Chapter 5: Jun Liuyi's Scheme

The words Shangguan Jun asked made Jun Liuyi hesitate even more.

After a long silence, she said hesitantly, "Those characters look somewhat familiar."

Familiar?!

Shangguan Jun's eyebrows twitched slightly. "Do you remember something?"

His response was Jun Liuyi shaking her head in confusion.

"I remember some things, but I still haven't thought of the rest." Under Shangguan Jun's gesture, Jun Liuyi sat down to one side, propping up her chin with a troubled expression. "I just have a vague worry about what to do if it really is related to my memories."

Hearing this, Shangguan Jun rotated the long flute in his hand and steadily pressed it against the center of her forehead, his phoenix eyes lifting slightly. "I am here for everything."

Hearing his words, Jun Liuyi broke into a smile. "Thank you."

Without continuing with sentimental words, she turned back to the main topic with Shangguan Jun. "The Young Master's plan should be more or less what Liuyi is thinking."

"The Fifth Elder wants mutual destruction. What I am thinking is that if the Qi Gu Alliance truly releases the Gu out of absolute necessity, we can trigger a toxin that spreads toward the members of the Qi Gu Alliance, using the Gu to exchange for the antidote."

"But in the end, it is not the best strategy; it will harm our own people who went to the Qi Gu Alliance, right?" Shangguan Jun spoke with an expression of complete understanding.

Jun Liuyi nodded, saying somewhat helplessly, "Because the Gu Saint's abilities cannot be underestimated, the counter-toxin released must be domineering and swift to be effective immediately. But doing so will inevitably cause self-harm."

The two of them discussed matters in low whispers until nightfall, when news from the various branches began to arrive one after another.

Listening quietly to the information being transmitted, Jun Liuyi picked up a pen and paper and carefully wrote down dense, crowded words.

Sitting blankly before the writing desk, she stared intently at the gathered commonalities, her expression turning somewhat grim.

"Miss, please have some sweet soup." The maid Chunliu looked at her mistress with concern and tried to comfort her. "Miss, you haven't eaten anything all afternoon, and you haven't had dinner either. Your body has only just recovered, this..."

She thought about continuing to persuade her, but saw her mistress lightly raise a hand to cut her off. Seeing that the lady had no intention of shifting her attention elsewhere, she could only helplessly place the dessert on the side of the desk and withdraw to wait quietly.

Just as she stepped out of the door, she met Xiahe's concerned gaze.

After exchanging a look with Xiahe, Chunliu shook her head helplessly.

"Has the Miss still not eaten?" Xiahe asked urgently.

Chunliu sighed. "Sigh, this concerns the Sect Leader's life; how could the Miss be in the mood? I hadn't even finished a few words before she interrupted me."

Hearing this, Xiahe also became anxious and said, "But the Miss's health has only just recovered. What will happen if this continues?"

"You know the Miss's temperament; who can persuade her once she has decided something?"

"You cannot persuade her, but you can command her." Shangguan Jun's voice drifted in eerily, interrupting their conversation. As usual, he approached slowly with that wicked smile hanging on his lips.

"Young Master!" The two were startled and hurriedly bowed in greeting.

Shangguan Jun waved his hand, glanced into the room, and said, "Forgetting to eat and sleep again?"

The two nodded repeatedly toward him with great anticipation. "The Miss has been staring at the information she circled for several hours now without any rest."

Knowing the anxiety and worry of the two maids, Shangguan Jun nodded slightly. "I understand. You two go down and prepare some hot food first."

"Yes!" Receiving Shangguan Jun's command, the two retreated quickly to prepare, their faces beaming with joy.

When Shangguan Jun stepped into the room, a pale yellow figure came into view before the writing desk not far away.

At this moment, Jun Liuyi was holding her pen frozen in mid-air, staring motionlessly at the desk, her lips pressed into a straight line.

*Why are these commonalities so similar to a certain someone?*

Staring at the circled commonalities, Jun Liuyi felt a vague sense of suspicion in her heart.

"Is it so troublesome that you won't even eat?" Shangguan Jun finally spoke.

Startled by his sudden voice, Jun Liuyi breathed a sigh of relief only after looking at the newcomer, and she said with a hint of complaint, "Sometimes I really suspect you are a cat; you walk without making a sound."

Glancing sideways at Shangguan Jun, she finally put down her brush.

Walking around to the front of the desk, Shangguan Jun picked up the circled paper and examined it for a while.

"It looks like there are some clues," Shangguan Jun said with certainty.

Placing the paper back on the desk, his gaze shifted to the sweet soup nearby. "My father exhausted all his strength to save you; he does not wish to see his efforts go to waste. No matter how anxious you are, you cannot rush this bit of time."

Following Shangguan Jun's gaze, Jun Liuyi could only nod. She then reached for the sweet soup by the desk, just as Chunliu and the other maid walked in carrying quite a bit of cooked food.

"I am also a bit hungry. It will be perfect to chat while we eat."

Walking to the lounge in the front, Shangguan Jun sat down himself and leaned lazily against a cushion, saying to Jun Liuyi, "Sit."

Knowing well that his actions were merely to get her to rest and eat, Jun Liuyi could only walk over slowly.

"Come, eat a little." In a good mood, Shangguan Jun served her food while eating heartily himself. Seeing that she had something to say, he waved his hand dismissively. "One should not speak while eating or sleeping. Finish quickly; this Young Master still needs to discuss this Phantom Thief Old Man matter with you."

Hearing him invoke his status, Jun Liuyi could only lower her head and eat.

After a long while, seeing that Jun Liuyi had eaten a fair amount, Shangguan Jun finally spoke to ask, "What are your arrangements for the Phantom Thief Old Man?"

"Lure him into the trap, and use poison to fight poison," Jun Liuyi said slowly, finally lifting her eyes.

"Didn't the Young Master suspect there was a traitor all along?"

"Hmm?" Shangguan Jun raised an eyebrow.

"Today in the discussion hall, we originally planned to draw the snake out of its hole, but we didn't expect the Phantom Thief Old Man to disrupt the situation." Jun Liuyi winked at Shangguan Jun and said, "By turning his scheme against him and directly revealing the Sect Leader's condition, and then using a diversionary tactic, wouldn't we be able to dig out this traitor?"

"It is indeed a more enticing risk than the trap we envisioned," Shangguan Jun nodded. "However, you took the opportunity to choose the Qi Gu Alliance—is that also because of your Martial Uncle?"

Jun Liuyi nodded and replied with a smile, "It is even more because of the Gu Saint's personality."

"In that case, you shall control and arrange everything for tomorrow." Setting down his utensils, Shangguan Jun chatted with her for a while longer before leaving.

The next day.

Regarding the matter of the Cold Jade Pillow, Shangguan Jun left all the arrangements to the Saintess. Everyone deployed everything according to the instructions.

At the same time, on a mountain path in a valley not far from Penghai City, the entourage of Sikong Qimo—who had only recently ascended the throne and was traveling incognito to formulate new policies despite the opposition of his ministers—was also gradually approaching.

No one knew that such a mere coincidence was destined to entangle several people for the rest of their lives.