The Zither Young Master’s expression sharpened. Xiao Qianyin was a considerable threat. She was now one of the Mohists; if she could not be won over, then she could only be eliminated. The balance among the various schools could not be broken, no matter what her identity was.
Wei Wuyin was deep in thought. He recalled the proposal his imperial father had made to him a few days earlier: to marry Xiao Qianyin as his principal consort. The power of Marquis Dingguo could not be underestimated. With Marquis Dingguo’s support, his position as crown prince would become even more secure. It was just that, when he thought of Xiao Qianyin’s many notorious misdeeds—ignorant and incompetent, spoiled and willful—it was truly off-putting. Was he supposed to pick up what Bei Wuxuan had discarded?
But the Xiao Qianyin of now—if he could marry her as his consort, he no longer felt the same resistance as before. After all, she was no longer what she had been. The beloved disciple of the Mohists’ Juzi—this identity alone was enough to awe the world, not to mention those fanciful, ingenious ideas of hers. In truth, who did not wish to unite all under heaven? Did the heirs of the other three states present not harbor such thoughts? That would simply be a joke.
Qin Xiaoran smiled warmly. He was becoming more and more interested in her. Xiao Qianyin, ah, Xiao Qianyin, what else are you hiding that you have yet to reveal? I must take the time to understand you thoroughly.
Ji Ce frowned. Xiao Qianyin had exceeded his original expectations. Or perhaps he could no longer look at her with his former eyes.
Shen Wuyou lifted his eyes and glanced at the others, then lowered his head again. His identity was sensitive, and he had always kept a low profile. The wise course was to protect himself; Wei Wuyin was not easy to deal with.
Nangong Wei looked at the confusion in Bei Wuxuan’s eyes, and the anger in her heart flared even hotter. Xiao Qianyin, Xiao Qianyin! She repeated the name over and over in her heart. A moment later, a vicious expression appeared on her face. I won’t let you off!
“Master, you were looking for me? What is it?” Xiao Qianyin held the mechanical dog in her arms and casually picked up a grape, popping it into her mouth.
“Hey, hey, hey! That’s not a grape, you can’t just eat it!” Before Ye Mo could stop her, she had already swallowed it. Ye Mo immediately looked as if all was lost.
“You wretched girl, that’s a Blood Bodhi! You can’t swallow a whole one in one go. You have to eat it half by half, otherwise your internal force will become too abundant, and you’ll explode and die!”
“Huh? Why didn’t you say so earlier? I’ve already eaten it.” Only then did fear belatedly rise in her. Did that mean she was going to explode and die in a moment?
“You wretched girl, why didn’t you ask me first! Sigh…” Ye Mo sighed and said, “The effects will only show in a bit. If you really can’t hold on, I’ll send you to the people from the Medical School. They teach medicine at Lushan Academy.”
“That was you playing the zither earlier, wasn’t it?” His tone paused, then he asked again.
“Why does Master think it was me?” Instead of answering, she asked him in return.
“That junior brother of mine specially invited the Zither Young Master of the Confucians to teach zither arts. The Zither Young Master would never produce such a murderous melody. The Confucians advocate benevolence and oppose war. That piece was clearly filled with clashing weapons and charging warhorses—it obviously doesn’t match his style.”
“The Zither Young Master? Don’t tell me there’s also a Go Young Master, a Calligraphy Young Master, and a Painting Young Master?”
Wouldn’t that just perfectly make up the four arts of zither, go, calligraphy, and painting?
“That’s right. The Zither Young Master belongs to the Confucians, the Go Young Master to the Daoists, and the Calligraphy Young Master to the Medical School. The Painting Young Master is somewhat mysterious. No one knows which of the Hundred Schools of Thought he belongs to. Almost no one has even seen what he looks like, so among the Four Young Masters, he is the one most talked about by the world.”
“Master, your tone tells me they aren’t ordinary people.”
“Mm? Little girl, you’re quite clever! Aside from the Painting Young Master, whose identity is unknown, the Go Young Master and the Calligraphy Young Master are the next successors. In the future, they will lead the Daoists and the Medical School. The Zither Young Master is the trusted aide of the Confucian young lord.”
“Oh. Then, Master, have you chosen a successor yet?”
“You little girl!” Ye Mo rapped her on the head and said, “You’ve only just become my disciple, and you’re already thinking of becoming the Mohists’ successor? Even if I agreed, the others wouldn’t! You need to temper yourself more and use your strength to shut the mouths of that chattering lot!”
“You mean you intend to make me the Mohists’ Juzi?” The corner of her eye twitched. She had never had any such plan.