Inside the Tenth Elder's residence
"Hey, stop drinking wine."
"Hey!"
"Old fogey!"
"Dumb fogey!"
No matter what Yin tried and how much she nagged, Ye Mo refused to speak and simply let Ye Hua and Wu Xuan'er play hosts to Zhi Ruo. Of course, Yin was having none of it. She was officially in a matchmaking mode right now. No matter the circumstances, under her supervision as the Founder and First Sect Master of the Church of Love, love must prevail!
So what if Ye Mo is a dumb fogey who has not a scheming bone in him? He likes her, and that's enough.
So what if Zhi Ruo has considerations involving enemies in the shadows out to get her and whoever is involved with her? She likes him back, and that too is enough.
So what if this sucky place has lots of problems cropping up and Yin is still too weak to solve it? Does she not have a brain? Does she not have her own schemes?
If Ye Sect alone is no good, then she would pull the Ming Yue Sect into the muddy waters. If they are still no good, then she would pull the Qing Imperial Family into the muddy waters too!
If worst comes to worst, even if her fleshly body explodes, she would summon the yin qi of that gigantic moon in the sky and smash her enemies with it! When she comes back to the underworld, she'll threathen that Yama-boy to hand over those souls involved and throw them in a caludron of boiling oil to suffer!
Hmf, hmf, this lady keeps a deep grudge, you know.
In a conspiring tone, Yin finally used her last card at hand. She was done playing nice.
"Old fogey, tell us, how did you fall in love with Elder Sister Ruo'er?"
Ye Mo nearly spat out not only the wine he was drinking, but also his blood, at Little Yin's stab. Well, not only him. Everyone sitting around the now empty table could only gape in silence at her tactless question. Zhi Ruo's shy face looked so red, it seemed like blood was about to seep out, and she was about to faint.
"Little Yin!"
"You brat!"
Still, Yin wondered loudly, like she did not see Ye Hua's half-crying, half-laughing face, nor Wu Xuan'er's attempt to cover her mouth.
"Don't you like her? Come on, say it. What do you like about her? Since you're getting married soon, better to lay it out in the open. We're all ears here. So, how did you fall in love with her? When did you realize you love Elder Sister Ruo'er?"
"Y-You! What nonsense are you saying? S-She is just a friend from far away who has come to visit!" Even Ye Mo's eyes were red in agitation and embarrassment... and acceptance of the situation. There was even a hint of anticipation in his tightly pressed lips. He did not even notice that he was stuttering. "Besides, why do you call her Elder Sister?! Aren't you messing the seniority?! She is a princess! Call her by her title, you brat!"
"Aiyo," Little Yin blinked innocently. A sweet smile blossomed on her tender face. "Why are you changing the topic, old fogey?"
"That's it. Get out!"
"Oh, you need some intimate time? Don't be shy. You can hold her hands even with us watching."
"GET OUT!"
After blustering for what seemed like thousands of years to him, Ye Mo finally could no longer bear Yin's teasing and his nephew's annoying know-it-all smile that made his ears and neck feel like they were burning. He had ruthlessly kicked everyone out of the dining room, even himself, and shamelessly ran away towards the Assembly Hall using his meeting with the Ye Patriarch as an excuse.
Zhi Ruo, as if she had long expected his reaction, only politely drank a cup of calming tea before excusing herself to return to her sect. Although she seemed a little tired, there was satisfaction in her eyes.
"Hee hee, you enjoyed that, didn't you?" Yin wagged her eyesbrows in a suggestive manner.
"A lot."
Ye Hua offered to see the visitor out, even if it's only up to the gate. Zhi Ruo did not decline, and the four of them talked about all the embarrassing situations, the dirty gritty stuff, that Ye Mo had been involved with in the past couple of years. By the time they reached the gate, Zhi Ruo knew it was time to separate and that short, yet wonderful talk was over. She gently caressed the little girl's head.
"Ruo'er thanks everyone for tonight," she nodded at them. "It has been so long since I laughed this hard."
Ye Hua and Wu Xuan'er silently stood aside as they delightfully appreciated their new aunt.
"We can only send you off up to here. Be careful on your way, third princess."
"Be careful on your way, third princess."
Before Zhi Ruo left with her maids and guards, she also gave in to temptation and pinched Little Yin's cheeks until the little girl nearly burst into tears.
"Aiya!"
"This is for you being too naughty." Zhi Ruo grinned. "You should learn how to leave some face to your elders."
"Ptooey! If you're really thankful, give that Old fogey Mo a cute tiny dumpling of a son as soon as possible, okay?"
Everyone froze once again, even the entrance guards and outer sect disciples of Ye Sect who happened to be around the gate at this time of the night. Her words were loud, and with the night being a little desolate, her words were louder than it should be. Not only that, everyone out there was a cultivator. They clearly heard what Little Yin said.
With a shivering figure, Zhi Ruo decidedly turned around without saying another word. However, her ears were dyed red.
In no time, the news that Ye Mo was marrying the third princess of Ming Yue Sect exploded inside the Leaf City. Every establishment, every power, every home and even the most common people in the streets, were dumbfounded upon hearing this piece of news.
Marriage?
Son?
Is the Princess Zhi Ruo already pregnant?!
Having no idea of the chaos they brought about, Yin and the other two peacefully returned to Ye Mo's manor. While she was being half-heartedly berated by Wu Xuan'er for making Zhi Ruo embarrassed in public, Little Yin could not help but pensively sigh. No one understood how heavy she's feeling right now.
'Elder sis, do not worry. I will make sure that I become a talisman enough to protect everyone.'
"Bro Hua, Sis Xuan'er, I need your help."
The sudden, serious look on her young face caused Wu Xuan'er to be at a slight loss. Ye Hua only gazed intently at his wife, but said nothing. He then turned to Yin. "What can brother help you with?"
"You know I am not from here, right? Can you tell me the power structure of this place? If I'm going to scam someone, who should I prioritize?"