Chapter 9: Looking for Trouble

“Like Yi shooting down the nine suns, like emperors driving dragons through the skies. Coming like thunder to gather wrath, ceasing like rivers and seas to condense pure light.” Xiao Qianyin recited the lines slowly, lifting her eyes to look into the man's gaze, raising her brows slightly. "How was it?"

The man gave a light laugh, cool and refreshing, like the first ray of sunlight shining into a bamboo forest on a summer morning, mixed with a touch of elegance, deep and melodious. She couldn't help but feel a moment of trance, as if she were about to become lost in it.

"Very good, I like it very much." He crouched down to face her, their faces only a finger's width apart. Qing'er was already dazed; her brain instantly froze, unable to react.

The breath rushing toward her carried the coolness of mint, seemingly mixed with another faint fragrance she couldn't identify. She only felt that the man's eyelashes were long and curled, like tiny brushes—they were actually... even longer than a woman's?

The world had always believed that beautiful women were the source of calamity, little knowing that handsome men could be just as much of a disaster; that was exactly the level of the man before her.

She wanted to step back slightly, but unexpectedly, a trace of warmth brushed across her lips. Her eyes snapped wide open, and she immediately covered her mouth. She... she... had been teased?

Holy crap! A swarm of curses instantly roared through her heart! In all her life, no one had ever dared to tease her!

"Yo, look who it is? It turns out to be the useless Miss. What? Since the Crown Prince of Southern Tang doesn't like you, you've come to seduce the Heir Apparent of Northern Qin? You move quite fast!"

Sarcastic words drifted in from the other side, carrying an undeniable resentment.

Xiao Qianyin looked toward the source of the voice. A young girl stood there in a pale pink dress, appearing quite elegant and lovely, but the arrogance and contempt in her eyes ruined her beauty.

It was a small world! Xiao Qianyin realized immediately that this girl was the daughter of the original host's father's concubine. She was highly favored and possessed great talent in swordsmanship, so she used her status in the Xiao family to cause trouble for the original host at every turn. The original host naturally clashed with her frequently, but the one who was always punished was Xiao Qianyin. She and her mother would gloat about it; that look on their faces was truly disgusting.

"Are you jealous of this lady?" Xiao Qianyin retorted with a smile, though a faint, cold light flickered in the depths of her eyes, clear and calm. "Second Miss Xiao, I suddenly remembered something. Seeing you, I finally understand what a beauty that 'sinks fish and drops geese' truly looks like."

"Oh? So you finally realize I'm beautiful?" The girl looked smug, very satisfied with her perceived submission.

As soon as Xiao Qianqian opened her mouth, Qing'er had subconsciously stepped in front of Xiao Qianyin, fearing she might harm her young mistress.

Qin Xiaoran watched this scene with interest, having no intention of intervening. He felt that meeting this "useless Miss" today seemed very different from the person he usually saw in the academy.

"Yes, indeed. When the fish see you swimming in the water, they are so frightened they sink to the bottom. When the swallows see you, they are so startled they dive straight to the ground. Truly, a beauty that sinks fish and drops geese!" She specifically emphasized the four words. The girl's expression changed instantly, her eyebrows bristling with rage.

"A word of advice: stay indoors more often in the future. Because once you step out, the birds vanish from a thousand mountains, and all traces of people disappear from ten thousand paths!"

Xiao Qianyin added one more jab. Hearing this, Xiao Qianqian was pushed to her limit and roared, "I'm going to kill you!"

The group of noble ladies following behind her immediately began to egg her on. They also loathed Xiao Qianyin to the extreme. That man was the world-renowned Heir Apparent of Northern Qin, brimming with talent and peerless grace—how could he be so close to this useless Miss? She deserved to be taught a lesson!