Unfortunately for Bai Lingling, Uncle Yun Haisheng was a man with the emotional intelligence of a wet cabbage. He did not hear rejection. He did not hear mockery. He did not hear her inner desire to throw him out the window.
No.
The old fox actually thought she was being shy.
His smile stretched wider, like someone had grabbed the corners of his mouth and yanked upward with chopsticks. It was horrifying to watch.
"Ah, Qingqing," Yun Haisheng said warmly, his tone dripping with fake affection so thick even ghosts would choke on it. "You truly have such deep, loyal feelings for Yan Hai. Uncle is relieved… very relieved."
Behind Bai Lingling, her four guards stared at him like they had just witnessed a man try to pet a poisonous snake with both hands.
One guard clenched his fist.
Another bit his tongue to avoid shouting.
A third whispered, "Young miss is too kind… how can she still treat these people with respect…"
Lin Xiaoyu hesitated for a long moment, clutching Bai Lingling's sleeve with trembling fingers before finally gathering the courage to lean close from behind her. Her voice was so soft it almost disappeared in the air.
"Miss… forgive me for speaking out of place but… do you truly believe they have good intentions?" she whispered, eyes full of worry as she glanced at Yun Haisheng and Yan Hai like they were wolves circling a lamb.
Bai Lingling did not answer.
She kept her calm expression perfectly steady.
But in her mind?
Good intentions my foot.
If I weren't injured, I would have tossed all of you out already.
Bai Lingling inhaled deeply through her nose. Murder is bad. Murder is bad. Murder is bad.
Her demonic impulses hummed happily like, But what if murder is fun?
Yun Haisheng, oblivious as always, took a step back and gestured toward the beautiful girl standing beside Yan Hai. The girl's smile was as sweet as honey, but her eyes? Her eyes were stabbing Bai Lingling's scar like tiny knives.
"Qingqing," Yun Haisheng said proudly, puffing out his chest like a rooster who thought he was clever, "you need not worry about your… limitations. Love overcomes everything, does it not? Even your future duties, your long absences, and the fact that you might… not be able to bear children."
Lin Xiaoyu gasped so loudly she almost swallowed her tongue.
The guards bristled like angry dogs ready to bite someone.
Mo Lingxu's beast ears perked straight up, his golden eyes narrowing in disgust.
But Yun Haisheng wasn't done humiliating himself.
He touched the girl's shoulder gently, like presenting a prized ornament.
"So, Qingqing… Uncle has already found a solution to all your… inconveniences."
His smile widened, death-defyingly bold.
"This young lady beside Yan Hai she can assist the household while you are away. Isn't that wonderful?"
Bai Lingling gently took his irritating hand off her as she masked her disgust with a smile.
Assist?
Lin Xiaoyu's jaw dropped.
A guard whispered, "Assist… with WHAT?"
Another muttered, "If our miss wasn't so kind, this old man would be fertilizer by now…"
Bai Lingling just stared. Stared. And stared. Her mind was quiet. Too quiet. The calm-before-the-storm quiet. Inside her core, her demonic qi purred like a satisfied beast sharpening its claws.
Wonderful?
She thought slowly.
Letting another woman "assist" my fiancé while I fight demons?
Wonderful?
In her past life, such an answer would have ended with a broken jaw and someone crawling home without their front teeth.
Mo Lingxu lay lazily by her feet, tongue slipping out slightly in amusement.
So this was his new life.
Drama. Schemes. Idiots. And enemies who walked into his new home home thinking they were safe.
He found himself… entertained.
Very entertained.
And more importantly...
He was absolutely not leaving her side now.
"This is Young Lady Hua Yuelin from the Han clan, an… important guest who came all the way from the capital to visit our residence today," Yun Haisheng announced proudly, as if he had just brought a celestial maiden down from the heavens.
Bai Lingling's four guards exchanged confused looks. Han clan? Important?
Capital?
Never heard of them. They all wondered where this so called woman really was from.
Before anyone could question it, Yun Haisheng continued, voice dripping with fake warmth.
"Qingqing, you truly need not trouble yourself," Yun Haisheng began, his tone so gentle it made Bai Lingling want to vomit blood. "When the time comes for you to take up the Heavenly Phoenix duties, Yuelin will naturally stay behind to… look after Yan Hai. The matters of the household will all fall into her capable hands. Even if you happen to have children later on, she can raise them in your stead. This way, you won't have anything weighing on your mind while you're out fighting for the nation."
He spoke so slowly and clearly it felt like he feared Bai Lingling might be too stupid to understand. Every word sounded like he was making a great sacrifice, when really, he was carving out her future like she was livestock.
Bai Lingling smiled wider, almost pleasantly, even as a storm brewed behind her eyes.
No wonder that girl had glared at her like she stole her fiancé.
No wonder her eyes carried enough jealousy to drown a city.
Of course she would hate her—they were literally here to offer her up as a side-wife sacrifice.
And this woman…
Even without knowing her real identity yet, everything about her screamed royalty in disguise.
The plain clothes, the dull hairpins, the intentionally light makeup meant to hide sharp features—it was too calculated. Only someone with too much pride would dress down so poorly to hide herself.
She doesn't want the scandal to follow her back into the palace, Bai Lingling thought.
How pathetic.
Did Yun Haisheng really think she wouldn't notice?
Seeing her calm expression, Yun Haisheng's smile grew deeper. He secretly nudged Yan Hai.
Yan Hai stiffened, clearly annoyed, but forced himself to speak.
"Yuelin… has a gentle personality. She is good at caring for people. She will manage the household well, so… there is no need for you to worry about anything."
His voice was about as warm as winter ice.
Bai Lingling let out a soft laugh.
So this was their grand plan.
Use the Heavenly Phoenix bearer's blood and glory…
Let Yan Hai enjoy a beautiful woman in her home…
Let that same woman raise her children…
And let Yunhe City fall neatly into their hands while she bled on the battlefield.
If the original Yun Qingqing were still here, she really might have thanked them for their "kindness."
But sadly for them…
This body had a very different owner now.
Bai Lingling smiled gently, the kind of smile that looked obedient and harmless, as if she had truly taken Yun Haisheng's words to heart.
"Uncle Yun is too considerate," she said softly. "You have thought so far ahead for me that I almost feel embarrassed."
Her gaze drifted lightly toward Hua Yuelin, lingering for just a brief moment before she sighed, as if feeling genuine regret.
"Lady Hua is born so graceful and beautiful. A person like her should be cherished wholeheartedly. Sharing a husband would only wrong her… wouldn't that be such a pity?"
The room fell silent.
Bai Lingling lowered her eyes, her tone becoming even gentler.
"As for me," she continued calmly, "I already know what kind of road a Heavenly Phoenix bearer must walk. Life and death are uncertain, and tomorrow is never promised. Since my future is destined to be turbulent, it would be better for me to remain alone and not drag anyone else into it."
Her words sounded reasonable.
Kind.
Self-sacrificing.
Yet every single sentence slammed straight into their plans.
Yan Hai's expression stiffened instantly, the calm he had been forcing finally cracking as his eyes darkened while staring at Bai Lingling.
Yun Haisheng's smile froze, dissatisfaction flashing across his face before he could hide it.
Bai Lingling kept smiling.
Humph.
I'm only just getting started with you idiots.