As the sky darkened, lanterns were being hung through the courtyards of the *Cloud Mansion*, while there were still many Sword Sect disciples patrolling around.
On the main house's second-floor balcony, Yun Yiyi sat on a cloud-patterned blanket before her favorite ancient zither. With nimble fingers, she played the song of the *Immortal Mountain Pavilion*.
Occasionally, she would steal a glance at the young man listening to her play.
On his cold and handsome face, his deep purple eyes shone like beautiful gems that could captivate countless women's gazes but revealed no emotions.
She liked this expression of Ye Anping very much but also felt some distress about it.
---She simply couldn't figure out what Ye Anping was thinking.
And if one were to ask if Ye Anping liked her?
Yun Yiyi had no confidence at all to give an affirmative answer. She could tell that Ye Anping didn't seem to be interested in her. It was more like he was forced to marry her in compliance with his parents' wishes.
After spending almost a month with him, Yun Yiyi always had the feeling of a "hot face against cold butt". Although Ye Anping did not show resistance, he did not accept her readily either.
Moreover...
On the day of the *Sword Pavilion* incident, his younger sister from the ***Hundred Lotus*** Sect seemed to have chased after him and shouted in public that she wanted to marry him. After that, he secretly ran out to meet his sister behind her back...
Thinking of this, Yun Yiyi stopped plucking the strings and paused with both hands on the zither.
---Could it be that, in Ye Anping's eyes, she was the evil woman who separated him from his sister?
---Should she ask about it?
---But if she were to ask him, he would definitely not tell the truth, and it would only make things more difficult for him.
However, Yun Yiyi could understand this.
He grew up with his sister, spending many years together while she had only been with him for almost a month.
It was normal that Ye Anping was not interested in her now.
But she would make Ye Anping feel her goodness and shift his thoughts from that sister to her; it would just take some time.
Yun Yiyi frowned slightly, remembering what Zhuang Yan had said when she and Yun Jiujiu were locked in the dungeon a few days ago.
It seemed that Zhuang Yan had kidnapped them for the sake of Yun Kunwu.
In other words, this was not an attack by some external cultivators but rather an internal matter of the Sword Sect.
As the saying goes, family scandals should not be made public.
Ye Anping was implicated in this internal affair of the Sword Sect and almost lost his life. So what would he think of her? What would he think of the Sect Sword?
"Young Master Ye, I promise you that what happened a few days ago will never happen again."
Ye Anping stopped drinking tea, shook his head, and said, "It's not a big deal. Who could have predicted that thieves would come to the ***Moon Shadow Sword*** Sect to kidnap you? As a husband, I should have been by your side that night to shield you. If we really talk about it, you almost met an untimely end, and I'm the one who should..."
When he said this, Yun Yiyi hurriedly raised her hand and placed her index finger on his lips, interrupting him. "Young Master Ye, you came here to marry into our family and become my husband. As the host of this place, I should naturally make you feel at home. Instead of your comforting words, I'd rather hear you complain."
"Complain?"
"Yes... like..." Yun Yiyi paused, then joked, "What's going on with your Sword Sect? Why do you involve me in your family troubles?! How come the disciples of the Sword Sect can't handle such matters? Like this..."
Ye Anping smiled and shook his head again. "I never thought of it that way."
"Really?" Yun Yiyi shook her head in disbelief. "If you think so, just say it out loud."
Ye Anping sighed faintly, thought for a moment, and asked, "I really have no thoughts of complaining, but this matter is indeed strange. Eldest Miss Yun, you, Second Miss, and Third Miss were attacked on the same day, and the person who kidnapped you was only after your lives and nothing else. What could be their purpose?"
Yun Yiyi held her chin and thought, feeling slightly puzzled. "When my younger sister and I were locked in the dungeon that night, Elder Zhuang told us that neither I nor Jiujiu nor Yun Xi have the qualifications to sit in the seat of the Sword Sect Master. Only his disciple, Yun Kunwu, was qualified. Moreover, all the inner disciples killed in the *Sword Pavilion* were also from Yun Kunwu's lineage."
"Yun Kunwu?"
"Well, the eldest young master of the Yun family and my elder brother, but as far as I know, he has already died. It seems that he died in a thunder tribulation, but Zhuang Yan claimed that his soul was imprisoned in the Sword Sect's forbidden land..."
"Should we ask the Elders to go into the forbidden land to take a look?"
"The Sword Sect's forbidden land, the **Thousand Sword Pool**, has countless restrictions. Unless my father comes out to personally remove the restrictions, no one can enter."
Ye Anping followed her thoughts and added, "So, since only Master Yun Tianchong can unlock the restrictions, isn't Zhuang Yan just wasting his time?"
"Well, that's why I find it puzzling." Yun Yiyi nodded as she replied. "He was so confident at the time; clearly, he had a way to release Yun Kunwu from the forbidden area. But how can he bypass the restrictions set by my father..."
"Then, we'll just sit back and watch what happens?"
"It's not that we're sitting back, but there are no more clues at the moment."
Yun Yiyi sighed a little tiredly, then moved her butt toward Ye Anping, tilted her head, and said, "Let's not talk about this anymore. Young Master Ye, can you bathe in the hot spring pool with me tonight?"
Ye Anping's expression was calm, and he did not immediately reply. His eyes moved to Huang Quan, who was waiting aside.
Catching his gaze, Huang Quan immediately understood and mustered the courage to step forward and say, "Eldest Miss, is this appropriate? You and Young Master are not yet married."
Yun Yiyi frowned slightly and glanced at Huang Quan in astonishment. When did this girl grow a backbone? How dare she interrupt when the master is speaking?
"Huang Quan..."
Huang Quan flinched, but after looking at the Young Master and recalling the secret he had told her, she summoned up the courage to add, "I... well... honest words may be unpleasant to the ears, Miss..."
Ye Anping hurried to help and replied, "Miss Yun, Huang Quan's words are true. It's not a good idea to meet so openly before the formal ceremony."
Yun Yiyi pouted, glared at Huang Quan, and then said with a forced smile, "Yes... it is indeed not a good idea. Young Master Ye, I am planning to continue resting. Could you accompany me to **Sword Wine Peak** tomorrow? I want to see Yun Jiujiu."
"Of course I will accompany you." Ye Anping understood her meaning, stood up, and cupped his hands. "Then, I shall take my leave."
After saying that, he turned around and walked down the stairs, heading toward his bedroom.
Seeing Ye Anping leave, Huang Quan turned pale. She had already anticipated that Miss would probably scold her severely.
Anyway, wasn't it just a scolding? For the sake of master, she could bear it!
"Huang Quan..."
"Ah... I'm here."
