Hidden Arrangements and Unfathomable Strength

“What is Xuan trying to do?”

Qian Ying frowned slightly, simultaneously puzzled by her husband’s actions.

“It’s likely… he’s making arrangements.”

Qin Wanzhao’s eyes shimmered with a faint light, and a thoughtful expression graced her face.

Since Yang Xuan had ascended to the Grandmaster realm, his demeanor had grown increasingly profound over the years, and his schemes more intricate. Often, the women found themselves unable to discern his prior arrangements.

It was only in hindsight that they would realize their husband had long been prepared, having laid his hidden hand much earlier.

Among the women present, Qin Wanzhao was the one who understood Yang Xuan’s thoughts best.

Not rushing to explain, she instead picked up her teacup and took a delicate sip as the other sisters looked on. “Given how extraordinary Sister Yuan’s talent is, wouldn’t it be a pity to keep her confined to the back chambers?”

“But…”

Yin Shuang instinctively moved to object, but the words caught in her throat. She found herself speechless, unsure of what to say.

Qin Wanzhao leisurely continued.

“The night before last, we could see that after three years, Sister Yuan’s temperament has indeed changed significantly. She no longer possesses that former ferocity, instead becoming more detached and showing no animosity towards the gate. She saved Tong’er the day before yesterday, resolving a conflict, and just yesterday, she even guided Sister Ying, helping her successfully break through. With such merits, wouldn’t it be perfectly logical for my husband to invite her to serve outside?”

“That makes sense…”

Qian Ying recalled the woman she had seen yesterday.

Gentle and serene, the tranquil elegance in her eyes and brows bore no resemblance to the arrogant woman who had once pursued her. It was as if she had become an entirely different person.

“But can one person truly change so much?”

She murmured.

“For others, perhaps it would be hard to say. But for someone with Sister Yuan’s exceptional talent, who can truly predict? Just as who could have imagined that my husband, in just a few short years, would overcome countless obstacles and break through to the Xiantian realm?”

Qin Wanzhao set down her teacup, her gaze sweeping over each of the women. “Don’t forget, in terms of martial talent, mental fortitude, and demeanor, she was once top-tier, even capable of surpassing my husband. It was only at the final crucial moment that she fell one step behind—and that was mostly due to the burden of leading the entire Bai family, and being distracted by us, which prevented her from advancing with fierce determination.”

“After experiencing such a setback and gaining new insights, it’s not impossible for her to have changed.”

Upon hearing this assessment, the women fell silent for a moment.

Indeed, in just three short years, the former prodigy’s splendor was still vivid in their memories.

“Right, speaking of which, how much of Bai Yuan’s cultivation do you think she has recovered?”

Yin Shuang blinked, her eyes wide. “You know, my jar of ‘Drunken Immortal’ isn’t something an ordinary person can withstand. And, supposedly, the guards around Tong’er the other day weren’t weak, yet they were utterly defeated by that unfamiliar youth. But that youth couldn’t even endure three of Sister Yuan’s palms—”

“If she had truly exerted her full strength, he wouldn’t have been able to withstand even one palm. You must understand, that youth is a direct disciple of a Xiantian Grandmaster—”

Qian Ying, who cared most about her own sister, had scrutinized the information from the Rumor Hall with the utmost care.

“A direct disciple of a Xiantian Grandmaster? How did I not hear about such news?”

Yin Shuang, with her lively nature, didn’t wait for Qian Ying to finish, her eyes widening abruptly as she blurted out the question.

Qin Wanzhao glanced at her coolly.

“Who told you to immerse yourself in alchemy? I heard someone say you spent all of yesterday pondering how to enhance the potency of the Drunken Immortal, almost forgetting to send out the awarded pills. I even had to remind you. How could you possibly know this?”

Exposed, Yin Shuang sheepishly drew back her neck, instantly deflating.

“Hall Master Pei specifically submitted a report about this…”

Nevertheless, Qin Wanzhao briefly explained the situation to her, concluding with a sigh. “So, to be able to render a direct Xiantian disciple utterly helpless, Sister Yuan must have recovered at least thirty to fifty percent of her strength…”

As she spoke, she suddenly remembered something. “No, it might even be more. I suspect Sister Yuan might have also discovered the whereabouts of the Drunken Daoist. I overlooked it the other day, but Sister Yuan’s last two slaps and the personality she’s displayed these past two days don’t quite align. Perhaps… it was all an act for that old Daoist.”

“Right, when Sister Yuan mentioned this yesterday, she did say she sensed the aura of a certain expert, so she held back,” Qian Ying added, nodding.

Then, the women exchanged glances.

“If that’s the case—”

“I don’t believe I could defeat her.”

Suddenly, Liu Qingyue, who had been silent all this while, interjected.

“Sister Liu, you—”

Qin Wanzhao’s gaze immediately sharpened, and the courtyard simultaneously fell silent.

“Even you, Sister Liu, don’t think so—”

Having lived under the same roof for so long, the women understood each other intimately. Among those present, purely in terms of profound cultivation, Qin Wanzhao was undeniably the first. However, when it came to combat and lethal prowess, ‘Moon Swordswoman’ Liu Qingyue was the most formidable.

“I can’t see through her,” Liu Qingyue’s delicate phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, as if recalling her previous encounter with Bai Yuan. “I could sense her emotions because she didn’t conceal them. But her current strength… I simply cannot discern it. I only know that, even without being pregnant, I have no confidence in defeating her.”

“Not even a shred.”

She emphasized it very seriously.

“This…”

The women immediately exchanged bewildered glances.

Just then, a figure entered the courtyard, speaking quietly for a while with Zique, who was standing guard outside with the other maids. Then, Zique hurried back.

“Madam.”

Her expression was not good. Entering the hall, she bowed to Qin Wanzhao, then leaned in and whispered a few words into her ear.

Qin Wanzhao suddenly looked somewhat lost. After a long moment, she shook her head with a bitter smile, saying nothing, merely waving her hand to dismiss the maid.

“What happened?”

Qian Ying and the others immediately straightened their expressions. Yin Shuang even looked a little nervous—for their eldest sister to be so flustered, the news must be extraordinary.

“Nothing major,” Qin Wanzhao’s gaze swept over the three, and she slowly exhaled. “It’s just… the accounts department and the treasury reported that they’ve just finished their inventory. For the past three years, most of Sister Yuan’s monthly stipends were disbursed on time, with no significant shortages. However, all the cultivation herbs and other such items were held back by Yuanyang. Although they weren’t misappropriated, they were also never distributed. They’re all accounted for, completely untouched.”