27 - Crazy! Criticizing the Prime Minister for Being a Servant

### Chapter 20: Master, You Smell So Nice Yun Si slowly blinked, then blinked again, staring at the several banknotes as if her eyes were about to pop out. Eventually, she stammered, “M-M-Master, is this your property?” Her tongue was all twisted, and she couldn’t speak clearly. This child, really... Ran Fanyin chuckled and nodded, speaking softly, “Yes, but don’t tell others. After all, many people on the peak and even elders from various peaks are involved. The more you speak, the more likely you will make mistakes. Do you understand?” Yun Si nodded vigorously, wanting to take the banknotes, but before she could touch them, the woman put them away, her expression carrying a mysterious hint of amusement. “As punishment for squandering money, you get nothing.” “...” Her disciple was about to cry, her heart was about to break, her disciple was pitiful and lovable. Ran Fanyin pretended not to see, stored away the banknotes, and lightly tapped the girl’s forehead, saying, “Consider it a lesson learned at your own expense. It’s nothing, really. You lost to yourself.” **【Master’s heart is truly colder and harder than someone who has been killing fish at the market for ten years.】** **【Boohoo, my little money.】** The girl pressed her lips tightly together, and ultimately could only nod in resignation. “Okay, I will.” “What will you do?” “...I don’t know.” “...” Another light knock on the forehead. **【So, was sending Lin Yuxue away arranged by Master?】** Yun Si almost forgot about it. Ran Fanyin cleared her throat and spoke gently, “Next, I will give you an evening lesson.” “There is no need to investigate where Lin Yuxue went. You just need to know that if there’s anyone you don't want to see, anyone you don’t want to accompany, anyone who makes you feel wronged, you can make a fuss instead of always tolerating it.” “Regardless of financial, material, or martial resources, I am here behind you. Do you understand?” “Little Yun’er, when I said I’d protect you, I naturally meant it and will protect you.” “If there’s anything you want to do, go ahead and do it. As long as it’s not something like murder or arson, I will help you clean up the small messes. Understand? You are too well-behaved; being too nice will get you bullied.” The woman spoke earnestly, even frowning slightly. Yun Si wanted to reach up and smooth out the creases in her master’s brow. A beautiful master should always be happy. The woman’s voice was as gentle as jade, as warm as a summer breeze, wrapping the chilly words in a warmth that entered Yun Si’s heart, seizing her heartbeat. In her life of over twenty years, this was the first time anyone told her to do what she wanted because they would protect her. Her mother and grandmother always told her to be reserved, to avoid trouble, to be a good girl, live an ordinary life, excel academically, and always be the “model child.” This was the first time someone told her, “I don’t mind if you make trouble. Don’t be too nice because you have me.” Her nose and brow suddenly stung, and she had to tilt her head back to keep the tears from falling, but they still trailed down to her temples. A warm hand reached out to hold her, drawing her closer, and another hand wiped away her tears, speaking gently, “Why are you crying? Do you think your master is deceiving you?” Once she started crying, she couldn’t even express her thoughts. Yun Si shook her head and asked softly, “Master, can I hug you?” There was no verbal response, but the sudden warmth was the best answer. **【The last time I felt such a warm embrace was back in high school. It’s been two or three years already...】** Ran Fanyin hugged her even tighter, the sound clearer. Her disciple, like a soft little beast, whispered a good and then said nothing more. **【Master smells so nice, so soft. I want to kiss her.】** Oh, here it goes again. Though faintly exasperated, she did not loosen her embrace but rather held her even tighter. The innocent words her little Yun’er uttered when unguarded always tugged at the heart. * After the new year, during a training session— Before throwing a few people into the training ground, He Lan Mian Mian pulled Yun Si aside and asked, “Yun Si, did you buy that dark-colored dress for your master?” Yun Si nodded sheepishly. After that day, she had the fortune of seeing Ran Fanyin’s wardrobe. Before her dress, the darkest color in the wardrobe was a deep purple robe for formal occasions. Her dress had certainly set a new trend. For some reason, she felt a sense of familiarity, especially when she saw Ran Fanyin in that dress. The dark robe with gold embroidery tracing the form of a phoenix, creating graceful lines. The silver hair cascading down her back starkly contrasted with the dark fabric. The woman’s red lips curved up slightly, her fingers brushing the gold threads as she said it looked good. She was facing away from Yun Si, her head slightly turned, hair pulled to one shoulder, the firelight casting a soft red glow on her outline. This scene, this exact scene, felt strangely familiar to Yun Si, yet inexplicably off. Not silver hair, it shouldn’t be silver hair. Suddenly, a bizarre thought flashed through her mind—it should be flowing black hair, catching the playful firelight like fallen stars. What a strange notion. Why would she think that? Whether in books or reality, Ran Fanyin always had silver hair. But that was past; at this moment, Elder He Lan was clearly not asking about that. He Lan sighed softly, “You chose well, it’s beautiful, but next time remember to buy something she can’t wear out, understand?” “Can’t wear out?” What kind of request was that? What would she buy that cannot be worn outdoors? He Lan rubbed her temples, “You may not know, but your master is a peacock spirit.” A slow question mark appeared in the clear eyes of the girl. She indeed did not know. Whether in literature or now, Ran Fanyin had always been purely human. Peacock spirit? What did that mean? “In summary, next time give her an ornamental item that can only be kept at home, preferably in your yard.” With those words, He Lan waved her hand, throwing the girl into the training ground. The barrier closed, sealing away all sound. * Peacock spirit, as the name implies. ——Senior sister, what will the elders discuss in today’s meeting? ——How did you know my disciple gave me a beautiful set of robes? According to an unnamed three-flower beauty cat, this sort of conversation lasted for at least a month. No one knows what methods Qin Shi Jie used to finally make her stop talking. * Winter passed, spring came, and then came summer. The Peak of Morning and Evening turned from white to tender green, gradually darkening until a rain washed it clean, leaving only summer. On the anniversary of their entry, the disciples were brought to the Luo Yun Hall. Six elders sat high, the Sect Master in a deep purple robe presiding over the rules of the day. Inner disciples who had been in the sect for a year were subject to this test. Those who performed poorly would be asked to leave the sect. However, once someone entered the inner sect, there were rarely those who did not measure up, so this secret realm test felt more like a performance evaluation, or a final exam. **【A final exam indeed, no need to butter up the examiners for extra points. It will go smoothly, no fear.】** Yun Si fiddled with her belt, standing next to the now a head taller Yun Ying and Luo Sheng, who was almost her height. It’s been a year, and it seemed she was the only one who hadn’t grown any taller. Boohoo… A few days ago, during a meal, she had mentioned this to her master. Ran Fanyin had only then scanned her slight frame with a meaningful glance, comforting her by saying, “Your height has indeed increased, almost to your master’s chin. Not bad. After all this time, you’ve also put on a few pounds, that’s good.” “Yun Ying has had ample nutrition since childhood, so naturally she’s taller. Luo Sheng has nine-tailed fox blood and is still young, with proper diet, it’s expected for him to shoot up quickly.” “You were still working to support yourself at the age you should have been growing most. Now, you’ve caught up a bit, and if you eat well for the next two years, you’ll still grow.” Saying this, Ran Fanyin had placed a piece of meat on the girl’s plate, lightly tapping the edge, trying to stifle a laugh, “Eat more.” With tears in her eyes, Yun Si took a few more mouthfuls of rice, stuffing herself like a little hamster, trying to distract herself. **【Master, why didn’t you say “twenty-three, time to grow tall”? You really know how to comfort others.】** **【And that look in your eyes, don’t think young kids can’t understand it. Boohoo, why can’t I grow tall? I used to be not worse than Ran Fanyin…】** She silently swallowed this thought, whether in her heart or in her mind, only lowering her head to eat without noticing the person beside her holding a pair of chopsticks, resting her head on her hand, with silver hair quivering slightly, using her free hand to cover her face. Suppressing laughter was really hard. Even seated in the hall, watching her disciple play with her belt, the smile was hard to hide. Poor kid. Yun Ying lightly nudged Yun Si’s arm, transmitting her voice, “Elder Ran’s smile is really beautiful.” “She’s smiling at us, so pretty.” Yun Si, socially anxious since entering the hall, had not looked up. Upon hearing this, she raised her head and met the smiling gaze head-on—she inexplicably felt that the smile carried a trace of amusement, no strange feelings, but rather some resentment. **【Master is definitely thinking about what we talked about a few days ago. Out of the three of us, I’m indeed the pitiful one. Stop laughing, stop laughing, boohoo…】** Elder Ran lifted his fan slightly, trying to hide his growing amusement. Yun Si, long accustomed to her master’s year-round fan waving, glanced at her for a moment before lowering her head to fiddle with her belt again. No choice—what the Sect Master was saying was just too boring. For someone who had taken exams for over a decade in the modern world, she had no interest in listening. She could recite it all by heart: no bringing in extra equipment, no cheating, no harming others, take it seriously... If it weren’t for the fact that the Sect Master’s stern voice carried significant authority, she would be experiencing pre-exam syndrome—getting sleepier and more desperate to merge with her pillow as the exam neared. As Cen Ran finished her last sentence and the trio was about to huddle together to scheme, Lin Yuxue, who had been absent from their lives for over half a year, walked straight towards them, sword in hand. **【Here we go again, why is she always targeting me? Why only me? This is a guaranteed dead-end scenario. Why is she so set on killing me?】** The fire in Yun Si’s heart was about to explode. Lin Yuxue halted in front of the trio and then said coldly, “Senior Sister Ning, I want to make a bet with you.” This site has no pop-up ads, permanent domain.