Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 1011 - 626: Cooperation Achieved

Chapter 1011: Chapter 626: Cooperation Achieved

To be fair, given the current tense situation within the Dayan Dynasty, the Tatar Chao people could gain quite a bit by either staying on the sidelines or adopting a "bat diplomacy" approach—playing both sides between the Imperial Court and the Dayan Sect. It’s an effective way to extract benefits.

Unfortunately, the strategic moves of the Former King of Tartar have backed Jia Yi into a corner, leaving her with a harsh binary choice where her maneuvering space has all but vanished.

Either align with the Sect, or side with the Imperial Court—there is no third option.

The soft morning light, paired with the bustle of awakening streets, filtered into the room. The lid of the teapot was open, allowing the aroma of meat from the blue-and-white porcelain pot to fill every corner. Four people and one dog sat silently around the low table, enjoying breakfast. The only sound was the loud and ravenous munching of the large yellow dog, like a ghost starved for ages feasting on its meal.

Life needs a sense of ritual. Life also needs flair.

As Xu Yuan slowly savored the meal he had personally prepared, he casually ran his fingers along the Qilin Wolf incarnation sprawled at his feet. From time to time, his gaze flickered toward the girl from the Western Region, who sat across from him, silently eating with her head lowered.

If considering this from Jia Yi’s perspective, caught between the two military factions of the Imperial Court and the Dayan Sect, Xu Yuan would choose the latter without hesitation.

Because whether analyzing the pressing crisis at hand or the long-term prospects of the Dayan Dynasty, the Sect holds the absolute advantage.

Standing with the Sect offers a better chance of victory than aligning with the Court.

This is precisely why Nalan Ting chose to entrust his heart—literally and figuratively—to the Sect.

But personal decisions should also take into account individual factors.

From the broader stance of the entire Tatar Chao tribe, prioritizing interests above all is the logical approach. After all, if they lose, they’ll simply be reduced to another "Barbarian Tribe." But from Jia Yi’s personal stance, her considerations are different.

Ultimately, the Sect’s treatment of the previous Great Desert Goddess was far too inhumane. They outright used her as nothing more than a vessel for the offspring of the Bug Saint. If Jia Yi collaborates with the Sect, she’s essentially surrendering herself entirely to them.

However, nothing in life is absolute...

As this thought crossed his mind, Xu Yuan suddenly raised his eyes to look at Jia Yi and said softly:

"Actually, you don’t need to worry so much. The current situation is not what it was fifty years ago. The Sect’s attitude toward you may very well be much better than how it treated the last Great Desert Goddess. However... based on the intelligence we currently have, the Sect has likely been secretly cultivating a puppet of its own."

Jia Yi lifted her gaze, her expression serene and calm:

"In the past ten years, my prestige has spread across all the tribes. In terms of legitimacy, no one is more suitable than me."

Hearing this, a trace of playful interest flickered in Xu Yuan’s eyes.

The tragic precedent of the last Great Desert Goddess had evidently tipped the scales in favor of the Prime Minister’s Mansion within Jia Yi’s inner calculations.

This girl was bargaining.

Yet, having just had her beliefs collapse, she had already reassembled her thoughts so quickly.

Scooping a bite of fragrant dragon soup with a wooden ladle, Xu Yuan savored it briefly before chuckling and saying:

"You’re right, but you are also the one most likely to lose control, aren’t you?"

As he spoke,

Xu Yuan pointed the wooden ladle in his hand at the girl and said with a smile:

"Your reputation is so immense that even a noble shut-in like me has heard of the Great Desert Goddess’s ambitions. The Tatar Chao have a robust internal cycle, and once you are elevated to power, the Sect will find it exceedingly difficult to control you from the outside.

’A puppet turning on its master’ is hardly an unheard-of phenomenon in history."

Jia Yi quietly placed the porcelain bowl in her hand on the low table and gracefully knelt upright:

"If the Former King could do it, so can I."

Xu Yuan rubbed his chin thoughtfully, saying:

"So you’re planning to entrust the future of the Tatar Chao entirely to the Sect’s mercy? After all, if you side with them and the Dayan civil war breaks out, you ’extra personnel’ are bound to be pushed to the deadliest frontlines."

At these words, Jia Yi’s rosy lips curled into a faint smile. She said softly:

"What’s the difference? If we choose your side, would Tatar Chao’s situation be any different?"

Cut the nonsense—if you want to cooperate, name your terms.

Understanding the implicit meaning behind her words, Xu Yuan responded slowly and lazily:

"If I said now that I wouldn’t send your Tatar warriors to certain death on the frontlines, would you believe me?"

Bonds of proximity dictate priorities. No matter which side the Tatar Chao favor, they are inevitably destined to be used as cannon fodder.

Upon hearing this, Jia Yi furrowed her eyebrows slightly. Taking a deep breath, she directly stated her terms:

"Three times."

Xu Yuan’s eyes glinted, and he asked with a smile:

"Three chances to disobey orders?"

"Yes."

"Impossible."

Before Xu Yuan could speak, Li Junwu bluntly rejected her outright.

She cast a sidelong glance at the girl who had endured hardships with her for months.

"On the battlefield, military orders are absolute and must be obeyed without hesitation. Any delay could trigger a chain reaction."

Jia Yi’s teeth clenched imperceptibly, a tinge of helplessness surfacing within her heart, but she kept her gaze fixed on Xu Yuan without speaking.

The decision-making authority didn’t lie with Li Junwu—it rested with the man across from her.

Xu Yuan shrugged nonchalantly and replied softly:

"I don’t understand military matters, so I’ll defer to Junwu."

After speaking, he hesitated for a second, then raised his index finger and chuckled lightly before adding:

"However, I can promise you one thing."

Jia Yi kept her gaze locked on him silently.

Seeing that she showed no intention of humoring him, Xu Yuan shrugged again, finding it boring as he said:

"I’ll guarantee that you stay alive."

"Hah..."

Jia Yi’s laugh was crisp yet laced with sarcasm, chiming like silver bells: "If I die, wouldn’t you have another puppet ready to prop up?"

"No, we wouldn’t."

Xu Yuan answered decisively and matter-of-factly, his tone calm as ever, as he spoke softly:

"But please don’t underestimate this promise. As I said earlier, history has seen many instances of puppets turning on their masters. The Sect may find it hard to control you externally; we’re in the same position."

"..."

Jia Yi’s green eyes flickered with subtle emotion.

Xu Yuan lightly tapped his fingers against the surface of the low table, his gaze serene yet impenetrable:

"When a person dies, the lamp goes out. As long as you are alive, there are countless things that can still be done. Don’t you agree?"

Jia Yi pondered quietly for a moment. Suddenly, a radiant smile appeared on her face, her emerald eyes gleaming with an unusual light:

"Are you implying something to me?"

Xu Yuan responded with an ambiguous smile, his voice clear as he said:

"There are few perfect situations in this world. The Sect has been scheming and investing in the Western Desert for decades. On the other hand, we have virtually no preparation. Trying to turn the tide naturally involves some risks."

Jia Yi ran her slender finger over the blue-and-white porcelain patterns on her teacup, lowering her gaze as she contemplated for a while. Slowly, her crimson lips curved upward:

"You... do have some audacity."

Xu Yuan paid no mind and casually waved his hand:

"Each acts according to their abilities. For the Prime Minister’s Mansion, even if we give you a chance, you can only become the second Nalan Ting."

Jia Yi raised her eyes to meet his, her voice steady as she replied:

"I seem to have misjudged you. You’re not entirely a frivolous libertine consumed by lust."

Hearing this, Xu Yuan immediately raised an eyebrow and retorted:

"Hey... Are you taking undue advantage just because I’m being polite?"

The Western Region girl remained unaffected, wholly convinced that he wouldn’t overstep boundaries, and replied in a low voice:

"Did I say anything wrong? I saw everything last night with my own eyes."

Xu Yuan didn’t bother engaging further but shot a glance at the Washboard Saintess, whose eyes gleamed with amusement. He snorted:

"Last night? After analyzing the pros and cons with you, this young master rested quietly on the bed. Where’s the ’frivolity’ in that?"

"...."

Jia Yi felt peculiar.

This was a minor remark meant to pass without much thought, so why did the man feel the need to respond?

She glanced at the black-skirted girl beside her and, upon seeing the subtle amusement in those golden eyes, suddenly understood.

Pausing briefly, Jia Yi casually muttered:

"Last night, Junwu was also on that bed."

"She was cultivating."

"Then why were you massaging her thigh?"

"She specifically asked me to help her ease some tension."

"There’s an idiom in Dayan: men and women should maintain propriety."

The Western Region girl seemed to derive a subtle thrill from toeing these boundaries, her tone cool yet teasing as she continued:

"Even if it’s a massage, did it need to involve her inner thigh?"

"...." Xu Yuan.

After a moment of silence, Xu Yuan realized he couldn’t explain this without making it worse.

But it didn’t matter—Li Junwu would step in.

Though the situation seemed ambiguous, the truth was entirely innocent.

As long as his close comrade came to his defense, everything would be fine.

With this in mind, Xu Yuan cast a glance at his dependable ally across the table, hoping she’d clarify things.

Then,

He saw this "close comrade" supporting her chin, gazing thoughtfully out the window at the bright blue sky, lips curled in a faint smile.

"...." Xu Yuan.

Great, even his dependable ally was enjoying the show.

Seeing the faint embarrassment in Xu Yuan’s expression, Jia Yi felt an odd mix of bitterness and satisfaction—like a small, sharp revenge.

She liked this feeling—the sense of being untouchable despite being disliked.

As the emotions flitted through her, she heard Xu Yuan speak to the black-skirted girl beside him in a soft tone:

"Can I trouble you with something?"

Tian Ye had been leisurely enjoying the tea and the unfolding drama, speculating on the dynamics between Xu Yuan and the two women. Smiling, she replied:

"You want me to bring the Qilin Wolf into the city for you?"

Xu Yuan smiled subtly and said in a soft voice:

"If you’re unwilling, I do have someone else in mind—Mr. Huang is still in Zhenxi Prefecture, after all."

Tian Ye tilted her head in thought, a teasing smile spreading across her face as she replied:

"Fine, I’ll go. If I stay here any longer, I’ll only disrupt your efforts to deal with this Goddess little sister."

At this, Xu Yuan glanced at the elegant and dignified girl across from him, his eyes narrowing with a smile:

"Don’t talk nonsense. I just want her to recognize her position and status."

"Oh~"

Tian Ye’s voice drew out playfully as she said, her smile impish: "Well, you’d better hurry, then. If the Qilin Wolf enters the city, this Goddess little sister—being its vessel—will become far more powerful than you."

"Is that so? Thanks for the reminder."

Fixing his gaze on the girl across from him, Xu Yuan smiled and said:

"Goddess, you can hand over the token now."

"....."

Jia Yi’s heart raced slightly. She opened her mouth to speak but ultimately remained silent. Rising quietly, she retrieved a jade-green gemstone from her satchel and handed it to the black-skirted girl.

Tian Ye accepted the gem with a smile, her gaze meaningful as she said:

"Little sister, best of luck~ Xu Yuan sure has plenty of tricks up his sleeve to torment people."

With that, Tian Ye vanished instantly.

The guest room was once more left to the three individuals and a dog.

Everything returned to an uneasy quiet as Xu Yuan slowly rose from the low table, towering over the Western Region girl, who remained gracefully seated.

Jia Yi instinctively bit her lip and stared around the room nervously.

She glanced toward the woman beside her.

Li Junwu was still gazing at the sky.

She glanced at the Qilin Wolf.

As man’s best friend, the dog did respond.

It looked up at its owner, then glanced at the unfamiliar man who had given it meat, hesitated for a moment, and then let out a soft "woof" before returning to its meal.

"....." Jia Yi.

Xu Yuan smiled faintly, stepping closer and speaking softly:

"Goddess, you’ve piqued my curiosity—am I truly as lustful as you claim?"

"....." Jia Yi.