CHAPTER 306: CHAPTER 306: WHO CALLS THE SHOTS?

"Then let’s put it on hold for now, just count it on Meng Yao. We’re husband and wife, we don’t keep things separate." Zhao Ting said earnestly.

He couldn’t miss any opportunity to emphasize their relationship.

"The last time with the Lu Family’s affair, if it weren’t for your help, who knows how much trouble it would have been." Meng Yao replied, "I can’t ask for rewards when you help me, but demand them when I help you, right?"

"Right, right, I shouldn’t ask for it." Zhao Ting followed suit smoothly, as if he wasn’t the one who had mentioned converting it into silver earlier. He even added, "I can give you silver if needed."

Bai Su: ...

"Who hurt you so badly?" Meng Yao asked Bai Su.

"The Grand Princess," Bai Su answered honestly, "She was very displeased with the last incident. Later, she sent someone to find me, wanting me to do something for her, but I refused."

Meng Yao shot a glance at Zhao Ting, her gaze speaking volumes—

See, at the end of the day, you’re the cause of this trouble.

Zhao Ting gritted his teeth, wondering what he’d done in his past life to deserve this entanglement. Why couldn’t she leave him alone?

He couldn’t understand; doesn’t she have enough consorts to satisfy her?

Didn’t she know it’s hard enough to coax his wife? With her constantly interfering, how could he manage?

"I swear, I don’t have a single thought about the Grand Princess," Zhao Ting said lamely.

"I didn’t say you were involved with her, no need to explain." Meng Yao acted unconcerned and continued asking Bai Su, "The poison you were inflicted with isn’t ordinary. It’s Gu poison. Does the Grand Princess have someone so skilled by her side?"

If that’s the case, wouldn’t Dahe and Xiaohua be in danger?

"Yes, the opponent is skilled in using Gu too, but not as skilled as I am," Bai Su emphasized.

Meng Yao didn’t respond.

"It’s true, I’m not bluffing. I was just careless and got caught," Bai Su felt a bit embarrassed.

Indeed, she was in a pitiable state this time.

No wonder Sister Meng was skeptical.

She nearly lost her life; it’s hard to make it believable.

"Someone I know. I have no idea how the Grand Princess managed to get her," Bai Su sighed.

An acquaintance, no defense, getting caught was understandable.

"You’re seriously injured. What about the other party?" Meng Yao asked.

Bai Su smugly replied, "Her Lifebound Gu was destroyed, from now on she can only raise ordinary poisonous insects. To put it in perspective, she used to be a top-notch martial artist, but now she’s not even worth mentioning."

"And you?"

"Though Xiaobai is injured, she can recover," Bai Su couldn’t hide her pride in her tone.

Indeed, it sounded like Bai Su had the upper hand.

"That’s good."

"But it’s going to take a long time to heal," Bai Su felt a bit guilty, knowing she wouldn’t be top-notch until healed.

"That’s still better than not recovering," Meng Yao said, "What are your plans? Going back to the Capital City or returning to the Southern Border? In your condition, can you manage alone?"

"I can’t return to the Capital City; the Grand Princess is unreasonable," Bai Su pouted, "Going back to the Southern Border in such a state would mean no chance of coming out again."

She absolutely refused!

"So?"

Bai Su looked pitifully at Meng Yao, "Sister Meng, where are you going? Can you take me with you?"

It’s not that she’s trying to be clingy, she truly had no friends and Meng Yao was a rare friend she liked.

"Even though Xiaobai is injured, I still have many poisonous insects at my disposal," Bai Su said.

She could handle minor issues.

She wasn’t clinging to Sister Meng to freeload.

"Okay."

"No way."

Zhao Ting and Meng Yao spoke almost simultaneously.

Bai Su asked meekly, "Who’s the decision-maker?"

Meng Yao lifted her eyelids to glance at Zhao Ting.

Zhao Ting felt his heart ache, having to drag along such a burden would only be troublesome.

He was very reluctant.

But, what could he do?

Zhao Ting spoke honestly, "It’s up to your Sister Meng."

Bai Su was happy, "Sister Meng, rest assured, I won’t freeload."

"Don’t worry about it, just focus on recovering. What about the scars on your face?"

For a young lady, appearance was still important.

Bai Su waved her hand, "It only looks frightening now; it will heal over time."

"Won’t it scar?"

Bai Su confirmed, "It won’t."

"That’s good."

"Even if it does scar, it’s okay, I have masks." Bai Su seemed unconcerned.

Meng Yao was a bit speechless, how could this girl be so carefree?

"Really," Bai Su explained, "where we’re from, many women have scars."

Raising Gu sometimes results in backlashes from the insects.

In comparison, even if she has scars, they would be small and hardly noticeable, not disfiguring half or her entire face.

"If possible, it’s better not to have scars."

Bai Su seemed rather naive, likely not thinking too far ahead.

Meng Yao considered, what if she met someone she fancied in the future?

She wasn’t one to judge by appearances.

But most men were.

Those who say looks don’t matter, that inner beauty is what’s important—

Inner beauty takes time and closeness to be discovered.

When people first meet, who sees the other’s inner self?

"I’ll prepare medicine to remove the scars," Zhao Ting said, "I guarantee no scars will remain."

"Thank you," Meng Yao replied.

"It’s no trouble at all."

"Thank you, brother-in-law," Bai Su said happily.

Being called ’brother-in-law’ made Zhao Ting feel pleased, his previous disgruntlement dissipated.

Meng Yao didn’t correct Bai Su’s way of addressing Zhao Ting.

There was no helping it; in the eyes of outsiders, they were a couple.

"Although the person using poisonous insects by the Grand Princess’s side is severely injured, they can still manipulate the insects, so we must be cautious," Meng Yao said, "Dahe and the others must be made aware."

"I’ll send a message back," Zhao Ting whistled, and a white bird swooped down from the sky, perching on Zhao Ting’s shoulder.

Bai Su took a porcelain bottle from her bosom, "Take this back as well. Put the pills inside in incense bags and hang them on your body. As long as the opponent doesn’t use a Lifebound Gu, it will protect them."

Meng Yao thanked Bai Su, and Bai Su waved it off, "I call you sister, so your kids are my juniors. As their aunt, it’s my duty to ensure their safety. These insect repellent pills are best swallowed, but you know, they’re still poisonous insects, I’m worried they won’t accept it."

"Write everything honestly in the letter, whether to take or wear it, let Dahe and the others decide for themselves," Meng Yao said.

Zhao Ting nodded, concisely wrote the letter, placed it in a bamboo tube, tied it to the white bird’s talon, and the bird flew off fluttering its wings.

"Don’t worry, Dahe and the others will surely have a way to handle it," Zhao Ting said.

That guy is clever, and Xiaohua is capable too.

And in the worst case, there’s always Qi Yunye.