Wang Yu's heart pounded wildly.
Then he saw Qianqian's jade-like hand resting lightly on his chest, and her autumn-water eyes curving into a knowing half-smile.
"Hehe!" Qianqian looked just like a child who had uncovered an adult's secret, the corners of her lips curling slightly, or a little fox that had just stolen grapes. "Brother Yu, your heart is beating so fast!"
His greatest secret had been laid bare—how could it not beat fast?
Yet Wang Yu maintained a calm facade. "If I am not Zhao Yu, then who is?"
"I don't know either." Qianqian giggled, her slender hand brushing past his ear. "Neither surgical craft nor disguise arts. Could there truly be two people in this world who look entirely identical?"
Wang Yu took a step back, putting some distance between them. "That only proves that I am Zhao Yu."
Qianqian stepped forward again and took hold of his arm. "Don't be afraid, Brother Yu! Whether you are Zhao Yu or not doesn't matter in the least!"
"In fact, it's best that you aren't Zhao Yu—now we can cooperate." Qianqian swept away her previous timid, delicate demeanor; an alluring charm suddenly blossomed amidst her innocence, transforming her in an instant from a harmless little rabbit into a clever vixen.
"No wonder Li Yunxiu dared to come to the northwest all by herself to devise strategies for the Prince of Zhenxi's Manor. Turns out she wasn't alone after all." Qianqian had pieced it together as well. "Her greatest helper and backer really was the Prince of Zhenxi."
Wang Yu remained composed, taking Qianqian's hand. "Between husband and wife, they are lifelong partners to begin with."
"Brother Yu is so gentle." Qianqian let him hold her delicate hand, giggling softly. "Not like a few days ago, when you looked like you wanted to devour me whole."
Wang Yu clicked his tongue. He was a virile young man in the prime of his youth; unable to sleep with Li Yunxiu, and with Qianqian being so enticing and seemingly defenseless, it would have been strange if he hadn't harbored any thoughts.
Now, however, it seemed there was no chance here either.
Wang Yu couldn't help recalling Li Yunxiu's warning to keep his distance from Qianqian. As expected of the female Zhuangyuan—that advice hadn't stemmed from jealousy at all, but entirely out of concern for the greater good!
Wang Yu studied Qianqian. If she truly intended to expose him, she wouldn't have come alone. Had she brought Zhao Rong with her, the man would surely have kicked down the door by now.
Recalling Zhao Rong's remark that Qianqian had never even revealed her surname, it was clear she had an ulterior motive for coming to the Prince of Zhenxi's Manor. But how had she earned Zhao Zheng's trust and gained permission to stay in the first place?
And if she had Zhao Zheng's trust, why hadn't she informed Zhao Rong upon realizing he was an impostor?
What was her real connection to the Prince of Zhenxi's Manor?
Thoughts raced through Wang Yu's mind. Because Zhao Zheng had vouched for her, he had previously assumed Qianqian was merely scheming and a bit manipulative—a calculating girl putting on an act—and not quite as fragile and pitiable as she appeared.
Yet he truly hadn't expected that Qianqian wasn't aligned with the Prince of Zhenxi's Manor either. Even after guessing he was an impostor, she hadn't notified Zhao Rong, but had instead come alone, intending to use this secret as leverage over him.
By all rights, the optimal solution right now was to subdue Qianqian and silence her permanently.
However, Wang Yu did not make a move. After all, Qianqian had seen him kill Naluotuo and knew he had slain Wei Honggang, yet still dared to confront him alone—that alone proved she was by no means the helpless, martial-arts-illiterate girl she usually made herself out to be.
Qianqian's beautiful eyes fluttered with playful expectation, as if waiting for him to strike.
Then she heard Wang Yu say, "You are my fiancée, after all. If I had no thoughts toward you, it would either prove I lack the capabilities of a man, or prove you lack the charm of a woman. Neither seems very flattering to you, does it?"
Qianqian was so amused that her shoulders shook with laughter.
"So, we are fiancé and fiancée, one family. As the saying goes, harmony in the family brings prosperity to all affairs; husband and wife should talk things through," Wang Yu said gently. "Whatever requests you have, feel free to tell me!"
"Brother Yu, you really are too adorable!" Qianqian practically collapsed into his chest from laughing. Only after catching her breath did she prop herself up against him, giving his abdominal muscles a playful stroke before murmuring softly, "I can hardly bear to kill you now."
Wang Yu's heart skipped another beat despite himself.
"Hehe, look how scared you are." The corners of Qianqian's lips curved upward. "Isn't it completely ordinary for a Demonic Cult enchantress to kill people?"
Wang Yu immediately asked, "Is it the Demonic Cult, or the Sacred Cult?"
Qianqian smiled. "Is there a difference?"
"There is." Wang Yu nodded. "If it's the Sacred Cult, we have common ground for cooperation. If it's the Demonic Cult, I need to start packing for my escape."
Qianqian narrowed her eyes, gazing intently at him.
Wang Yu steadied his racing heart and met her gaze with an unruffled expression.
"Pfft!" Qianqian burst out laughing again, her slender finger tracing circles on his chest. Instead of answering, she countered, "Brother Yu, you're quite clever. How did you guess I was only bluffing?"
Wang Yu naturally reached out and tapped her fair forehead. "Because the very first thing you mentioned when you walked in was cooperation, wasn't it? Since we're cooperating, you can't just turn around and kill me immediately. At the very least, you have to grind the wheat before butchering the donkey.
"It's just like when you pitted your wits against Li Yunxiu the first time you met. You always give yourself away right off the bat. Doing that only warns anyone paying attention to stay on guard in the future."
Her head knocked back three times by his taps, Qianqian glared at him with wide, lovely eyes. *Knowing I won't kill you, you're really pushing your luck, aren't you?*
*I'm the one threatening you right now, all right?!*
Qianqian brushed his hand aside. "I'm talking to you about our cooperation!"
"Go on, I'm listening."
"I want to plant my people in the army and the three prefectures as well."
"I don't mind. It depends on their capability."
"What do you mean?"
"Although the three northwestern prefectures fall under the Prince of Zhenxi's Manor, governing the region day to day isn't my personal dictatorship. If mediocre people are promoted, once or twice might slide, but do it a few more times and the very foundation of rule will be shaken. Planting people would be useless then.
"Look at Li Yunxiu. Up until now, she has been handling government affairs without promoting or dismissing a single official or inserting her own people. That's because she cannot afford to give others leverage against her; the harm would outweigh the benefit.
"So if you also have designs on the Prince of Zhenxi's Manor, have your people demonstrate their competence. As long as their ability measures up, promoting them is just a matter of a word from me."
"If they're already competent, why would they need your promotion?"
"There are plenty of competent people. When candidates are roughly equal, deciding who gets promoted naturally requires my nod."
Seeing Qianqian's gaze shift from flirtatious to lucid, Wang Yu knew that while she had no shortage of cunning, her capability and experience in governance clearly couldn't hold a candle to Li Yunxiu's.
"I understand." Qianqian nodded thoughtfully, then looked at him again. "You aren't going to ask my purpose in planting these people?"
Wang Yu spread his hands. "In any case, it certainly isn't to help the imperial court."
Qianqian chuckled. "Then how will you explain this to Li Yunxiu?"
"Why should I explain anything to her?" Wang Yu countered. "My relationship with her is the same as with you—fiancé and fiancée, and a partnership."
Qianqian couldn't help laughing again, then gave a solemn nod, saying with a half-smile, "Don't worry. As long as you cooperate obediently, once the matter is done, I'll kill Li Yunxiu to help you escape her control."
"Ahem!" Wang Yu cleared his throat twice. "She is still very capable. Keeping her around is more useful than killing her."
Qianqian's eyes narrowed slightly, darting back and forth before she asked softly, "Are your parents or relatives being held hostage in the capital? Do you want me to help rescue them?"
Wang Yu's heart thumped, and he shook his head decisively. "My mother died early, and my father just passed away."
Qianqian curled her lip, knowing he still didn't trust her. But then, it was entirely normal for the world to mistrust the Demonic Cult.
Taking Wang Yu's arm, Qianqian smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. The realm is unstable now, with smoke and flames of war rising everywhere. Who knows, you might even have a chance to become emperor in the future.
"Once you become emperor, who will care whether you're the real Zhao Yu? Even if you restore your original name, it won't matter in the slightest."
Wang Yu smiled and said nothing. With those words, Qianqian had essentially laid bare their grand ambitions once again.
Qianqian evidently realized this as well and let out a soft huff.
Wang Yu changed the subject. "Are you from the Ghost Shadow Sect, or the Qianyin Sect?"
Qianqian laughed aloud again. "You truly know nothing about the Sacred Cult, do you!"
"What do you mean?" Wang Yu asked. "Aren't the Ghost Shadow Sect and the Qianyin Sect both branches of your Sacred Cult?"
Qianqian smiled and said, "If you had no prejudice against the Sacred Cult, you would call them the Floating Light Sect and the Qianyin Sect. If you considered us the Demonic Cult, you would call them the Ghost Shadow Sect and the Soul Bewitching Sect.
"The Floating Light Sect derives its name from 'fleeting light and passing shadows'. Its movement arts are swift as lightning, and its disciples excel in concealment and assassination techniques. The original intent was to rid the people of evils, but later some unworthy disciples committed indiscriminate slaughter, so it was contemptuously dubbed the Ghost Shadow Sect.
"The Qianyin Sect's disciples are masters of musical theory, using the harmony of music to comprehend the heavenly will and discern human nature. It was originally a grand path bridging Heaven and humanity, but some also used music to stir the seven emotions of mortals and control their minds, so it was contemptuously dubbed the Soul Bewitching Sect."
Wang Yu shook his head in disapproval. "Which sect doesn't have an unworthy disciple or two? Slandering an entire sect just because a wayward disciple cropped up is a bit excessive."
Qianqian said indifferently, "Perhaps it is simply because we picked the wrong side in the struggles for the realm."
Wang Yu asked curiously, "Yet I heard you were already called the Demonic Cult two hundred years ago, whereas the current dynasty was founded only forty-odd years ago."
The corner of Qianqian's mouth twitched. "That is because we picked the wrong side last time as well."
Wang Yu: "..."
He suddenly realized that cooperating with Qianqian might be a mistake. This faction seemed to have terrible luck—would they drag him into a ditch with them?
"What kind of look is that?"
Qianqian naturally noticed the shift in Wang Yu's expression and brought her foot down onto his with moderate force. "With my help this time, the Sacred Cult will definitely win!"
"Right, right, of course!" Wang Yu nodded repeatedly.
"As a partner, I'll give you a piece of news as a greeting gift." Qianqian casually withdrew her foot.
"What news?"
"Zhaixingzi and Zhuixingzi took on a disciple who has now descended from the mountain. He is heading for the Prince of Zhenxi's Manor to seek vengeance and reclaim the stolen *All Streams Returning to the Source*."
Qianqian smiled sweetly, fixing her gaze on Wang Yu. "Brother Yu, do you know of *All Streams Returning to the Source*?"
Chapter 33