She immediately looked at her brother and broke into a smile at his unfathomable expression.

"Aha, that old Demon crone, she’s moved this fast already! What do we do? I’m almost too impatient to wait! But this also proves a cruel reality—that her power can’t be underestimated. Stuck in the Cold Palace and still able to deploy her own people... not simple at all!"

Just as the siblings were chatting away enthusiastically, Shui Yixuan swaggered in from outside at some unknown point, making Murong Xue stare wide‑eyed. She turned her head to ask Murong Han, "Your Weiyang Palace is this easy to get into?"

Murong Han leaned back onto the chair behind him, his head resting casually on his bent arms, utterly unconcerned.

"His Qinggong is superb. For him, this palace is nothing but an easy place to come and go. But you—what are you doing running over to Weiyang Palace in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?"

Shui Yixuan sat down beside Murong Han with a squinty grin, leaned in toward the siblings, his smile a bit excited. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"Just now, my men took a job. Know what it is?"

The gossip factor in Murong Xue’s body was instantly stirred. She instinctively leaned over and asked, "What?"

"Someone’s offered a high price to buy the heads of you two siblings. Tell me, isn’t that a fun job? Fresh enough for you?"

Shui Yixuan snapped his fingers, the corners of his mouth hooked in a sly, all‑business smile.

Murong Han raised a brow and looked at Murong Xue. The siblings’ gazes met; at once they both sat back with disinterest. She was even more exaggerated, directly waving her hand.

"Tch, I thought it was some big secret—just that? My brother’s people also took this job just now. The Shui Clan taking it too doesn’t seem rare at all. After all, on the Four Countries Continent, the capable organizations can be counted on ten fingers. So what are you planning to do?"

"What else? Who would turn their back on money? Silver delivered to your door—why wouldn’t you take it? Don’t tell me Murong Han would be stupid enough to push it away?"

Murong Han shot Shui Yixuan a sideways look and said nothing. Afraid Murong Xue would misunderstand something, Shui Yixuan hurried to tack on an explanation.

"I’ve already sent word down: we take the job as usual, and we take the Silver as usual. But we should also speed up our own moves. Also, Murong Han, shouldn’t you at least reveal what exactly your organization does? Since you can receive this mission, it shows you’re pretty competent. With the Bai Family’s standards, they look down on ordinary forces!"

Murong Han gave him a quick glance and still didn’t speak. Yet just that one glance left Shui Yixuan feeling wounded; he smacked his lips, rather put out.

Damn brat, so guarded, still keeping his guard up around him even now, when he’s always treated him as a future brother‑in‑law.

——

Lanyue Country, Ningfang Pavilion

The man in a crescent‑white long robe was the very picture of elegance and nobility. His eyes were black as the sky itself; just a faint sweep of his gaze made people want to drop to their knees and bow in submission.

At this moment, his slightly parted thin lips let out a faint voice carrying an irresistible chill.

"What did you just say?"

The newcomer halted, not daring to take another step forward. He only bowed respectfully and spoke in a low voice.

"Reporting to Master, news has just come from Tianyue Palace: someone wants to buy the lives of Lanyue Country’s Sixth Prince Murong Han and the Sixth Princess Murong Xue who has just returned to in the palace!"

Silence fell.

After a long time, the moon‑white figure who had been silently seated in the cushioned chair raised a hand. His somewhat thin lips curved slightly in a gentle arc. His noble, imposing figure sat there as steady as Mount Tai, those deep eyes glimmering like ripples on water as he quietly gazed into the distance.

"Ho, courting death. These two have just left the island—are they the cousin and little cousin Father mentioned?"

"Master, it is indeed them. Do we need to verify again?"

"Do I need to ask how this mission appeared? There’s no need to verify; it already explains everything. Inform Tian Qiong: keep the Silver. As for this mission, put it aside for now!"

"Yes, Master!!"

With the servant’s departure, the room fell quiet once more. Sipping fragrant tea, the man leaned lazily back against the couch, his long fingers lightly turning the Dragon Pattern White Jade Ring on his thumb as he murmured softly, "Murong Han, Murong Xue... perhaps we should find a chance to meet."

Time quickly slipped toward noon. In the Blue Moon Palace it was already past the lunch hour. Two figures carefully bypassed the layers of guards around Fenglin Garden and reached the back gate, only to find that there were guards there as well. At this moment, the smaller, more delicate figure whispered to the tall figure beside her.