Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 707 - 440 Negotiations

Chapter 707: Chapter 440 Negotiations

The bustling streets became so quiet one could hear a pin drop. If the two figures standing in front of the Prime Minister’s Mansion had merely attracted some attention before, now, as the black dragon carriage came to a halt, nearly all eyes were upon them.

What was even more astonishing was that stepping down from the carriage door, which was engraved with a black dragon, was the Prime Minister dressed in a black dragon robe, greeting them personally.

Hearing the words of the young girl beside Ran Jianli, Xu Yinhè seemed to understand something, and a smile appeared in his hawk-like eyes:

"You’re still the same as ever.

"Sorry, I had some business at the palace today and met Li Yaoxuan. Feng Jiuxuan was also out on errands, so the people who know you are mostly not in the mansion today."

As he spoke,

Xu Yinhè glanced at the woman behind the screen beside Ran Jianli:

"This is...."

"My apprentice."

Having been silent for a while, Ran Jianli once again spoke up: "This time coming to the Capital, I’ve brought her to broaden her horizons."

A hint of surprise flitted across Xu Yinhè’s gaze as he softly said, "Entering the Capital now will indeed broaden one’s horizons, but recently, it has been quite restless within the Capital."

Ran Jianli’s gaze narrowed slightly as he stared at Xu Yinhè: "No choice, she wanted to see the world, and besides, I’m here to see you, my old friend."

Xu Yinhè pondered for a moment, his gaze neither happy nor angry, and he nodded slightly, turning to the woman behind the screen with a soft voice:

"Ran Qingmo, right?"

Ran Qingmo’s eyes blinked behind the screen, and she silently put away the Source Crystal in her hand, nodding:

"Mhm."

Xu Yinhè’s expression remained as calm as a lake, but his lips seemed to curve for a moment:

"Come into the mansion with your master."

Ran Qingmo shrank her neck:

"Oh... okay."

For some reason, she felt that Xu Yuan’s father was in a bad mood right now, as the smile and gentleness on his face could not hide the dangerous aura emanating from him.

Xu Yinhè, with his keen senses, caught her subtle movements, but he did not say anything, simply glancing toward the gatekeepers and protectors at the gate.

A Seventh Grade official stands at the gate of the Prime Minister, and those in office must have sharp eyes indeed.

Without a word, someone came to take their horses, and others went to open the gate. With a "rumble," the grand front door, which was several zhang wide, of the Prime Minister’s mansion slowly opened.

Standing before the steps, Xu Yinhè extended his hand:

"State Preceptor Ran, please."

Ran Jianli glanced at the layout beyond the gate and his stubble twitched slightly, as if he was smiling:

"I thought you’d let us ride into the mansion. With the size of your estate, it would take quite some time to walk."

Xu Yinhè replied in a low voice:

"I have already instructed someone to prepare a small welcome gift for Qingmo.

"Besides, it has been a while since I’ve seen you, my old friend. Walking and talking will make it more convenient to catch up."

"....."

Ran Jianli’s eyes flashed with contemplation, then he patted his apprentice’s shoulder with his calloused hand and nonchalantly took the lead into the mansion.

Ran Qingmo still stood in place, gazing at the middle-aged man standing at the bottom of the stairs.

She thought her master was very impolite.

Xu Yuan had said that when the host makes a gesture of invitation, one should go in with them, not walk ahead.

However, after hesitating for a moment, she quickly caught up with her master’s steps.

What caused her eyes to widen slightly was that after she and her master entered the gate of the Prime Minister’s mansion, Xu Yuan’s father’s figure appeared next to them without warning.

She glanced subconsciously at her master, only to see that he seemed already accustomed to such occurrences.

Feeling somewhat downhearted,

Compared to her master and the others...she was still too weak.

However, soon,

The sense of dejection in her heart was replaced by a faint sense of anticipation, her clear gaze sweeping through the Prime Minister’s mansion behind the black screen.

The Prime Minister’s estate was vast, with many people coming and going, especially in the front courtyard. Besides the family servants, protectors, and maids, there were also officials who came to visit, some high-ranking members of trading companies, and even some secular sect leaders with swords at their waists.

However, it seemed that some Energy Mechanism shrouded the group of three, and the people who each had their tasks appeared not to notice them.

After walking for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, they arrived in front of a huge wetland lake, where the first person who could see them appeared.

The lake breeze carried a hint of moisture, and a child from the deeper parts of the Prime Minister’s residence approached, walking straight towards them, expressionlessly bowing to Xu Yinhè first:

"Prime Minister, State Preceptor, Miss Ran."

Ran Qingmo stared at him, blinking, puzzled.

This was a very polite child, but his eyes were as lifeless as a dead, like a walking corpse.

Xu Yinhè paid no attention to the child, but turned to Ran Qingmo, his voice carrying a hint of warmth:

"He will take you to our mansion’s storeroom to pick out a gift."

Upon hearing this, Ran Qingmo instinctively looked to her master.

Ran Jianli’s brows furrowed slightly as he spoke:

"Prime Minister Xu, since when did your mansion start employing such children for labor?"

Xu Yinhè turned to him with a counter-question:

"Don’t you see?"

Ran Jianli’s eyebrows rose slightly, then he frowned and said:

"Why does this child possess the Soul Power of a Saint?"

Xu Yinhè whispered:

"Your apprentice should be familiar with Master Ming Xuan, so I had him come to lead her to the storeroom."

As he finished speaking,

A middle-aged man wearing a scholar’s robe materialized from a Soul Ring hanging around the child’s neck, his voice booming as if it had a built-in subwoofer:

"Miss Ran, long time no see."

Ran Qingmo watched the familiar figure, her eyes sweeping back and forth between the child and him:

"Who is he? You... didn’t follow Xu Yuan to the Northern Frontier?"

Old Man Luo chuckled:

"It’s a long story, let’s walk and talk. The Prime Minister has been quite generous with you, even Xu Yuan himself would have to apply to access the family vault."

As a soul remnant living on another’s charity, Old Man Luo was quite perceptive, and after a brief glance at the burly elder, he knew that the Prime Minister likely wanted a private conversation with the man.

After saying this, his gaze turned to the muscular old man who was presumably also a Saint.

Ran Jianli spoke up at this moment:

"Qingmo, go ahead. Even for the sake of his son, the Prime Minister should give you some gifts."

Ran Qingmo stood still, not responding immediately. She bit her red lip, her gaze fixed on the father of Xu Yuan as she opened her mouth hesitantly, looking as if she had something to say but ultimately asked in a low voice:

"Uncle Xu, Xu... has Xu Yuan returned?"

"No."

Xu Yinhè’s answer was very straightforward.

Ran Qingmo lowered her eyelids, a visible hint of disappointment flashing in her eyes:

"Oh...."

Xu Yinhè, looking through the screen at the young girl’s expression, contemplated for a moment before continuing:

"However, in a few days, he should probably arrive at Di’an City. You can wait for him in the mansion."

A light shone in Ran Qingmo’s eyes, a simple joy rising in her heart, as she nodded immediately:

"Okay."

A complex flicker passed through Xu Yinhè’s eyes, almost imperceptible. He took a deep breath, nodded with a smile, and said in a low voice:

"Go ahead."

"Okay!"

With that, Ran Qingmo followed a soul and a child toward the deeper part of the Prime Minister’s Mansion on the other side, quickly walking away.

Watching the backs of the two and one soul gradually disappear around the corner of the courtyard wall,

Ran Jianli suddenly let out a light snort:

"Your estate truly harbors crouching tigers and hidden dragons, to think there’s even a Saint’s Remnant Soul."

Xu Yinhè gave him a glance, his voice neither warm nor cold:

"You don’t need to probe at me; he is the Saint from that Soul Ring."

With the juniors gone and considering the current situation, there was no need for the remaining people to be so polite.

Hearing these straightforward words, Ran Jianli showed a hint of surprise:

"When did you become so direct?"

Xu Yinhè walked along the huge wetland lake toward the inner courtyard, his voice calm:

"I just don’t want to beat around the bush anymore."

Ran Jianli caught up with a leisurely pace, laughed carelessly with a meaningful tone:

"It seems something has indeed happened to you recently. I could smell the murderous intent on you from afar."

"Indeed, something has happened."

Xu Yinhè didn’t deny it, glancing at the shimmering lake surface under the morning sun: "Ran Jianli, in what capacity have you come to me this time?"

Ran Jianli squinted his eyes, feigning confusion:

"Am I not here to catch up with you?"

Xu Yinhè slowly turned his gaze back, continuing to ask:

"As the State Preceptor of Dayan, as the leader of the Sect Alliance, or as Ran Qingmo’s master?"

After a moment’s gaze, Ran Jianli’s eyes flashed with a different light, but he still did not answer directly:

"Does it matter?"

Xu Yinhè nodded, his hawk-like eyes meeting the other’s clear and spirited eyes:

"It’s very important because even if you hadn’t come to see me today, I most likely would have sought you out."

"Oh?"

Ran Jianli uttered inquisitively, curving the corner of his mouth: "Then... which identity of mine were you hoping to find?"

A moment of silence.

The lake breeze fluttered their robes, and a few sparrows darted away under the clear sky.

Xu Yinhè spoke word by word:

"The leader of the Sect Alliance, and also, the head of the Tianyuan Sword Sect."

Ran Jianli’s expression became slightly focused, speaking softly:

"Then it seems that my visit can only be in the capacity of Qingmo’s master..."

"Ran Jianli."

Xu Yinhè interrupted the stout old man before him: "I’ve said there’s no need for detours, and you don’t have to drive a hard bargain once again. What I want to do will benefit both the Prime Minister’s Mansion and the Tianyuan Sword Sect."

After decades of interaction, Xu Yinhè was well aware of the meticulously calculated thoughts hidden behind the seemingly careless exterior of the man before him.

If he were really as he appeared, he would likely have been removed from his position as head of the Sect Alliance long ago.

Ran Jianli pondered for a moment, his eyes gradually showing a trace of interest:

"You said you were looking for the leader of the Sect Alliance and the head of the Sword Sect, but it only benefits the Sword Sect..."

With that said,

he gently shook his head, speaking softly: "That being the case, are you implying you intend to make a move against Jiatiange?"

Xu Yinhè stared at him silently.

Ran Jianli understood.

A lack of denial was a tacit agreement.

To quickly skim over many matters in his mind, Ran Jianli suddenly asked softly:

"Xu Yinhè, given the current situation inside Di’an City, does your Prime Minister’s Mansion truly have the spare capacity to deal with Jiatiange?"