After leaving the Lord's study, Xue Yi sighed, "It's good that Young Lady came out in time, otherwise I might have lost my life."
At this time there were not many people around, and the perception of the Lord and his Iron Guard could not reach so far.
Xiao Qingruo said lightly, "You owe me a life."
"Yeah, I owe you a life. I'll go easier next time." Seeing no one was around, Xue Yi was in a good mood and jokingly said.
"Jerk..."
Xiao Qingruo was angered by his roguish attitude. Recalling the failed second assassination attempt last night and what followed, she couldn't help but clench her fists.
"That said, you were so cool just now that you almost won me over." Xue Yi marveled again.
"Just the basics." Xiao Qingruo snorted pretentiously, as if it was just a trivial matter.
She had extensive experience. Making a scene at the door of the Lord's study was obviously impossible to succeed. She deliberately made a scene just to intimidate Xue Lingtian and Xu Lingzhi, and to protect Xue Yi in passing.
If she really wanted to make a move, she would have directly slapped down, making Xu Lingzhi spit blood.
...But she didn't have that ability, so she just put on a show to buy time until the Lord made a stance before exiting the scene.
This way, the Lord would also feel that she was very sensible, just establishing her might and intimidating, rather than recklessly attacking, even if the intimidated were the Lord's own children. He would have to give Xiao Qingruo a thumbs up and say "Well handled!"
This is what a professional actress is!
Not only does she need good acting skills, she also needs to grasp the psychological state of the people around her and their possible actions.
Otherwise, a small oversight could lead to her demise!
"Young Lady is invincible in might, this subordinate admires you to the ground!" Xue Yi flattered.
Anyway, flattery costs nothing. When they were outside, he tried his best to make Xiao Qingruo feel good and give her face.
He could reverse the situation at night!
"Speaking of which, I was a little surprised that you protected me just now."
After walking for a while, Xue Yi said.
In fact, in that situation just now, as long as Xiao Qingruo lowered her attitude a little and didn't protect him so sternly, he might have died.
But she didn't.
Xiao Qingruo explained the reason: "My dignity cannot be trampled by anyone. You are my man, so I naturally have to defend you. Also... you're right, we have a cooperative relationship, we prosper and suffer together."
Hearing this, Xue Yi was immediately delighted.
Young Lady is still very sensible!
That's right, the two of them should work together to maintain the "Young Lady" identity, and there will be benefits in the future!
But... since she could think like this, why did she try to assassinate him twice last night?
Could it be that she came to her senses only after failing the assassination?
Intriguing!
After walking along the manor roads for a while, there were more people around again.
At this time, Xue Yi noticed that Xiao Qingruo did not return to Lan Garden, but took another path instead.
"Young Lady, where are we going now?" he asked.
With the servants and guards around, their conversation became much more normal.
Xiao Qingruo replied, "The Lord fined you three months' salary, I'm taking you to get some things to make up for it."
She said this neither lightly nor heavily, just enough for the people around to hear.
The study incident had not yet spread, Iron Guard's mouth was tight and would not speak out, Xue Lingtian and Xu Lingzhi who lost face certainly wouldn't talk about it everywhere either, so this matter would basically remain unknown.
But as soon as Xiao Qingruo opened her mouth, things were different.
The people immediately became curious and started analyzing why Xue Yi was fined three months' salary by the Lord.
Also, the Young Lady took him to get other resources right after he was fined by the Lord. Wasn't this an outright slap in the Lord's face?
The Young Lady is becoming more and more bold!
And she was treating her newly recruited personal guard so exceptionally well!
"Thank you Young Lady!"
Xue Yi hurriedly said, pretending to be pleasantly surprised.
It wasn't entirely an act. He really didn't expect Xiao Qingruo to treat him so well.
Although she wanted to establish her authority, the benefits fell solidly into his hands.
The two went to the Treasure Pavilion in the warehouse area.
The warehouse area was large, with places for storing grain and weapons, as well as the Treasure Pavilion for collecting rare herbs and treasures.
After being fined, he obviously could not withdraw money, or it would really be humiliating the Lord. Even Xiao Qingruo’s prestige could not withstand punishment.
But taking rare herbs and treasures was on a different track and perfectly fine.
"Young Lady, you're here."
The Treasure Pavilion had four gates, all closed now, with a team of guards and a middle-aged steward in plain clothes keeping watch.
The entire warehouse area was very important, and the Treasure Pavilion even more so. Ordinary manor members were usually prohibited from intruding.
But Xiao Qingruo was an exception. She could go wherever she wanted in this place!
"I want to take some rare herbs and treasures." Xiao Qingruo said.
The middle-aged steward named Gao Feng asked upon hearing this, "Are they for the Young Lady's own use, or to reward someone else?"
There was meaning behind this question. No matter what Xiao Qingruo wanted for herself, he would have no objection.
But if it was for someone else, he would have to consider it.
The rare herbs were precious. Xiao Qingruo couldn't be reckless even as the young mistress. She honestly replied, "For my guard."
"Guard... personal guard. Alright, please come in, Young Lady."
Gao Feng looked at Xue Yi and nodded, opening the second left gate.
The four gates represented the qualities of the rare treasures. The further right, the more precious they were. The second left gate had moderate quality treasures, but core members had to rely on merits to obtain them.
Ordinary members of the manor basically had no qualification to enter even the first left gate, let alone the second, unless they had made great contributions.
As for the far right, only those at the Long Life Realm could enter.
Xue Yi had no merits and could not enter, so Xiao Qingruo went in alone to select treasures.
After just about 5 minutes, she came out holding two wooden boxes.
"Young Lady, allow me to inspect them." Gao Feng came up to take the boxes and check what she had taken.
Xue Yi watched expectantly.
Gao Feng opened both boxes at the same time and took a look.
"Thousand-Year Red Blood Ginseng!"
"Silkworm Dragon Claw Grass!"
Seeing these two spiritual medicines, Gao Feng's face turned green.
These two were the best things in the second left gate. Their quality was comparable to the treasured medicines kept in the second right gate.
Xiao Qingruo had taken away the two best things as soon as she went in. She was really bold!
Xue Yi was also shocked. These two herbs could sell for at least a few thousand taels of silver outside.
As a second-rank guard, he only got twenty taels of silver a month, which was already very high compared to commoners. But it would still take decades of work to buy one of these herbs.
The key was that these two things could improve cultivation, which was just what he needed most now!
With these two herbs, the assessment in three days would probably be much easier!
"Young Lady, this subordinate is willing to go through fire and water for you, to devote my all!" He hurriedly expressed his gratitude in an excited tone, swearing allegiance to the Young Lady.
This was not entirely an act either.
"Can we go now?" Xiao Qingruo asked Gao Feng.
Gao Feng nodded to indicate no problem.
But just then!
"Wait."
An elderly voice came from outside.
A white-haired elder entered with a young man.
"Seventh Elder."
"Greetings to Seventh Elder!"
Gao Feng and Xue Yi quickly bowed. Xiao Qingruo also greeted him.
The white-haired elder was short in stature, but his aura was not weak at all, with a long lasting majesty. He had entered the third layer of the Long Life Realm and was now over two hundred years old. He was one of Holy Might Manor's veteran experts who had rendered great services and commanded high prestige.
Seeing the herbs Xiao Qingruo had taken, the Seventh Elder was not very happy. "Young Lady, this old man has also taken a liking to these two herbs. I want to use them for my grandson to break through to the Cave Heaven Realm."
The Seventh Elder's status was very high. In Holy Might Manor, few dared to contend with him over things.
But Xiao Qingruo dared!