wasn't nice. But after hearing Mu Qinglan's accusation, she was momentarily stunned, and the carefully prepared words were disrupted.
"Did I... did I do something wrong?"
Shen Yao was bewildered.
Mu Qinglan didn't keep her in suspense and directly said: "Miss Shen was daydreaming before the assassin came, wasn't she? If I hadn't reminded you, you might not have been able to discover the assassin's whereabouts so quickly."
Reminded of this, Shen Yao did feel a bit guilty, but at the same time, she also felt a little wronged.
After all, who could have imagined that someone could harm others just by looking at them?
And without any fluctuation of power.
Shen Yao wanted to explain that she had never heard of such a technique, but then thought that this was just an excuse. The fact was that she hadn't done a good job of guarding the princess. If not for the other's reminder, she might have made a serious mistake due to her negligence.
So she lowered her head and said nothing.
But Mu Qinglan's offensive didn't end there: "I originally thought that as a constable of the Six Bureaus, Miss Shen would be very vigilant, but unexpectedly, your performance was truly disappointing."
She sighed in disappointment: "Is everyone in the Six Bureaus like you?"
Shen Yao bit her lower lip, her black hair falling over the corners of her eyes, making it difficult to see her expression.
Mu Qinglan sighed again: "Well, compared to others your age, you're already quite impressive, but compared to what I imagined… It seems Miss Shen still has a long way to go."
"Was I that bad?" Shen Yao couldn't help but ask.
Mu Qinglan smiled without speaking, just pushing her wheelchair forward on her own:
"If Miss Shen continues to be so disappointing, then I might have to consider changing partners. Of course, I won't just kick you out, but Miss Shen should know that there are differences even among partners."
Shen Yao was left behind alone.
The sound of the wheelchair rolling over stone tiles made noise. Against the moonlight, the white-haired girl's pretty face was strangely dim.
On the unseen front side.
Mu Qinglan's expression was calm, showing no trace of the disappointment from earlier.
Because she had already anticipated Shen Yao's performance.
'If you could detect [Shadow Candle]'s shadow burning on your first encounter, that would be too much. That's the designated ace assassin in 'Destiny'; it shouldn't be without prestige,' Mu Qinglan thought to herself.
'But I still have to scold her. How else can I make you recognize your place? Although a constable's status is not bad, it's more important to obediently listen.'
Cold on the outside, loyal dog at night would be even better.
'I'm truly brilliant.'
This bad person not only didn't feel guilty about her despicable actions but even began to feel proud, thinking herself a clever and caring good woman.
She was already preparing to give Shen Yao, who had no one to rely on, a home. Wasn't that being a good woman?
Good, so good!
Might as well make a banner and frame it, letting everyone know she was a supremely good woman.
'Shen Yao will probably come looking for me later. This bit of teasing hasn't crossed her bottom line yet. I'll praise her then.'
'It's just a pity that two days is too short. If I had three months, I'd bet my name she wouldn't be able to stay cold in front of me!'
As expected of someone who thinks about scheming against others all day; her chain of plans was quite seamless.
But this was also a fairly common PUA technique.
First demean, then praise—basic operation.
At most, there was some extra teasing.
Squeak—
Thinking this, Mu Qinglan returned to her chamber, glancing at the courtyard with a smile on her lips.
In the courtyard, the ice mountain girl still stood in place, fists clenched, not having moved a step.
Her breathing was now rapid, because anyone would be upset being scolded like that.
But what was more upsetting was that Shen Yao knew the other was right.
People accustomed to disappointment don't hate their own mistakes, but those who have been striving desperately are different. They truly hate every mistake they make from the bottom of their hearts and work hard to correct them, never to repeat them.
The higher you stand, the harder you fall.
The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment.
Standing in the lonely courtyard, Shen Yao's slender hands repeatedly clenched and relaxed, feeling the power within her. For the first time in her life, she experienced a bit of insecurity.
"Am I really that useless?"
If I can't even do this well, I definitely won't be able to avenge myself against King Li.
"She never looked back, as if she was truly disappointed."
Because Mu Qinglan's expression was so calm, as if she was thoroughly disappointed in her, coupled with that series of criticisms, it made Shen Yao begin to doubt everything.
When what you're most proud of, what you rely on for survival, is criticized as worthless, anyone would feel panic.
After panic comes the search for validation.
From whom? Naturally from the person who criticized you.
And conveniently.
Mu Qinglan was in her room, eagerly awaiting the arrival of her prey.
—She understood this all too well.
○
A cup of tea's time later, the two sat facing each other in the inner chamber.
Not to Mu Qinglan's surprise, not long after she returned to her room, Shen Yao had indeed followed her in, sullen and silent.
"By the way, is Secretary Li still alive?" Mu Qinglan remembered the man who had visited yesterday.
"Dead," Shen Yao said in a low voice.
"Died mysteriously in the cell?" Mu Qinglan looked at Shen Yao's expression. "I told you, that guy wouldn't leave such a life-threatening handle."
Shen Yao said nothing, the self-confidence she had just mustered wilting again.
But Mu Qinglan wasn't too disappointed.
After all, the Crown Prince was the direct instigator of Great Xia's internal turmoil. If they could capture him directly, she would find it incredible.
"You should stay with me for the next few days. That petty character will probably use some underhanded tricks next time. I'll be counting on you then," Mu Qinglan said indifferently, directly arranging her schedule for the coming days.
Hearing this, Shen Yao looked up in surprise, her eyes brightening for a moment, and then she nodded vigorously:
"Mm."
Strangely enough.
Originally, the relationship between them should have been a partnership, but somehow, she now only wanted to actively demonstrate herself in front of Mu Qinglan.
Mu Qinglan seemed to have more confidence in her than she had in herself:
"Miss Shen shouldn't be too hard on herself. This time was just unfamiliarity. I believe with your talent, you definitely won't make the same mistake next time, right?"
As the genius constable of the Six Bureaus, Shen Yao had heard too many praises and should have been immune to them.
But in this cold night,
With this approval,
Her heart inexplicably felt a small leap of joy.