Chapter 61: Don't... Don't Do This in Front of Master (3)
"Disciple, what exactly are you doing? Why haven't you responded to me?"
The Heavenly Dao Master had been speaking for a while without receiving much response, his tone filled with confusion.
Usually, his disciple would agree with him and then share her inner thoughts.
But today, she had been unusually silent, which felt strange.
Yet, based on the projection before him, he couldn't tell what she was doing.
So strange!
"Master, I... I'm just carefully considering your words."
Ye Xueyi whispered, her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.
If one listened closely, they would clearly hear the guilt in her voice.
There was no helping it—this was likely the first time in her life she had ever deceived her master.
The moment she spoke those words, she had already made her decision regarding the young man.
Her tense body softened, finally surrendering completely as she leaned powerlessly into Su Qing's embrace.
She felt that, after making this choice, there was no turning back from the road ahead.
This was her first act of rebellion, and it filled her heart with inescapable guilt.
Along with the guilt came an overwhelming sense of sin.
"You're such a bad girl."
Su Qing whispered against her glistening earlobe.
The goddess felt the teasing whisper in her ear, and her steadfast Dao heart wavered like never before.
She closed her eyes and completely relaxed her body.
"Now is not the time to play doll. You understand what needs to be done, right?"
Su Qing pinched her cheek lightly, a playful smile forming.
Ye Xueyi's eyes snapped open.
She found herself disliking how quickly she understood these things now.
Before coming to the capital, she wasn't like this at all…
A moment later.
Ye Xueyi lowered her delicate head, kneeling gracefully while gently biting her red lips.
Her crimson gown still loosely draped over her body, half-hanging as if teasingly revealing her fair skin, flushed with a delicate pink hue. The once aloof goddess now exuded an unprecedented allure.
The goddess-turned-rebel seemed much more liberated than before, her posture natural and uninhibited.
"Stop spacing out!"
"If you want information, you need to take decisive action!"
"Do you understand, child?"
"..."
Understand you, my ass—
At this moment.
The once proud and aloof Ye Xueyi had the sudden urge to curse.
Who in the world could make coercion sound so righteous?
Ye Xueyi lifted her gaze to Su Qing, her face instantly heating up with an alluring blush.
Her current posture was already mortifying, yet he had the audacity to make such an unreasonable demand.
This scoundrel was clearly up to no good. How could he humiliate her like this?
Despite her thoughts, though… she still had to do what needed to be done.
"Not bad. You're a little slow, but your ability to act is commendable."
"Once you've decided on something, you execute it immediately. That's your strength."
Su Qing praised her.
It was undeniable that the Heavenly Dao Master had raised an outstanding tool.
Unfortunately, they never realized that tools, too, had the potential to rebel.
"Don't… don't say things like that after taking advantage! I'm just doing this to learn the truth."
Hearing his compliment, Ye Xueyi's face burned even hotter as she snapped at him.
She glared at Su Qing, trying to suppress the overwhelming guilt rising within her heart.
After all, she was betraying her master by doing this!
Wait, no—that phrasing wasn't quite right.
The Heavenly Dao Master's projection was still actively speaking. She was doing this right in front of him!
Compared to normal, the feeling was intensified several times over.
"So, what did you gather from my words?"
The Heavenly Dao Master didn't suspect anything, simply asking.
He was very aware of his disciple's obedient nature, so he wouldn't doubt her.
"What Master said… is correct. It's all for the sake of the common people…"
Ye Xueyi split her focus, responding to her master while handling other matters.
She spoke without even thinking, effortlessly uttering a string of righteous-sounding words.
As she continued speaking, a sudden sense of absurdity crept into her heart.
She had been taught these ideals since childhood, yet had never actually done anything meaningful.
For years, she had cultivated diligently, always preaching about saving people, but it was all just talk…
Realizing this, her feelings of guilt lessened considerably.
But the sense of betrayal intensified dramatically.
She was committing an unforgivable act right under her master's watch!
Yet all of this was necessary—simply a means to achieve her goal.
She wanted to know the truth. She refused to be a fool kept in the dark!
Inside the White Jade Pavilion.
The Empress, clad in a dragon robe, sat alone in her chamber, fingers gently tapping the table.
Her long, silk-clad legs crossed and shifted occasionally, revealing her restless mood.
Her frustration stemmed from a certain favored minister who had yet to report back.
The capital appeared stable, but beneath the surface, the tides churned violently.
Without a doubt, Su Qing had uncovered many secrets.
But the more he discovered, the closer he inched toward danger.
Although she had divined the outcome… what if the divination was wrong?
Should she take action? This was a serious dilemma.
"Hmph… I'm not worried. I just don't want him to ruin my plans."
The Empress muttered to herself, finally unable to hold back.
In the next moment, she activated a long-prepared secret technique.
The scene before her gradually became clear, soon displaying Su Qing's current situation in vivid detail.
The Empress was completely stunned.
After two full seconds, she instinctively wanted to cancel the technique.
But just as she reached out… she hesitated.
Hmph… Even though this traitor appears to be in control, who knows if he'll mess up?
She had to observe carefully—to see if the Heavenly Dao Sect had any hidden schemes!
As time passed, the Empress's proud and beautiful face grew slightly flushed.
Clearly, she was affected.
However, her gaze remained filled with intrigue.
What the secret technique revealed had made her reevaluate her favored minister.
To think he could make that goddess so obedient—quite impressive.
He had been by her side for so long, yet she never noticed his talent for deceiving women.
Was it because he had been confined to the palace for too long, lacking opportunities?
Hmph, now that she had seen this, she had to be careful!
Engrossed in the scene, the Empress failed to notice someone entering her room…